by Catheryne

Every Valentine's Day, Michael comes to Maria with her favorite flowers, waiting, apologizing. Max is worried about him, because he seemed to have shut off his entire life for this. Will this Valentine's be any different? What does she really want from him? Finished. 2/2002

2008

"Where are you off to, Michael?"

"Nice welcome," he retorted. "Anyway, I came by to tell you that a few of us guys are going clubbing tonight."

"It's Sunday night. Don't you people have anything better to do? There's more work tomorrow too if you've forgotten." Michael did a glance over of the paper in this hand.

"Yes, it's Sunday night. Which makes me wonder why you're cooped in this dark studio ruining your eyes at all. This is supposed to be your day off. I thought that I could just come by and make you attend our little party."

"Couldn't a call have been better if you wanted to invite me instead of dropping all the way out here?"

"I wanted to make sure you came. It's a sort of celebration, you know.

Medieval, true, but a celebration all the same."

"Celebration? What could possibly have occurred that would call for a celebration?"

"It's a sort of bachelor party. I'm proposing tomorrow morning to Liz. She'd definitely fall for it, being that tomorrow's Valentine's and all."

Michael's face froze. "Look, Max, I know that I've not been going to a lot of stuff that you boys hold. I know this is important to you, but I can't come tonight. I need to finish these for transportation on Tuesday. I'm not going to work tomorrow," he explained stiffly.

Max tensed. He remembered. "You're not going there again, Michael." His gaze wandered and sure enough, he spotted the bouquet of tulips on the chair, by the air conditioner. "You know, those would probably have wilted by morning," he remarked lightly.

"It doesn't matter. I'll just get another batch."

"You can't keep this up forever, Michael. I'm sure you realize that."

Michael merely smiled.

"I was hoping you could be there to help me say farewell to my single days." No answer. "You know we'll be out til dawn. You could probably catch us if you hurry." Max wet his lips, then finally accepting that it was hopeless, turned away. "Just give my regards to Maria."

Michael gazed at his friend's retreating figure. He hated not being able to go with him. Max has always been one to depend on. It was he who lent him a supporting arm when even his masculine pride could not hold him up. In tough times or happy days, Max had been his companion. He'd been a shadow Michael could not do without since their younger days.

He grabbed the couple of canvasses he'd prepared that night and strode towards the door. He propped them on the wall where the guy who would pick it up could easily see. He stuck a yellow post it on the upper right hand corner with the message: "Two down. Please don't contact me."

He glanced at his wristwatch as he made his way towards the flowers. He cradled them in his left arm and took a folding chair in hand. He stared ahead and orbed out.

~~

It was an hour before midnight when he arrived. He checked on the lightweight folding chair. With the chair on one hand and the flowers on the other, he slowly walked towards the usual place he went unfailingly to for the past several years. He propped open the chair and sat heavily on it.

He could smell the grass and feel the light breeze ruffling his hair.

"Hello, Ria. Missed me?" He smiled, presenting the tulips. "They're your favorite. Max says hi."

She was silent. She'd never spoken in all the years he'd met her here. Still, he knew she was grateful. He could always tell what was on her mind, although she thought he never suspected.

"I still remember what you did when I proposed. I'm so glad Isabel caught that on tape. I watch that video almost every week. You were just leaving to pick up some stuff for the Crashdown when I called you back. And then everybody was there, watching me propose. Your eyes were so wide I could have sworn I saw your brain! Then you squealed and hit me. Then you laughed and cried. It was only after a good ten minutes that you said yes."

Michael closed his eyes and laid his head back. He was like that for a long while, not speaking, not moving. And when he finally spoke his voice was a little hoarse, shaky. "Why won't you talk to me, Maria? It's been so long. I need to hear your voice again. Say something to me." Silence. Even the soft breeze paused to listen. But there was no sound. "It's not such a big thing to ask for, baby. I can't go on like this." He swallowed the lump in his throat, fought to hold back his tears.

When Michael opened his eyes after a few minutes, it was as if the momentary breakdown did not occur. He glanced at his watch again. "Hey, it's almost Valentine's Day. I'd bet the guys are getting wild with exhilaration by this time. They all love the chase." He paused a moment to collect his thoughts. "I've been thinking." He leaned forward and settled his elbows on his knees. "You'll always have a special place in my heart. You were my first love, my wife. But I don't know if this is wrong. You see, Ria," he hesitated. "It doesn't hurt so much anymore." His voice took on a sudden urgency. "I know I 've reiterated this every year, Maria, but I really am sorry for what happened then. What I'm feeling now has no bearing on the life we had. It was the same old deal. The alien business you wanted to get out off. They said it was an emergency. I know I promised you I'd be there for you, and I will always regret that I wasn't there. I told them, you know, that it was Valentine's and I promised my wife that I would take her out. I even told them our little secret. Isabel said congratulations. They told me that what they wanted me to do would help us, keep the little one safe from all the dangers surrounding my existence." He took a deep breath. "I wanted to be there. I would have given everything to be there."

"They told me that you forgive me. But I so want to hear it from you." Michael waited. There was still nothing. There was never anything. "It's not going to happen, is it? Not today, not next year, and definitely not the year after. I went here year after year for six years and it's never going to happen," he whispered. "Oh, honey, I love you so much." His voice broke.

From a distance he could hear the faint sounds of grandfather clocks tolling. "Hey, it's twelve." Michael folded the chair. "I'll be back in the afternoon, baby." He lifted his head and saw three men standing several yards away from him. A look of surprise crossed his features, before comprehension dawned. A soft smile touched his lips. "Well, what do you know. They waited for me. I guess I owe it to them to be with them tonight then. I would never have been able to survive these past years without them, Maria. I'd say this day takes on another meaning for me. I'll see you, sweetheart."

Michael turned to walk towards the three men dressed up. "Where are we going?" he called out.

"Everywhere," came the answer.

Perhaps unconsciously, Alex squeezed Michael's elbow when he reached them.

Kyle punched him in the arm, saying "Long time, no see, man."

Max threw his arm around Michael's shoulders. "She's all right."

"She's all right," Michael said. "I'm all right. So let me see this ring of yours. How big is the rock? Women don't like puny ones. Let me look it over now, because I know you and I don't trust your taste."

"Ha! Just you wait, old man."

"You're older than me, Max. Speak for yourself."

Max shook his head, unwilling to be pulled in to his friend's teases. "It's a good thing it's midnight because if it wasn't you'd be blinded by the sheer brilliance, for sure." The four strode away side by side. "I brought a car for you, so you can go home by yourself if you decide to desert us. I knew you wouldn't take one yourself."

As they parted to take different cars, Michael stopped stock still and turned his head. It must have been a whisper in the wind, but somehow he doubted it. Still, it was inconceivable that after six years, it would happen. What did he do tonight that he did not do the other Valentines?

Of course, he realized. This was what Maria had been waiting for all along. He'd started to move on.

How did he know? Because when he opened the car door, the breeze suddenly played the most beautiful music he'd ever heard. He heard her whisper, Drive carefully, Spaceboy, and don't stay out too late. He laughed softly. How utterly fitting that he should hear that message from her, instead of a protestation of love. It was more romantic than any expression of devotion she could send out to him. He turned his head and blew a kiss towards her.

He couldn't see, but he knew she caught it. And he knew she was smiling because this Valentine's Day, her husband was going to have fun with his friends for a change.

The car zoomed away from the grassy expanse that held what he came every Valentine's to see.

It was a marble stone marker that said,

Maria De Luca-Guerin

Beloved Wife

Born 1983

Tragically taken on

February 14, 2002

Max grinned and whispered, "You're welcome, Girlfriend."

fin.