Title: White Summer
Author: Ella
Category: Max/Maria, AU
Rating: R
Spoilers: None
Summary: Okay, in this story, White Room hasn't happened. They do know their destinies and Liz isn't there because she's in Florida. It takes place in the summer around July. Max and Maria are close friends by now. One more thing, Agent Pierce is still alive.
Part 1
Maria DeLuca was in her room taking a nap; when she heard someone knocking
on her window, "Girlfriend I know you know how to use the door. "
Max Evans was on the other side of the window, "I did, but I guess you didn't hear. How did you know it was me?"
"Well, for one thing, Michael's not talking to me, and you're the only other person who has used the window besides him," she told him as she helped him get through the window.
As Max came through the window his foot got caught on the ledge. Maria tried to help get him loose, which resulted in him falling on top of her.
"Are you okay?" he asked her. He thought that she might have hit her head.
"Besides being squished, I'm fine," she said with a strained laugh and he rolled off of her.
"What's the problem?" she asked as they both leaned against her bed.
"Parents think I'm crazy, sister's developing an attitude toward me, my best friend is at my throat, and I'm being stalked by a blonde terror; the usual, " Max said jokingly and looked over at her.
Maria turned and slapped him on the head and said, "No blonde jokes in present company just refer to her as the man stealing hussy-- like I do.
Is there anything else?" Maria asked, knowing that he was here for a different reason than his everyday problems.
" Well, my new best friend's mom left her home all alone, and with FBI agents running about Roswell," he said getting up off of the floor and sitting on the bed. He knew that the Sheriff would be watching Maria, but still, he didn't like the idea of her being alone, especially with agent Pierce still on the loose. Michael tried to kill him, but he got away.
Max knew that with Maria being close to him and Michael, she would be a great target. He didn't want anything to happen to her.
"Max I've stayed by myself plenty of times before when things got a little crazy. I don't need a babysitter!" She was glad that he cared enough to check up on her, but she didn't want to be thought of as defenseless.
"Babysitting? Does that mean I have to tuck you in tonight? I know a couple of fairy tales I could read to you." For a response, he got a pillow thrown at him, which started a 10-minute pillow fight that turned into a 5 minute wrestling match.
Maria was sitting on Max and had his arms pinned to his back, "Do you give?"
With a red face from laughing Max said, "No way am I letting a measly earth girl beat me." As he said this he broke one arm loose and started to tickle her side.
"Max. Quit it. I. Can't. Breathe. " Maria said, out of breath from laughing.
He stopped, and Maria got up and said, "Now that we have gotten our exercise in for the day it's time to splurge. I'll race you to the kitchen. Last one there gets the last of the chocolate ice cream." Max nodded his head with a grin on his face.
Maria said, "On your mark, get ready, get set, go!" she yelled, and Max was half way to the kitchen.
When Maria got there, Max was had a spoon in the ice cream, "Never come between and alien and his chocolate," he said with a spoon full in his mouth.
"Ew, gross. Don't talk with your mouth full! You're supposed to be the one with manners," Maria said as she got another spoon and sat by him
"Agent Moss, do you have a visual of the subject?" a voice on the other end of a walky-talky asked.
"No, agent Pierce sir, but the subject is inside the apartment of one Maria DeLuca and her mother is away."
"Good, we'll take her, too. She may come in handy," Pierce told Moss in a cold voice.
"Very well sir, will apprehend both Max Evans and Maria DeLuca," Moss told Pierce while keeping an eye on the road and apartment.
"Oh, and agent Moss don't screw up. You know what happened to agent Topolsky," Pierce said hoping to put fear into the agent.
"Don't worry sir, the subjects will be in at the compound by Midnight," Moss told his boss in a calm voice.
Part 2
After splurging on all the junk food they could find, Max and Maria fell asleep during some TV movie that they were watching. Max was resting his head on the couch arm and Maria was leaning on him. All of a sudden, Maria was yanked up violently from her resting place. " Hey! What's going on?
Max!" she screamed as she was being pulled away. Max woke up to see Maria's limp body being dragged away and felt four powerful arms grab him from behind and pull him off the couch.
"Maria!" He yelled. As he struggled to get loose, he felt one of the arms stick what felt like a needle into him. Then, all of a sudden every thing went black.
Max woke up several hours later extremely sore. He was glad to see Maria's face looking down on him. She looked okay except for her tearstained face; however, he thought it was best to make sure. "Are you okay?" he asked.
"Fine, except for a headache," she said with a forced smile.
Max set up and looked around the white room. He noticed that it was small with only a bed. He could see a small door attached to the room and figured that it was the bathroom. He also saw the bigger door that lead outside.
He looked back at Maria and asked, "Have they done anything to you?"
"Nope. When I woke up, you weren't here. About thirty minutes later the guards brought you in; you've been out since. I didn't think you would wake up," she said as her voice broke.
He then wrapped his arms around her and tried to comfort her. "We'll get out of this, Maria. I promise nothing will happen to you."
After a few minutes of just holding her he said, "I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?" she asked.
"Sorry to get you into this. We've only seemed to bring pain to you, Liz, Alex, and Kyle. If you guys didn't know us, then none of this would be happening to you," he said with despair and resentment.
"You listen to me Max Evans; I am not sorry to know you or the others. I am glad to help any way I can; even if it means keeping you company in this place."
He held her tighter to him and said, "I'm glad to know you to. You've helped made me feel normal. You don't see me as a leader, you see me as a person. Thank you."
Maria knew what he meant when he said that she didn't see him as a leader. She couldn't imagine how hard it must be for him; especially lately with Michael, Isabel, and Tess looking for him to lead, and him just wanting to go on with his normal, everyday life. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the steel metal door opening up. She looked up and saw Agent Pierce come in.
"Well, I hope you two enjoy your new accommodations," he said with a big grin on his face.
"Let her go! She has nothing to do with this!" Max prayed that Pierce would let Maria go. She didn't belong there.
"Mr. Evans, Ms. DeLuca will play a big part in what we have planned, so she does have something to do with this," he said with a smirk.
"What plans? I don't like they way you said that," Maria told Pierce hint of fear.
"Well, one of the schedule plans was to produce a hybrid but that already exists. We know that Mr. Evans isn't fully alien. Then we thought, well what would happen if the hybrid mated? Would the offspring be genetically like the hybrid or the human parent? All sorts of scenarios could come to one's mind. You two are the lucky candidates for the project. We did check Ms. DeLuca to make sure that she wasn't already with child, which she wasn't. You both turned out to be clean and we intend to start the project after a few more tests are run. I hope you two get well acquainted with each other because if you don't do this willingly, we can make it extremely painful for both of you. Thank you. I'll be seeing you soon." He turned around and walked out the door, leaving a stunned Max and Maria behind.
Part 3
"I can't believe this," Maria said, dumbfounded by the news. "I always thought if I had sex with an alien, it would be Michael. We can't do this!"
"What if we don't get that choice?" Max asked her with concern.
"Max, do you seriously want to sleep with me?" Maria asked, trying to talk some since into him.
Max stammered, "It wouldn't be that bad."
"So we'll just have some casual sex amongst friends? What happens when our other friends find out about it or my mother finds out? You'd be safer in here if that happens." Maria couldn't believe that he was actually considering this. *I wonder if he's developed feelings for me, other than our newfound friendship?*
"Look we can just wait it out as long as possible. Maybe the others will rescue us before then," Max said, it wasn't like he wanted his first time to be at gunpoint, but what if they threatened Maria's life?
Back Home at the Evan's:
"Where's Max at?" Tess asked Isabel.
"Probably at Maria's. He went there last night," Isabel told her.
"Isabel, I was at the Crash Down today, and I heard Mr. Parker say that Maria didn't show up for her shift," Tess said with growing concern.
"Okay, that's definitely not good. Look, I'll call Maria's home phone and cell phone to see if she's with him. If no one picks up, then we'll get Michael and Alex and search for them."
Isabel called both phones and couldn't get Maria at either one. As soon as she hung up on the cell phone, she called Alex. She thought that going to Michael's was better than calling him on the phone. Alex told her that he would meet them at Michael's.
Michael's apartment:
Michael was watching motor cross when some started banging on his door, "Coming, Coming, geez!" He opened the door to find Isabel, Tess, and Alex standing at his door, all three with panicked looks on their face.
"What's wrong, you guys?" He found it odd that Max and Maria weren't there. He was a little jealous of the newfound friendship between the two.
"We don't know for sure yet, but we think something happened to Max and Maria, " Isabel told him gently.
"What?" Michael yelled, " What's going on? Why do you think something happened to them?" He was now pacing the floor. He couldn't believe that after everything he'd done to try and protect her that something might have happened to her.
"Last night Max went to check on Maria. He called and told me that he was spending the night; because Maria wanted to, as he quoted have a 'girlfriend night'."
Alex snickered at the remark because he was very familiar with girlfriend night and what it consisted of: junk food, junk food, and bonding. He was glad the Max was able to fill in for Liz. He knew that Maria really missed her.
Everyone looked at him and he said, "Sorry - mental picture."
Isabel then continued, "And today when Tess went to the Crash Down she overheard Mr. Parker say that Maria didn't show up for her shift. Max hasn't been home since last night and Maria didn't answer her cell phone or at her house. Have you seen them at all since yesterday?" Isabel asked, scared for her brother and friend.
"No, I haven't. But listen, I will go and check out the house for clues and then call Valenti; we may need his help on this."
Part 4
It'd been about a month and Maria was getting really worried about Max. She didn't know what they were doing to him, but at times he looked near death. He'd tried to make a connection to Isabel, but he'd been too weak. Maria and Max had no idea where they were and they both felt that rescue might be impossible.
"Max you have to eat something. Please?" Maria begged him. He'd done nothing more than sleep whenever they bring him back to the room. Maria had noticed how skinny he'd been getting.
"Everything taste weird," he said in a weak tone.
"I don't care if it tastes weird. I won't have you dying on me, Max Evans. You've lost weight, and you don't look healthy. I don't know what they are doing to you, but you have to fight it, " she said with tears in her eyes.
"Maria don't cry, please," he begged her weakly.
"I can't help it Max. I don't want to be left in here alone and that's what I'm afraid will happen," she said, turning her back on him so he wouldn't see her tears.
"Maria, I won't leave you in here alone. I promise. We'll both make it out of here," he said, laying a hand gently on her back.
"Max, we don't know where we are. It's been a month. My mom probably thinks I ran away. I mean she's all alone," she said laying her head against the cold wall.
"Come here," he told her. She leaned backed against him and he held her in his arms and let her cry. Maria had been strong through all of this up until now. Max had relied upon her strength. She would try her best to comfort him, especially at night when the nightmares would come. He didn't care how many experiments they did on him, just as long as none were conducted on her.
Max and Maria had both became closer. Max was seeing Maria in a totally different way. He thought that she may just still see him as a best friend, but deep down Max knew he was falling in love with her.
Max had recently been thinking about the experiment that Pierce talked about when they first came to this hellhole. He wouldn't mind having a child with Maria; except there was no way that he would allow the child to grow up as a science experiment.
He gently rubbed Maria's back in a soothing manner as her tears stopped. He looked at her face and could see that her eyes were closed. *She must have cried herself to sleep,* He thought to himself. He leaned back in the bed gently with her still in his arms to let her sleep, because he knew that she stayed up those nights that he had nightmares. He prayed he wouldn't have another one tonight. Maria's asked him since the first one, what caused them, but he couldn't tell her. He couldn't let her know that what was giving him nightmares was images of her death that Pierce had installed in his mind.
Part 5
"Isabel, I don't understand why can't you connect with Max," Tess whined.
"I don't know, it's like there's some kind of mental interference," Isabel said in frustration.
"What about Maria?" Alex asked Isabel.
"It wouldn't be any use. I can't form a connection with her like I have with Max; plus she doesn't seem to sleep at night that much."
"Do you think something is wrong with her?" Michael asked with concern.
"Besides being held captive by the government; not really," Isabel said with sarcasm.
"So what are we going to do? We have to find them. Maria's mom is going nuts," Alex said as he paced the room.
"I know, my parents aren't any better. They're starting to think that Max and Maria ran away together since she's missing as well, " Isabel said, noticing Michael's unpleasant look at the mention of Max and Maria together.
Back at the compound:
Maria was awakened by another one of Max's nightmares. She wished she could help him. It's always the same. He'd be yelling, "No, don't!" and he would be covered with sweat.
"Max, wake up. It's just a nightmare," she said gently caressing his cheek."
"Maria," Max said as he woke up.
"I'm right here," she said to him gently. She could feel his arms tighten around her more. She tried to wiggle out of the embrace but he had no intention of letting her go.
"Max, let me go for a minute so I can get a wash cloth to wipe the sweat off of you," she told him in an attempt to get up.
"What are you implying?" Max asked with a little grin on his face.
"I'm implying that I am not sleeping by your sweat-smelling body," she told him, straightforward.
"I am not smelly," Max replied to her comment.
"No, not really, just sticky," she said going to the bathroom.
"Sticky?" he said as he sat up on his elbows. "So now I'm sweaty, smelly and sticky!"
"You're hard to please."
Maria came back with a washcloth and started washing off his face with gentle caresses. Maria noticed Max staring at her, "What?" she asked him.
"Nothing, it's just you have beautiful eyes," Max told her with a little embarrassment.
"Thanks Max, you have beautiful eyes too," she said in a teasing manner.
"I meant it, Maria! You do have beautiful eyes, and a beautiful face," he ran his middle finger down her face and cupped her chin. He then leaned into place a kiss on her lips.
Part 6
Maria couldn't believe it! Max Evans was kissing her. *Oh, God, he must be delirious!*
Maria broke the kiss and stared at Max with a questioning look, "Max' what was that?"
"A kiss, Maria," he said, still looking into her emerald eyes.
"I know that Max! I mean, why me? Are you horny? I mean, I know we've been locked up for a little over a month."
"Maria, I've been kind of wanting to kiss you for a nearly two months," Max interrupted her rambling.
"So this has nothing to do with the fact that were locked in this asylum," Maria asked him, still not believing that Max wanted to kiss her. All they'd talked about all summer was their relationships with Michael and Liz.
"Max, did they drug you?" she asked, just to be on the safe side.
"Maria, yes I've been drugged, but the drugs haven't made me want to kiss you. Like I told you before I've wanted to kiss you for a while now. I know I've talked a lot about Liz this summer, but at some point I've started developing these feelings for you. I just haven't said anything because I know how you feel about Michael and I didn't want to hurt anyone." He felt a little relief. He'd had these feelings bottled up for a little over a month. It felt good to let them out.
"Okay, Max, that may be fine and dandy in here, but what happens when get out into the real world? You know you'll just realize that it's Liz that you want," she said with pain in her voice.
Max couldn't believe what he was hearing. Maria shouldn't be considering herself as second best. Max figured that it had to be because of the abandonment issues. First, there was her dad, and then Michael, and next came Liz- in a way. Max was grateful for Liz's leaving. If Liz didn't go to Florida, then he would have never would have never been as close to Maria as he was now. He wasn't going to leave Maria behind. He needed her. She'd been his salvation all summer.
"Maria, I am not going to change my mind. Liz was my first love, but she gave up on us. I realized that it's time to move on. Maria, we aren't that different. We are more alike than most people realize. I'm not going to leave you," he said looking into her eyes directly so that she would know that he was telling the truth.
"Max, don't make promises you can't keep. One day you will leave." She knew that one day his people would need him.
Max then whispered into her ear, "I'd come back for you".
Max nuzzled his nose against her hair. Maria could feel his breath on her ear and that sent shivers down her back. She moved her head around so that their foreheads met. Max placed a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose.
Maria kissed both of his cheeks and then forehead. Max then started to kiss her chin making a trail down her neck. Maria moaned in pleasure. Max grabbed her shirt with one of his hands and started to kiss a path down her shoulder. He felt Maria's hands go around his neck and pull his head up. Then Max leaned in and gave Maria the most passionate kiss she'd ever had in her life.
Part 7
Max couldn't believe this was happening. Maybe Maria was right; that it was the drugs that were making him want her like this. He was falling in love with her, but he wouldn't in any normal situation make love to her this soon and in this place.
He loved the feel of her skin and the smell, which was like a mixture between baby powders and vanilla. He lifted her shirt up off her and thought that she was perfect. He ran he cupped her breast with his hands and slightly brushed his thumbs over the both of her hardened nipples. Max heard Maria let out a moan of pleasure. Taken that as a sign, he bent his head down and started to suckle on one nipple while squeezing the other one between his fingers.
Maria couldn't believe the amount of pleasure she was feeling it was undeniable. When Max placed his lips on her nipple and started to administer little nips with his teeth she thought she'd die right there. She went weak but Max grabbed her around the waist, tight pulling her closer to his erection, which sent an electric jolt of pleasure through her body. Maria wrapped her arm around his head and attempted to hold him there.
Max lifted his head from the first breast and Maria whimpered but sighed when he then applied the same ministrations to the other one. Max continued this for a few more minutes but he needed more; he needed to be inside of her. He felt extremely hot like a fire was rushing through him.
"Maria, I need you now, " he said with urgency.
"Then take me, Max," Maria told him with lust in her eyes. In an animalistic move, Max pushed Maria under him and removed her scrubs quickly and then removed his. He ripped her underwear off quickly and she helped pull down his boxers.
"Are you ready?" Max asked Maria with fear that he may hurt her if she wasn't ready. He'd heard that the first time could be very painful.
"Yes, Max, I'm ready," Maria said, wrapping her arms around his waist pulling him closer. Max then entered her with a hard thrust. Maria let out a scream of pain as he broke her barrier.
Max heard and saw the tears in her eyes, "Oh God, Maria are you okay?" Max asked not really knowing what having sex with a human would do to the human.
"Yes, Max I'm fine! Just start moving, okay?" she said reassuring him.
"Are you sure? I'm sorry I didn't even think what could happen if we have sex with a human. I thought since were part human that it would be okay, "Max said not reassured that she was fine.
"Max, I'm fine, honestly," Maria said arching herself into him. She let out a moan in pleasure and hoped that it would reassure him. Max sighed in relief as Maria moved him deeper into her with the movement of her hips. He then started to move in a rhythm, which went faster with time. Maria had her arms around his shoulder, and her legs wrapped around his waist holding him to her.
"Oh god, Max! Faster, harder, please!" Maria yelled in a panting breath.
"Maria, Maria, Oh," Max said speeding up his movements. He felt the bed move with them. Max looked down at Maria's face and saw a look of pleasure and a smile on her face. He bent down and kissed her like it would be the last time they'd be together.
As Maria was near the edge, she started to have visions.
Flash
*Max and Isabel walking alone in the desert*
Flash
*Max seeing Liz for the first time*
Flash
*Max healing Liz*
Flash
*Max watching Liz leave after finding out about destiny*
Flash
*Max and her bonding over their loss*
Flash
*Max confused about his new relationship with her*
Flash
*Images of her dead and Max screaming her name*
Maria was disturbed by he last one, but all of a sudden as the flashes ended, she came clamping around Max. She felt his warm seed enter her as Max collapsed on top of her. Maria heard him say in her ear, "I love you," before he passed out.
Part 8
Max woke up a few hours later and found himself still on top of Maria. He knew he must have been squashing her and figured that he should get off of her. He rolled close to the wall trying not to disturb her. He lifter her up from the side and moved underneath her. She moved a little bit, laying her head on his chest. He couldn't believe that he just made love to Maria. He should have taken more time, but something came over him. He thought that maybe Maria was right, that it was the drugs, because his head seemed clearer now. That didn't make a difference; he would have done it with out the drugs, anyway; although he would have chosen a more romantic setting. He loved her; he wasn't lying when he said that. He just hoped that she felt the same way. Max knew that it would be difficult when they got out but he was willing to face everyone, including Michael.
Max heard the door open to the room. He quickly reached down and pulled the cover up over him and Maria.
"Well, I'm glad to see that the first stage of the experiment is complete," Pierce said, coming into the room. At the sound of his voice Maria woke up.
"I see every thing worked to our advantage. We knew that the feelings were there between you two but we just thought that we'd push it a little," Pierce said, grabbing the only chair in the room and sitting in it.
"What do you mean?" Maria asked him, suddenly feeling used.
"Well, you see, we basically played a little with his mind, " Pierce said pointing to Max.
"How?" Maria asked with concern.
"Well we drugged him and played a little psychological game with him. By the time we were through with him he was ready to give us what we want, right Max?" he said with a smug smile.
At that statement, Max could feel Maria tighten the sheet closer to her.
He really hated Pierce right then more than ever.
"You can have the rest of the day together but tomorrow we are taking Maria to another area for observation," Pierce said getting up. He left the room quietly.
"Maria," Max said, and put an arm around her shoulder to try and comfort her. When he did she just moved away.
"Maria, drugs or not, what we did last night was something I wanted to happen. I promise I won't let nothing happen to you," He said trying to reassure her.
"Max, just leave me alone," she said, lying back down with her back turned to him.
Outside of The Compound 2 hours later:
"Okay, so is everyone ready?" the Sheriff asked. They were fixing to carry out the rescue. Liz came home early when Isabel called her and told her about Max and Maria's capture. Nasedo had also been informed and was already making his way to the compound. He knew where it was, because he had some contacts within the FBI that didn't know that he was an alien.
The Sheriff didn't like the fact that a bunch of high school students were going to infiltrate a government facility but he couldn't talk Liz, Alex, and Kyle from coming along. He made Liz and Kyle the getaway drivers. Alex was just there because he was worried about Maria. They all sat out of site in the cars few yards away from the compound. Tess, Michael, Isabel, and the Sheriff were waiting for Nasedo's signal. They all were in disguises, thanks to Nasedo and Tess.
Michael told Isabel, "Isabel, see if you can get in touch with Max?"
"Max where are you?" Isabel asked closing her eyes. She then saw Max and Maria in a room somewhere Max was sitting in a chair and Maria was sitting on the bed. Isabel noticed that Maria looked scared and Max looked worried.
"Max!" Isabel yelled in her mind.
Inside, Max looked around and said quietly, "Isabel".
"Max, we're here. We are coming to get you and Maria," she said with a smile forming on her face. At least she knew that they both were okay.
"Hurry, Isabel they are going to separate us soon," Max told her in his mind.
"We will," she said as the connection was broken.
Max then got up and moved over to the bed and whispered in Maria's ear, "We're going home."
Maria looked at him, surprised, and he nodded his head. She then smiled at him and he smiled back.
Part 9
"Okay, Tess, I need you to form an illusion for the guards where we can get them out. Right now there are about five people around the room itself," Nasedo told Tess.
"What do I need to do?" Isabel asked.
"Just keep a watch in here for now. You've done your part in contacting Max. I know what room they are in. Once we get past the guards, Michael will get Max and take him out," Nasedo said giving out orders.
"And Maria," Michael said.
"The human is of no concern to me," Nasedo said.
Isabel was outraged," Well she's a concern to us. We aren't leaving without her and I doubt Max would even let you. She our friend and if it wasn't for us she wouldn't be there."
"Fine will get the girl out as well but The King's safety is my most concern right now; not her," Nasedo said heading out of the basement area.
"Michael make sure that Maria gets out," Isabel told him.
"Isabel you know I will," he said following Nasedo.
They went into the area of the compound where Max and Maria were. They weren't questioned by anybody because they looked like two of the agents that worked there.
They were surprised to hear Max yell, "I won't let you take her."
"Maria," Michael said, and started to go toward the sound of Max's voice.
"Michael!" Nasedo silently yelled at him.
"Agent Donahue what are you doing here?" One of the guards posted on the room asked.
"I'm here to see the prisoners," Michael said.
"Good then maybe you can help. The scientist are in there now with two of the guards," the soldier said.
Just then Nasedo came up and said, " Will take over from here."
The guard punched in the code to the room door and it opened. Michael was the first to walk in and he saw Max struggling with one of the guards and Maria's limp body. It took everything in his power not to rush over to her and give himself away.
"What happened? he asked.
"We were in the process of moving the girl when he attacked. We sedated her and are trying to sedated him," One of the scientist said.
"Leave the room will handle this," Nasedo said.
"Sir, I don't recommend that," a guard said.
"Sir we are trained to handle him so let the boy go and leave," Nasedo said more demanding.
They did and they left.
"Maria," Michael said and went to where she was on the bed. He lifted her up in his arms.
"Michael?" Max asked.
"It's good to see that your alive Maxwell," he looking over at his friend.
"Come on your Highness we haven't got that much time," Nasedo said.
They couldn't believe how easy it was for them to get out. They were close to leaving when Pierce came up.
"What the hell is going on and where are you taking them?"
Nasedo used his powers but Pierce ducked out of the way. Then Valenti showed up and started shooting. He shot Pierce in the shoulder.
Valenti helped Nasedo with Max. "Come on let's get out of here," Valenti said.
Isabel and Tess were waiting for them outside.
"Max, are you okay?" Isabel said in tears. "What's wrong with Maria?"
"They sedated her," Michael replied a little out of breath.
"Max!" Liz yelled from the car. "Are you okay? Oh my god, what happened to Maria?" she asked concerned for both of them.
"She's sedated," Michael repeated.
"Listen Michael you and Maria go with Kyle and Tess. Liz will go with Max and me. Nasedo can go with Alex and Isabel in her car," Valenti said, as they all piled in the cars.
Max wanted to protest he didn't want to be far from Maria but he knew that now he wouldn't be able to pry her out of Michael's arms. Max just hoped that he could prove to her that he really did love her. He would start once they got away from the compound.
Part 10
It has been two months since the rescue. Two months since Max had been with Maria. Two months of memories. Two months of watching Michael win his way back as Maria's boyfriend. Max should have done something about that but he didn't. After they were rescued Michael wouldn't let him come around Maria. Seemingly Maria told him about what happened. All to say the least Michael wasn't pleased but he was madder at Max than Maria. Max thought it was because Michael blamed himself for putting her in that situation.
When Max came back home his parents immediately set up appointments with a therapist. They were worried about his "abnormal behavior". He'd like them to define normal. Max felt that he was acting perfectly fine for someone who was kidnapped by the FBI, and had fallen in love with his best friends on again off again girlfriend.
Liz wasn't a problem, which he was thankful for. Max loved Liz almost all of his life. She was the only girl he'd really known and thought had known him. When she left him he started hanging around Maria. At first it was because of the connection, which was that they both were dumped by their first loves, but then it became more. Maria made him laugh like no one else can, she had an inner strength, and she was special in ways that no one could see unless they spent time with her. Max couldn't believe that he'd didn't see these things before. He was so blinded by his love for Liz. Maria was...
Max was interrupted by his sister's voice, "Max!"
"What?"
"Max mom and dad are worried about you, I'm worried about you," Isabel said as she sat on his bed.
"I'm fine," Max said looking at Isabel from a sideways glance.
"Is it about what happened?" she asked.
Max shook his head no.
"Liz?"
"No, Liz and I made a decision to just stay friends," Max said he didn't want Isabel think that Liz was the center of his universe.
"Then what is it? I 've never seen you like this," Isabel said with tears in her eyes. She'd never seen Max this depressed.
"It's complicated Izzy," Max said. He didn't want to tell Izzy the truth about his feelings for Maria. He didn't think that she would understand.
"Max you can tell me anything you know that," Isabel told him putting a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Fine I'm in love with Maria," Max said as he got up out of bed.
"I fall in love with her this summer. Izzy she makes me feel so..." Max couldn't find a word to describe how Maria made him fill.
"Human?" Izzy questioned. Izzy did like Max better when he was around Maria this past summer. She could tell how relaxed he was around her.
"Yeah," Max said as he flopped down on the end of the bed.
"We've made love," Max said a little hesitant.
"WHAT?" Isabel yelled. "Max I can't believe that you'd do something like that. We still don't know enough about our genetic make up.
"I know. I think about what could have happened all the time but I didn't have any choice. They threatened to kill her," Max said. Maria didn't even know that fact no one did except him and Pierce and know Isabel. " I couldn't let that happen."
"I'm so sorry Max. I couldn't imagine how Maria must had felt," Isabel said sympathizing with her brother and Maria. She couldn't imagine how she'd handle it if some told her to have sex or die. Especially if the guy was her best friend's love.
"Felt about what?" Max asked.
"About being subjected to having sex with her best friends ex or die."
"She didn't know anything which is part of the problem. Iz a lot of things happened to me because I let them happen. I didn't want them to try anything on Maria so I endured basically all I could. Some how Pierce knew how I felt about Maria and he used it against me. See part of their plan was to eventually have an alien hybrid. A true alien hybrid from birth. So I basically went on the notion that you guys would save us before that happened. After a month Pierce said that I didn't reproduce with Maria that he would kill her and me and come after you, Michael, Liz, Alex, Kyle and Tess. He would pair you guys off until he got the hybrid he wanted. If that didn't happen he would kill you. I couldn't let that happen. I already loved Maria and thought that she loved me, so we made love. Then Pierce came in and basically told Maria that the reason I had sex with her was to save my ass. Iz I felt so awful I saw the look in her eyes. I hurt her. I never wanted that to happen. Maria pushed me away and then you guys came, " Max hoped that Izzy wouldn't be to mad. He was surprised to see tears in her eyes.
" Max I think you need to tell her how you feel. If you don't both of you will be miserable for the rest of your lives," Isabel knew that Maria was probably afraid of abandonment. From the time that Isabel spent with Maria she knew that one of Maria's greatest fears was being left alone.
" Izzy she with Michael again. She loves him," Max said with hurt in his voice. He didn't like the sound of Michael and Maria in the same sentence context.
" Maybe you should talk to her at least tell her how you feel and then take it from there. Who knows maybe she feels the same way. I just don't want you to keep doing this to yourself. I want the old Max back.
" What about Michael?" Max asked.
"Well I'll put it to you this way it's better things get out into the opening now than latter," Isabel said getting up from Max's bed. Isabel hoped that Michael and Max's relationship could survive this predicament. She was about to leave the room when she turned around and said," talk to her Max."
"I will Izzy. Thanks."
Part 11
The next day Michael called a meeting of the group. He told them all it was important and also that everyone had to be there. Everyone met at his apartment and it was easy to feel the tension between Michael, Max, and Maria. Maria was by Michael on the couch, Max stood across the room from them, next to Isabel who was sitting next to Alex on one of the bar stools.
“Okay Guerin what did you call us all here for?” Kyle asked from his position on the floor next to Tess. He still wasn’t used to this so-called “I know an Alien Club” as coined by Nasedo on his last visit.
“Well actually this kind of concerns me and Maria more than it concerns you guys but we thought you should know,” Michael stated, not really sure of the reactions the others would have especially Max.
“Umm.. There’s no real easy way to say this except that me and Maria are having a baby,” Michael said looking at Max to see his reaction. The baby was Max’s, but Maria didn’t want Max to find out. She and Michael had had a long talk and decided it was best if he claimed the baby as his. In a way Michael kind of wanted the baby. He wished it was his and not Max’s, but no matter, he would love it as his own. Max eyes lifted from his feet which he’d been staring at since he came in. “Did I just hear right? No way is this baby Michael's,” Max thought to himself, he would be damned if he let Michael raise his child.
“Congratulations I guess,” Tess said.
“Maria are you okay?” Alex asked, concerned as he rushed to Maria's side, hugging her tightly. He glared over in Michael's direction.
“Alex I’m fine." Maria lied, she wasn’t really fine. In fact, she had been really tired lately and jittery, she figured it was just nerves. Ever since she had found out that she was pregnant she’d been a walking basket case, wondering how Michael would react, which had been surprisingly decent and worrying even more about how her mom would when she finally summed up the courage to say something. On top of it all there was Max, the real father of her baby. She could tell by the look on his face that he knew that it was his, especially after Liz asked how far along she was, Maria told them she was around two months along. She couldn't help but notice that Alex wasn't the only one giving Michael death looks. Max was glaring in his friend's direction, but Kyle, who had kind of taken on the role as big brother, was also sending him the evil eye. Maria’s mom and his dad were so close to getting married anyway. Kyle had told her so many times that he was just preparing for when the big brother role was real. Isabel who put a supportive hand on Max and stared at Maria with a look that said, “How could you do this to my brother?” Maria just looked at Isabel and the others and wondered “Which brother?” No matter what she did one of them would get hurt.
Noticing the tension in the room Tess got up and said, “Well I for one think that we should give them time alone.
Why don’t we ALL leave?" She emphasized the all. Grabbing Kyle she pulled him up and said, “come on Buddha Boy. Take me home.” Tess was the only one who new that Kyle had taken up Buddhism over the summer, although no one paid much attention to her comment except for Kyle.
“Yeah, I think it’s time to leave. Congratulations if there’s anything you need Maria let me know,” Liz said as she hugged Maria before she started out the door.
Alex got up and with a smile told Michael, “Take care of her, or I’ll hurt you.”
“That goes for me too Guerin,” Kyle yelled as Tess dragged him out of the room.
“Max?” Michael questioned since he didn’t seem to be leaving.
“You aren't the father of that baby and you know it!” Max yelled.
“Max!” Isabel yelled and grabbed her brother before he tried to make a move.
“No, Isabel you told me to tell Maria how I feel and I’m going to do it!” Max hollered not meaning to yell at Isabel like he did. “Maria how could you let him take our baby away?” Max asked with pain in his voice.
“Because it’s not yours. What we did was a mistake Max! But this baby wasn’t part of that mistake,” Maria placed her hand protectively over the faint swell of her belly and answered through her tears. Maria hated lying but she wanted more than ever for her child to have a normal life and she knew that he or she would be safer as Michael’s child than Max’s.
“Maria what happened between us wasn’t a mistake. It was…” Michael cut off Max’s hesitant explanation abruptly.
“Shut the hell up Maxwell! She doesn’t need to relive what happened in that hell hole.”
“I love her Michael! I did then and I do now!” Max yelled. He noticed the shocked look on Maria’s face; he could only hope that she believed him.
“You bastard! What? Did you just get tired of one girl and move on to the next? First Liz, then Tess, now Maria? Michael yelled, getting angrier by the second. “I was never with Tess or Liz, Michael. Maria was my first,” Max explained, not really understanding what Michael was trying to say, or why he was saying it. “I’m not talking about sex, Max. You risked us by saving Liz, your 'one true love'. Then you meet Tess and become attracted to her and act on your instincts. Sure nothing came out of it but who’s to say it wouldn’t if you’d hadn’t gotten captured. Then you pal around with Maria all summer and end up getting her pregnant, using saving your ass as an excuse. Lucky for Isabel, she's your sister so she won’t fall victim to your web of lies,” Michael finished on a shout as he closed the distance between him and Max. This just served to fuel the heat of anger that was running through Max at that moment. The boys started a shoving match, which eventually ended in a fight.
“Michael! Max! Please stop this!” both Isabel and Maria pleaded. Maria tried to pull Michael away from Max and Isabel tried to pull Max away from Michael. In the midst of the rumble Maria somehow got in the way and was knocked down to the floor, which went unnoticed by everyone except for Kyle who had forgotten something and gone back for it.
“Maria!” Kyle yelled as he saw Maria pushed backwards. He couldn’t believe that those two were such idiots that they would fight around a pregnant woman. Kyle rushed inside and broke Michael and Max apart to get to Maria. He couldn't believe what he had heard as he walked back up the steps to the apartment For about two minutes he felt bad for Michael and could relate to how what he was feeling, well, that was until he saw Maria hit the floor. The only thing he wanted to do now was get Maria far away from them. Maria was like his family and he was getting sick and tired of his family being hurt because of these aliens.
Isabel heard Kyle yell Maria’s name and wondered what had him so worried, until she looked over to where Maria had been standing and saw her lying on the floor unconscious.
“Michael! Max! Maria’s hurt,” she yelled.
“Maria?” Michael said and saw her on the floor. “Oh god!” he screamed in his head, he had done the one thing that he never wanted to do, he’d hurt her.
Both Michael and Max were moving towards Maria's still body when Kyle stood in front of her and yelled, “both of you stay away from her!”
Max Evans was desperate. His child would be born in less than two months. He hated himself for getting Maria involved in what was between him and Michael. Although right now him and Michael were getting along pretty good.
For about two weeks after the fight they wouldn't even talk to each other. Then one day at the Crashdown, Michael came over and sat with him and Isabel, and they discussed Maria. Michael figured that it wasn't his place to be upset with Max since he let Maria go in the first place. Max told Michael that Maria still loved him, and would always love him, and that he wasn't trying to take her away from him. Michael thought about that and replied that even though he still loved Maria, if she really wanted to be with Max, he would no longer stand in the way. But it had to be her decision.
Max walked into the Crashdown, Maria wasn't working tonight, even if she was, he wouldn't be able to talk to her because of her watchdog, AKA Kyle Valenti. He had to find away to get Maria back and get rid of Kyle in the process.
As he looked around the Crashdown he saw Tess and Isabel at their usual table. He then thought to himself, Bingo. Tess might just be the key to getting Kyle away from Maria. Max knew that Tess liked Kyle, Isabel told him so. If Tess liked Kyle and would go out with him on a date, Kyle would be too busy to pay attention to Maria.
"Hey Max," Isabel said, as Max came to the table to sit down. He was smiling, which was a rare event lately because he so much wanted to be with Maria and his child.
" Hey Izzy. Hey, Tess, can I ask you a favor?" Max asked, as he slid into the booth.
"Sure Max." Tess said, looking up from her homework.
" Can you ask Kyle Valenti out on a date?" Max blurted out.
" Why? I would but I don't think Kyle likes me. He thinks I used him and he definitely won't like me if he finds out that you asked me to ask him out just so you could get to Maria," Tess knew exactly why Max wanted her to ask Kyle out. She didn't mind, but Kyle would barely talk to her. She hated that she used him; he was real nice to her back then.
" Tess, I hate asking this but it's the only way I can get to Maria. Him and Alex are around her constantly. Alex isn't a problem but Kyle is. He doesn't like me.
" Gee, I wonder why?" Isabel teased.
"Funny." Max said, sarcastically. " Yes, I know he thinks I took Liz from him," he stated as Isabel gave him a "yeah right" look.
"Okay, so I did take Liz from him but what does that have to do with Maria."
"Max, Maria is his stepsister but he acts like he's been her brother all of her life. They've both been abandoned by people they love, he just doesn't want to see her get hurt by anyone else, and he wants his nephew to have a normal life." Isabel has actually talked to Kyle several times about letting Max talk to Maria. She understood why he's so protective of her. They've both been hurt too many times by people they care about. Isabel knew Max wouldn't hurt Maria intentionally, but Kyle didn't care about intentions.
"But I want to be with Maria and my child. I want to be a part of both their lives. I love them both." Max just couldn't figure out what to do about this situation. He didn't want to miss out on his child's life.
"Maybe you can talk to Maria's mom or the Sheriff?" Tess suggested to Max.
Max looked like a frightened deer at the mention of Mrs.Valenti. Maria's mom doesn't know that Max's the father, or at least she hasn't shown any signs of knowing; like coming after him with a meat cleaver. " Do you think that's wise? I'd like to be around for my child's birth.”
Isabel laughed at her brother’s expression, " Maria's mom won't kill you, she may maim you a little, but she won't kill you. Just tell her how you feel about Maria and that you want to be there for her and the baby."
"Do you think I should tell her about our ‘not of this Earth’ status?" Max asked. He felt Amy had the right to know since everyone else in the house did. Plus he thought that Mrs. Valenti would keep their secret like Maria had. He felt that she was trustworthy.
Isabel looked at Max, surprised and hurt. She'd wanted for so long to tell her parents but Max and Michael were against it. But she realized Maria's mom would be more in the middle of things then her parents because everyone in the house except her knows.
"If it's okay with Michael and Tess than it's okay with me. Just be sure that's something you want to do, and go easy on her, because that type of news may be too much for her to handle all at once." Isabel warned him. Even though she trusted Mrs. Valenti she didn't know how she would react to being the grandmother of an alien prince or princess.
"It's fine with me Max, plus I'm sure Michael would have no problems with it. He seems to trust Mrs. Valenti too, so I say go for it." Tess encouraged.
"I'll ask Michael before I leave and then go and try to have a talk with Mrs. Valenti. Isabel, if I'm not back home in a few hours come and heal me please." Max half joked as he left the table.
Part 13
"So how far along is our subject?" the head of the underground unit asked.
"She should deliver soon, Sir." Agent Smith told his boss.
"Good, I think it's time we bring her back in. What about the Evan's kid?" Agent Pierce asked.
"He's not in the picture. Her brother won't let him near her." Smith said with a smile, he thought it was comical that an alien that had powers like Max Evans wouldn't use them to get his girlfriend away from her brother. He probably never even thought of it, because he was to busy whining about it.
"Interesting, it doesn't matter anyway, we don't need him he's no longer useful to us. We have what we need from him and if something goes wrong there's always the other three we could use." Pierce hated Max and the other aliens; they ruined all his years of work. When the building blew up he lost credit with the FBI and now they were in the process of disbanding his unit.
"Get the team ready. I'm getting my prized subject back soon." Pierce told Agent Smith.
"Yes, Sir." Smith got up and left the room.
CrashDown:
"Maria, why are you still working? You're 8 months pregnant." Liz asked as Maria came in. She couldn't understand why Maria was still working; her back had to be killing her.
"Look Liz, diapers don't grow on trees. I need the money." Maria told her.
"I'm sure Max would help out, just ask him. I mean he's half responsible anyway, you shouldn't be killing yourself." Liz didn't understand why Maria wouldn't ask Max. Liz could tell that Max cared about Maria. He asked about her everyday. She accepted that Max was in love with Maria and didn't blame Maria for that. It hurt very much but she knew that part of it was her own fault so she couldn't really blame them. Besides, Maria needed her right now; Maria had always been there for her.
"Liz, plenty of women out there have worked through their entire pregnancy. I'm fine, nothing that much out of the ordinary has happened." Maria felt that she had lucked out with this pregnancy. She had been so afraid of what could happen, but nothing alien had, except for the craving of tobacco sauce. She also felt more connected to the baby and she used had started to have visions of him growing inside of her.
"Nothing that much? What haven't you told me?" Liz asked, knowing that sometimes Maria kept things to herself.
"Well, I've had visions of him growing inside of me and that's about it." Maria told her.
"Him? So he's a boy?" Liz asked.
"Yeah, he's a boy. Let's just hope he doesn't have his daddy's ears." Maria grinned.
Liz laughed, "Well, just think if Michael was the father, then he'd have the hair."
“Oh god, that would be a curse. I miss his spikes; what the hell did he do with his hair?" Maria asked, his hair was the one thing she secretly enjoyed about Michael. She used to love running her fingers through his spiky hair. Maria was glad that at least after all of this they could still be friends.
Liz just shrugged. Michael's hair tended to be like one of the Seven Wonders of the World. How did it get like that? What was the purpose? And so forth and so on, was just a mystic part of Michael.
"But seriously, Maria, why haven't you talked to Max, and don't say Kyle won't let him around you, that's not an excuse." Liz thought it was sweet yet a little funny at how overprotective Kyle was towards Maria.
"I know, it's just, Max has always been in love with you. I mean you should have heard him talk about you over the summer. What if he realizes he made a mistake? I'm not going to let this baby think that he's a mistake.”
“Maria, Max loves you. I mean the guy is willing to tell your mom everything. I mean everything. I heard him tell Michael that Isabel and Tess said it was okay. And then he asked Michael if it was okay with him." Liz saw the surprised look on Maria's face as she registered what she just said.
"Is he crazy! My mom will kill him. And what were the rest of them thinking! Do they want my child to be fatherless? Oh, and I'm sure she's going to be gunning for them after she's through with Max. I mean I did date Michael." Maria couldn't believe that Max was going to tell her mom that he was an alien. Her mom would freak. Plus it could put a dent in her mom and Valenti's relationship.
Liz watched as Maria was ranted, and swore under her breath about stupid aliens and the worlds in trouble with them to protect it and couldn't help but laugh. In between giggles she said, " Maria, watch your blood pressure."
"Yeah, yeah I know. But seriously, has he fallen off the deep end? I have to stop him." Maria at least thought she should be there when her mom heard the news. She felt that Max would less likely be a candidate for an alien autopsy if she were around.
"Look, I'm going to go home. Hopefully Max isn't over there yet. I think Brody said he was working tonight. I want to be there before he spills his life story to my mother. Hopefully I can keep her under control." Maria told Liz as she put her jacket on.
" Sure go ahead it's not that busy anyway. I can handle the tables and if I need help I'll ask dad." Liz told Maria as she helped her with her jacket.
" Thanks, bye girl, and if you see Max call me and stop him." Maria told her as she walked out the door.
Maria walked to the car and felt a little cold. It was chilly for April. She got to her car and started to dig through her purse for her keys. She finally found them but dropped them. It wasn't easy bending down to pick them up. She would be so glad when the baby came. She felt like it would take her forever to lose all the weight she'd gained.
Maria started to think about baby names. Max Jr was definitely off the list. No way was any child of hers going to be called Junior. She thought about naming him after the Sheriff and calling him Jamie. The baby kicked her so evidently he liked that name.
Maria was reaching for her keys but couldn’t find them. She was lost in her own train of thought and didn’t her the footsteps of the man behind her.
“ Got them,” she said, as she picked up the keys. She was fixing to get up when someone grabbed her from behind. She tried to scream, but was knocked unconscious by chloroform, which was on the rag that was placed over her face to muffle her scream.
The assailant then called on his cell phone. " Sir, we have her."
" Thank you, for the update Agent Smith." Pierce said, with a grin.
" No problem, we should be at our new facility within an hour." Smith told his boss as a van pulled up. The driver and his passenger helped him get Maria in the van. He jumped in the back of the van with Maria and one of their doctors.
TBC…