Rating: G

Category: Liz/Maxwell

Disclaimers: The characters of Roswell belong to the WB, among others, I’m just borrowing them to tell a tale. The Little Prince belongs to Antoine de Saint-Exupery…and the world!

Summary: Following the “theory of relativity”…this takes place way (way) down the road. If you can’t remember the premise established in “relativity” I suggest a quick re-read.

Author’s notes/soapbox: I’m sorry but I just think that Liz has more of a backbone than the show sometimes gives her credit for. If Max ever has to go “home” - there is no way that she would let him stay…that’s the beauty of unconditional love. And if you haven’t read The Little Prince - go get yourself a copy! And if it’s been a while since you last read it - go get it and get reading! It truly is one of those books that should be re-read every now and then…to be reminded of how beautiful it is.

***

(Scene: An older Liz - 30ish - is sitting on the bed of her son - 5ish - finishing reading him a bed time story.)

Maxwell: Why does he leave, mamma?

Liz: Because he has to go home, sweetie.

Maxwell: Like daddy?

Liz: Yeah, just like daddy.

Maxwell: But you always say that Roswell is home.

Liz: Home is a lot of things…and different for every person.

Maxwell: Do I have a home?

Liz: You’re so special you have two homes.

Maxwell (in wonderment): Really?

Liz: You have a home here with me…and one with daddy.

Maxwell: Will I ever get to go to daddy’s?

Liz: Maybe someday.

Maxwell (thoughtfully): Did you love daddy?

Liz: I love daddy very much. One day you’ll love someone as much as daddy and I love each other.

Maxwell: But if he loved you why did he leave?

Liz: Sometimes, sweetie, loving someone means that that person’s happiness comes first.

Maxwell: That’s not fair…Doesn’t your happiness count?

Liz (smiling): That’s just what your father said. But I knew that loving your father meant that one-day I might have to let him go. (Maxwell frowns) It’s like the fox…Do you remember what the little prince does to the fox?

Maxwell: He tames him.

Liz: That’s right. And what does he say? (Quoting the book from memory) “If you tame me, it will be as if the sun came to shine on my life. I shall know the sound of a step that will be different from all the others…Yours will call me, like music, out of my burrow. And then look: see the grain-fields down yonder?…Wheat is of no use to me. The wheat fields have nothing to say to me. And that is sad. But you have hair that is the color of gold. Think how wonderful that will be when you have tamed me! The grain, which is also golden, will bring me back the thought of you.”

Maxwell (protesting): But he leaves the fox.

Liz: Here, you read. (She turns to the page and holds the book in front of him)

Maxwell (reading from the book making up voices to go with the characters): “Ah,” said the fox. “I shall cry.”

“It is your own fault,” said the little prince. “I never wished you any sort of harm, but you wanted me to tame you…”

“Yes, that is so,” said the fox.

“But now you are going to cry!” said the little prince.

“Yes, that is so,” said the fox.

“Then it has done you no good at all!”

“It has done me good,” said the fox, “because of the color of the wheat fields.”

(Maxwell looks up at his mother as she pulls the book away from him)

Liz: And loving your father has done me good…because of you. You bring me back the thought of your daddy everyday.

Maxwell (after a pause): Do you think he loves me?

Liz: Oh, sweetie, he loves you very much.

Maxwell: But he doesn’t know me.

Liz: He sees you every night.

Maxwell: Really?

Liz: Why do you think the stars twinkle? That’s daddy smiling at you. And if you’re really quiet and you listen with your heart you’ll hear him tell you he loves you.

Maxwell: Really?

Liz: Really! Just like the little prince looks up at the stars and has five hundred million springs of fresh water - you have five hundred million smiles from your daddy.

Maxwell: What do you have?

Liz: I have five hundred million kisses from daddy.

Maxwell: Will he ever come back?

Liz: Maybe someday.

Maxwell: Do you think I’ll know him?

Liz: You’ll know him.

Maxwell: How?

Liz: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” You’ll just know. (She puts the book away)

Maxwell: Will you read it again?

Liz: Tomorrow.

Maxwell: Please!

Liz: It’s already past your bedtime and tomorrow is school.

Maxwell: Just one more time.

Liz: I promise tomorrow we’ll read it as many times as you want.

Maxwell: Okay…as many times?

Liz: As many times. (She tucks him in and kisses him on the forehead. He looks up at her with the eyes of his father and asks)

Maxwell: Have you tamed me, mamma?

Liz (smiling down at him): No, sweetie, you’ve tamed me…just like your daddy.

Maxwell: I love you.

Liz: And I love you. (She turns out the lights and looks back at him from the door - under her breath) Good night, my little prince.

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