Chapter One

Max waited patiently for the clerk at the One-Hour Photo Shoppe to put his pictures in an envelope and hand them to him. He paid and walked out into the sunshine to a waiting Michael. He opened the envelope and flipped through various shots of people at the café the previous night before he came to five pictures of Liz crawling on him with her top hanging open.

"Jesus," Michael looked away. "I feel like such a perv."

"Don’t. I don’t know what made you and Maria come back there and have a camera. Do you think this will convince Liz?"

"I don’t know how it couldn’t." Michael glanced down then looked away. "She’s going to freak out."

"I know. I have to show her these today. Now." Max walked towards his jeep.

"No way, let me and Maria do it." Michael got in the passenger side. "She’s going to be embarrassed and scared. I don’t think you need to be there."

"I have to be there for her. I’m the one who’s lost her."

"You’ll get her back, but she’s not going to want to hear this from you. She might not even believe you." Michael tucked the pictures under his leg. "Maria and I can do this and then when she wants to, she’ll talk to you."

"Okay." Max relented. "I talked to Isabel this morning. She said Bret broke up with her when they got back to school."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. Just said, sorry he didn’t think it was going to work out." Max shrugged. "She’s crushed."

"I bet. She really liked him."

"She wondered if she should call Liz. I told her not yet. Good?"

"Yeah, but Liz isn’t really mad at her. She said she would have done the same thing," he shrugged and turned up the radio.

* * * * *

Maria and Liz were sitting at her kitchen table sipping coffee. Liz had spent the night there.

"I don’t want to talk about Max," Liz spoke reading her friend's mind.

"Fine," Maria sighed and looked up as Sean and Jade walked down the hallway hand in hand, both in T-shirts and boxer shorts. "Oh God! What are you doing here? Did she spend the night?"

"Yeah, see I’m allowed." Jade smiled and stretched her arms in the air and yawned. Her cut off T-shirt raised with her arms until it barely brushed the bottom of her bare breasts.

"Could I get any more grossed out in the AM?" Maria asked.

"You could open your eyes and see what that freak who got you pregnant really looks like." Jade laughed and walked to the counter to pour herself a cup of coffee.

"That’s it." Maria stood up and slapped her hands flat on the table. "I’ve had it with you. Sean, get your trampy little thing out of this house and don’t bring her skanky ass back here!"

Sean looked at his cousin and forced a smile.

"You think this is funny?"

"No, Maria, I don’t." He finally spoke. "What I think is funny is that you‘re getting all upset because I have a girlfriend and she can come over whenever she wants."

"Are you on something?" Maria looked at him then over at Liz. "Is he making any sense?"

"I think so," Jade stood back next to him and rubbed her chest on his arm. "I think you little girls are jealous of us."

"I’m sorry?" Liz stood up. "Jealous of what?"

"I mean, look at you and then at me." Jade looked towards Liz then down at herself. "I think you’re jealous because Sean dumped you for me."

"Oh my God!" Liz laughed. "Where did you find her Sean? Was it before or after she was on Jerry Springer? For your information, Sean didn’t dump me, you can’t dump someone you’re not with."

Jade looked at Sean curiously.

"Secondly, you are nothing to be jealous of. Anyone who has to try that hard to get attention, isn’t worth it."

Jade narrowed her eyes at Liz, unable to come back with anything.

"I’m sorry, Jade, what did you say?" Liz cupped her hand to her ear. Maria stifled a laugh and even Sean suppressed a smile.

Jade looked at Sean and turned away, stomping out of the kitchen and back down the hall.

"I’m serious Sean," Maria pointed at him "Get her out of this house."

"I’m about done with her anyway," Sean glanced over his shoulder. "Hey Parker, sorry I exaggerated our moments." He leaned in closer to her. "When you told me Max Evans broke your heart, you broke mine." He half-smiled and then followed the path made by Jade.

"Wow." Maria sat back at the table. "This is way too much fun for one morning. I don’t know if I could handle any more." Maria realized she had spoken too soon when Jade reappeared in the kitchen, this time dressed in street clothes, she was fuming.

"I think you both are little bitches." She sneered and walked past them out the kitchen door.

They looked after her and then at each laughing. The moments of hysterics were interrupted by the phone ringing. It was Michael.

"Liz still there?"

"Yup." Maria answered turning away from her friend.

"I’m on my way, we got the pictures."

"And you’re going to do what with them?"

"We are going to try to convince Liz that there is something wrong, but you have to be there. Just you and me."

"Okay."

"Max is dropping me off, I should be there in about ten minutes. Your mom home? Sean?"

"No and yes, but that’s okay. Bye." Maria hung up and turned back to Liz. "Breakfast? I’m starving. How about eggs?"

Liz agreed and they made scrambled eggs and toast. They were just finishing breakfast when they heard a car outside. Instinctively, Liz looked out the window and saw Max’s jeep. She looked back at her plate when the door opened and Michael walked in. Alone.

"Eggs? Excellent." Michael helped himself to a plate and smothered them in Tabasco sauce. "So, how’s it going girls?"

"We had a nice run in with Sean’s slut on this fine pre-Summer morning." Maria stated finishing her plate and taking both hers and Liz’s half full one to the sink.

"She’s here?"

"Nope, gone. But boy, she was a barrel of laughs while she was here, wasn’t she?"

"Hysterical."

"Actually it was kind of funny. She tried to go off, but Liz dissed her into silence. Classic Parker." Maria nodded approvingly at her friend.

"Thanks," Liz said softly and took a mock bow. "She was a pain."

Michael nodded and finished his breakfast. Maria took the plate away and sat down next to him. They both looked at Liz.

"What’s going on? You two look like you’re going to tag team me." Liz laughed nervously.

"We are," Michael reached behind him and pulled out the picture envelope. He flipped through to the right ones and laid them on the table in front of Liz.

Liz looked down and picked the pictures up to get a closer look. She looked at each one as her face turned red. She looked to Maria then Michael then back to the pictures in her hands. She laid them face down on the table and put her head down, sobbing.

"Sweetie?" Maria slid to the chair next to her and put her arm around her shoulders. "Are you okay?"

"No," Liz mumbled. She looked up. "Where did those come from? When?"

"Last night." Michael said softly. "Max came to the Crashdown and that was in the backroom."

"I don’t...I don’t know what you’re talking about." Liz shook her head. "He wasn’t there last night."

"I’m sorry Lizzie, he was." Maria pursed her lips. "You know I would never lie to you. I saw it. I saw you with Max."

"Why don’t I remember?" She flipped the pictures back over and looked at each one again. "I know this is me, I know it was last night because of that stupid silver scrunchee in my hair. I bought it yesterday. But Max? I don’t remember him..." She looked to Michael. "You tried to tell me and I didn’t believe you."

"I know it’s a lot to take in."

"Max wasn’t lying to me. Max wasn’t doing anything to me that he thought was wrong," she put her hand to her mouth. "I accused him...Oh God! I should have known better. I know Max."

"It’s not your fault, girlfriend." Maria shook her head. "How the hell are you suppose to know?"

"Michael said..."

"Yeah, like Mr. Guerin isn’t full of shit half the time anyway?" She winked in Michael’s direction. "All the crap that’s gone on the last few years that was so unbelievable at the time, this is different. This is you."

"I don’t understand any of it."

"We don’t understand all of it either." Michael confessed. "Tess is behind it, why? We don’t know. Why she decided to take you over, or whatever, and try to get down and dirty with Max is beyond me. You’d think it would be the other way around. That she’d want you two apart. Far apart."

"Exactly!" Maria exclaimed. "See, that doesn’t make sense. Tess hated Liz, why would she be pushing them together?"

"Because then she could screw me." Liz said quietly. "Max has sex with me, but it’s not really me. It’s her. He screws her, again. It would drive a wedge so far in between us we’d never come back from it."

Michael and Maria gaped at her, stunned. Maria was the first to speak. "That is so evil."

"Does it sound like Tess?" Liz asked then bit her lip.

"Yeah," Michael ran his hands through his hair. "It does. Who are the two people she wants to hurt more than anyone else? You and Max. Max for obvious reasons, you for being the one he loved instead of her."

"I told you all she was a skanky little hooker, didn’t I?" Maria sat back in her chair.

"How can we fix it? How can I get to someone who is invading my body and mind that’s a billion miles away?" Liz asked not expecting an answer, she knew there wasn’t one.

"I felt like a real perv looking at those pictures," Michael admitted after a few minutes of silence.

"You should!" Liz laughed, a real laugh. "I hope you felt like one when you were taking them, too!"

"I did."

"So did I." Maria confessed. "It was so surreal. If I wouldn’t have been standing there I would have never believed it."

"So, little Liz Parker turned into a full blown sex machine, huh?" Liz blushed. "God, of all the things that could happen, why this?"

"Sex is power." Michael stated. "Not to move on from your new found horniness, but you are going to have to talk to Max. He’s freaking out."

"I’ll talk to Max, I can’t wait to talk to Max." She smiled. "I said some really bad things to him, about him. I need to apologize."

"Not to Isabel." Maria shook her head defiantly. "She needs to apologize to you."

"Actually, she wants to call you but Max told her to wait a few days. She’s sorry about what happened."

"Like I said then, I’m not mad at her. If someone were saying my brother was a rapist I’d have done the same thing. I’ll call her today and tell her that."

"Good." Michael said. "That guy she brought home, Bret? He broke up with her as soon as they got back to school."

"Why?" Maria asked.

"Dunno. Didn’t talk to him. Just thought I’d give you the four one one."

Liz and Maria looked at each other and laughed.

"You’re laughing at me, why are you laughing at me?" Michael asked.

"Because through all that rebel bad-boy shit, you are really just a big old dork!" Maria leaned over and kissed the corner of his mouth. "A dork that I love."

"I’m going home. I need to take a shower and think about all the ways I can get the skanky hooker out of my head, literally." Liz stood up and grabbed her overnight bag from the floor. "Maria, I’ll call you later. Michael, thank you. Thank you for everything."

"Are you..." Maria trailed off.

"Gonna call Max? No. I’m going over there after my shower." Liz blew them a kiss and walked out the kitchen door. Her pictures tucked safely away in her pocket.

"This has got to be the strangest thing." Maria declared once Liz was gone. "I mean, can you imagine?"

"No." Michael shook his head. "When we’re together I know it’s all you. Maybe it’s different for them, but I can feel your soul."

"You can be the sweetest man on earth sometimes." She kissed his lips. "So, my mom’s gone for like most of the day, do you wanna go and feel my soul?"

Chapter Two

Max stared at his reflection in the mirror. He was still unshaven, he needed a haircut. What was it that Liz had said about his future self? He looked really hot with long hair, yeah. Decision made, he would let his hair grow out. For Liz. Everything is for Liz. The one person he gave up a kingdom for is the same person who hates him. He bowed his head no longer able to look in the mirror any longer, nothing was going to change. He went to the living room and collapsed on the couch, all energy spent. No sleep for two days was taking a toll on him and he could admit that. As soon as he closed his eyes, he was asleep. It was a couple of hours later that he awoke with a start to knocking on the front door. He jumped up and flung the door open. It was Liz. At first he just stared at her, was he dreaming or was she really there?

"You look like shit," she said meekly.

He smiled; she was really there. He stepped aside and let her in.

"Hi." Liz sat on the couch and Max in the chair across from her. "I saw the pictures. I guess you probably know that by now, huh?"

"I figured." Max nodded. "Do you believe them?"

"Yes."

"Do you believe me now?"

"I do," she reached across and picked up his hand in her own. "I’m sorry I ever doubted you. I was scared and totally confused."

"Of course you were, you have every reason to feel that way."

"I don’t understand what’s going on and I hate that. You know I have to know everything." She smiled to herself. "This whole possession thing is kind of freaking me out."

"I don’t understand it either. If it is...Her, why? Why push us further?"

"Oh, I got that part." Liz nodded. "So if we had sex when she was here, it would be like you were screwing her, again. That would push us so far apart that we couldn’t come back. Ever"

"Jesus," Max let out a deep breath. "Jesus!"

"I don’t know how to fix it yet, but I’ll figure it out."

"I know you will. So, does this mean we can be together again?"

"In almost every sense of the word. I love you Max and I can’t believe that I actually thought you would do that to me." Liz kissed the top of his hand. "I know you better than that. I’m sorry."

"Don’t be sorry. Just be with me."

"Until this is figured out and corrected, I don’t know if it’s a good idea for us to be alone. I apparently have no idea what I’m doing and you can only take so much, right?"

"I’ll not let anything happen." Max promised. "I’ll never do anything to jeopardize losing you again."

"Not intentionally, but did you really think that was me? Do I really act like that?"

"No, and that bothered me. The only thing that I was going on was that you had been talking about taking our relationship to the next level."

"I did want that, I do at some point. Not now, I’m not ready, and I’m not alone." She smiled. "God! Of all people to foray in me, it had to be her."

"This is my fault. Everything is my fault and yet, you still love me."

"Not everything."

"Yeah Liz, everything. I brought you into my life and yours has been upside down ever since."

"You brought me in your life by saving mine. I would have died that day if you wouldn’t have saved me. Forever, I’ll always owe you that."

"You’ll never owe me anything." He moved off the chair and knelt in front of her. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged. "I love you."

"I love you, forever and always." She felt the side of his face scratching her cheek. "You look all rugged."

"You like?"

"Yeah, I do." She kissed him and backed away. "Can you tell when it’s not me anymore?"

"Not really at first, sometimes not at all. But I’ll know now. Our physical relationship isn’t going any further until this mess is sorted out. More than a kiss, it stops."

"Right. No temptations until it’s only me."

"You know, you are handling this better than Michael and I thought you would."

"I’m handling it okay. It infuriates me to think that she is doing this to us, but I won’t let her win. I will never let her win and that’s what’s keeping me together."

"You’re so strong."

"When you’re in love with an alien, you have to be." She smiled and kissed his rough cheek.

* * * * *

"You have been given the Granilith, a transport between this planet and Antar.
You have also been given communication technology which will allow you to access information from your true home. The chamber containing your hibernation pods and the Granilith has been hidden away from human settlement. It can only be accessed by the four of you." He read aloud from the paper in his hand and turned to his companion. "Well, what do you think so far?"

"Sounds like a bunch of crap."

"Nice. Did anyone ever tell you, you have a way with words?"

"Yeah."

"So, you know the plan, right?"

"I helped come up with the plan. Do you know the plan?"

"Yes, I do." He rolled his eyes. "So in just a few short months we’ll be on our way home."

"Do you think it will be like the way she said?"

"We have her guarantee, all we have to do is bring the King and the head of his bitch."

* * * * *

For the duration of the school year Liz Parker poured herself into school. She would be the Salutatorian and had devastated counselors by telling them she would be attending the University of Las Cruces in the fall and not Harvard or Yale. Her and Max had avoided every possible situation that would put them in a compromising position. They spent their time with friends and family and their alone time was usually at arms length. Although on many occasions, Max sensed she was slipping and pulled her back by stepping away. The Tess-isms still came from Liz’s mouth at odd times, but Max never told her. Liz was determined not to let Tess win. She wasn’t gone from her, but she had been put on the back burner. With school over the next day, that might prove harder than believed.

"I can’t believe that we are actually graduating from High School!" Maria buzzed with excitement. "I never thought I’d make it this far." She stood in front of their lockers; her swollen belly protruding underneath the Clash T-shirt Kyle had given her for Christmas.

"I’m so proud of you," Liz hugged her. "You are amazing. You’re going to pop in like what, twelve weeks? And here you all Miss. Graduate!"

"I think I proved so many people wrong," she rested her hand on her belly. "I don’t think anyone thought I’d finish after finding out about her."

"Girls. Girls. Girls!" Kyle Valenti approached them smiling. He looked at Maria’s shirt. "I can’t believe you’re stretching the hell out of that shirt! Do you have any idea how much it cost me?"

"Give me a break, bro." Maria rolled her eyes. "What’s the scoop?"

"Party at Nikki Meyer’s tomorrow night. Anyone?"

"Pass," Maria and Liz said at the same time and laughed.

"Any other suggestions?"

"We have to work," Liz looked disappointed. "But try Max and Isabel. She’s still bummed out about that Bret."

"Okie dokie. See ya." He waved walking away.

"He can be such a strange one sometimes," Liz remarked after he was gone.

"I know," Maria had tears rolling down her face. Liz looked astonished at her. "No, I’m okay. I guess all this end of high school and getting ready to have a baby stuff is getting to me."

"Let’s go," Liz grabbed her backpack. "Let’s cut our last class and go hang out and talk. What do you think?"

"I’m so there, they can’t fail me now!" Maria scribbled a quick note to Michael and stuffed it through the vent of his locker and they were gone.

They drove downtown and picked Bagel Joe’s and secured a private booth in the corner after getting some croissants and lattes.

"Sorry for the meltdown," Maria said. "I guess everything kind of came at me at once. I was doing really good, too."

"You’ve been doing great. I would have melted long before now."

"No, you wouldn’t have. You’re the strong one and I’m the flaky one."

"Look at how much you have going on. You’re going to be a mother in a few months. You and Michael are going to be parents! God, I would be so scared."

"I am, sister. You have no idea how scared. I mean, there goes college for awhile and Michael’s trying to find a real job and then we might move in together and all this responsibility and my mom and everything!"

"You and Michael are really going to move in together?"

"I think so, after the baby’s born. Like, way after. Liz, I need my mom to help me to show me everything. I know nothing, I hated babysitting." Maria exclaimed. "I have no idea how to raise a baby. If it was just me and Michael I don’t know who’d be left standing!"

"You know I’ll do everything I can for you, I will be there for you."

"No, you won’t." Maria looked down. "You’re going off to school."

"Las Cruces isn’t that far..." Liz looked down guiltily. "Screw it. I’m not going anywhere. Two years at Junior College here in Roswell. I’m not leaving you or anyone else."

"Oh no, that’s not what I meant." Maria held her hands out to Liz. "No way. You are not sticking around here at some crappy J.C. for me. I would never forgive myself."

"I’ve been thinking it over, I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to leave anyone. It’s not only you; it’s everyone and everything. I’m not leaving because of me." Liz tried to reassure her friend. "I want to be here. I want to be here with you and Michael and the baby and Max. If you all want to go to Las Cruces, fine I’ll go. You guys stay here, I stay here. I’ve been giving this a lot of thought, I just needed to be sure before I said it out loud."

"You can’t give up your dreams for us."

"I can do whatever I please, and I’m not giving up anything! My future is with Max and I’ll go where he goes. Until then, I’ll be right here for you."

"You are the bestest friend ever!" Maria laughed. "But I know you’re really only staying for Max."

"I’m staying for every reason I just told you."

"I could not ask for a better friend." Maria looked around and then spoke softer. "Michael said there have been less and less of hooker moments."

"Yeah, but that could be because Max and I hardly spend any time alone," Liz shrugged. "Can I run something by you?"

"Shoot."

"Okay, She rears her ugly head when Max and I are close. Getting intimate, right? What if there was some way to keep her at bay while Max and I...Did it?"

"Serious?"

"Yeah, over the last few months I’ve been racking my brain trying to find a way to make her go away, for good. If Max and I consummate our relationship, it’s over, right? She can’t win and the bond between Max and I will be stronger than ever."

"This sounds like a bad movie."

"Thanks," she frowned.

"Sorry, but trying to keep Tess out of your head so you can bang Max? It sounds impossible. It sounds, I don’t know, perverse. I don’t even know how you would try?"

"Me either, it’s just something I came up with. You have no idea what it feels like to want to be with someone so bad and can’t because it really might not be you." She banged her head softly on the table. "This sucks."

"Run it by Max, maybe he’ll go for it." She raised her eyebrows. "I mean I know he’ll go for it, but you’re going to be taking an awfully big risk."

"I know, that’s the downside. Why does everything in my life have to be so complicated?"

"Excuse me," Maria leaned back and patted her belly. "I’m carrying the alien love child. How is that for complicated?"

"You’re right. Ever since we met them our lives have been turned upside down. I don’t regret a minute of it though, do you?"

"Nope. Can you imagine we’re we’d be right now if we hadn’t hooked up with them?"

"We’d be graduating high school and going to college. Me to Yale or Harvard and you to somewhere in close proximity to me. We’d be talking about stupid boys and dreaming about futures that were simple. A cool job, a house with a white picket fence, two kids and a dog and a walk in closet. Boring."

"Alex would still be alive." Maria added somberly.

"Yeah, I didn’t forget about that."

"That’s my regret, Alex."

"Mine, too." Liz agreed. "I’ll always feel responsible for that. I brought him into it."

"We brought him into it."

"Yeah, we." Liz nodded. "Enough of this reflection. We’re getting ready to start the rest of our lives, we can’t look back at the errors that have happened. Time to move on, start anew. You’re going to be a mother!"

Chapter Three

Maria was sitting on her front porch flipping through Parents magazine when an unfamiliar car pulled into the driveway. She squinted against the sun as the driver’s side door of a baby blue Ford Tempo opened. Michael stepped out. Maria set down the magazine and stood up. She noticed the temporary tags in the window and laughed.

"No laughing DeLuca!" Michael called to her as he walked to the house. "Not one freaking word."

"Oh my God! Where’s your bike?"

"I traded it in," he glanced over his shoulder. "On that."

"Why?"

"Why? she asks. Why do you think? I can’t go hauling my pregnant girlfriend all over town on a bike. What did you think we were going to do when the baby comes, strap a car seat on the back and go?"

"You are so sweet," she reached over his shoulders and hugged him. "I can’t believe you did this for me."

"I did it for us. We’re a family and we needed a family car." He almost seemed to grimace. "I’m trying to be responsible."

"You’re doing it. I love the way you think." He grabbed his hand and walked him in the house. "We still have to decide on a name."

"Carmen." He raised his eyebrows.

"Summer."

"Candy."

"Summer."

"Yasmine."

"Summer."

"She’s going to be born in the fall."

"I don’t care."

"C’mon Maria, can’t you give a little on this? I mean Summer is so not a name, it’s a freakin’ season!"

"But Michael, I really like it."

"Fine, but you know it reminds me of that chick from the early Baywatch, her name was Summer."

"You suck!" She eased her way on the couch and stuck her tongue out at him. "You had to ruin my perfect name. Great."

"I’m sorry," he sat down next to her.

"No your not, you got your way. Now I’ll have to go with my second choice."

"Uh oh."

"Leia."

"Leia? Like in Princess Leia?" Michael asked shocked. "Serious?"

"Yeah. What do you think?"

"I like it. I mean, I love it. Leia Guerin. Sounds good, it’s like a super hero name."

"Guerin? Try Leia DeLuca."

"Say what?"

"We’re not married, I was thinking that DeLuca..." Maria stopped when she saw the veil of sadness creep over Michael’s face. "Actually, I think Leia Guerin sounds a hell of a lot better. What was I thinking?"

"Thank you," he frowned and leaned over to kiss her. He rested his hand on her stomach and smiled when he felt slight movement. "I still am in a state of shock that our baby is in there. Someone we created that’s going to walk, talk and breath and be a part of each of us. That’s so amazing."

Maria smiled, she was lucky. She was so lucky to have Michael she’d never take him or anything else for granted again. A rough start a few years back had come full circle to this. The beginning of a new life.

Michael rubbed her stomach underneath her shirt, his hand rising higher and higher, finger running underneath her bra strap.

"Well Mr. Guerin, are you feeling a little frisky in the afternoon?" Maria teased as he unhooked her bra one-handed. "Frisky and talented."

"When’s your mom going to be home?"

"After dinner. Couch shopping with the Sheriff."

"Bedroom?" He raised one eyebrow at her.

"Oh, yeah." She stood up with his help and he led her down the hall to her bedroom. Michael pulled her shirt over her head and she let her unhooked bra fall to the floor. His eye’s widened. "I know, aren’t they huge?"

He took a deep breath before pulling his shirt over his head and throwing it to the floor not wanting to tear his eyes away from her. He stepped closer to her and pulled down her elastic waistband shorts and underwear while she unzipped his cutoff cargo pants and let them drop.

"Going commando today?" She noted the absent boxers.

He smiled his answer and led her towards the bed. She laid back and propped two pillows under her head. Michael lay down next to her and pulled a sheet up over them both.

Maria slightly turned into him and kissed him hard, her mouth leading down from his to his outstretched neck. A light moan escaped his lips and she smiled. One arm was propping him up next to her, the other was kneading her thigh. She reached to him and ran her hand through his hair gently pulling his head down, her lips meeting his.

"You are so beautiful," he whispered, slowly maneuvering his body on top of hers. "So beautiful." Hands flat on the bed on either side of her, arms supporting his body weight away above her, he felt Maria touch him and guide him inside of her. As always, he gasped at the first thrust. The first moment of euphoria. "Oh, God."

Maria looked deep into his eyes as he hovered above her; feeling a love like she never thought existed. Never thought possible. Never for her. She grabbed his ass and he thrust further inside her. He knew he was going to explode and had to pause. He looked down to see Maria smiling at him.

"Why don’t you come down here a little closer?" She stroked his cheek then ran her finger over his lips.

"I don’t want to crush the baby."

"You won’t crush anything," she laughed as he lowered himself on shaky arms. "I promise."

He hesitated slightly and put half his weight on her, the other on his side. She held his face in her hands and kissed him.

"That’s all I wanted," she whispered.

Michael rolled further onto his side and took her with him. He swung her leg over his and thrust deep inside her, his hand kneading her nipple into complete hardness. As his pelvis was grinding into her, he bent his head and took her nipple in his mouth. Maria panted, running her hands through his hair, her back arching.

"Oh God," his body shuddered pulling in tight against her, wrapping his arms around her and sucking on her ear. "Oh...Sometimes DeLuca you make me so crazy, I can’t even think!"

"That sounds like a good thing."

"Oh, it is. Trust me, it’s a very good thing."

"I don’t think I ever want to move from here."

"I know I don’t, but I will have to." He pulled out of her and burrowed his head in her neck, kissing her. "You remember that movie ‘Say Anything’?" He asked and felt her nod. "That part where Lloyd’s outside his dream chicks window with the radio and he’s playing that song, ‘In Your Eyes’. That’s me. It sounds dorky, but I know where he was coming from. It’s your eyes, Maria. They are your soul. When I look into them I can see and feel everything about you, and it’s beautiful."

"Never leave me, Michael." She hugged him close and kissed the top of his head.

"Promise."

* * * * *

"That’s your idea?" Max was surprised. "I can’t believe it took you all this time to come up with that."

"You don’t think it will work, do you?"

"I don’t know." Max shook his head. "There is such a big risk. Have you thought about the risk?"

"Of course."

"You said it yourself, Liz, if we were to make love and it be her that it’d drive us apart forever. I don’t know if I’m willing to take that risk."

"Max." She sighed. "School’s been out for like three weeks now, we see each other everyday for hours on end. We’ve been planning our future together. How much longer do you think either one of us can wait? I don’t want this to go on forever. I want a normal relationship with the person that I’m going to spend the rest of my life with."

"I feel the same way, but we could lose everything we worked so hard to get back." Max leaned across the seats of the jeep and kissed the corner of her mouth. "I won’t lose you again, ever. Not for any reason."

"Don’t you want to be with me?" She asked quietly.

"Oh. Liz. More than I can explain. It’s something I’ve thought about for years. But if it means that I make love to you and then lose you, I’ll pass."

"You are making me crazy!" She laughed. "We have to fix this. Can we try my way?"

"Try how?"

"Exactly what I mean. We can, you know, when we both know it’s me and see how far we can go."

"This just keeps sounding like a worse and worse idea. Didn’t you come up with anything else?"

"No. Did you?’

"Nope. But I’ve been to the Pod Chamber countless trips just talking. Talking with the slim chance she might hear me and back off."

"Yeah, and you think my idea sucks?" She mocked him jokingly. "We have to try. If I’m wrong, you can fight me off, right?"

"Will you freak out?"

"Not if I know what’s going on going into it. I’m not scared of you Max." She tried to reassure him, the same way she had been reassuring him for months. "I was scared before of the whole situation, not just you. As soon as I believed what was going on who did I run too? Who do I always run to?"

"Me." He blushed.

"Always. I trust you Max. When you think I’m no longer there, I know you’ll stop. I know you don’t want to make love to anyone else, even if it is my body. You’ll stop."

"Let me think about it. Can you give me that? You’ve had awhile to think this through and convince yourself it’s the only way, now I need that time too. I don’t want to rush into anything now. We’ve come too far."

"I can give you time," she conceded. "But you better not be thinking you can put me off all summer."

"No, I won’t do that." He smiled and brushed his growing hair off his forehead. "I want to spend a long, hot summer with you."

"I think you might need a haircut," she remarked watching him try vigilantly to keep the tips of his bangs out of his eyes.

"I was trying to grow it out. Remember, you said future me was hot with long hair?"

"He was. You were, whatever. But you’re present Max, I love you just the way you are."

"Thank you. Do you mind if we stop by the barbers on the way back?"

* * * * *

Isabel Evans was lonely. She was lonelier now that she could ever remember. Sure, she had her family and a handful of friends, but she usually felt like an outsider. Max had Liz. Michael had Maria. Isabel had no one. She was invited wherever they went and she usually had a good time, although she hung out a lot with Kyle. Kyle, who had confided in her that he usually felt like a third wheel too.

As she lay on her bed staring at the ceiling, these were the times when she missed Alex the most. She really thought they might have had something special if his life hadn’t been cut short.

It always made her smile to think about all the dorky things he had done to impress her. Then made her cry thinking about how awful she had treated him. He had worshipped her and she had treated him like a lap dog before she saw who he truly was. She didn’t think she’d ever feel that way about anyone else again. There were many substitutes, but only one original. Bret had been a substitute and she had really liked him. He treated her good and she had been falling for him. Then he was gone.

She never did get a direct answer from him on why he was breaking up with her. Something must have happened when he came home with her. Did he not like her family? Friends? She might never know. The few times she had seen him on campus after he dumped her, he avoided her. Getting her heart broken was not something she had planned on happening her freshman year of college.

Now her parents were upset that she wasn’t going back. They told her over and over that she was going to be wasting her time going to the Junior College. Maybe that’s why she hadn’t bothered to pick up any information at the J.C. She knew it too. A few short months ago all she wanted was to come back home and now all she wanted to do was get out of Roswell. The phone had been ringing long enough to distract her inner turmoil that she got off the bed and finally answered it wondering what happened to the answering machine.

"Isabel?" A vaguely familiar voice asked.

"Yeah." She sighed.

"Hi. It’s Bret."

"Oh," The last person she expected to hear from was on the phone. "Hi."

"Do you have a minute?"

"Sure," she sat back on the bed and closed her eyes.

"I wanted to apologize for what happened. If you never wanted to hear from me again, I’d understand."

"Do you think you could explain what happened?" She copped an attitude and it felt good.

"I know you’re mad-"

"Now. I’m mad now. Before I was just hurt."

"I didn’t mean to hurt you," he let out a deep breath. "I don’t know why I broke up with you."

"As long as you had a good reason," Isabel started to hang up.

"I really liked you, I still really like you."

"What happened?"

"I guess I got nervous. I mean, I am such a nerd, I know that. And here you are this beautiful confident woman and all these guys always stared at you and I know they were wondering what a girl like you was doing with a dork like me."

"Why does that matter?"

"Then coming home with you. I mean you are so close with your family and your friends and I felt like such an outsider."

"Wasn’t everyone nice to you?"

"Of course, I just felt strange. Anyway, the reason I’m calling was first to apologize for the way I acted. Secondly, I’ll be in Roswell tomorrow. Near Roswell. I was wondering if you could find it in your heart to have dinner with me and let me try to make it up to you?"

"Why are you coming here?"

"Honestly? To see you. I’ll be near Roswell to drop my cousin off back home. She was visiting here. I volunteered to drive her home on the slim chance you’d see me."

"Oh," Isabel felt the blush creeping up her neck. "Okay, sure."

"Really?" He sounded surprised.

"Call me when you get in and we’ll talk, okay?"

"Thank you Isabel. Really, thank you."

Isabel hung up and fell back on the bed. Maybe things were beginning to look a little brighter.

Chapter Four

Liz was curled against Max sitting on her roof. A hot, humid night nearing the end of June. Liz was smiling, content in the arms of her adoring boyfriend. She sighed and snuggled in closer to him.

"Liz." He kissed the top of her head and she turned up to peer in his eyes. "I’ve been thinking. A lot. If you still want to try your plan, then we’ll try it."

"Seriously?" She sat up and looked at him incredulously. "I’d all but given up hope that we’d ever be together."

"If you really, truly believe that we have a chance of getting rid of her, then let’s do it."

"No pun intended?"

"I’m serious, Liz." He shook his head. "This has been driving me crazy for weeks. Should we or shouldn’t we? I still don’t know if it’s the right thing, but we can’t put our lives on hold forever."

"I’m so glad you finally see it my way!" She kissed the corner of his mouth. "I can’t wait. When?"

"Well, can I prepare a little?" He frowned. "I’ve been wanting this as long as you have, probably longer. Definitely longer. I want to make it special. Do I have time to make it special?"

"Max, you have time to do anything you want." She grinned. "Wow. This is so awesome. I hope I can remain, you know, myself."

"Me too, Liz. Me too." Max thought this may be the worse decision he had ever made, but for Liz, he’d do anything. "Give me a few weeks-"

"Weeks?" Liz interrupted. "You have got to be kidding me!"

"Two weeks, tops?"

"Okay. Then you’re mine." She leaned in to him and kissed him. He hand rested on his thigh.

"I’m already yours." He tensed when he felt her hand moving slowly between his legs. "Liz?"

Nothing.

"Liz!" He almost shouted and placed his hands on her shoulders turning her to face him. He shook her gently and watched as her eyes flew open. "Liz?"

"Yeah, was I...?"

"Yeah." He sighed. "Are we sure we want to risk this?"

"We have to. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and I want to have a real relationship. We have to try Max. Remember what I told you that your future you told me?" Liz squinted. "You got that, right?" He nodded. "Once we make love we’re cemented and Tess is gone."

"I think you’re taking that out of context."

"I don’t think I care," Liz folded her arms across her chest. "We have to Max. If we’re to be together always, we have to."

Max nodded hesitantly; the fear of losing her again was evident on his face.

"You won’t lose me," Liz seemed to read his mind.

"How can you be so sure?"

"You won’t. We’ll beat this the same way we’ve beaten everything else, together." Liz promised

* * * * *

Maria was laying on the couch at Michael’s, her head on his thigh. Her hands rested on her very swollen belly.

"She’s a crazy girl," she commented. "Really active today."

"Of course she’s crazy, look at her mother." Michael’s remark earned him a glare from below. He placed his hand on her belly and smiled at the movement. "I can’t wait."

"Me either, but I am getting scared." She admitted.

"Scared? Why?"

"Oh, for a number of reasons. I’m going to have to squeeze this girl out of me in like eight weeks. Even though the doctor says everything is right on schedule and looks great, we won’t actually know that for sure until she’s born. My mom is driving me freakin’ crazy, Liz is driving me crazy, I don’t know how much longer I work because my feet are like big inflatable potatoes and my back hurts ninety-nine percent of the time. Good enough?"

"Yeah." He took a deep breath. "I thought things were going smoother with your mom."

"Yeah, they were. But now she’s crazy. Excuse me, crazier. She’s getting a little controlling about the baby and it’s freaking me out. I mean, I totally appreciate her help with everything, but she thinks I’m going to live there forever and raise the baby there."

"Aren’t you?" Michael joked, this time he earned a flick on the chin. "I was kidding."

"I know. She won’t listen to me about moving in with you. I mean straight up, won’t listen. I explained that I want to wait until I’m comfortable, until we’re comfortable, with Leia and then we can make it on our own."

"She doesn’t think we can?" Michael tried to hide the disappointment in the fact that Amy DeLuca still didn’t trust him completely or think he would do right by her daughter.

"Well, not really. We both work at a little theme restaurant and I know I barely have two nickels to rub together. She doesn’t think we’ll be able to support a family." Maria shrugged.

"I see. She actually doesn’t think Michael will be able to support his family, right?"

"I didn’t say that."

"You didn’t have to. I will be able to support my family no matter what I have to do. Trading in the bike for a real car was a big step for me."

"I know it was."

"I’m driving a baby blue Tempo around town. Me. Michael Guerin. Rebel without a clue. A Tempo."

"You look hot in the Tempo."

"I look like a dork in the Tempo."

"You look like a dad in the Tempo."

Michael opened his mouth to speak then closed it. A dad. He leaned over and awkwardly kissed Maria’s forehead. "Thank you."

Maria tried to sit up and with a little leverage from Michael succeeded. She swiveled to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She met his mouth and his arms encircled her pulling her as close as her belly would allow. Only seconds had passed when Maria broke away from him clutching her stomach. She gasped as tears fell.

"Maria?" Michael slid next to her. Panic. "Maria! What’s wrong?"

"Pain." She muttered and moaned.

"Oh shit." Michael stood and ran to the phone. He called for an ambulance as he ran back to her. "I called for an ambulance. They’ll be here in a few minutes. Where does it hurt?"

"Stomach. Shooting pain," she doubled over and let out a painful howl. "Michael...?

"I’m here, you’re going to be fine. Everything’s fine." He tried to reassure her while wiping rivulets of sweat from his forehead. "Everything’s going to be fine."

"Scared," she cried. "Leia?"

"She’s fine. You’re both fine." Michael tried to keep his voice even, he didn’t want to make her anymore upset than she already was. A small wave of relief went through him as he head the sirens getting closer. "See baby, they’re almost here."

"I feel like I’m dying," she moaned and slumped next him still clutching her stomach.

"No. You’re not dying, I won’t let you die DeLuca. You are not leaving me now, got it?" His voice was stern as the front door opened and two EMT’s knocked then came in with a gurney. "Thank God."

The two EMT’s got Maria on the gurney and put an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth. Michael walked beside her holding her hand. He could see the fear in her eye’s as she gazed up at him.

"You’re going to be fine." He squeezed her hand. "I love you and I’m not leaving your side."

Maria blinked and seemed to smile at him through the fog of the mask. He held her hand in the ambulance and into the hospital, never letting go.

* * * * *

Bret arrived to pick up Isabel the same way he had several times a week for the last few weeks. She was as elated to see him now as she had been the day before. He had stolen her heart and she wasn’t calling the police to get it back.

"So, how much money are you spending on a hotel?" She asked while they were driving towards the movie theatre. "I mean seriously?" Bret had been staying at a hotel for the last couple of weeks so he could stay close to Isabel and it bothered her tremendously.

"Not too much, I get a student discount." He smiled. "Besides, I’d squander a lot more just to spend time with you."

"You’re so sweet," Isabel blushed.

"We’re meeting your brother, Liz and Kyle, right?"

"Yeah," she frowned. "Do you think this week-end we could do something by ourselves? I mean we’ve spent so much time with my friends, you must be sick of them by now."

"Hardly, I think they’re great."

"They like you, too. Even Michael and he doesn’t usually like anyone."

"I will take that as a compliment." He smiled and reached over picking up her hand. "Have I thanked you lately for giving me a second chance?"

"Not yet today, but you’re welcome. But don’t think there will be a third." She grinned.

"No need for a third," he brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it as they pulled into the parking lot. "Hey! There’s Kyle!" He honked and waved his hand wildly out the window at him.

Kyle Valenti looked towards the honking and half waved when he saw Bret with his arm out the window.

"Great," he muttered walking slowly towards the car. "Super Dork seems to be in his super dooper dork mode tonight." He was smiling when he reached the car and opened the door for Isabel. "Good evening Princess Iz." He mock bowed to her.

"Kyle." She nodded aristocratically while extending her hand to him. He rolled his eyes and walked to the front of the car. "Ass." Isabel smiled and got out on her own.

"Hey Kyle!" Bret walked to the front of the car and extended his hand. "How’s it going?"

"Great Bret!" Kyle tried to meet his enthusiasm, but fell horribly short. "How’s it going with you?"

"Super. So where are Max and Liz?" He looked around the parking lot. "Have you seen them yet?"

"Nope, just got here myself."

"Oh. Anyway, Isabel told me you’re going to Las Cruces in the fall, too."

"Yeah, I’m going to play football for them." Kyle’s shoulders sank slightly; thinking of all the other big schools he had hoped would recruit him, but didn’t.

"Are you staying in the dorms?"

"Isn’t it a requirement for all Freshmen?"

"Oh, yeah." Bret laughed to himself. "Well, if you’re looking for a roommate, let me know. I have a friend in the housing department. We could be roommates!"

"Oh. Wow." Kyle paused desperately trying to think of a lie. Fast. "Yeah, well, there’s this other guy on the team that I think I’m going to room with."

Isabel, standing next to Bret holding his hand, rolled her eyes at his lie. She thought about asking a lot of questions and embarrassing Kyle but decided to save it for later. Entertainment after the movie.

"There they are," Kyle pointed to Max and Liz as they strolled towards them. Max’s arm around Liz’s shoulders. Kyle waved almost as enthusiastically as Bret had at him. "Hey!"

"Hey what?" Liz called back to him and then turned to Max. She said something to him and they both laughed.

"I hate all this cutesy shit," Kyle shook his head as they reached the trio. "I mean, could I feel any more left out?"

"You need a girlfriend." Isabel stated.

"No kidding."

"Want me to find you one?" Isabel offered looking over the selection of females in the parking lot like she was picking out meat at the butcher. "How about her? Yellow halter, jean shorts? Over there?" She pointed.

"She’d do," Kyle smiled and cocked his head to the side. His smile dissolved when Isabel walked away towards the girl in the yellow. He looked to Max and Liz for help. They shrugged. He turned back towards Isabel and saw her talking to the girl and pointing in his direction. Redness crept up his neck to his face. "Shit."

They watched as Isabel and the girl talked some more and then the girl waved good-bye to her friends and accompanied Isabel back.

"This is Morgan Chase. Morgan, this is Kyle Valenti, your date for the evening. That is my brother Max Evans, Liz Parker and Bret Anderson." Isabel pointed out each one of them. "Morgan is going to be a senior at St. Joseph Academy in the Fall."

"Hi," Morgan smiled nervously.

"Hi," Max, Liz and Bret said at the same time. They all laughed.

"So Morgan, do you usually ditch your friends and join complete strangers?" Max asked. He loved to see Kyle uncomfortable for any reason; it was a bonus if he was the reason.

"Usually, no." Morgan replied soundly looking directly at Max. "However your sister here was quite convincing of Mr. Valenti’s character. She did fail to mention yours, and I wonder if that was an oversight or not."

Kyle, Bret and Isabel laughed out loud, Liz was biting her lip to refrain from laughing.

"Alrighty then." Max took Liz’s hand. "Point for you."

"Truce?" Morgan held out her hand towards him. Max nodded and shook it with his free hand.

"So, Kyle." Morgan walked over next to him. "Isabel had very nice things to say about you, are they true?"

"Probably," he grinned. "You can tell me yourself when I drive you home tonight, deal?"

"Oh my," she feigned a Southern accent placing her hand to her chest. "I do declare, I think I have found the last gentleman."

Kyle turned red again and the others laughed.

"I like this girl," Isabel smiled. "C’mon, let’s go get tickets."

The three couples made their way to the entrance and bought tickets, Kyle paid for Morgan which brought about another Southern Belle routine. She had the others in stitches by the time they took their seats.

Chapter Five

"You have been provided with a guardian who will protect you from danger and keep you hidden from your enemies" He read aloud. "Isn’t that funny? She said it was funny. Hidden from enemies. Whatever!" He slid the papers back in the folder from where they came and smiled.

"Do you have any idea what you’re doing?"

"Of course, I’m not stupid." He rolled his eyes at his companion.

"Well, I think you are."

"Who do you think you are? Do you think you are in control of this?"

"Yeah. I do. I am. You’re useful, but not really important. I could do all this without you."

"Did you forget who the Queen talked to?"

"And why was that? Was it because as a guard I was busy protecting the throne?"

"Big bad guard." He smirked. "The big bad. It was intelligence that brought the Queen to me."

"Okay, I’m not going to argue anymore. Do you think we could get the show on the road soon, though? I’m really beginning to hate it here."

"Yeah, soon. Give it a couple more weeks." He shrugged. "Then you get to do the dirty work."

"Dirty work. I love dirty work."

"I know."

* * * * *

"False labor?" Maria looked at her Doctor in shock. "That was false labor? Oh my God! I don’t know if I can do the real thing."

"You’ll do fine Maria," Dr. Ellie Martin patted her arm. "I know you don’t want any drugs while you’re in labor, but you might want to reconsider."

"No, no drugs." Maria shook her head.

"Okay, just a thought. False labor this early usually predicts an early delivery. You’re still... "She glanced at the chart in her hand, "seven and a half weeks away. I’m putting you on bed-rest until you deliver."

"What do you mean?" Maria looked confused looking from Dr. Martin to Michael and back.

"Exactly what it sounds like. Bed. Rest. Stay in bed, keep your feet up and relax."

"No work?"

"Nope. I’ll write you a note."

"I don’t need a note. Can I do anything?"

"Yes, you can still do things, just not a lot. I don’t want you running around doing things. You have to relax, stay calm and comfortable and don’t over exert yourself. Can you do that for me?"

"I guess. So when can I go home?"

"In a few hours. I want to check on you again before I leave. Make sure the real thing’s not coming." She patted her arm again and left the room.

"Bed rest. I don’t know if I can do bed rest. I don’t like to sit still." She looked to Michael.

""Bed rest. I don’t know if I can do bed rest. I don’t like to sit still." She looked to Michael.

Amy DeLuca barged into the room and went to Maria’s side. "Baby! What happened? Are you all right? The baby?"

"We’re fine mom, everything’s fine." Maria fought the urge to roll her eyes. "It was false labor."

"False labor?" Amy looked surprised. "I thought that came when you were closer to delivering. You’ve still got over seven weeks!"

"She might come early," she half shrugged. "How’d you know I was here?"

Amy looked over her shoulder at Michael and smiled. "He tracked me down."

"Wow. Anyway, I’m on bed rest from now on." She closed her eyes as silent tears slipped between the lids.

"Hunny, what’s wrong?" Amy asked picking up her daughter's hand. "Are you okay?"

"I have to keep calm, I have to lay down all the time." Maria wiped away the tears. "I don’t want to be alone. The last of your rules are going out the window."

"I don’t know-"

"I know. I want Michael to be able to come over whenever I want him. I need him now, mom. You have to understand that. If it means he sits with me all night long, then so be it. If you have a problem with that, I’m sorry, you’re just going to have to deal with it. Ground me after I have this baby, or something." Maria had found her strong voice again. "I don’t, no, I can’t listen to your negativity about me and Michael. It’s a done deal. Signed, sealed and delivered. You are going to have to deal."

Amy looked pensively at her daughter and then back at Michael who offered a clumsy smile. She nodded as she met her daughters gaze. "Okay. I’ll make this easy on you."

"Finally!" Maria raised her arms in the air above her head. "Thank you."

"When can you come home?" Amy asked.

"In a few hours, Michael can drive me."

Amy leaned over and kissed her daughter’s forehead. "Just remember I’m here. If you need me all you have to do is tell me."

"I know mom, thanks."

Amy walked to the door and motioned for Michael to follow her out.

"One thing, Michael. If you break her heart I swear I will break your face."

Michael couldn’t reply at first. This coming from Amy DeLuca was surprising. "I promised you I’d never do that. Someday you’ll learn to trust me Ms. DeLuca."

"I hope so." She wrinkled her brow. "Someday soon." She walked away and disappeared around the corner.

Michael took a deep breath and went back in the room.

"What did she say to you?" Maria had raised the back of the bed and was sitting upright.

"Nothing really, just to take care of you." Michael didn’t think he would ever tell her what Amy had said. "Which I promised I would, always."

"You are going to spend a lot of time with me, right?"

"Of course." He pulled a chair over and sat next to her. "We can do all kinds of things that are relaxing." He raised an eyebrow at her. "We can play games and watch movies."

"And plan our lives with Leia?"

"You bet," he leaned over and kissed her lips. Sweetness. Love. Home.

* * * * *

Liz was shocked when she got the phone call from Maria after she had come home from the hospital the following afternoon.

"I can’t believe no one called me!"

"Liz, it wasn’t that big of a deal." Maria winced thinking about the excruciating pain she had endured. "We were in and out in a few hours."

"Still. How are you?"

"Bed rest. Wanna come visit me?"

"Of course. I guess your done working, huh?"

"Yup. I was going to call your dad today. I’m not scheduled until tomorrow."

"I’ll tell him, besides, I found a fill in waitress for you." Liz told her about Morgan Chase and Isabel setting Kyle up. Maria was laughing hard by the time she finished. "She is great. You’re going to like her."

"You’re not trying to replace me, are you?"

"DeLuca, you are irreplaceable," Liz assured her and promised to be over soon.

Maria waited patiently for Liz to arrive. When the front door opened she looked with a smile expecting to see Liz. Instead it was Sean. Her happy face dropped.

"Nice to see you too, Cuz." Sean frowned. "Why the long face?"

"I’m on bed rest until I deliver."

"Ouch. I don’t think you can sit still that long." He tried to smile, but couldn’t. "So, I guess your boyfriend’s going to be getting awfully lonely, except of course before midnight." His smile was real now, he loved his aunt’s rules.

"Actually, " Maria snapped. "Michael can come over whenever he wants and stay as long as he wants. All night? No problem."

"No shit?"

"No shit."

"Aunt Amy gave in pretty easy didn’t she?"

"Is this really any of your business?"

"I am family."

The door opened again and Liz walked in; once again Maria had on a happy face.

"Uh. Hi." She looked between the two.

"Parker," Sean nodded at her before leaving the room.

"Liz!" Maria pat the couch next to her. "Come sit with me and hold my hand."

Liz smiled and sat next to her friend and held her hand. "Are you really okay?"

"I’m fine. Scared shitless to have this baby, but fine." Maria finally told her about the pain. "It was horrible. I mean, it felt like someone was sticking an ice pick in my stomach. I don’t know how I’m ever going to get through the real thing."

"Drugs."

"No. You know I won’t take drugs during this." Maria lowered her voice, real fear shining through. "We don’t know for sure that everything is okay. Everything is coming back normal as can be, but there is that risk that something could be...off."

"C’mon Maria, it’s all good. Nothing bad is going to happen. You and Michael are going to have this wonderful, beautiful, perfect baby girl. End of story."

"Thanks. You are going to make such a good Godmother. You know that one of your responsibilities as Godparents, you and Max have to take care of Leia if something happens to us."

"Don’t get morbid."

"I’m not, I’m serious. There isn’t anyone else in the world, any of them, that I would trust more with my baby than you. And Max, I guess."

"Thank you, but nothing’s going to happen."

"Just in case..."

"Okay, enough of that. So, how’s Michael? Is he still good with everything? No freak outs?"

"Nope. I mean trading in his bike for a car, amazing. He has been an angel. I couldn’t ask for anything more."

"Have you guys talked about getting married or anything like that?"

"Nope. We are going to move in together, still the plan, once we’re comfortable enough to take care of a baby."

"This is so sweet!" Liz smiled. She was happy for her friends; but part of her ached for the same.

"I always thought it would be you and Max." Maria gave the impression she could read her mind. "I thought for a long time Michael and mine’s relationship would be thrown along the side of the road like a candy wrapper."

"It’s strange how things turn out, isn’t it?"

"Yeah." Maria saw the melancholy in Liz’s eyes. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"Do you have a penny?"

"No, but I have a shiny new nickel upstairs." Maria beamed and Liz laughed. "Seriously."

"Max is planning a night for us to...consummate our love. I don’t know what he’s got in mind, but he’s been so romantic lately. I can’t wait actually."

"But..."

"I just keep hoping that half way through I don’t lose myself and let the hooker have my boyfriend, again. It would destroy us."

"Keep positive thoughts," Maria nodded. "You’re stronger than she ever was. You’ll beat her. You always do."

"Thanks," Liz smiled feeling better. Maybe all she needed was to hear it from someone else. "Enough of me, have you picked out anything for the nursery yet?"

"Oh, you mean Sean’s room?"

"I thought he was moving out."

"Yeah, me too," she rolled her eyes. "I don’t really want to do a nursery here anyway. I don’t plan on being here all that much longer. I want to do a room at Michael’s for her."

"And Michael is cool with everything, right?"

"He’s not the same Michael he used to be," she shook her head. "He’s matured. He’s totally excited about the baby and is taking everything perfectly. He’s a rock."

* * * * *

"I’m freaking out, man." Michael paced in Max’s bedroom. "I don’t know if I can do this. Part of me wants to jump in the baby blue Tempo and bolt."

"You’re not going anywhere."

"I know, but part of me wants to. That’s a bad."

"No, that’s an only natural."

"Say what?"

"You’re about to go through a life altering thing," Max explained. "It’s only normal to have those feelings of running away."

"Everything we do if life altering." Michael rebutted.

"No, this is just you. Just your life. Michael’s life."

"So it’s okay to run away?"

"Did I say that, no. The feeling of wanting to run away is okay. You’ll do the right thing. You always seem to in the end. Besides, you gave up a home you always wanted to get back to for Maria, I doubt you’re going to leave her now."

"Okay, I’m not running away. I won’t run away. But in the meantime I can freak out though, right?"

"What are you freaking out about? I thought you were dealing with all of this so good. Why the freak out now?"

"At my house, when Maria went into false labor? It scared the shit out of me, man. I thought she was dying. That freaked me out. Having a baby is freaking me out. I don’t know if I have any business being a father. I don’t know what a real father does." Michael seemed to be getting to the truth of the matter. "What do I do?"

"The car was a step in the right direction."

"I miss my bike."

"You’ll get another one someday."

"So what do I do? What does a father do? I want to be able to take care of my family and I don’t have a clue how to do it."

"A father is someone who loves his child. Who takes care of her, tries not to ever let her down. Sacrifices for her. You’ll do just fine Michael, I know you will."

"I have to get a real job. I can’t afford a baby on what I make."

"Then get a real job."

"Where? High school education, barely. Skills? None human. I’m a short order cook."

"You can do just about anything you want without a college degree. I’ll go with you next week and we’ll try to find you a real job."

"I need insurance, too. For the baby."

"We’ll find you insurance."

Michael finally smiled, a weight seemed to be lifted from his shoulders. Help. That was what he needed. They turned as the bedroom door opened and Isabel strolled in. She actually seemed to be more like floating. She sighed and lay down on Max’s bed.

"Good date?" Michael raised his eyebrows.

"Excellent." She sat up. "Actually, I need to talk to both of you. I was quite glad to see the DadMobile outside when I got home."

"Cute, Iz." Michael nodded.

"Anyway, I was thinking. Bret and I have gotten so incredibly close-"

"Oh really?" Michael interrupted. "How close is that?"

"Don’t worry about that," Isabel shot back while blushing. "So I was thinking. Maria and Liz know about us and you guys can talk to them about alien things."

"I don’t think I like where this is going," Max spoke softly.

"I think I want to let Bret in on it."

"Forget it." Michael stated. "End of story."

"It’s not fair!"

"I have to agree with Michael. You haven’t known him all that long; you have no idea how he’ll react. I think you better wait on this."

"So that’s it?" She stood up. "End of discussion, right?"

"Iz."

No. I don’t want to hear it. In actuality I don’t need your permission to do anything."

"I don’t think it’s good idea. I’m not saying never, just not now." Max tried to explain. "Wait awhile, okay?"

"Fine. Whatever." She walked from the room, slamming the door behind her.

"That went pretty good," Michael crossed his arms over his chest. "Maybe later we could go beat up old ladies and steal candy from babies?"

* * * * *

Chapter Six

Max Evans felt like he was walking on air. The smile on his face was huge, he was almost giddy. He put the finishing touches on the room and looked around. It was perfect. Everything was perfect. Tonight Liz Parker was going to be his. All his. Soulmates. He closed his eyes and said a silent prayer to a god he didn’t believe in that the night would be magic. No interference.

He closed the door behind him on the way out and ran down the steps to the parking lot to his car and went home to wait. The waiting was going to be the hard part. He was picking Liz up in about five hours. Five hours. Probably the longest of his life.

* * * * *

Maria was lying on the couch, pillows propped her back up. Her hands rested protectively on her very swollen stomach. Five weeks. Only five more weeks. Liz sat at the other end of the sofa. Nervous. Fidgety. She was tapping her foot to an unheard song, her hands were beating softly against her thigh.

"Stop it!" Maria shouted. "You’re driving me crazy! Can you not sit still?"

"I’m sorry," Liz apologized, her one-man band coming to an abrupt stop. "I’m nervous."

"I can see that. Don’t be nervous."

"That’s easier said than done. Tonight could turn out to be one of two things. Either the best night in the history of time, or the worst most unimaginable nightmare."

"What do I always tell you about positive energy? It works. Letting all those bad thoughts in your head is not helping. Positive. Must remain positive."

"I’m trying to. I mean I’m so excited that we’re finally going to be together. I’ve waited for this for so long. At the same time I’m scared that I won’t remember it. That it won’t be me."

"Max won’t let it happen if it’s not you, right?"

"No, of course not. However, this will be the furthest we’ve gone, I don’t know if she can pop up anytime or not."

"This sounds like a really bad porno."

"Aren’t all porno’s really bad?"

"Yeah," Maria laughed. "Like anyone would really answer the door in a bra and then get it on with the pizza delivery guy. Whatever!"

"I know, they are so unrealistic."

"Yeah, like sleeping with aliens?" Maria raised her eyebrows and laughed. "Okay, seriously now. Are you really scared?"

"Yeah. Not about being with Max, but of her. God, I hate her!"

"I know sweetie, we all do."

"I hate the fact that she thinks she can ruin everything from a gazillion miles away."

"What I’d tell you before? You’ll beat her. You’re going to win, Liz, I know you are. This is how it’s meant to be. Destiny scmenstiny, that’s all crap. This is real. This is now."

"This is forever," Liz looked at ease for the first time that afternoon. "I can do it. I can beat her. I will win."

"Yes!" Maria held up her arms and cheered. "Finally!"

"So, are you still going to help me get ready? Do I have to drag everything in here?"

"No, I can get up." Maria proved it and went with Liz to her bedroom to help with her hair and make-up.

After a power beauty treatment, Liz looked in the mirror. She smiled at her reflection. A short black strapless dress, black heels. Her hair swept up on top of her head. Make-up: perfection.

"You look so pretty." Maria stood in back of her and gazed at her reflection. "I mean, I don’t think you’ve ever looked better. Beautiful."

"Thank you," Liz turned around and hugged Maria. "Thank you for helping me with everything."

"No problemo, chica. Just remember, don’t eat anything at dinner that’s going to give you bad breath. And always, always, use a condom."

"I promise," Liz took a deep breath and glanced at the wall clock. "Max’ll be here in about twenty minutes."

"Let’s go wait in the living room. It might take me twenty minutes just to get there!"

"Okay, so I doubt my mom will call over here. But if she tries to get me on the cell and can’t, she might."

"Covered. In the bathroom, those crazy nachos just didn’t sit well, did they?"

"Thank you."

"I feel like I’m sending my daughter off to Prom or something." Maria looked over her shoulder and saw her camera. She picked it up and told Liz to stand in front of the window. "This is the last picture of Liz Parker as a virgin."

Liz smiled as Maria took the picture. They went to the living room and sat side by side on the couch. Liz did everything she could not to start an annoying fidgety thing again, and it was hard. At exactly six o’clock, they both looked towards the front door. A knock. Liz smiled and squeezed Maria’s hand. "Wish me luck."

"You don’t need luck," she smiled.

Liz picked up her overnight bag and carried it to the door. She set it down and opened the door. Max stood in the opening in a suit. Black on black. She gaped and then smiled. He stared, unable to take his eyes off her.

"You look quite handsome tonight Mr. Evans." Liz said softly, suddenly self-conscious at the way he was staring at her. "Max?’

"Sorry," he shook his head and looked at her face. "Wow. You are stunning."

"Thank you."

"No, I mean really spectacular."

Maria looked down at her fat belly, elastic banded shorts and T-shirt that read ‘baby’ and had an arrow pointing down, a gift from Kyle and Jim Valenti, and grimaced. "Okay, enough of the stunning talk. You’re making me feel like a cow. Go. Go to dinner. Have a nice night and be careful!"

Liz smiled at her and said good-bye as she picked up her overnight bag. Max took it from her and guided her with his hand on her back to the jeep. He put the bag in the back and opened the door for her, then helped her in.

"Thanks, I wouldn’t want to flash you." Liz said to him through the open window after he shut the door.

"No, that’s for later." He winked and walked around and got in.

They drove in near silence to the restaurant, each stealing glances at the other. At the Italian restaurant, Rizzo’s, they were seated at a small table in the back. They each ordered light, neither sure if they could eat at all knowing what lay ahead of them. Conversation was minimal during the meal, small talk. They finished quickly and made it back to the jeep before Max stopped and kissed her.

"I’m so nervous," he admitted swallowing hard.

"Me too."

"I love you, no matter what happens tonight. You know that, right?"

"I know," she picked up his hands in hers and brought them to her face, kissing his knuckles. "And I love you."

"No matter what happens?"

"I’ll always love you Max." Liz didn’t elaborate. She couldn’t. It was true; she’d always love Max. Nevertheless, if things went terribly wrong tonight it would destroy her. It would destroy them. Max seemed to understand and let her in the jeep.

"So, where are we going?" Liz finally asked after they had been driving for a few minutes.

"It’s a surprise," Max smiled to himself.

"Hint?"

"Nope."

Liz crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. Max looked at her and laughed. "Forget it. I told you, a surprise." After about ten more minutes Max pulled over on the side of the road and put the car in park.

"Why are we stopping?" Liz asked looking around.

Max didn’t say anything but reached across her and opened the glove box; he pulled out an object and closed it. He shook the object out, a scarf. A black scarf.

"What’s that for?"

"You. Turn around." Liz obediently did as she was told and Max tied the scarf over her eyes. "Is that too tight?" Liz shook her head. "Can you see anything?" She shook her head again. "Are you sure? You don’t want to ruin the surprise, do you?"

"I promise, I can’t see anything." Liz answered.

"Good." Max put the car in gear again and within minutes, he stopped and turned the car off. "Stay there, I’ll come get you." He grabbed her bag from the back and then helped Liz out of the car. She clung to his arm and took small steps. When they got to a staircase she held Max’s arm with one hand and the handrail with the other.

"Are we almost there?" She asked after the top step.

"Almost. Just a little further." He led down an outside hallway and then stopped. Liz could hear key’s jingling and then a door opening. He led her inside, dropping her overnight bag on the floor. He closed the door.

Liz’s heels sank down in the plush carpet. She reached in front of her for furniture, but felt none. "Max?"

"I’m right here, " he took her arm again and led her through a room and down a short hallway, then through an open door. "Ready?"

"Oh, yes."

Max undid the scarf and let it fall to the floor not wanting to miss a single moment of Liz’s expression. He was not let down. Liz opened her eyes and she gasped. The room was empty except for a queen size bed against the wall, adorned with a white spread and pillows. White Christmas lights were strung from the ceiling and the walls, looping over the closed mini-blinds on the windows, outlining the walls on the floor. She turned to Max and smiled.

"It’s so wonderful in here, it’s magical." She hugged him. "But where are we? A hotel? Where’s the other furniture?"

"It’s not a hotel," he cocked his head to one side. "All I could afford was the bed after first and last months rent."

"Rent?" He eyes widened. "This is your place?"

"I was hoping it could be our place." He smiled modestly.

"Our..."

"Liz, will you move in here? With me?" He asked and was answered with a kiss. "That’s a yes, right?"

"What do you think?" She kissed him again and stepped out of her shoes. She concentrated on herself more than she ever had before. ‘Stay here Parker’, she chanted over and over in her head. She slid Max’s jacket off, letting it fall to the floor. She undid his tie, allowing it to hang around his neck. She unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it from his pants. Max placed his hand under her chin and lifted her face to meet his. "It’s still me, Max. All me."

Max smiled and knew it was her. He mentally kicked himself for not knowing when it wasn’t her. When her hands paused after loosening his belt, he pulled her to his bare chest. She heard his heart beat, only one, and smiled feeling safe. While embracing her, he found the zipper on the back of her dress and slowly eased it down. Liz looked down as the dress dropped from her body. Her first instinct was to cover herself up, but she fought it and stood in black silk panties in front of Max and let him drink her in, her arms at her sides.

"You..." Max was unable to form words. He tensed as he felt her unbuttoning, then unzipping his pants. She let them drop to the floor and he stepped out of them, then kicked off his shoes and took off his socks, leaving him in blue boxer shorts. He took her hand and led her to the bed. He pulled down the comforter exposing white sheets. He sat her on the edge of the bed, then pushed her back gently. He lay on top of her and kissed her. She ran her hands through his hair. He lowered his head to her breasts and took one in his mouth feeling her nipple harden under his tongue. He paused and looked to her, her eyes were closed.

"Liz?" He asked softly.

Nothing.

"Liz?" When he didn’t get an answer the second time he laid back almost on her and took her by the arms and shook her gently. Her eyes flew open "Liz?"

"I’m here," she noticed his boxers still on and relief filled her. "It’s me."

"You were..."

"It’s me now, Max." She touched his cheek lovingly. "I promise."

Max nodded and made a mental note to check periodically that he didn’t lose her again. He moved back to her breasts while his hands worked to roll off her panties. He looked at her and she smiled. It was Liz. He smiled back and she sat up and helped him off with the boxers. Nervous to touch him like she had never before, she reached to him and felt him quiver. She rolled him in her hands and looked at his face. His sweet face. He was so hard.

Liz scooted back further on the bed and rested her head on the pillows. Max followed and lay next to her, running his hand along her thigh, he parted her legs and pressed his cupped hand to her. He felt her tense, then slide into ease spreading her legs further. He looked up and tried to discreetly see her eyes. She caught him and looked through the bottom of her eyes at him.

"I’m here." Was all she needed to say.

Max was confident he would be able to tell if she slipped again. He prayed his confidence wasn’t in vain. He slid his finger into her wet folds and heard her gasp. He smiled and the kissing on her shoulder turned into licking. She grabbed his hair and gently coerced him to her, her mouth enveloping his. He pulled away from her, it wasn’t Liz. He removed his hand and called her name, she looked towards him. Then smiled.

"I hope this doesn’t happen all night." She muttered and kissed him.

He reached under a pillow and pulled out a condom, which earned him an amused look from Liz. He shrugged and opened the wrapper with his teeth. He spit it out and put the condom on. Max straddled her then laid down on her, holding his upper body up by his arms. He relaxed onto one side and guided himself into her as far as he could.

"This is going to hurt," she whispered and closed her eyes.

Max smiled at her innocence and wished for a fleeting moment that he still had his. He tried to thrust inside her gently, but he couldn’t go any further. He tried again and again and could only get so far. Liz knew what the problem was and she knew he was afraid of hurting her. Sweat dripped from his forehead on to her, exasperation predominant in his eyes. She smiled and rested her hands on his ass and pulled him into her as he thrust again. He went deeper and saw the pain in her eyes.

"Are you okay?" He whispered; his voice shaky.

"I’m perfect."

Max thrust into her again and again. In the coolness of the room he was panting, sweat falling from him. Clinging to their arms and legs. He took her arms and put them in back of her, his hands holding hers.

"I love you Liz..." He said breathlessly.

"I love you." She gazed in his eyes and the flashes hit her from every side. She saw her life with Max up until now. She saw his caring looks and devoted heart. She saw herself through his eyes. "Oh..."

"I’m coming," his body jerked momentarily and then he collapsed on her out of breath. "Oh..."

"Max." She ran one hand through his wet hair, the other caressed the back of his neck. He rolled off her and onto his back. "I saw so much."

"I know, I did too." He rolled on his side and reached his hand to her face, running his finger over her lips. "That was...I don’t think I can explain it."

"Was it...?" Liz bit back what she had intended to say.

"It’s you Liz, it’s always been you." He fought to hold back a lone tear in his eye. "Tonight, now, this is magical."

"Magical," she repeated and wiped away the tear before it could fall.

"I don’t ever want to be without you."

"You never will be. I promise." Her voice cracked.

He wrapped his arms around and buried his face in her damp hair. "I’ll never let you go. Never."

They made love two more times before falling asleep, their bodies entwined. Liz stayed Liz. She had won.

* * * * *

Chapter Seven

Max woke up to the sunlight oozing through the mini-blinds. The white lights were still lit; the room glowed with warmth. He looked next to him and saw his life. His Liz. She was still sleeping. He kissed her forehead and watched as her eyes fluttered open.

"Good morning," he whispered in her ear before he kissed it. "How are you?"

"Morning," she shielded her mouth away from him. "I have to brush my teeth." She unraveled herself from Max and sat up suddenly aware of her nakedness. "Where is my bag?"

"Other room," Max sat up. "Do you need it?" She nodded and he stood up and stretched, Liz stared at him. "I’ll be right back." He walked from the room and Liz followed his ass with her eyes, blushing. Max brought the bag in the room and set it next to her. She fumbled around inside until she found a T-shirt and slid it over her head. "Are you getting dressed?"

"Uh...Not really." She became very embarrassed. "I’m not used to being all naked around you. Yet."

"You better get used to it," he sat down next to her. "So, I guess everything is good this morning?"

"I feel great. I feel like this huge boulder has been lifted off my shoulders. She’s gone Max, really gone." She smiled.

"I know. You were right. I guess we should have done this sooner like you said, huh?"

"No. I’m glad we waited because last night was unbelievable. It was perfect."

"Do you remember what you said last night?"

"About what?" Liz suddenly became nervous. "When?"

"When we got here? You said you’d move in here with me. Will you still?"

"Yes, I will." She beamed. "My parents are going to freak out, but I don’t care. I want to move in here with you more than anything else in the world. Do you think you could give me a tour of my new home soon?"

"After I take a shower," he stood and extended his hand to hers. "Care to join me?"

"Oh. Okay." She hesitated then stood. She pulled the blanket back slightly, then held it flat against the bed turning red. "I think you better show me where to do laundry, too."

"It’s okay Liz." He took her hand and led into the adjoining bathroom. He turned the water on and adjusted the temperature until he thought she would be comfortable. She pulled the shirt over her head and tossed it to the floor and stepped in the stall and was surprised to see her brand of shampoo and body wash.

"You are prepared, aren’t you?" She motioned to the sundries.

"Like a Boy Scout." He bit his bottom lip. "Well, kind of like a Boy Scout." He poured some body wash gel in his hand and began to massage Liz with it. The smell of melon took over the shower. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "I’ve dreamed of this moment for so long. We’re beginning our lives together, Liz, really together."

"Happily ever after?"

"Forever and always."

* * * * *

Michael lay in bed next to Maria watching TV. He wasn’t interested in the show about natural healing with herbs, but he knew Maria was and tried to pay attention. His eyes closed longer for each blink until he was asleep. It might have gone undetected had he not started snoring. Maria whacked him in the stomach and his eyes flew open.

"Hey! What was that for?"

"For falling asleep. You’re suppose to be keeping me company," she looked sideways at him.

"I’m sorry, this is boring the shit out of me," he pointed at the TV. "Besides, I’m tired. It’s been a long week. I’ve put in job applications at every place in Roswell and no one has called me."

"I’m sorry, sweetie. Someone will call. You’ll find a new job."

"I have to Maria. I don’t make shit at the café. I have to start making decent money and fast. I have to prove to a lot of people that I can take care of you and Leia," he smiled every time he said her name.

"You don’t have to prove anything."

"Yeah, I do. Remember, I’m ‘Michael the screw up’. I want to do this right. I don’t ever want you or Leia to want for anything." He sighed. "It’s just hard."

"We’ll do okay."

"I want to do better than okay. I want to make you happy."

"You already make me happy." She rolled on her side with a little effort. "You know, I doubt my mom will be back before midnight. Her and the Sheriff went to some old people dance at the Rec. Center. That’s like almost two hours away." She raised her eyebrows.

"You’ve got to be kidding?" Michael half laughed, half snorted.

"Okay, I understand. I know I’m huge and ugly and if you’re not attracted to me right now, it’s no big." She closed her eyes.

"No. No, it’s not like that. I think you’re beautiful like this. I’ve never seen anything more exquisite that you carrying my baby. I just didn’t think you could anymore, I mean being this far along."

"I can." She opened her eyes and grinned. "I can if you can, but if you’re too tired..."

"Oh, I can."

"Sure?" She teased.

He rolled over on his side and grabbed the bottom of her shirt and pulled it over her head. He undid her bra and flung it to the floor. He seized her shorts and eased them down over her belly and tossed those aside, then her cotton underwear.

"These are pretty sexy," he held them up.

"Shut up, it’s the only thing that’ll fit!" She yanked them from his hands and chucked them across the room. "You’re next."

Michael lifted his shirt over his head and then stood and dropped his jeans.

"Did you quit wearing underwear altogether?" Maria asked.

"Yes, I did. Don’t need it." He got back in bed with her and kissed her long and hard. He ran his hand between her legs and she sighed. Everything seemed to be intensified since she’s been pregnant.

Michael laid half way on top of her and with her help, entered her. She moaned and massaged his ass as he plunged into her, deeper and deeper. Michael paused when she made a sound that did not all the way sound like a pleasurable one.

"Maria?"

"Oh, shit." Her eyes were wide.

"What’s..." Michael looked down as he felt a great wetness. "Did you...?"

"Water. Broke. Baby. Now." She started crying. Michael withdrew from her and stared at her. "Call my doctor then help me get dressed!"

Michael grabbed the bedside phone and called the number for Dr. Martin’s service off the piece of paper that was taped to it. He left the message to meet at the hospital and then grabbed Maria’s clothes from the floor. He slid her shorts on her and then helped pull her T-shirt over her head.

"Are you sure it isn’t false labor again?" Michael asked while taking ten seconds out to put on his own clothes.

"I don’t know!" She cried holding her stomach. "Oh God, it hurts!"

"I know Angel, I’ll call-"

"No. Just drive me, we have time." She shook her head. "Please."

Michael didn’t ask questions. Right now, if she asked him to walk over hot coals he would have done it without even blinking. He helped her sit up, wrapping her arm around his neck, they stood. She doubled over grasping her belly, tears staining her shirt.

"Can you make it?"

She nodded then pointed to the corner. "My bag."

Michael eased her in that direction and picked up the bag slinging it over his shoulder. He walked her slowly down the hall, sweat breaking out all over him. It seemed like it took hours to get her to the car and buckled in. He ran around the other side and threw her bag in the back seat. He got in and looked at his girlfriend while starting the car. Her face was contorted in pain, tears streamed down her cheeks. Her face was red. He backed out of the driveway and drove as calmly as he could to the emergency room. He parked in the no parking zone and went around to help her out. She put all her weight on him and for a few moments he thought he might have to carry her. Maria took it like a trooper and walked into the emergency room. They were met by a nurse who scampered off returning moments later with a wheelchair. They bypassed admitting, Maria had pre-admitted the week before, and were led to a room.

"Dr. Martin called minutes before you got here," the nurse told Michael once he stammered out Maria’s name. "She’ll be here in about fifteen or twenty minutes."

"That’s too long." Maria called from the bed they had helped her on.

"I know, Hon," the nurse squeezed her shoulder. "Another doctor is on his way down to look at you and see if we can move you up to Labor or not. He’ll be here-" She stopped as the door opened and a young doctor walked in.

"Hi, I’m Doctor Ahmed," he introduced himself to both Michael and Maria. "I’m going to take a look and see what’s going on and Dr. Martin should be here soon. " Maria turned her head and Michael faced the wall as he examined her. "Okay, you’re at three centimeters. Plenty of time. You’re early, though. Five weeks?"

"Yeah, is that bad?" Maria’s voice broke.

"Not necessarily, we’re going to move you upstairs and we’ll wait for Dr. Martin. Everything else seems fine, okay Ms. DeLuca?"

Maria nodded and held her hand out for Michael. He offered her a weak smile and squeezed her hand. "See, everything’s fine."

"It’s too soon."

"No, she’s just anxious to meet you." Michael hid his fears from her. "We’re going to go upstairs to one of those snazzy rooms and in a little while we’re going to get our first glimpse of Leia."

"Like Princess Leia?" Dr. Ahmed asked.

"Something like that," Michael answered never breaking his eyes away from Maria.

Maria was taken upstairs to a private room with a bed, small sofa and television. The walls were soothing shades of mauve and green. Michael whistled.

"This is nicer than my place." He spied a phone next to the bed and reached for it. "I’m going to try to get a hold of your mom." He dialed the Valenti house, Kyle answered.

"Yo."

"It’s Michael, I need a favor."

"What?" Kyle asked nervously. Whenever one of the aliens needed a favor it usually involved something big and bad.

"Go find Maria’s mom and get her to the hospital. Maria went into labor."

"Already?"

"Yeah. They’re at some dance. Can you do it?"

"Is everything okay?"

"So far."

"On my way." He disconnected.

"Kyle’s going to go get her." He sat next to her on the bed and kissed her lips. "You okay?"

"I don’t know," she took a deep breath. "The pain isn’t so bad now, I can handle that. I’m scared because she’s so early."

"Early is okay." Michael nodded. "I’m never early for anything, so she must have gotten that from you."

"I love you Space Boy."

"I know." He kissed her again. "You aren’t going to tell anyone what we were doing when...?"

"I have to tell the Doctor. And Liz, of course. No one else."

"Thanks, it’s kind of embarrassing."

"I think it’s kind of cool," she admitted. "My mom’s going to suck when she gets here."

"I know. She won’t want me in here. I don’t know if I want me in here."

"Oh, no." She shook her head. "You are so not leaving my side. I need you here with me. In case something happens."

"Nothing’s going to happen," he tried to reassure her.

"You don’t know that. Everything looks normal, but that doesn’t mean it is."

He nodded and leaned against the back of the bed, she rested her head on his arm. Dr. Martin arrived and assured Maria she still had a little while to go and she wouldn’t be far away. As she was walking from the room Amy, Jim and Kyle rushed in.

"Oh baby!" Amy went to her daughter's side. "Is everything okay?"

"So far so good," she smiled meekly and reached to hug her mother. "She’s just a little early."

"You DeLuca women are so impatient." Jim smiled taking his spot next to Amy. He saw the look of concern in Maria’s eyes and knew why it was there. He patted her arm. "You’re fine Maria, the baby’s fine. Kyle and me are going to be right outside in the waiting room. Okay?"

"Thanks. Could you call Liz and let her know?"

Jim promised he would and him and Kyle left.

"My sweet baby," Amy kissed Maria’s forehead. "Are you in any pain?"

"A little, it’s not as bad as before. Michael got me here pretty fast."

"I hope he wasn’t speeding."

"You know, I don’t need this from you right now." Maria turned her head from her. "Not now. You got a problem with something, deal with it later. This is my time. My show."

"I’m sorry," Amy looked to Michael. "Michael, I am sorry."

He nodded and pursed his lips. "I’m going to get something to drink, would you guys like anything? Maria? Ice chips?"

"Please."

"A coffee would be nice." She took his hand. "Thank you for being there."

"You don’t have to thank me, they’re my family." He left the room and stopped by the waiting room to see the Valenti’s. Kyle was hanging up the phone when he walked in. "Liz?"

"Yeah. She’ll be here soon, with Max." Kyle answered as he took his spot next to his dad. "She really okay in there?"

"Yeah, I think so." Michael nodded. "She’s worried that something won’t go right, because, you know."

"Nothing’s been detected." Jim said.

"That’s what I tell her, but she says we won’t know for sure until she’s born."

"Are you going to be in there?"

"Me and Ms. DeLuca." He raised his eyebrows.

"Amy’s just concerned," Jim defended her. "This is her baby. I don’t think she means to take anything out on you."

Michael shrugged. "It doesn’t bother me because I know she’s upset. It bothers Maria, which bothers me. She doesn’t know the concerns Maria has. Nothing about this pregnancy is normal. It might appear normal, but as far as I know it’s the first one of it’s kind."

"Are you ever going to tell her?" Jim lowered his voice although the room was empty.

"I doubt it. Not unless we have to. Do you see a reason?"

"I don’t." Kyle shook his head. "Then she’ll get dragged into all this X-filey conspiracy theory shit, too. What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her."

"Kyle." Jim glanced at him.

"I didn’t mean it like that," he shook his head. "She’s just not the most stable person in the world and it might freak her out."

"Kyle."

"Seriously dad, nothing bad about her. I like her, but you know what I mean."

Jim finally nodded.

"I gotta go get something to drink, Ms. DeLuca wants some coffee." Kyle offered to help and walked with him down the hall.

"She’s going to be okay, right?" Kyle asked while depositing coins in a machine.

"Maria will come through. She always does."

"I’m worried. We bonded and I totally think of her like a sister."

"I know. She feels the same about you." Michael dropped coins in the coffee machine.

"I’ll be here until it’s over, okay? If it drags on or whatever and you need a break, get me. I’ll sit in there and hold her hand." Kyle held the soft drinks for him and his father. "Don’t hesitate, okay?"

"Thanks, man." Michael nodded and picked up his bottle and Amy’s coffee. "I better get back."

Jim and Kyle made themselves comfortable in the waiting room. Kyle found ESPN Classic on the TV and they watched a football game from five years ago. Something to occupy the time.

Amy began to pace the room and would have continued had Maria not told her stop.

"I’m nervous too, Maria. I’m going to be a grandmother!" She laughed. "Can you believe it? A grandmother!"

"Congratulations Grandma," Michael said softly.

Amy looked at him and tilted her head to the side. He sat next to the bed, both his hands holding Maria’s. Concern and elation were both present in his eyes. He truly loved her daughter. Amy saw him in a new light. He was here; he wasn’t leaving. "Michael, you’re going to be good father."

Michael and Maria both looked at her, Maria had tears in her eyes. Michael half smiled and nodded a thank you.There was a soft knock at the door and Liz and Max walked in. Liz went to Maria’s other side and bent down to kiss her cheek.

"Hey lady, aren’t you a little early?" She smiled.

"She didn’t want to wait." Maria smiled up at her. "I’m glad you’re here."

Amy excused herself to the ladies room leaving the four friends alone.

"Michael," Max patted his back. "How are you holding up?"

"Good." He looked to Maria. "Better."

"Max," Maria looked to him. "I need a favor."

"Anything."

"Will you stay until I deliver? I mean stay really close by?"

Max looked between her and Michael and understood. "Of course, I’ll be here."

"Thank you." She smiled at him and turned back to Liz. "So, tell me about last night."

"Now?" Liz asked surprised. "You’re getting ready to have a baby."

"I know, but the suspense is killing me. I couldn’t get a hold of you all day."

"Been in a major powwow with the parental figures. Last night," she looked dreamy, "was perfect. It’s okay, Maria. All’s good. Ding dong the witch is gone."

"I’m so glad. You’re going to stay here too, right?"

"Of course." She paused as Maria’s face shifted from happiness to pain. "Maria? Michael!"

Michael hit the call button next to the bed, holding her hands and wiping the newly formed sweat from her brow. "Time?"

"Oh God!" She wailed.

Max and Liz exited the room as Dr. Martin and a nurse entered, Amy was close behind.

"Maria." She said softly and went to her daughters other side. She looked across her and smiled at Michael. "It’s okay, Michael. Stay with her."

Michael nodded and knelt down on the chair next to her, her hand gripping his with such strength he felt it falling asleep. His lips hovered next to her and he whispered to her. Things she wanted to hear, things she needed to hear. He never let go of her hand as the Doctor examined her and told it was time to push; Leia wasn’t waiting any longer.

The entire labor lasted over four hours and Leia Guerin was born at four thirty-seven in the morning on August third. She weighed five pounds, two ounces and was sixteen and a quarter inch long. She was healthy and normal. After being cleaned up and swathed in a pink bundle of blankets, Dr. Martin extended Leia to meet her mother. She placed the baby in Maria’s arms and stood back. She told the new family that she’d let them have some privacy for a few minutes before Leia was moved to the Preemie ward. She explained briefly that she would probably have to stay there for a few days.

"She’s perfect," Maria smiled putting her finger under the baby’s chin. Leia was almost still, her eyes were closed. When she opened them, Maria gasped. They were so light green they were almost clear. "Her eyes, look."

Michael and Amy peered over and looked down at Leia.

"They’re so pretty!" Amy cooed. "Everything about her is so pretty."

Michael hadn’t said a word. His was shaking and he was in awe. That child in Maria’s arms was from him, a part of him. A human part of him. He bent down and bit his lip to keep it from trembling. He looked from Maria’s eyes to Leia’s. His family.

"Do you want to hold her?" Maria whispered as fresh tears fell freely down her cheeks. Michael nodded and sat back in the chair, arms out stretched he received his daughter and held her close until he could feel her tiny heart beat again his palm. "Hi Daddy."

He finally smiled and exhaled a deep breath. His daughter. Michael Guerin was a father. The nurse came back in and told them where Leia would be and how they could get there with friends and family and then took her away.

"I miss her already," Maria cried as the door opened and Liz walked in. "Come in! Tell everyone to come in!"

Liz retreated and then returned moments later with Max and the Valenti’s. Kyle kissed Maria’s cheek and shook Michael’s hand; Max hugged Michael and briefly placed his hand on Maria’s forehead. Jim kissed and shook hands then took his spot at the side of Amy DeLuca.

"She’s perfect Liz. She’s so beautiful," Maria clung to her best friends hand. "You have to go see her, you all do."

"When can we?" Kyle asked.

"Soon. She’s going to be down in the hall. Preemie ward," Amy answered.

"Everything’s okay?" Max asked tentatively.

Michael nodded and hugged him again speaking softly in his ear. "She’s human Max. All human."

* * * * *

Chapter Eight

Liz stood in front of her parents for the third time in less than two days.

"Can we just get this over with so I can go see Maria and the baby?"

"I guess your mind is made up then?" Nancy Parker had her arms folded over her chest.

"Yes." Liz said defiantly.

"This is big, Liz. First you blow off numerous acceptances to good schools to go the Junior College here and now you’re moving in with Max. Are you going to get pregnant, too?"

"No, I’m not." She shook her head. "That is not something I want to do until I’m through with school and married."

"That may be the most sensible thing you’ve said in the last thirty-six hours." Jeff Parker said.

"Thank you. You have to realize that this is my life, I’m not the same little girl I used to be. I know what I want from my life. Max Evans is what I want."

"All this for some boy." Nancy shook her head.

"He’s not just some boy, mom. He’s my future." Liz’s eyes became glassy. "You’ll see. I want you both to support me in this, I really need your support."

"I don’t think I can support you living in sin."

"There’s nothing sinful about it. We’re in love. We’re going to be together forever, so you’re going to have to get used to it."

"Have you and Max discussed how you’re going to pay for this living together?" Jeff asked.

Liz opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. They hadn’t discussed it. Her parents had her. She had no idea how they could afford the apartment.

"I see." He smiled. "Why don’t you let your mother and I talk about a few things and you go visit Maria. We’ll finish this later."

Liz nodded and retreated to her room. She had boxes piled in a corner, some half full. She was scared, not in a bad way, but still scared none the less. She was also upset that her parents weren’t as accepting of the cohabitation as Max’s had been. They had come over to the apartment that morning with Isabel to inspect it. They also had offered their help in furniture and household items.

Liz sighed and began to pack more clothes in the boxes. She was heading back over to the apartment before going to the hospital to see Leia. Maria was being released in a few hours but she knew her friend wasn’t leaving that baby alone for long. She picked up the box and carried it downstairs, pausing briefly to say good-bye to her parents who were huddled next to each other talking softly in the kitchen. She put the box in Maria’s Jetta that she was borrowing and made her way the short drive to her new home. She saw Max’s car already in the parking lot and smiled.

When she pushed open the door she smiled. She was home. Max was lying on the floor underneath a desk connecting the computer.

"Hi Honey, I’m home!" She set the box on the floor and knelt down next to Max.

"Are your parents any better?" He asked sitting up.

"I think my dad might be coming around, but mom’s convinced we’re living in sin. It’s going to be a long ride with her. I wish they were as cool about this as your parents are."

"Think about my parents. In the fall when Isabel goes back to school and I’m here, they’re going to have the whole house to themselves for the first time since they brought us home."

"So are mine, but..."

"It’ll be okay." He tried to reassure her with a hug.

"Eventually. I guess." She wrinkled her brow. "My dad brought up an interesting point that I didn’t think of, though. He wanted to know how we were going to pay for this place. How are we?"

"Well, I figure I have to get a new job, one that I actually go to regularly. That’s it."

"What about school?"

"That’s in the fall and I’ll still work at night, or go to school at night. Which ever."

"I’ll have school in the day and the Crashdown at night. We’re never going to see each other!"

"We will." He smiled. "We’ll have plenty of time together. I promise. Hey, aren’t you suppose to be at the hospital?"

"Yeah, I’m on my way. Just wanted to drop off the box and see you." She kissed the side of his mouth. "I’m leaving now. I have to work tonight, so if you come in I’ll see you. If not, then I’ll see you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? You’re not going to stay here with me tonight?"

"Oh. Yeah, I guess I will."

"Sure? You don’t sound sure."

"Positive." She waved at him while walking to the door. "I love you Max."

"I love you too Liz."

Liz left the apartment grinning down the flight of steps to the parking lot. She reached the Jetta and as she was about to put the key in the door a shadow loomed over her. She turned around abruptly and came face to face with Bret Anderson.

"Oh God, Bret! You scared me! Where’s Isabel?" She asked looking around him.

"Not here," he smiled. He outstretched his hand and laid it on Liz’s forehead, she looked strangely at him for a second, then her eyes shut. The keys fell from her hand as her knee’s weakened. Bret caught her with one arm and carried her a few cars down to his. Looking around suspiciously, he put her in the backseat and got in. He waited a beat before starting the car, then peeled out of the lot.

* * * * *

"She can come home tomorrow," Maria said looking in the window at her baby girl amongst a dozen others. Michael stood in back of her, his arms around her chest. "Can you believe they’re letting her come home so soon?"

"Everything’s good with her, she’s healthy and perfect."

"Thank God!" She turned her head and kissed his neck. "She’s so beautiful."

"She looks like you."

"Not those eyes," Maria shook her head. "They’re the lightest green I’ve ever seen."

"And you thought green and antennae’s, right?"

"Very funny. Do you realize how lucky we are?"

"I know how lucky I am," he squeezed her tighter. "Didn’t you say Liz was coming by? Visiting hours are almost up."

"Yeah, I wonder where she’s at, she has my car." Maria looked again at Leia behind the glass in a plastic box with vents and tubes. "I guess she got hung up at her new apartment."

"I still can’t believe Max did that without telling anyone." Michael shook his head. "It’s really nice, I don’t know how they’re going to afford it though."

"Can’t wait to see it. Anyway, I guess Liz is a no show." She sounded sad. "I want to go home and take a real shower and eat a real dinner and then come back. Okay?"

"Yeah," Michael let her go and took her hand leading her back to her room. He helped her pack up and then checked her out. He pulled the car around front and waited as Maria was wheeled outside. He helped her in the car and looked at her. "Can you believe we have a daughter?"

"Not really," Maria admitted. "Isn’t it strange?"

"Big time." He started the car and pulled out of the lot and into traffic. "Is your mom going to be home?"

"Yeah. Her and the Valenti’s, we’re having dinner together. Mom’s cooking."

"Oh."

"You don’t think you still need an invitation, do you?" She smiled. "We’re totally in this together now, Guerin. Remember? A family?"

"Yeah," he was smiling as he looked straight ahead. He slid sunglasses on and turned back to Maria. "My future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades."

"You’re a dork." She laughed.

As they pulled into the driveway Maria let out a yelp. In the front yard was an obnoxiously large wooden stork with a banner that read ‘It’s A Girl! Leia Guerin!’ across it. Pink balloons adorned the railing to the steps. Amy DeLuca and the Valenti’s were waiting on the porch, all waving at the car.

"Oh my God," Maria laughed. "This is so embarrassing! Did you know about this?"

"A little," his eyes dancing behind dark glasses.

He helped her out of the car and into the house with the rest of the entourage. She sat on the couch and let out a deep breath. "Wow."

"How are you feeling?" Kyle asked sitting down next to her. "Is everything still good with Leia?"

"Boy, you really are taking the role of cool Uncle Kyle seriously, aren’t you?" She saw the embarrassment she caused and hugged him. "Thank you. We’re both great! We can bring her home tomorrow. Will you come over?"

"Of course. I’ll bring the presents then."

"Presents? You didn’t have to get presents." Maria laughed.

Kyle shrugged.

"Did you guys think of a middle name, yet?" Amy asked. "I wanted to put it on the stork, but since no one told me what it was I couldn’t."

"We did, well, Michael did." Maria smiled. "He got to pick."

"Uh-oh." Jim and Kyle said at the same time.

"Leia Chance Guerin." Maria said proudly. "What do you think?"

"Perfect," Amy smiled genuinely at Michael. "Just perfect."

"So, mom." Jim Valenti leaned over her and kissed her cheek. "How does it feel to be a mother?"

"So far so good. I miss her already though. We’re going back after dinner."

"Good, I think your mom and I are too, for a little while." He looked to Michael. "So, how’s the job hunt going?"

"Going?" Michael laughed. "It’s going nowhere and fast. I haven’t gotten one call back from the thousand applications I put out."

"Hmm," he cocked his head towards the kitchen. "Why don’t you help me get the food ready for the grill?"

Michael looked quizzically at him then followed him into the kitchen. Jim was already seated at the kitchen table. He motioned to the chair across from him.

"What’s up?" Michael asked nervously.

"I have a proposition for you. I did something for you and if you refuse it, that’s okay. I won’t get mad and no hard feelings."

"Oh boy," he exhaled loudly.

"Relax," Jim laughed. "I know you’re having a hard time finding a decent job. I know you need one and fast. I know you need insurance. So, I made a few calls and pulled in a few favors with the county."

"Am I going to be a Trash Man?"

"No," Jim laughed again. "I got you into the Police Academy with a job waiting as a Deputy of Roswell, working under me when you graduate from the academy."

"Are you serious?" Michael squinted at him.

"Yeah. I want to see Maria and Leia taken care of. Besides having a Deputy with a few extra’s won’t be a bad thing."

"A Deputy?" Michael laughed and pointed to himself. "Me?"

"You’d be a good one. You’ve got compassion."

"Tell me more about the academy." Michael rested his elbows on the table.

"Its sixteen weeks Monday through Friday. You’ll learn everything you need to there."

"Four months?" He leaned back in his chair. "There’s no way I can not work for four months. I mean it’s a great offer-"

"Stop. This is where I called in my markers. We’re paying you to go to the academy." Jim leaned back in his chair and grinned.

"No way."

"Effective when you start, and the next program starts in less than two weeks."

"What’s the catch?"

"No catch. That’s it; that's my offer. Like I said before, if you turn it down, no hard feelings."

"Turn it down?" Michael laughed. "Are you serious? I am accepting! Oh yeah, big time acceptance here. If you weren’t a man I’d kiss you."

"Will a handshake suffice?" Jim out stretched his hand and Michael clasped it.

"Thank you." Michael smiled and laughed. "You saved my butt."

"What’s new?" Jim shrugged.

They were still laughing as they walked back in the living room.

"What’s so funny?" Amy asked. She had taken a seat next to Maria on the couch, Kyle still on her other side.

"I got a job." Michael smiled and knelt down in front of Maria. "I got a job with insurance and they’re going to pay me and it’s all good."

"Slow down! What are you talking about?"

"I’m going to the Police Academy and when I graduate I’m going to be a Deputy." He laughed.

"What?" Maria gasped.

"Valenti did it," he pointed over his shoulder. "He set everything up."

Amy looked to Jim and smiled, he blushed and shrugged.

"Oh my God!" Maria put her hand to her mouth. "Oh..."

"I’m sorry," Kyle interrupted. "Someone is going to let you carry a gun?"

"And pay me for it!" Michael stood back up.

"It’s the end of the world as we know it." Kyle sang and then shook his hand. "Kidding. Congrat’s Michael. How long until you’re one of Roswell’s finest?"

"Two weeks until the academy and then four months until I’m deputized. Deputized. I feel like Keifer Sutherland in Young Guns."

"You know," Maria smiled coyly at him. "I love a man in uniform."

"So do I," Amy looked towards Jim.

They all laughed and Jim and Amy went into the kitchen to really get the food ready for the grill.

"I can’t believe you’re going to be a Deputy." Maria motioned him to the spot next to her. "Are you still going to work at the Crashdown while you’re in the Academy?"

"No, this is the great part. They’re paying me to go to the Academy!"

"My dad pulled some strings, didn’t he?" Kyle asked.

"Oh, yeah. I think big time."

"He really considers you and Maria his children. You know that?" Kyle frowned.

"He’s been like a father to us," Michael rai