Title: Mini Explosions – Interlude #5

Author: Dontia

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

Spoilers: None

Rating: R for language

Summary: Pre Fourth of July. It’s all setup for the fireworks.

Notes: Sequel to "Father’s Day". Similarities to Season Two are vague at best. So no, the crappy finale didn’t happen.

Feedback: If you haven’t done it already, vote for the father of Maria’s baby.

Dedication: To Laakea, who normally only reads Candy stories.

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

Tess knocks on the door to the Evans house.

Isabel answers. "I thought we were meeting at the Crashdown."

Tess groans as she flops on the sofa. "I’ve had enough of Michael and Maria for one day. Make that one year."

"Things still strained?"

"Is Max here? I don’t wanna talk about this with him around."

"He went out a little while ago. Did something big happen or is it just overall stress?"

"Michael loves me. He could’ve been with Maria but chose me. I accept that he still cares about her. Heck, I care about her."

"But?"

"But I come out of the bathroom this morning to her asking if she looks fat. He assured her she never looked more beautiful."

"Brutal."

"And I can’t say anything. It was my idea for her to stay with us. She doesn’t have anyone else to turn to so I’d look like a real bitch if I kicked her out."

"You tied your own hands in fighting for your man."

"The worst part is, tomorrow is the Fourth of July. Michael and I were supposed to make love for the first time."

"You don’t think its gonna happen?"

"Even if Maria magically wasn’t living with us anymore, she’d still be pregnant. Convincing Michael I wouldn’t get pregnant in the middle of this war was hard BEFORE Maria got pregnant."

"Now that she is and possibly by Max…"

"I may eventually convince Michael it’s worth the risk but I know he won’t be convinced by tomorrow."

"And you’re mad."

"Yeah. My life was getting on track. I was with the guy I love, we’re planning our life together and I finally have great friends. I know Maria didn’t get pregnant on purpose to mess all that up but…"

"Maybe once she finds out who her baby’s father is, she won’t cling so tightly to Michael."

"Do you really believe that?"

"I believe Michael loves you. He wouldn’t jeopardize that. I also believe he’s trying to be a good friend. As soon as she has another male to lean on, Michael will back off."

"I hope so. What’s going on with you?"

"Kyle’s acting weird."

"Weird how?"

"That’s just it, I don’t know. He’s not angry anymore about me keeping Maria’s secret. But when we’re together, he watches me. It’s like he’s waiting for me to say or do something."

"Have you asked him about it?"

"Kyle doesn’t put me on a pedestal. I’m not a princess of any kind with him, I’m just a woman. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so willing to be myself instead of projecting an image."

"You’re afraid confronting him will mess things up."

"I feel so stupid. I mean, I’m Isabel Evans. I’m not afraid of any guy."

"Except Kyle."

"I’m not afraid of him, I’m afraid of losing him. I don’t think I can handle being alone again."

"You’ll never be alone again Isabel, or pushed to the side. We have each other now. Best friends forever."

They hug.

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

Max and Alex meet in the park.

"Thanks for coming," says Alex. "I needed to talk."

"So do I," says Max. "You wanna go first?"

"I’m scared. I’m not even eighteen years old and I might be a father. I look at my parents looking at me and I see their disappointment. They had such big plans for me. I’m supposed to be applying for MIT in the fall. But if it’s my baby…"

"My parents look at me the same way. My father sat me down the other day. We talked about fatherhood and responsibility. He said that if the baby’s mine, everything I wanted for myself has to take a backseat to the needs of my child."

"My father said the same thing. We screwed up."

"Yeah, we did. Not only did we screw up our lives, we screwed up Maria’s."

"I haven’t talked to her much lately."

"She’s avoiding me until I do the paternity thing."

"When can you do that?"

"Next week. She’ll be more than three months along then."

"What are we gonna do about all this?"

"We’ll be there for Maria and each other. No matter which of us is the father, if one of us had put a stop to that day-"

"We can’t live in what ifs," says Alex. "Liz still avoiding you?"

"She had her parents ban me from the Crashdown."

"She won’t talk to me either."

"I just hope she’s going easy on Maria, what with them still working together."

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

At the Crashdown, Nancy Parker goes up to her daughter’s room and knocks on the door. "Liz sweetheart, can I come in?"

"Sure Mom."

Nancy comes in to see Liz hiding the picture of her friends taken downstairs before the prom. "You wanna talk about it?"

"I’m all talked out. Nothing’s gonna change."

"Maybe you’ll feel better."

"It doesn’t matter how many times I go over it Mom. Maria’s pregnant and it may be Max’s baby. Even if it’s not, she still slept with him."

"I know honey, and I know how much you’re hurting. But she was your best friend for a long time. Are you really willing to throw all that away without trying to fix it?"

"How do I forgive her? I love Max so much, even now. How do I look at her and not see them together behind my back?"

"You’ll never know unless you try. You need to tell me if you can at least work with Maria because scheduling you for different shifts is becoming a hassle."

"I’ll think about it."

"Okay. See you in a little bit."

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

Maria walks into the UFO center. "Brody? I have your lunch. I had Michael put on extra pepperjack."

"Thank you," says Brody, coming from his office. "Are you all right? You look tired."

"You mean you haven’t heard? The Roswell gossip mill must be slipping."

"Heard what?"

"I’m pregnant."

"Congratulations."

Maria starts to cry.

Brody awkwardly takes her in his arms. "Did I say something to offend you?"

"No. You’re the first person who’s acted like this is something to be happy about."

"Children are a blessing, even those not planned. Maybe especially those unplanned because they turn your world around when you most need it."

"This kid has definitely turned my world around."

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

"If, if you don’t mind."

"Of course not. Have a seat. Now tell me everything."

"Michael and I broke up, and I wanted him back. He said he didn’t wanna be with anyone. Then he and Tess got together."

"That must’ve hurt."

"It did, and I wasn’t thinking clearly. I came up with this plan to split them up. Except it backfired and everyone hated me and Max."

"Max?"

"Yeah. Tess used to have a thing for him and I got him to help me. Anyway, me, Max and Alex were hanging out and we decided to get drunk, forget our problems. One drunken thing led to another and now either of them could be my baby’s father."

"I see."

"And Liz is so hurt. She and Max were broken up at the time but she still loved him, you know? I don’t think I’ll be able to work at the Crashdown much longer."

"Why not?"

"Liz won’t even work the same shift as me, and her parents are mad I helped hurt her. Not that I blame them. And my mother’s having a hard time coping with all this."

"Things are tough at home too?"

"I’m giving my mother some space so I’m staying with Michael and Tess."

"Didn’t you say all this started because you were trying to break up Michael and Tess?"

"Ironic, huh? I tried to steal her boyfriend and Tess has been more supportive than anyone. I don’t know what I’m gonna do."

"Listen, I may have an idea about your work situation."

"Really?"

"You could come work for me."

"Here at the UFO Center?"

"I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking. Maybe you won’t want to work with Max."

"That’s not the problem. Thank you for offering but I can’t accept your charity."

"It’s not charity. I planned to ask Max if he had any friends interested in a job. There are lots of old files that I haven’t had a chance to go through. I want them catalogued by the end of the summer and the job is too big for Max alone."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. And I have lots of irons in the fire. After the summer, I’ll need help keeping track of them all. What do you say?"

"I accept. Thank you."

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

Liz knocks on the door of the Deluca house. She’s holding a small box.

Amy answers the door. "Maria’s not here."

"I know. That’s why I came to drop off her stuff."

"You wanna come in for a minute?"

"I just came to give this to you."

"Please. Since all this happened, we haven’t had a chance to talk and I think we need to."

"Okay."

They go into the living room and sit.

"I tried to take Maria to the hospital for prenatal care," says Amy. "She refused. Then Tess and Isabel said they were aliens, and so are Max and Michael. Is that true?"

"They told you that?"

"They said the government would try to dissect my daughter if Max is the father. Then they mentioned enemy aliens."

"Oh."

"Is it true?"

"You remember two years ago, the shooting at the Crashdown?"

"Yeah?"

"I was shot that day. As I was lying on the floor bleeding to death, Max came over and used his powers to save me."

"He’s really…"

"He really is, they really are."

"Damn. I was hoping it was a hormonal delusion and everyone was humoring her."

"Was that all? I should go before Maria gets here."

"Sure. I’m sorry you’re hurting Liz. Despite everything, your friendship means a lot to Maria."

"Bye."

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

Kyle comes into the Crashdown kitchen where Michael’s working.

"Hey Guerin," says Kyle. "Haven’t seen you around lately."

"I’ve been helping Maria," says Michael. "I don’t think Mr. Parker wants anyone back here."

"I asked him out front. He said it’s okay for a few minutes. How’s Tess?"

"Fine, why?"

"Your ex is living with you, and you’ve been HELPING her."

"Tess is the one who asked Maria to stay with us."

"Sharing space and sharing her boyfriend are two different things."

"They’re not sharing me."

"Do you want them to share you?"

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what it sounded like. You still have feelings for Maria, don’t you?"

"She’s a friend."

"Uh huh. Women can be really vindictive when they want. I’d be wary of cheating on any woman and pissing her off. Cheating on a woman with alien powers is just suicidal."

"I’m not cheating on Tess, and I’m not going to. Besides, Tess still has feelings for Max."

"But he’s not living with you. And I bet it pisses you off when you see them together, talking alone."

"What’s your point?"

"My point is, cheating on a woman with alien powers is suicidal. And since Max is available, last thing you wanna do is make Tess feel vulnerable and look around."

"You mean the way you’re making Isabel feel vulnerable?"

"What are you talking about?"

"This dance you’re suddenly doing. You two have been walking on eggshells around each other the last couple weeks."

"Oh, that."

"What’s goin’ on?"

"I talked to Alex. He told me why they broke up."

"So?"

"It was because he’s human. If that’s why she couldn’t be with him, I’m suddenly wondering why she’s with me."

"Maybe that’s just what she said to spare his feelings."

"And if it’s not?"

"You’re still in the clear. I mean, Max did heal you. You’re not exactly human anymore."

"If that was you trying to make me feel better, it didn’t work."

"Who said I was trying?"

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

Maria and Liz run into each other in front of the Crashdown. They look at each other in silence for a moment.

"I’m sorry Liz."

"Don’t, just don’t."

"I didn’t mean to hurt you."

"That doesn’t make me feel better."

"What will?"

"I’m not sure anything can."

"Maybe this will help. I’m quitting the Crashdown."

"You are?"

"I know you don’t wanna work with me, even see me."

"Don’t you need the money, for your…for the baby?"

"I got another job. The thing is…"

"What?"

"It’s with Brody at the UFO Center."

"You’ll be working with Max?"

"I don’t have any other choice. Like you said, I need the money for the baby. I can’t keep working at the Crashdown because of you, and no one else is gonna hire me."

"So day in, day out, you’ll be spending time with Max. That’s just great."

"Would you rather I stay at the Crashdown? Your mother said we have to share shifts again. Can you handle that?"

"Why are you even asking? It’s not like what I want matters in any of this."

"I can’t change what happened Liz. I can just try to make it a little easier on you."

"Go work at the UFO Center. It’ll make it easier to avoid you and Max. I hate you both."

Maria starts crying as Liz runs around the building.

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

Tess is walking down the alley behind the Crashdown. She’s surprised to see Liz come running from the other direction, tears streaming down her face. "Are you all right?"

"No, I’m not all right," yells Liz. "And it’s all your fault."

"My fault?"

"If you hadn’t shown up, none of this would’ve happened. Maria and Michael would still be together, and my best friend never would’ve slept with the man I love."

"You can’t blame Tess," says Michael, coming out from the Crashdown. "She didn’t make anyone do anything."

"You would take her side," says Liz, running away from them.

"Should we go after her?" asks Tess.

"You care that Liz is upset?" asks Michael.

"She knows a lot about us, and where certain THINGS are. If she gets captured…"

"We’ll give it half an hour then ask Kyle to find her. I think he’s the only one she’s not mad at."

"Thanks for telling her it’s not my fault."

"It’s not your fault."

"Do you ever regret that I came to town? Liz is right, if I hadn’t you and Maria would still be together."

"I love you Tess, I don’t regret that we’re together."

"I wonder sometimes, especially lately. Seeing you and Maria together, I just wonder if you’re supposed to be with her."

"Come here," says Michael, taking Tess into his arms. "I’m spending time with Maria because she needs a friend. As great as you and Isabel are being, Isabel’s Max’s sister and you’re…"

"I’m the girl who took you from her."

"Yeah. I know it’s been hard but you’ve really come through for Maria. Thanks for not letting my past with her get in the way."

"It hasn’t been easy. I think we need to talk about tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"Fourth of July. At least tell me you didn’t forget what’s supposed to happen tomorrow."

"I was hoping you forgot so we didn’t have to talk about it."

"You still wanna wait."

"It’s not that I don’t love you and that I don’t wanna be with you. You have no idea how much I want you."

"But?"

"But Maria’s pregnant. If the kid is Max’s, our problems are gonna get a lot worse. Protecting one pregnant woman would be hard enough. But two would be even harder."

"There’s nothing that say’s I’m gonna get pregnant."

"We aren’t gonna make love once then never do it again. It’ll be ongoing, and will increase the risk of you getting pregnant. I don’t want you in danger because I was selfish."

Tess sighs. "If you wanna wait, I understand."

"It’s not forever."

"Better not be."

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

THE END