"We have to buy a Christmas tree for the Crashdown, Liz..." Liz's dad said trying to get her daughter some Christmas spirit. "Dad, hm, yeah... Maybe later" She replied fighting back tears. Maria witnessed from far also fighting tears and pain, she could've died the day Michael went back to that planet, she could've gone crazy. But they all tried keeping cool to not raise any suspicions when they really wanted to vanish without them. Liz and Maria worked like always but they could not hide the grim on their eyes, the red noses from crying too much the night before, the unwillingness to do anything and the non celebration of winter break from school. The parents all didn't have a single clue. But they couldn't feel worse than the Evans. They found out about their kids being aliens the same night they parted. Diane spent 1 week locked in her room. That was the worst Thanksgiving ever and Christmas is going to be even worse. Then, having to go to school to say their kids moved with their "real family" to another state and having to lie all over again to everyone. At least they shared their pain with Liz, Maria, Alex and Kyle.

Jim was hurting twice too. He even baked a turkey and some cakes with Amy to celebrate Christmas was close but Kyle didn't get out of his room and the other kids just ate without any words. It was all too real and powerless. Alex wrote a song for Isabel, a song he never had the chance to sing because she went away before he had it completely finished. But he kept working on it just to have it around, the song's title is "Special You", just like inscription on the necklace he gave to her 2 days before Thanksgiving. Alex closed his eyes and remembered the first time he kissed Isabel... A single tear came down his cheek.

"Since the kids left Roswell hasn't been the same. Look, Liz doesn't even want to go get a Christmas tree when other years I had to go running to get the biggest one." Jeff said to his wife. "Yeah, the bad thing is we can't really do anything. At least they have each other to hold on". Amy watched Maria sleep with her tears rolling down still. She sat on the floor just to catch her breath, she couldn't bear to see her daughter like that either. She just didn't understand why Michael would take off like that. She quietly stood up and walked to her room...

Liz woke up very early again with her nose all red. She passed by the calendar and saw it was the 20th... "4 more days... I just wish..." But she stopped herself right there before saying something stupid. Max had left her his leather jacket so when it cold. She went to her closet and picked it up. She smelled it, and then she put it on. She felt so good and so sad... Suddenly she heard something like bells downstairs and decided to go check it out. She brushed her teeth and out on a shirt and some jeans. She was confused so she went slowly. It was Kyle, Alex and Maria with a huge Christmas tree and some jingle bells. Liz smiled for the first time since Thanksgiving, a smile that lit up the whole town because it was still dark.

"What's all this?" She asked "Hm, it's called a Christmas tree Elizabeth..." Kyle replied while going to hug her. Alex also hugged her. Maria went last and whispered in her ear "maybe it's time to move on, Liz." They look at each other and hugged again for a minute... Then Liz whispered back "maybe it's time to try" Maria agreed with a sweet and sour smile.

Back at the Valenti house Jim drank a cup of coffee, suddenly had a flashback of something he had forgotten. It was so long ago that he surprised he even remembered at all. It was in the middle of the summer, 2 years ago...

-- "Hi Max!" Jim said Max just hugged him and gave him an Orb. "Take this and hide it. In case something happens, in case we ever have to go back. I can't give it to Liz because her parent could find it. We can talk through here. It only works twice so be careful. Don't tell anyone. It only works from Earth so I can't call you" Jim and Max hugged again and Max exited Jim's house--

Jim jumped out of the bed and headed for the basement. He turned on all the lights on and searched in all the boxes that were there. He remembered he put it on a small box that had a "Don't worry be happy" sticker". After almost 2 hours of frustration he found it, all dusty. He cleaned it with his shirt and thought of the next step to take. He knew had to be careful like hell. He wasn't going to tell the kids yet just in case it didn't work. He got to his room, took a bath and started to think of what he was going to do. The Orb was black with three little diamond-like buttons. He had to push to three buttons at the same time and talk, and then hope someone is listening at the other end. "Dad! What's that?" Kyle asked all confused and with a Santa Clause hat on.

"Kyle! You're home!" Jim said in shock "It's that a bad thing?" Kyle asked "I can go you know.." Jim looked at the Orb and then at this son. "Kyle, you caught me by surprise here. I was planning on telling you later but since you saw me then you have to promise me not to say anything to Alex, Maria or Liz" Kyle agreed with some type of funny face. Jim explained as Kyle's eyes filled with light inside and out. "Dad! We have to try it, 4 days 'till Christmas, it can happen!"

Ch. 2

Kyle and Jim finally found a way to do it. Kyle called the rest of the gang without saying anything compromising. When they all got together Jim explained again. The room was so dense and quiet and cold it felt like they were all kind of dead. Liz and Maria took each other hands with hope. "What are we waiting for?" Alex said while jumping up and down. Jim laughed. "Remember this is a 50/50 chance that we don't get any type of response. Try to keep your hopes down, the lowest possible"...

They all sat around the table while Jim pressed the 3 buttons and made sure no one was looking at the bright white light that was transferring their hearts to the sky. When the light turned blue Jim starting looking for someone to hear him "Hello? Max, Michael, Isabel, Tess! This is Jim... Please someone talk to me! Please..." The group held their breaths tight. Jim repeated that same sentence 12 times without success. His hand already red of the pushing but he if let go of the buttons they would have only 1 more difficult chance...

30 minutes later Jim retired his hand with frustration. "AH Damn it! Damn it!" Liz could feel all her stomach burning and her face breaking like a glass cup. "It's not going to work" Maria said twice crying. "Guys... I'm sorry. It's my fault" Jim repeated. Alex jumped "Wait, wait, we still have one more chance. We'll try again tomorrow and if it doesn't work we'll just have to get through." "Tomorrow???" Maria said. "Tomorrow everyone will be outside. We have to do this today." "Ok then..." Valenti agreed preparing to try again. "No... Let me try it this time" Liz said. Everyone looked at her. "Go ahead" Jim consented.

Liz was shaking and cold. Her small hands could barely push the 3 diamonds at the same time. She took a deep breath and she did, instantly she got flooded by flashbacks...

-- ...Of Max, of the whole group together, of the last Christmas, of the first time she saw Max. She saw when he saved her that glorious day at the Crashdown, the first kiss on the balcony. --

She laughed and cried without noticing the blue light... She just kept saying "I believe in you..." Again she was so lost in her own thoughts and flashbacks that she didn't hear Isabel's voice screaming of joy through the Orb. Maria opened her eyes and Liz started screaming too... "Oh my God! Guys... I'm so lonely without you here. This is horrible" Isabel cried while speaking and then laughed and then cried a little more. Michael tried calming her down "Liz... You can now take your hands off the diamonds" he said in usual Michael tone. Maria's heart filled with love just managed to say "Michael I love you..." And he said "Ditto" with a broken voice. Alex also said "I love you" while Tess and Kyle yelled to each other...

Jim sat back on the couch laughing and thanking the Heavens... "Wait, where's Max?" Liz asked... "Always thinking of you" he replied through the Orb. Liz just sat down and cried like a baby. "We only have 20 minutes, guys" Michael said. "Come home..." Liz said. "Oh just please come home, I can't take this anymore. Please... Don't leave me here, please..." Her cry for help came through loud and clear. "I will come home, Liz... I will. I will leave all this behind. I don't care anymore! The war's over, I just need you" Max said on the other side. "Can you comeback?" Kyle asked "Not only we can but we will" Isabel said. "Just you wait. Christmas eve, wait. We'll definetly be home for Christmas." "Really?" Maria yelled.

"You bet" Tess yelled back. And the connection broke... "Wait! Where? How?" Jim screamed. "I guess the 20 minutes are over then" he told himself.

The gang started screaming and crying and hugging each other. "I can't believe it!!!!!!!!" Maria yelled. "Let's go to church guys, we need to thank the heavens for this one..." Liz said caressing away her tears and not believing the miracle.

Ch.3

Christmas eve, the gang woke up early in the morning to prepare the Crashdown for the big reunion... All the parents were happy about their kids being alive again. The Evans bought a million gifts for the Pod Squad when Liz told them the huge news. The Parkers bought also many gifts for the whole gang. Amy and Jim baked a great deal of cakes, turkey, rice, different salads. The Whitman's brought juices, cokes, etc...

Liz had a white dress on with a ponytail. Maria always extravagant wore a mini red dress with red hot high heels. The boys were all dressed up too. They all could hardly believe it. They listened to "Oh Holy Night" and to other Christmas classics. Alex tuned up his guitar to sing his song to Isabel. "Why aren't they here yet? Maybe they won't make it after all" Kyle whispered in Liz's ear every 5 minutes... Liz laughed and hugged him, "Kyle, calm down, they'll be here. For now, dance with me" Alex saw them having a good time and went ask Maria out...

They all danced slowly and laughed in their happiness and also in their small sadness because they were kind of worried too. Something could happen in the way... It was never safe. Suddenly gasps were heard but the kids didn't noticed because the music was too high. "Well, I guess you don't need us here anymore" Michael said all dressed up with a black hat on. The gang stopped dancing and like that they stood at least for 20 seconds. Max, Michael, Isabel and Tess in one side and Liz, Alex, Maria and Kyle at the other. Until they realized it and went running to each other.

"Max... Max... Max... I knew it you'd have to comeback." Liz cried. They all continue hugging each other and everyone was taking pictures. They all held their bodies skin tight, wishing to never ever let go. "Liz you look like an angel" "Really?" And he waved his hand and put a halo over her head. "Max! What did you do?" "Hm, nothing..." Of course everyone at the party thought it was a custom while the Evans and the gang smiled because they knew what was it.

"Woo hoo! I wish Christmas would last forever! Ho Ho Ho!" some guy screamed running like crazy down the street dressed as Santa Clause.

Alex took Isabel outside and sang his song. Isabel full of tears heard it:

"I long for you even when you're here. Feels like I'm inside looking out, through your soul through your heart, all I see has your eyes...

I'm in love to my knees. Rescue me, don't let me feeling blue. All I want to do is be with you, special you.."

"Maria please, I don't feel like dancing" Michael said with the grin on his face, like he was bothered by the slow music. "I guess something's never change." Maria replied angrily but caring. "Look, you know I can't dance" Michael said while Maria burst into laughter. "What's so funny?" Michael asked bothered. "That you're right, you can't dance for your life" Maria joked while taking a microphone that was close...

"It's starting to look a lot like Christmas" Maria sang while taking out her Santa hat and singing around Michael until he joined her.

Tess and Kyle both found elf outfits and with Tess' powers they went around Roswell giving candy and gifts to the people on the streets and so. "Merry Christmas Roswell." They yelled every once in a while.

Outside Alex kept singing and singing... The night ended. And the next day Max climbed to Liz's balcony dressed as Santa Clause. He woke Liz up and Liz started laughing. "Max... I still can't believe you're here. But... what are you doing dressed like that?" "Well. I came to give my gift to you. My heart is one thing I can't just let under the tree..." "Max you don't have to go back do you?" "Like I care. I won't Liz, I'll always be home for this Christmas" he swore.

The End