Isabelle: "I can't believe you made them sound so real."

Maria: "So do we do it tonight?"

Michael: "Yeah, the sooner the better I think."

Alex: "Okay tonight we put plan *Talking Again* into action."

Isabelle came up to Alex and wrapped her arms around him. She then gently touched her lips to his. As she pulled away from him she said to him "Have I told you today how much I love how your mind works?" She then looked over at Michael who was standing close to Maria.

Michael nodded his approval to Isabelle and slid his arm around Maria giving her a small squeeze. Isabelle nodded back to him her approval. Neither gesture went unnoticed by Alex nor Maria. They all smiled and without words they all realized what had just happened. Isabelle and Michael had both made a choice and both were in agreement with the choices they had made.

Setting: Outside The Reservation (That evening)

Isabelle pulled out her cell phone and dialed Liz's number.

"Hello."

Then she heard Max's voice on the other end of the line. "Liz, it's me. I need your help. Please come to the cave quick." Click the phone went dead. Liz couldn't believe it. Max had finally called her. He sounded like he was in trouble. She quickly got dressed and called Maria's cell phone.

Maria who of course was expecting her call answered her phone immediately. "Hello"

"Maria, I need your help. I need to get to the cave at the reservation. I think Max maybe in trouble. Could you please pick me up and drive me out there."

"I'm on my way right now. Don't worry Liz he'll be okay." She knew what she was supposed to say and she thought she acted her part beautifully.

Back at the reservation Isabelle hung up her cell phone. "Maria's on her way to pick Liz up right now. Well so far so good." She then dialed the next victims number.

Max was still lying on his bed as usual when his phone rang. He wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. He just wanted to be left alone in his own thoughts. As usual the answer machine picked up. This of course was no surprise to *Talk Again* plan connivers. As soon as the machine beeped for a message to be left Isabelle hit the play button. "Max it's me. I hope you get this message. I need your help. I'm at the cave. Come quick." Click the phone's dial tone sounded. Max sat up from his bed and replayed the message. It was Liz. She sounded like she was in trouble. He quickly changed his clothes, grabbed the keys to the jeep and set out for the reservation.

Michael and Alex were pacing after only a few minutes. "How are we going to know if Max heard the message or not?" Alex inquired.

Isabelle: "Trust me Alex, he hasn't been answering his phone, but he has been listening to the messages. I told you that, now stop worry both of you. They'll both be here soon. I'm more worried about if they will forgive us for setting them up like this."

Alex: "You know this plan could backfire and they could end up hating us for scaring them to death."

Michael: "It's not going to backfire. Now stop sounding so paranoid like Maria. It's gonna work."

Isabelle: "It better work, I don't think I can take Max being like he his for another week."

Alex: "Look here comes Maria's car, come on we need to get to our hiding place. I don't want them to know this is a set up before the set up even takes place."

They all hid from sight and Maria pulled her car to a stop. As they were getting out they could hear them talking. "I don't know where Michael is either." Maria was saying as she snapped her phone closed again.

"Well, you keep trying to get a hold of them on your phone. I'm going to head for the cave. Max said he needed my help and I can't wait for you to find Isabelle or Michael. Come to the cave as soon as you get a hold of them." Liz grabbed the flashlight from the car she had brought and started the journey to the cave.

As soon as she was out of sight Maria ran over to where the others were hidden. "I told you as soon as she thought Max was in trouble she would be there to help him. Now what about Max?"

Michael: "He should be here in about five minutes. That's if he drives fast. Which I'm sure he will thinking Liz is in trouble."

Just then they saw the jeep pull up. They all quickly ducked back into their hiding place. Michael: "I told you he would drive fast."

Max looked at Maria's car and knew instinctively that Liz was at the cave. He didn't sense her in trouble just that she was scared and that was enough to worry him. He started running toward the cave.

The four friends slowly came out of hiding. Alex: "Did anyone else see the look on Max's face?"

Maria: "Boy I thought Liz was scared for Max. Max looked like he might die if anything happened to her. Those two are either going to love us all for doing this to them or they are going to hate us for a very long time."

Isabelle: "I just hope it's not the latter version. Even through all his depression I don't think I've ever seen Max this worried or scared."

Alex put his arm around Isabelle. "It's all going to work out. Now come on let's get going to the cave or we are going to miss everything. Everyone agreed and started the long walk to the cave together. Alex and Isabelle hand and hand. Michael and Maria hand and hand.

Liz arrived at the cave in a panic. "Max." She whispered. with no reply. She stepped just inside the cave "Max?" She said loudly, still no reply. She went further in the cave and screamed "MAX!"

At that moment Max ran into the cave and heard Liz scream his name. He saw her standing there and yelled back "LIZ!"

She turned to see him standing just inside the cave. All thoughts and reasons went out of her mind and she started to run to him. Max ran to her without hesitation. They wrapped their arms around each other and held each other tightly. Their embrace lasted a little longer than was necessary, but they had not seen, let alone touched each other for a while and neither wanted to be the first to break the embrace. Max finally pulled back slightly and cupped her face with his hands. "What's wrong?" He finally asked.

"I was so scared when you called. All I could think of was you were in trouble and needed me."

"When I called? I came as soon as you called me and said you needed me!"

"Max, I didn't call you. You mean you didn't call me?"

"You didn't call me. Liz, this is a set up. I don't like this. Let's get out of here before it's too late." He quickly grabbed her hand and started pulling her back to the entrance of the cave. Just then Alex, Isabelle, Michael and Maria came into view of the two. As soon as Max saw the rest of his friends, his paranoid side got the better of himself. "What are you guys doing here. It's some kind of set up, come on we all need to get out of here." He stated with urgency in his voice.

The four friends started giggling. Finally Alex piped in "Plan *Talk Again* I guess is a success."

Isabelle: "I can't believe we actually got Max out of his room."

Maria: "And look Liz actually has an expression on her face."

Michael: "Man Alex you have got to teach me those tricks you know with your computer."

Max and Liz were both turning a crimson red as they both slowly realized they had been tricked by all their friends. Max: "So you guys set this whole thing up."

"Yep" All four friends said in unison.

Liz: "How? Why?

Alex: "Guilty, and before either one of you gets upset. We only did it because we were worried about the two of you."

Max: "How did you make me think Liz needed my help, Tess?"

Michael: "No, this didn't concern her. It concerned the six of us. Right Liz."

Alex: "I just used some words Isabelle and Maria had recorded from the two of you guys and rearranged them so it sounded like it was what you heard when we called the two of you."

Isabelle stepped forward and played the recorded message for them to hear both messages.

Max looked over to Liz. "So you thought I was in trouble and came to help me again."

Liz: "I would always be there if you needed me. Just because you have another destiny besides me, doesn't mean I can stop loving you."

Max started to pull Liz into his arms, but Liz pulled away once again. "Yes, I still love you Max, but it doesn't change the fact that we weren't meant to be together." Then she turned to her friends. "I know you were all just trying to help, but I need to be alone right now." She started to walk out of the cave.

Max immediately grabbed her back into his embrace. "I let you walk away from me once. Do you honestly think I will let you walk away from me again? I need you in my life or my life doesn't exist anymore."

The tears slid down Liz's face and she gently caressed Max's face with her hand. "Max, what about your destiny?"

Michael couldn't help but chime in at this point. "You know what Liz, screw destiny. I make my own choice in this life." He then bent Maria over in his arms and kissed her passionately.

Alex and Isabelle watched and then not wanting to be out done themselves said together "Yeah, screw destiny." And the two of them began to kiss and giggle at the same time.

Max watched as his sister and friends tried their best to let them know what they had chosen as their destinies. He then turned back to Liz. "You are my destiny. I have known it since the first time I saw you all those years ago. Liz Parker I am going to kiss you now and if you don't want me as much as I want you I will know and let you go." Before Liz could protest Max's mouth was on hers gently caressing it at first. Once Max began to kiss her Liz melted into his arms, into his touch and responded to his kiss. Max deepened the kiss when he felt her responded to him. As their kiss became intense the flashes of their times together flashed through both of them. They each could feel the others feelings of want, need and love that they shared.

When Max finally broke the kiss to allow them to come up for air. Liz could only moan "Max...oh Max." She hugged him tightly.

Max brought his arms around her waist and returned her hug. He bent down and whispered in her ear. "I love you."

Alex: "Well I guess they won't be too mad at us now."

Isabelle: "I had faith that everything would work out for the best."

Max turned to his sister and friends and simply said "Thank you"

Michael: "Your welcome Maxamillion. But, now that you are your old self again, I think it would be best if we all sat down and discussed the other part of our destiny and what we need to do about it."

Liz: "He's right you know. Max, I won't walk away from you anymore, but you have a destiny you need to fulfill."

Max: "As long as you are with me. I can fulfill it."

Maria: "We're all with you. Remember it is the six of us now."

Max: "Correction, there are seven of us now. Even though I can't be with Tess the way we were supposed to be together she is still one of us and we will need to include her." He looked down at Liz and asked "I hope you can understand that?"

Liz: "I do."

Isabelle: "Well what should we do first."

Max instinctively took charge. "First we need to find out what exactly is the extent of our powers."

Michael: "I've been working with Valenti a lot lately. He really has helped me to try and control my powers more and more."

Max: "Valenti? Michael, I think it's okay that he helps you in controlling your powers, but I don't think he should be the one we should turn to, to learn more about our powers.

Isabelle: "Max is right Michael. I think we need to learn as much about our powers ourselves, before we start showing Valenti what we can do."

Alex: "Well from what I understand. Your powers are just human abilities at its best, correct."

Max: "Yea, we are basically human. We know that much now."

Alex: "Well why don't we do research on the human brain and see exactly what is possible that we know of at this point. I can get on the internet and find out as much information to help as I can."

Isabelle: "Thank you Alex, would it be okay if I helped you with the research."

Alex: "I was kind of hoping you would want to."

Max: "Okay Isabelle and Alex you two find out as much as you can about the human brains capability. We also need to start doing more research on our home planet. Where exactly it is located. Michael why don't keep looking into the map of the stars and see if you can navigate them back to their origins. This might give us more clues we may need as the time comes."

Michael: "Yea, I could do that. I think maybe we should also contact Nasedo and see what he may be able to tell us."

Max: "Let's see what we can discover for ourselves first. I think it would be best if we kept our distance from Nasedo while he's Agent Pierce. I don't want to take any chances on his cover being blown for a while anyway. Our mother also told us about another alien race that has come to earth. She said we would know them by the evil inside them. This is what I need to do more research on. After all I don't want history repeating itself and us perishing before we have a chance to fulfill at least one of the destinies that we were recreated to fulfill."

Liz: "I know you said it wouldn't be wise for any of you to contact Nasedo since you don't want his cover blown. But, what if one of us made the contact for you. I could act like a mail carrier and I have the perfect cover story to have to interact with Agent Pierce say once month."

Max: "NO!! I will not endanger your life by having you be the one to go to Nasedo. We still don't know enough about him for me to trust him with you."

Liz: "I don't think he will hurt me Max. Think about it, if he was going to hurt me, he would have done it by now. It's not like he hasn't had opportunity to do me harm. Remember at the carnival. When we were in the house of mirrors. He could have easily grabbed you and took you out of there, but he didn't. He grabbed me instead. I still don't understand why he did that, but it was like he was protecting me from them too."

Max: "I don't know Liz. We don't have to make any decisions tonight. It's getting late and I don't want us to have to be worried about our parents wondering what we are up to." He then looked deeply into Liz's eyes and asked "I would like to drive you home, if that's okay?"