Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Jason or Melinda, please don't sue me.
Summary: Sort little tale of what could happen after 'Destiny'
Category: Alex and Isabel

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Alex sat back on the smooth granite surface, his head pointed directly upward at the star filled night. He found himself coming out here every night since "the four" has all split off to find their so-called 'Destiny.' Memories of the few happy times he and Isabel spent sitting out here in the middle of nowhere on this weird couch shaped rock she found, made him feel whole again. The façade of those memories usually wore out as the night went on, but he let the beauty of the celestial heavens make up for it. He'd never really appreciated that beauty before, not before she entered into his life…well more than just that longing from across the hall he was accustomed to. He chuckled sadly as his fingers traced the book, the one he gave her before being saddled with 'suffocating.' Glancing at his surroundings, he took small comfort that no one probably had ever set foot here. Well no one from Roswell at least, and they shouldn't have anyway, it was miles outside of town and a few more off the highway…it was their spot.

"Our spot," he sighed.

He almost started thinking of it as his spot now; she never came out here anymore. Not since…*sigh* Alex almost enjoyed the silence it brought, before the loneliness kicked in that is. He wished for those nights where she'd be snuggled up in his arms on their rock, doing the whole stargazing thing. Her head would rest on his chest as she pointed almost giddily at the constellations she'd memorized. He always paid attention like any good boyfriend would have. He cherished almost every moment they spent together, mostly due to the fact that in the back of his mind he knew something like this would happen. That some weird alien thing would rip the six apart, it was easily explained in one four letter word… "Tess." It wasn't like Alex to put the blame all on one person though, and he didn't. Tess wasn't the cause of their destiny; she merely made them aware of it. That is what he blamed her for. Hadn't she ever heard ignorance is bliss? That everyone was finally happy paired off in their own little worlds? No, she had to come and play miss molly fate barer with all of them.

He let out another deep sigh and calmed his rising anger. This wasn't the place to be angry, it was supposed to be a happy spot. The thought of he and Isabel's numerous kisses out here made him smile. The grin quickly vanished as his eyes met with the familiar V-shaped star formation. Silently cursing it, he shifted his legs to get more comfortable. It was going to be another long haul out here tonight.

"Aries, my man," he said aloud. "Not to trash your righteous godliness or anything, but your taste in constellations sucks."

He let his mind wander again, soon to be so lost in thought he didn't hear the jeep pull up a few hundred feet away.

"Thought I might find you here," she said walking up.

When he didn't respond, she hesitated. Maybe she wasn't welcome here anymore; this was sacred land to Alex. He called it the "prized territory" their own safe special place blocked off from the rest of the world. Her uneasiness misted away when she remembered that she was the one who found this place, she was the one who found that rock he so pleasantly sprawled himself out on. It was her place too and she was welcome any damn time she pleased.

"Alex," she said in a louder voice. "What are you doing out here by yourself?"

He finally became aware of her presence and turned his head in her direction.

"Isabel," he said calmly, almost too calm for her liking. "I could be asking you the same thing."

"Well I never figured you for the lone brooder type," she replied.

"Things change," he said. "You of all people should know that."

She opened her mouth for a retort but found nothing there, instead she repeated her earlier question.

"What are you doing out here?"

"The only you can do out here," he said matter-of-factly.

"What's that?" she asked.

He tuned his eyes to meet hers, and she saw some of the coolness fade out from them.

"Stargazing," he said lightly before turning his attention back to the endless blanket of the night.

"Oh," she said casting her look down to her shoes. "Can I ask why?"

"Helps me find solace," he said in that cool tone again. "It's so peaceful up there, I think maybe I can find a little down here."

"Are you still mad about this whole betrothed thing between Michael and I?" she questioned him with a concerned glare. Only to realize it did no good, he wasn't even looking at her. A first in her mind.

"Not mad," he said. "A little disappointed, but not mad."

"Disappointed?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Well, I look at Max." he replied. "I mean he fought this 'Destiny' business kicking and screaming. Reassuring Liz that she was the only one for him. She told me about how he still pushed Tess away even after that vision of your mother told them it was meant to be. I look at him fighting it to the very end; hell he's still fighting it. But you and Michael…"

"What about me and Michael?"

"You didn't even raise your voices, Isabel…" he trailed off. "That was the most passive I've ever seen you in my life. You didn't fight, you didn't do anything. Just sat back and let it happen, not caring about how it could affect Maria or me. Do you even know how hard it was for her? Michael finally has the guts to state what most of us have known all along, just to walk away again. Into your arms on top of that."

"That's not fair, you don't understand how things have to…"

"Have to be?" he said cutting her off. "I don't believe that, Isabel, not for a second. I agree with Max on this one, we make our own destiny. We don't let it make us. Just because someone tells you that's the way it's supposed be doesn't mean it has to."

She was speechless. To her surprise it was making perfect sense though. She was so taken by the sight of her mother and her talks of fate, and honor, and duty. She didn't once think if it was what she wanted…if Michael was whom she wanted. Her heart told her no, but her instincts pointed to yes. Instinct was a hard thing to fight. She wondered how Max did it at all, but was starting to see that maybe she could at least try. Alex was whom her heart screamed for, he was just so kind and gentle and sweet. She loved the way she felt around him. She had fight in her, she knew that. Maybe it was time to act on it.

"Mind if I sit?" She asked gesturing at their rock.

"It's your rock too," he said waving at an empty spot.

She walked closer to him and took a seat on the rock. She looked over at him, admiring the way the stars reflected in his eyes. She had to combat the urge to reach over and stroke her fingers down his cheek, after what she had done she knew he wouldn't have allowed it. Instead she followed his gaze and saw him staring at Gemini, the twins. Isabel remembered that out of all the tales behind the constellations, he always liked that one the best.

"Looking at your favorite, huh?" she asked turning her attention back to him.

He just let out a grunt for his response.

"I never did ask why it was your favorite," She said.

"I liked the story behind it."

"Which part?"

He moved his head down to match her gaze, he almost thought she had a longing look in her eyes but immediately thought better of it.

"The part where they couldn't live without each other."

He knew that one hit home, as she quickly dropped her look into her lap. She seemed to be fighting back tears, and without thinking he reached over to her and gently brushed a few loose strands of hair behind her ear.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"For what?" he asked still not moving away.

"For not even thinking how this might affect the rest of you, especially you Alex. I knew how you felt about me. It was so pure and I… I just…"

He put a comforting arm around her shoulder and gave her a reassuring squeeze.

"I knew what you had to do," he said. "And I knew you had to do it alone."

She looked back up at him, eyes shimmering with unspilled tears.

"I never meant to hurt you," she said softly.

"I know you didn't," he assured her.

"What if I told you I wanted to start fighting it?" she asked.

"Well I'd have to see it, to believe it."

"Actions are stronger than words," she agreed, putting her arm around his neck and pulling him closer to her.

"Wait, what are you…"

She didn't let him finish, instead crushing her lips to his own. Silently marveling to herself that he was letting her. She had missed this, the sweetest most perfect kisses in their precious little hideaway. It was definitely something she could never get with Michael. The embrace grew more intense, and she felt all those instincts toward destiny fade into the back round. Her had heart finally spoken up, and it only said one thing… 'Alex.'

She knew what she had to do now, and as much as she didn't want this moment to end, she knew it must.

"Alex," she said breaking the kiss, and looking deeply into his eyes.

"Yeah?" he said with a trace of fear in his voice.

"I know what I have to do now."

"What's that?"

"I have to fight it," she said smiling.

"Good," he replied returning the smile.

'But I have to go right now."

"Right now?"

"Don't worry, I just have to tell Michael that…"

"Tell him what?"

"That I want you, I'm choosing you. I refuse to let my love life be chosen for me."

"You have no idea how good that is to hear."

"I have to go do it right now," she said giving him a quick kiss.

"I'll be here, Isabel, I'll always be here."

"How long?" she asked turning back to him.

He smiled and pointed at stars.

"Until the sun comes up."

She returned his smile and ran towards the jeep. Nothing was ever going to come between them again, she would make sure of it.

Driving down the highway Isabel looked up one last time as sighed contently.

"Until the sun comes up," she repeated with a smile.

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