I hope you enjoy this part, it's one of my favourite parts of the fic.
Earth2Mama Yes, I know exactly what you're saying.
xmag Exactly. Liz needed to faced the past to move on.
Begonia9508 Thank you.
Alien_Friend Lol. I think this may be the first time anybody has ever wished that Liz had Maria's rationality and patience.
keepsmiling7 When she goes back to Boston will be able live her life and stop hating herself so much. She'll move on.
SmileeUK Longer even.
Eva Thanks.
Sundae Lol. Whup ah. I love Chandler.
valentinebaby Yeah, poor Michael, but don't worry – he'll get his.
sarammlover Thank you.
And as always, huge thanks to my beta Michelle in LA
CRUSH – THIRTY
Michael
Anna opens the door and her face lights up in a smile when she sees me. “Michael! What are you doing here?”
“I was wondering if I could have a quick word with you.”
“Of course, come on in.” She stands back and gestures me inside. I can see the moment she remembers that she's wearing her old sweats and a messy ponytail. Her smile drops. “Uh, I was just on my way upstairs to change. Make yourself at home, I’ll just be a minute.”
“You look fine,” I say quickly. Anna could take an hour to change her clothes. “This will only take a minute and I have to meet Kyle...” I’m just talking to thin air, she's already gone. I resist the temptation of walking out the front door and trudge wearily into the kitchen.
I really, really don't want to be here but when Olivia heard that I was dating Maria she asked me to come and talk to Anna, to let her know that I was with somebody else, because Olivia thinks that Anna still has feelings for me. I don't see why I have to be the one to tell her, I already broke up with her once. But Olivia pleaded, Isabel wanted me to come as well and even Maria thought it was a good idea so I had no choice.
I take a seat at the kitchen table and pick up the newspaper that's lying on it and turn to the sports section.
It's another fifteen minutes before Anna comes back down the stairs. She's now dressed in short shorts, a tight top and her hair is loose and curled. She flips her hair over her shoulder and smiles. “Can I get you a drink or anything?”
“No, I’m fine, thanks.” I gesture towards the chair on the opposite side of the table and she slides into it. “How's things?”
“Good. Work is slow at the moment. You?”
“Busy actually, there's always crime. How's your dad?”
“He's good, he's back to his old self.”
“That's good.” Ok, enough small talk. “So, uh, the reason I’m here is because I wanted to...” No, that doesn't sound right, let me rephrase. “I thought that I should tell you that I’m, uh, I’m seeing somebody.”
Her face falls. “Oh.” She looks away for a minute. “So, is it serious? Of course it's serious, you wouldn't be here telling me about it if it wasn't.”
I nod anyway.
“I hadn't even heard that you were dating anybody and usually...”
“We've only been seeing each other for a few weeks and we've kind of being keeping it quiet for a while until...” I trail off not sure how to explain it to her but in the end I just decide not to bother. Can I go now?
“So, who is she? Do I know her?”
“It's Maria Deluca.”
She looks surprised. “Isn't she kind of young?”
“She's twenty-two,” I say. I think I’ve done my duty here. But when I stand up to leave, I see a flash of pain cross her face and I realize that Olivia was right. That sucks, now I feel like a dick. “Sorry.”
Anna smiles sadly. “It's ok. Thanks for telling me.” I can see tears in her eyes.
“Sure. I’ve got to go now.” I bolt before she starts crying.
Once I’m in the safety of my truck, I breathe a sigh of relief. I feel like a prick though. She was hurt and I didn't want that to happen. Still, it's done now.
I turn the truck for Toby's Garage. Maybe I am a jerk, but I don't really give Anna much more thought. I’m on my way to pick up my new motorbike. I can't help grin in anticipation. I’ve owned motorbikes since I was sixteen but I’ve always wanted a Ducati. A couple of weeks ago, Kyle found me a second-hand one. It was in near-perfect condition, it just needed a little fine tuning and a new paint job. Today I get to pick it up and take it home.
I’m thinking that I’ll swing by Maria's and take her out to the desert, let the bike open up on the old highway and hopefully get Maria's engine really racing.
Toby's is closed by the time I get there, but there are still a couple of guys around finishing up some jobs or working on their own stuff. Kyle is sitting on a picnic bench out front. He looks at his watch pointedly when I pull into the lot.
“What kept you?” he asks as I walk over to him.
“I stopped by Anna's on the way over here to tell her about Maria and me.”
Kyle grimaces. “How'd that work out for ya?”
“It was ok. But I think Olivia was right about her still having feelings for me so now I feel like I was just rubbing her face in it.”
He grimaces again but then breaks out into a sly smile. “Now you just have to tell Amy.”
It's my turn to grimace. “Maria was off today and they're spending the day together and she was supposed to tell her but last I'd heard she still hadn't gone through with it.”
“Worried?”
I exhale. “I don't know. I’m not afraid of Amy, per se. I’m just worried that she won't approve and then things would be weird and awkward for everybody.” The truth is that Amy’s opinion matters to me. I’ve known her most of my life and she's one of the very few adults that I actually liked as a kid.
“I don't know what per se means,” Kyle quips, then he turns serious. “What I do know is that Amy will kill you with her bare hands if you hurt Maria. But I don't think you have anything to be worried about.”
I look at him, surprised at his serious turn.
“You have this reputation as a bad-ass troublemaker. But that comes from when you were a teenager. Anybody who knows you, knows that you're not that guy anymore. Look at you, you have a respectable job. You have a great house with an actual picket fence. You have a cute dog. You've been in long-term relationships. Face it, Michael... you're a grown-up.”
I give a mock shudder. “Shit, how did that happen?”
Kyle laughs. “No idea, I never thought you'd pull it off. Hey, at least if Amy does want to kill you, you'll be able to make a quick getaway.” He stands up. “Let's get your bike.”
He leads me inside to where my new bike is waiting. It's a magnificent, gleaming monster. It's so beautiful, it makes me a little hard. Kyle tosses me the key and I climb onto it and start the engine. It roars to life. I rev it loudly. It's music to my ears.
Kyle talks me though what repairs they've made. I pay him for the job and give him the keys to my truck to drop off at my house.
I take the bike out for a quick ride. It handles beautifully and I can't wait to really let it rip out on the desert roads with Maria clinging on behind me. Then taking her back to my place, or maybe even finding a secluded spot out on the desert.
I shake off those thoughts before I have an accident.
Ten minutes later, I park the bike in front of Maria's and jog to the front door. It's only after I ring the bell that I remember that there's a possibility that Amy Deluca now knows that I have been doing naughty things with her daughter.
The door opens before I can run away, but thankfully it's Maria who answers. “Am I glad to see you,” she exclaims. She steps out onto the porch, pulling the door behind her. “My mom is driving me crazy. She has been so crabby all day.”
“Does that mean that you didn't tell her?” I ask hopefully.
Maria shakes her head. “No. I’ll tell her when she isn't overdosing on her bitchy pills.”
“So you must be about ready to get the hell out of here. Want to go for a ride?” I gesture behind me to the new bike.
Her eyes light up. “Ooh, shiny. I can't wait to ride it. But Jim isn't back from Albuquerque yet and I don't want to leave mom on her own. He's going to be back in an hour or two. Can you wait until then?”
“Maria,” Amy calls from inside.
Maria sighs and opens the door, holding it open for me to follow her inside. “I'll be right back.”
She runs down the hallway and I step into the living room. Amy is sprawled on the couch. I think she's doubled in size since I saw her three days ago. “Hi, Amy.”
“Hello,” she returns grumpily. In all the years I’ve known Amy I’ve never known her to be grumpy. Pissed off, angry, combative; sure, but never grumpy.
Maria comes back in and smiles cheerfully. “Your bath is ready.”
“Help me up,” Amy commands.
Maria grabs her mother's hands and hauls her to her feet. “Do you need help getting into the bath?”
“I think I can manage that much myself, Maria,” Amy grouses and waddles off down the hallway.
Maria runs her hands through her hair in frustration. “You see? She's been like that all day. I’m this close to snapping.” She holds up her thumb and index finger barely millimeters apart.
I pause to make sure Amy is gone before I cross the room and take Maria in my arms. She responds eagerly, pouring her frustration into the kiss. When she pulls away, she sighs happily. “I needed that.”
She walks into the kitchen and opens the fridge. “Drink?”
“Yes please.”
“How did it go with Anna?” Maria asks, pouring a glass of iced tea and handing it to me.
“It was ok,” I shrug. I take a gulp and set the glass down before wrapping my arms around Maria's waist again. I nuzzle her cheek. “Mmm, you smell great. Peachy.”
“Apricots, actually. Mom and I had a pampering day. Facemask, pedicures, manicures, the works. Well, Mom had a pampering day. I just got a face mask.”
I run my lips across her cheek. It feels great, really soft. “I didn't think those things actually worked, but your skin feels amazing.” I nip her neck and suck on the pulse point below her ear, my hands slide over her ass, pulling her tight against me and crushing her against the counter top.
She gasps beneath my assault. “You know, I’ve heard it's going to rain later. Maybe we should postpone the ride and just go back to your place.” I lift my face from her neck and stare at her. She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively. “I could ride your machine. Or a better euphemism than that.”
I chuckle. “And you're not going to go off with my sister in the middle of it and leave me with a massive case of blue balls?”
She blushes. “Not this time. Just make sure your doors are locked.”
“I'm locking the doors and putting the dog on guard duty.”
“Rockie?” Maria laughs. “Ooh, scary.”
I tickle her sides and lean in for another kiss. Slow and deep this time. Her hands slip under my shirt and she trails her fingers across my skin. I cup her butt and pull her harder against me. It's just getting steamy when she goes stiff against me and pulls away.
Fuck.
Without looking around, I already know that Amy is behind us.
I slowly step away from Maria and turn around to face my doom.
“Mom,” Maria squeaks. “I thought you were going to have a bath.”
Amy shakes her head. “Change of plans. I need you to drive me to the hospital. I’m in labor!”
“What? Shit!” Maria exclaims, rushing to her mother's side.
“Maria, language,” Amy admonishes.
“Sorry. Um, what do we do?” Maria asks, looking from Amy to me, panic clearly evident in her eyes. “Jim is in Albuquerque.”
“I'll drive her to the hospital,” I offer. “We can call Jim from there, he's probably on his way back already anyway. Maria, can you get Amy’s bag? You have one packed, right?”
Amy nods. “Yes. It's on the chest in my room. And can you grab my hairbrush and my toothbrush too?”
Happy to have a task, Maria runs off. I grab her keys from the counter and help Amy out to the Jetta. As she lowers herself onto the seat, another contraction hits and she grabs my hand hard.
“They're coming pretty quick now,” she pants.
“How long have you been having them?” I ask as she finally releases my hand. I start the timer on my watch.
“All afternoon,” Amy groans. “I didn't want to go to the hospital until absolutely necessary. And now, I think it's necessary.”
I look up at Maria who has joined us by the car. She mouths 'fuck' at me and climbs in beside her mother. I hand her my watch. “Time the interval between the contractions,” I instruct. I jump into the driver's seat. “We'll be at the hospital in a few minutes and if the worse comes to the worst, I have experience in these matters.” I say a silent prayer than it doesn't come to that.
There's a moment of silence before Amy speaks. “Just get me to the hospital, quick.”
Thankfully, I get Amy to the hospital and into the hands of trained professionals within a few minutes, and I’m spared seeing parts of Amy Deluca that I never, ever want to see. Maria rushes off with her mother leaving me to track down Jim. He never usually answers his cell when he's driving, so I have to call a few times before he eventually pulls in and answers. After talking to Jim, I call Kyle and let him know what's happening.
When I’m finished making the calls, a nurse directs me to Amy’s room. I pause outside her room wondering if it's safe for me to enter, when I hear Amy speak.
“I already knew about you and Michael, by the way,” Amy says casually. My heart pounds in my chest, waiting to hear what she has to say. Maria must give her some kind of non-verbal response because a moment later Amy laughs. “I’m your mother, Maria, I know these things. You've been together since the night you met up with Alex Whitman, right?”
“Ok, how did you know that?” Maria asks, sounding impressed.
“You came home that night floating about nine feet off the ground and you haven't landed since. Alex is a lovely young man but there's only one person who has ever been able to get that kind of reaction from you. Besides, I knew it was coming.”
“You did not,” Maria laughs.
“Maria, that boy has been sniffing around you for months. And we all know how you feel about him.”
I object to the term 'sniffing'.
“And you're ok with it?” Maria asks. “You're not going to run him off or threaten to kill him? That's most unlike you. You don't even have any problems with the age difference?”
“Sweetie, Jim is twelve years older than me. Besides you pass the rule.”
“There's a rule?” Maria sounds as confused as I do.
Amy groans for a minute. When she talks she sounds a little breathless. “Yes, the rule is that a man can date a woman who is half his age plus seven years.”
I never knew that. Quick mental calculation. Yes, Maria is old enough. Cool.
I decide then to risk entering, so I knock loudly and enter slowly, just in case. But Amy is under the blankets so I’m safe. “Hey. I spoke to Jim, he's going to be here in about two hours. Kyle is on his way down too. I’ll stick around until they get here, in case you need anything.”
“Thanks, Michael,” Amy nods.
A nurse enters then to check how far Amy is dilated so I make a quick escape to the waiting room.
Maria comes looking for me a few minutes later. “Hey. They don't think she's going to have the baby for a while. She's only at seven centimeters.” She wraps her arms around my waist. “Thank you for being here.”
“Are you ok? You look kind of pale.”
She shakes her head. “I don't think I can do this, Michael. I’ve only been to a couple of classes and I kept my eyes closed when they showed the videos. I don't know what I'm doing. She was in labor all day and I thought she was in a mood.”
I bite back a laugh and lean down and kiss her. “That was to calm you down. Maria, you'll be fine. The doctors and nurses know what they're doing. All you have to do is hold your mother's hand and be supportive. She just needs you to be there for her and you're the best person I know at that.”
Maria smiles at me. “Thank you.” She takes a deep breath. “You're right. I’ll be fine.” She slides her arms around my neck and pulls my head down for another kiss. “Ok, I’m going to go back in to my mom. I’ll see you later.”
“Hey,” I grab her before she leaves. “Just,don't look directly at it.”
“It being my mother's vagina?”
I cover my eyes with my hands, as if that will somehow expunge the mental image I’ve just conjured up. “Jesus, Maria.”
Maria laughs and pulls my hands away from my face and kisses me again. “Don't worry. Nothing is going to stop me from wanting to take your machine for a ride.”
“Promise,” I call after her as she walks down the corridor.
Her laughter is the only reply.
I fall back into my seat, close my eyes and say a silent prayer.
Hi Jesus, please, please, please, please don't let watching her mother give birth put Maria off sex for six weeks. Please let her be less of a wuss than I am. Sincerely, Michael.
James Valenti-Deluca Junior was born just after five this morning.
Michael was right. Childbirth is totally gross and terrifying. It’s also amazing and beautiful in its own way. And you can’t argue with the end result. My little brother is the absolute cutest, sweetest, most amazing, wonderful, adorablest, handsomest little boy that was ever born, ever, ever, in the history of the world. Of course, I may be a little biased. When I got to hold him for the first time, I bawled. I wasn’t the only one. Mom cried, Jim cried, Kyle cried.
By the time Jim drives us home it’s after seven and we’re both exhausted. We’re almost too tired to eat anything. Jim manages half a slice of toast before going to bed. I eat a couple of mouthfuls of muesli and then make the mistake of sitting down on the couch to take off my shoes.
I think I fell asleep before I removed the left one.
When I wake up, my two shoes are sitting neatly on the floor by the couch. The curtains are closed and there’s a blanket covering me. I can hear somebody moving around in the kitchen and the smell of cooking. I assume it’s Jim, but when I stumble into the kitchen, still half-asleep and with a glorious crown of bed-head, I find Michael there instead. I’d care more if I didn’t feel like a zombie right now.
He grins at me. “Hey.” He saunters over to me, pulling me close for a quick kiss. Quick because I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.
“Sorry,” I grunt when he pulls away with a grimace. I rub my eyes and stretch, trying to wake up. “What time is it?”
“It’s almost three. Are you hungry? I made a roasted vegetable tart.”
I look at him in surprise.
He shrugs bashfully. “It looked like the easiest recipe in your vegetarian cookbook.”
“Oh my God, you’re so sweet,” I coo.
He rolls his eyes. “Not really. I’m still hoping to get lucky.”
I slap his side playfully. “Did you get the picture I sent you? Isn’t JJ adorable?”
“Yes. Adorable.”
“Do you want to come to the hospital with me later to see him?”
“Sure, I guess.”
I lean towards him for a kiss and then remember my morning breath and pull away. “I’m going to brush my teeth.”
I shuffle off to the bathroom to clean my teeth, splash water on my face and comb my hair. Feeling more alive, I head back to the kitchen where Jim has joined Michael. He looks freshly showered and wide awake and he’s sporting the biggest smile I’ve ever seen in my life. He’s playing a video of mom holding JJ to Michael who is nodding along politely as Jim gushes effusively.
Jim smiles at me when I enter the kitchen and stands up to give me a hug. Something changed last night; he's gone from being the great guy that married my mom to being my step-dad. “Did you sleep ok on the couch? I didn't want to move you because you were sound asleep.”
“I slept great. I was so tired, I could have slept on a park bench,” I assure him. “Did you talk to mom?”
“I called the hospital. They said she and JJ were sleeping. I’m heading over there after dinner if you want to come with me.”
I pull out a chair and take a seat at the table. “Thanks, but I should call my aunts and I want to have a shower. I’ll go later.”
Michael serves up dinner which Jim and I set upon like a pack of starving wolves. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until I started eating. I’ve devoured half of it before I realize that Michael is watching me expectantly. I chew the next mouthful slowly to taste it. He was a little heavy handed with the salt but other than that, it's perfect. “This is really good,” I tell him.
Once dinner is over, which takes all of five minutes, I go back into the den to call some of mom's relatives. I sent out a group text message this morning with the barest details and a picture of JJ and the voicemail is full of messages from friends and relatives calling for more details and offering congratulations.
Jim helps Michael with the washing up and then leaves for the hospital. Michael joins me on the couch and turns on the TV to a sports channel.
When I’ve made all the necessary calls, I toss the phone onto the cushion beside me and snuggle up against Michael's side. He wraps his arms around me.
“Jim told me to be good to you,” Michael tells me.
“Really?” I say fondly. “Aw.” We sit there in companionable silence for a few minutes and I feel myself drifting off to sleep. Shaking it off, I rise to my feet. “I'm going to go to the shower. Are you going to come to the hospital with me to meet JJ?”
Michael nods. “Yeah, I guess.”
“Cool.”
I hover for a moment, half tempted to ask him if he'll join me in the shower but I chicken out and take a shower by myself.
Once I’m out of the shower, I pull on my terrycloth robe and sit down at my dressing table to dry my hair. A few minutes later there's a knock on the door. “Come in.”
The door opens slightly and Michael sticks his head around slowly before entering and handing me the phone.
I take the phone from him. It's one my mom's closest friends on the phone. I fill her in with all the details. As I talk to Jean, Michael walks around my room picking up things and examining them. I pretend not to be paying attention to him. I raise my leg onto the bed and rub lotion into it slowly, then I casually let my gown slip off my shoulder. Michael pretends to be looking at the pictures on my poster-board but he's really watching me.
When I’m finished talking to Jean, I put the phone down and swing back around to face the mirror. Michael comes over to the bed and sits down on it, directly behind me.
“I'm kind of disappointed,” he says. I raise an eyebrow at his reflection in the mirror as I apply my foundation. “Yeah, I was expecting a shrine or at least some fuzzy photographs of me in my nuddy taken from the tree at the back of my house.”
I laugh, and blush too because once upon a time that wasn't too far from the truth. “No, but I do have...” I dig around in my jewelery box and pull out a pair of earrings, and slip them on. One is a banana, the other a pineapple. “These.” I swivel around to face him and display my ears.
He shrugs. “And they are?”
“You won these in a ring toss at a carnival once. Isabel thought they were tacky, your mom didn't like them, Liz didn't have pierced ears at the time, so you gave them to me.” I turn my head so he can see the banana dangling from my right earlobe. “As you can see I’ve treasured them.”
Michael leans forward and touches my ear to have a better look. As he touches me, our eyes lock and the air between us is suddenly charged. In that instant we both know what's going to happen. Slowly, he trails his finger along my jawbone and then down my arm until he reaches my hip. Then in one fluid motion, he lifts me from the stool onto his lap.
I untie the belt at my waist and he pushes the robe off my shoulder. Then he cups my face and crushes his lips to mine, as I unbutton his shirt and pull it off him. His arms come around me and he begins to lower us to the mattress.
“Wait, wait,” I say, pulling away from him and leaning back to reach into the drawer of my dressing table. I pull out a condom and wave it at Michael. “We will definitely be using these,” I tell him sternly.
Michael chuckles and palms the condom, pulling me back to him and lowering me to the bed. He kicks off his shoes and removes his jeans before lying down between my legs. I take the condom from him and sheath him in it. He brings his mouth back to mine, kissing me softly and deeply. His hands slide over my skin, stroking and caressing me. I scratch my fingernails down his back.
It feels amazing, I can't believe that it's finally happening. He slides in to me carefully. We take it slowly at first, but our rhythm builds. I cling to him. Michael buries his face in my neck, biting my skin.
I cry his name as I come and he moans loudly.
We lie there wrapped in each other' arms for a while before Michael moves onto his side and pulls me against him.
“Don't fall asleep, we have to go to the hospital,” I tell him, but my eyes are already closing.
“Ok.”
I’m just at the point of drifting off to sleep when Michael's voice startles me.
“I used to think that you were pretty cool,” he says.
I lift my head and stare at him in confusion. “Huh?”
“I mean, when you were a kid. I used to think you were cool,” Michael clarifies. Satisfied that he's not about to turn into a rat bastard, I lie down again, burrowing into his side. His hand strokes my back gently. “You were afraid of nothing. You were funny and cheeky and always getting into trouble. You never stopped talking and you would talk about the most random things. You were a feminist by the time you were six years old. I always thought you were cool, you know. I liked you, is what I’m saying.
I smile, touched by his bumbling attempts to let me know he cared. I have to bite my lip from telling him how I feel because I think it's way too soon to spill the L word and it would freak Michael out. “Thank you.” I groan and reluctantly pull myself out of his embrace and sit up. “Come on. We have to go and see mom and JJ.”
Michael sighs. “Let's just stay here.”
I bounce a little on the bed. Under any other circumstances I would be fully on board with his suggestion, but I really, really want to see JJ again. “No, we're going to the hospital. Come on. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can go back to your place.”
“Ok,” Michael sits up and pulls on his clothes. “I'm going to rock your world, by the way.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”