Author:  Domino

Category- M/M CC
Rating PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own anything
Summary: My version of what happened after Destiny. An alternate second season.

Author's Notes: Some spoilers from season 2, which I haven't seen yet.

Part One

Maria sat by herself at a table at the end of the quad. She had a book opened in front of her as she quietly read. Isabel paused, hesitating before walking towards her. She remembered a time, less than 2 days ago, when she knew her friendship would be recognized and welcome, but now she wasn't sure and it was all for one reason. Isabel never thought she could hate one word so much. Destiny

For the first time since the six had become friends and Isabel had learnt what it felt like to have girlfriends - best friends who accepted her for what she was, Isabel found herself reluctant to approach Maria. Maria - the wacky girl who had in her own unique way changed their lives with her bubbly manner, sometimes at odds with her practical deal-with-it address to problems, a common occurrence in their lives.

Michael. He was what stood between them. She didn't mean to, didn't want to, didn't even think about him that way. Her brother. Her betrothed. Her family.

And in front of her stood the only girl she had ever seen get in; past the stonewalls, past the highly developed defenses that she had seen no one, not Max, not her, not anyone penetrate. Except a small blonde pixie that somehow managed to slip past or more accurately knock down those walls. The only person Michael would ask for help, would cry in front of, would leave to protect. Maria.

All these thoughts whirled through Isabel's mind during the short walk towards her. "Hi," Isabel greeted her, voice soft; slightly wavering unsure of the reaction she would receive. Maria was at best unpredictable.

Maria looked up and smiled at Isabel. It was hard, Maria had discovered, looking up at the statuesque blonde who had once so long ago terrified her and yet become a friend, a best friend even. Michael's sister, his family. His betrothed. She heard the quaver in the beautiful, always so confident, girl's voice and felt slightly better. She knew it was just as hard on Isabel. She realized this and being the generous forgiving person she was immediately blocked her anger and envy towards Isabel and forgave her for what cruel tricks Destiny had played on them.

"Hello," Maria replied finally. Isabel sat down and both of them fell into the routine that had happened so many times before, secure in the knowledge that whatever happened, this friendship would survive. They talked, they ate and they avoided somewhat the subject that hurt and scared them both. Destiny.

Liz joined them 10 minutes later and the three girls laughed, gossiped and for the first time in 2 days, since the cave, since Michael left Maria, since Isabel and Liz left Alex and Max, since Destiny had been discovered, since Max had been captured and rescued, since Tess had invaded their lives, the three of them felt normal. Normal on this last day of school, they felt that at least one thing would be all right.

Five people watched the three girls laughing, smiling, magical. Three smiled. One frowned; distaste highly apparent on her lovely face and one just stared. Michael. Max. Alex. Tess. And Kyle.

Three of the six stood separately but looking at the girls gave them hope, relief and a sense that all would be fine, because after all if the girls were okay, they were okay.

Part Two

Isabel stood waiting at the jeep for Max, pondering over lunch. She kept remembering the sense of relief she felt when Maria smiled at her. She hadn't fully realized how scared she had been until Maria had forgiven her without saying a word. She hadn't fully understood how important Maria's friendship had become to her. A year ago Isabel would have laughed loudly at the suggestion that she and Maria would be friends. Two people so different. Not possible. Then again she would have laughed if anyone suggested that Michael would fall head over heels with a pixie girl who was always laughing and talking, the complete opposite of him - a possibility even more unlikely than her and Maria being friends. So what did she know?

Recently her life had been spiraling totally out of her control. Fate and Destiny were two very temperamental forces and Isabel knew that they all felt that they were sometimes mere Ping-Pong balls bounced between the two.

Max and Liz were fated.
Michael and Maria were fated.
She and Alex ... who knew?
Max and Tess destined...
She and Michael destined...

Which was stronger? Fate or Destiny?

One month ago she didn't even know that the two words differed in meaning. Today, however fine a line there was between fate and destiny, that line was something she (and the 5 people in the world she trusted) held on to tightly.

Isabel wondered at all their reactions, the strength of love that they exhibited.

Max had had a crush on Liz since 5th grade. Liz loved Max so much she gave him up for his destiny.

Alex who loved her enough to give her space, to let her ago.

And finally the love she believed was the strongest. Although some might question its strength, she knew better.

Michael who loved Maria so much, he would leave her to protect her, to keep his fairy princess safe. And Maria, whose love was so strong she broke every wall he had, forgave him all his mistakes, who had faith in him - more than she and Max ever had.

In the beginning, Isabel had watched as her brothers’ fell, feared she had lost them. Then she realized the strength of their beloved's and eventually became friends with them understanding that the girls were not taking them away from her. During this process she had stood on the sidelines and watched relationships around her developing.

At one time Isabel had believed Max and Liz with their soul mate kind of love was the hardiest - the kind that would survive everything. She was right (almost) except for one thing, one day Isabel discovered a love that was even stronger. It was a day that Isabel felt more helpless than she had ever had before at the time, the day Michael had left her and Max after using his powers on Hank. The mention or thought of THAT man brought waves of rage flowing through her.

The whole night she and Max had worried and the next day when Michael had been arrested, on that day when she realized that Michael went to Maria, Isabel realized the feeling she felt was relief, relief that Michael had someone to go to when he need to go, somewhere, someone to run to when Michael ran. It was the day she realized for the first time how deep the love Michael had for Maria. How the passion they always exhibited and so readily noticeable went deeper, deeper than anyone realized. It was a love that went hand in hand with need.

It was the day Isabel accepted fully for the first time Maria in Michael's life, Liz in Max's life. She accepted for the first time that she couldn't give Max and Michael everything that they needed. The process that had been started by the conversation with Liz on the 285 south, and continued by Alex's appearance in her life and saving Michael's life when he got sick was completed by Maria.

Isabel had been sitting in the jeep for 15 minutes now. She glanced at her watch and wondered idly where Max and Michael was and then went back to her thoughts.

She, Maria and Liz had spent the whole lunch hour together. It had been strange at first but soon they had slipped back into their routine. A slight frown crossed Isabel's face as she remembered what Maria had asked her to do. The three had been sitting together under the tree in more secluded section that they had moved to from the quad when Maria had pulled out a wallet. It was a man's wallet; belonging to the FBI Agent Nacedo had killed. It contained his identity, badge, and driver's license. Isabel wondered where Maria had got it from- probably Michael, but then she reconsidered her original thought remembering their sort-of break-up.

Maria asked Isabel to practice using her powers to change the identity and picture on the contents in the wallet. Isabel now sat and questioned her reason. Maria had laughed it off, dismissing her and Liz's queries. Isabel had at the time considered it practice, in line with the reasoning Maria had provided behind her request.

The contents of the wallet now consisted of Maria's picture, or rather a variation of it where Maria's hair was longer and pulled back, her eyes were dark brown and slight glasses sat on her nose, a new name and address. Isabel was rather proud of the photo that now graced the identity and driver's license with all its adjustments. It looked like Maria but not. She called the feeling of accomplishment she had felt with Liz and Maria's admiration over the fine-tuning she had to use in her powers to get exactly what Maria requested.

All this she dismissed as she recalled the goodbyes the girls had said. This morning she had been both reluctant and eager to get to school. Reluctant because after all that had happened - destiny, war, capture and torture, school had seemed very irrelevant but at the same time her eagerness to go had increased as it (school) represented a return to normality, or at least for one day before the long summer vacation.

It was her desire to fix things with her friends that clinched the deal. So she went. She wasn't quite ready to see Alex just yet but she didn't regret coming to school. At least now, even if their plans to spend the summer together were void and she wouldn't see them for 2 months at least they said goodbye.

Now, all else fell into the background unimportant as Isabel sat in the jeep waiting for her brothers - Michael was still her brother regardless of anything anybody said, even if it was her mother - while she remembered the goodbyes of her friends leaving for the summer.

Part Three

Maria drove slowly. Her thoughts on the short drive also revolved around the time spent together with her friends and Isabel's goodbye - the apology for all that had happened in her eyes.

'Two months,' Maria mused. 'Maybe it would be good for them. Separate vacations as such.' It hurt too much to think about Michael so she didn't. Well she tried not to. Ultimately Maria was a doer. She didn't talk about doing stuff or spend ages analyzing like Liz, she did them. And after two days of thinking constantly and crying Maria was ready to do something.

Liz was wrapped up in her own problems and had informed Maria that she was going to leave Roswell for the summer. She was going to Florida straight after school. It hadn't taken much to convince her parents that she needed time away after they saw how upset she was over the last two days. It was Mrs. Parker's idea for her to leave immediately for her cousin’s home on the coast. Isabel and Maria had already said their goodbyes.

It was Liz leaving that got her thinking. When Michael avoided her completely and she refused to speak to her, Maria decided to stop waiting around. She put her half formed idea into action when she met Isabel for lunch. After stopping at the Crashdown and asking Mr. Parker for time off (he was very sympathetic after all that was going on with Liz), she drove to her Mum's shop.

Maria and her mom had spent a lot of time in the last few days together. Amy Deluca hated seeing her daughter in pain so at Maria's suggestion that Maria go to Florida with Liz, it didn't take much persuasion to assure her Amy that it was best for her baby girl. Not for the first time Maria was glad of the open relationship she had with her mother. After promising to call regularly, Maria hugged her Mom goodbye and left, swallowing the pangs of guilt she felt lying to those closest to her.

'It was necessary,' she told herself and was almost convinced. She had one more stop to make - Alex. After bidding him farewell and assuring him she was fine and would be okay, Maria drove home.

She packed all she thought she needed, took all her savings it had taken hours of work to earn and she originally planned to use to buy a new car and a picture of her and Michael and got in the car- the car that two days ago was shot through with bullets and had no windscreen. It was a hard memory one she would prefer to forget. Friends with special powers made that a little easier.

Actually and ironically it was a non-friend that fixed the faithful Jetta. It hadn't occurred to her or any of the others at the time to collect the car. They were otherwise occupied and dealing with a multitude of feelings. Somehow through all that, Tess had the presence of mind to remember the Jetta. Maria didn't know what caused Tess to do a nice thing for her but for the first time since her arrival into their lives Maria had a good thought about her. The jetta now showed no evidence of the hell it had been through and even moved slightly better. Maria suspected that Tess had made a few improvements alien-style.

Her mother had offered her the car for the summer insisting she didn't need it. Maria didn't question her and accepted the offer gratefully. As Maria headed down 285 south, she buried all her misgivings and fought her desire to turn back and run to Michael. 'This was the right thing to do. It was only two months after all. Two months and I'll would see everyone again,' she repeated over and over in her head. She knew it was something she had to do for all of them and it was the only way she could gain some control over the events that had taken over her and her friend’s lives. It would allow to get Michael back eventually.

Maria did after all know Michael and understood him. He wouldn't let her convince him to come back. Protecting her, protecting his family was something that came naturally to him. He was nothing if not stubborn. Fortunately for all concerned Maria was equally stubborn and protective of those she loved. And she loved him. Keeping Michael, Max and Isabel safe was her priority and she would do whatever it took to be prepared when the need arose.

The sign showing 285 South brought back memories - her first abduction. When she passed the motel that they had spent their first night together, had their first real conversation together Maria gave up trying not to phone Michael. She was strong enough to leave, strong enough to prepare but she knew him. As much as he needed her to be away right now he also needed to know that she didn't consider him a killer. And he needed to know that she loved him.

The phone rang once before once again the answering machine came on. Maria knew he was screening his calls probably to avoid her. She smiled when she heard his voice - the short and abrupt message.

"This is Michael. You know what to do." The phone beeped.

"Hi! Michael. Its Maria again." She paused and then realized that there was nothing else to say. She couldn't tell him her plans after all.

Slowly she hung up and fought back a new set of tears that threatened to fall. She dropped the phone on to seat next to her and as it fell Maria strengthened her posture and straightened her spine. She reached out and put a cassette in. 'This time she was going to do what needed to be done,' the thought ran through her mind and she forced herself to sing along to the music now blaring through the speakers.

Preparation was after all the key. To what she wasn't quite sure but she had two months to figure it out. She had everything she needed to do it - an identity, the clothes, new hair courtesy of Isabel and everyone thought she was in Florida. All she had to do now was talk her way in and she would be all set. All that research would come in handy.

Maria smiled - a real smile for the first time in days. 'Everything would work out great,' she thought optimistically, ' and Michael loved her.'

Part Four

She drove all day. When she arrived, Maria phoned her Mom letting her know she was okay. Then she checked into a motel and collapsed.

The next day, Maria changed carefully into the power suit she had bought especially for this. Black skirt, white shirt and a black jacket combined with black stockings and high black heels. She combed her hair completely back and tied it into a bun at the back before slipping in the brown contact lenses.

Maria studied herself critically in the mirror. She opened her bag and placed a small pair of glasses on her nose. Then she smiled.

"Step one complete," she said aloud. She looked the part. Now all that was left was the difficult part of the plan. She had to talk her way into the training facility. She pulled out a file from her bag containing a multitude of papers and began to skim the research she knew almost by heart already.

Maria had thought her way through a number of options before deciding on this plan. She was pretty sure it was the best method for her to receive the kind of training she needed if she was to protect her friends and Michael in the future.

Over the drive to FBI training grounds, she rehearsed her talk. Acting was something that came easy to Maria. She had been pretending things most of her life. Not even Liz knew when Maria was unhappy. The closest anyone ever got to finding her out was Michael.

Maria swung into a parking lot and parked the Jetta. She glanced in the mirror one last time. Her make-up was discreet, designed to make her look older. She smoothed her hair back, grabbed her small black bag and taking deep breaths strolled into the building entrance, already in character.

Her appearance gathered immediate attention. She ignored it all and walked straight to reception area and demanded to see Agent Simms. Agent Simms was, according to research she had gathered before leaving Roswell, in charge of the facility.

"Do you have an appointment?" the receptionist asked.

"No," she replied, "But he should be expecting my arrival. The paperwork was sent 3 day ago." Maria kept to her story and smiled at the man at reception. The smile worked and he immediately dialed the number to request an audience for her.

Although no sign of paperwork was available, it didn't take much to get to see Agent Simms, especially with the identity she had Isabel adjust to reflect her new face. Maria sent a small prayer of thanks to Isabel for what she did. Agent Simms was slightly more difficult to convince even after Maria explained the circumstances she had decided would best be believable for allowing her to train at the facility.

"You haven't any FBI Training? None, at all?" he enquired.

"I was recruited directly from college into Agent Pierce's unit. My skills were required immediately. There wasn't time," she answered. Maria noted the curiosity she saw in Simms eyes at the mention of Pierce's name.

"I was only required to work from home base and couldn't be spared for training," she continued.

"Until now." Simms stated. "What changed?"

"There's an assignment- a field work assignment which my boss has decided will require my particular skills to occur in 7 weeks. It was decided that the best course of action be that I receive basic training for 6 weeks as it aligns with your summer course."

"The summer course runs for 3 months."

"I am aware of that. I was told that it will not be required for me to take all the classes available, mostly the physical training ones. It was all stated in the paperwork."

"Paperwork?"

"It was sent three days ago by Agent Pierce before he went undercover."

"We haven't received it yet. Must be some bureaucratic slip up."

"Probably," she agreed, glad he suggested the mix up. Maria saw he was almost convinced.

She leaned forward and in her most sincere voice said, "Look, Agent Simms. I understand this is highly unusual circumstance. I will be going on this mission in 7 weeks with or without training. It was delayed so as to give me as much time to prepare since the FBI as far as possible would prefer not to send in agents unprepared. I would appreciate my receiving the necessary training." Maria smiled at him as she stood up. "Thank you for your time." She held out a slim hand and mentally held her breathe in anticipation. It didn't take long.

"Please stay, Agent Sanders. I'm sure we can work out something to fix the mix up." He had no defense for her smile.

'Isabel was right,' Maria thought to herself as she and Agent Simms proceeded to work out a schedule that would give her the proper training. 'Men are like putty in your hands. All you have to do is smile.'

Thirty minutes later Maria was directed to t he dorm rooms and given a tour. Everything was all set and going according to plan. She would begin training tomorrow.

Part Five

The next six weeks went pretty fast. Maria took classes in self-defense, hand-to-hand combat, guns and a few psychology classes, an acting class and a computer hacking class. Her time was spent in the gym or on the shooting gallery practicing target shooting.

Every third day she would phone Amy Deluca and assure her she was fine. Maria also made weekly calls to Liz, Isabel and Alex and occasionally left messages on Michael's machine. A cover was kept since Liz was not speaking to anyone from home except Maria and her parents, with the occasional email to Alex.

Maria learnt fast and practiced constantly. All her instructors were impressed with her abilities and dedication. She was friendly but distant and kept all the other trainees apart from her. This led to her developing a reputation shrouded with mystery.

In acting class (given to all prospective undercover agents) she excelled. She was convincing in whatever role they required her to play. She did pretty well in the computer class as well. All that time spent with Alex had paid of since she had obviously picked up some skills in the area.

No paperwork had shown up yet but with her involvement and dedication Agent Simms let it slide. He too was busy and the excuse of Agent Pierce being undercover and unavailable to question held her in good stead. If there was any problem Maria was prepared to fake some paperwork however reluctant she was to risk this.

Her morning began like all the other trainees with a 10 mile run followed by breakfast, showers and classes. They broke for lunch and had more classes in the afternoon. Her spare time in the evenings she spent practicing her self-defense and other new skills.

At the end of 6 weeks Maria felt more confident and able. She could unarm anyone with a few moves, was a crack shot and developed some major hacking abilities (Alex would be proud of her). It was time to leave.

She packed everything except her FBI tracksuits and T-shirts and gun. The gun and bullets that was issued to her by the FBI Armory she places in her handbag. The clothes she put in a dustbin bag for disposal.

After greeting everyone and thanking all her instructors and Simms, Maria got into her car and began the long journey back to New Mexico.

As she crossed state lines, she breathed a sigh of relief. She had pulled it off, fooled the FBI training academy, misled all her friends and her parents and gotten away with it. Plus as an added bonus she could take on pretty much any human threat (she wasn't too sure about an alien threat but you couldn't have everything). She was almost ready to go home. Just one more thing to do.

Part Six

Once again Maria stopped at a motel for the night before continuing on her way, the next day.

When she passed the outskirts of Roswell the next morning she felt a wave of homesickness. The feeling she always felt when Michael was around, the sense of his nearness she forced herself to ignore and continued driving.

The Indian Reservation wasn't far from Roswell. She pulled up on the side and walked to the center. Almost immediately she ran into Eddie and asked for Riverdog. Eddie, for once took her straight to him.

Again her nervousness began to rise. This time however it was easier to defeat. The last 6 weeks had improved her confidence. Still Riverdog was someone special. He was the only other person who knew about the Czechoslovakians besides Sheriff Valenti that could help.

"I've been expecting you," Riverdog stated.

"You have?" Maria questioned, puzzled.

"You have come to learn, Maria," he said, without answering her question.

It was the first time in 6 weeks that Maria had been called by her name. She hadn't realized how much she missed it. Being Agent Jennifer Sandler was all fine and good but being Maria, the slightly wacky weird girl was who she was. She had missed it.

Coming to Riverdog was something she felt she had to do. And in recent times Maria listened to her feelings. She trusted her instincts especially since they had been right in the past with Tess and Topolsky. Even in FBI Training, one of her instructors had said numerous times, "Trust your instincts. They will keep you alive." The other trainees had nicknamed him the 'Sprite' after the soda. But Maria recognized the truth of his teachings and paid close attention to all he taught.

For a while now the words he (Riverdog) had said to her once in the cave echoed in her mind. Her path. The one she was destined to follow...THAT word again. She hated it.

Riverdog was the only one who could help her, which she knew. How she knew that, she wasn't quite sure. Riverdog, as usual said little and what he did say was usually cryptic- as Maria was to discover in the following fortnight.

He trained her, guided her and helped her develop her mental skills. Maria learnt to concentrate solely on one object, how to focus her mind on one person. The ability she'd always had of picking up vibes became more developed, stronger. Her mind became more focused.

Breathing was an important part of the rituals Riverdog taught. Deep, even breathes. Vision quests and sweats. For 10 days Maria stayed at the Reservation among the Indians, lived, ate, slept amongst them and leant from Riverdog. The only thing she did separately was the 10-mile run she took every morning. It had taken her 2 weeks in the beginning of the summer to complete that run without collapsing in exhaustion. It had become a habit, a necessary one and a symbol of all that she had accomplished and she used it to keep fit.

Maria discovered that Riverdog was a hard taskmaster and was determined that she would be prepared for whatever was out there. And so he taught her nature, healing, the desert with all its moods and changes and the sky covered in stars and mysteries. Riverdog never asked her any questions. Maria never volunteered any information. She assumed he knew or didn't want to know. Whatever the reason she didn't ask why he was helping or how he knew she was coming again.

On the 11th day Riverdog took Maria out to the desert. They drove for a few hours in no particular direction.

"It's time for your test," he stated when they were in the middle of nowhere far as Maria could make out.

"Test?"

"Yes," he said.

She got out of the jeep following his gestures. Riverdog was a man of few words. Then she watched in alarm as he started back up.

"You're leaving me here. Alone," her voice rose with each syllable.

"It is the test. Three days," Riverdog replied calmly as he drove of, leaving a trail of dust behind him.

"Three days," Maria shrieked to the back of the jeep. Already he was too far away. She fought the urge to scream and began to breathe. 'Deep breathes.' She repeated to herself like a mantra.

When she was calm, her training kicked in. 'I can do this,' she thought. All the training, lessons by Riverdog. 'He wouldn't have left me here if I wasn't ready.'

With that reassurance Maria took stock of the environment, of all she had on her, of the direction of home, the sun, of time. Her backpack lay on the sand besides her where she had thrown it when she jumped of the jeep. She knew at the very least she had 2 water bottles. Previous lessons in the desert, although much shorter had taught her to bring water.

If she was lucky she had matches left over from lighting the candle the night before. Immediately she checked and struck it lucky. In addition she had a sweater, which would be useful at night when it was notoriously cold in the desert.

Maria carefully repacked the backpack, slung it over her shoulders and began to walk west, back to civilization. According to her calculations as far into the desert as she was she was still closer to the reservation than to Roswell. She rationed her water sparingly and walked for hours. When it began to get dark she looked for a place to camp. In the end Maria settled for resting below an outcrop of rocks. She didn't sleep much that first night. It was cold and she shivered constantly despite the sweater she wore wrapped tightly around her. There was no sticks or anything that could be used to light a fire with.

The next morning she started walking at first light. She was hungry, tired and grumpy. It was a good thing Riverdog wasn't around at this time because Maria would have probably done a few things to him that she would regret later.

Desperation made her swallow her squeamishness and kill a small furry animal. She also managed to light a small fire (after half an hour and numerous attempts), which she used to cook 'lunch.'

Her water was almost finished despite the way she sparingly doled it out. However, Maria's worries of the previous day were slightly diminished. Eating and lighting the fire had reassured her somewhat.

At 4 o'clock after walking for hours Maria found some cactus plants. Her lessons with Riverdog held her in good stead and she managed to get some of the liquid within down her parched throat.

The second night also passed better. A fire kept her warmer than the previous night and sleep came easier. Once again she began walking early. Maria ate the remainder of the cooked meat from the day before and drank what was left of her liquid supply.

By afternoon she spotted the reservation, the first sign of civilization in 3 days. Energy Maria wasn't aware she still possessed allowed her to run the rest of the way. 'Thank God for those 10 mile runs,' was the fleeting thought that passed through Maria's mind just before she collapsed outside Riverdog's dwellings.

He appeared almost immediately.

"You did well, my child. You passed the test."

Maria had never been so glad to hear someone else's voice in her life. Although it had only been 3 days, it was the most time she had ever spent completely alone. It was a relief to hear someone besides her own voice.

She smiled up at Riverdog. Maria was just too tired to be mad at him anymore. She was exhausted, dirty, hungry, and thirsty. Other priorities were on her mind.

After showering and drinking as much water as she could, Maria sat with Riverdog for the last time. Her time with him was over she realized with regret. The test was a completion of his teachings.

"It's time to leave, Maria," Riverdog stated in his slow measured tones.

Maria nodded in response, "Yes."

"You will remember. You will practice," he said.

Again she replied in the affirmative.

It was time. She was ready to return home. To face Roswell. To face her friends. To face Michael.

That night the Indians celebrated with Maria. It was her congratulations for passing the test and a farewell combined. She would leave in the morning.

Part Seven

Alex was worried. She was two days late with her phone call and with this Maria was always on time. Like clockwork. Every Wednesday at 9pm.

On Wednesday night he thought it unusual. On Thursday he worried slightly. He accidentally, deliberately ran into Mrs. Deluca who hadn't seen in two months and subtlety enquired after her. She hadn't phoned Amy either however Mrs. Deluca wasn't concerned. She assumed Maria was having fun and forgot.

Maria never forgot.

Still he felt slightly better for a while. After all if her own mother didn't think was unusual, he was just being paranoid. 'I've been hanging around Michael too long,' Alex thought wryly to himself.

By Thursday night- he decided 'Paranoia be damned.' Mrs. Deluca, although a cool mum and a great person, was slightly flaky. Maria was more a mother to her than she was to Maria.

It was too late to phone Florida so he spent the night debating with himself various possibilities and imagining reasons for the lack of a call. Stuck in the desert didn't occur to him.

On Friday morning he dialed Florida. Liz answered, "Alex, its great to hear from you."

"Liz, you okay?"

"I'm better. How is everyone?"

"They're okay," normally Alex would chat to Liz but after the night he had just had, "Can I speak to Maria?" He got straight to the point.

"Alex," he could hear puzzlement in her voice. "You realize I am in Florida, right."

"Of course you are. You and Maria."

"Alex, are you alright? Why would Maria be here? She's in Roswell with you. I spoke to her last week."

"What do you mean she is in Roswell?" Alex's voice rose in his surprise and panic.

"Alex, what's going on?" Liz was starting to get worried.

"Oh my God, she lied." He was almost talking to himself.

"Alex!" He didn't answer.

"Alex!" She yelled louder. He jumped on the other end.

"Liz, don't yell!"

"You're ignoring me. Tell me what the hell is going on. Now!"

"Maria - she's missing."

"What do you mean she is missing? She's in Roswell with you. She's been there all summer." Liz was panicking as well now.

"No, she hasn't. She told us she was in Florida with you. And since you weren't talking to anyone, no one knew any better."

"Are you saying that Maria disappeared for two months and no one knew?"

"She phoned every week. You said yourself you spoke to her. This is bad - really bad. What are we going to do?"

"Okay, let's not panic," Liz sounded more like Liz now. Analyzing and thinking. "Why do you think something has happened to her? She seems fine when we speak to her."

"That's why I am worried," Alex answered.

"Because she is fine?" Liz questioned.

"Liz, no. Because she didn't phone. Every week she phones. At the same time. And she didn't. You know Maria..."

"Never forgets."

"What are we going to do?"

"This is bad, Alex."

"I know."

"I'm coming home." Alex didn't try to stop her. He was now more scared than worried. Two months she'd been lying to them. The realization was just settling in.

"Okay."

"Don't do anything till I get there. Don't call them." He didn't ask who them was.

"We might need them."

"Wait till I get there, okay"

"Alright."

"Okay, I'll phone you in 5 minutes with my flight and time."

"I'll be at the airport." They both hung up, a hundred thoughts running through their minds, fear for their best friend prominent.

'She lied to us,' Alex thought again in shock. Just then the doorbell rang. Almost automatically Alex headed towards the door and opened it.

"Kyle," Alex said in surprise.

"Hey man how's it going?" He walked past Alex into the house. Alex followed him almost blindly.

"I just got back from basketball camp. I stopped by the Crashdown. Guess Liz and Ria aren't back from Florida yet," Kyle continued.

At the mention of Maria's name Alex became alert again.

"You okay, Alex?" Kyle asked noting Alex's distraction.

"No," he answered. He didn't question Kyle's appearance. Things had changed for all of them in the last week of school with Pierce and then Kyle getting shot. Sharing a secret made them all closer. Alex didn't have to decide if he was going to tell Kyle what was going on or not. He just did. Alex explained everything to him.

In between explanations Liz called with details of her flight. Both Kyle and Alex left immediately for the airport.

Three hours later, three worried friends driving home from the airport were debating whether or not to call 'them'.

"We need their help," Alex said.

"How can they help? We don't know anything. Why would they know?" Kyle questioned.

"Isabel can dreamwalk," Alex answered. Liz had been silently observing the conversation until now.

"Michael needs to know." She finally stated. No one said anything. They all knew that whatever happened between Michael and Maria, Michael would die for her. For something never stated aloud and by two people who in their own way were strangely private about their feelings, it was a well-known fact.

"I'll call Max," Alex finally said.

Liz smiled wryly. Going to Florida didn't appear to have helped much with the staying away from Max.

Alex phoned Max on the cell and told him to get everyone and meet at Michael's apartment. Max didn't ask questions, hearing the tone of Alex's voice which reflected all his worry and fear for Maria.

Kyle who was driving pulled up in front of Michael's place and the three of them got out slowly. Kyle had been there only once after he had been shot. For the others it brought back memories of happier times.

Everyone was there already when Liz, Alex and Kyle arrived. For the first few minutes no one said anything, just looking at each other. Max looked shocked to see Liz and the two of them did their usual stare-into-each-other's-eyes thing.

"Where's Maria?" Michael's voice broke the silence. Her absence was noticeable.

That snapped everyone out of it. Liz and Alex exchanged a look.

"We don't know," Kyle answered.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Isabel asked quickly before ed to be in Florida." No one knew what to say. Michael rarely admitted his feelings, and usually went out of his way to deny that they even existed or he ignored them by focusing all out and obsessing about his past, his origins.

"I'll dreamwalk," Isabel suggested. Alex smiled at her in relief. She smiled back. It felt good even in these circumstances to be together again. Things were simpler when everyone was together.

"There's one more thing," Michael said again.

"Michael?" Isabel prompted again when he stopped speaking.

"She's okay now but the last three days... she was scared, I think."

"You think?" Kyle asked.

"I told you it was not an exact science."

"If she was scared why didn't you...?" Alex trailed off, not sure what he was asking.

"I don't know. It was strange, you know. She was scared but she wasn't asking for help." Michael looked confused.

"You said she is okay now?" Liz asked.

"Yeah."

Part Eight

Seven teens sat in a tiny apartment. The absence of one weighed heavily on them. It was the one thing that had the power to bring them all back together - after something even more powerful had torn them apart - destiny.

"I'll need a picture of Maria. Do you have one?" Isabel asked all of them.

"We can get one," Alex said standing up.

"Will a painting do?" Michael's words stopped him in his tracks.

Isabel looked slightly surprised, "Yes."

Michael stood up and went into the other room. He came out holding a big painting. The others waited for him to turn it around. None of them, except for Max and Isabel knew that he could paint, but even they didn't know that he still did it.

Michael handed the painting to Isabel. She gasped, and everyone crowded around her to see. The painting showed a border of darkness and overcast clouds with this bright ray of sunshine in the middle spreading towards the edges. In the center, was a girl with a pixie haircut sitting on a swing, her eyes huge, and her slight smile beautiful. The way Michael saw her. His ray of sunshine. His happiness. His Maria. It was beautiful.

Again no one knew quite what to say. There were no words to describe the painting. It was like seeing through someone's soul - extremely private, seeing exactly how they felt. They felt like voyeurs.

Liz went up to Michael and wrapped her arms around him. It was a thank you for loving Maria. It was a thank you for showing them Maria in his eyes. He thought it was because she missed Maria. He patted her back awkwardly.

"It's amazing, Michael," Isabel said eventually. "Thank you," Michael was too worried at this stage to care what they thought of the painting. Another time perhaps. But then again... after the first time he showed them a painting of his, their reaction had not exactly inclined him to make any further disclosures.

It was time to begin the dreamwalk. Although it was daytime, Isabel was confident that she could dreamwalk Maria - after all she had done it before and she had been practicing all summer to remain undetected. Isabel stared at the painting intently while sitting on the couch, one hand in Alex's hand. The picture wavered slightly and then she fell back, her eyes closed. The rest watched anxiously.

****

Maria got into her car and waved to Riverdog, Eddie and the rest of the Indians who had come to see her of. She turned the car towards Roswell and turned the music up singing along as she drove. She was going home.

Why, Maria wasn't quite sure - maybe it was all the exercises, the meditation, the vision quests she went on with Riverdog - whatever the reason, she felt Isabel almost immediately.

"Hello Isabel."

Isabel sat in the passenger seat of the car. She looked surprised when Maria greeted her. "You felt me - how?"

Maria ignored the question. "Is something wrong? Did something happen to Michael?" she asked worriedly.

"No. Everyone is fine, except for you. Do you have any idea how worried we are about you?"

"You know," Maria stated flatly.

"Know what - that you aren't in Florida? Yeah we know that. Are you okay? Where are you?" Isabel decided to get straight to the point. This conversation was strange enough as it was. Isabel liked to be in control and this dreamwalk had slipped from her control right at the start when Maria has somehow sensed her.

"I'm fine," Maria answered like it was obvious. In a way it was. After all Isabel was sitting next to her.

"Maria," Isabel said, impatience lacing her voice.

"Yes?"

"It's been two months, Maria. You lied to us."

"I needed to leave. I did phone."

"Where have you been? Where are you now?"

"I'm near Roswell," Maria answered after a pause.

'Michael was right," Isabel thought. It was obvious Maria wasn't going to tell her anything. She made the decision to go further into Maria's mind. It was the wrong decision. It didn't work. Maria felt Isabel pushing into her mind immediately and blocked her.

"Not going to happen, Izzy," Maria said.

Isabel winced. Maria sounded mad at the invasion into her mind, and being blocked wasn't a fun experience. It had never happened before except with Michael and Tess who was way more advanced with her powers than they were.

"I have to concentrate on driving," Maria said and that was the last thing Isabel heard Maria say before she woke up, rather in shock.

"I can't believe it," Isabel said surprise, shock and anger was evident in her voice. "She threw me out. Actually threw me out," she continued, jumping of the couch.

The teens surrounding her watched as Isabel began pacing.

"Isabel," Alex called. She ignored them.

"Isabel," Michael yelled louder, "Where is she? Is she okay?"

Isabel stopped and looked at the people watching her anxiously.

"You were right. She is near Roswell. At least that's what she said - before she threw me out." Her voice rose with indignation.

"Threw you out?" Tess asked, "How - she's only human?"

"I don't know but she felt me when I arrived and when I tried to go further into her conscious to see where she was, she blocked me. Then she threw me out." Several smiles were suppressed at the sheer shock in Isabel's voice every time she repeated the last phrase.

"Start from the beginning," Alex said reasonably when he saw Isabel begin to pace again. And so Isabel started the tale from the beginning.

When she was finished, "She threw you out," Tess said in shock. Everyone groaned.

"Please don't get her started again," Max said. They all laughed and then quieted when they remembered the circumstances.

"She's okay, right?" Liz said, half statement, half question. No one answered.

"She is," Isabel finally said. "She said she just needed to go. I'm sure she'll be home soon." Isabel hugged Liz.

"I'm not waiting," Michael said decisively. "I'm going to get her now." He stood up.

"Michael,"

"No, Maxwell. We tried Isabel's way. Even if she is fine, I want her home. I'm going to get her."

"I'm coming with you," Kyle said. Everyone turned to look at him in surprise.

"Me too," Alex said.

"We'll all go," Max said. Michael looked shocked.

"What? She's one of my best friends. I want her home as much as you do," Max said defensively.

"Didn't say anything, Maxwell," Michael smirked.

They all waked out. Michael jumped into the front seat of the jeep. Max handed him the keys. Liz, Alex and Isabel got into the back and Max took the passenger seat. Kyle and Tess took Kyle's car and followed the jeep as it pulled on to the freeway.

"Where to?" Alex asked after 15 minutes.

"I don't know," Michael replied. No one said anything after that.

They drove for about 20 minutes more well into the desert. Near a few rock formations Michael pulled the jeep up and everyone piled out. Kyle and Tess joined them a minute later and there they all stood, waiting.

Part Nine

Maria had calmed down since Isabel attempted to enter her subconscious. She wasn't even mad at Isabel after thinking about it since she knew that Isabel was just worried about her. Still she wasn't quite looking forward to going home and facing her worried and not-so-happy-with-her friends.

It was a delay tactic that made her stop. 'Avoidance. Classical. She did learn something from Michael after all,' she thought wryly as she parked the car.

Maria got out and stared at the sand stretching out in front of her. She needed to think - to prepare herself for home, for everyone, for Michael and so she began to walk.

Maria knew where she was going although some might doubt it. It was hard to distinguish features in the desert. Maria was headed to a group of rocks - her thinking place. What made this rock formation special, she wasn't quite sure but it reminded her of Michael, even though he had never been there. Once she had planned to take him but now... who knew.

As Maria walked, she began to move faster. Something was drawing her there. An attraction. Something she missed. She didn't about what or who it was. Deep inside of her knew. Maria just ran.

****

Michael began walking. The others looked at each other in question and then almost as one, made a decision and followed. Again no one asked where they were going.

Michael didn't know where he was going. If one of his friends had asked he wouldn't be able to tell them. He was feeling Maria and following that feeling. It was almost like the yellow brick road in the Wizard of Oz, Maria had forced him to watch once - the long winding road that led to Maria. Maria was the Emerald City. He almost laughed at his thoughts. They were certainly weird. He knew that she had lingering effects on him.

The others suddenly noticed Michael's increased pace and they rushed to keep up. He was almost running now. Michael could feel her getting closer. Suddenly he stopped. Isabel and Kyle who were directly behind him almost knocked him down in their sudden brake.

In front of them was a group of rocks and in the center was Maria.

Part Ten

Everyone stared. They hadn't been quite sure that Michael would find her. It was ironic that 6 people were at the same time making the same silent apology to him. They all watched as he began walking towards their missing friend.

Again the others were reduced to role of observers and stood silently and stared as Maria's eyes widened when she saw him, as she began slowly walking towards Michael, as they met in the middle.

Michael and Maria stood together, as close as two people could without touching. They didn't say anything. Everyone stood nearby silent, no one wanting to break the moment or interrupt.

Maria reached out with one hand and touched his cheek. It felt good to touch him again. He looked different. Older. His hair was different.

It was good to feel her hands on him again. He lifted his hand and tucked a few stray hairs behind her ear. Her hair was longer. She looked different. Older. He stared into her eyes. They had always been his favorite part of her. Emerald pools. Now they were sheltered. He felt the loss. She was the same but changed. Not so easy to read. Then again, in some ways she had always been difficult to figure out. A mass of contradictions.

He leaned in and felt her lean forward. Their eyes closed simultaneously and the two met again in the middle. It was a tender kiss. A I-missed-you kiss. One containing all the passion they were known for yet different at the same time. The sparks came immediately. Familiar sparks. Sparks they had both missed. Still, they didn't touch except for their lips.

Slowly they pulled away. The others watched in awe. They had never seen Michael and Maria like this. It was scary. The world was turning. Tess felt something shift inside her. All the time, all summer she had spent with Max, Michael and Isabel she had convinced herself that Destiny would eventually come about, even though Max had pined for Liz, Isabel had missed Alex and Michael...

Nothing had convinced her. Nothing could convince her, she had thought, that they were not meant to be. She and Max. Isabel and Michael. Even watching Max and Liz together with their soul mate looks and Isabel and Alex being friends. Until now. This moment, so unlike Michael and Maria. Tess accepted that the Destiny she believed her entire existence was never going to happen. She let it go. She let Max go and in her mind freed Michael and Isabel.

She never realized how their names fit. Michael and Maria. Even she had always linked them. And doing so Tess freed herself. She glanced away from the enthralling sight in front of her and met Kyle's eyes. Tess smiled and Kyle returned her smile.

Max turned to Liz as always and she to him. Liz accepted him back. Max felt her welcome. His and Liz's relationship had always revolved around Michael and Maria's and vice versa. It began when theirs began and ended when theirs ended and now once again would continue in their wake.

Isabel smiled in relief and Alex smiled because Isabel smiled. And because Maria was fine. Their hands reached out and held.

Part Eleven

The teens were back in holding pattern - waiting for what would happen next. Under the circumstances no one should have been surprised at what followed. This was Michael and Maria after all. Two more volatile and unpredictable people were not likely to exist.

"What the hell were you thinking? Two months, Maria. You scared the hell out of everyone. Liz came home because of you," Michael began yelling.

The others jumped in surprise when he began. Maria didn't. She knew him best after all. She just yelled back.

It was a few minutes before there was a second of silence - a breather. Alex took full advantage and jumped right in.

"One second, Michael," Alex interrupted, "As much as I want to yell at Maria right now, can I at least hug her hello? You got to greet her." Alex smiled at Michael's expression. He had added the last sentence just for that. Maria was the only button of Michael's that he knew how to push, and it sure was fun.

"Alex!" Maria cried. He wondered if she had even seen them standing there till now. Alex wrapped his arms around her tightly as she flew into them and breathed a soft prayer she was alright.

Liz came running up and hugged her next and before Liz and Maria could get into girl-talk catch up, Max, Isabel and Kyle took their turns. Michael stood slightly to the side of this, separate but not far. He was reluctant to let her out of touching distance. An indulgent expression touched his face, visible for only a second as he watched her greet her friends. He observed silently as Liz and Isabel surrounded Maria and how Tess stood slightly back, afraid of her welcome. Michael smiled. When he saw Maria drag Tess into the group, accepting and forgiving her. His Maria.

Michael notice the other guys bore the same smile he wore. Max. Alex. And Kyle. 'We're all complete saps. We all turned into Max," the wry thought passed through his mind. But still he stood and watched. The grateful look Tess wore at Maria's welcome, the reluctant one Liz wore at first which changed at Maria's encouraging one and Isabel's happy one that all her friends were together. All of this because of Maria. She was back and the group was complete now.

Of course they had a few things still to deal with. They had to yell at Maria some more, find out where she was the last two months, how she sensed Isabel, how.... Okay lots of questions for Maria. Michael knew that wasn't going to be easy. While Maria was the most honest person he knew, she was also the most stubborn person he knew. And because of this Michael was aware that Maria wasn't going to tell them anything without a fight, not if she didn't want them to know. And since she had kept it from them for so long she would probably continue to do so. He could wait. She was back and that was all that mattered.

Part Twelve

Days passed. The vacation ended and everyone started school again. There was no sign of danger anywhere but they all sustained a state of readiness. Maria maintained her silence on the missing two months, despite several attempts by the 7 teens, who were her friends, to find out.

These attempts ranged from threats to persuasion, guilt to bribery. Numerous dreamwalks were also tried. And failed. Maria didn't budge. Her evasions seemed to get stronger as time passed and she either avoided the constant questions completely or said that she would tell them when it was time. Her mother remained in the dark.

Once again, they were the talk of Roswell High. The strange combination of the 8 of them, the unusual pairing of the couples, the addition of Kyle and Tess - all of these made them interesting fodder for gossip. In some ways it was merely continuation of the talk that arose the previous year when a known loner rebel with his quiet serious best friend and the most beautiful girl in the school, a highly unusual trio joined an equally unusual trio consisting of a pretty brainy scientist, a cute wacky pixie and a geek.

The 6 of them had certainly caused some major uproars during that year. Max and Liz, 2 notable quiet serious students caught making out because they were too loud. Maria and Michael's entire relationship. The weirdness that caused the 'Elle McPhearson' of the school to date Alex, a self pronounced geek. The antagonism between the Max and the no.1 jock in school now mysteriously absent. Hell. That was a lot for one school to take even without the non-human status of some of the group's members.

This year the stakes had even risen further with Alex and Maria's band - the Whits, their popularity stakes had risen. Isabel had always been popular and Michael with his rebel with a cause look and attitude was the cause of many a crush. Max's bedroom eyes, Tess's perkiness, Kyle's jock status and Liz continued dreamgirl reputation didn't help. The things that attracted 8 such different people together and held fast in obvious firm friendships fascinated people whether it their sometimes clueless parents or fellow students.

For the 8 however, things had changed even if they were the only one's that knew it. Their friendships, despite the knocks that Destiny thrown at them still remained intact. A secret bound them all them together and that was bigger than all of them together. Their relationships however were not as lucky.

It was ironic that Tess, who had been the catalyst for the subsequent break-ups, had begun a somewhat tentative friendship with of all people - Kyle. And even stranger, Isabel and Alex whose relationship had been the newest had somehow survived. For the others, love the very thing that should have kept them together kept them apart, caused Liz to walk away and Michael to say goodbye.

Isabel herself found it weird that Michael was still keeping away from Maria. After the kiss that they had all witnessed she thought it was strange that they hadn't gotten back together yet. The same went for Max and Liz. It had been two months of separation and those months hadn't been easy on her brothers. Max was more withdrawn than ever, a combination of Liz and the torture that he suffered at the hands of Pierce and Michael's walls had grown taller and wider than ever before. He practiced his powers constantly with Tess and had improved his focus and energy tenfold. Even if she and Tess were both almost convinced that Maria was the focus he used to improve. Maria had always brought out the best in him and even now, apart she was still his reason.

Isabel figured it was limited time before things got back to normal. Normal, being a relative term for them. Actually that was wrong - she just hoped things would get better. It was just a matter of who d him this time, "We can make notes and everything." Liz was still the only one looking enthusiastic.

Maria ignored them all and began to hand two books to everyone there. She gave Michael the thickest ones. Kyle laughed when he saw this. And just to make sure everyone there got why he was laughing he explained it. This caused Tess to exchange a few see-what-I-have-to-put-up-with looks with the other girls and boys to exchange confused ones at the girl’s expressions. In return for the laugh, Maria handed him a thick book. That shut him up.

Michael didn't say anything. He didn't see anything wrong with Maria giving him the largest books. She was one of the few people that knew he liked to read. During their better times, they often had quiet moments with him reading or sketching and Maria doing homework or writing busily away in her notebook, always singing softly. He missed her voice.

He never asked to see what she wrote and she never asked to see what he drew although it was usually her face that filled his sketchbooks. They both knew that they didn't have secrets from each other and if either one wanted to see they could. This knowledge allowed them to be comfortable with the status quo they had shared at the time.

Everyone had received their books, amid protestations from a number of sources, all overruled. They weren't going to win and they all knew it. No one won anything against Maria.

The basic plan was illustrated by Maria, and expanded on by Liz. They were all to read the books and see if they could come up with any ideas to find any bad aliens, already codenamed Russians by Maria, not that she had anything against Russians as she explained but Czechoslovakians was already taken. This, of course, was in between various other detours Maria took during one of her plans. Everyone there had their Maria filters working at maximum capacity although Tess was a little new to the friendship and had a harder time following the plan. Liz talking behind Maria did help though.

Continue to Parts 13-24