Author: Dontia

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

Spoilers: I’m so beyond the "reality" of the show. Some of you think that’s a good thing.

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Maria goes into labor.

Notes: Sequel to "August Heat – Interlude #7". Season Two doesn’t exist except for brief glimpses here and there.

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

Dedication: To my readers, who keep me writing not just fan fiction when I feel like giving up.

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Michael and Tess arrive at Maria’s house. They enter to find Maria sitting alone on the sofa.

"Where is everybody?" asks Michael.

"I didn’t call Max or Alex," says Maria.

"What about your mother?" asks Tess.

"She’d have wanted to call them."

"Maria-"

"I don’t need them! Max and Alex are why I’m in pain. And when they get here, they’ll make it all about them. It’s not. Ow!"

Tess grabs hold of Maria’s hand. She uses her powers to generate some pain relief. "That’s it, breathe through it."

"It hurts."

"I know, it’ll be over soon and you’ll meet your daughter."

"I’ll call everyone," says Michael.

Maria violently shakes her head. "No!"

"They’d want to help you through this," says Tess. "And you’ll feel guilty later if they aren’t here."

"Fine. You can call ‘em Spaceboy, if you promise to blast ‘em when they get on my nerves."

"Deal." Michael begins making the calls.

"Why don’t I help you change into a nightgown and get in bed?" says Tess. "It’ll be a long day."

"You said it’d be over soon," says Maria.

"I’ve lived two lifetimes. Time’s relative to me."

"I hate you."

"I know. Let’s get you to bed."

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

At the Evans house, Max and Alex are getting advice from Isabel on what toys are best for their daughter.

"What’s wrong with this one?" asks Alex.

"Besides the fact that it’ll be five times her size?" says Isabel.

"She’ll grow into it."

"We’ll save it for when she gets older," says Max as he goes to answer the ringing phone.

"I still say she can use it now."

Isabel fixes a stern eye on him. "No. What else you got?"

Alex and Isabel turn to Max when the phone slips from his hand and crashes to the floor. They take in his frightened expression and immediately get scared.

"What happened?" asks Isabel.

"The baby," whispers Max.

"What’s wrong with the baby?" asks Alex.

"She’s coming."

"Now?"

"Yes, now."

The fathers to be stand unmoving, staring at each other in terror.

Isabel rolls her eyes and waves her hand between them. "Hello? Are we going over there or not?"

"Of course," says Alex.

Max nods. "Absolutely."

"Then don’t you think we should get there before my niece leaves for college?"

In a sudden rush, Alex and Max run to the door. They stop and look back at Isabel.

"Hurry up Isabel," says Alex. "You’re holding us up."

"Yeah Is, hurry," says Max.

Isabel barely restrains from blasting them as they head for the jeep. She picks up the car keys they forgot and follows.

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

At the Valenti house, Kyle’s in his room trying to drown out Jim and Amy fighting. When the phone rings, he smiles gratefully at the distraction.

In the living room, Amy glares at Jim. "You still don’t get that you should’ve told me."

"I wanted to," says Jim. "Especially when we got closer. But I promised to protect those kids no matter what when Max saved Kyle’s life."

"Would Kyle have been in danger if not for Max?"

"He got shot because I kept investigating when I should’ve backed off."

"He got shot because he knew Max’s secret. Which is what’ll happen to my daughter and granddaughter."

Kyle comes in. "Maria’s in labor."

"Oh god," says Amy. "Is she all right? She didn’t call me."

"She didn’t call anyone but Michael and Tess. Didn’t want to deal with the fighting until she had to.

"Let’s go," says Jim.

The three rush out of the house.

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

In her bedroom, tears trickle down Liz’s face as she holds onto the dead phone. She’s grateful Kyle let her know the baby’s coming but sad because of what it means.

She and Max are really over. He’s having a child with Maria, who he cheated on her with. The man she loves and her best friend will be connected for the rest for their lives.

Liz presses the heels of her hands hard against her eyes, forcing the tears back. Once she’s in control, she removes her hands and opens her eyes. The tears are gone but the pain remains.

She gets off her bed and walks to her closet, a decision made. She needs to force Max Evans out of her heart and soul by being with someone else. In every way.

With that in mind, Liz begins putting together the perfect outfit to seduce Kyle.

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

In Maria’s bedroom, Michael smothers a laugh as Maria glares at Max and Alex.

"I don’t need my pillow fluffed again," says Maria. "I don’t need my blanket straightened, and I don’t need you two staring at me like I’m in a fishbowl. Get out."

"We’re just trying to help," says Alex.

"Stop helping."

"We wanna make this easier on you," says Max.

"It’d be easier if you left."

"But-" say Max and Alex in unison.

"Out!"

"You heard her, out," says Michael.

"Why does Michael get to stay?" asks Max.

"He didn’t get me pregnant and he’s not annoying me," says Maria.

Alex and Max grudgingly leave the bedroom, shooting glares at Michael the entire time.

Michael uses his powers to shut the door. "You need anything?"

"Don’t you start too," says Maria.

"You want your mom, or Isabel and Tess?"

"Not yet. I’m scared Michael. I’m barely eighteen. What do I know about being a mother? And something tells me alien babies aren’t easier."

"You’ll be a great mother."

"No I won’t."

"Maria, you have more strength than almost anyone I know."

"You think so?"

"Plus you’ll have all of us helping. You’ll be fine, so will the kid."

"Thanks Spaceboy."

A wave of pain hits Maria. Michael clutches her hand as he yells for Tess.

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

Tess, Amy, Isabel, Max, and Alex rush into the bedroom at Michael’s yell.

Kyle turns to Jim. "How long’s this gonna last?"

"I don’t know son. Some babies are fast and some take forever. Your mother was only in labor with you for six hours. My mother said I took twenty."

"They’re gonna be all right, right?"

"I hope so."

"Can I talk to you about…Isabel?"

"What about her?"

"We were seeing each other for a while."

"Then you started spending time with Liz."

"Liz is a friend who needs someone. Isabel’s…"

"You care about her."

"I don’t think I can deal with the whole alien thing."

"You’ve been doing pretty well the last year. Your best friend’s an alien."

"Tess is different. With her, I don’t have to worry about being with an alien princess who’s supposed to be with someone else."

"Tess and Michael are supposed to be with Max and Isabel. That’s not stopping them."

"Not here and now. What about when they return to their home planet? What then?"

"Kyle…your mother walked out on us. I regret lots of things about our marriage but you made it all worth it. I love you."

"I love you too Dad."

"Life has no guarantees. If Isabel leaves in a year or five, you’ll have that many good memories of being with her. But if it takes that long for her to leave, and you aren’t with her because you’re afraid she’ll leave tomorrow, you’ll regret not taking the chance."

Unseen in the hallway, Amy was on her way for ice when she overheard part of Kyle and Jim’s conversation. Her heart softens towards Jim.

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

Five hours later, tensions are high by the time Maria’s dilated enough to give birth. Alex and Max are each holding Maria’s hand, neither allowed to cut the umbilical cord because of their argument over it. Instead, the honor goes to Isabel.

Amy’s pacing while Tess prepares to catch the baby. Michael’s careful not to look as he puts his hand on Tess’s shoulder, lending his tired girlfriend his energy.

Tess smiles gratefully at him before turning back to Maria. "Next contraction, I need you to push. It should be the last one."

"You said that last contraction," says Maria. "You lied."

"It would’ve been the last one if you hadn’t stopped pushing. This time, keep going ‘til I say stop."

"Bitch."

Isabel laughs. "That’s my title. Come on Maria, we’re almost there."

"You can do it," says Alex.

"We’re here for you," says Max.

Maria’s too tired to glare at them properly. "I hate you both."

"Once your daughter gets here, it’ll all be worth it," says Amy.

Michael sees Maria’s face tighten and knows another contraction is coming. "You can do it Maria. Push!"

The contraction takes hold. With everything she has, Maria pushes. After a full minute, she finally feels her daughter slip from her body. She smiles tiredly when the baby cries.

After cutting the cord, Isabel takes the baby from Tess with tears in her eyes. She smiles waterily as she hands her niece to Maria.

Alex and Max stare at their daughter awestruck. They instantly fall in love.

"She’s beautiful," says Max.

Alex nods in agreement. "More beautiful than anything I’ve ever seen."

Amy smiles at their expressions, finally convinced they’ll take care of her grandchild. "Have you thought of a name yet?"

Maria shakes her head as she counts toes.

"My vote is still for Isabel," says Isabel as she helps Tess clean up with their powers.

"Get bold and name her Kyle," says Kyle as he and Jim come to stand in the doorway.

"I want her godmother to name her," says Maria as she hands the baby to Alex. "What do you think her name should be Tess?"

Tess is stunned. "Godmother?"

"I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you. What should we name her?"

"Um, how about Leda? It means beloved by all."

"I like that."

"It’s a good name," says Max, taking the baby from Alex.

"We still need her middle name," says Alex.

Maria smiles. "Amy, after her grandmother."

"Thank you," says Amy, tears in her eyes. "Let me hold my granddaughter."

Max reluctantly hands the baby to Amy. Tess leaves the room. After a moment, Michael follows her.

"You all right?" asks Michael, sitting on the sofa next to her.

"Just tired. I can’t believe we start school tomorrow."

"Don’t remind me."

"One more year and we never have to go back."

"You think they’ll be all right?"

Tess immediately knows he’s talking about Maria, Leda, Alex, and Max. "I hope so. What do you think of the name Samara?"

"Gonna rename the kid already?"

"I always liked the name. Thought I’d name my daughter that one day. But if you don’t like it…"

"Somethin’ you wanna tell me?"

"We’d have had to get further for me to tell you anything."

"We’ll make up for it tomorrow night."

"TOMORROW night?"

"When was the last time you slept Tess?"

"I don’t know, two day ago. I’m not that tired Michael."

"I’m not gonna risk you falling asleep on me. Tomorrow night."

"Fine. But you back out on me and we’re gonna have a problem."

Michael wraps his arms around her waist. "I’ll never think of Labor Day the same."

"No longer the one holiday working class people get off. Now it’ll forever be the day Maria went into labor and gave birth."

"It’s also the first time I’ve seen Maxwell struck speechless. Wish I’d had a camera."

Tess shakes her head at his laughter. "I love you."

"I love you too. Tess?"

"Yeah?"

"I like Samara."

"Thank you."

They share a soft, sweet kiss. Then Tess lays her head on Michael’s chest and falls asleep. Michael holds her, content to watch her dream.

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

THE END

I’ll be catching up this series, and it’ll end with the New Year’s story. I doubt I’ll be writing any more NC-17 for this series. Some R situations but I’ll be cutting away before it goes too far. Halloween story soon.