In The Darkness, They Saw The Light

By Val

Couple: M&M
Rating: PG15 to R for language
Summery: The great blackout of 2003 has trapped our favorite candy couple in a penthouse on a hot summer New York night.
Disclaimers: Nope don’t own them, but I still like to do naughty things with them
Dedication: To the Gals at RCWW, you all rock!!

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Part One of One

Maria struggled with the bags as the doors of the high rise's private elevator slid opened to the exclusive penthouse apartment. She hurried into the kitchen with her groceries and quickly put them away glancing at the clock on the microwave. He was going to be there any minute.

She never should have stopped to do her grocery shopping but she would never have time after this appointment to go so she decided to swing by between meetings. She cast her eyes around the kitchen, satisfied that everything looked orderly.

He would be here any minute. This was the 12th penthouse apartment she had shown him and every single one he just storms through, telling her what a crappy real estate agent she was.

She hated him, plain and simple. He was the most arrogant man she had ever had the displeasure of meeting. She had tried to suggest he went with another agent but no such luck. He just shook that gorgeous head and told her he was sticking with her until she got it right.

Maria growled to herself. "Stop referring to him as gorgeous, sexy and completely fuckable." She commanded to herself.

This was the worst of it, she was hopelessly attracted to the brooding millionaire. It was horrible and to top it off it was one of the hottest summers in New York City in recent memory and she was climbing the walls with sexual frustration.

She shook her head when she heard the elevator door chime and hurried out to met her most annoying and sexy client. Taking a deep breath she watched as the doors opened and Michael Guerin, New York's sexiest bachelor strutted into the lavish apartment.

"Mr. Guerin." Maria said politely as she went to shake his hand. "I think we have finally found the home you have been looking for."

"Doubt that." He huffed as he strolled into the furnished living room, ignoring her hand. "So how much is this dump?"

Maria sighed and counted to ten. "I would hardly call the penthouse of the Dakota a dump Mr. Guerin."

Michael snorted in amusement, he loved getting the blonde spitfire in front of him riled up. It made his day to see her green orbs sparkle with anger. Damn he wanted nothing more than to have Maria Deluca in his bed but this little dance they've been dancing for the past few weeks was driving him insane.

He has had a major case of blue balls since the first second he saw her and no other woman had been able to capture his attention since their first meeting. She has been occupying his every waking thought and most definitely his subconscious thoughts too.

"Let me guess, John Lennon fanatic. Mesmerized by the building he was murdered in front of." He taunted.

Maria gaped at the man in shock. "I don't even know how to respond to that." She said as she stopped in mid step only to cause Michael to crash into her. Ignoring his close proximity she spun around to face him. “God do you have to be so…so…so heartless.”

Michael grinned as he starred into her beautiful green eyes. He could easily get lost in the pool of green and he had to fight the urge to kiss her. “You love me as heartless. Just admit it Deluca.”

“That’s Ms Deluca, thank you very much.” Maria huffed as her eyes focused on his lips, imagining what they would feel like wrapped around one of her nipples.

“How about I call you Blondie.” Michael challenged, groaning to himself as he felt his cock reacting to her.

Maria’s eyes narrowed. “I would advise against that Mr. Guerin, my employer takes having his associates harassed very seriously.”

“I’ll remember that.” Snorted Michael as he watched her storm by him waving her hands at the different highlights in the rooms. Finally they were in his favorite room, the bedroom.

Maria walked over to the windows and pulled the curtains back to reveal a breathtaking view of Central Park. She turned; a smile on her face, trying vainly not to blush. She was always subconscious whenever she showed him a bedroom. “Beautiful isn’t it?” She asked as he stood next to her.

“Stunning.” He murmured as he gazed down at her.

Slowly she let out a shallow breath as she suddenly found it difficult to breath. “It’s seems to be getting a bit warm in here.” She observed.

Michael grinned. “Yeah it is, isn’t it.” He agreed as he licked his lips.

Maria shook her head to clear it. “I’m serious.” She said as she walked over to the air conditioning vent. “I don’t feel any air coming out of this.”

She watched as he closed the distance between them and put his hand up to test the air. “You’re right.” He agreed.

Maria didn’t say anything as Michael followed her through the apartment until she was in the darken kitchen. She stood staring at the microwave. “The electricity must be out. We just didn’t realize it because of all the natural light.” She rationalized.

“I guess so.” Michael said as he continued to watch her as she began to walk towards the elevator.

“Well I’m sorry to cut this short but I’ll walk you out and contact my employer to let him know what happened.” She said as she pressed the button to call for the elevator. Her brows knitted together when the light didn’t come on.

She looked up when she saw him laughing. “The powers out Blondie, no elevator.”

Maria blushed. “Of course, how foolish of me. Well we’ll just have to take the stairs.” She stammered, choosing to ignore the blondie remark. Heading back into the kitchen she brushing past him and stopping at the door to the stairs.

She tried vainly to open the door but it wouldn’t budge. Michael watched on with amusement as she continued to fight with the door until he finally took pity on her and went over to help.

“Here, let me.” He commanded as he edged into her personal space and she found herself pressed against the wall.

Maria snickered when Michael wasn’t able to open the door either. “Somebody must not have eaten their Wheaties today.” She teased.

Michael grunted and was able to open the door a couple of inches, enough for them to see that there were six fifty pound cement bags laying across the door as well as some tools. Finally he pushed himself away from the door and leaned on the wall next to Maria.

“We aren’t getting out that way either.” He told her.

Sighing she headed into the living room and grabbed her bag. After much searching she found her cell phone and held it up in triumphant. “I’ll just call my boss and he can contact security to come and get us.”

He nodded his head approvingly and smiled but her smile quickly vanished when she toss the phone on the couch. “No signal.” She announced in defeat as she joined her phone and sat down on the couch next to it.

He sat down across from her on the other plush couch as he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his palm pilot and clicked into the news. “Oh shit, it’s a server power outage all the way to Canada. They are talking hours before the power is up.” He announce after punching a few buttons.

Maria grinned. “You can send an email.” She exclaimed.

Michael looked up and his breath caught in his throat as he gazed at her. He knew it was wrong but he didn’t want it to end. So nodding his head he looked down and began to punch some buttons and after a few seconds he looked up and shook his head. “The lines must be jammed too. I can’t get a message out.”

“Your joking.” Maria said in amazement. “Your driver. Won’t he realize it doesn’t take…” She stopped when he shook his head.

“I gave him the night off and I took a taxi over.” He explained.

“Ok.” She reasoned as she continued to think. “The security guard. He saw us coming in.” She offered happily only to find herself frowning a few seconds later as Michael shook his head again.

“The elevator doors were just closing as I saw them changing shifts, so the one on duty doesn’t even know we are up here.” He told and quickly stopped her from trying to figure a way out of here. “Face it we are stuck together. So what do you want to do to pass the time?”

‘Fuck ourselves silly.’ Was on the tip of Maria’s tongue but instead she shrugged her shoulders. “How about if we open some windows and get some fresh air in here. It’s getting muggy.”

“Sounds good.” Michael said as she slapped his hands on his upper thighs before standing up. Soon they had all the windows open and had a pleasant breeze cooling the apartment off.

“We should probable start looking for some candles since it’s starting to get dark out.” Maria suggested. A few minutes later they had a large number of candles scattered around the living room.

Both sat across from each other in an awkward silence until finally Maria asked. “Are you hungry? I went to the store before I came. I could make us something.” She offered as she started to stand.

“I’ll do it.” Michael volunteered as he hopped up and went into the kitchen. “You just relax Honey.” He said without thinking, wincing when he heard her repeating his term of endearment with a roar of laughter. Damn it was going to be a long night.

                                        ********

"Come on, fess up. That gas stove is a blessing that most people would give their eye teeth for on a day like today." Maria teased. They had just finished a delicious shrimp fettuccini and were on their second bottle of white wine and Maria decided she was on
her way to a very pleasant buzz.

Michael chuckled as he scooted closer to Maria. "Always the real estate agent aren't you Maria."

Maria giggled and nodded her head before asking "So tell me what is really wrong with this place Michael? Why did you automatically say it wasn't good enough to be your home?"

Michael smiled at her warmly and pulled her onto his lap. "Because home is where your heart is and my heart doesn't feel at home here. How about you, would you feel at home here?"

“Well I’m not moving in silly.” Maria argued with a giggle.

“You never know, maybe if you play your cards right.” He suggested, his voice thick with passion.

Maria shook her head slightly to try and clear the haze the alcohol was causing. “I…this isn’t very appropriate.” She murmured as she felt the first in a series of butterfly kisses along her neck.

Michael pulled back. “Do you want me to stop Maria. Forget about our professional relationship. If you say you do then I will.” He told her honestly.

“No.” She purred as her courage began to build and she wrapped her arms around Michael’s neck. “I don’t want to stop.”

That was all Michael needed to hear and his lips sought hers for a passion filled kiss as their tongues glided together. Gathering Maria in his arms he stood and carried her into the bedroom, gently laying her on the moonlit coverlet.

Forcing herself to stand up in front of him, they both stared into each other eyes as they slowly began to strip out of their clothes until they were both naked at last. Maria smiled as she reached out for Michael’s hand and pulled him close to kiss him again.

Maria whimpered as she felt Michael lower them onto the bed, his hands gliding all over her body. She was in absolute heaven as Michael made love to her all night long. He was more than she imagine, he was everything she could ever want in a lover and it tore at her heart that after tonight she would never feel his arms wrapped around her. To never to feel his mouth upon her. To never feel his length nestle deep inside of her and she tried vainly remember every little detail of tonight.

Little did Maria know that Michael was feeling the same way. He couldn’t breath, she was more amazing than he fantasized about. They fit together perfectly and the thought that he would never have her in his bed again was enough to make him feel like there was a vice squeezing his heart. He just had to figure out a way to make her want to stay with him.

                                ********

Maria giggled as her and Michael cuddled together. “Well that has certainly never happened while showing a place before.”

“It better not.” He teased sternly as he hugged her closer.

“Hmmmm, that feels really good.” Maria cooed as Michael rubbed her arms and kissed her forehead.

Michael grinned and kissed her again. “I’ve been thinking.”

“That explains the smoke coming from your ears.” Maria taunted.

“Haha.” He chuckled good naturedly before continuing. “I want you to make an offer on the apartment. I’ve decided to take it.”

Maria pushed herself away from Michael and sat up, holding the sheet in front of herself. She could feel the anger and hurt building inside of her as she scurried out of the bed. “Why don’t you just leave a fifty on the nightstand while your at it.” She hissed as she fought the tears that were threatening to spill and grabbed her clothes, running into the bathroom and locking the door to prevent him from following her.

“Shit.” Michael shouted as he realized what he had said to her. How stupid could he be. All he wanted was to make her happy and instead he made her feel like a whore. Reaching down he grabbed his boxers and pulled them on before going to the bathroom and banging on the door, his heart breaking as he heard her cries of anguish through the door.

“Maria, baby please open the door. I didn’t mean it that way.” He begged as he knocked on the door.

“Go to Hell.” He heard her shout.

He was getting ready to say something when suddenly the lights flickered on and the door swung open and a fully clothed Maria rushed out and pushed past Michael barely stopping to grab her bag on the couch before hitting the button to the elevator. “Consider our professional relationship over Mr. Guerin. I will have my employer assign another agent to your account.” She huffed as she pressed the button impatiently.

“Maria wait.” Michael cried as he rushed back into the bedroom and grabbed his clothes. He was just finishing pulling his pants on when he saw Maria hurry into the elevator and he raced across the room only to have the doors slid shut on his face and he slammed his first on the doors and shouted “Dammit.”

                                        **********

“Shhhhh Maria, it’s going to be alright.” Tess whispered softly as she stroked her best friend’s hair as she laid next to the crying girl.

“How could I be so stupid? I actually thought he was different.” She sobbed as she clung to her pillow.

“What are you going to do?” The other blonde asked.

Maria sat up and grabbed a tissue and wiped her eyes. “I’ll talk to Jim tomorrow, he’ll have to assign Kyle to him. I can’t face him again.”

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

“Maria, I can’t tell you how disappointed I am that you can’t put your personal dislike for Mr. Guerin aside and provide the service I pay you to provide to clients.” Jim Valenti said as he shook his head.

Maria blushed at his choice of words. “I’m sorry Jim, really I am but I just can’t continue to work with him. I’m sure Kyle will be able to help him.”

Jim sighed. “I suppose he will be able to take over this account but Maria I don’t want this to happen again. You’re a professional and I expect you to act as one.”

“Yes sir.” Maria said with a slight grin. “Thank you for understanding.” She added as she stood up.

“Make sure to give Kyle all the appropriate paperwork.” Jim reminded her as he flipped open a client file, signaling the end of their meeting.

Maria nodded her head and stepped out of her bosses office and made her way over to Kyle’s desk, stopping on her way to pick up the Guerin file. “Hey Kyle, have I got a treat for you or what.” She said with a smile.

                                        ***********

“Well this is the easiest commission I’ve ever made.” Kyle said with a chuckle as he sat with Michael Guerin in his lawyer’s office passing papers on the Dakota penthouse.

“Whatever.” Michael huffed as he stared at his lawyer’s oak desk before asking in what he hoped would pass as casual interest. “So how is Ms. Deluca doing?” It had been almost two months since he had seen her. She had avoided him like the plague, not returning his phone calls and having the flowers he had sent to her returned. He was miserable and he missed his little spitfire.

“Maria’s fine, fighting some kind of stomach flu but other than that she’s the same old Maria.” Kyle said with a smile. Maria had confided in him the Friday after she gave him the account about what had happened.

At first he had wanted to pound the man sitting next to him into the ground for hurting her but after being in a room with him for a few minutes he could tell how sad and depressed he was. It was pretty obvious that Michael Guerin was in love with Maria Deluca and she was in love with him. He just hoped that eventually they would admit it to each other, he hated to see them both so miserable.

“Stomach flu.” Michael said, unable to control the concern in his voice. “Has she seen a doctor. She could become dehydrated.”

“She’s fine.” Kyle told the other man, trying not to laugh. “And she is going to the doctor today.”

                                        **********

“Are you sure?” Maria asked in shock.

“Yes Maria I am. You’re not suffering for some horrible disease, you are what we call in the medical profession knocked up right proper.” Max Evans teased his wife’s best friend.

“Very funny Max.” Maria cried.

Putting down his chart Max went over and hugged Maria close. “It’s alright Maria. I know this isn’t what you planned but I’m sure the father….”

“He’s out of the picture.” She said quickly as she squirmed out of Max’s embraced. “It’s ok Max, really. I can handle this. Tell Liz I will talk to her soon.” Maria called out as she headed for the office door.

                                        *********

Maria had no sooner put her purse in her desk draw before Kyle Valenti rolled his chair over to her. “I got an extra large steak and cheese hoagie with extra mushrooms. You want some?” He offered holding the greasy concoction for her expectation.

“Oh god.” Maria cried as she covered her mouth and ran for the ladies room, barely making it in time.

Tess came over and slapped Kyle. “What did you do?” She demanded.

“Owwww.” He cried as he rubbed his abused arm. “I just asked her if she wanted some of my lunch is all.”

Tess frowned and followed Maria into the bathroom, wincing when she heard her roommate empting the contents of her stomach into the commode. “Maria are you alright?” She asked as she grabbed a few paper towels and wet them with cool water.

Maria flushed the toilet and slowly exited the stall, gratefully accepting the cool towels Tess offered her. “Yeah, I’m fine.” She told her as she ran the water and rinsed her mouth out. Looking at Tess’s concern face in the mirror she confessed in a hushed whispered. “I’m pregnant.”

Tess sucked in her breath. “Oh shit. Michael Guerin’s?”

“Michael Guerin’s.” Maria confirmed with a nod. It was finally starting to set in and her mind going a mile a minute at the realization that she was carrying Michael Guerin’s child.

                                        *********

Michael flopped down on his couch. He had barely spent any time in his new ‘home’. No sooner had he bought it than he had to leave to go to England on business for five months.

He sighed as he realized that it had been almost seven months since he had seen Maria and the ache in his heart hadn’t lessened in any way. It was just a constant reminder at how stupid he was at losing the only woman he had ever loved.

He would never forget the first time he realized he was in love with Maria. It was while taking a tour of the English countryside and stumbling across a small stone cottage and the only thought to cross his mind was how perfect the little hideaway would be for their honeymoon.

Every since that realization he been just going through the motions and now that he was back in New York he only had one goal. to win Maria back. He just needed a reason to see her.

He grunted when he felt something dig into his back and sat up, feeling around the cushions of the couch and pulling out the object of discomfort. A smile crept across his face as the reason for him seeing her stared him in the face.

                                        **********

“God Tess, I’m huge.” Maria whined as she waddled into her living room, groaning and covering her eyes in disgust. “God I so didn’t need to see your hairy ass Kyle.” Maria snapped as she blindly made her way passed the horny couple and into the kitchen for her third snack of the night.

“Sorry babe.” Tess said with a giggle as her and Kyle quickly got dressed.

Maria was getting ready to make a witty comeback but stopped when the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it.” She offered as she slowly made her way over to the front door, annoyed as the person on the other side rang the bell again. “Hold your horses, I’m moving as fast as I can.” She huffed.

She gasped when she opened the door to a smirking Michael Guerin holding a cell phone up for her inspection. “Missing someth…..” Michael stopped in mid sentence as his mind finally registered that Maria was standing before him and that she was obviously very pregnant. “Something.” He muttered in shock.

                                        ***********

“Maybe you should come in.” Tess offered as she put a comforting hand on her best friend’s shoulder.

Maria stared at her friend and shook her head before turning back and facing Michael. “If that is my cell phone you can toss it, I already have a new one. Good night Mr. Guerin.” Maria said as she went to slam the door in his face only to have him raise his muscular arm and forced it to stay open.

“I think I will take your friend up on her offer.” He told her, staring into her eyes daring her to fight him on this.

“Fine, make yourself at home.” She huffed before turning her back on him and the other occupants in the room. “I’m going to bed, have fun with Tess and Kyle.” She told him as she tried to hurry out of the room and away from the man who stole her heart and then smashed it into a million pieces.

Michael stared at the women Maria called Tess for a second before his gaze fell upon Kyle. “Are you going to stop me?” He asked somberly.

“Are you going to hurt her again?” Kyle and Tess asked at the same time.

Michael shook his head. “No, I swear to you I will never hurt Maria ever again.”

Tess smiled. “Second door on the left.” She told him simply.

“Thank you.” He whispered as he placed the phone on the table and started towards Maria’s bedroom.

                                        ********

Maria laid on her side, sniffling slightly as she caressed her stomach. She didn’t need to look up to know who had just stepped into her room. She listened as he stripped out of his clothes and closed her eyes when she felt her bed shift slightly as he got in next to her, spooning her close to him.

“I’m sorry.” He told her softly as he place a gentle kiss on her neck.

Maria sniffled. “I’m not a whore. I would never sleep with somebody to make a sale.”

Michael chuckled softly as his hand made it’s way to Maria’s stomach and he rubbed it gently. “I never thought that Maria. You never gave me a chance to explain. You just shut me out completely.” He explained.

“Well what was I suppose to think.” She cried. “We had just made love and you turned around and say you wanted to buy the apartment. An apartment you had made perfectly clear you didn’t feel was home material earlier in the evening.”

“Because it wasn’t Maria, not then it wasn’t.” He told her and quickly added before she could jump to any more conclusions. “Remember when I told you a home is where your heart is. That was the truth, I never felt that any place I saw was ever going to be my home. It couldn’t unless I shared it the woman I love. God Maria, don’t you get it? That night when we made love, that was night I knew I was home for the first time in my life.”

Maria let Michael’s words washed over her and slowly turned to face him. All her hurt and anger melted away when she gazed into his eyes and knew ever word he spoke was the from the heart.

This caused a fresh wave of tears. “I’m so sorry.” She cried. “I was hurt and angry, I never gave you a fair chance to explain. Then when I went to tell you about the baby and you were out of the country and you never returned my phone calls I thought you really wanted nothing to do with me and I just gave up on you, on us.” She rambled as she clung onto him.

“Phone calls, what phone calls?” Michael asked as he stroked her hair, trying to calm her down.

Maria hiccupped. “The ones I left with your secretary Courtney asking you to call me from Europe.”

Michael fumed. “I never got them.” He hissed.

“But I told her it was urgent.” Maria explained.

“She’s fired!” Michael roared. “That sneaky little bitch. She has been trying to worm her way into my private life and into my bed since the day I hired her. I tried reasoning with her and always made sure to be professional with her but obviously it didn’t work. I can overlook many things but that bitch keeping me away from you and causing you unneeded pain isn’t something I can overlook or forgive.”

Maria nodded her head. “I can’t believe anyone could be so cruel.”

“Well she messed with the wrong man. When I think of all the time we missed together because of her I could wring her neck.” He raged.

Maria reached out and stroked his cheek. “It doesn’t matter. We’re here now.”

Michael smiled and mated his forehead to her’s. “Yeah we are.” He agreed while reaching down to intertwined their hands together. “It’s been seven long and lonely months Maria. Say you will come back. Say that we will finally share the home I bought for us.” He urged softly.

“Yes Michael. There is nothing we want more than to come and share our lives with you.” She whispered as she sought his lips with hers, moaning into his mouth the words she long to finally say. “I love you Michael Guerin.”

“And I love you Maria Deluca. Always and forever you are my home, my heart and my soul.” He sighed as he claimed her mouth for a kiss that made both their heart sore, a kiss that was finally broken by the small kick that cause both to chuckle and Michael to bend down and whisper. “And you too little one.”

Maria laughed when she felt the baby give another little kick. “So what are we going to tell her when she asks about when we fell in love?”

Michael grinned. “We’ll tell her the truth. That we fell in love with each other the first time we met but that it took a blackout plunging us into darkness for us to finally see the light.”

The End