Author: Susan

e-mail: susanandtad@cs.com

Category: AU, FF, M/M with others

Rating: R at most

Disclaimer: Unfortunately I don’t own anything about Roswell.

Distribution: Roswell Desert Skies, and anyone else that wants it all you have to do is ask.

Summary: In this universe Michael was adopted by the Amy Deluca and Jim Valenti and was raised as Maria’s brother. Michael never found Max or Isabel as the Evans’s left Roswell soon after adopting them.  Alex and Tess don’t exist in this story. Everyone is in their mid 20’s.

Maria was dead tired when she walked through the door of her apartment that she shared with her two brothers. It had been a very exhausting day at work. Not physically exhausting but emotionally. She was a social worker and today she had to let a little boy go back to living with his parents who she knew were abusing him however, she could not prove it. She knew that it was only a matter of time before he was back in her office and there was not a damn thing she could do about it. Sometimes she really hated her job but she knew that this was where she belonged. The children that she had been able to help far exceed all of the failures.

When Maria was a child she dreamt of being a singer. She knew she had a good voice and that she could write some pretty good songs but her career was set in front of her when her mom and step dad adopted Michael Guerin.

Maria’s mom had found Michael when he was just a little boy in the desert. He couldn’t talk and was scared to death. Amy of course fell in love with the little boy as soon as she laid eyes on him but Maria’s dad Brian Deluca would not allow Amy to bring the boy home. Michael was put into the foster care system and was taken in by Hank Guerin. Maria was the one who discovered that Michael’s foster dad was abusing him and told her Mom. Maria will never forget the look on her mom’s face when she brought a beaten and abused Michael home that day. Amy looked liked she could kill Hank with her bare hands and then she went into major mother mode and took care of the boy. With the help of the Sheriff Jim Valenti she was able to foster him herself. Normally that wouldn’t have happened because Amy was a single mother, as Brian Deluca had took off and left her to raise Maria by herself, but Jim Valenti had made it happen. Maria could tell the first time she saw them together that the Sheriff, who was also a single parent, had a major crush on her mom. Kyle, Jim Valenti’s son, and herself with a reluctant Michael worked their matchmaker magic and a year later Amy Deluca and Jim Valenti were married and soon after they officially adopted Michael. So they became the Deluca-Valenti family. A little bit of the Brady Bunch in Roswell, New Mexico.

Fifteen years later they were still all in Roswell and Maria, Michael and Kyle shared an amazing loft apartment. Michael and Kyle were Deputies in the Roswell Sheriffs Department following in their fathers’ foot steps. Michael had joined the Sheriff’s department right out of high school but Kyle who had always dreamed about being an athlete had gone to college to play baseball at the University of New Mexico. However, his athletic career was cut short after he blew out his knee his sophomore year. After a lot of serious thinking and months of mopping around the house he decided to drop out of school and join the sheriff’s department with his father and brother. Michael and Kyle were a team, they always worked together. Roswell was a relatively crime free town but whenever the police were called the Valenti brothers were sent out to investigate. Jim Valenti was exceedingly proud of both his sons.

Maria put her keys and purse on the table in the hallway went looking for her brothers. She knew they were home because Michael’s Bike and Kyle car were out front. She knew exactly were to find them, in front of the TV watching some sort of sports.

Maria threw herself on the couch next to Michael. “Who’s winning?”

“Damn Rangers. Bad day?” Michael asked putting her arm around her shoulder.

“Yeah. I had to let the Tompkins kid go back home.”

“Damn.” Both Michael and Kyle said at the same time. They knew Billy Tompkins’ story. They had been the ones to bring him to social services in the first place.

Michael started to curse below his breath. He hated to see this happen especially considering his past. The hell he had endured at the hands of Hank Guerin should never be felt by a young defenseless child. He had joined the sheriff’s department with his dad in hopes that he could see that nothing like what happened to him happened to anyone else and with Maria’s assistance they had helped a lot of kids but it would never be enough. He felt like he had to help them all.

“I know Michael. I know.” Maria rubbed her hand against Michael’s arm. As always Maria had a way of calming Michael down just by touching him. He used to have horrible dreams when he was younger. Maria would hear him and crawl into bed with him and rub his arms and back and whisper in his ear that everything would be ok that he was safe. Maria could always make things better for Michael.

“So we ready for dinner with the folks tonight?” Kyle asked changing the subject. He knew how this was affecting both Michael and Maria and he wanted for them to forget about it for awhile and nothing would do that better then mentioning their mid-week dinner at Home. It was always an adventure.

Michael groaned. Damn was it Wednesday already? God know he loved his parents but they could be too much sometimes.  “Do we have to go?”

Maria smacked Michael on the back of the head and then pulled him to his feet. “Yes we have to go. Of course you could always stay home. I’m sure Mom would understand that you didn’t feel like coming to dinner this time.”

A look of horror crossed Michael’s face.

Kyle tried to hide his smile. He knew as well as Maria, Michael wouldn’t dare miss dinner because sure as anything Amy Deluca-Valenti would come over here and drag Michael home by his ears.

“Ok, Ok. I'm coming.”

Maria just smiled at Michael and put her arm through his. “Well then lets go or we are going to be late. If we get in trouble I am blaming it on you. You know?”

“What else is new Blondie?” Michael smirked at Maria and gave Kyle a look letting him know he better keep his mouth shut.

-----

“So honey how was work today? You look tired.” Amy asked Maria.

Maria looked over at Michael and Kyle who were shaking there heads. She kicked them both in the leg underneath the table. They should know she wasn’t about to tell her mom about Billy Tompkins. The last time something like this happened there mom almost got arrested for harassment. She would have of course if her husband wasn’t sheriff and her sons deputies in the Roswell Sheriff Department.

“It was fine Mom. It was just a long day and I stayed up late last night working on a new song.”

“Are you performing at the Jazz club this week?” Jim asks.

“Yep. 8:00.”

“Oh that’s wonderful Honey. I wish I could see you but I have to go out of town for a Convention in Phoenix. Jim is going with me this time.”

Maria silently thanked the Alien Convention god. She loved her mom but she really hated when she came to hear her perform. She always made a scene.

“Don’t worry about it Mom. Kyle and I will be there to cheer her on.” Michael told her. 

“Of course you will Michael. You are such a good boy.” Amy jumped up and hugged her son. She then went over to Kyle and kissed him on the cheek. “And so are you. Are you bringing that lovely Liz Parker with you?”

“Uh no. I think she is busy.”  Kyle said not looking his mother in the eye.

“To busy to spend time with my beautiful boy? What could she have to do?”

“I don’t know Mom just stuff.”

“Ok Kyle. What is going on? You know I will find out eventually so you just as well tell me now.”

Maria and Michael gave Kyle sympathetic looks. They knew Kyle’s evening was shot now.

“We sort of broke up.”  Kyle looked to his dad for help but Jim just shook his head letting him know that he was on his own.

“What? You broke up. Oh my poor baby. Why didn’t you tell me? She broke your heart didn’t she? I always knew that was going to happen. She wasn’t good enough for my boy.”

“Mom.” Maria tries to stop her mother.

“Don’t Mom me Maria. I know you think Liz is your friend but frankly I don’t care at this moment. She broke my babies’ heart.”

“Mom it is ok. Really. It has been coming for a long time now. It was a mutual decision. We just weren’t right for each other. So please don’t think badly of Liz. It wasn’t anymore her fault as it was mine. We are better off as friends.”

“Ok, but Kyle you have been dating her since freshman year in high school. It still has to hurt.”

Kyle let Amy pull him into a hug. It actually surprised him that he did in fact need his mom’s comfort after all. He closed his eyes and let the love that only a mother could give sink in. He had dated Liz Parker for ten years and he knew that it was expected that they would eventually get married. Liz was getting her Masters in Molecular Biology at the University. She worked as a TA for the Head of the Biology Dept while she was researching her thesis. Things had been bad for awhile now. They had just grown apart from each other, each wanting different things. Kyle was ready to settle down and think about starting a family but Liz only was concerned with her career. It had been an ongoing battle between them for almost a year. After awhile he finally decided that Liz was never going to be ready to commit to him because she really wasn’t in love with him and if he had to be honest he wasn’t really in love with her any longer either. He still loved her very much but he didn’t feel that thing for her anymore. He hadn’t got those tingles that he used to get when she walked in the room in a long time. Kyle should have known then that something was wrong but he just let it go. It wasn’t until this whole marriage thing came up that he finally figured it all out. When he really sat down and thought about it he discovered that he really didn’t want to marry Liz. When Kyle got married he wanted it to be like it was with his parents, Amy and Dad that is not his real mom and his dad. If he had married Liz it would have ended badly. He wanted real true love with loads of passion. That is what he grew up with and that is what he wanted for himself and he decided that he wouldn’t settle for anything less. That is why he broke up with Liz and he thinks she was just as relieved as he that it was over.

“So what are you going to do now?”

“I don’t know. I guess start dating again.”

“Well normally I would say to ask your brother and sister about dating but obviously they don’t have a clue either since neither one of them have been on a date in forever.”

Michael and Maria look at each other both thinking the same thing. Oh no it is their turn.

“Mom don’t start.” Michael says.

Dating is a very sore subject to Michael. He tried the whole dating thing but he just couldn’t seem to find what he was looking for. Of course there was the whole sex thing to. Sure he had been close with girls but he had never had sex basically because he didn’t know what would happen. He was after all different, not exactly of this world. He doesn’t remember much about where he came from except that he crawled out of a cave when he was six and was found by Amy Deluca. He always knew he was different but it wasn’t until he realized he could do things with his mind and hands that he guessed where he really was from. Roswell after all was the site of the 1947 crash. He thinks he remembers that there were two other children in the cave with him but he isn’t positive. Michael doesn’t remember much of that time, only in his dreams or his nightmares in this case. Maria and Kyle are the only people that know he is different. Not even their parents know. Dating to him has just been too hard. He doesn’t want to get to close because he is afraid what will happen. Besides that, he has never found anyone he wanted to be that close with. At least anyone he could be with.

Michael knows that Kyle broke up Liz because what he felt for her wasn’t what their parents have. Growing up in the Deluca-Valenti household one thing was always evident, that they loved each other to distraction and often quite loudly. It was their family joke that the kids had to sleep with ear plugs so their parents wouldn’t warp their little minds. No matter how embarrassing it may have been to hear your parents having sex it was also comforting to know that they obviously loved each other very much. Michael also decided along time ago that he wanted what his parents had and that nothing else would be good enough. The only problem is that no matter how hard he looked or wanted other wise the only person he could imagine spending his life with, loving as much as his parents loved each other was the only person he could not have, his sister Maria.

Part 2

“Michael are you listening to me?” Amy shouted in her sons face.

“Um sorry mom. I guess I spaced out there for a moment.” 

“Obviously. Now Michael as I was saying we need to find you some nice girl. You haven’t been on a date is so long which is something I don’t understand you are such a nice looking man and no one could be sweeter.”

“Mom.” Michael could see Kyle and Maria in the corner laughing at him. Michael gave Maria a look that said just wait you turn is coming next. “Come on Mom I work hard. I don’t have time to date. Why don’t you give Maria a hard time? I mean she is going to end up a spinster and you may never become a Grandma.”

“Bite your tongue Michael. I am entirely too young to become a Grandma beside the point I am depending on you and Kyle to help me in that area as well as Maria. But now that you mentioned it…”

Maria looked at Michael with an obvious look on her face…Damn you Michael. I am going to get you back for this.

“Michael is right Maria. When was the last time you went on a date? High School. And you can’t tell me that you haven’t been asked because I know for a fact that you have.”

“Mom.” Maria groaned.

Maria was silently cursing Michael. Why couldn’t he keep his mouth shut? It wasn’t her fault that Mom was getting on him for not dating. Maria like Michael just couldn’t seem to find what she was looking for. She wanted what her parents had and knew that she would never find it with anyone. She knew that there was only one man for her and if she couldn’t have him than she wasn’t going to be with anyone. Not even to go out on a date.

“I have had it with you both and now I have to add Kyle to the bunch. I want the three of you to start dating and going out and having fun. You three do everything together. You even live together. I think it is time that you started to find other friends and go out without each other.”

“Mom” All three of them shouted at the same time.

“I know you three are close and I think that is wonderful but I think it is hindering you romantically. Maria is never going to find a young man with her two overprotective brothers hovering around her all the time. You two scare off all the men.”

“Mom that isn’t true.” Maria said in Kyle and Michael’s defense. Yeah they spent a lot of time together but Kyle and Michael had nothing to do with why she didn’t date. Well at least Kyle didn’t. But she wasn’t going to go there tonight. The less she thought about it the better.

“Uh-huh. Well it doesn’t help.” Amy was about to start again on Michael and Kyle when Jim interrupted.

“Now Honey. Leave the kids alone. They are still young. They have plenty of time. Plus you don’t want to force them into something they aren’t ready for. Let it just come naturally. Like with us.” Jim kissed his wife on the cheek.

Michael, Kyle and Maria looked at their father in thanks. Jim winked at them over Amy’s shoulder as she hugged him.

“Your right Jim. I’m sorry kids, I just worry about you. I love you three so much.”

Amy comes over and gives each one of them a hug and a kiss.

“We love you to Mom.” Maria says for the three of them.

---

Michael, Kyle and Maria head home to their apartment in silence.

“Well that was fun.” Maria finally says

“Oh yeah. Can’t wait till Sunday. Maria I love her but she could make a Priest curse like a sailor.” Kyle says.

“I think she has on occasion.” Michael piped in.

“Come on guys this is our mother you are complaining about. She means well. She just wants us to be happy.”

“I know Maria but she really just needs to get a clue. I am not going to start going out with mindless bimbo’s just to please her.” Michael tells them

“Well Michael I don’t think anything was said about you dating mindless bimbos. I think she said she wanted you to find a nice girl.”

“Maria don’t start on me. I don’t want to go out with anyone. I am perfectly happy with the way things are. I don’t need to find a nice girl.”

“Uh-huh. Whatever you say Spaceboy.”

“Ok you two, don’t start I think we have had enough tonight. Let’s just get home and enjoy what is left of our evening.”

Kyle was driving and really did not want to have to pull off to the side of the road to break up the two of them. They have been fighting a lot lately and things have been getting more and more heated. Kyle wonders how long before the two of them will admit their true feelings. Yeah it was weird and a little complicated but you can’t help whom you fall in love with, even if it is your sibling. It isn’t like they would be doing anything immoral. They aren’t blood related. It is only a matter of time. Kyle is sure of it.

“Movie?” Kyle asks Michael and Maria as they walk in the door.

“Not tonight. I am going to work on the new song and then go to bed. Good night you two.” Maria gives them both a kiss on the cheek and goes to her room.

Maria knew she couldn’t sit in the same room with Michael tonight. Her mother had got her worked up enough and then the two of them started fighting on the way home. Things have been really tense between Michael and her for awhile now. She didn’t know what his problem was but she did know hers. She wanted him, wanted him like she had never wanted anything before. She always knew that she loved Michael. From the very first time she saw him when her mom brought him home she has loved him. He was obviously scared and very confused. He wouldn’t or couldn’t speak and he clung to her as if she were his life line. After her father said Michael had to leave Maria still looked out for him and when she saw the bruises on his arm by accident one day she knew she had to bring him home and have her Mom take care of him. And that she did. Amy Deluca became a mother bear looking after her cub. She attacked anyone and everyone who dared to say that Michael couldn’t remain with her. Thanks to Jim he was allowed to stay this time. He became her brother a few years later but to Maria he has always been so much more. She has loved him like she could never love anyone else. It wasn’t until her senior year in high school that she realized the full extent of her feelings. She went on a double date with him and spent the entire evening watching him. Neither her date or Michael’s noticed but she’s sure that Michael did. It was the last time that they ever went on a double date together. In fact it is the last date she’s had. Maria knew that there was no use ever going out with anyone else because no one would ever be good enough. No one else would ever be Michael or take his place in her life. There was no use denying it to herself any longer.

Michael hasn’t been on a date in over a year himself and Maria suspected that is part of the problem they are having with each other. They spend all their time together. Her mom was right about one thing she did spend entirely too much time with Kyle and Michael. The past month or so they had spent every waking nonworking moment together. Kyle was her best friend as well as her brother and Michael was well Michael. Liz used to spend time with them too but since her and Kyle broke up it has just been the three of them. She really needed a break from them. 

Maria came out of her room and sat down on the couch between Michael and Kyle.

“Thought you were going to work on your song and go to bed.” Kyle asked.

“I am. I just wanted to talk to the two of you for a moment. I think Mom is right. I think maybe we have been spending too much time together. Maybe you guys shouldn’t come to the Jazz club on Saturday.”

“Maria.” Michael and Kyle both try to argue.

“Seriously guys. We are starting to get on each others nerves. We are arguing about stupid things and it is only a matter of time before we say something that is going to hurt. I don’t want that to happen. Not with us.” Maria leaned her head against Michael’s shoulder and held Kyle’s hand.

“Ok. We will stop spending so much time together but I’m still coming to here you sing on Saturday. Mom would kill me if I didn’t.” Michael said kissing Maria on the forehead.

“Michael is right. God I hate saying that.” Michael gave Kyle a dirty look “We will both come on Saturday for no other reason then Mom will expect it of us especially with her and Dad out of town. You aren’t going to get rid of us so easily Deluca.”

“Hey that is Deluca-Valenti.” Maria smacks Kyle on the side of the head.

“Ow that hurt Maria.” Kyle says as he rubs his head where Maria smacked him.

“Well get the name right next time buster.”

Both Kyle and Michael laugh at her. “Yes ma’am.”

“Ok now I think you both have enjoyed yourself enough at my expense tonight. I am going to bed.”

“What no kiss?” Michael asked as she ascended the stairs to her room. Maria just looked at both at them and stuck her tongue out at them.

Part 3

Michael, Kyle and Maria had spent the last two evenings avoiding each other and by the time Saturday came around they were all miserable. It just didn’t seem right for them to do things without the other two there. Maria had spent her time in her room working on her songs while Michael worked on his bike in the garage and Kyle took up reading about Buddhism. He needed something to give him clarity and thought Buddhism might be the ticket. He was up to trying anything at this point.

Tonight they were going to go watch Maria sing. It was one of Michael’s favorite things to do. He loved to hear her sing especially when she was up on a stage. She was amazing. She enthralled an audience with her very presence.

“Ok I am ready?”

Michael turned around and looked at Maria. She almost took his breath away. She looked gorgeous. She was wearing the short black number that he hates. He loved how she looked in the dress but he didn’t like the way others looked at her when she wore it. It fits her like a second skin and shows way to much skin. The last time she wore it they had a fight that lasted two hours. Of course, he lost. She went out in the dress anyway.

Maria gave Michael a defiant look that silently dared him to say a word. He just held his tongue and stuck out his hand for her. Maria smiled at him and took his offered hand.

“Not going to say anything?” Maria asked when they got in Maria’s car.

“No. I learned by lesson last time.”

“That’s right Spaceboy.”

Michael just laughed.

Kyle was already at the Club when Michael and Maria showed up. He took one look at what she was wearing and gave Michael a look. “Don’t say a word. I didn’t even try this time. I knew I didn’t stand a chance.”

Kyle laughed at Michael. He had to separate them the last time she wore that dress, which he agreed showed entirely too much skin. Michael had called him shouting that Maria wasn’t going to perform tonight because she was trying to walk out of the house with practically no clothes on. He could still remember the scene he walked in on. They were screaming in each other’s face mere inches from each other. He wondered what would have happened if he hadn’t walked into the house when he did.

“That was just mean Maria.” He whispered in Maria’s ear as he sat down beside her.

“I know.” She said back.

“Just so you know I plan on beating up any guy who looks funny at your tonight while you are up on the stage.”

“Kyle.”

“Hey you are the one who wore the dress. You have to pay the consequences.”

“I thought you were on my side.”

“Oh I am but I happen to agree with Michael. That dress just isn’t decent.”

“Fine be that way. But if you start a fight I will be forced to call the cops. Don’t think Dad would like to hear that his son who also is his Deputy started a fight at a club. Do you?”

“Damn Maria you just don’t play fair.”

“I know. Mom taught me well.”

Maria left the table to go talk to the bartender leaving Kyle and Michael to stare after her.

“She is going to be the death of both of us.” Kyle said.

“You got that right.” Michael agrees.

Michael silently swore as he say a guy at a table next to the bar check Maria out as she walked past. He saw the same guy get up and go stand by her at the bar a few minutes later and start talking to her. He started to get up and go over to the bar but Kyle held his arm.

“Don’t Michael. Let her be.” Kyle looked Michael in the eyes. Michael realized that Kyle knew how he felt about Maria and what he was about to do. Damn this wasn’t good.

----

As Maria walked to the bar she saw a dark haired guy staring at her out of the corner of her eye. He was cute, gorgeous actually, but that wasn’t what caught her attention. He had a certain air about him. He exuded power and a confidence that not many man have. She found herself drawn to it without knowing why. She made her way past him and even though she wanted to she didn’t look back at him.

Maria felt him come up beside him even before she saw him.

“Hi I’m Max Evans. I was wondering if I could buy you a drink.”

“Maria Deluca-Valenti and yes you can.”

Maria and Max talked until her set. She made a date with him after the set was over. Maria was actually going to go out on a date and with a guy she just met at a bar. Shocking. There was something different about him and she wanted to find out what it was. She had to. She just didn’t know why. Yet.

As she headed to the stage Michael stopped her when she walked by their table.

“What was all that about.” He asked pointing towards Max.

“He is nice. We are going out after my set.”

“What?” Both Kyle and Michael shouted at the same time.

“Maria you just met the guy. He is at a bar for Christ’s sake. What are you thinking?” Kyle asks.

“You aren’t going anywhere with him.” Michael says through gritted teeth.

“Oh I’m not am I? We will see about that.”

Maria tries to walk off but Michael grabs her arm. “Maria.”

“Let go of my arm Michael. I’m not kidding.”

Kyle gets up and stands in between the two. “Michael just let her go. And you Maria, can you do me a favor and stay in the club for your date. You can go out with him elsewhere another time. Please.”

Michael and Maria continued to stare each other down until finally Maria shook her head. “Ok. I will stay in the club.”

Michael let go of Maria’s arm and she walked over to her accompanist.

The manager came up to the stage and the lights dimmed in the club.

“Good evening ladies and gentleman it is my pleasure, as always, to introduce the lovely and very talented Maria Deluca-Valenti. Lets give her a warm welcome.”

The audience cheered loudly, the loudest cheers coming from the Valenti brothers. This did not go unnoticed by Max Evans who had watched the little interaction between Maria and the men in question earlier. He was about to go up to her and find out if she needed any help until the bartender said that they were her brothers. He was actually surprised when the bartender said that the big guy was Maria’s brother. He definitely didn’t get sibling vibes from him. The way he looked at her was not brotherly. He wondered what exactly their story was and he was determined to find out later.

“Hi everyone. I had planned to sing a new song tonight but I changed my mind and decided to sing an old favorite. I hope you like my choice.

The poets say that all who love are blind

But I'm in love and I know what time it is

The Good Book says "Go seek and ye shall find."

Well, I have sought and my what a climb it is

My life is just like the weather

It changes with the hours

When he's near I'm fair and warmer

When he's gone I'm cloudy with showers

In emotion, like the ocean it's either sink or swim

When a woman loves a man like I love him

Never treats me sweet and gentle the way he should

I got it bad and that ain't good

My poor heart is sentimental, not made of wood

I got it bad and that ain't good

But when the weekend's over and Monday rolls around

I end up like I start out, just cryin' my heart out

He don't love me like I love him, nobody could

I got it bad and that ain't good

Like a lonely weeping willow lost in the wood

I got it bad and that ain't good

And the things I tell my pillow, no woman should

I got it bad and that ain't good

Tho folks with good intentions tell me to save my tears

I'm glad I'm mad about him, I can't live without him

Lord above me, make him love me the way he should

I got it bad and that ain't good

At the end of the song the audience stood to their feet and gave her a standing ovation. Michael and Kyle whistled and cheered for her. Maria had never sung so good and looked as great as she did tonight. They were both amazed at her. 

At the other side of the club Max Evans was also applauding and cheering. Damn she was beautiful.

Maria could hear her brothers cheering and she thought she could also hear Max Evans above the rest of the crowd. She smiled as she got off the stage. She knew that she did good tonight. She was going to sing her new song but then after the whole fight with Michael this song seemed more appropriate. It was definitely her mantra.

Maria walked over to her brothers’ table. Kyle got to her first and gave her a big hug.

“You were great little sister.”

“Thanks.” Maria kissed him on the cheek.

Michael came up to her next and engulfed her in a huge bear hug. “You are amazing Blondie.” Michael whispered in her ear.

“Well of course. Did you actually expect less?” Maria looked up into Michael’s eyes giving him a look of complete innocence. He laughed pulling her into another hug. He kissed her on the forehead and then pushed her towards the bar. “Go. Your date is waiting. Just be careful. Ok? We will see you at home. Call us if you need anything. I mean it Maria.”

“Yes Michael. I promise.” Maria kissed him on the cheek and headed towards the bar. She glanced back at him one last time before heading towards Max.

Part 4

When Maria got over to Max he stood up and clapped.

“You were amazing Maria?”

“Thanks Max. That song is one of my favorites.”

Maria sat down next to Max and let him order her a drink. She noticed out of the corner of her eye that Michael and Kyle were leaving. She could see Michael watching them the entire time he was walking out the door. The look on his face was one she had never seen before. If she didn’t know any better she would swear it was jealousy.

“So the bartender said those were your brothers. I have to say I wouldn’t have guessed that you three look nothing alike.”

“Well we wouldn’t. Kyle is actually my stepbrother and Michael is adopted. They are my brothers though, blood or not and also my best friends.”

“Yeah I could tell you were close. So which one was Kyle and which Michael.”

“Oh sorry about that the big menacing looking character was Michael Guerin-Valenti and the shorter yet menacing in his own way was Kyle Valenti. They really are sweet they are just a tad bit overprotective.” Ah. So Michael was the adopted one Max thought to himself.

“Well they do have to protect their sister. I am guilty of the same thing. I have been known to be overprotective of my sister to.”

“Well Max I think it is an wonderful quality in a man.”  Maria smiled at Max.

Maria and Max talked for hours until the club closed and he walked her to her car. Michael had drove home with Kyle.

“I had a very nice time Max.” Maria smiled but was also very nervous. She after all, hadn’t been on a date since high school. She was a little out of practice. She didn’t know exactly what to do now that it was over.

“I did to Maria. Can I see you again?”

“How about lunch tomorrow at the Crashdown?” Maria suggested. It was neutral ground, a place where she felt safe.

“The Crashdown. That is the alien themed restaurant right down the road. Right?” Max asked.

“Yep that is the one you can’t miss it. The atmosphere is a little tacky but the food is good.”

“Ok how about I meet you there at 1:00.” Max said.

“Sounds like a date. I’m glad you came to the club tonight Max Evans. I think knowing you is going to change my life.” Maria didn’t have a clue why she said that out loud. She hadn’t meant to but it was the truth. From the moment she set eyes on him she could feel that he was going to be important to her and that things would never be the same.

“You know Maria I think you are going to be the one that changes mine and in a good way.” Max leaned in a placed a gentle kiss on Maria’s lips.

They both smiled at each other and said goodnight.

On the drive home Maria thought about the evening she spent with Max and the gentle kiss that he gave her goodnight. Max Evans was someone special, she was sure of that, but she knew without a doubt that he wasn’t her someone special. There were times during the evening where she got Michael vibes from him. At times he did things and said things that just felt and seemed like him but in the end he just wasn’t him. Maria couldn’t help but think maybe if she had met Max in a different time or place or maybe if she had met him before Michael things could be different but as always she knew that Michael was the only one for her. Maria thought she must be cursed. Here is this nice guy who is gorgeous and sweet with a good career, he was going to be a doctor, but he still wasn’t good enough. The only guy in the world that she wanted and loved was the one she couldn’t have. The gods surely must be laughing at her.

By the time Maria got home she was mad. She hated her life and what she had to look forward to in the future, a lonely, miserable existence. She hated Michael for coming in to her life, for being the only one she could ever love and most of all for being her brother. She hated her Mom and Step dad for adopting him and most of all she hated herself for loving someone she shouldn’t.

Maria walked into the house and headed for her room but stops suddenly when she hears Michael shout at her.

“Where the hell have you been?” Michael shouted.

“Michael, if you know what is best you wont start with me tonight. I am so not in the mood. You know damn well where I was. I was at the club on a date.”

“What happened? Why are you so upset? Did he do something to you.” Michael jumped up off the couch and came in front of Maria. He could tell she was mad and it wasn’t from his question. Something had happened.

“Yes he did. He was a complete gentleman, the type of guy that any girl in her right mind would grab onto and never let go. Absolutely gorgeous, confidant but not overly confidant, knows what he wants and from talking to him I can tell he usually gets it. He doesn’t seem to have one single character flaw what so ever.”

“So what is the problem?” Michael looks at Maria confused. 

“I don’t want him.” Maria shouts and then bursts into tears.

Michael, who had been so furious he could barely see straight immediately calmed down. He pulled Maria into his arms and let her cry whispering soothing words into her ear. He saw Kyle over Maria’s shoulder he had obviously come to see what all the noise was about. He took one look at Maria and started to come forward but Michael shook his head. Kyle nodded and went back to his room and shut the door. He was sure that Kyle knew that Michael would take care of her. He would always take care of Maria, even if it killed him in the process. Michael wanted to make all of Maria’s pain go away but he just didn’t know how. He didn’t understand what was wrong other than she was obviously distraught.

Michael hadn’t said a word since he and Kyle had left the Club. He couldn’t get the look on Max Evans face out of his mind. The man knew how he felt about Maria. He had taken one look at Michael and could see that he loved and desired her more than anyone else in the world and with one look he had let Michael know it. Why he didn’t have a clue. Michael also had saw Max’s face when Maria was singing. He was as awestruck with her as the rest of us. Michael was more scared of Max Evans than he had been of anyone in his life. He could tell that if anyone were going to take Maria away it would be Max. There was something about the guy. He felt it as soon as he saw Maria talking to him. He almost felt that there was something familiar about him but he knew for a fact he had never met him before.

“Shh. It’s ok baby. Everything is fine.” Michael whispers in Maria’s ear.

“No Michael. Everything is not fine. I am going to be alone and miserable for the rest of my life. I am never going to have what Mom and Dad have.”

“You will never be alone Maria. You will always have me. I promise.”

“I know Michael. I know.” Maria leans her head on Michael’s chest letting his heartbeat soothe her.

Yes Maria would always have Michael but never the way she wanted him and the sooner she learned to accept that the better. There was no use her crying about what she couldn’t change.

Maria pulls away from Michael and goes to sit on the couch.

“I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to loose it like that.”

“It’s ok. What happened tonight Maria? What brought this all on?”

“Oh Michael I don’t know. I guess it just hit me that I am doomed. Max is a great guy, really great. I think I could like him a lot maybe even love him but I know without a doubt that I will never feel for him the way I want. You know what I mean Michael. I want what our parents have. I know you and Kyle do to.” Michael comes and sits down beside Maria putting his arm around her shoulder.

“Will any of us every be happy Michael?” Maria asks even though she already knows the answer, at least for herself.

“I don’t know Maria. You are right we all want the thing that Mom and Dad have. But to tell you the truth I don’t think what they have is the norm. I think a lot of people settle and never find that person who makes the world go round for them, someone who they worship body and soul. I think Mom and Dad are one of the lucky ones.”

“You may be right Michael. Damn I know the world is going to end soon, both Kyle and I agree that you are right in less than a week.” Maria stands up and smiles down at Michael who is giving her one of his legendary smirks.

“Laugh it up Blondie. You just wait until I tell Mom you went on a date the next time we see her. We will see who is laughing then.”

“Michael you wouldn’t dare.”

“You think not.” Michael got off the couch and ran for his room before Maria could throw the shoe she was holding in her hand at him. He no more than got the door shut before he heard a smack against the door. 

Maria laughed at Michael and then headed for her room. Kyle was waiting for her at her door.

“You ok?” Kyle asks.

“Yeah. Just lost it for a little bit.”

“Maria, when are you going to tell him that you love him?” Kyle asks a shocked Maria.

“What? Who?”

“Maria I’m not stupid. I know that you have loved him from practically the first time you saw him and nothing has changed that. Sooner or later you are going to have to admit it otherwise it is just going to eat you up inside, if it isn’t already.”

Maria couldn’t look Kyle in the eyes. She couldn’t believe that he knows, that he has obviously known for a very long time but has never said anything before. She felt embarrassed and ashamed as if she had done something wrong.

“I don’t know what you are talking about Kyle. I think lack of sleep is making you delirious.” Maria tries to joke it off.

“Ok Maria. Just think about what I said. You are only hurting yourself.”

“I love you Kyle.” Maria gives her brother a hug.

“Love you to Deluca… Valenti.”

“Glad to see you got the name right this time.” Maria lightly smacks him on the arm and goes into her room and shuts the door. Her smile fades as soon as the door is closed and she slides down the door because her legs wont hold her up any longer. She can’t help wondering to herself if Kyle knows how much longer before someone else finds out? Maria knows she is going to have to do something about this and fast. She can’t let anything hurt her family and if someone was to find out how she feels about Michael it surely would.

Part 5

Maria woke up the next morning with a purpose. Today she was going to drop a bomb on her brothers that she was sure they were not going to like but she didn’t have a choice. She had called Liz late the night and told her she needed to talk to her today at the Crashdown. Maria hoped that Liz would be willing to go along with her plan.

She got showered and dressed really quick so that she could have time to talk to Michael and Kyle before she had to get to the Crashdown.

“Good Morning you two.” Maria comes over and kisses them both on the cheek.

“What has got you in such a mood?” Michael asks

“I have made a decision. I talked to Liz last night after I came home and the two of us have decided to find a place together. So guess what guys your little sister is moving out.”

“What?” Both Michael and Kyle shout at her.

“I thought a lot about things after I kind of lost it last night and I decided I needed to stop relying on the two of you. I need to find my own way. Mom was right about one thing I am never going to meet anybody while I am with you two. You do have a tendency to scare away guys. Now I have to go or I am going to be late for my lunch date.”

“Date?” Michael asks. He has a stunned look on his face.

“Yeah I am meeting Max for lunch.”

“I thought you said last night he wasn’t the guy for you.” Michael says

“Well I didn’t give him much of a  chance. One date isn’t enough time to decide these things. So I got to go. Love you both.” Maria blows them a kiss. She runs out of the apartment before either one of them can argue with her. She has made her decision and nothing either one of them can say is going to change her mind.

“What the hell was that?” Michael asks Kyle sitting down on the couch. His suddenly doesn’t feel like his legs can hold him up. Maria was leaving him. She was going to move out. And she was going on another date with Max Evans.

“It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have said anything to her. Damn I didn’t think she would do this.” Kyle says. He is as shocked as Michael is. He realizes that he pushed Maria into this. He should’ve known that she would have freaked about him knowing how she feels. He could tell last night that she felt ashamed of her feelings. He should have talked to her more. He should have made her realize that there was nothing wrong with her feelings.

“What. What did you do?” Michael suddenly finds his strength and gets up in Kyle’s face.

“Michael calm done. I just said something to her that I shouldn’t have. I will make it better. I promise. It will be fine.” For the first time he can remember Kyle actually feels afraid of his brother. He has never seen the look the Michael has on his face. He looks like he could kill him.

“What did you say Kyle. Tell me.” Michael shouts at his brother grabbing him and throwing him against the wall. Michael has lost complete control. All he can think about is losing Maria and somehow Kyle is to blame. At this moment he could hurt Kyle. Suddenly he realizes what he is doing, what he was about to do and steps away from Kyle. His hands are visibly shaking and he goes and sits down on the couch.

“I’m sorry man. I don’t know what came over me.” Michael says to Kyle.

Kyle, also visibly shaking, comes and sits down next to Michael. For a moment there he thought that Michael was going to beat the crap out of him. Michael had never showed any form of violence against him before. They were best friends, brothers in every way except for blood. He knew of course that the only thing that would ever bring him to this was Maria. His love for her was more overwhelming then anything else in this world.

“Michael you need to do something about the way you are feeling. You are about to blow man.” Kyle says.

“What the hell are you talking about Kyle?”

“I’m talking about how you feel about Maria. You are so in love with her you can barely see straight. Why don’t you just tell her?”

“You are delusional Valenti. I think I should have hit you then maybe I would have knocked some sense back into you.” Damn Kyle knew. Was he so apparent? First Max Evans and now Kyle.

“Michael I’m not stupid nor am I blind. I live with the two of you. I see the way you look at her when you think no one is looking. She is it for you. She is the one. Why don’t you just tell her?”

“Kyle you don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Well I might not but if you don’t do something soon you may loose your chance. It looks like little sister has decided to go after Max Evans. And we both know that when she puts her mind to something she usually does it.”

Michael looks over at Kyle. His brother is telling him to go after their sister. Were they all crazy? Yes, he wants her, more than he has every wanted anything else but it isn’t possible. What would their parents say? What would everybody else think? Yeah they weren’t blood related but in the worlds eyes she was his sister. Was it even legal for them to be together? Was it moral? He had thought of these things a lot over the few years. Michael had always loved Maria. She was his light, his guardian angel. She was always there to make his nightmares go away, to make him feel safe and loved. It wasn’t until they were seniors in high school that his love had turned to something else, something more primal. He felt himself wanting her, sexually. Whenever he would kiss another girl he found himself picturing he was kissing Maria. And at night when he had dreams, sexual dreams, Maria was the always the one that he was making love but in the morning when he woke up he always felt like he had done something wrong. He would have a hard time looking at his mother in the eyes after he had one of these dreams. He was always afraid she would somehow be able to look in his eyes and see what he was thinking and feeling. He never wanted to do anything to hurt his mother. She had saved him from Hank and had treated her like she was his child and how did he repay her back. He coveted her only daughter.

“Man this is crazy. I just don’t know what I should do. I mean what about Mom and Dad and everyone else? What will they think?” Michael pushes his hands through his unruly hair.

“Michael I’m your brother if I can accept this don’t you think the people who really matter will understand. Sure they might freak a bit at first but in the end they love you. They will accept this. And as for everyone else, Screw them.”

Michael looks at Kyle and after awhile he makes his decision.

“Kyle you know that I…” Michael starts to tell Kyle that he loves him but Kyle stops him before he could finish.

“Yeah I know same here. Now go before it is too late.”

Michael gets up and pulls his brother into a quick hug and then runs out the door. He has somewhere he needs to be, someone he needs to tell that he loves.

Part 6

Liz was waiting for Maria when she got to the Crashdown.

“What’s wrong?” Liz asks seeing the Maria is obviously upset.

“I need to find my own place. I have to move out of the apartment. Will you find a place with me?” Maria asks a stunned Liz.

“What happened? Did you have a fight with Michael or Kyle?”

“No. I just need to get away from them. Plus I met a guy and I really don’t want to bring him home with those two being all overprotective and everything.”

Liz again is shocked. Did Maria say she had met a guy? What about Michael? “Ok spill. When did this happen?”

Maria sits down and tells Liz about Max and how they met at the club. She told her everything including the fact that she isn’t really sure if he is the guy for her.

“Why don’t you think he is the guy for you?” Liz knows the answer but doesn’t really expect Maria to admit it to her. Liz isn’t sure whether Maria has even admitted to herself that she is in love with Michael or not.

“It is hard to explain. I know that I could love Max if I wanted to but it still wouldn’t be enough. He isn’t …” Maria doesn’t finish her sentence.

“Then why go out with him?” Liz ignores Maria’s last sentence like she didn’t hear her.

“I don’t know. I just feel like I need him to be in my life. It is really weird Liz.”

“Sounds like it. Just so you know I think you might finally be losing it.” Liz says and both of them laugh together.

“You might be right Liz. You might very well be right.” Maria looks at Liz who has a star struck look on her face. She is staring off at the door with this dreamy look in her eyes. Maria turns around to find the object of Liz’s fascination. The very man they had been talking about for the last half an hour, Max Evans.

“Liz, Liz snap out of it.” Maria snaps her fingers in front of Liz’s face

“Huh? Sorry. Do you see that guy? He is gorgeous.”

Maria smiles at Liz. “Yes he is.”

Maria turns around again and waves her hand at Max. Liz watches as this amazing looking guy heads over to their table. She is stunned. Who is he?

Maria gets up and gives Max a hug and turns toward a shocked Liz. “Liz this is Max Evans. Max this is my friend Liz Parker.”

Max, who had noticed the brown haired, brown-eyed beauty sitting with Maria as soon as he walked in the door was smiling openly at her. “Nice to meet you Liz.”

Max smiles at Liz and she practically forgets to breathe. He is by far the sexiest guy she has ever seen. “You to Max. Maria has been telling me all about you.”

Max turns his attention back to Maria. “And what exactly have you been telling Liz Ms. Deluca?”

“Nothing but the truth Mr. Evans. I just told her that I spent the evening talking with a gorgeous guy and that we were having lunch together today.”

“Gorgeous huh?” Max flirts with Maria.

“Absolutely.” Maria flirts back

Liz sits back and watches the interaction between Max and Maria. For some reason she feels jealous. Maria doesn’t even want to be with this guy yet she isn’t sending him away either. For once in her life Liz wishes that she were in Maria’s shoes.

---

A few feet away Michael stands and also sees the interaction between Max Evans and Maria. He sees the twinkle in Maria’s eyes and knows that she is enjoying herself. He turns around and walks out of the Crashdown. Maria obviously does like that guy. Michael would rather be miserable than to hurt Maria in anyway and telling her now how he feels would hurt her from having her chance at happiness. He couldn’t do that to her.

---

Max caught a glimpse of Michael out of the corner of his eyes as Michael was leaving. He saw the look on the other mans face, it was a look of pain. Again, Max’s is curious about Maria and her “brothers” relationship. There was obviously a lot more there than familial feelings.

“So Maria what is good here?” Max asks

“Why don’t you ask Liz. Her parents own the place.” Maria brings Max’s attention back to Liz.

Maria could tell that Liz was interested in Max Evans. It was so obvious and Maria also saw a glimmer of interest in Max’s eye when he first met her.

Liz tells Max what her favorites are and then Max and Maria order. Liz leaves them the two of them alone since they were on a date.

“Liz is nice.” Max says.

“Yep she sure is. We are going to get a place together.”

“I thought you lived with your brothers?” Max asks surprised.

“Oh I do but I think it is time for me to move out of the nest and spread my wings so to speak.”

“Sometimes you have to. My sister and I lived together all through college and I finally had to get out so I came here to Roswell to do my internship. However, now Isabel has decided she wants to move here also so my newfound freedom will soon come to a close.”

“Poor Max. So tell me about your sister?”

Max tells Maria all about his sister Isabel and their childhood. They had grown up in a very good home with very loving parents. Isabel was kind of a princess type. She liked things perfect and in order. Max laughed when he told Maria about some of the Christmas’s they had over the years. Isabel had obviously earned her nickname “The Christmas Nazi” It was very obvious that Max thought a great deal of his sister, faults and all.

“You want to know something strange. Isabel and I were actually found here in Roswell. We were found walking in the desert when we were six. We didn’t know who we were or where we came from. I guess that is why I wanted to come here for my internship. I wanted to see if I could remember something.”

Maria face lost all color as she listened to Max’s story. Max and his sister were found just like Michael. Could they be like Michael?

“Are you ok Maria? You don’t look so good.” Max asks obviously concerned about Maria.

“Actually Max I’m not feeling so good right now. I think I am just going to head home.”

“You shouldn’t drive. I will take you.”

“No that is ok, Liz can. She was coming over to my place anyhow after lunch.”

“Ok. You sure you don’t want me to check you out. I am a Doctor after all.” Max asks.

“No, no. I’m fine. I think I just need to get some more sleep. Honestly. I will talk to you later Max.”

Maria kisses Max on the cheek and goes over to Liz asking her to drive her home.

Max watches Maria and Liz as they leave the Crashdown, concern evident on his face. He wonders what happened. She seemed perfectly fine one minute and the next she looked like she could faint dead away. He wonders if it has anything to do with what he told her about him and Isabel. He isn’t even sure why he told her that stuff. He usually doesn’t. It just seemed natural to tell Maria everything about his life. Well not exactly everything. He obviously couldn’t tell her about his powers and that he was different then most people. Neither Max nor Isabel knew exactly who they were but they had an idea that they weren’t exactly human. He knew enough about human blood to know that neither of them had it.

---

“Are you going to tell me what that was about?” Liz asks Maria after they arrive at Maria’s place.

“It was nothing Liz. Honestly. I just needed to get home. Thanks for driving me.” Maria gets out of the car and rushes into the apartment.

“Michael. Michael. Where are you?” Maria shouts.

Both Kyle and Michael come running.

“What? What’s wrong?” They both say at the same time. They took one look at Maria’s face and knew that something was very, very wrong.

“Max..” Maria starts but Michael interrupts.

“What did he do? That bastard if he hurt you I swear to god..”

“No, no. He didn’t do anything but Michael I think he is like you. I think he might be an alien.”

“What?” Michael and Kyle shout at the same time.  

Part 7

“What do you mean you think he is an alien?” Michael calms down enough to ask Maria

“I should have guessed earlier. I knew there was something about him. I kept getting the same vibes I always get from you. God I can’t believe I didn’t know right away.” Maria rambles

“Ok slow down Maria. Tell us what exactly happened.” Kyle says and pulls Maria away from Michael and sits her down on the couch.

“He told me that he and his sister were found walking in the desert when they were kids. They didn’t know who they were or where they came from. Just like you Michael.”

Michael sits down hard on the couch beside Maria. Maria was right Max was like him. He was sure that Max Evans and his sister were the two that were in the cave with him. “Did he say anything else?” Michael asks Maria.

“No. He said that he came to Roswell hoping he might remember something. Michael am I right? Is he like you?” Maria asks

“I don’t know. I remember a boy and a girl in the cave with me but I don’t know if Max is him.” Michael runs his hand through his hair.

Maria pulls Michael’s hand in hers and gives it a reassuring squeeze.

“So what do we do know?” Kyle asks them.

“Well I think we need to do a background check on Max Evans and his sister. What is her name Maria?”

“Isabel. Isabel Evans. Max said that she was coming here to Roswell soon.”

“We won’t do anything until we have some more information.” Michael tells them.

“Whatever you say Michael, this is entirely your call.” 

“I can’t believe I didn’t realize sooner. I knew there was something about him. I knew it from the moment I met him and then last night I kept getting Michael vibes from him. I’m so stupid.” Maria sits on the couch beating herself up for not knowing who Max was sooner. She almost made a huge mistake. She was almost ready to start something with him.

“Maria you couldn’t have known anything. And what do you mean by Michael vibes?” Michael asks Maria with his customary smirk on his face.

“Nothing Michael. I don’t mean anything.” Maria gets off the couch and looks towards Kyle for help. Kyle smiles at her. He wonders to himself if he should help her out of this or not. Maybe if he stayed out of it Michael and Maria would finally admit how they feel. After a minute he decides maybe now is not the time for that.

“What Maria means Michael is you give off this vibe. I always know when you are in the room. It is like I can feel your presence or something.”

“Is it like that for everyone or just you two?” Michael asks them

“Well I don’t think anyone else feels it. I am pretty sure Mom and Dad don’t or if they do they don’t know exactly what it is that they feel. I think we know because we are so close to you.”

“And you felt the same thing with Max?” Michael asks Maria.

“Not exactly the same thing, but close enough. I knew there was something about him from the very start I just didn’t know exactly what it was until now. I’m positive he is like you Michael. I can feel it in my bones.”

Michael looks at Maria and can tell that she is very serious and he believes her. He can feel it to. In fact, he felt it in the club last night. He knew there was something familiar about him. He was still worried about Maria though.

“I don’t want you seeing him again Maria. He could be dangerous.”

Maria looked at Michael with a shocked expression on her face. “You don’t want what? Michael, there is nothing dangerous about Max, at least not anymore dangerous than you. And if I want to see him again I will.”

Kyle rolled his eyes. Not again. “Time out you two. Maria I have to agree with Michael on this. At least let us check him out before you go out with him again. Please Maria.” Kyle gives Maria one of his puppy dog looks that gets to her every time.

“Ok. Ok. I can’t fight you both, but only until you do your investigation. I’m not promising you anything after that. You don’t have to worry about Max. He isn’t dangerous. I know it. Now I need to call Liz and come up with some explanation to why I needed her to drive me home.”

Maria heads up to her room but before she goes up the stairs she turns around and looks at Michael. “I hope you will be able to find out where you came from Michael and where you belong.”

Kyle looks over at Michael. “I guess you didn’t talk to her.”

“No. I saw her with Max. You should have seen the look in her eyes. She likes him Kyle.”

“Michael we both know that Maria belongs with you and not with anyone else. If you don’t do something soon you may loose the chance.”

Michael knows that Kyle is telling the truth but he doesn’t know what to do. This afternoon he had gone to the Crashdown to tell Maria how he feels but taking one look at Maria’s face he lost his nerve. He didn’t know what he was more afraid of, losing Maria to someone else, or telling her how he feels and having her reject him and lose her from his life all together. Kyle seems to think she feels the same way but Michael is doubtful.

“Just let it go Kyle. What will be will be.” Michael says and goes to his room. He couldn’t help thinking about what Maria said before she went up stairs. She said she hoped he found where he belonged. That really bothered him because the one thing Michael knew more than anything else is that where he belonged was with Maria, in whatever capacity she needed.

Part 8 

For the next few days Michael and Kyle gathered as much information as they could on Max and Isabel Evans. Max and Isabel had been adopted by Phillip and Diane Evans who moved them from Roswell to Phoenix where Max and Isabel grew up. They both had attended the University of Arizona where Max studied to be a doctor and Isabel a Psychologist.  Max came to Roswell six months ago to complete his Internship at Roswell General. He had already been offered a position as a resident in the Emergency Care department of the Hospital. Isabel had been working at a hospital in Phoenix but had quit her job and was headed for Roswell to fill the open position in the Psych department at Roswell General. They had both been exceptional students all through high school and college and both were fairly popular. Neither Kyle nor Michael could find one person who could come up with one thing bad to say about either Max or Isabel. Maria had been right when she said Max didn’t have one single character flaw and if he did have one they couldn’t find it.  And Isabel was practically Mother Theresa in the eyes of the Community of Phoenix. Over the years Isabel had put in more hours of community service then most people do in a lifetime, especially around Christmas. 

Michael threw the file he had been collecting on the table in front of him in frustration. He just didn’t know what to do about them. The more he found out, the more he was convinced that they were like him. There was just something about them that was just more exceptional than most people. Michael, himself, was not perfect by a long shot but reading their file he could pick out bits and pieces that were just like him. They had never been sick, their IQ’s and physical abilities were above average. And as Kyle was quick to point out, they were all very attractive. Quite simply they were above average in all aspects. Michael knew that this by itself was nothing usual but that added to the fact that they were found seemingly abandoned in the desert here in Roswell it just brought up a red flag in Michael’s eyes.  

And on top off Michael’s frustrations Kyle was driving him crazy and at the moment they were not talking to each other.  First he wanted Michael to admit his feelings for Maria and then he came up with some crazy idea of using Maria to get close to Max to find out more from him. To find out if he knows anything more than Michael does. Michael of course was dead set against the plan and let him know about it right away. 

** Flashback** 

“No, absolutely not Kyle. It isn’t going to happen.” Michael shouts at Kyle. 

“Michael come on. Maria already has an in with Max. He likes her. It is a good idea for her to try to get close and find out if he knows anything.” 

“No. No. No. I don’t care whether he likes her or not. It is too dangerous.” 

“Maria can take care of herself Michael and you of all people know I wouldn’t even suggest it if I thought it was dangerous. She’s my sister for Christ’s sake.” 

“It isn’t going to happen Kyle so drop it. I forbid it.” Michael shouts. 

“Forbid it. Who the hell do you think you are? You aren’t the boss of either one of us Michael and I for one would like to hear what Maria has to say about you forbidding her to do anything.” 

Michael throws Kyle up against the wall. “You aren’t telling Maria anything. Do you hear me Kyle? I suggest you just forget about this stupid plan of yours if you know what is best for you.”  

Michael slams Kyle against the wall once more for emphasis and then walks away. 

“Michael. You’re my brother and I love you but if you ever do that again I swear to god we are going to go at it you being an alien be damned.” Kyle shouts after Michael retreating form. 

**End of Flashback** 

So Michael and Kyle are not speaking to each other. They both are still too mad to attempt it. Michael knows that he overreacted and crossed a line with Kyle. In all the years they had lived together as brothers and friends, he had never once showed any force against him not even in fun and over the past week he had done it not once but twice. This thing with the Evans siblings and Maria was driving him crazy but that was no excuse for his actions and he knew he was going to have to apologize to him. 

Just as Michael was thinking about going up to Kyle’s room he came down the stairs and sits done on the chair besides Michael. 

“I’m sorry.” Michael finally breaks the silence between them. 

“You went to far Michael.” Kyle states simply. 

“I know. This whole thing is just driving me nuts. I don’t know what to do.” 

“You know my opinion on it all so I wont state it again. However, I did come up with something else that might work. The sister is coming to town I could get to know her.” Kyle says without looking at Michael. 

“No. It isn’t just Maria I am worried about in this. I am worried about all of us. I think we should all stay away from them for now until I can figure something out. I don’t know maybe I should just go talk to them. Find out what they remember.” 

“What are you nuts? You can’t do that. You don’t even know for sure if they are like you. You can’t tell them.” 

“I’m not stupid Kyle. I’m not going to tell them anything. I am just going to tell them that I was found the same way and go from there.” As he was talking to Kyle Michael had made up his mind. He was going to go talk to Max and Isabel Evans. Maybe if he just talked to them something would click and he would know one way or another if they were like him. 

“You have already made up your mind about this haven’t you?” Kyle asked as he looked at Michael. He knew that look on his brothers’ face. 

“Yeah.” 

“When?” 

“I guess the sooner the better. Wish me luck.” 

“I do but Michael please be careful. You know Maria will kill me if something happens to you.” 

“I’ll be fine.” 

Michael grabs his keys walks towards the door just as he is about to walk out he turns around and faces Kyle. 

“If… well you know if, something does happen, tell her for me. Tell her that I loved her.” 

“Michael.” Kyle starts to protest but then stops and nods his head. “I will. I promise.” 

---

On the way to the Roswell General Michael tries to decide what he is going to say to Max and how to go about this. He doesn’t want to scare him off. All he wants to do is find out the truth so he can move on with the rest of his life and maybe make a decision about what to do about Maria. The other day he had made up his mind to tell her and then when he saw her with Max he decided against it. Now more than ever he is glad that he kept his mouth shut. He doesn’t want her anymore involved in his life than she is. He wouldn’t be able to live if anything happened to her because of him. She was his world, whether she knew it or not. 

The Emergency Room was pretty quiet when Michael got there. He and Kyle have been in there a lot while on duty so most of the people knew him who worked there. 

“Hey Deputy.” The cute blond at the desk addressed him. She always flirted with him and Kyle when they would come in. Kyle ate it up but she annoyed Michael. 

“Hi Courtney. Is Dr. Evans on duty today?” Michael asks 

“Sure is. Want me to page him for you?” 

“That would be great thanks.” 

Courtney paged Max and then turned her attention back to Michael. “So Deputy would you like to get some coffee while you wait.” Courtney asks obviously trying to get Michael’s attention. 

“Maybe another time. I will just wait over in the chairs. Thanks.” 

It isn’t long before Max comes to the desk to inquire why he was paged. Courtney points over towards Michael. Max hesitantly makes his way over to him. 

“You were looking for me?” Max asks 

“Can we talk? Someplace else.” 

Max nods his head and tells Courtney that he is going on a break. They head upstairs to the roof to talk. Max wonders what Michael Guerin-Valenti could want with him but he had a faint suspicion that it had to do with Maria. 

When they get up on the roof Max turns to Michael and asks. “Is this about Maria?” 

Part 9

“No. This has nothing to do with Maria except for the fact that she told me something that I need to ask you about.”

“Ok. What did she tell you?” Max was very curious. He wondered what Maria had told Michael to get him so upset because the guy was obviously upset about something. He could practically see the tension vibrating off of him.

“Maria told me that you and your sister came from Roswell or at least you were found here.” Michael tells Max trying not to sound to anxious. He wants to just blurt out “Are you an alien?” but he knows he can’t.

“Yeah. So?” Max asks perplexed. This conversation was getting weirder and weirder.

Michael walks away from Max. This whole thing was a lot harder than he thought it was going to be. “You were found in the desert, not knowing who you were and where you came from. Is this true or do you really know where you came from and just didn’t tell?”

Again Max didn’t know where this was all going but for some reason he felt like he needed to answer Michael’s questions. “We both remember a cave but besides that nothing. Everything is a complete blank. I came here to Roswell for several reasons, one to see if I could remember where the cave is and two to try to remember anything else. Why the questions Michael?”

Michael took a deep breath and figured now was as good of a time as any to lay it all out on the line. “I was found in the desert also. I didn’t remember a thing. Well actually I did remember a couple of things but I never told anyone. I remembered a cave and I thought I remembered seeing another boy and a girl in there with me besides that I can’t remember a thing.”

“Do you remember where the cave is?” Max asked barely able to control his excitement. This was the break he had been looking for to finally find out where he and Isabel came from. Then it hit him that Michael was like them. He could even be their family.

“I’m not sure. I didn’t even know if what I remembered actually happened or if it was just a dream. I remember a sign, I think, but again I don’t know if the memory is real or not.”

“Do you think we could be… you know family.” Max asks.

“I really don’t know. Max I have one other question and I hope to god that I am right in asking you this but I need to know. Can you and your sister do things?”

Max looks into Michael’s eyes for a moment trying to decide if he should answer this question. Michael was after all the police. By telling him their secret he could be endangering both Isabel and himself. They had never told anyone their secret not even their parents. Max considered all his options and then he made his decision hoping it was the right one.

“You mean like this?” Max asked as he put his hand on the wall and turned the color from white to red.

Michael blinked and took an involuntary step backwards. He felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. He had been sure that they were like him but to see it with his own eyes was almost too much for him to comprehend. Michael then moved forward and placed his hand on the spot that Max had touched and reversed the color back to white.

“Yeah like that.”

Max looked at Michael his face mirroring the same shocked expression. Max’s secret desire for his entire life had been to find some clue that he and Isabel were not alone and now he finally found it and it came from the most surprising source, Michael Guerin-Valenti.

“So what now?” Michael asks trying to break the almost unbearable silence between them.

“I don’t know. I wasn’t exactly expecting this today. Well I guess you should meet Isabel. She will be here tomorrow.”

“I’d like that.” Michael tells Max. To say that they were awkward around each other right now would be an understatement. Michael didn’t know what to even say to him at this point.

“Michael, does Maria know that you are… different?” Max asks and immediately notices Michael tense up and the mention of Maria.

“Yes, both her and Kyle know. They are the only ones. How about you? Does anyone else know about you and Isabel?” Michael changes the subject off of Maria. He does not want to discuss Maria with Max whatsoever.

“No. We have never told anyone. Is that why Maria has been avoiding me because of who I am? Is she afraid of me now.” Max asks. He had been trying to contact Maria since that day in the Crashdown but he always seemed to miss her and she had not returned any of his messages. Until today he didn’t know why she seemed to be avoiding him. Now knowing that she is aware of who he was he was afraid she would continue to stay away from him and would see him as a freak.

Michael sighed. What was he supposed to say? He didn’t want Maria with Max and not because of who he was but because he wanted her for himself. Should he lie and tell Max yes or should he tell him the truth and possibly loose Maria to him. In the end there was really only one right answer and he was sure he was going to regret it later. “No she isn’t afraid of you. I asked her to stay away from you until I could talk to you and get some answers. I’ll talk to her later. I’m sure she will give you a call.”

Michael turned away from Max. He hoped that he wasn’t making a mistake but he knew that he couldn’t lie to Max. Telling him that Maria was afraid of him would have been wrong. Maria had never once been afraid of him and Maria was the one that was sure from the start that Max was not dangerous at all.

Max watched Michael closely. He could tell that Michael was waging a small battle inside of himself for telling Max that Maria was not afraid of him. Max knew that Michael had wanted to tell him that yes she was afraid but in the end he had chosen to tell the truth. Max respected Michael for his honesty and in fact it made him glad that Michael was like him and may in fact be family. He never really thought about having a brother before but for once he was really hoping that Michael did in fact turn out to be his brother. Max’s heart was racing from all of the discoveries of today. He couldn’t wait to tell Isabel. Isabel had always known there was someone else out there. Max remembers when they were little how she would say that they were missing someone and that someone else should be there with them. Max had thought it was just a childhood dream and that she just wanted to find out where they came from but now he was going to be able to tell her that she had been right all along. Max knew how excited Isabel would be even if she would panic a bit that others knew their secret.

“I have to get back to work. I will call you tomorrow after I talk to Isabel. I know for a fact she will want to meet you right away. She always knew there was someone else. I should probably warn you about her. She can be a little demanding. She likes for things to be perfect so try not to take offense if she tries to butt in and run your whole life. She has given up on me so the prospect of having another brother to take care of will thrill her beyond imagination.” Max smiles. The affection Max feels for his sister is very evident.

“She should meet my mom. I think they would hit it off great.” Michael says laughing. It did sound like Amy Deluca-Valenti and Isabel Evans were cut from the same cloth. Michael looks at Max and notices a frown forming on his face.

“Michael about Maria. Do you mind?”

Again Michael did not know how to answer the question. He was damned if he did and damned if he didn’t but decided to be as honest as he could.

“Maria is a big girl she makes her own decisions. It really doesn’t matter what I think.”

“That doesn’t really answer my question though.”

“Let’s not go there Max. Ok?” Michael said

Max nodded. He knew he was going to have to really think about this situation. He liked Maria and felt that he could really care about her but he didn’t know if it was worth the pain that it would surely cost Michael. Michael, as far as he knew, was his family. Could he pursue something with Maria knowing that Michael was very much in love with Maria? He would definitely have to think hard and long about it.

Max stuck out his hand to Michael and Michael took it. They shook each other’s hands for a moment and then they left. Max went back to work and Michael headed home. He knew that Kyle would be anxiously awaiting his return.

---
On the way home Michael thought about everything that had just transpired. He just found out that there were others like him, two people who could be his real family. It was a lot to absorb. All his life the only family that he had ever known was the Valenti’s. Amy was his mother, Jim his father and Kyle and Maria his siblings. Now he had two new people in his life who, since there was nothing to contradict it, he would assume were also his siblings. A part of him wanted to shout out loud with joy but another part was also sad because things would certainly change in his life. When he knew nothing at all he could pretend that he was just like everyone else but now that he knew without any doubt that he was not from this world it really kind of changed his perception of the world and made him wonder what was really out there. All the questions that he had been avoiding his whole life were now important to him. He now needed to know the answers. He had to know where he came from and why he was here? What had happened? Why were the three of them left in a cave? Who were they? Unanswered question after unanswered question swirled around in his head and he knew he would never be satisfied or completely happy until he discovered that all the answers.

Michael walked into the apartment feeling like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. As soon as he walked through the door Maria threw herself into his arms. Kyle had evidently told her where he had gone. He looked over his shoulder and saw the unasked question on Kyle’s face. Michael nodded his head.

After a moment Maria stopped hugging Michael and start smacking him. “Michael don’t you ever, ever do that again. You scared the crap out of me. You should have told me first before you did anything and not wait for me to find out from Kyle. What if something had happened to you? What if I hadn’t got a chance to say anything to you?”

Kyle smiled watching Maria give Michael hell. The two of them were surely going to drive him insane. Their feelings for each other were as clear as day but the two of them were too stubborn or too stupid to admit it.

“I’m fine see not a scratch on me. And weren’t you the one who insisted that Max wasn’t dangerous. Huh? I had to go talk with him. Sitting around here wondering wasn’t doing any of us any good. I knew I would be fine.” Michael wiped away the tears that had started to fall when she started shouting at him about something happening to him.

“So what did you find out?” Kyle says breaking the moment between Michael and Maria.

“Max and Isabel Evans are like me. However, he doesn’t remember any more then I do.” Michael tells them “By the way you should probably call him. He was wondering if the reason you have been avoiding him is because you are afraid of him.” Michael tells Maria not looking her at her afraid that she would see the pain in his eyes.

Maria looks at Michael actually surprised that he would suggest that she call Max. He had been so adamant about her staying away from him. That must have been one hell of a conversation that he and Max had. “Ok. I will go do that now.” Maria kisses Michael on the cheek. “I’m glad you for you Michael.”

Michael watches Maria head up the stairs and he is hit with an overwhelming feeling of sadness. Michael knows this is the beginning of the end. He is sure that he is going to loose Maria once and for all but he supposes that if he was to loose her to someone than who better than his “brother”.

“Michael…” Kyle starts to say something but Michael interrupts him.

“Don’t Kyle. Just don’t.” Michael tells him and Kyle nods and leaves Michael to wallowing in his own self-pity. It is Michael’s choice and Kyle has more than let him know his opinion on the whole subject.

---
Later Michael sits alone in the dark in their apartment. Kyle and Maria had gone to bed but he was still awake. Today’s events were weighing heavy on him and tomorrow’s events sent conflicting emotions throughout his body. Tomorrow he was going to meet Isabel Evans, which was good but then Maria was going on a date with Max Evans; which was bad, very bad. Their lives were changing. It would no longer be just he, Kyle and Maria. Now Max and Isabel Evans were in their lives. The inner turmoil that Michael was dealing with was making it impossible for him to relax even so he could get some sleep so he had decided to just get up and try to come to terms with his feelings, something that Michael has never done easily.

Michael is so caught up in his own thoughts and feelings that he doesn’t hear Maria come down the stairs and is startled when she puts her hand on his shoulder.

“Michael. Are you ok?” Maria asks as she comes and sits down besides him.

“No. Not really.” Michael hadn’t meant to say that but for some reason it just popped right out of his mouth.

“What’s wrong?” Maria asks taking Michael’s hand into her own.

“I’m scared.” Again Michael can’t seem to stop the words from coming out of his mouth.

“Scared. Michael you don’t have to be scared. Everything is going to fine. You have found your real family. Things can only get better.” Maria tries to hug Michael but he pulls away and stands up and starts to pace.

“But I already have a real family. You and Kyle are my family. I don’t need anyone else. I don’t want things to change. I don’t want to loose you.” The emotions that Michael had been holding in all day break loose.

Maria rushes over to Michael as soon as she sees his shoulders start to shake. She grabs a hold of him and pulls him down on the couch next to her. Maria hugs Michael and whispers into his ear that he will never loose her, that no matter what she and Kyle will always be his family. They will always be there for him. She would be there for him for him forever. Maria places soothing kisses on Michael’s forehead and cheeks and without thought she places a gentle kiss on his lips.

The moment their lips touch they both are hit with an almost electric jolt. Michael looks into Maria’s eyes for a moment and before he can think about what he is doing he lowers his head and kisses Maria. Something that had started out innocent and soothing suddenly turned primitive and full of raw emotion. Michael did what he had dreamed of doing most of his life. He kissed Maria with all the desire and love that he felt for her but as suddenly as the kiss began it ended when Michael came to his senses realizing what he was doing.

“Oh God. I’m sorry. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. Forgive me.” Michael says and practically runs out of the house.

On the couch Maria was still reeling from the kiss she had just shared with Michael. She knows without a doubt that she has never felt anything like that before nor will she ever feel it again.

Part 10

Michael had been sitting in his Jeep for hours just looking out at the desert sky. The sky was a dark as his mood tonight with hardly a star to be seen. He couldn’t believe that he had done something so stupid as to kiss Maria. His beautiful sister Maria was only giving him comfort until he ruined it. He had dreamed of kissing Maria for so long, practically his whole life, and when she had placed an innocent kiss on his lips something in him broke. He lost control of his senses for a moment and kissed her with all the passion that he possessed and now there was no turning back. Even if by some miracle Maria were able to forgive him for that kiss there was no way that Michael would ever forget it. The days of him pretending to just be her loving brother were over. He didn’t even know if he could look her in the eyes anymore without her knowing his deepest darkest secret that he was desperately and passionately in love with her. One thing was for sure though the feeling was not reciprocated. Maria had not responded at all to his kiss. She had remained shocking still through his entire insane action. The shocked look on her face will remain burned in his mind forever.

In was almost dawn when Michael finally came home. He wouldn’t have come home at all if he didn’t have to pick up his uniform. He knew Maria wouldn’t be up yet. It was way to early for her to get up and get ready for work so he knew he could avoid her for a little while longer. Sooner or later he would have to face her though.

The sight in front of him shocked Michael when he got to his room. Maria was curled up on top of his bed. She must have fell asleep waiting for him to return. There were dried tears on her face. Michael knew that he had caused them and silently cursed himself. His hand went to rub her cheek when he suddenly pulled it back and then reached his hand forward again this time to gently shake her shoulder.

“Maria. Wake up.” Michael says as calmly as he can.

“Michael?” Maria rubs the sleep out of her red-rimmed eyes. She jumps out of bed and throws herself into Michael’s arms. “Where have you been? I have been so worried about you. Don’t ever do that again.”

Michael hesitates for a moment and then hugs Maria back. He breathes in her scent for a brief moment and then steps away from her. “I had to get away. I needed to be alone. I wasn’t fit to be around other people.” Michael tells Maria unable to look her in the eyes.

Maria stands in front of Michael once again and pulls Michael’s face so that he has no choice but to look at her. “Michael look at me. It is ok. Everything will be ok. I promise.”

Maria hugs Michael tight. She can see that he is obviously in pain and she wants to take it all away. All night she had been thinking about him and the kiss they had briefly shared. She was so shocked by the feel of his lips on hers that she didn’t even get a chance to respond before he pulled away from her. He had done something that she had wanted him to do for a very long time but when he was obviously disgusted with himself after it was over. She had decided in the hours that she had waited for Michael’s return to just act like nothing had happened. She didn’t want to loose her brother. Obviously she couldn’t tell him that she loved him especially after the way he acted after their kiss.

“Don’t run away like that again. Please. You really did scare me.” Maria whispers to Michael.

“I’m sorry for scaring you. I just couldn’t stay here any longer. Maria about what happened…” Michael starts to apologize but Maria cuts him off.

“No Michael. Don’t. It is ok. Nothing happened. Ok?” Maria says.

Michael nods his head and kisses Maria on the forehead.

“Alright. Well I have to get ready for work. If I don’t see you later have a good time with Max.” Michael was surprised he was actually able to say it with a smile on his face.

“You are meeting with him and Isabel today right?” Maria asks.

“Yeah at lunch.”

“I’m happy for you Michael. Remember what I said yesterday Kyle and I will always be your family no matter what.” Maria gives Michael another hug and kisses him on the cheek. Their eyes meet and for a moment they remember last night. Maria can’t stop herself as she leans in and kisses Michael on the lips. So much for forgetting last night happened.

Michael tries not to respond but it is impossible after he feels her tongue come out to lick his lips. He moans and pulls her closer to him as he opens his mouth and touches his tongue to hers. Michael can feel the blood running in his veins. He pulls Maria even closer as he hands start to roam her body.

Maria can feel Michael’s hand on her body and she wants more. She wants to feel his skin. She pulls his shirt out of his pants and starts to rub his back underneath his shirt. Their breathing was frantic and out of control. Maria knows she will have to break away soon because she needs air but she does not want this kiss to end. She never wants it to end. She wants to stay like this forever. In Michael’s arms feeling his body against hers.

---
Michael and Maria were so wrapped up in each other that they didn’t hear Kyle come to the door. He watches as Michael and Maria frantically kiss and touch each other. He wonders how this happened but cant help smiling. It was about time. Things were about to get real interesting.

Kyle walks away and then shouts down the hall to Michael. “ Hey Michael you up? We have to get to work soon. I’ll be in the kitchen.”

---
Michael and Maria jump away from each other as they hear Kyle shouting down the hall. Michael looks at Maria’s obvious kissed mouth and flushed face and then clears his throat.

“Be down in a minute. I have to take a quick shower.” A very quick cold shower Michael thinks to himself.

Maria doesn’t know how to react to Michael now. This time she had kissed him and he had kissed her back. How would he act now?

Michael watches the emotions cross Maria’s face, Passion, desire, confusion and worry. Michael had never felt so alive and happy in his whole life. Maria had kissed him. She had actually kissed him and obviously wanted more from him.

“Damn. I have to get ready.” Michael tells her. She nods her head and starts to walk out the door but Michael stops her. “Maria.”

“Yeah?” She asks her eyes full of unasked questions.

“I’m not sorry this time.” Michael says and smiles. He is thrilled when Maria smiles back.

---
Ten minutes later Michael rushes into the kitchen where Kyle is waiting. “Sorry. I’m ready.”

“No problem. Rough morning? Kyle asks barely able to suppress a smile.

Michael looks at him closely and then shakes his head. “You saw. Didn’t you?” He asks Kyle even though he already knows the answer. Kyle has always been so easy to read.

“Sure did. You tell finally tell her?”

Michael shakes his head “No.”

“You two are going to drive me to drink.” Kyle says and walks out of the room. “Well you coming. We don’t have all day.”

As Michael is walking out the door to follow his brother he wonders what is else could happen today.

Part 11 

Michael looks at his watch at quarter till 12 he is supposed to meet Max and Isabel at 12:30. For some reason he is really nervous. They were like him, most likely his real family but they were still strangers. He did not know what to expect. Max seemed nice enough but then again he was also a threat to Michael because of Maria. Thinking back to this morning Michael begins to wonder how much of a threat Max really is.  

Michael turns to Kyle. “I have to go. I don’t know if I will be back or not.” 

“Ok. Be careful Michael. They might be like you but you still don’t know them. By the way, what do you want me to tell Dad?” 

Michael thinks about it for a moment and then says. “Just tell him I had some personal stuff to take care. Eventually I am going to have to tell Mom and Dad something but I just don’t know what.” 

“Ok. Hey Michael, is Maria still going out with Max tonight?”  

Michael just shrugs his shoulders and walks out the door.  

Kyle couldn’t resist bringing Maria up. The scene he walked in on this morning just couldn’t be ignored. Kyle hoped that they would finally come to their senses and admit to each other how they felt. It was painfully obvious to anyone who spent more than two minutes with them that they were very much in love with each other. Kyle even suspected that their parents knew. He had caught both Amy and his Dad looking at the two with strange looks on their faces.  

---

Michael arrived at the Quarry at 12:30. They had decided that this was the best place to meet. It was out of the way and no one would be around so they could show each other some of the things they could do with their powers. Michael still felt a little uneasy about using his powers but maybe seeing theirs would help him understand his own some more.  

Max and Isabel Evans were already there when he drove up.  

Isabel raised an eyebrow to Michael’s uniform. Max had not told her that he was a police officer. How ironic.  

“Michael.” Max held out his hand to Michael. They shook hands. Max then turned to his sister. 

“Michael this is my sister Isabel.”  

Michael held his hand out to her but she pushed it away and instead enveloped him in a hug. She held onto him for a long time and the she whispered in his ear. “I knew there was someone else out there. I am glad we finally found you.” 

Isabel stepped away from Michael suddenly unnerved by her show of emotion. Isabel was always very much in control of herself but when she saw Michael standing in front of her she had to hug him. It just felt right. It felt like she had finally found home.  

“So what now?” Michael asked after a few awkward moments of silence. 

“To tell you the truth Michael I don’t know. Like I told you yesterday I really wasn’t expecting this. Sure I came here hoping maybe to remember something but I honestly hadn’t even tried. I guess the prospect of learning about who I was and where I came from kind of scared me and still does. Isabel and I have a family who loves us and that was all we have really ever needed. Now finding a “brother”, well it is kind of surreal.” 

“I know exactly how you both feel. Listen you have a family and so do I. Maria and Kyle and my parents are all I have ever needed and even wanted but I think I can handle having another brother and sister in my life if you can.” 

Both Max and Isabel shook their heads yes.  

“I’d love to meet your brother and sister Michael.” Isabel says. 

“Well Max is going out with Maria tonight on a date.” 

“What? Max is going on a date?” Isabel looks at Max shocked. Max never dates.  

“Don’t start Isabel.” Max warns his sister. 

“Come on Max you expect me to let this go. I don’t thinks so. When was the last time you went on a date? I know, never. You always tell me that you don’t have time to date or you haven’t found anyone you want to go out with. Why are you going on a date now?” 

Michael watches the interaction between Max and Isabel and wonders what exactly is going on. Isabel obviously seems shocked that Max is going out on a date. He can tell how uncomfortable Max is with the whole conversation and he catches Max glancing over at him every once in awhile.  

“Maria is unique Isabel. You will like her.” Max tells his sister and leaves it at that. Max doesn’t want to talk about Maria to Isabel with Michael here. Especially knowing how Michael feels about her. Maria is special, he knew that from the first moment he met her but he couldn’t exactly explain why he wanted to go out with her so bad. Sure he was attracted to her but he was also attracted to her friend Liz it wasn’t just a physical attraction. There was something else about her. A connection that he just couldn’t explain. And quite frankly he didn’t want to. Not yet at least and especially not with Michael around.  

“Hey I got an idea why don’t the four of us go out tonight and maybe Michael you could see if you brother and a date could come to. It will be a lot of fun.” Isabel suggests. 

“I don’t know about that Isabel. I’m sure Michael doesn’t want to go out with Maria and me.” Max tries to save Michael but Isabel will hear nothing of it. 

“Oh come on Max I’m sure Michael would love to go out with us. It will give us all a chance to get to know each other. I really would like to get to know Michael’s family as well as him.” 

Max gives Michael an apologetic look and just shakes his head at Isabel. There was no use arguing with her. She had already made up her mind. 

“It’s ok Max. Isabel is right we all should get to know each other. I will talk with Kyle. He isn’t really dating anyone at the moment so he might have trouble finding a date.” 

Michael was feeling really uncomfortable with this whole situation. It seemed that now he was going out on a date with someone who could be his sister. Why the hell not. He was in love with his other one.  

Max, Isabel and Michael talked for another hour each demonstrating some of their powers. Michael found out that Isabel could dreamwalk and Max could heal and it seems that he was able to blow things up whereas the others couldn’t. Each of them had separate gifts as well as the ones they could all do.  

---

Michael came back to the station two hours later. Kyle seemed surprised that Michael was back. 

“Well that didn’t take long. You find out anything new.” 

“A few things but nothing major. Hey Kyle, Isabel and Max would like to meet you. Isabel was wondering if you and a date would like to go out with us tonight.” 

“What about Maria?” 

“She is coming with Max as his date.”  

“So Isabel is your date?” Kyle asks. Michael is obviously uncomfortable about the whole thing. The fact that Michael will not look him in the eyes is a dead give away. 

“Well kind of. I guess. I don’t know. Please Kyle you have to come. I cannot go on a double date with Maria. Not again.” Michael pleads. 

Kyle knows how hard it was for Michael to admit his feelings about the whole date thing so what else could he do. “Ok. I’ll call Liz and see if she can come with me.” 

“Liz. I thought you broke up?” Michael asks. 

“We did but we are still friends. We have dated each other forever Michael. Going out once more as friends really isn’t a big deal.” 

“Ok if you are sure. Thanks Kyle. Anyway I think you will like Isabel. She reminds me of Mom.” 

“Oh god. Not another one. So she is a force to be reckoned with?” 

“Oh yeah.” 

“This could be interesting after all.” Kyle says. Isabel Evans sounds like a very interesting person, one that he can’t wait to meet in person.   

Part 12

Maria was anxious about her date with Max tonight especially after hearing that his sister and Michael as well as Kyle and Liz would be coming with them. Maria still wasn’t sure what she was going to do about what happened with Michael this morning. They had kissed. More than kissed they had made out heavily. Michael in the eyes of the world was her brother. She didn’t know how something so wrong could feel so right. Last night when Michael had kissed her she had been surprised but thrilled at the same time but today was something totally different. For one thing she had kissed him. She completely lost control of her mind for a few minutes. Her body did what it wanted to do, what it had wanted to do for a long time. And Michael had kissed her back. And most importantly when it was over he said he wasn’t sorry. He knew what he did and he was not apologizing for it. So what does that mean for them? That was the big question that Maria couldn’t answer. At least not on her own.  

Maria knew that she could grow to love Max. She was sure of it but she also knew that she would never be happy with him because she would be settling for second best. She wanted Michael and if she wasn’t mistaken Michael also wanted her. But does he just want to sleep with her or does he want to be with her heart and soul? That is the second big question of the day. Maria knew that eventually they would have to sit down and talk but tonight was not the night. Tonight, however,  she did have to talk to Max. She would have to let him know that this thing between the two of them was not going to happen. She was attracted to him, connected to him in a way that she had only felt before with Michael but he was not the other half of her soul. Michael was.  

---

Down the hall Michael was also thinking about this mornings kiss. If Kyle had not interrupted them he wonders just how far it would have gone. Note to self ask Max if sex is different for them. Of course if Isabel was right and Max had never been on a date before than he most likely was not the person to ask. One thing he was certain of was that Maria was also feeling something for him. Was it just sexual attraction or was it something more? He was hoping for the latter but than again that brings up a whole other set of problems. Where would that leave them? They were legally brother and sister. Legally they could not be together and in the eyes of some it was also morally wrong. What would they do? There were just to many things to think about. Michael just didn’t have time right now.  

Michael was also worried about this whole date/get together thing. Would he be able to handle seeing Maria with Max?  Michael was going to be a wreck by the time they left for dinner if his thought kept up this way. So he did the only thing he could do to quiet his inner voices he blasted them out with Metallica music.  

---

Kyle laughed as soon as he heard the music blaring from Michael’s room. Looks like Michael is a little nervous about this evening. He always blares his music when he is upset about something. Kyle knows exactly what is bothering his brother. Maria. Of course, over the years it has always been Maria that has stirred up Michael’s emotions enough to get upset.  

Tonight certainly is going to be interesting. When he called Liz and asked if she would come she seemed overly excited about the idea. He thinks that maybe Max Evans may be the reason. There was something in her voice when she told him that she had met him a few weeks before. She also mentioned that she had talked with him several times over the last week. Seems he really likes the atmosphere of the Crashdown. Yep it was definitely going to be an interesting evening.  

---

An hour later the three Valenti’s were ready to go out for the evening. They were meeting Max, Isabel and Liz at Senor Chow’s.  

“So are you two boys ready?” Maria asks walking down the stairs. She smiles to herself when she sees Michael expression on his face. She is wearing a new dress that she bought especially for this evening.  

My god that dress is worse than the other one. What the hell is she is she doing? “Don’t you think you forget something?” Michael asks Maria.  

“I don’t think so. What?” Maria knows exactly where this is going. The dress she is wearing is a slip style dress that shows quite a bit of skin in all the right places.  

“I don’t know maybe your dress. You can’t go out in that Maria. It just isn’t decent.”  

Kyle saw where this was headed and stepped in before this became a full-fledged battle. “Enough. Michael you know she is going to wear what ever she wants even if it is indecent.” Kyle had to put in his two cents worth too.  

Maria just walked out of the door in front of Michael and Kyle. She knew she had won once again and she loves every minute of it. Plus she knows that Michael is “affected” by the way she looks tonight.  

Kyle smiled to himself. Maria was just wicked.  

---

Max and Isabel were already at the table when they arrived at the restaurant. Liz walked up to the door just as the Valenti’s arrived.  

“Thanks again for coming with me tonight Liz.” Kyle says to Liz as they walk to their table.  

“It is my pleasure Kyle.” Liz says to Kyle but she is not looking at him she is looking at Max.  

Kyle notices Liz looking at the table and smiles. Then he gets a good look at Isabel Evans. If Maria’s was wicked than Isabel was just downright sinful. No one should look that good. Kyle takes it back, it isn’t going to be an interesting evening at all it is going to be a hard one. A very hard one.  

---

At the table Max and Isabel watched the others walk over to the table. Isabel was fascinated with who she assumes is Michael’s brother, Kyle Valenti. He is really good looking. As he gets closer she gets a good look at his eyes. They are beautiful. She smiles at him as she notices him checking her out. She is really glad she decided to wear this dress tonight. It definitely shows off her “assets” in a very flattering way.  

Max watches as Michael and Maria approach the table. He sees the possessive look that Michael has on his face and he also notices the very menacing looks he gives the guys to the right of them that are very blatantly checking Maria out. Maria through the whole thing just continues to talk with Michael. She doesn’t even seem to notice Michael’s behavior. Max could tell that she did though and more so she seems to enjoy it. Max knew right than and there that Maria Deluca-Valenti was just as much in love with Michael as he was her. Max didn’t stand a chance. Maria would never be his.  

Max accepted it all very quickly without showing a bit of his emotion on his face. Or at least he thought he had until he looked over at Liz. She had seen it all. He could tell that she knew what he was thinking. Liz gave him a sympathetic smile.  

---

Liz had been watching Max since they walked into the restaurant. She saw him watching Michael and Maria and she immediately saw when he realized how those two felt about each other. She knew from the first time she met him that Max was one of those people who could read others pretty easily. Maria and Michael were pretty easy to read even for the average person but Liz knew that Max could tell that he was never going to win Maria’s heart. Maria was head over heels for Michael even if she was too damn stubborn to admit it. Liz actually couldn’t blame her though. Their situation was not an ideal one and quite frankly near impossible but it didn’t change the fact that they loved each other.  

Liz felt for Max because he did obviously want to start something with Maria. She saw it that day in the Crashdown. Liz knew that Max found her attractive but Maria is the one that held his attention that entire time. He was obviously drawn to Maria, maybe in as much the same way Liz herself was drawn to him.  

When Kyle had called her this afternoon and asked her to come to dinner with him and the others she nearly jumped up and down in excitement. She was having dinner with Max. She thought maybe she might be able to get him to notice her a bit. She could only hope.  

Liz saw Max look at her and she knew that he could tell that she had seen him watch Michael and Maria and come to realize how they felt about each other. She gave him a sympathetic look. He simply shrugged and smiled at her. Maybe she had a chance after all.  

---

The bunch sat down at the table for dinner.  Max sat with Liz on one side and Maria the other. Next to Maria sat Michael with Isabel beside him and finally Kyle sat in between Isabel and Liz. On one side of each of them were their dates and on the other side were people that they were interested in. In each of their minds they all had the same thought. This was going to be one hell of an evening.

Part 13

For the most part is was a very uneventful yet enjoyable evening. Of course no one was talking to whom they were supposed to. Michael and Maria spent the entire evening talking, as did Isabel and Kyle and Max and Liz. By the end of the night it was pretty obvious how everyone was paired up and it certainly wasn’t who they had come with.

Maria had told Max that she would like to talk to him after dinner but he told him that there wasn’t a need. He knew what she was going to say. Max kissed her on the cheek and whispered “Good Luck” into her ear. Maria looked at Max for a moment and then nodded her head towards Liz letting him know he should go for it and Max did, Wholeheartedly.

At the end of the evening everyone separated in their own directions. Max and Liz were going to go have coffee, Kyle was taking Isabel dancing and Michael and Maria went home.

The moment they walked in the door of their apartment Michael pulled Maria into his arms. He had wanted to kiss her all evening and he just couldn’t hold back any longer. The moment their lips touched they both moaned. To them it felt like they were finally where they should be. After a few moments Maria pulled away from Michael and held her hand out to him. He took it and they walked to Maria’s room.

Once there they both seemed a little unsure of where to go next. Both knew what they wanted but still we unsure of how the other felt. Maria decided she needed to take the first step. She walked up to Michael and took his jacket and tie off and started to go to work on the buttons of his shirt when Michael puts his hand on top of hers. Michael made Maria look him in the eyes.

“Are you sure? This will change everything. There will not be any going back.” Michael asked. He wanted to make sure that Maria was clear what this would mean.

“I’m more sure about this Michael than I have ever been about anything else.” Maria said as she started to unbutton his shirt again. This time Michael allowed her to proceed.

Once the shirt was unbuttoned Maria pulled it off of Michael’s body, her fingertips touching as much skin as she could. She marveled at the feel of his skin under her fingertips. She had never felt anything like it before. She could almost feel the electricity building between them.

The whole time Maria had been undressing Michael he had not once touched her. He just watched her face as she concentrated on unbuttoning his shirt. He saw how fascinated she was with his bare skin and loved the look of pure joy that crossed her face when she touched his bare skin with her fingertips. To be honest Michael did not know exactly where to go with this. He hadn’t had time to talk with Max or Isabel about sex for them but he assumed that it would be ok. One of them would have warned him otherwise. Besides that, this was Maria. She was his sister, his best friend and soon to be his lover. Were they really ready to cross that invisible line that has been between them for so long? Michael’s mind was telling him one thing but his heart and soul was telling him another. He didn’t think his mind was going to win this time. This time he was going to follow his heart because he needed to. He would go crazy if he didn’t. The not knowing was worse then making the move and paying the consequences.

Once Maria had removed Michael’s shirt and enjoyed touching his upper body to her satisfaction she looked up into Michael’s eyes. She saw desire, love and even a little fear reflected there and imagined that her own mirrored his. She wanted this more than anything but she was also scared to death. Maria knew that Michael had never been with anyone before. Kyle had told her as much a few months ago. He said that Michael was afraid what would happen because of his heritage. He didn’t want something to happen that could tip people off that he was different. Maria silently hoped that maybe another reason was because he couldn’t imagine himself being with anyone else besides her. Maria unfortunately had been with someone else. She had slept with a boyfriend in high school and had regretted it immediately. She had actually cried afterwards and not from happiness. She had been so upset over the whole experience that once she got home she didn’t come out of her room for two days. She never told Michael or Kyle what had happened. For some reason she almost felt ashamed. Her and Doug (her boyfriend) had not done anything wrong. And it been a mutual decision but she had not realized till to late that it was a wrong decision for her. She felt like she had betrayed Michael in some way and that he would think badly of her. Maria knew before they went any further that she would have to tell him and that scared her more than anything that would follow afterwards.

“Michael. I need to tell you something.” Maria whispers to him. Michael barely heard her and grew concerned that maybe she was changing her mind.

“If you don’t want to do this Maria. It is ok.” Michael tells her making her look into his eyes.

“No. No. Michael I do. There is just something you should know before we go any further.”

“Ok.”

“This isn’t my first time.” Maria said and looked into Michael’s eyes to gage his reaction. She saw nothing. He didn’t seem surprised at all. In fact he smiled at her.

“I know Maria. I know about you and Doug.”

“What. How?” Maria was shocked. How did he know?

“You remember how you wouldn’t come out of your room after that last date you two went on. Well Kyle and I got worried and decided we needed to find out what exactly had happened. We were afraid that he had hurt you in some way. So we went and talked to him. He told us what had happened after a little persuasion on our parts. You know I think you may have broken his heart when you broke up with him afterwards. I think he really did like you.”

Michael would have beat Doug into a bloody pulp if Kyle had not gone with him that day. He had been sure that he had hurt Maria in some way. Michael knew that she had been crying in her room since she came home from their date and he wanted to know why. Thank god Kyle had been there. Michael wasn’t sure what he would have done to Doug otherwise. Doug had eventually admitted that they had slept together and that afterwards Maria had seemed upset. He didn’t understand why. He had been trying to talk her but Maria would not take his call and he was actually afraid to come to the house to see her because of Michael and Kyle. Doug knew how over protective they were of Maria and was sure they wouldn’t take to kindly to him deflowering their sister. Michael had been shocked and at first angry. For a second he thought maybe Doug had forced Maria but eventually he realized that Maria wouldn’t have let that happen. She was more than capable of defending herself and besides that she would never had hesitated to come home and tell them or their Dad what had happened to her. She would never have let him get away with any sort of violation. Michael knew without a doubt that Maria had willingly slept with Doug and it had hurt him deeply. After awhile he realized that he had no right to be upset. Maria was not his no matter how much he had wanted it otherwise. They were in fact brother and sister and whomever Maria was with was no business of his.

Maria was shocked. All this time he had known and had not said one word about it.
“I’m sorry. I should have told you. I just felt like I had betrayed you somehow.” She told him honestly.

“Maria look at me.” Michael demands. “You could never betray me. You are the most loyal person I have ever met. Back then it was impossible for us. Hell it still might be for that matter. You had every right to be with who you wanted and still do.”

“That’s the thing Michael. I have never been with whom I wanted. I have always wanted you. I have only ever slept with one guy and that was Doug. I knew then that I had made a mistake. It would never feel right unless it was with you.”

Michael pulls Maria into his arms and kisses her gently. “I have always wanted you to Maria. More than you could ever imagine. Since we are being completely honest I guess you should know that there hasn’t ever been anyone.”

“I know. Kyle told me. He told me that you were uncertain whether it would be different for you or not.”

Michael looks at Maria and silently curses their brother. Kyle and he were going to have a few words later.

“He is right. I still don’t know what will happen. I am afraid I will hurt you Maria. I don’t know if we should do this.”

“Michael you could never hurt me. No matter what, I want this. Please.”

Michael nodded his head and then pulled Maria closer. He touched her face gently and wrapped his hand around her neck and pulled her towards him. Their mouths met in a kiss full of the passion and want they both feel for each other. Michael’s hands start to roam over Maria’s body coming to the edge of her dress. He pulls it up inch by inch. They separate for a moment as he pulls Maria’s dress over her head. He steps back for a moment so that he can take a good look at Maria. He is shocked beyond belief to realize that she had not been wearing any under her dress tonight. She was now completely nude in front of him except for her high heal sandals. She nearly took his breath away. She was so beautiful. Michael wanted her more than he knew possible.

“God you are beautiful Maria.” He whispers.

Maria had been afraid until she heard the slight reverence in Michael’s voice. She knew then that everything was going to be fine. They were finally going to be where they have always belonged, with each other. She wraps her arms around Michael. She gasps when their bare torsos touch. The feeling is indescribable. She can feel her blood flowing underneath her skin and it is like every cell in her body is reaching out to connect with his. She feels like she is on fire. She starts to unbutton Michael’s pants. She wants to feel all of him against her.

“Michael, Maria you still up. I need to talk to you.” Kyle shouts loudly from downstairs.

Both Michael and Maria curse.

“You know I think I am starting to really dislike our brother.” Michael says leaning his forehead against Maria’s.

“I know the feeling.”

“Yeah we are up. Be down in a second.” Michael shouts down the stairs.

They both get dressed and try to straighten their appearance a bit.

“This better be damn important or Kyle Valenti is a dead man.” Michael says as he walks out of Maria’s door. He hesitates for a moment and extends his hand for her. They walk down the stairs together hand in hand.

 

TBC…