Title: Bunnies & Eggs

Author: Dontia

Disclaimer: I don’t own anything but the plot.

Spoilers: None

Rating: R for language.

Summary: Easter fic with Michael and Tess.

Notes: Sequel to "April’s Fool".

Feedback: It’s the circle of life. I love to write, you love to read. Tell me you love reading, I’ll continue to love to write.

Dedication: To Mental Vibrators everywhere.

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Easter Sunday afternoon, Michael and Tess stop in front of Max and Isabel’s house.

"We could meet Isabel somewhere else," says Tess as they get of Michael’s bike.

"It’s fine," says Michael as they walk to the door. "Max isn’t a problem."

Diane Evans opens the door. "I haven’t seen you two in a while."

"Hi Mrs. Evans," says Tess. "Isabel here?"

"She’s changing from church. You should’ve joined us."

"Maybe next time."

Isabel’s voice travels downstairs. "Could you come up here Tess?"

"I’ll be right back Michael. Nice to see you Mrs. Evans."

Left alone, Michael becomes extremely uncomfortable with the way Diane eyes him.

"I’d like to talk to you Michael."

"About what?"

"Your living situation. Do you think it’s a good idea to live with the young woman you’re dating? Are you prepared to take responsibility if she becomes pregnant?"

***************************************

Tess has just entered Isabel’s room and closed the door behind her when she hears a mental shout for help from Michael. She starts to go back downstairs but Isabel stops her.

"It’s just my mom," says Isabel. "She wants to talk to Michael about you two living together."

"What about it?"

"Why you are and if Michael thinks he’s ready to be a father if you get pregnant."

"Darn it, I was finally wearing him down. Your mother’s gonna raise his resistance level."

"Sorry."

"It’s not funny."

"If it was me, you’d be laughing."

"Probably. Maybe I should tell your mom about you and Kyle. That would divert her."

"I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"Really? Cause I get the impression that you and Kyle have somethin’ goin’."

"You’re imagining things."

"Sure I am."

"Besides, you know what would happen if you told her."

"What?"

"She’d call all the parents to discuss it. They’d compare notes, then gather us together for a group sex talk."

"Might be fun. They’re not my parents, and I’m unfortunately not having sex with anyone."

"You’re the only one living with her boyfriend. And as the poor soul who’s an orphan, they’ll ALL try to parent you."

"I hate it when you do that. Fine, I’ll let Michael suffer. Are you and Kyle dating?"

"We’re hanging out. He’s helping me figure out how to fix Max and Maria’s screw-up."

"Don’t think it can be fixed. When Michael sees Max or hears his name, he gets this look. It’s this kicked-puppy expression."

"Max is walking around like he lost his best friend, which he did. AND he lost his girlfriend."

"Liz still angry with him?"

"Yeah, she’s convinced he wants you. Not that she’s wrong but I thought she was blinder than that."

"All things considered, I should probably care that Max is miserable. But he’s the one who made it clear we couldn’t be together. I did what he asked and left him alone. What, I’m supposed to pine for him the rest of my life?"

"I think that was his general idea."

"I just…feel like hitting him a few times."

"If that’s what it takes for you to forgive him, go for it."

***************************************

Downstairs, Michael’s sitting on the sofa with his hands clenched. "We’re not having sex. Things got uncomfortable where she was and she came to live with me. It isn’t safe for her to live alone."

"Probably not," agrees Diane. "Lord knows it’s a dangerous world you kids grew up in. But that doesn’t make it a good idea for you to live together. What if one night you can’t control your hormones any longer?"

Tess would be happy, thinks Michael. "Not gonna happen."

"Have you at least consulted a doctor about birth control?"

"Our relationship hasn’t gotten to that point."

"You should be prepared for when it does. I’ll make you an appointment at the clinic."

"That’s not necessary."

"I think it is, especially with the prom coming up. Lots of young people think it’s a good night to have sex the first time."

"Trust me, Tess and I won’t be having sex prom night."

"You go on up and join Isabel and Tess. I’ll call and let you know when the appointment is."

Michael looks at her helplessly before heading upstairs.

***************************************

Isabel and Tess look up when Michael enters the bedroom.

"What did she say?" asks Isabel.

"That we can’t be trusted to control our hormones," says Michael. "She’s making us get birth control."

"Maybe I should tell her how much control you have," says Tess.

"Don’t think that would help. In fact, probably make things worse."

"Hmm. Does getting birth control me you’re finally gonna let me have my way with you?"

"No. We set a date and we’re sticking to it."

"You set a date to have sex?" asks Isabel, laughing.

"It was that or let him postpone indefinitely," says Tess. "What are we gonna do our last spring break afternoon?"

"We could hang out here if you want."

"I don’t think so," says Michael. "I don’t feel like dealing with Max."

"He won’t be here. He and Maria are at Alex’s watching movies. He told Mom not to expect him until tonight."

"Still, if he comes home early…"

"Crashdown’s out too," says Tess. "Despite Max and Maria admitting what they did, I think Liz blames me."

"We could go to Kyle’s," says Isabel. "The sheriff’s probably working. We could watch some movies."

"You just wanna see Kyle."

"We’re friends, just friends."

"Yep, that’s how Michael and I started out."

"Isabel, you like Kyle?" asks Michael. "Kyle Valenti?"

"No," denies Isabel, blushing.

"Yes she does," says Tess. "She’s just not ready to admit it."

"Tess, shut up. I’m gonna call Kyle, make sure our coming over is okay."

***************************************

"Hey," says Kyle as Isabel, Michael, and Tess enter his house. "What movies did you get?"

"Tess insisted on ‘Night of the Lupus’," says Isabel.

"Why?"

"It’s the closest holiday movie I could find," says Tess. "At least one that wasn’t a cartoon."

"How is a horror movie appropriate for today?"

"The Easter Bunny, killer bunnies…leave me alone, it made sense at the video store."

Michael smirks. "No it didn’t."

"Yes it did," insists Tess. "While we’re on the subject, I have a question. What in the world does a religious holiday have to do with a bunny hiding eggs that have to be searched for?"

"I remember reading somewhere that it’s some kind of pagan tradition," says Kyle. "It was incorporated into the religious holiday to get people to accept Christianity easier."

"I didn’t know that," says Isabel.

"I did a lot of searching before I settled on Buddhism as the path to enlightenment. Christianity has too many ties to your alienness to give me comfort."

"What do you mean?" asks Michael.

"Think about today. Easter celebrates the rise from death of the savior of humanity. The four of you rose from death to be saviors of the Martians, or whatever your people are called. Kinda creeps me out."

"Yeah, when you put it like that," says Tess. "Let’s just watch the movie."

***************************************

At the Deluca house, Maria enters and heads straight to the bathroom. She steps into the shower, grateful that her mother’s not home. She stays under the warm spray of water for an hour, trying to scrub away the smell of alcohol and her mistakes.

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THE END