A Father's Duty Epilogue
Epilogue
A month had passed since Edwards. Three weeks since Nancy had awakened from her coma, three weeks since Liz’s journal had arrived.
Three weeks of solitude and loneliness despite the hustle and bustle of the restaurant. Three weeks during which he’d fallen into a routine. Get up. Open the restaurant. Visit Nancy. Work. Have dinner with someone: The Evans’, Valenti, Amy Deluca, even Nancy’s friend Susan Baxter all made him feel welcome and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Afterward, he’d visit Nancy again before returning to his empty house and another long sleepless night.
It wasn’t the ideal existence, but, hey, it worked for him.
The threat was gone, the FBI had mostly pulled out of town. Langley, Zan and Ava had been remarkably through in their methods. One or two agents still lingered, a precaution Jim told him, in case there were other aliens the government hadn’t been aware of - which meant it still wasn’t safe for the kids to come home.
Jeff had resigned himself to the fact it probably never would be.
Still, things were settling down in Roswell.
Amy had handled the reading of Liz’s journal well - for her. There had been some ranting and yelling. Upon learning of its existence, the Evans’ had asked for permission to read it too. They had passed it on to Jim Valenti. Once it had made the rounds, the five of them had gathered out in the desert by the rocks where everything had started. Looking around, Jeff surveyed the scene with new eyes, imaging “this was the path the aliens had first walked down. This is where Max and Michael had stood as Liz had run away. There in distance is the old radio tower Liz had spoken of where they’d found the orb.” All around him stemmed memories not his own, but his just the same, shared by a girl who’d found the courage to look beyond normal and carve out an extraordinary existence for herself, making a life built on the most solid foundation there is, not love, but trust.
For the first time, the parents talked about what they knew. Different things, stories and events they shared with their kids during the last three years which had led them here. Jeff wondered what he could have done differently. If there had been someway to prevent all this needless suffering.
Jim put a strong hand on his shoulder and said, “Jeff, I know it’s not much, but I just keep telling myself that everything happens for a reason. God gave Liz to you to raise into the strong woman she’d needed to be, just like I had Kyle for, too short a time. It was all a part of the Divine plan. We did our part, now it’s up to them to do theirs.”
Not wanting to agree, yet seeing the wisdom in the other man’s eyes, the same man who had lost a wife and a child just as he, himself had, Jeff found himself nodding. Inevitably, the time comes in a father’s life when he’s forced to let go of his children, allowing them to find their own way. His only true regret in regard to his daughter was that he hadn’t had a chance to say goodbye. Looking around at the sad faces before him, he knew he wasn’t the only one who shared that regret.
*~*~*~*~*
Wiping down the counter after another long day, Jeff finished the last of the chores he had to do before going to see Nancy in the hospital. He was a little early tonight, it had been a light dinner crowd, but that just meant he’d have a few more hours before they kicked him out.
Removing his apron, he hurried into the back of the restaurant when out front, he heard the front door chimes jangle. Darn it, he must have forgotten to lock it. “I’m sorry, we’re… closed,” he said, then faltered as his eye took in the vision before him.
“Jeff?” she whispered softly, so softly he nearly didn’t hear her.
“Nancy,” he replied in disbelief, then in overwhelming joy. “NANCY! You’re here! You’re ok!” Rushing forward, he swept his frail wife up in his arms, pressing kiss after kiss on her lips, her eyes, her cheeks. “God Nancy! I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Jeff, Jeff, honey, I’m fine. I’m… tired I guess. But otherwise I’m fine.”
“You were in the hospital,” he told her inanely, unable to think beyond the fact his wife was back where she belonged, in his arms. “Why didn’t you call? Why didn’t they call me?”
“I don’t know what happened. I woke up and there was Max Evans hovering over me, or at least I think it was Max.”
“You’re not sure?”
“Well,” she said with some humor, “If it was Max, I hate to tell you this, but he’s joined a cult or something. I’ve never seen so many tattoos… and the piercings! You wouldn’t believe it if you saw it,” she said.
“Zan,” Jeff smiled at her. Not that he thought the alien saving his wife was funny, but he knew he couldn’t stop smiling if he tried. “Zan is kind of Max’s twin brother. He’s from New York.”
“Ahh,” she said. “That explains the accent. Anyway, there I was, wide-awake and he’s just standing there. He asked me if I was feeling ok. Then he offered to drive me home. And so, here I am.”
“Zan’s outside?” Jeff asked, homing in on one thought - Ava might be here, too. God, what was he going to say to her?
Shaking her head, bobbing her chin length hair, another gift from Zan, she said, “As soon as my feet hit the pavement, he sped off. Places to go and all that, he said.”
Ava wasn’t here - But Nancy was! “Oh my God!” Jeff marveled over the feel of his wife in his arms. “It’s so good to have you back home again,” he whispered. “I’ve missed you so much. I was so worried about you.”
“Jeff what happened? I don’t remember anything since getting ready to go to the graduation. I can’t believe I missed Liz’s big moment! Where is she? I need to give her a big congratulations hug.”
Staring at his exuberant wife, Jeff mentally debated how much to tell her, and decided to tell her the truth - slowly. No need in dumping it all on her at once. “Come upstairs, honey,” he said. “Let me fix you some dinner and we’ll talk.”
*~*~*~*~*
The next few days passed by in a whirlwind of activity. Everyone marveled at Nancy’s return to health and no one was more glad to have her home safe and sound than Jeff. To have his wife in their home again, to be able to hold her all night long. It was nearly heaven.
Nancy adjusted to the shock of the long story he’d treated her to. The only thing he’d held back was the details of the incredibility brutal torture she’d endured that the hands of the government goons. She didn’t need that kind of memory to darken her days. They were both immensely grateful she didn’t remember any of it. Jeff suspected Zan’s healing had something to do with that and was thankful that the alien had thought to spare her the memories of her ordeal.
After a few days of all the activity of visitors and well wishers swarming over them, Jeff was just wishing things would die back down. He thought he and Nancy could use a break from all this hoopla when he discovered, it wasn’t possible. Things could never be normal for them again.
Why, you might ask?
Silly you. After reading all this, you should know by now there’s no escaping the alien abyss. So Jeff found out late one Thursday night as he and Nancy reclined on their sofa with the TV off, listening to music softly playing in the background instead. Nancy had her head against Jeff’s shoulder, they were snuggled close together when they noticed the wall across from them begin to waver.
“Do you see…’ Nancy started to ask as Jeff jumped to his feet.
“Liz?” he asked.
“Jeff,” Nancy grabbed his hand and stood. Before their disbelieving eyes, the image of their daughter coalesced. “Liz,” she breathed in wonder.
“Hi, mom, dad.” Liz looked from one parent to another as if not sure where to begin. “Sorry to just pop in on you like this. Can… can you both hear me?”
As one, they nodded, and she smiled proudly. “I’m getting better at this.”
“You said Max couldn’t hear you at all in New York,” Jeff agreed. “Your powers are increasing, probably from use.” Taking a breath, he said the first thing he could think of, “God, baby, you make me so proud.”
“I miss you so much,” was Liz’s response. Her smiled faltered as tears threatened for a moment, but in a gesture that was achingly familiar to them, she pushed them back. “Mom, how are you feeling?”
“I’m better. Thanks to your friend Zan,” she smiled warmly to show she’d fully accepted the circumstances of her swift recovery.
“Not friend exactly,” Liz corrected. “More like an ally we hope we don’t need to call on.”
“You don’t trust him?” Jeff read between the lines to get to the truth.
Shaking her head she admitted, “No. He’s a Dupe. We’ve discovered time and again that the Dupes are not to be trusted. The only reason he helped us at all was because he felt obligated since it was because of Dad and Valenti they were able to escape from Edwards.” She smiled faintly. “He was basically guilt-tripped into helping.”
“What about Ava?” Jeff couldn’t help but ask.
“A few weeks back, I would have told you that she was the exception to the rule. Now we know Tess was the Dupe. Ava really belongs with Max’s family. Knowing the truth explains so much.”
Jeff said, “So if Ava’s the real deal, then that means Tess was the ‘counterfeit queen’? The betrayer?”
“Yeah. Too bad Ava hadn’t mentioned Alex’s message to us sooner… She was pretty upset thinking we would all hate her or something.” Smiling again, Liz said, “Actually, Ava is the reason for my visit…” In a few short sentences, she spelled out her request to her parents. They agreed without hesitation.
“I know it’s a lot to ask,” Liz said as her form began to waver once again. They were losing the connection.
“Nonsense,” Jeff refuted. “It would be our pleasure. Tell her…” he faltered. No, he couldn’t allow Liz to make his apologizes for him. There would be another way to make things right between himself and the small girl he’d wronged so badly. “Never mind,” he said instead.
“I’ve got to go. I love you,” Liz said hurriedly.
“We love you too,” Nancy replied.
“Everyday,” Jeff added. “We think about you every day. Come to us when you can. Let us know how you’re doing. ‘K?”
“I promise,” Liz agreed.
“Take care of yourself,” Jeff added, but he was talking to the wall. Liz was gone.
*~*~*~*~*
Two days later, the door above the CrashDown chimed and admitted a slender young woman with longish sandy blonde hair, clutching a baby to her breast. She hovered anxiously in the doorway as if unsure of her welcome, or maybe she was just waiting to be seated. Nancy, who was working in the diner, enjoying the routine to pass the time hurried forward. “Welcome to the Crashdown. Let me show you to your table.”
“No, thank you,” the woman answered. “I didn’t come here to eat. I’m looking for…” breaking off the woman stared over Nancy’s shoulder towards the back of the diner. Following her gaze, Nancy saw that her husband had entered the café from the kitchen. From the hesitant look on the woman’s face, she surmised he must be the person she’d come to see.
To any other forty-something woman, the sight of a pretty girl with a baby looking at her husband like he was water in the desert, would doubtlessly send her into a tail spin. Not Nancy. Not just because she wasn’t most women, nor because she was certain of Jeff’s devotion and faithfulness, but because she knew this girl, though they have never met.
“He’s missed you,” Nancy offered.
Ava gave her a wobbly smile, searching for her missing courage before stepping forward.
As always upon entering the diner, Jeff’s eyes sought out the precious form of his wife. He still needed to be constantly assured that she was home and safe with him. He sometimes wondered if he would ever be able to put those weeks when she’d been gone completely from his mind. A part of him acknowledged that it probably will never happen. Today, he saw her by the door to the café talking to a young girl… who looked just like Ava - except for the hair of course.
“Ava,” he called, moving forward. She turned to face him, clutching a baby in her arms. He stopped just a few feet shy of her and drank her in with his eyes. “You’re ok,” he said, finally, stating the obvious.
“Yeah,” she nodded, slowly. “It was touch and go there for a little while, but we made it. Mostly, Langley and Zan did all the work.”
They might have been two strangers for all the comfort they felt with one another now. Each remembered the things Jeff had said in his fear and confusion while they were rescuing Nancy and Zan.
With the ghost of a smile Jeff refuted, “Somehow I doubt that. You always were stronger than you let on. I’m sure if you hadn’t been there they would never have pulled it off.”
Ava was silent for a moment, her eyes taking in the silent appeal in Jeff’s blue eyes, the appeal to let bygones be bygones. With a small smile of her own, she nodded shortly, “You’re right. They wouldn’t have.”
That small sign of reconciliation was all Jeff needed. Stepping forward he closed his arms around her, baby and all, “God, Ava, I am so sorry for how I acted. The things I said. I know I can’t even begin to make it up to you, but God help me, I want to try. Please say you’ll forgive me.”
Her slender shoulders shaking, Ava whispered hoarsely, “Forgive you for what? I was the one who lied. I shoulda told you. Alls you did was be my friend. You treated me better than anyone evea did. I’m so sorry I abused your trust.”
“What are you talking about,” Jeff asked, tipping her face up to his so he could look down into her tear drenched eyes.
“That day, after you rescued Nancy, I… I mindwarped you. Remember, I made you think I was Liz so you would follow me out.”
“You probably saved my life,” Jeff argued. “And Nancy’s too. For that I know I can never repay you, but if forgiveness for your act of kindness is what you want, then it’s yours.”
More tears, happy tears this time, rushed from her eyes and over her cheeks.
“Come on, let me introduce you.” Pulling Ava over to where Nancy was waiting, Jeff quickly made the introductions, “Nancy, I would like you to meet my very good friend Ava who was with me the whole time I was searching for you.”
Nancy was a smart woman, she’d already known exactly who this young girl was and the great debt owed to her by their family. Smiling, she pulled Ava into a short hug. “Hello Ava. It is my very great pleasure to meet you.” One more squeeze, and she whispered, “Welcome to the family.”
Wide eyed, Ava stared at them once Nancy stepped back. “Welcome to the… You mean…”
“Your room is all ready for you,” Jeff nodded. “We were hoping you’d come.”
“Yous want me to stay here? With you?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. Now who’s this young man who I understand is my step-grandson?”
“Uh,” Ava turned the sixteen month old child so that he was facing his grandparents. “Alexander Phillip, meet your Grandpa Jeff and Grandma Nancy.”
“Alexander?” Jeff questioned, wondering if it was his real name or if the kids had renamed him in Alex’s memory. Alex, the boy Tess had killed in her quest for power.
“Zan, for short,” Ava explained.
“Ah,” Nancy nodded in understanding. They’d Americanized the unusual name given to the infant by its mother. “Zan it is.”
Holding out her arms she asked, “May I?”
“Yeah,” Ava said. “Careful,” she admonished as she handed the infant over. Leaning in, she whispered, “His hands glow when he’s happy.”
“Right,” Nancy nodded a little nonplussed at the candid admission. “Good to know.” Nodding her head again, she recovered her surprise and said, “I’ll just take this precious bundle upstairs then before he have any of that.” Looking Ava in the eye, Nancy asked bluntly, “What about you? What do you do when you’re happy?”
Timidly, Ava answered, “Nuthin’. I mean, I ain’t sure. I ain’t never really been happy before.”
“Well, you better resign yourself to a change in lifestyle, then. I plan on making sure the both of you stay very happy. Especially you.”
Feeling like she was going to burst at such unprecedented generosity and open acceptance, Ava smiled broadly, “Yes, ma’am.”
Smiling warmly, Nancy turned away only to say over her shoulder, “Oh and Ava, call me Mrs. P. or if you’d rather…”
Ava was certain she knew what the older woman would say and held her breath. Only, she was wrong. Nancy didn’t ask her to call her by her first name, instead the amazing woman offered, “You can call me ‘Mom’.”
*~*~*~*~*
Years into the future Jeff could still remember his tranquil thoughts as he helped Ava carry her meager belongings in from the same trusty Ford which had taken them on their adventure, into Liz’s former room above the CrashDown. He’d taken a moment to ponder the series of turns his life had taken. He’d lost a daughter and in the process, gained a whole new family, complete with grandchildren.
He’d gone from having nothing to having more than any man deserved.
Sometimes when he thought about Liz he missed her unbearably, but it was enough to know she was out there in the world, safe from harm, being held in the loving arms of her husband. Someday she would bear him another grandchild or more, until then he would be content to watch Zan grow, sharing with Ava once again the joys of having small children around.
And little Zan. Jeff and Philip’s pride and joy. He’d been a little miracle, healing the wound of not only his family, but the Evans’, too. Even Amy had fallen under his spell - it helped that he did his little glow thing at the first sight of her. Ava hadn’t been kidding about the kid’s hands, they lit up like a Christmas tree under the right conditions.
Jeff’s heart had gone out to Max. It must have been a hard decision to give him up - again, but the road was no place to raise a child and he knew it. Plus, it was understood that the child would doubtlessly put a strain on Liz and Max’s relationship. Ava had offered to take him, raise him as her own, after all, she’d pointed out, Tess was her clone, so truly Zan had her blood flowing through his veins. Plus, being alien herself, she was prepared to deal with his little alien mishaps as they came up, besides, she didn’t figure on ever having any children of her own. Max had given into her arguments, knowing it was for the best.
They kept in touch with the parents as best they could. -Not conventional means, certainly, but between Isabel’s dreamwalking, Liz’s projecting, and random websites where pictures were exchanged along with long letters, the group of parents were kept informed of the goings on.
They even managed to get together once a year, all the parents taking a ‘vacation’ together to Yellowstone, or the Grand Canyon, or Mount Rushmore. Anywhere where they could travel in a large group where it wouldn’t be unusual to meet and make friends with strangers in neighboring campsites.
Jim Valenti’s friend, Agent Dove offered to put the kids into the witness protection program shortly after the government backed off. Only Isabel had taken her up on the offer. She and Jesse started over at a law firm in Philadelphia. The rest of the gang had decided they were doing just fine on their own.
Just like Liz had written in her journal, they were enjoying going from town to town, doing good deeds and avoiding the law.
Kyle returned home to Roswell after six months of vagabond living. He said living with those two couples day in and day out was wearing on his nerves. If Max and Liz weren’t sucking face, then Michael and Maria were off somewhere making up. Jeff had to laugh at that. It was so reminiscent of their days spent working together in the CrashDown, until he pointed out, “Wait, don’t you mean they were fighting, then making up?”
“Nah, they apparently decided the making up part was better. They hardly ever fight anymore, but that sure doesn’t stop them from making up at every opportunity.”
“Kyle Valenti,” Amy had objected, as everyone around them had laughed.
Speaking of Kyle, he had turned out to be a pretty decent guy. He eventually became a teacher over at the High School. Jeff suspected all the love blooming on the road wasn’t the only reason he’d left the group. After less than a month after his arrival in Roswell, the true reason for his return had become obvious. More than once Jeff had caught him sitting in that exact same booth Max used to sit in… staring at Ava in that exact same way Max used to stare at Liz.
He’d finally walked up to the boy/man and said outright, “Would you just ask her out already? Or I’m going to start charging you rent for this booth.”
The courtship was slow, slow enough even for Jeff’s overprotective instincts. The wedding was to be held next week, leaving Jeff and Nancy with the feeling that they were losing another daughter. Ava had become a true member of the family over the years she’d lived with them. She’d soaked up the love freely given to her like a starving rose, blooming in its nurturing care, before giving back twice as much.
She’d brought them so much joy in their time together that he hated to see her go, but that’s what fathers had to do. It was in the job description or something, as Nancy had pointed out.
Sighing with melancholy, Jeff agreed with her. She was right. It’s a dad’s job to protect his child, raise her up; keeping her safe from all harm until the day he had to relinquish her into another’s care. Then she becomes the husband’s responsibility. After that, dad just has to show up for dinner once in a while and ask about the grandkids, or lack thereof.
He’d missed the opportunity to give Liz away to Max, to watch her exchange vows of fidelity and love with her chosen husband, but he’d have that honor with Ava. She may not have been his and Nancy's natural daughter but she'd become theirs in all the ways that count. And they were hers.
Jeff smiled proudly to know that Ava looked upon them as her real family. It had brought tears to his eyes the day she’d shyly come to him and asked that he be the one to walk with her down the aisle. Somehow, through his emotion filled throat, he’d managed to say, ‘yes.’
Despite his sorrow at losing her, he was looking forward to it.
After all, it was a father's duty.
The End