Sequel to Coming Home

Author: Susan

E-mail: susanandtad@cs.com

Distribution: Anyone can have it if they want it. Just e-mail me and let me know.

Category: AU, FF, CC/UC, M&M centered, A/J, M/L and I/K, Maria’s POV

Rating: PG – R

Disclaimer: The characters and story all belong to 20^th century Fox and the writers and creators of Roswell.

Summary: Maria is starting a new life, a life where she doesn’t have to be in control all the time.

Part 1- (Warning: Some disturbing imagery in this Part)

It has been six months since I came home from the hospital and told everyone why I had originally came to Roswell. I haven’t heard a word from Father but I didn’t expect to either. When I betrayed him and told the aliens that he was after them I died in his eyes. Of course, I was only a means to an end for him anyway. I was a way for him to get what he wanted, the aliens.

The first few months were especially difficult. I had to figure out what I was going to do with my life. Jim offered me a job with his security company. At first I was going to turn him down but then I realized that it was a good idea. I really did like how he, Kyle and Michael ran things. They had a good company. So I went to work with them. Michael and I would go on inspections together. We found that we worked well together. He could also be the most aggravating man I have ever met. One night I shocked the entire room when I finally had enough of Michael and told him to shut up. It was the first time any of them had heard me raise my voice and the look on their faces was priceless. If I hadn’t been so frustrated with Michael I may have burst out laughing. Of course, no one has seen me do that either. Kyle makes me smile a lot but no one has made me laugh yet. I am gradually learning that I don’t to constantly be in control. Life without control has been pure torture but also, on occasion, really kind of nice.

Tonight is movie night again at Michael’s. Liz and Isabel are picking at the movie so I am preparing myself for lots of angst and melodrama. I have found I don’t like the sappy movies, the girls like, nor the overly bloody action or horror movies, the guys like, neither. I haven’t really found my type of movie yet so until then I will just deal with whatever the others pick. It is Michael’s turn to cook dinner tonight. I hope he does Italian again, that is my favorite.

“Hey Maria.” Max greets me at the door.

“Hi Max.”

I walk over to the kitchen and smile at Michael as he is cooking. As I was hoping he is making Italian and it smells great. I can’t wait to eat.

“You approve.” Michael asks.

“Absolutely. I love Italian.”

“I know.” Michael gives me a small smile and goes back to stirring the sauce.

I go and sit next to Kyle on the sofa. He is looking at one of Michael’s motorcycle magazine. He puts his arm around me after I sit done.

“Hey there little sister tough day?”

“Not really just mom is driving me crazy. She is starting to ask me a lot of question about Father.”

In the past couple of months Kyle has become a real brother to me and it feels really good knowing I have a protective brother to look out for me.

“She just worries about you. I will have a talk with her if you want.”

“That is ok Kyle. I know she just wants to make everything ok for me but she can’t do that. No one can except for myself.”

“Maria, if you ever want to talk about anything I am here.” Kyle squeezes my shoulder.

“I know Kyle. Thanks.” I give him a hug.

My mom is the only one who has asked me anything about my time with Father. Everyone else has left the subject alone even though I can tell they are curious.

After dinner, which was delicious, we sat down to watch the movies that Liz and Isabel picked out. As expected they were, as Michael would call them, “chick flicks.” I am sitting in my usual spot on the sofa beside Kyle and Isabel. Michael is diagonally from me in the chair and Liz and Max are sitting in front of the sofa on the floor. The movie just isn’t holding my interest and I am finding myself falling asleep. I finally stop fighting it and rest my head on the side of the sofa and close my eyes.

Dream plane….

I am back in the apartment in Washington, DC. I look around and suddenly feel afraid because I realize what day this is. The table is set for dinner. Father arranged everything. Daniel Pierce would be having dinner with us tonight. I know for sure that it is that night because of the blood red roses in the center of the table. Daniel had them delivered earlier. It is my 16^th birthday. Father told me his intentions that morning. He wants Daniel to be his son-in-law. He thought we would be a good match. I told him I didn’t want to, I didn’t like him but Father said I would do as I was told or else. I remember that day vividly. I look down and see that I am wearing the new dress Father bought for me. It really was a beautiful dress. It was a light gray and was made of the softest material I had ever felt. It had spaghetti straps and was backless. It wasn’t exactly something a normal 16 year old would wear but that is exactly why Father bought it. He was hoping the dress would help entice Daniel. I hug my arms around myself as I shiver with remembrance of what would happen latter on. I was telling father the truth when I said I didn’t like Daniel. He had the coldest eyes of anyone I had ever met. I knew that I didn’t have to do anything to entice Daniel because he had already made it abundantly clear that he wanted me. I hated the way he would look at me. It made my skin crawl.

I close my eyes for a second and when I open them I am in my room. It is later in the evening. Dinner was over and Father had left. He said for Daniel and I to enjoy the evening. After all, it was my birthday. He actually winked at Daniel as he said that. I wanted to retch at that moment. Father knew what would happen and he seemed to be cheering it on. I was just sick. Daniel comes up behind me and puts his hands on my shoulder I jump. I want to push his hands off me but I don’t. He turns me around to face him. I look into his eyes and see pure evil. I shake my head as he lowers his own to kiss me. I try to push him away but he is too strong. He rips the dress off me and pushes me onto the bed. In my head I am screaming but I never actually do. I know that no one would hear me anyway. I just continue to try to push him away and shake my head no. I finally have had enough and I do something I didn’t do that night I scream.

“NO, DON’T. STOP.”

I feel someone shaking me and I try to fight him off. I then realize that it is Michael trying to wake me from my dream.

“Maria, Maria. Wake up.”

“Michael?”

“Yeah. It is ok. You were just having a nightmare.”

I shake my head and feel the tears falling down my cheeks.

“If only it was just a dream.” I whisper.

“What happened Maria? Who hurt you?”

I then realize what I had said. I wasn’t going to tell Michael or anyone else what Daniel did to me, not now or ever.

“Nothing Michael. It was just a dream.”

“Maria you just said it wasn’t.”

“I was just confused. I’m sorry. I don’t usually dream.”

I look around the room and notice that everyone else is gone.

“Where did everyone go?”

“They left hours ago. It is late. You were sleeping so soundly we figured it would be best to leave you be.”

“Oh. Ok. Well I better get home.”

“Maria.”

“Michael, Please just let it go.”

Michael nods his head “For now. I’ll drive you home. It is to late for you to go by yourself.”

“Michael…” I try to protest but he just give me a look. A look I recognize as one to mean he isn’t arguing about this.

“Fine.”

We pull up in front of the Valenti residence. All the lights are out. Everyone must be asleep.

“Michael. Please don’t tell my mother about the dream. She is giving me a hard enough time as it is about what happened when I was away. This would just make it worse.” I hesitate for a moment and add. “Please”

I can tell that Michael knows how much it took for me to ask him this.

“Ok. But Maria someday you really should tell someone what happened. It isn’t good to keep it bottled up inside. Trust me I know.”

I nod my head and leave. As I enter the house and head for my room I think about the dream I had tonight. I wasn’t lying before when I said I don’t usually dream. I really don’t. Father had me so in control of my emotions that even subconsciously I did not let them go. It would seem that life without control has a few side effects that I’m not so sure I like.

Part 2 (Michael’s POV)

Everyone is coming over tonight for movie night. It is my turn to cook dinner so I am making Italian. I will never forget the look on Maria’s face the last time I cooked Italian. She looked like she was in heaven. I think it is her favorite so I am making it again.

Maria is still a mystery to me. She is starting to open up to everyone more but there is still a large part that she is keeping closed up inside. I know there is a lot more to her then she shows us. Once in awhile I can get a glimpse of fire in her eyes. It seems to come out a little more when I really make her mad. I will admit I have been trying to antagonize her a bit. The other day she got so mad she told me to shut up. There was definitely a lot of fire in her eyes that night. She shocked the hell out of everyone in the room. It took all I had not to burst out laughing when I saw the looks on their faces. It was priceless. Besides Liz, Maria is closest with Kyle. He can actually make her smile, a real smile that reaches her eyes. No one else has accomplished that much.

Someone knocks on the door. I know it is Maria because no one else bothers they just come on in. Max lets her in. She comes over to the kitchen and sees what I am cooking. She actually smiles at me. I ask her if she approves. She tells me yes, that it is her favorite. I tell her I know. She then heads over to Kyle. I can’t hear what they are talking about but I see her give him a hug. Kyle really has become like a brother to her. It really is nice to see. It is good for them both.

After dinner we all sit down to watch the chick flicks that Liz and Isabel picked out. I keep glancing over at Maria who seems to be as thrilled with the movie selections as I am. She seems to be falling asleep. After a little while I notice that she has given up and laid her head down and did go to sleep. I get up and get a blanket off my bed and put it over her. I notice Kyle giving me a look. I chose to ignore him.

Maria is still asleep after the movies are over. Kyle is about to wake her up but I stop him.

“She seems to be sleeping really soundly. Why don’t you just leave her be?”

Kyle gives me a look and then shakes his head “Ok.”

After they all leave I go and sit on the chair again and watch her sheep for a while. She looks so peaceful and really beautiful. I think about the last few months. She started working with us at the security firm. She really is good at her job and we work really well together. Much better then Kyle and myself. Kyle talks too much. He usually distracts me from getting my job done. Maria, on the other hand, is really quiet and it enables us to do inspections quickly and thoroughly. I like being around her.

Maria sit up suddenly and starts screaming.

“No. Don’t. Stop.”

It sends a chill throughout my body. I feel that whatever she is dreaming about is not just a dream it is something that really happened. I try to wake her up but she starts fighting me but suddenly she realizes that she isn’t dreaming anymore.

“Michael?”

“Yeah. It is ok. You were just having a nightmare.”

She shakes her head and then says in barely a whisper. “If only it was just a dream.”

I knew she was reliving something. I want to know who had hurt her. I was pretty sure who it was but I ask her anyway. She plays it off, saying she was just confused and that it was just a dream. She finally realizes everyone has left. I tell her that we let her sleep. She says she better go home. I try to get her to talk but she asks me to let it go. I do but I insist on driving her home. She knows I am not taking no for an answer. When we pull up in front of the Valenti’s she asks me to not tell her mother. Evidently Amy has been giving Maria a hard time lately about everything that happened when she was away. I know how hard it was for her to ask me so I tell her I wont. I do suggest she tells someone. It really isn’t good to hold things inside. I know this is true from experience. My life with Hank is something I held in until I couldn’t any longer. I had to ask for help, which was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I am glad I did though. Jim and Amy have taken me into their family as a result and that is one thing that I will forever be grateful for. Maria has a great family if she would only let them in.

I can only imagine what happened to her to make her have that nightmare. I have a sinking feeling that Pierce was involved. The thought of him hurting her revolts me. It also makes me very glad that I killed the bastard. I only wish I could take all her pain away as well. Maybe someday she will let go of the control of her emotions and tell us what happened to her. I will be waiting for that day.

Part 3

I haven’t had any more nightmares since the one at Michael’s a couple of weeks ago, which is something I am very grateful for. I really did not enjoy reliving that time. Kyle had a talk with my mom so she has backed off a bit. I really appreciate that.

The security agency has been busy lately. Michael and I have been going on a lot of calls together. He hasn’t mentioned that night at all but I can tell that he wants to. Sometimes I catch him looking at me. It is almost like he is trying to read my mind, which thankfully none of them can do.

Kyle and Isabel’s wedding is approaching quickly. In less than a month Isabel will be my sister-in-law. Isabel and Liz really are the best friends a girl could ever ask for. I actually have a lot of fun when we go out on our shopping sprees or when we have a girl’s night full of makeovers and ice cream. Liz and Isabel, unfortunately, have been trying to play matchmaker however. Isabel especially is telling me how good Michael and I would be together because we are so much alike. Whenever we go out to eat or see a movie they make sure that Michael and I end up sitting next to each other. I don’t have the heart to tell them that they are wasting their time. Even if I was interested, which I am not, Michael obviously isn’t. It’s not that Michael isn’t a great guy and of course he certainly is attractive enough it is just that I’m not sure if I will ever be ready to get involved with anyone. I think Father and Daniel have scarred me for life.

Today everyone is coming over for dinner. Jim is going to grill out. I have to admit no one can cook a steak on the grill like Jim Valenti. This is pretty amazing considering he can’t even make a decent cup of coffee.

Michael is the last one to arrive, as usual. He walks into the kitchen and grabs a carrot off the counter as he greets me.

“Hey.”

“Hi. You better not let Mom see you. You know how she hates it when you do that.” I say pointing to the carrot.

“I know. That is why I do it. She is so funny when she is trying to act like she is mad at me.” Michael says with a smile on his face.

“One of these days she may actually get mad at you.” I warn him.

“Nah. It will never happen.”

I smile to because I know he is probably right. My mom could never really get mad at him. Kyle told me that after Michael’s emancipation and they found out about him, Max and Isabel being aliens Jim and Mom kind of took Michael in. He still lived on his own but he became part of the family and was included in all the family functions. Mom really doesn’t think Michael can do any wrong. It was clear that she thought the world of him, of all of them actually. Jim says losing me left a hole in her life that could never really be filled so she took over as being a mom to Kyle and Michael who didn’t have one of their own.

In the middle of dinner my cell phone rings.

“I better get that it might be one of our clients.” I say as I jump up and answer the ringing phone.

“Deluca.” It still seemed strange for me to say that. I changed my name back to Deluca after I came home from the hospital. I didn’t want to be Maria Fisher anymore.

My heart almost stops and I feel the color drain from my face when I hear the voice on the other line. “Maria?”

I have to clear my throat before I can answer. “Yes Father.”

The room suddenly becomes very quiet as everyone hears who I am on the phone with. Michael and Kyle both come over and stand beside me. I give Kyle’s hand a squeeze and smile at Michael to let them know that I am ok. They back off a bit.

“We need to talk Maria.”

“I don’t think so.” I say sarcastically. I actually surprise myself.

“Maria, I am still you father. Don’t take that tone of voice with me.” In a matter of seconds I feel like I am ten years old again. I look over at my family and remember I’m not alone anymore and my courage is restored.

“Father, I really don’t think we have anything to talk about.”

“How about your little alien friends?”

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

I can tell he is getting mad. His voice gets louder. “Don’t play dumb with me Maria. I thought you better than that.”

I start to get mad myself. “Yes Father, you did. You taught me a lot of things. Things that a kid should never have to learn.”

My father takes a deep breath as he tries to regain his control. “This is getting us no where. Just tell you little friends that I haven’t given up. I will get them. I’m not going to let anything or anybody, and that includes you, to get in my way this time. You know Maria, to see what you have become, I’m actually sorry that car didn’t kill you. But then again you always were more trouble then you were worth.” He then hangs up on me.

I close my eyes for a moment. I find it hard to believe that I ever felt anything for that man except for hatred. I open my eyes and look at the phone in my hand. It suddenly feels like I am holding something poisonous and I just want to get rid of it. A burst of anger flows through my entire body and I throw the offensive object against the wall, shattering it to pieces. My mom rushes over to me and tries to put her arms around me but I brush her away.

“No. Let me be for a moment.”

I walk away from the group and go outside and sit in the back yard. I am mad, no actually I am furious. Ten years I did everything I could to please him, to make him proud of me hoping to receive even an ounce of compassion from him. I now know I wasted my time. Brian Deluca Fisher is plain and simply an evil, uncaring man. I know now that I must do everything I can to protect my friends, my family. I will die trying if necessary. He will not harm anyone else.

After a few minutes Michael comes out and sits down beside me.

“You ok?”

“Yeah. I am now.” I say giving him a small smile. “Guess I’m going to have to get a new phone.”

Michael smiles back at me. “Yeah I think you smashed that one up pretty good.”

“Come on let’s go in. I have a message to pass on.” I get up holding my hand out to him to help him up.

Michael acts like he want to say something else but instead takes my hand and then opens the door for me.

I walk over to my mom. “I’m sorry. I just needed to calm down a bit.”

She gives me a hug. “I understand honey.”

I look over at the others.

“He says he is coming after you and this time nothing is going to get in his way.”

“Is that all he said?” Michael asks.

I shake my head. “No but everything else he said was just for me.”

I walk over to the destroyed phone. I notice a big dent in the wall. “Sorry about the wall Jim.”

He comes over to me and gives my shoulder a squeeze. “Don’t worry about it. There are a few dents on the wall from Kyle throwing the remote during football games as well.”

I put my arm around his back and give him a small squeeze back. He smiles at me. “Well we better get back to dinner before it gets to cold.”

“What about Fisher?” Max asks.

“Not today Max. Today we eat and have some fun then tomorrow we will worry about the rest.” Jim tells them all. Everyone nods in agreement and goes back to the table. The rest of the meal is pretty strained however Kyle and Amy do their best to liven it up a bit.

After diner I go and sit on the couch and pull the photo albums down from the shelf. Mom showed me them the first day I was back but I wanted to see them again through an entirely new set of eyes. Kyle and Liz come and sit beside me. The first time I looked through the albums my mom was the only one to comment on the pictures but this time the whole bunch gets involved, even Michael. So tonight we forgot about my father and the special unit and just had fun like Jim had suggested earlier.

After everyone left and went to bed I pulled out a picture from one of the photo albums. It was a picture of the entire group. On the back it was labeled “The Family”. It was dated last Christmas. I sat for along time looking at that picture. Everyone looked so happy and at peace. I don’t know how yet but I am determined to make sure it stays that way for a very long time. Only from now on I will also be in the picture because for better or worse those seven people are my family.

Part 4

It has been a week since my father called and everyone is starting to really feel the stress of the situation. In less than a month Isabel and Kyle are getting married and they should be extremely thrilled and overjoyed but instead my father has made them and everyone else a nervous wreck. Isabel even considered calling off the wedding the other day. She doesn’t want to put Kyle in any danger. Of course, Kyle wouldn’t hear any of it and he, with the help of Max and Michael, convinced her that everything would be fine. I’m not so sure Max and Michael actually believe that but they want to see Isabel happy and Kyle does so they said what she needed to hear. Everyone has been keeping pretty close. We figure my father will not try anything when everyone is together. So we have made it a point to have dinner together every night. Tonight we are once again at my mom’s house. I have been sitting in the window seat of my room since I got home from work.  I have been trying to think of anything that I can do to help my friends but I just come up against a brick wall. I don’t know what to do. Father has so many resources, however, I have a feeling that this time he may be working on his own. I know the others in the group and I can ‘t believe they would go along with Fathers whole plan to run me down with a car and have Max heal me therefore proving he is an alien. It is just too insane and so very wrong. But even so, Father could just have the group eliminated and find a brand knew group of recruits. Actually the more I think about it I am sure this is what has happened. It probably took him the past six months to recruit his new group of alien hunters. These recruits will be hungry to face down the evil aliens, as my father calls them. It makes the whole situation even more volatile which makes me even more afraid for my friends. Father is bad enough but with a group of inexperienced, overzealous recruits the situation could turn ugly fast. After about an hour of serious consideration I decide I need to do something so I pick up my cell phone and call one of Father’s men. His name is Riley, Joseph Riley. If anyone would know what is going on it would be him.

I am almost surprised when he answers the phone. “Riley.”

“It’s Maria.”

I think he was taking a drink because he nearly choked. “Maria. Why are you calling me?”

“I think you know why Riley. I need to know what my Father is up to.”

“Maria you know I can’t tell you that. If he finds out I have been talking to you I am as good as dead.” He hesitates for a moment. “Like the others.”

“So he did have the team eliminated or at least those that spoke up against him.”

“You know I can’t verify that.”

“You already have Riley. Please just tell me if he is going to do anything soon.”

“Maria.”

“Please Riley. You know that he is out of control this time. Please.”

“If he is planning anything he hasn’t told me about it. However, he did tell us all to make sure we stay available.”

“I understand. Thank you Riley. I promise I wont let my father know about this.”

“Don’t call me again Maria. I am begging you. “

I won’t Riley. I promise.”

I hang up the phone and turn around. I nearly trip over my feet as I see Michael standing there. I wonder how much he heard.

“Who was that on the phone.”

I see the doubt in his eyes. I don’t know why exactly but it hurts me that Michael actually could think I would betray them, especially after everything that has happened the last six months.

“It was my father’s second, Joseph Riley. I had to find out if Father was planning anything right now.”

“And what did Riley have to say.” Michael used a tone that I hadn’t heard before from him and it made me mad.

“Listen Michael, I don’t know what you are thinking but stop now. I don’t deserve your mistrust. I have told you everything I know about the special unit and my father.  I called Riley because I needed to know what we were up against. Plus I wanted to make sure that my brother was able to marry the woman he loves without any problems from Father. If you don’t believe me then that is your damn problem but don’t ever take that tone with me again.” 

When I was done I realized that I had been shouting and that I was now standing right in front of Michael, ours bodies inches apart. I am so mad I can barely see straight yet I can focus on is Michael’s mouth, which is getting closer and closer to mine. Just as our lips are about to meet Kyle comes rushing into the room.

“What is all the yelling about?”

If he saw how close we were he didn’t let on. I step away from Michael and look at Kyle.

“We were just discussing a phone call that I made.”

“To who?”

“That was what I was trying to find out?” Michael says as he rolls his eyes and walks out of the room. I follow him. I am not about to let him get away with accusing me of betraying them. I would never do that, especially now. They are my family now.

“Michael, we are not done with this conversation.”

“Fine. Then tell us all...” He points to everyone in the room. “exactly what that conversation was about.”

“Well I would have in the first place if you hadn’t given me attitude.”

“Whatever.”

Everyone in the room is just staring at the two of us yelling at each other. Finally Max stands in between us and asks me what is going on.

“What happened Maria?”

I take a deep breath to try and calm down. Michael just makes me so mad.

“Ok. I have been sitting in my room for the past hour thinking about this whole situation with my father. I was trying to come up with some way to help you but I couldn’t be sure exactly what or who, to be more specific, we were up against. So I did the only thing I could think of to get some of the information I needed. I called my fathers second in command, Joseph Riley. Riley is loyal to my father but only to a point. He has stood up for me on more than one occasion so I took a chance and called him.”

“What did you ask him?” Jim asks me.

“Well first of all I wanted to know if the my father was still using the old team or if he now had a bunch of new recruits. I knew those guys on the team most of them wouldn’t have stood for the stunt my father pulled with the car. I was right. Those that went up against my father were eliminated.”

“Eliminated?” Liz asks.

“Yes eliminated. Riley basically confirmed my suspicions.”

“Your father is a piece of work Maria.” Kyle says.

I give him a sad smile. “I know.”

“What else did he have to say?” Michael asks and this time the previous tone in his voice was not evident. I guess he finally came to realize that I am not against them.

“I asked Riley if my father was planning anything soon. He didn’t want to answer me but I convinced him. He said that if Father was planning anything he didn’t know about it but he did tell them to stay available. That basically means to be ready to move on a moments notice.”

“So does that mean he is or isn’t?” Isabel asks.

“Honestly Isabel I don’t know. The only thing I can be sure of is he isn’t going to move in the next couple of days. He would have told Riley if he was. I’m sorry I wanted to be able to tell you that your wedding would happen without incident.”

Kyle and Isabel both come up to me and give me a hug. “Thank you for trying.” Kyle whispers in my ear.

“Why did you want to know if your father was still using the old team?” Max asks.

“Well basically I wanted to know just how dangerous this situation really is. With a bunch of inexperienced and overzealous recruits it could become out of control. This is not good. Someone could get hurt. I’m sorry, I wish I had better news for you all.”

I sit down on the couch feeling like the weight of the world is on my shoulders. I really did want to help them but instead I feel like I have only made everything worse. Before they didn’t know just how bad this whole thing could get but now because of me they were all filled with feelings of dread and fear.

“Maria, thank you for trying to find out as much as you could. We all do appreciate it. We might even be able to use this new information as an advantage.” Jim says.

“How?” I don’t see how we could.

“Well you said they were inexperienced and maybe a little over eager meaning they are bound to make mistakes. Plus haven’t you said that your father needs for things to stay in control. If things do get a little out of his control it may also help us.”

Jim is right. Father hates not being in control. If someone else was to take control it would throw him off and he himself would make mistakes. She had seen him do so on more than a few occasions. She had been able to make him loose control. Just maybe they would have a chance against them if they do make a move.

“Your right Jim.”

The others start to discuss a plan of action. They come up with different scenarios and discuss how they will react and what they can do. As they do that I think about my own plan of action. I know that if Father comes after the others it is a necessity for me to be with them. I need to take the control away from Father. It is time for me to use all the things he has taught me against him. He won’t know what hit him.

I catch a glimpse of Michael across the room. He isn’t involved in the others conversation, instead he is looking at me.  Our eyes meet for a second and then I look away because I am afraid if he looks too closely he will be able to see what I plan to do. I cannot let him or anyone else know what I am planning. They will try to stop me and I will not let that happen. For once it will be necessary for me to be in control.

Part 5

(Michael’s POV) 

I want to see her. Things have been crazy since Maria’s father called. Max is in King mode and Isabel is frantic, so much so she almost called off her wedding to Kyle. Max and I convinced her that everything would be ok. I’m not completely sure it will be but Isabel needs to hear that. She deserved to be happy and Kyle makes her happier than she has ever been. The group has been having dinner together every night. Tonight we are at the Valenti’s. When I arrived I wanted to see Maria but she wasn’t around. After awhile I ask Amy where she is. Amy tells me that Maria is in her room and she has been there since she got home from work. Amy is worried about her because Maria has been extremely quiet since her father’s phone call. So I go to see her, which I have wanted to do all day. She was out with Jim for the day so I didn’t get a chance to see her. 

I am about to knock on her door, which is half open, when I hear that she is on the phone. I can’t stop myself from listening. Maria is talking to someone about us. I can’t really focus on the conversation all that hits me is that Maria is betraying us, betraying me. Maybe she never broke contact with her father or maybe now she made contact with someone else instead. I am seeing Red. When she gets off the phone she turns around and sees me. In my eyes she has a guilty look on her face. I ask her who she was talking to and she tells me it was her father’s second in command. I really try to keep the distain out of my voice when I ask her what did he have to say, but I can’t. Maria’s eyes blaze with fire. She starts yelling at me but I’m not listening to what she is saying because all I can see is her passion. She gets closer and closer and our faces are inches apart from each other. I want to kiss her so bad but I am also still furious with her. I need to find out what is going on. Luckily, Kyle comes in asking what all the yelling is about before I make a huge mistake and kiss her. I leave the room before I make things even more complicated then they already are. She follows me into the other room still yelling at me. I can’t help but notice that she looks amazing when she is mad. She explains to all of us why she called that guy and the anger I originally felt fades away. Standing in front of me is this absolutely amazing woman who will risk everything for her friends and family, for me. She tells us we are in real trouble. Her father has eliminated his past team and now has a bunch of overzealous recruits. I can’t take my eyes off her.  The others start making plans for what is now inevitable, as I stand glued to my spot staring at Maria. I feel an unexplainable wave of fear run through my body. I don’t know where it is coming from or why I feel it but I have a sneaking suspicion it has something to do with Maria. Her eyes meet mine for a moment but she quickly looks away but not before I catch a glimpse of pure determination in her eyes. I just hope she isn’t planning on doing anything stupid.

Part 6

(Maria’s POV) 

Today Kyle and Isabel were married. Everything went as planned. Max, Michael and Jim were prepared for the worst but luckily today was just a day of celebration. Kyle and Isabel didn’t go on a honeymoon. Everyone agreed that we should stay close. It really was a wonderful wedding. Isabel was beautiful and I have never seen her or Kyle look happier. Actually we were all happy; I was happy, at least for my brother and Isabel. But I was also scared. I know deep down that our time is almost up. Father will come after us soon, I am sure of it and when he does I will be ready because I need to keep my family safe. 

Story will continue with the third part of this Trilogy “Back to the White Room”