Liz's POV
Do you ever wonder why you've changed drastically? I mean, think about it. My whole life changed the moment I decided to get shot. Why did I do that? I could've easily dodged that bullet, and yet, I didn't.
Why did I do that?
Do you believe in fate? Most people think it's as real as stepping on a crack that'll break your mama's back. Other people need to believe in it. Otherwise, their whole existence will fade away.
I was made to kill. Can you believe it? I, Liz Parker, was made to kill. The whole sentence is whacked. I mean, no one is made. They're brought into existence through their parents. But I wasn't. I don't even have a father. My mother is probably dead or worse...in a mental institution.
I still remember the night of the escape. Guns were fired every six seconds, vicious dogs were on their guard...it's a wonder how we made it out. But we did. We made it out. We fought for our freedom and won it. At least, some of us.
Eva didn't make it, Jack didn't make it...Zack didn't make it, because of me.

Flashback...
Boom.
Someone shot my leg and I fell down. I could hear the guards coming near. Then, someone screamed. I think it was the guard.
Someone's coming. I hear the footsteps and I can hardly get up. They're getting closer and I can see their face.
It was Lydecker.
I can see a shadow running towards Lydecker. It's Zack. He gives me the signal to run for it on 3.
1...2...3...
And I run. Zack knocked Lydecker unconscious and is running behind me.
Crash.
Zack pushed me down. I look up to him and felt blood...on him. He pushed me down to take the bullet for me. Why did you do that? Why?
You tell me to get away but I argued. You got up and pushed me towards the perimeter fence. I look into your eyes and they tell me that I should go. And I did.
I jump over the fence and landed on my feet as usual. I turn around and I look at you. You're giving up your freedom for me. Why?
You tell me again to go and I listen, I leave you. I hear you struggle against the guards and I can hear them taking you back. I wanted to go back for you Zack, I did. But I couldn't disobey you. I couldn't.
End Flashback

I'm sorry Zack. I'm so sorry...and I thank you...for everything. You were the best brother a girl can ever have.
And now, I am in Roswell, New Mexico, living out the life you gave me, Zack. And guess what? I know aliens. I know, aliens aren't real but neither are X5s and I exist.
I am stepping through the doors of the Crashdown and am heading to my room when I hear people talking. It's Maria, Alex and the pod squad. They're talking about whether or not their enemies are coming. I figure this is the best time to say 'hi, I'm back from Florida'.
I open the doors and see them. Maria and Alex rush to me and I give them a hug. Max walks over and says hi. I say hi back. He gives me a hug and Tess is giving me the death glare. She thinks that's gonna scare me. Ya right. I've seen scarier.
I say what's up and Alex gives his one in a million jokes and says that Independence Day is coming and the world is gonna end. I break out a laugh.
I tell them that I gotta go and unpack and they leave... everyone except Max. He stays behind and stares at me. Here it comes.
I missed you, he tells me. I act like a human being and say that I missed him too. Then I just walk up to my room and leave him, looking after me.
I can't do it Max. I can't love you. It's bad enough that you have a past wife that still loves you but if I get too attached, my judgment will become even more clouded. I don't know how we even kissed. I must have been in PHS..Pre-Heat Syndrome.
But that won't happen again. It can't. I know your place in the world and I know mine...killer. We can never be.
I've already cried for you Max, I'm not supposed to. Soldiers aren't supposed to cry. We're not supposed to show any emotion except determination for capturing the objective. It's like a golden rule.
I don't even know how I can hide what I am to you. I mean, you said that when we kiss, we see things about the other person. I don't know why you didn't see Manticore. But I'm glad you didn't. Really glad. Florida was paradise for me. The 'oh, I'm going to visit my aunt' excuse worked like a charm. I was in heat and slept with another guy. I'm not saying that that's a good thing but at least I didn't sleep with you Max. If I did, I don't know how many more rules I would break. You're like a drug for me Max, and every time I take a sip, I get high and I get hooked. But not any more.

Part 1
Still in Liz's POV
"Hey Liz, welcome back to the wonderful world of witnessing" Maria joked and I actually laugh.
"I know, my first day back and I gotta work, great" I say a few lines.
Maria giggles, "well, at least you have one good thing going for you, you my friend, have a very hot guy to interview for a job position" she pointed to the guy at the third booth, right behind Max's usual booth.
I look at him and I find myself staring into his eyes. They're so familiar. It's on the tip of my tongue, yet I can't say.
"Boy, you're really into him, aren't you?" Maria broke me out of my thoughts.
"Don't be silly" I tell her. His eyes are so full of emotion and life. His whole entire persona is so mysterious and I can honestly say that I must've known him in another life or something like that.
"Well, I guess I should go interview him" I say to Maria and walk over to the Crashdown's future cooker. "Hi, I'm Liz Parker and I'll be interviewing you for the job of full-time cooker" I break out one of my famous smiles.
"Hi, I'm Sam Richards" he smiles back. He has a great smile. It's so familiar and I actually do something stupid.
"Do I know you? You look so familiar" I tell him. "Maybe we knew each other in a past life" he teased, or at least I think he did.
"Oh, please tell me that you're not one of those believers that people can actually fly and have past lives" I say sarcastically.
"Will it get me the job?" he asks.
"Depends"
"On what?"
"On your experience" Oh my God. I can't believe I just said that! Maybe he thinks that I'm talking about work experience.
"Well, I used to be a waiter and before that, I used to cook for another fast food joint"
I'm saved. He thinks that we're talking about jobs. Good.
"Which joint?" I ask.
"Burger King and McDonalds"
"Really? That's pretty good. How soon can you start?"
"I can start tomorrow" he tells me.
"Well, come with me. Let's find you a cooker's uniform" I took his hand and led him into the kitchen. "Hey attention everybody! This is our new full-time cooker, Sam Richards" I introduced.
"Hi Sam, I'm Maria" Maria said.
Sam nodded.
"Sam, this is Fred, our part-time manager. Christina, another waitress... and Courtney, yet another waitress" I tell him.
"Hi there" Courtney says flirtatiously.
"Hi" Sam greeted her with no clue to what she just did and I laugh.
"Sorry" I apologized.
Everyone looks at me funny except Maria. She knows exactly why I laughed. You see, Courtney's into Maria's so-called boyfriend, Michael Guerin. So she understands where I'm coming from.
"Well, let's get you a uniform Sam" I drag him out of Courtney's reaches and we walk up to the closet where my mom keeps the extra uniforms. I open the closet and start to search for one.
"Do you live up here?" he asks me.
"Ya, not exactly luxury but it's been good to me and my family"
"Oh yeah, your parents own the restaurant"
"Ya... don't worry, you don't have to be nice to me just because I'm the boss's daughter" I joke.
"I won't be nice to you for that reason"
"That's good to know"
"Where is it?" I whisper. Then, I see it...all the way at the top, where for people my height, can't reach.
"Hey Sam, can you get me a pencil? It's on that table" I say so he can turn around so I can jump X5 style.
"Sure"
I jumped and got it.
"Well, here you go. You can try it out in the bathroom downstairs" I directed.
He nodded again. He went downstairs to try it on and Maria came up, probably to get stats on Sam.
"So...?" she says slyly.
"So...what?" I ask innocently.
"Are you into him or not? I mean, you have got two very fine choices, Sam Richards, the new mysterious very hot might I add, and Max Evans, the space cadet who is in love with you and has been bothering me the whole summer asking me 'when's Liz coming back? Does she still love me?' and so on" Maria imitated a very good Vanna White imitation.
"Maria...you know I still love Max right?" she nods.
"But...well you know? Tess...and the whole situation and that Tess is still in love with Max and other crap" I say thoughtfully.
"So does that mean that Sam isn't catching your interest?"
"Well, ya. I mean, the only thing that caught my interest was the fact that he looked really familiar" I said. I'm still in with love Max.
"So, Sam is up for the taking?" Maria asked slyly. "Ya, in fact, he's right behind the wall listening in on our conversation for the last 5 seconds" I pointed out to Maria and Sam stepped out of the shadows.
"Hey, sorry for eavesdropping on you" he apologized.
"It's ok, it's not like we embarrassed ourselves, well, like I embarrassed myself" I joke and Maria giggles nervously.
"So, how much did you hear?" Maria asked again nervously.
"Just the fact that I look really familiar to Liz and that I'm up for the taking" he answered.
"Oh, well, I should get back to work now, see ya guys" Maria ran downstairs and I laugh at her antics.
"So, does the uniform fit?" I ask.
"Ya, it's just..." he trails off.
"What?" I ask curiously.
"Well, I don't mean any disrespect or anything, I don't even know is she's your friend but...you know Courtney?"
I nod.
"Well, when I came out of the bathroom...she pinched my ass"
"What?" and I start to giggle.
"It's not that funny, it actually hurts a little" he jokes.
"I'll um...have to talk to her...about the ass pinching" I stuttered, trying to control my giggles.
"Thanx"
"So, can you start tomorrow?" I ask.
"Ya...do you need my address or something for emergencies?"
"Ya, I almost forgot"
I get the pencil that Sam got for me and a piece of paper.
"It's 3481 GrovesHart Dr. apt. 167"
"Ok, well, I have to get back to work" I tell him.
"Oh, ok, sure, I'll um...just hang at the Crashdown for a while if it's ok"
"Ya, let's go" and we go downstairs. Sam walks over to the counter now and looks at the menu while I tend to Max and company's food needs.
"Hey guys, what do you want?"
"Info on the guy who just came down here with you" Tess asked smugly.
"He's our new cook, I was getting him a uniform" I answer victoriously and Tess was silent.
"Good" Max whispered, thinking that I can't hear him.
"We'll get 4 cherry colas and 4 fries" Isabel ordered.
"Ok, be right back" and I walk over the the kitchen and place their order. I walk over to Sam and ask him what he wants.
"Um...what's good here?" he asks.
"Well, the alien blast is pretty good" I recommend to him and he says that he'll take it.
I walk over to the kitchen and place another order and I get Max's order.
"Here's 4 cherry colas and 4 fries" I say.
"Who is the new guy? He's looking very fine" Isabel checked.
"His name's Sam Richards" I told her.
"I should introduce myself to him, be right back"
Isabel walks over to Sam and starts up a conversation.
"So, how was Florida?" Max politely asked.
"It was ok, nothing special"
"I gotta get back to work, see ya" I walk to the kitchen and see if Sam's order was here.

Sam's POV
She stills looks the same. The same beautiful face with her Jane Doe eyes. She thinks I look familiar. I should. It's me Liz.
Some girl's walking over to me. She was in Liz's friend's table. She says hi flirtatiously. I say hi back trying to tell her to get a clue and leave me alone.
"I'm Isabel Evans" she tells me. I'm not interested. She wears too much make-up and tries too hard. Plus, she's no match for my Lizzie. Wait a minute, did I just say 'MY Lizzie?'
"I'm Sam Richards"
"I know, Liz told us that you're the new cooker" and I nod at that.
"So, do you need anyone to show you around Roswell?"
"I think Liz is gonna show me around" I lie.
"Oh, well, I gotta go, but remember my offer" and she leaves...finally!
Now I gotta ask Liz to show me around. I hope she doesn't think that I'm a drag. I can't stand the fact if I annoy her.
I know, I shouldn't feel this way about her but I do. There's something about her that's so...attractive. I've loved her since I first saw her, ever since she was born and I saw her in her cradle. Even as a baby, I was always in love with her. The moment when she was born and touched my finger, I fell in love with her. She makes me feel human.
Liz's walking over with my order. She says 'so, you've met Isabel'. I answer ya.
"Can you show me around Roswell?" I ask.
"Sure, how about in 10 minutes? My shift's almost over" she says.
"Ok"
"Well, I gotta get back to work" she says and leaves.
Still the same beautiful Liz she was when we were in that prison.

Liz's POV
"I think Liz is gonna show me around" I hear Sam say and I smile at that, he doesn't like Isabel, that's a first, Isabel being rejected.
Isabel's leaving now, time for me to give Sam his order.
"So, you've met Isabel" he answers ya and asks me if I can show him around Roswell and I said that I get off in 10 minutes.
"Ok" he says.
I tell him that I gotta get back to work and I can feel him staring after me.
"So, you and Sam are getting pretty chummy" Maria said.
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" I ask.
"Well, if you haven't noticed, he's into you...right in front of Max"
"I told you, I'm in love with Max, not Sam. I'm just showing him around Roswell" I tell her.
"Whatever. First, you're just showing him around the town, then you'll be showing him something else"
"Maria! Since when do you think those things?" I ask astonished.
"I got them from Max, when he was telling me about his fantasies about you and him...he's in love with you Liz, not Tess" Maria told me seriously.
"I know, I just don't wanna get hurt" I answer honestly.
"He won't hurt you" Maria said as she left.
"You don't know that" I whisper looking at Max.
"Hey, you wanna go now?" Sam asked politely.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, let's go"

"So, are we walking or do you wanna ride?" Sam asked.
"Ride? On wha..."I trailed off as I stared at the beautiful black 650 ninja motorcycle.
"Wow..." I said.
"Yeah, so are we riding or walking?"
"Well, as much as I love your ninja, we should walk, cover more ground" I said.
"How did you know that it's a ninja?"
"Oh, I love motorcycles" I answered still in awe of the ninja.
"Well, we should go now, if you can pry your eyes off the ninja" he teased.
"Ok, let's go" I averted my gaze onto him.

"Ok, there's the salon... Dominion... my school; West Roswell High...and the UFO center" I showed him.
"Thanx for showing me around Liz"
"No problem, so I'll see you tomorrow...cook" I said as I went into the Crashdown.
Someone's still in here...one guess.
"Max? Why are you still here?" I ask him.
"I wanted to talk to you"
"About?" I bet it's about our relationship.
"Us" Bull's eye.
"There's nothing to talk about Max" I tell him, hopefully he'll listen.
"Yes, there is. Liz, I have told you over and over again, I don't love Tess...I love you. And some book or a hologram of a mother I don't even know isn't gonna change the fact that you are my destiny."
"Max, how can you even say that? You're a king and you have a wife. So what if you don't remember your feelings for Tess? What if someday you realize that you love her and not me? Max, I have spent my whole entire summer fearing that. It's really paralyzing. You may love me today but what about tomorrow?" I ask him.
"I'll still be in love with you Liz Parker" and with that, he left.
"I do love you Max...but a soldier isn't supposed to love" I whisper to an empty diner.

Part 2
The next morning, Liz and Maria were already working since it was a weekend.
Sam walked into the diner and came over to them.
"Hey, Liz, Maria"
"Hey Sam" they chorused together.
"Better get changed, breakfast crowd's almost coming" Maria said.
"Ok" and Sam left to change.
When Sam got back, Liz went and took the customer's orders.
Liz came back to place her order and caught Sam looking at her.
"Is there something wrong?" Liz asked.
"Huh? Uh...no. Why would there be?" he replied.
"Well, you looked like you were in the twil-light zone or something" Liz joked.
"I'm ok. Just can't believe this much people in the morning hours" Sam noticed the 30th customer walk in the Crashdown.
"You'll get used to it" Maria chimed in.
"Hey, how's life?" Sam asked.
"Full with customers and crappy if you're dating Michael Guerin" Maria pointed out.
"Who?" Sam asked.
"He hasn't returned any of your calls?" Liz asked gently.
"Actually, he did, and he wants me back!" Maria said sarcastically.
"Maybe it's better this way, at least now...you're focused. I mean, when you were with him, your head was clouded with...well, stuff" Liz pointed out.
"I was clouded? Look who's talking Miss I-wanna-be-Max Evans'-love slave-forever!" Maria yelped.
"Ok, I admit it. I was head over heels with him but...I've changed"
"Ok, what are you guys talking about?" Sam questioned.
"We're talking about our pathetic love lives" Maria whined.
"You mean lack of a love life" Liz corrected.
"Ok, so let me get this straight, Maria is with Michael and you're with Max" Sam replied.
"We're not with them anymore, at least, I'm not with Michael, I dunno bout Ms. Parker here" Maria said truthfully.
"Hey, I am not with Max. Besides, Max is with Tess now"
"Who's Tess?" Sam asked again.
"She's someone from Max's past, an old girlfriend you could say" Maria answered.
"You know what they say, you never forget your first love" Liz said thoughtfully.
"You can say that again" Sam muttered.
"What did you say Sam?" Maria asked.
"He said 'you can say that again'" Liz imitated Sam.
"So...who's your first love?" Maria pried.
"I don't have one" Sam lied.
"Ya, and I'm Madonna" Liz joked.
"Come on, tell us or you're fired" Maria joked.
"Do I have to?" Sam half-whined.
"Ya, I'm your boss so you have to listen to me" Liz teased.
"At least tell us how in love you were in" Maria pleaded.
"She was like my other half" Sam said truthfully.
"Now, that's a man. Not afraid to show his feelings" Isabel said coming up to them with Max, Michael and Tess.
"Thanx, um...I forgot your name" Sam lied.
"It's Isabel" she answered in shock that he forgot her.
"I'm Max, this is Michael and this is Tess" Max introduced.
"I'm Sam, the new cook" Sam turned his head and mouthed 'your exes?' to Maria and Liz and they both nodded.
"Say, Sam, you busy tonight?" Maria asked.
"No, why?" Sam asked supspiously.
"Well, in honor of Liz's return, we're gonna go club at UFOnics" Max answered.
"We can celebrate your new job too Sam" Liz offered.
"Uh...what time?"
"8, be there or be squared" Alex joined them in their conversation.
"I'll be there, wouldn't miss it for the world" Sam said looking at Liz.
"Liz, can I talk to you?" Maria asked.
"Huh?, um...sure" Liz answered uncertainly
. Maria and Liz linked hands and walked up to her room.
"I wonder what they're talking about" Max thought out loud.
"No idea" Alex said.
"So, Sam...where you from?" Michael asked.
"I'm from Seattle" Sam lied.
"Wow, so tell us more about your ex-girlfriend" Isabel pried.
"I don't think so, I gotta get back to work" and Sam walked away.

"So, what do you wanna talk to me about Maria?" Liz whined.
"Did you see that?" Maria whispered.
"Why are you whispering?"
"I'm not, answer the question" Maria said a little bit more louder than the last time.
"See what?" Liz asked innocently.
"The way Sam was looking at you!" Maria yelped.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about you and Sam gettin jiggy wit it" Maria teased.
"Huh?! No way!"
"Way, Sam is into you"
"No, he isn't. Weren't you paying attention? He's in love with someone else"
"Ya and that someone else is you"
"You're so paranoid" and Liz went downstairs.

At UNFonics
"Come on Sam! Get up and dance!" Isabel shouted against the noise, trying to get a dance from Sam.
"I don't dance" Sam replied.
"Isabel's right Sam, you should dance" Maria encouraged. 'Anything to get Sam away from Liz so Max can get her' she thought.
"I couldn't dance to save my life" Sam answered gently.
"I give up" Maria gave up.
Max was staring at Liz marveling her beauty...again.
'How are you not mine?' he thought.
"Liz, you wanna dance?" Max asked.
"Huh? Actually, I'm kinda tired" Liz refused.
Maria roughly kicked Liz from under the table.
"You know what? I can dance at least once" Liz answered.
Max and Liz got up and danced to Destiny's Child's song 'Dangerously In Love'.
Meanwhile, Sam was steaming inside, he didn't want Max to dance with his Liz, and he wanted to dance with her!
'Calm down, she's like your sister' Sam thought over and over again trying to convince him that he wasn't in love with her, or at least trying to keep him from ripping Max apart...literally.
I love you....I love you...I love you
Baby I love you
You are my life
My happiest moments wouldn't be complete if you weren't by my stand
You are my relation
And my connection to the sun
With you next to me
Ain't no darkness I can't overcome
You are my raindrops
I am the seed
The song kept on playing while Max and Liz danced.
"Liz?" Max whispered.
"Ya?" Liz whispered back.
"Why aren't we together?"
"Max...we've talked about this"
"I know, but...I don't agree with it. Liz, I love you and only you" Max declared.
"I know, I love you too but you have a whole other destiny that doesn't include me" Liz looked up into his eyes.
"Liz, I don't love Tess, and how do we know that it wasn't an arranged marriage?"
"But you don't know that for sure"
Cuz I...I'm in love with you
You've set me free
I can't do this thing called life without you here with me
Cuz I'm dangerously in love with you
I'll never leave
Just keep loving me the way you love... you love me
"Liz, this song is telling you how I feel, I'm dangerously in love with you and I'll do anything to get you" Max broke the dance and walked to the bar.
Liz went back to the table and sat down.
"You ok Liz?" Maria asked.
"Ya, peachy" Liz plastered a fake smile to cover up her emotions.
"You know what, I'm gonna dance, come on Liz" Sam dragged Liz onto the dance floor.
Sam pulled Liz into a sweet embrace and started to dance.
"Nice try to get me to cheer up Sam" Liz said all-knowingly.
"I try...what did Max say to upset you?"
"He's just...being Max. I mean... let's just say that I shouldn't be in love with him, or anyone else or I'll...cloud my judgment" Liz said cryptically.
"And Max doesn't agree to that?"
"Got it in one. I never thought someone could love me that much"
"Well, you're very lovable"
"Thanx...it's just, I'm not used to it, being loved. I mean, I get that from my parents but..."
"Just not the kind of love that a soul mate would give you" Sam finished.
"Right, in Manti..." Liz suddenly became quiet.
"In where?"
"Nothing, I don't even know why I'm telling you all this...there's something about you Sam"
'Good, she didn't finish the word 'Manticore'' Zack thought.
"What's that something?"
"You remind me of someone. But...he's dead in a way." Liz replied sadly.
"Who?"
"Just...a really good friend"
"I'm sure he loved you very much"
"I know he did, someone who didn't love me wouldn't have made that sacrifice"
"You know, I can see that this topic of your friend is upsetting you, let's talk about something else"
"Ok, well...um..."
"Let's talk about you and Max" Sam wanted to know everything about the bastard who hurt Liz.
"It's nothing you haven't heard, just high school stuff"
"It's not nothing, you're one of my friends, I wanna know everything about you" Sam said truthfully.
"Well, Tess, she's Max's old girlfriend and they used to be in love but then they broke up, now, Tess wants Max back but Max doesn't want her but...I can't be with him, or anyone else for that matter" Liz answered sadly.
"Why not?"
"Let's just say...I have this whole other side of myself that no one would like"
"Well, if Max loves you, he would love the other side of you. If he doesn't...maybe he's not the one" Sam said gently.
"That's what I'm afraid of, but I wouldn't blame him for only loving the side I show him...the other side of me...it's destructive"
Sam and Liz both looked into each other's eyes and Liz jumped back from the embrace.
'His eyes...they're exactly like Zack's' she thought.
"What's wrong?" Sam asked worried.
Liz was silent...she kept on looking into Sam's eyes.
"Zack?" Liz whispered.

Part 3
Sam was stunned. 'She figured out who I am' he thought.
Liz was happy...and scared. 'What if he's been turned and he's trying to capture me?' Suddenly, an idea popped into Liz's head and she ran out of UFOnics and started towards the desert rock (where the last part of 'Destiny' ended, the desert rock).
Sam was frantic...Liz ran away from him...she was scared...of him. He quickly ran after her, leaving everyone to look after them in a dumbfounded way
. "Where are you guys going?" Michael shouted.

Liz finally made it to the desert rock, now she was looking for a place to hide.
Sam finally made it to where he saw Liz go into.
"Liz?! Where are you?" Sam yelled.
"Oof!!!" Sam grunted as Liz tackled him.
Liz pulled him into a deathly headlock and yelled, "Who sent you here?"
"Liz, what are you talking about?" Sam hoarsely asked.
"Don't play dumb! You're from Manticore aren't you?"
"No!!" and then, Sam flipped her and she landed on the ground and Sam pinned her down.
Liz desperately tried to get out of his hold but to no avail.
"You're not taking me back there!" she yelled.
"Liz! Shut up!" Sam yelled and Liz obeyed.
"I'm not from Manticore" Sam whispered.
"Like hell you're not, and don't think that just because you've got Zack's eyes that you're gonna drag me back there!"
"Liz! I'm AM Zack!"
"No! No you're not, Zack's in Manticore, he's trapped and it's all my fault!" Liz almost started to cry.
Sam looked at her...sad and got up and let her go.
"What are you doing?" Liz asked.
"Letting you go."
"I know it's a trick"
Sam walked up to her and grabbed her by her hands and pulled her close.
"I thought I'd never find you, but then again, you were always good in hide and seek" Sam whispered as he hugged her.
Liz pulled away. "Don't try to be like Zack! You're not! Zack's in Manticore because of me!" Liz felt her knees weakening and she fell down but Sam caught her.
"No, no I'm not. I escaped" he tried to tell her.
Liz looked into his eyes and tried to search for any lies that he would be feeding her. Then, she realized that Sam was Zack.
Liz leaped into Zack's arms and hugged him...hard.
"Zack! I thought you were in Manticore!" Liz cried.
"I got out, don't you have any faith in me?"
"Don't joke like that! Zack, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry" Liz cried.
"Sorry...for what?"
"For leaving you! I should've stayed with you, instead I let Manticore take you back"
Zack hugged Liz even more tightly and started to remember his time in Manticore.
"It's not your fault Lizzie" Zack said softly.
"Yes, yes it is"
"No it isn't" Zack broke the hug and held her at arm's length and looked into her eyes.
"Look at me Lizzie, I would've done anything for you, even give up my life for you...I love you"
"I love you too Zack"
'I know you love me Liz, but not in the way I want you to' Zack thought.
"We should get back, everyone'll be worried" Zack said.
"Ok" and they held each other and walked.

At the Crashdown...
"Where the hell would they have gone?" Maria yelled.
"I'm sure they're ok" Michael tried to calm her down and at that precise moment Liz and Sam walked into the diner.
"Where the hell did you go?" Maria screamed.
"We were bored of the club and decided to take a walk" Sam lied.
"Well, next time, tell us before you run off!" Max suddenly screamed.
"Max! We're ok! God, it's not like something would've happened to us" Liz replied.
"But something could've have" Isabel pointed out.
"Nothing bad would have happened to Liz ok?" Sam responded.
"How do you know that?" Max challenged.
"Because she's perfectly safe with me" Sam countered.
Max looked like he was ready to annihilate Sam and vice versa.
"You guys! I'm ok! Enough fighting!" Liz yelled.
"Fine" everyone chorused.
"Guys I'll see you tomorrow ok? Sam, let's go" Liz dragged him up to her room.
"Why is Liz leading him to her room?" Max said jealously.
"They're probably working out the work schedule" Maria said.
'They better be' Max thought furiously.

In Liz's room...
"Nice room" Zack said.
"It's ok, so...what brings you here Zack?"
"You did, I always told you that I would find you Lizzie"
"You did, but..."
"What?" Zack asked curiously
. "I'm scared you're gonna leave me, you know, since you're our CO, you're probably gonna have to travel the world and check up on everyone" Liz whispered. "You're right, but I'll still see you"
"Ya, I guess, it's just, I've finally found you again and it's like I'm already losing you"
"You're not losing me, you never will"
"Ok, I believe you, just promise me you'll be careful"
"I will" Zack promised.
"So..." Liz began.
"Do you really love Max?" Zack asked suddenly.
"I...yes" Liz stuttered.
"Do you know what that means?"
"That my judgment's clouded with emotions" Liz answered.
"Exactly, Liz...I don't know if this is true, but I heard...that you got shot once"
"You heard...true"
"How? Why didn't you dodge that bullet?"
"I don't know honestly"
"Liz, I sense something from that Max kid, something different"
"I know, I do too" Liz told Zack honestly.
"How come I get the feeling that you know what that something is?"
"I do know what it is, but I promised that I wouldn't tell anyone" Liz whispered.
"I understand, but...is it dangerous?"
"Sometimes"
"Liz, when you got shot, it was in the newspaper, it said that you were magically healed...what if Lydecker saw that paper?"
"But he didn't"
"But he could have, Lizzie...I don't wanna say this but...you have to leave Roswell"
"What?!" Liz whispered.
"It's for the best Lizzie, Lydecker could still see that paper and could easily find you" Zack rationalized.
"How is it for the best? Zack, I have a home here, I have friends here...I have Max here" Liz replied truthfully.
"Exactly, all these people, all these sentimental feelings aren't real, Lizzie...do they know that you're an X5?"
"No, but what's that got to do with it?"
"Do you think that if they found out, they're just gonna go, 'oh cool, an X5'?" Zack asked sarcastically.
"Who said that I'm gonna tell them?"
"That's my point, you don't trust them Lizzie so you might as well leave Roswell for good"
"I'm not leaving Roswell Zack" Liz said forcefully.
"Yes, you are"
"No, I'm not. God Zack, why are you acting like this?"
"It's for your own safety"
"I'm never leaving Roswell Zack"
"You have two choices Lizzie... Roswell...or me?"
Liz was silent.
"How can you make me choose?" Liz whispered.
"I just did" Zack spat out. "What's your choice
?" Liz thought about it and she said, "Roswell".
"I'm outta here" Zack muttered angrily.
"No! Zack! Please don't go!" Liz pleaded but Zack had already gone.

Part 4
Liz's POV
It's been a month since Zack left Roswell...left me. I never knew I could feel so much pain. More pain than Max kissing Tess. Even more pain when I heard that Tess was Max's destiny.
I don't know if he's still alive, he's broken off all contact with me. I don't know where he is. I don't know anything anymore.
It's a funny thing too. When I realized that I loved Max, I thought I had everything. Family. Friends. Freedom...Love.
But when Zack found me, everything changed. My life...even my feelings. Zack was right, I don't trust them at all. I don't even know if I still love Max. But what I do know is that I miss Zack, and that choosing Roswell was the biggest mistake I've ever made in my life.
Where are you Zack? Are you checking up on Syl? On Krit? On Jondy? On Tinga? On Max? I don't know anymore.
I can't feel anything anymore. Everyone's starting to become suspicious. I even caught Max following me around once and they even bugged my room. Why is this happening to me?
I just found you Zack and now, I've lost you. You told me that you would always be here for me, where are you now? I can't live like this Zack. I'm not eating, I'm not sleeping. I'm not doing anything.
My so-called friends have already given up on me...even Max. He's with Tess now. Seems like he finally realized his feelings for Tess and he remembered his past life with her. My best friend only talks to me when we're at work. Isabel's going out with Alex so Alex ignores me too. Michael...well, he's actually the only one who's on friendly terms with me right now. We talk sometimes, usually when he senses that I'm upset. Can you believe it? Michael is actually the only one I can talk to now. Michael and Maria aren't together. She even thought that Michael and I were involved once. Everyone gives Michael crap for still being friends with me.
See what you've done Zack? You've made me lose all my friends. But that's beside the point. You've made me miss you so much and it's killing me. I don't wanna feel this way. I feel so weak now...so vulnerable.
The only thing that I know right now is that I want to see you. I wanna see if you're still alive. But I know that's not gonna happen unless we both get captured by Lydecker.

Part 5
Ring. Ring.
"Hello?" Zack answered.
"Zack?" someone said.
"Brin?"
"Zack, help me! Lydecker's after me" Brin cried.
"Where are you?"
"I'm in Roswell, please hurry" and Brin hung up.
"Brin? Brin!" Zack yelled through the phone but no answer.
He had no choice, he had to go to Roswell and find Brin. Maybe by some miracle, he wouldn't see Liz.
He got on his bike and drove to Roswell, New Mexico.

At the Crashdown...
Maria, Michael and Liz were working and Alex, Isabel, Tess and Max were sitting at one table. Alex and Isabel were snuggling together and Max and Tess were working on a science project. To tell you the truth, Max is still in love with Liz but since Liz doesn't wanna be with him, he settled for Tess.
Maria was fighting with Michael...again. She was accusing him of having an affair with Liz, which wasn't true. Michael told her that Liz was his friend and to stay away from him. Maria stormed out and went to sit with Max and the others.
"Another fight?" Liz asked Michael.
"What else is new?" Michael responded sarcastically.
"I'm sorry"
"For what?"
"Well, it's my fault that you guys are constantly fighting. Do you think that I'm deaf Michael? I can hear you guys talking about me and it's not pretty. You're the only one who sticks up for me"
"Ya well, you've done a lot for us, just because they don't like the way you're acting doesn't mean that they can forget all the stuff you've done for us" Michael told her.
"Thanks"
"No problem" Michael smiled.
"So...is there any way you and the gang can reconcile?" Michael asked.
"I don't know, I mean, they were my closest friends and they just...abandoned me, I mean, I know that I've been...different lately but still, true friends are supposed to stick with each other. I don't know if I want to be friends with them" Liz said honestly. Somewhere else in Roswell...
A girl was running away from something. She was about Liz's height, long black hair and Asian. There were some men chasing her with M-16 guns.
She went into a grocery store and hid in the freezer until the men went away.

On the way to Brin...
Zack was walking around Roswell in search of Brin with no such luck.
Suddenly, he heard a truck speed up...towards him, trying to kill him. He ran as fast as he could to not get hit but that didn't work. The truck hit his shoulder and whoever was in the truck shot his leg. He ran and hid in a garbage can and it worked. The people didn't find him. That was when he realized that he needed Liz's help, this wasn't about whether or not Liz would leave Roswell, if he knew Liz, she would do anything for her family. He started to run to Liz's house.

The girl was freezing cold in the freezer and decided to get out. She walked out of the store, only to be met with the men who were chasing her. She tried to run but they used tasers to knock her unconscious. One taser hit her and she fell down and blacked out. 'Zack, where are you?' was her last thought.

Liz was taking out the garbage behind the Crashdown when she heard someone moan. She quickly turned around and saw Zack...bleeding. She saw Zack's legs about to give way and caught him before he could fall.
She picked him up and brought him into her room.
She took out the first aid kit and tended to Zack's shoulder that was bleeding pretty badly. The good news was that he was healing fast. One of the advantages of being an X5.
When she finished his shoulder, she tended to his leg. She started to pull off his pants when she felt him grabbing her arm.
"My leg's fine Liz" Zack tried to reassure her.
"We can do this the hard way or the easy way" Liz threatened.
Zack realized that Liz was right and that it was no use arguing with her so he let her take off his pants.
He had to use all of his will power not to kiss her then and there for her touch was so seductive.
When Liz saw Zack's gunshot wound, she almost fainted. It was swollen up and bleeding badly, much more badly than his shoulder.
"What happened?" Liz asked as she cleaned his wound.
"Brin called me, said that she was in trouble. Lydecker was on her trail and I went to help her. When I was walking around Roswell trying to find her, some guys ran me over and tried to capture me. I ran here...looking for your help" Zack said softly.
"You've got my help, first, you need to rest" Liz ordered.
"I'm already healing Liz" Zack refused.
"I'm serious Zack, we may heal fast but you're still in pain"
"I'm fine, I'm not the one being chased down by Manticore, Brin is and we've gotta help her" Zack argued.
"Fine, let's go find Brin" Liz led Zack into the Crashdown where he was greeted by familiar faces.
"Sam?!" Isabel cried.
"Just keep on walking" Liz whispered to Zack.
They made it out of the Crashdown and found a motorcycle and hot-wired it and they drove away to find Brin.
They checked out every single place that Brin could be in but they couldn't find her. They went back to Liz's room.
"Where could she be?" Zack asked angrily.
"Zack, I know you don't wanna hear this, but what if she's been captured?" Liz said gently.
"I don't even wanna think about it" Zack muttered.
"Zack, Brin's my sister too. But what if she's been captured?"
"Then we'll get her out"
There was a moment of silence until Liz broke it.
"I'm gonna get you something to eat, stay here" Liz ordered and Zack obeyed.
Liz went downstairs and made an alien blast for Zack.

Suddenly, someone pulled her around. It was Michael...along with the gang.
"Liz, what's Sam doing back here?" Michael asked.
"He's just here to visit, nothing else, why?"
"Well, since he took off in such a hurry last time, we were just wondering" Tess said.
"Liz, are you done with the food?" Zack said as he came down the stairs.
Zack was greeted with Isabel, Tess, Maria, Alex, Michael and Max.
"Sam" Max said in a deathly tone.
"Max" Zack said in the same voice.
Liz looked between Max and Zack and a small ping was heard. It was the burger timer telling her that the burger was finished.
Liz took out the burger and added ketchup and other condiments to it and gave it to Zack.
"Sam, let's go" Liz urged.
"No, I wanna eat here, let's stay, unless it's a problem for you Max" Sam challenged.
"Why would it be a problem?" Max asked innocently.
"Good"
"Oh boy" Liz said under her breath.
They all walked into the diner and Liz and Sam/Zack sat at the counter while the rest sat at their usual booth, looking at Liz and Sam.
"What is with you?" Liz hissed at Zack.
"You don't hang out with them anymore do you?" Zack said all-knowingly.
"That's none of your business" Liz said rudely.
Zack ate his burger in silence while Liz thought of places that they haven't checked for Brin yet.
Suddenly, a risky idea popped into Liz's head.
"Zack?"
"What?" he said with his mouth full of the food.
"I have an idea to get Brin back"

Part 6
"So, what's your idea?" Zack asked.
"Well, since Manticore is in Albuquerque, Lydecker should be around here somewhere, so what I'm suggesting is that...we kidnap him and drill the info outta him"
"I like it but it's too risky, what if we get caught?"
"We won't, besides it's the only idea that I've got that'll help Brin, are you in, or are you out?" Liz asked.
"Anything for Brin" Zack responded.
"Good, here's the plan" and Liz started to fill Zack in on her plan.

"So, you know your part?" Liz asked Zack.
"No, I forgot" Zack replied sarcastically.
They drove to Albuquerque.
"Ok, get into position" and they got into position.
Liz got her innocent face on and got out her voice-manipulation device. She started to disguise herself, using makeup and other stuff so Lydecker couldn't tell who she was. She looked around for Lydecker, and bingo...she found him.
"Excuse me? Can I use your phone?" Liz politely asked, using her voice-manipulation device.
"My car broke down and I need to call the car service" Liz lied.
"Sure, help yourself" Lydecker gave her the phone and she dialed the number.
'Come on, Zack, do it already' she thought.
Boom.
Lydecker fell down and behind him was Zack who had just punched him unconscious.
"Plan into action" Zack said deviously.
They tied a blindfold onto him so that he wouldn't see their faces and they tied a VERY tight rope around his hands and legs so he couldn't escape, they also took out his weapons.
They drove to an abandoned warehouse and they shoved him into a chair and they waited for him to wake up. Finally, he woke up.
"So, you're finally awake" Zack said to Lydecker.
"Who is this?" Lydecker asked.
"An old friend...or should we say experiment?" Liz countered.
"I recognize that voice" Lydecker whispered.
"You should, 'can I use your phone?'" Liz taunted imitating the old voice.
"What do you want?" Lydecker asked.
"We want our sister back, what else?" Zack responded quite calmly.
"I don't have your sister" Lydecker told them.
"We're gonna have to do this the hard way, aren't we?" Zack asked.
Lydecker snorted, "I'm the one who taught you how to torture and torment, besides, soon, someone will realize that I'm missing and they'll move the location" Lydecker taunted.
"Tell us NOW!" Liz threatened as she moved to punch Lydecker.
Boom.
She punched Lydecker in the face and Lydecker was stung.
"Where is she?" Zack yelled.
"I don't have her" he answered truthfully.
"You expect us to believe that?"
"The committee hired a team to track X5 734 and they brought her into a military based area. You're crazy if you think you're gonna get her out"
"Just tell us where she is"
"You'll never go in there alive, you need clearance"
"Then we'll bring you" Liz said.
"Oh yeah, they'll let you in with me as a hostage, they'll shoot you on the spot" Lydecker said despite his pain.
"We're valuable, they'd never shoot us" Zack countered.
"They don't care that you're an X5, the committee paid more money than you're worth to hire them"
"Then we'll go with our previous plan" Liz said
. "And what was that?"
"Ya, what is that?" Zack whispered.
"We go with you...as your assistants"
"That means we have to reveal ourselves" Zack whispered.
"You want Brin back, you gotta take risks" Liz whispered back at him.
"Ok, get the blindfold off" Lydecker ordered.
"Don't order us around" Zack warned.
Liz inched closer to take off the blindfold and the ropes around his legs.
When the blindfold was off, Lydecker saw a man about 6'' tall with dirty blonde hair and a beautiful girl that has his ex-wife's eyes.
"Liz? Zack?" Lydecker guessed.
"Good guess" Zack said sarcastically.
"Let's go" and they shoved Lydecker into the car.
"You've grown so much" Lydecker said admirably.
"Shut up" Liz spat.
"I should've known it was you two, you were always together" Lydecker said.
"Shut up" Liz and Zack said.
They finally got to the base and they were at the clearance point.
"Clearance" a soldier said.
'Thank God this isn't Manticore' both Zack and Liz thought.
"Lydecker, here to pick up the girl" he showed the guard his ID card.
"You're clear" and the fences were up and they drove through.
"Don't double-cross us" Zack and Liz warned him.
They got out of the car and starting walking.
They opened the doors which led to the eating room where there were at least three dozen soldiers eating.
They went into the jail section and saw Brin, lying on a hospital-like bed with IVs around her and needles in her.
Zack got out his gun and pointed it to Lydecker's head.
"Open the cell" Liz ordered.
"Look at her, she's sick, we can cure her" Lydecker reasoned.
"What's wrong with her?" Zack questioned.
"She has progeria, a type of aging disease" Lydecker told them.
"Open the cell" Liz ordered and Lydecker obeyed.
Zack went inside and held Brin on his back.
"Do you really think that you're gonna make it out alive? You saw how many soldiers there are out there" Lydecker warned.
"We'll manage, now get into the cell" Liz ordered.
Lydecker got into the cell and they locked him up.
Liz used some military-hand motions to tell Zack to carry Brin and run through the eating room where all the soldiers were.
1...2...3...
And they ran through the eating room causing everyone to jump and get out their weapons. They were too late. Liz and Zack shot them all in 6 seconds.
They got into the car and drove away.
The soldier at the front gate was warned of the escape and closed the fences.
Liz saw that they closed the fences and pushed the gas pedal even harder and they drove right through the fence, crushing it.
They drove back to another abandoned warehouse and put Brin onto a table.
Liz held Brin's wrinkled hand, caused by the progeria.
"Brin?" Zack whispered.
"Zack? Liz?" Brin's voice was so ghostly and raspy.
"Are you ok?" Liz asked.
"I'm dying Lizzie" Brin said.
"No, you're not gonna die Brin, we're gonna find a way to get you back to your old self ok?" Zack said.
"It won't work, Manticore is the only place that has the cure, I heard them talking about transporting me to Manticore and curing me"
"We'll find a way" Liz promised.
"I have a way" Brin whispered.
"What?" Zack said.
"I go back to Manticore"
"What?" Liz yelped.
"Liz, Zack...I don't wanna die" Brin cried.
Liz and Zack looked at each other and they knew what they had to do, they just hoped they had the strength to do it.
Liz got out her cell phone and dialed Lydecker's number.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
"I knew you would call sooner or later" Lydecker said harshly.
"Shut up, I'm only calling you for Brin"
"Where do you want me to pick her up?" Lydecker asked.
"Pick her up at the waterfront near the Albuquerque Forest in an hour" and then Liz hung up.
"Brin, are you sure you wanna do this?" Zack asked.
"I'm sure, let's go" and they helped Brin into the car and drove to the location.

They set Brin down on a bench and held her tight, they only had 5 minutes with her before they had to give her up to Manticore.
"Lizzie?" Brin asked.
"I'm here" Liz said.
"I missed you so much, you too Zack" Brin cried.
Liz tried to fight back her tears but she failed and she suddenly hugged Brin with all her might.
"I missed you too sis" Liz whispered.
"I love you sis" Zack said.
"Zack, take care, don't overdo yourself"
Zack let one tear slip down his hard face. "I won't"
"We'll get you out of there Brin, I promise" Liz promised.
"You should go now, Lydecker's almost coming" Brin warned.
Liz and Zack got up and hugged their sister for the last time in a long time and went in the car.

5 mins. later...
Helicopters surrounded the area and it landed in front of Brin. Lydecker got out accompanied with 3 soldiers. They put Brin on a stretcher and carried her into the helicopter and took off.
Meanwhile, Liz and Zack were watching the whole thing. Liz was crying on Zack's shoulder and Zack just stared at the bench where Brin once was.

Part 7/Epilogue Zack and Liz are driving back to Roswell in the car they hot-wired. With Liz staring outside the window and Zack driving, not much was said for they were mourning for the sister they had lost.
Zack turned on the radio and a soft song began to play. It was Sheryl Crow's I SHALL BELIEVE
come to me
and lay your hands over me
even if it's a lie
say it will be alright
and I shall believe
I'm broken in two
and I know you're onto me
that I only come home
when I'm so all alone
but I shall believe
that not everything is gonna be the way you think it outta be
it seems like every time I try to make it right
it all comes down on me
please say honestly
you won't give up on me
and I shall believe
and I shall believe
The song seemed to portray every feeling that they were going through. The song just seemed to say it all.
"Do you think we made the right choice?" Liz whispered.
"It wasn't OUR choice to make" Zack said.
"We're gonna get her out someday, right Zack?"
"Count on it"
They spent the rest of the trip just listening to the radio.
They finally got to Roswell and Liz got out of the car.
"Zack...be careful, I don't want anything to happen to you too" Liz said.
"You too, now that Lydecker knows what you look like, you're gonna be in more danger than ever" and Zack drove off.

Zack's POV
"You too, now that Lydecker knows what you look like, you're gonna be in more danger than ever" I tell her and drive off.
I can't love you any more than I do. It took so much will power not to kiss you.
Just be careful Lizzie.

Liz's POV
He tells me that I'm in even more danger than ever. We just lost a sister and what does he do? He leaves me. Same old Zack.
I stand there just staring at the car as it drives off.
I keep on telling myself that we made the right decision, but then Zack's words just keep on repeating in my head. 'It wasn't OUR choice to make'.
But then again...there was no other choice.