Title: Father’s Day

Author: Dontia

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

Spoilers: None

Rating: R for language

Summary: Father’s Day fic. Maria’s secret comes out.

Notes: Sequel to "Those Who Sacrificed". Similarities to Season Two are vague at best. So no, the crappy finale didn’t happen.

Feedback: It’s vote time. I can’t decide who should be the father. Who is it folks, Max or Alex?

Dedication: To Helen, who kept the MV list when she gave up so many others.

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

It’s late afternoon on Father’s Day. At the Crashdown, Michael’s working the grill. Max, Liz, Isabel, Kyle, and Alex are in a booth talking about what they gave their fathers.

"My mother and I got my dad a bunch of snacks," says Liz. "Then we left him alone to watch ESPN. He says he never gets time to do that."

"As hot as it is, my father wanted to play golf," says Alex. "I spent all day carrying his clubs around the golf course."

"That certainly explains the smell," says Kyle.

Everyone laughs as Alex playfully swings a menu at Kyle.

Tess walks in. "Hey everyone."

"Hey Tess," says Isabel. "Where’ve you been?"

"I was doing this thing for Jim for Father’s Day."

"What’d you get him?" asks Kyle. "You better not have topped my present."

"Food. I know you guys hate to cook so I filled the freezer with a bunch of stuff."

"A gift for me too. Thanks Tess."

Michael comes over and Tess’ smile becomes noticeably strained.

"What’s goin’ on?" asks Michael.

"Tess was telling us what she got Valenti for Father’s Day," says Max, watching Tess and Michael carefully.

"Fine, I’ll be in back."

Tess crosses her arms and stares at him. "Fine."

Michael stalks away.

"Tess, what’s wrong with you and Michael?" asks Liz.

"What the hell does it look like, we’re having a fight." Tess takes a deep breath. "Sorry, didn’t mean to snap at you."

"What are you fighting about?" asks Alex.

"None of our business," says Isabel.

Kyle whispers in Isabel’s ear. "You know, don’t you?"

"Don’t pry," says Isabel, giving Kyle a light kiss on the lips.

Maria walks in crying.

"What’s wrong?" asks Liz, jumping up and going to her friend. Michael comes from the back and glances at Tess questioningly.

Maria hugs Liz hard for a moment before moving away. She spots Tess and moves toward her. This hurts Liz.

"I told my mother," says Maria.

Tess hugs her. "What did she say?"

"She said she loves me but she’s disappointed. The look on her face, so much pain. I caused her to feel like that."

"It’ll be all right."

"Tess is right," says Isabel. "Your mother will get past this."

Maria shakes her head. "Our relationship changed tonight. I don’t think we can go back."

"Then you’ll go forward," says Tess. "Your mother still loves you and that’s the main thing. You’ll work it out, I promise."

"What’s going on guys?" asks Alex. "Maria, what happened?"

Maria looks at her friends and is painfully aware nothing will be the same again. Her eyes land on Liz’s concerned face. "I need to talk to you Liz."

"We can go upstairs," says Liz.

"Tess, could you tell everyone? I don’t think I can do this more than once."

"I’ll take care of it," says Tess. "Let’s go in back so we can have some privacy."

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

Upstairs in Liz’s room, Maria looks at a picture of her and Liz taken the summer before Max saved Liz’s life. Then she smiles sadly at the prom picture of the gang all together.

"Start whenever you’re ready," says Liz, sitting on the bed. Maria tentatively sits next to her.

"Liz Parker, you’ve been my best friend most of my life. I love you and I’ve cherished our friendship."

"You’re scaring me."

"I’m sorry. Liz, I did something. Something I know you’ll never forgive me for. That’s why I’ve been turning to Tess. I couldn’t share this with you."

"There’s nothing you can’t share with me. We’re best friends, we’ll always be best friends."

"I never meant for it to happen, it just did. I would never deliberately hurt you. I was drunk, really drunk, but that’s no excuse."

"Just say it."

"You remember Easter? You weren’t speaking to me or Max, and we were really depressed."

"I told you I forgive you for setting up Max and Tess."

"God, I wish it were as simple as that. On Easter, Max and I spent the day at Alex’s. The three of us got drunk. Not a little buzzed, I’m talking plastered."

"What are you saying?"

Maria’s voice is barely a whisper. "I slept with them."

"You slept with Alex! Oh my god."

"Not just Alex."

"Not just…tell me you’re not saying what I think you’re saying."

"Liz, I’m so sorry."

"You slept with Max? My Max?"

"I never meant for it to happen. Neither of us did."

Liz jumps off the bed and backs away from her friend. "Why?"

"I don’t know why it happened, except the three of us were drunk and feeling sorry for ourselves. I mean, Max and I were feeling alienated, and Alex was bummed because Isabel’s dating Kyle-"

"Why are you telling me? Did hanging out with Tess teach you to get some sick pleasure from my pain?"

"I had to tell you. You had to hear it from me."

"I had to hear to from you? Who else was gonna tell me? Tess?"

"Tess wouldn’t have said anything."

"Then why did you tell me?"

"I’m, I’m pregnant."

"You’re what?"

"Pregnant."

"Is it, is it Max’s?"

"I don’t know. It could be his or Alex’s."

"Oh my god. This isn’t happening. This is not happening."

There’s a moment of silence.

"Liz, say something."

"You’re lying."

"I wish I were. I’m sorry."

"Don’t say that. You’re not sorry."

"Yes I am, more than you’ll ever know."

"If you were sorry, you wouldn’t have slept with my boyfriend, you wouldn’t be pregnant, and you wouldn’t have told me."

"Liz-"

"Get out! I said get out. And tell your lover Max that I don’t wanna see him. I don’t ever wanna see him again."

"I’m sorry," says Maria, tears trailing down her face. She gets up and leaves.

Liz buries her face in a pillow on the bed and sobs.

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

Downstairs, everyone’s quiet after Tess tells them Maria’s pregnant.

"How’s she handling it?" asks Kyle.

"She’s scared," says Tess. "She’s gonna need all of us to help her through this."

"That’s what you wouldn’t tell me?" asks Michael.

"It’s her private business. She wanted to decide how to handle it before she told anyone."

"Who’s the father?"

Tess deliberately doesn’t look at Max or Alex. "I don’t know. She got pregnant around Easter."

Alex and Max look at each other with identical sick expressions.

Kyle notices the look. "You guys know who it is?"

"We have an idea," admits Alex, closing his eyes.

"Who is it?" asks Michael, looking ready to rip someone’s head off.

Max swallows noticeably. "I could be the father."

"What!"

"You’re in love with Liz," says Kyle. "Her best friend."

"I know that," says Max. "It just happened. Afterwards, we decided never to mention it again."

Michael steps toward Max menacingly. "You both decided, or you decided and forced Maria to go along with it?"

"We all decided," says Alex.

"Why would you be part of…" Kyle’s voice trails off as he stares hard at Alex. "No way."

"I was there. We were all really drunk."

"So the two of you took advantage of Maria," says Michael. "Now she’s pregnant and her entire life will never be the same."

"We oughta kick your asses," says Kyle.

"This isn’t helping Maria," says Isabel.

Kyle rounds on her and Tess. "How could you two keep what they did a secret?

"It wasn’t our secret," says Tess.

"I asked you if Maria was all right," says Michael. "I begged you to tell me the truth so I could help her."

"You can’t help her Michael. At least not more than Isabel and I already are."

"You don’t know that."

"Fine Michael, I don’t know that. Just because I’ve spent the last few weeks listening to Maria tell me how she feels about all this doesn’t mean I have a damn clue."

"What’s your excuse Isabel?" asks Kyle.

Isabel goes into Ice Princess mode. "I don’t need an excuse. I did what I thought was best, what Maria asked me to. I won’t apologize for that."

"Maria isn’t in her right mind to know what she wants."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence Kyle," says Maria, wiping her face as she comes downstairs.

"Did you tell Liz?" asks Max.

"She knows everything."

"I should go talk to her."

"She doesn’t wanna see you."

"I have to explain."

"She doesn’t wanna hear it. Tess, did you talk to Max yet?"

"We haven’t gotten to that point," says Tess.

"I think Max has done enough," says Michael.

"We need to know if the baby is Max’s or Alex’s," says Isabel. "Since we can’t go to the hospital for a DNA test, we thought Max could use his powers to see if the baby’s alien or not."

"Will that work?" asks Alex.

"It should, in theory," says Max.

"What’s with you aliens and your qualifiers?" asks Maria.

"It should work. But we should wait a few weeks before trying."

"Why wait?" asks Kyle.

"I don’t wanna accidentally hurt the baby. If we wait a few weeks, Maria will be out of her first trimester and the fetus will be stronger."

"Know a lot about this, don’t you Maxwell?" says Michael.

"I read up on it when we thought Isabel might be pregnant last year."

"Fine, we wait," says Maria. "I need to get out of here."

"You want some company?" asks Tess.

"Yeah, thanks."

Maria leaves with Tess and Isabel out the back. Alex heads through the front. Taking a deep breath, Max climbs the stairs to Liz’s room.

"Fearless leader keeps screwing up the group," says Kyle.

"And putting us in danger," says Michael. "If that kid is his…"

"Alien dauphin."

"Which means the enemy will come at us harder."

"It occurs to me that I hate Max Evans."

"I’m starting to feel the same."

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

Max hears Liz crying through her bedroom door. He knocks.

"Go away," says Liz.

Max enters the room and closes the door. "We need to talk."

"Go away Max."

"I love you Liz."

"How much did you love me when you slept with Maria? My best friend Max!"

"It was a drunken mistake. I wish I could take it back."

"Well, you can’t. She’s having a baby and it might be yours."

"I know. Liz-"

"I could’ve almost understood if you’d slept with Tess. I mean, she’s your destiny and you’re drawn to her against your will. You don’t have that excuse with Maria."

"We were drunk."

"That doesn’t make me feel better! You know what the worst part is? We got back together after it happened, but neither of you told me about it."

"We were ashamed of what we did."

"If she wasn’t pregnant, would you ever have told me?"

"No."

"So you’d have let me go on trusting you both, trusting that nothing would happen when I left you alone together."

"Nothing will ever happen between me and Maria again."

"I don’t believe you."

"How do I make this better?"

"You don’t. Get out."

"Liz-"

Liz looks Max in the eyes. "I gave you my heart and you slept with my best friend. I hate you."

"You, you don’t mean that."

"I’ve never meant anything more in my life. Get out."

Knowing he won’t get through to her today, Max leaves. Liz flops on her bed as though all her strength is gone. Tears again trickle from her eyes.

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

Max comes downstairs with a beaten expression on his face. He sees Michael waiting for him. "I know you wanna yell at me, but I’m not up for it right now."

"Too bad. What the hell were you thinking?"

"I was thinking I lost my girlfriend and my friends. Including you, my best friend. I got drunk so I wouldn’t have to think anymore. That’s when it happened."

"How could you be so stupid?"

"Nothing I say is gonna make this better for you or anyone Michael, so let’s not do this."

"You ruined Maria’s life. You destroyed her friendship with Liz."

"Don’t you think I know that?"

"And that’s just for starters. If it’s actually your kid, she’ll be hunted as much as we are. More so."

"For someone in love with Tess, you’re awfully mad about me sleeping with Maria."

"She’s my friend. You’d understand what that meant if you stopped screwing over YOUR friends."

"Goodbye Michael."

Max leaves. Michael turns to the grill, pushing aside Max’s observation about his feelings for Maria.

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

A couple hours later, Isabel and Tess take Maria home.

"You sure you don’t mind coming in with me?" asks Maria.

"We’re sure," says Isabel. "Open the door, it’s hot out here."

They enter to find Amy sitting on the sofa.

"You’re back," says Amy.

"Was I supposed to stay gone?" asks Maria.

"Of course not. I’m disappointed Maria, I wanted more for your life than to be a mother so young. But you’re my baby and I’m gonna be here for you."

Maria smiles tearfully and rushes into her mother’s arms. "I’m so scared."

"We’ll get through this. First thing we have to do is go to a doctor for an official pregnancy test."

Tess and Isabel exchange a glance.

"I can’t go to the doctor," says Maria.

Amy frowns at her. "You have to. We need to make sure you and the baby are healthy, get some pamphlets, and get some prenatal vitamin prescribed."

"I’m sure the baby and I are fine. And we can get vitamins and pamphlets without going to the doctor."

"Good prenatal care insures a healthy baby."

"I really don’t think I need it."

"Are you really pregnant?"

"Yes!"

"You want your baby to be healthy, don’t you?"

"Of course, but it’s not as simple as that."

"Why isn’t it that simple?"

"You wouldn’t understand."

"Explain it to me."

Tess and Isabel have a whispered conversation.

"We have to tell her," says Tess.

"Too many people already know," says Isabel. "Besides, I don’t think she’ll believe us."

"Maria can’t go to the doctor until we now the baby isn’t Max’s. If we don’t tell her, Amy will drag her there."

"What are we gonna say? An exiled alien king might be the father of your grandchild? For the safety of all, Maria can’t go to the doctor?"

"Sounds good to me. You go tell her that while I call Jim."

Isabel gapes at Tess, who pulls out her cell phone and goes outside. Reluctantly, Isabel moves toward the arguing Delucas.

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

Kyle’s walking through the park. He sees Alex sitting on a bench and starts to avoid him. Then he changes his mind and goes up to him.

"What were you thinking?" asks Kyle.

"I wasn’t thinking," says Alex. "I was feeling too much and wanted to stop."

"I don’t get it."

"But you did get it Kyle, you got everything I wanted."

"What?"

"Isabel. You have Isabel."

"You slept with Maria because of Isabel?"

"I got drunk because of Isabel. I slept with Maria because it seemed like a good idea at the time."

"You’re actually blaming this on Isabel?"

"She told me we couldn’t be together because I was human. But that hasn’t stopped her with you. I just wanted to forget that I wasn’t good enough for the girl of my dreams."

"I didn’t know. I mean, I knew you liked her but not that you guys were almost together."

"We were together, then destiny happened. Suddenly, the alien thing got in our way. I thought I’d play it cool until she realized how stupid that was. Then she started spending time with you."

"It just happened man."

"So did sleeping with Maria."

"What are you gonna do?"

"Wait and see if I’m gonna be a father. If I am, I’ll somehow tell my parents. Then I’ll do what I have to for Maria and my kid. If I’m not the father, I guess I’ll be there for Maria and Max as much as possible."

"I’m still angry, but I’m available if you need to talk."

"Thanks Kyle."

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

Amy looks between the girls and Jim. "Aliens?"

"That’s right," says Jim. "Max is the leader, which means if the baby’s his, Maria’s in a lot of danger."

"Aliens?"

"I know this is a shock Mom," says Maria. "But it’s all true."

"Aliens!"

"We have to show her," says Isabel. She picks up a lamp and drops it on the floor, breaking it. "Do your thing Tess."

Tess holds her hands over the lamp. The broken pieces swirl for a minute as the lamp reforms.

Amy stares at the fixed lamp. "Oh my god, aliens."

"Deep breaths," says Jim.

"Is my grandchild gonna come out looking like the alien souvenirs I sell?"

"Of course not," says Maria.

Where the Deluca women can’t see, Jim looks at Isabel and Tess questioningly. The girls shrug to indicate they don’t know what Maria’s baby will come out looking like.

"This is a bit much," says Amy. "Your friends are aliens, your baby’s father might be head alien, and enemy aliens will be after you if he is your baby’s father."

"That’s about it," says Tess.

"I need to sit down."

"You are sitting down," says Maria.

"Then I need…something. Time. I need time to absorb all this."

"I understand. I’ll stay with a friend for a couple days."

"You left earlier to tell Liz, didn’t you?"

"Yeah, she knows."

"Then she’s not gonna let you stay with her."

"Maria can stay with me," says Isabel.

"With Max right down the hall?" says Amy. "I don’t think so."

Tess sighs. "She can stay with me and Michael."

"Are you sure?" asks Maria.

"Yeah. Go get your stuff."

"I need to get home," says Isabel. "Would you walk me out Tess?"

Outside, Isabel turns to Tess. "Are you sure about this?"

"Letting her stay with me? There aren’t any other options."

"It won’t bother you?"

"Michael and I are fighting, but I know who he loves. It’s no big deal."

"I hope you’re right," says Isabel before walking away.

"I hope I’m right too," says Tess before going back inside to wait for Maria.

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

Isabel gets home to find Max sitting in the kitchen with his head on the table. "Are you all right?"

"No. How’s Maria?"

"Hangin’ in there. You wanna talk?"

"How come you aren’t mad at me too?"

"I was but I couldn’t say anything since I was keeping Maria’s secret. It’s been a few weeks, so I’m not anymore."

"Guess I should be thankful for small favors."

"You talked to Liz."

"She hates me."

"She doesn’t hate you, she’s just hurt. She’ll get over it."

"Not this time, especially not if it’s my baby. You know what I wish?"

"What?"

"That last year I’d just shut up and accepted my destiny with Tess. My life would be a lot simpler."

"Probably."

"I really screwed up Is. What am I gonna do?"

"I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out together."

Isabel holds her brother as he cries silent tears.

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

Michael comes home from work. He finds Tess making up the sofa. "Are you kicking me outta our bed?"

"Yes," says Tess, fluffing a pillow before tossing it down.

"You’re serious?"

"Yes."

"Tess, we need to talk. Whatever problems we’re having, you know we don’t sleep well when we sleep apart."

"I know but it can’t be helped."

"We need to talk about this."

"Not now, I don’t want Maria to hear us."

"Maria?" asks Michael as Tess walks into the bedroom.

Maria comes out of the bathroom. "Hi Michael. Thanks for letting me stay here."

"You’re staying here?"

"Didn’t Tess tell you? She invited me to stay with you guys until my mother has a chance to absorb the alien thing."

"You told your mother about us?"

"We had to," says Tess, putting some of Michael’s clothes on the sofa. "She was tryin’ to take Maria to the doctor."

"I can leave if you want," says Maria.

Michael shakes his head. "It’s cool."

"There’s some food in the oven Michael, if you want," says Tess. "Maria, where are your keys? I left my cell phone in your car."

"They’re by the door."

Tess grabs the keys and walks out.

"How are you?" asks Michael.

"I’m pregnant," says Maria, sitting down. Michael sits next to her. "And I’m not in love with my baby’s father, no matter who he is. I’m scared, confused, and sad that I lost my best friend."

"Anything I can do? Beat the crap out of Max and Alex?"

"Could you just hold me for a minute?"

Michael puts his arms around her and pulls her against his chest. "It’ll work out."

Tess comes back. Through the open door, she sees Michael holding Maria. Her eyes flash with anger. She takes a deep breath to get herself under control.

After she manages to make her face blank, Tess walks inside the apartment and closes the door. "Have you eaten Michael?"

"I’m not hungry," says Michael, looking up at Tess. He knows his girlfriend well enough to know she’s pissed. "You’ve had a long day Maria and look tired. Why don’t you go to bed?"

"I think I will," says Maria, not realizing Tess is upset. "Thanks again for everything, both of you."

"You’re welcome," says Tess through gritted teeth.

Maria goes to bed. Tess goes to the look at the stars from the living room window.

Michael comes behind her and puts his arms around her waist. "It was just a friendly hug."

"Did I say anything?"

"You were thinking it."

"She’s still in love with you."

"No she’s not."

"I don’t care who she’s pregnant by, you’re the one she wants."

"If you think that, why did you invite her to stay with us?"

"It was the right thing to do. She couldn’t stay with Liz, her mother freaked at the idea of her at Isabel’s with Max down the hall. That left us."

"You have a big heart."

"Or a small brain. Isabel warned me I’d feel this way."

"You’re the one I want Tess."

"Keep reminding me." Tess turns and moves to kiss Michael on the cheek. Michael redirects her lips to meet his.

"I’ve missed you," says Michael when they finally break for air.

"I missed you too. I’m going to bed before we start something we can’t finish."

"How long is she staying?"

"Couple days. Goodnight Michael."

"Goodnight."

Tess joins Maria in the bed while Michael lies on the sofa. They try to get comfortable, but have a rough time sleeping without each other.

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

THE END