Homeplot 1

[littleorphanalien]

His back fucking hurts.

It's the first thing that comes to mind. His back hurts and he's cold, with no body beside him kicking off heat. Letting out a sleepy whine, he turns to search for Alex or Bopp, not sure why they've both abandoned him so early in the day, but when he reaches for them, he rolls right onto the floor, hitting with a heavy thud. Grimacing, he pops up, hair a mess, and stares around the bedroom --

-- which is not a bedroom, but his Airstream.

"Fuck!" he lets out a shout of alarm, frantically searching in the mirror to see if his tattoo is still there. It is, shown off in his shirtless glory. He grabs at a well-worn t-shirt and his cowboy hat, jamming his feet into boots as he grabs his truck keys, shouting for Alex as he gets out.

"What the hell kind of noise are you making, kid?"

"Sanders," Michael says, gaping at him. "Sanders," he repeats, like he's still in disbelief he's seeing him. "You seen Alex Manes?"

"Not since those weeks you were bringing him around and expecting me to not notice," he replies wryly. "Should I be seeing him?"

Michael shakes his head, ignoring the way he's blushing like an idiot as he bolts for the truck, promising to be back for work later. He heads straight for town, driving past Alex's house, but there's no movement there. He goes to the bunker next, then the Pony. Maria hasn't seen him, and he's running out of places to go. He avoids Isobel and Max, mainly because he wants to see them desperately, but he needs to find Alex first.

The Crashdown is the last resort before he goes back to Alex's house and ends up camping outside of his house. He storms into the Crashdown, searching around him in a circle as Arturo asks if he's okay. "I'm fine," he says absently, "I'm just looking for...Alex," he says, and sees him as he turns to look at the entrance, heart pounding. "Alex," he says, advancing. "Alex, is it you? Are you my Alex?"

Comments

[unendurable]

Alex groans, feeling cold and realizing the world is more silent than he's used to. The soft white noise sound of the surf outside has become so normal to him that the absence of it is thundering.

"Michael?"

Rolling over, he sits upright, wincing. He's slept with his prosthetic? Why would he do that? Michael is going to have his ass? Michael...

"No. Nonono."

He's back in Roswell! No. He can't be. He can't...

Ripping back the blankets he sees his prosthetic. He sees the shimmering beautiful colors of the prosthetic that Michael made him. Fuck fuck fuck.

Panting as he gets up, not bothering with clean clothes, looking for his keys, his wallet. He has to find Michael. People have told him about how others can go home together. Even those not from the same world. About how he could go back and Michael would still be there, just like Kyle and Liz and Maria would be.

Racing as fast as he can to his car, Alex drives straight for the Airstream.

No truck. No Michael.

He can't find Max or Isobel, racing around town to try and find him. And then, just as he's about to go past the Crashdown, he sees the truck. Michael's truck.

Slamming on his brakes, he barely bothers with pulling off the road as he rushes as fast as she can inside.

"Michael. Oh God. Michael." That question is the best and worst thing he could have heard as he reaches down, pulling up the leg of his jeans to show the bottom of that shimmering prosthetic. "Does that answer your question?"

It has to be his Michael, from Darrow, and not the one he had known before. He doesn't even have any idea how much time it's been. He just knows that he needs to know what's going on.

"Michael?"

[littleorphanalien]

Michael's frozen in place, fear written all over his face, his eyes somewhat blurry with tears because the thing is, Alex is showing him evidence that he comes from Darrow and he's the same guy, but the clanking of china plates in the Crashdown means that they're in Roswell.

Last time they were both here, they weren't together. They'd returned from Caulfield and Michael thought they were over.

Not anymore.

He needs to prove that and he crosses the diner to grab Alex's face, holding possessively tight as he kisses him frantically, desperate to have this and show every last person in Roswell that he loves this man. He whimpers softly, kissing him until he remember that he was never the one to worry about this in public.

"Sorry," he murmurs, easing back, even as he lets his hand linger on Alex's chest. "I shouldn't have forced you to out yourself like that." He can feel everyone's eyes on them, and hot shame prickles at his skin, knowing he might have just fucked up.

[unendurable]

Alex has no idea when this is, what is going on in Roswell, or even who's around them. He's not letting himself think about any of that because his worst fear has come true. He's come back to Roswell. Luke is back in Darrow with Bopp and Caleb but he's not there. He's here and... and if this isn't his Michael, he knows he's got a lot of explaining to do about his leg. But he'd asked my Alex. Why else say that if not...

And then Michael is kissing him. Hard.

Not caring who is watching, who can see them. He's back in Roswell but Michael's with him. His Michael. His fiance, the man he loves, and he doesn't care who sees. Why had he cared for so long? Why had he cared worried about Jesse Manes for so long?

Fear. He knew the answer and he couldn't change that but he could cling to what he has no and be happy for it. Whether they're here or in Darrow, he still has Michael.

His hands clutch into Michael's shirt, giving himself over to that kiss, and when Michael pulls away, he doesn't let go. "Don't. Don't you dare,' he says. He figures half the town probably already knows about his love for Michael, and the other half can go fuck themselves if they don't like it.

He cups Michael's cheek, staring into his eyes. "Why wouldn't I kiss my fiance," he says softly, not so soft though that others might not hear him. Let them hear it. Let them talk about it.

"Because you're standing in the middle of my diner," Arturo says, answering that question. "Least get a booth."

[littleorphanalien]

Michael isn't letting go of Alex once he's told not to, grabbing onto his elbow and then reaching for his hip to hold on, staring at him with adoration and disbelief, like he can't believe that he's got this man and they're actually here together.

He's breathless, even as he blushes for Arturo's reprimand.

"Can we get some fries and chocolate shakes?" he asks, and nods to the booth. "I've been waiting ten years to have this date," he admits, stroking his thumb over Alex's palm as he leads him towards the table, still in disbelief.

Settling in, he gives Alex a wary look. "Are we back? For good?"

[unendurable]

He laughs at Arturo, at Michael and that kiss that's left him breathless. Shaking as he keeps Michael close, stroking his cheek as he moves towards the booth. Sliding in, moving awkwardly because he's not willing to let Michael go, needing to keep him close.

His heart is still racing and he's panicked and scared and exhilarated all at the same time.

"I... I think so? I woke up in my bed," he says, rushing through the words. "My first panic was that I had slept in my prosthetic and you were going to have my ass," he admits, laughing, a bit on the hysterical side but it's okay because no matter what, they're still together.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael's still nervous, but the ring is on a chain around his neck and he keeps pressing his hand to it to steady himself, reaching out for Alex's hand to slide his thumb over the ring there, knowing that they're still those versions of themselves.

They're just also in the Crashdown having a date he thought they'd never get.

He's cautious to give some space, if only because he doesn't want this to end up in a brawl for Arturo's sake, but under the table, he still has Alex's hand in his. "Damn right I'd have your ass," he says, but something is worrying him. "How come we woke up apart? Shouldn't we have been together?" He's anxious as he asks this, next: "I'm moving in, right? If we're back?"

[unendurable]

His hand is clinging to Michael's, holding it tight because he's afraid of he lets go, things will change. He feels the ring though, reaching out and covering Michael's hand for a moment when it rests over his. Okay. They're still who they were in Darrow and everything's the same. Right?

He withdraws his hand from Michael's chest, holding out his arms. The tattoo is still there. The tattoo he got for Michael, for this moment, still there.

"Yes! Of course you are. I... Maybe..." He sighs because the answer hurts. "Because however long after Caulfield this is? We're not together?"

It's all he can imagine. How could they not be thought after all Alex had said then, how they were family. How were they not together?

[littleorphanalien]

Michael keeps a hold on him, smiling at him with a few nerves peeking through, though on the whole, he's just happy. He beams as he sees the tattoo, yanking his shirt down so Alex can see the hint of ink on his back that shows that he has his, too.

"I mean, we weren't together when we left for Caulfield," he admits. "So maybe no time has passed?" He frowns, because no one's acting like they're missing. "Guess I'll start parking my Airstream in your yard," he teases.

[unendurable]

He sighs softly, finding relief in seeing that ink. He's been so scared of everything they would lose if they went back to Roswell and yet here they are. Together.

"Maybe. I just... I don't get how that's even a thing," he admits, but he isn't sure he cares. Laughing at the comment about the Airstream as their fries and milkshakes arrive.

Alex smiles at that, leaning in and kisses Michael. It feels so weird doing this here, and yet he's so used to being open and happy with Michael in Darrow that he can't help himself. And he wouldn't want to.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael looks up when the shakes and fries arrive at the table, giving Arturo a grateful smile as he digs out too many bills, putting them on the table because he wants this safe place with Alex as often as he can get it, and he's so stupidly relieved to have it.

"Does it matter?" he admits, and picks up a fry, tangling their legs together as he dips it in the chocolate. "We're on the date that I wanted to have with you when we were young, idiot kids," he praises. "Right now, Alex, no one else in the world should exist."

Though, he does want to see Max and Isobel. He wants to hug them so tight, on the off chance he loses them again.

[unendurable]

Alex smiles at Arturo, giving him a nod. He gives them both a look, and then a nod and left the table to leave them to their time alone. Time back in Roswell, back to the lives they had started with and nearly lost.

Darrow though had given them all of that back. Just so they could be here, now. Together.

"We should have had it then," he admits. "But we have it now and if we're back here, at least we're together."

He was so glad for that. That they knew this now.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael's still so grateful and he thinks about Alex's house and moving in, making a spot for himself, but then something hits him. The relief and the joy falls away, and the heartbroken look on his face is all that's left.

"Luke," is all he says, exhaling as it hits him who they left behind.

If they are really back here, then they're here without him. "Alex," he says, pained. "We left him."

[unendurable]

Alex tenses at that look, terrified what he's about to say. And while it's not what he feared, it's so much worse.

"Oh. Oh God," he whispers, his eyes wide and bright and shifting in to cling to Michael. "Magnus... He'll... he'll watch over him for us," he whispers. "We talked about it, the day of the festival. About Darrow and our kids. He..."

But it's not the same. It's not being there with him. "We... we can find a way back, Michael. Don't you think we can?"

[littleorphanalien]

Michael's feeling that awful sensation of wanting to go back, but also wanting to be here. Max and Isobel are here. He and Alex can make their own life and rub it in Jesse's face, but Luke and Caleb are back there, and their friends.

Their fucking wedding venue is waiting for them, for them to get hitched.

"Magnus, he'll take good care of him," he says, his voice rough with the belief, squeezing Alex's hand tighter. "We always knew it was a possibility, us getting back here, right?"

[unendurable]

They always knew there was a chance. They had known it might mean them going separately, finding one of them here alone. At least they're not alone? At least they have one another, and they're here to try and put back together all they had lost until Darrow?

Now they've left that all behind but they're together here, having a chance to try and put everything back together. Again.

"He will, but..." But it's their Luke. Their kid. They were his family too and..." And he's trying not to cry, pressing his brow to Michael's shoulder. "I know. I know. I just..." He shakes his head slightly, fighting not to cry.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael's so torn.

He's back in Roswell, and it's good, right? It's good because Alex is here and Alex remembers, but they had made a family in Darrow, and now it's incomplete. He sniffs in sharply, reminding himself that it's not his first loss and he knows it won't be the last.

"Magnus will take care of him, and we're gonna keep loving him," he reiterates, cupping the back of Alex's head to hold onto him. "One day, we'll start our own family here, and we'll never forget him."

[unendurable]

"Hey, shhhh. It's okay," he whispers, wrapping an arm around Michael and holding him close. Kissing him, tenderly, over and over again. It'll be okay."

It has to be. They have to make it okay. At least they're together. They're still together and maybe...

"Maybe Luke went home too? You think?" He smiles though at that, nodding slightly. "And we will. We're together, Michael, and we're okay." He makes a soft sound. "David's going to kill us."

[littleorphanalien]

Michael's quickly getting himself under control, a whole sequence of angry sniffs and attempts to calm down that eventually work, but none of it more than leaning into Alex's arms and cooling off. He sees the way people are staring at them, and he gives them the finger, because fuck them.

"Maybe," he agrees, which would be good. He gets his parents, right? It's easier to laugh and Alex helps. "Fuck, maybe he can find another couple who wants to get hitched and use our stuff," he admits. "Good thing I slipped him some money already as a bribe to do it."

He drags the plate of fries closer, giving Alex a fond smile.

"We're really back in Roswell."

He's not sure if it's home yet. He's not sure if it feels like that.

[unendurable]

Alex stays close to Michael, not caring about others right now. Michael is his only concern, though there should be a lot more things he thinks about. More than that, people he should consider and worry about. Like Jesse. Or Max and Isobel coming in and not being happy about this either.

Yet he's only focusing on Michael, even as he catches his hand as he flips off others. "Fuck them, Michael. Don't worry about them," he says softly. "Just focus on us here," he murmurs.

"And by another couple do you mean David and his boyfriend?" Because they could just go ahead and use their stuff. Who knows. He wonders though if they'll change it here, move the date, or just go to the justice of the peace here.

"We are. We're ... here." Because it's not home. Maybe one day it will be. When he's had the love and time with Michael here that he had there.

"So... what first?"

[littleorphanalien]

Michael's buzzing a little, knowing he's back in the same place as Max and Isobel, desperately wanting to hug them. Still, he's not about to give up any moments with Alex, not while he's got him. "Hey, if that's who David wants to use the plans on..."

He drops a single straw into the milkshake, tugging it over and lifting his leg to put it between Alex's, getting comfortable right here with him.

"I wanna see Max and Isobel," he confesses. "I want to hug them and not let go, and I want you there, so I can introduce you as my fiance, even though they're probably gonna imply I'm moving way too fast."

[unendurable]

Alex smiles then, knowing how much he's going to miss more than Luke in Darrow. He's going to miss their house, and their friends and... He sighs. "Bopp," he whispers softly. He knows Luke will take care of her but that doesn't change he'll miss her as well.

"You should call them," he says with a nod, pausing before asking. "You sure you want me there? I mean, we're here now and we're going to have time if you just want some time with them. If nothing else so they don't give you grief that we're moving too soon," he offers. Just in case.

[littleorphanalien]

"Luke will take care of her. It's good that he'll have someone," Michael points out, since he'd be completely distraught to think they'd left him alone, but he's not. There are friends and other people he thinks of as family that will step up, and for that, he's eternally grateful.

He digs into his pocket for his phone, giving Alex an uncertain look, even if there's nothing he wants more.

"I want you there," he vows. "We can tell them about getting kidnapped into a weird city and how we've been there for a year together," he vows, already texting Isobel.

Within seconds, she replies asking if he's dying, because he never texts.

"Wanna come to Isobel's place?" he offers. "I'll tell her to call Max over."

[unendurable]

He nods, still trying to get himself calmed down while thinking about this. There's nothing they can do about it but he's never thought about having a child, but now that they have one, he hates the idea of losing him already. He needs him, and he wishes they could be there for Luke but right now they have to focus on here and one another.

"And she'll think we're nuts," he says softly, rubbing his hand over Michael's, trying to calm himself down about all of this.

He takes a breath and exhales softly, nodding. "Sure. That works. You think the gossip line will get to her before she sees us?"

[littleorphanalien]

"Maybe, but she can go into my head and find out we're not." That's a handy trick for them to have, though, it makes him pause. He searches around, then stares at his phone, sinking back into the booth.

Something's been bugging him, and it's only just hit him what it is.

"Alex," he says, and keeps a hand on his arm, watching around them. "Alex, this isn't right," he says. "We just found out that Noah was a murdering alien, everyone was panicked about him. I shouldn't be getting casual texts from Isobel saying sure, she'll meet us."

And he did just get one.

Noah's tied up at her house, she shouldn't be like this.

"...Alex, this may not be real," he says, the thought occurring to him.

[unendurable]

He nods, having not thought about that. There's so much he has to adjust to being around the others that he hasn't had to thought about much before they see them. He pauses though, glancing away and then back to Michael. "Can we... can you do the connection again? Before then?"

Because being able to know just what Michael is thinking about while they're going through this might help him to get through much of it.

He tenses then, frowning as he looks at the phone and then to Michael. "I... I think I was assuming the same time had passed here as in Darrow but..." He doesn't like that. Not in the least. "Do you think it's just something in our head?"