The Anti-Emo

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Title: Sometimes Goodbye Isn't Forever
Characters: Greg Sanders, Isabel Evans
Rating: PG
Author's Note: So if you haven't noticed, there's a lot of emo going around right now with all the goodbyes. So I had to write something with a happy ending. It's potentially schmoopy but I think we all need it. Much love to mparker17, time_agent, and soldtoarmenians for handholding and encouragement.



She wasn't certain how long she sat in the rented jeep staring at the official looking building. But one thing Isabel did know was that waiting wasn't going to make it any easier.

Tilting her head back to rest against the back of the driver's seat, she mentally cursed Parker. "Go," she'd said. "He'd want to see you." Like it was so simple to walk up and say hello to someone who probably thought you were dead. Still, it wasn't as if she had anything else to do, or anywhere else to be. There had been little left when she'd returned to Roswell. Her parents were dead, killed in a car accident two years after they'd left. Liz and Maria had moved on and found lives of their own. Maria was singing in LA, Liz teaching biology in New York. Kyle and his Dad were the only ones left. Isabel had been surprised to find that Kyle was following the family legacy as a member of the Roswell Sheriff's Department but in an odd way, it made sense. But they weren’t enough to keep her there, haunted by memories. Instead she’d flown across the country and shown up on Parker’s doorstep.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed her hair back and got out of the jeep and headed towards the door.

Ten minutes later she was back in the parking lot. He wasn't there and the false courage she'd been depending on deserted her in face of an extended wait. Not sure what to do next, she headed towards the jeep.

"Isabel?"

Isabel stopped, biting her lip and briefly closing her eyes. His voice was a little deeper, but she still would have recognized it anywhere. She turned around and gave him a small, hesitant smile. "Hi Greg."

He boggled for a minute and she took the opportunity to study him. Gone was the spiky hair she remembered. Now it was longer and a little curlier. Dressed more formally in a dark jacket, she couldn't help but wonder what else had changed in the years she was gone.

"You're here." Greg stepped a little closer, still staring at her with a look of disbelief. "I thought…It's been so long."

She nodded, sticking her hands in her pockets to keep from reaching out to him. "I am. It has. But it's all over now."

"It is?" he asked. "You did it?"

"Yeah, we did." Isabel just didn't like to think about at what cost. "I got back a few weeks ago."

"That's wonderful!" Greg exclaimed, catching her in a hug. Caught by surprise, she didn't have time to react before he stepped back. "Sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"It's okay," She tried to be casual, to not let on how long it had been since she'd had a simple hug. "How have you been?"

"I've been good," he replied before turning to the dark haired woman who'd been watching them. "Sara, I'll catch up with you later okay?" Greg waved as Sara nodded and turned away before focusing on Isabel once again. "Can I buy you lunch? Or do you have to get going?"

"No, that'd be nice," Isabel smiled. "I've got time."

"Good. My car is this way. I'll drive."' He rested his hand carefully on the small of her back and guided her towards a black SUV.

****

"I hope you don’t mind a picnic," Greg said as he led the way to a picnic bench in the shade. "I figured it would be easier to talk here. We wouldn't have to worry about anyone overhearing and wondering." Setting the bag down, he started to pull out bottles of water and wrapped sandwiches. "So tell me what happened after you left."

Isabel had been mostly quiet during the trip to the deli and then to the park. It was easier to listen to Greg talk about what he'd done since she'd last seen him, just after graduation from Fandom, then it was to explain everything that had happened on Antar. Unfortunately it looked like now it was her turn to talk. Opening her bottle of water, she took a drink. "Not much, we got there, did what we had to do and then I left."

"And that's all you did?" he asked, his eyebrow raised. "For thirteen years? What was it like? Were they glad to see you? Were you in danger? Did you get hurt?"

Focusing on unwrapping her sandwich meant Isabel didn't have to meet Greg's gaze. "It was different. Alien, even. In some ways they were," she said quietly. "As for being in danger, there was some. How could there not be?"

"You didn't answer my question," Greg pointed out, eyes dark with concern. "Did you get hurt?"

"No. I didn't," she assured him. At least not physically, Isabel thought. But she didn't think Greg would understand and she wasn't ready to try and explain. "Most of the time I stayed in the rear. It was safer there." And they could also keep an eye on her. Kivar's claims that Vilandra had betrayed her brother meant that for the longest time none of the Royalist rebels had trusted her, despite Max's insistence and belief in her innocence.

"Good. I worried a lot," he admitted with a shy smile. "Especially when we never heard from you."

"I'm sorry. In the beginning there was no time, and no way," Isabel explained. "Kivar's people were in control of the technology we would have needed. Later, when it would have been possible…" She shrugged, "It had been so long, I didn't think anyone would care."

Greg reached over and covered her hand. "I would have cared."

"I know," she said quietly, holding her hand very still. "I just didn't want to interrupt your life. What was I supposed to say? 'We're having a wonderful time. Wish you were here?'"

"It would have been better then thinking you were dead."

Isabel looked down, studying the graffiti carved into the table top. "I'm sorry," she said quietly.

Greg squeezed her hand gently before letting it go. "I'll forgive you. This time. But don't let it happen again."

Her answering laugh had just a trace of bitterness. "Trust me, it won't. I'm here to stay."

"You won't be going back?" Greg asked curiously.

"They don't need me now. And Earth is really the place I want to call home."

He smiled, "Be it ever so humble?"

"Yeah, something like that," Isabel said, forcing a smile. "So tell me about your time in New York. What was it like? See any superheroes climbing up the walls?"

***

Two days later, Isabel added several packets of sugar to her yogurt and stirred as Greg watched and shook his head. "What? You've seen me do this before."

"I did. And I probably had the same expression on my face then," he laughed. "Do you still go through bottles of Tabasco at an alarming rate?"

"Since I've been back? Yes. I missed it while I was gone."

"What was the food like?" Greg asked as he picked up a piece of toast.

Isabel made a face. "Different. Very different. There were times I would have killed for an ice cream sundae loaded with hot fudge and Tabasco."

"We can indulge tonight if you'd like," he offered.

She almost said yes immediately, but then hesitated, not wanting to monopolize Greg's time off. "Are you sure there's nothing else you need to do? I feel like I've been taking up a lot of your time. Lunch for two days, breakfast now, than biking. There's got to be something else you'd rather do tonight."

"I like spending time with you," Greg said, his voice light.

"Same here," Isabel admitted. "I just wanted to make sure I wasn't keeping you from anything." She left or anyone unspoken.

Casually Greg nudged her foot under the table, "You're not. There's no one I'd rather be with right now." Idly he stirred his coffee. "You haven't said how long you're staying around. I figure I need to make the most of it while you're here."

"I've got the room through the end of the week," she said. "After that? I don't know. I need to get some things figured out."

"Like what?"

Isabel shrugged. "Like what I'm going to do with the rest of my life. I'm not sure how I'm going to explain missing thirteen years, although Parker did say she might be able to help with that," she said quietly, looking out the window of the small coffee shop to busy sidewalk. "I'm thirty-two years old and suddenly my life belongs to me. I never really thought that would happen."

Greg reached across the table to lightly brush his fingers over her hand. "Who said you have to figure it out now? Go home to Roswell and spend time with your family. Relax."

"I can't," she said quietly.

"Why not? Your parents must be thrilled that you're home."

She shook her head sadly, "They died."

"Oh Isabel, I'm sorry." He moved from his side of the booth and slid in next to her, carefully draping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. "What happened?"

Isabel relaxed against him, closing her eyes and resting her head against his shoulder. She tried not to think about how often they'd sat like this in happier times. "A car accident, two years after we left."

"What about Max? Michael? They must be trying to figure out the same thing."

Swallowing hard, Isabel pulled away. "Can we go now? Please?" She knew it was obvious she was avoiding the question. She could only hope Greg would understand.

Eyes dark with concern, Greg nodded. "Sure. Are you still up for biking?" he asked hesitantly as he got up from the table.

"Yes," Isabel replied with a weak smile. "I'd like that.

"Good, you'll like where we're going. It's pretty." He waited for her to get up from the table, than led the way out the door.

****

It was pretty Isabel decided, pulling her bike to the side of the path. "I need to get back into shape."

"You're doing fine. This is hard work." Greg said as he stopped beside her. "Want to take a break?

"You don't mind?" she asked, already getting off her bike. There was a large flat rock with a view of the canyon nearby. Isabel clambered to the top of it and stretched out on the sun-warmed rock. Greg followed, dropping to sprawl facedown next to her. "I'm napping. Wake me later."

Smiling, Isabel laughed. "That sounds nice. But don't we have to worry about being eaten by bears or something?"

"Nah," he replied, eyes still closed. "The biggest thing we have to worry about is mountain lions. And I've got pepper spray."

"If you say so." She closed her eyes and relaxed, enjoying just being, with no threats to worry about or decisions to make.

"Isabel?" Greg asked quietly a while later.

Half asleep in the warm sun, Isabel almost didn't hear him. "Hmmm?" she murmured, turning her head to the side and blinking.

"What happened to Max and Michael?"

That cleared the fuzziness from her brain. Isabel sat up and drew in on herself, wrapping her arms tightly around her legs. Greg pushed upright and sat next to her, close, but not touching. "Tell me," he said. "I want to know."

"They're dead."

He nodded, "What happened?"

"Michael was killed five years ago in one of the final battles," she said quietly. "He tried to rescue one of the members of his team. But he was wounded and Max wasn't there to heal him."

"What about Max?"

"Two years ago there was an accident with a transport. There were no survivors." Isabel sighed and rested her head on her knees. "That hurts the most. The war was over by then. We'd won, restored Max to the throne, and were actually in the process of setting up a government that wouldn't need him. We wanted to come home. After that, I stayed long enough to help get the new government elected. Then I had them send me home."

Greg slid a little closer to her, carefully resting a hand on her back. "Where did you go when you got back?"

Grateful for the contact, Isabel leaned shifted, leaning into him. "To Roswell, of course. Home. Except when I knocked on the door, a stranger answered it. Then I went to find Jim because I knew he'd never leave Roswell. He hadn't. He and Kyle filled me on everything that had happened and gave me a place to stay for a few days while I tried to figure out what to do. After a week I left and went to Delaware. Parker was surprised when I showed up on her doorstep." She chuckled at the memory. "The first words she said to me? 'It's about time you showed up.'"

"I'd have to agree with her," he said, gently rubbing her back.

"You and me both," Isabel nodded. "I stayed with her for a few weeks, but it wasn't real. It was too easy to hide there. In the interest of keeping me from dissolving into a completely emo mess she offered to send me on a trip." She chuckled, "Parker's one hell of a travel agent. I had my choice of here, Peter in New York, Angel in LA, John and Aeryn in Maine or even Xander in London. I picked here."

Greg smiled warmly, wrapping his arm around her shoulder to pull her close. "I'm glad you did."

"So am I," she admitted, shivering slightly as Greg softly kissed her temple.

"You okay?"

"I'm good," Isabel promised. "Thank you for listening."

"Anytime," he said. "Feel like biking some more?"

"Can we sit? Just for awhile?" she asked quietly. "I like this."

Squeezing her shoulder gently, Greg smiled. "We'll stay as long as you'd like."

****
Three days later, Isabel moved about Greg's kitchen, cooking dinner as she waited for him to come home. Oddly she felt nervous, something she hadn't felt since the first day she'd gotten to Vegas. Thinking it over she realized it probably had to do with the fact that she was scheduled to leave the next day and other then a very brief conversation about the time of her flight, they really hadn't talked about it.

As she chopped vegetables for the salad, Isabel couldn't help but think over the week. She was glad she'd come. It was wonderful to see Greg again, and it was made even better by how easily they'd gotten along, almost as if thirteen years hadn't passed. After biking they'd wound up spending almost every minute of Greg's free time together, talking, watching movies, and just enjoying being together.

"Something smells good," a voice in her ear whispered.

Startled, Isabel turned, bringing her hand up to defend herself in necessary. She dropped it as Greg stepped back, holding up his own hands. "Sorry, I thought you heard me come in."

"I was thinking," she admitted, smiling sheepishly. "Plus, music."

"Ah yes, music." Greg tugged her close and started to sway. "We haven't danced in a long time."

"A very long time," Isabel agreed, loosely draping her arms around his neck. "We've got a few minutes until dinner's ready."

"Good."

They swayed silently for several minutes, until Greg pulled back slightly. "I'm going to do something I've wanted to do since I first saw you in that parking lot. Don't be mad." Without waiting for her to respond, he leaned down and covered her lips with his own, kissing her gently.

Greg drew back, and Isabel shook her head, trying to clear the pleasant haze from her head. "I'm not mad," she smiled, tipping her face into his hand as Greg pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "I've forgotten how nice…" Face red, her voice trailed off.

"Forgotten?" he asked. "There had to be someone there who caught your eye."

Isabel pulled away, turning to the stove and the last few preparations for dinner. "There wasn't. Ever. The last time I kissed someone was when we said goodbye."

"That's horrible," Greg said. "I don't understand. Why?"

"Because we were more alien there then we ever were on earth. We knew nothing of the language, the culture; we looked different." Isabel placed the lid on the pot and turned off the stove. "Sometimes I wonder how they managed to accept Max and Michael as leaders. But they did."

"What about you?" Greg asked, pulling her back to lean against him. "Weren't you a leader as well?"

"No," she said quietly. "They'd all heard Kivar's stories about how I betrayed Max to him. It was a long, long time before any of them would trust me."

"But you didn't."

Isabel shrugged, than turned to rest her head against Greg's shoulder. "I know that. And Max and Michael knew that. That's all that mattered. So I kept busy, looking after the children, trying to stay out of the way."

Greg boggled. "But you went to help them. How could they not…"

Reaching up, Isabel pressed a finger over his lips. "They did eventually. And after Max died, I was the last royal. They had to work with me. Fortunately by then, I'd manage to earn their respect. But when everything with the government was settled, that's why I left. There was nothing to hold me there. No reason to stay."

"And yet you're leaving tomorrow," he said quietly.

"What?" she asked, confused by the change in subject.

"You're leaving tomorrow, when there's every reason for you to stay," Greg insisted.

"I can't," Isabel insisted.

"Why not? There's not going to be anyone waiting for you when you get off that plane," he pointed out.

She ducked her head, not wanting to admit the truth. That Greg was right.

"Isabel," Greg said softly, reaching out for her hand. "Stay here. With me. I was crazy about you when I was sixteen. This week has proved to me that I still am."

"But it's not that easy," she said, voice trembling. "We're not in high school. It's been too long. We can't just pick up where we left off."

"Then we do it slow." He pulled her close, pushing back her hair. "Baby steps. We've done it before."

"Where will I stay? I can't ask Parker to put me up in that hotel indefinitely."

Greg laughed softly as he kissed her temple. "Stay here. There's a second bedroom. You can stay there until you get a place of your own."

Isabel was finding it hard not to just say yes. She made one last attempt at protesting. "But you have a life. You don't need me interrupting it."

"No," he countered. "I need you sharing it."

"We've got to be nuts," Isabel sighed, resting against him.

"We are, but we'll make it work," Greg promised holding her close. "We've got all the time we need now."

Isabel smiled and wrapped her arms around him. "Yeah, I guess we do."