quite belong since I've only known her such a short time, but I was glad that she invited us.» She surveyed the crowd quickly. «It's funny that we're the only fierce black sisters here though," she said smiling. «Aw, I don't think it's tokenism," Valenti said. «But I do know that Liz appreciated everything you did for us. You put a lot on the line.» He paused for a moment, then asked, «How have things shaken down for you at the Bureau?» «No problems I couldn't handle," Duff said. «Since no one in the Special Unit quite knows what happened anymore, they can't implicate me in anything. As far as my superiors know, I had an emergency personal situation arise and I went off to take care of it. It helps to have friends in the Bureau as well.» She made air quotes with her fingers. «Langley got me in touch with a few 'special' agents.» Valenti nodded. He knew exactly what she meant. It had been a surprise to find out how many aliens actually did live amongst mankind, and where they had been «placed," even though he had spent so much of his life looking for proof that had been all around him. «So, what's the word on the Special Unit?» he asked Duff. «The Special Unit is being erased very quickly," Duff said. «The few files that weren't destroyed right after Langley's brain bomb went off are being classified or buried, and the agents associated with them are being questioned and debriefed as we speak. In a year or two, the stuff we gave Brody might be the only proof that the Unit even existed.» Valenti nodded. The news didn't come as a surprise to him, but it also didn't make him particularly happy. «So it's government cover-up time again?» «Such is the way of things in my line of work," Duff said, a hint of resignation in her voice. «I've got mixed feelings about it," Valenti said. «The purpose of the group needs to be erased, but it feels wrong covering up all the consequences of its existence. Just sweeping the Special Unit under the rug is sort of like forgetting about the Holocaust.» «Hey, you're preaching to the choir," Duff said, holding up a hand and grinning. «Member of two minority groups here, remember? There's been a lot of oppression of both African-Americans and gay people over the years that will never make the history books.» She pointed over toward Liz and the others. «But it's them we're protecting, Jim. Not the government agents who tried to destroy their lives.» Valenti liked Duff's no-nonsense view of things. He was about to agree with her, when Kal Langley ambled over, eating what appeared to be a jelly doughnut smothered in Tabasco sauce. «Speaking of protecting," Jim said, gesturing toward the producer. He was gratified to see that Langley had finally decided to take up his responsibilities in looking out for the Royal Four. He knew that Langley had initially aided them as a result of Max's commands; now he suspected that the trials of fighting the Special Unit had revived Langley's sense of duty toward his onetime charges. «What are you two plotting over here?» Langley asked with a smirk. «Nothing less than the deception of the government in exchange for a trauma-free future for these kids," Duff said. «Deception. I like that," Langley said. «I've been known to dabble in that myself from time to time.» «Speaking of which," Duff said. «I imagine that the word about our abortive 'alien expose' has reached some of your human media contacts. They must have been curious when the story didn't go anywhere. What did you tell them?» Langley pointed around the crowd toward some of the members of his photo and video crew. «Well, a few of them were already 'in the loop' and knew the score. Those who weren't… well, I am a big-shot Hollywood producer. It just so happens that I was also filming a strange combination between a science-fiction pilot and an improv reality show.» He raised an eyebrow, and added, «The real-time special effects were pretty intense, but I think we're gonna scrap the footage anyhow. Wasn't quite what I wanted.» Valenti laughed. «Guess my craggy mug isn't exactly close-up material.» «Au contraire, Deputy," Langley said. «I think your craggy features are quite handsome. And you know, I might have a role for you in this upcoming show I'm thinking of doing.» He held his hands out to either side with thumbs up, as if framing the vista in front of him. «I'm thinking of pitching a series about these alien kids who are stranded on Earth. They look normal, but because they're part alien, they feel different from all the other kids. It's kind of an alienation thing, so all the kids who feel different can identify. And there's this sheriff who at first is trying to chase them, and then becomes the protector that they should have had from the beginning. I figure either the WB or UPN would be a lock for the series. Whattaya think?» Valenti cocked an eyebrow. «So you'd want me for the part of the sheriff?» Langley patted him on the shoulder. «I don't even know if you can act, Deputy Valenti. I was more thinking of you as a technical advisor. Now I think Michael Guerin, on the other hand, has a real future as an actor. My people are already talking to his people, as they say.» Duff and Valenti laughed heartily, and moments later, Langley joined in. Maria brought a piece of wedding cake over to Sydney and Brody, then sat down in one of the plastic lawn chairs that had been set up on the sidewalk. It felt funny to be serving someone food in front of the Crashdown, rather than inside. And it seemed that an eternity had passed since she had spent her days there, waitressing in that awful limegreen dress with the silver alien apron and the bobblingalien-antennae headband. «Here you go, Sydney," Maria said, handing the girl the cake. «I got you a piece with the biggest pink rose I could find.» «Thank you, Auntie Maria," the little girl said, beaming, then sat down in the chair to consume the sweets. «Yes, thanks," Brody said, accepting his piece of cake from Maria. «I was getting a mite peckish myself. You wouldn't want to get me a Blue Moon Burger and some Orbit Rings, too, would you?» «Don't push it, Brody," Maria said with an evil grin. «Your charming British accent can charm a girl only so far.» Brody smiled at her and took a bite of cake, then surveyed the crowd. Maria watched his gaze, and saw the UFO Center was behind where Max and Liz and some of their friends were standing. «So, how are you feeling?» she asked, lowering her voice. «You know, about knowing the truth now?» Brody screwed his mouth around to one side, then the other, and finally shrugged. «It's funny. It's been inside me for so long, the knowledge that all this alien business is real, that the things I've pursued and been afraid of and dreamed about are all real. And now that I know it, I'm not scared of it anymore.» He paused for a moment, then added, «And I'm not even sure I want to pursue it any longer.» «What do you mean?» Maria asked. «Well, now that Max has blocked me off from being 'abducted' by Larek ever again, I can go back to wondering and exploring. The mysteries of the universe offer far more possibilities than the established truths. But even closer to home than that, the mysteries of this world offer many possibilities as well. And I think I want to go explore them.» Maria smiled, gesturing with her fork over toward Laurie Dupree. «With Laurie?» Brody seemed only a little surprised at the question. «Is it that obvious?» Maria shook her head. «Naw. But when you're one of the few people who's been dealing with this mess as much as I have, you learn to pick up on these things. The Czechoslovakians have changed all our lives," she said, using the pet code-name that she and Liz and Alex had always used for discreet reference to their half-alien friends. «It makes sense that you'd go for a smart woman who's not going to think you're crazy. And since I'm not available, you'll just have to go with Laurie.» «Auntie Maria, look at this!» Sydney was balancing the rose made of frosting on her fork, eyeing it as if trying to determine whether the whole thing would fit into her mouth. Brody reached over and squeezed Maria's hand. «Thank you," he said simply. Liz bent forward slightly and tensed her arm. She hadn't gotten to do this when they'd been «married» before, since the ceremony had been done so quickly, and because they'd had to fudge a few of the legal details while the Special Unit had been on their tails. But now, here she was, on her «real» wedding day and about to partake of a ritual that she always dreamed about. And then, abruptly releasing the tension in her arm, Liz threw the bouquet of flowers over her shoulder and high into the air. She turned quickly, a smile on her face, to see who would catch it. Her friends and family were gathered around, with all of the unmarried females reaching up to catch the flowers. Even little Sydney Davis was jumping as high as she could. The bouquet bounced off of Maria's hand, and went sailing over Laurie Dupree's head. A squeal of delight rang out, and the crowd parted to reveal the lucky woman who had caught the bouquet. Amy DeLuca. Maria was the first to laugh, saying, «Now maybe you and Valenti can stop living in sin, Mom!» Nearby, Kyle laughed heartily as well, and others joined in. Liz saw Jim Valenti separate from another knot of wedding guests and move toward Amy. As always, he had on his cowboy hat, but this time he was also wearing a big smile. Valenti dropped to one knee in front of Amy and doffed his cowboy hat. He fiddled inside it for a moment, extracting something, and then took Amy's hand. «Amy DeLuca, I would be most honored if you would consent to be my wife.» He held up an engagement ring, and smiled up at her. Amy smiled and crouched next to him. «You know, it's been my policy for the past few years never to hold too closely with rules and traditions.» Valenti immediately looked crestfallen, but a moment later, Amy grinned and added, «But my policy is a rule, so I can't exactly follow that now, can I? So… yes!» The group around them erupted in more clapping, whistles, and cat-calls. Isabel picked up a stack of soiled cake plates and used forks and prepared to take them into the Crashdown. «You don't need to clean up, Isabel," Nancy Parker said. «It's okay, Mrs. Parker," Isabel said. «You guys have more important things to think about than cleanup duties.» «Okay, if you insist," Nancy said, smiling at her. Isabel entered the restaurant and placed the plates and forks near the far end of the counter. It was nice to get away from the crowd for a moment and have a quiet moment to herself. «Do you want me to leave then too?» a voice asked her. Isabel whirled and saw him sitting there, next to the window, where he could look out at the others. «Alex?» «Hey," he said, smiling. «The wedding was really something, huh?» She slipped into the seat across from him and tried to take his hand. It was insubstantial, and her hand passed right through it. «You've been here the whole time?» «Here and there," Alex said. «I've been with you all at various times. Sort of rooting for you.» He gestured toward the crowd outside. «Some of them just don't know I'm here.» «Why can 1 always see you?» Isabel asked. «I don't know. Maybe it's because you and I were supposed to be the ones who got together? Maybe it's because your power threads the line between the waking world and the unconscious?» Isabel felt a pang of guilt stab her in the heart. «Were we meant to be together, Alex?» He shrugged. «Maybe. I don't know for sure. It certainly seemed like that was in the cards for us, before everything went wrong.» He looked out the window and gestured toward Jesse. «But he's right for you, too, Isabel. He's sacrificed a lot for you.» Isabel nodded slowly. «Maybe we could have been something if I hadn't been " «Shhhh," Alex said, putting his ghostly hands on top of hers. She felt a slight tingle at his ethereal touch. «Don't torture yourself over might-have-beens. I don't want you living with regrets.» He paused for a moment, then said, «I'm going away now, Isabel. There's something wonderful waiting for me, and it's time for me to let go of all of you.» Isabel could feel tears sliding down her cheeks. «Wait for just a moment, please.» When Alex nodded, she slid off the chair and exited the Crashdown. She made her way over to Liz and Maria and touched them both on the shoulders. «I need you both to come with me. Now.» They followed her without a word, though she saw the flickers of doubt on their faces. She brought them back into the Crashdown and turned to them. «Give me your hands," Isabel said, and they complied, though with curious expressions on their faces. Isabel sent a pulse of her power out to her friends, willing them to see what she had. Liz gasped first. «Alex?» «Hi, Liz. You look beautiful.» Alex smiled from nearby, where he stood beside the kitchen door. «What are you doing here?» Maria asked, tears in her eyes. «Saying good-bye to my best friends in the whole world," Alex said. «I guess you could say that I've tried to be your guardian angel, but you don't need one of those anymore. And I have to go now.» He smiled at them. «Liz, Maria, Isabel… you're going to be safe. You're going to be happy. You're going to do great things. And you will always, always be loved.» «What's it like?» Liz asked. «Where you are?» «I can't really say," Alex said, almost smirking. «I think it's best not to be in too big a hurry to find out.» Alex paused, then said, «Close your eyes.» Isabel watched Liz and Maria close their eyes, and then followed suit herself. A moment later, Isabel felt as though a wind had blown right through her. Not a chilling wind or even a real movement of air. Instead, it felt colorful and energizing and joyous and cleansing, all at once. Isabel felt the tears on her cheeks dry in an instant, and the sadness in her heart was replaced by a blossom of something that felt very much like… hope? Isabel opened her eyes, as did Maria and Liz. They were smiling now, not in happiness, but in acceptance. And she knew as she knew they did that Alex would be a part of each of them forever. Kyle saw Ava sitting off to the side, away from everyone else. She looked beautiful, but sad. He walked over to her, bringing a glass of fruit punch and a bottle of Tabasco sauce. «Here you go," he said, setting the items down on the table beside her. «House specialty. I hear it's an acquired taste.» She smiled at him shyly, and he could sense that she was a bit surprised by his kindness. «Back in New York, we were partial to mixing in chili powder. They didn't have as much Tabasco there as they seem to have out here.» «Yeah, it is more of a Southwestern thang," Kyle said with an exaggerated drawl. «So, what do you think of all this? You seem to be sitting as far as you can from the festivities.» «Well, I still don't know why they invited me," Ava said. «Don't get me wrong. Everyone's been so nice to me. The Evanses have even offered to let me stay with them for a while. But I can feel everyone looking at me out of the corners of their eyes. They don't trust me. They think I'm going to be… her.» Kyle shook his head. «I don't think Liz is afraid of you. I mean, I know she just married your husband from Antar and all, but I'm not sensing a jealous ex-wife thing going on in your head.» He grinned. «How do you know what's going on in my head?» Ava asked. «I was linked up with you for a while," Kyle said. «Back when we were fighting the Special Unit. I saw you the real you.» He took her hand in his. «I know you aren't Tess. I know you would never mindwarp us. I know that you're the Ava that Max or King Zan married back on his homeworld, the Ava that loved him for what he represented, and who helped the people she governed. You're a good person, Ava. You're not Tess.» Kyle looked her directly in the eye and smiled. «They're all willing to give you the chance, Ava. And I'm willing to help you.» He paused, then added, «And before my little speech starts getting too sappy, I'm going to make you promise that if my powers do come back, that you'll help me figure out how to use them.» «You've got a deal," Ava said, squeezing his hand. Her smile was radiant. «There you are," Michael said as he finally caught up to Maria. He had been looking for her for several minutes now. «Where have you been?» She smiled at him, but he could tell she had been crying. «I was inside the Crashdown. What's up?» «Come over here and sit down for a minute," he said, pointing to some folding chairs. «Uh-oh," she said. «This doesn't sound good, Spaceboy.» Michael sighed as he sat down. He was determined not to let her jagged little barbs get to him. «I have something to talk to you about. Kal Langley asked