Thanks to Tanya7496 for this beautiful banner.
Author: Roslover39
Category: AU, Z/Ma
Rating:Adult
Disclaimer: The characters of Roswell belongs to the WB, Melinda Metz, and UPN.
A very special Thank You to my BETA Irish77 for her inspiration and assistance in this process. I couldn't have done this without you .
You're the very best.
Special thanks also go to Femmenerd for planting the seed for this
fic with her fabulous fic "You Belong In Pictures".
Summary:Maria realizes that Michael may not be her destiny.
It's a typical day in Roswell. Maria and Liz are at the Crashdown serving the many gathering customers. It’s been two years since graduation and, the pod squad and their human friends are all going to Roswell U now. Liz and Max are engaged; Michael and Maria are still trying to figure out the ever changing state of their relationship. Isabel and Jesse are still married and very happy, and Kyle, well Kyle Is still Kyle, wisecracks and all.
The gang decided to continue to live at home, since Roswell U Is so close to home. The gang is experiencing many changes as young adults, but the one constant in their lives, other than their friendships, Is The Crashdown. The flashing lights that greet you In front of the café, the back area where potential problems have been worked out and the turquoise and metallic silver waitress outfits that Liz and Maria wear are all heartwarming constants In their lives. Michael is manning the grill as Max walks in searching for Liz. When he sees her, his whole face lights up. Liz quickly finishes taking an order, then runs to his
side.
When Liz reaches Max, she touches his left shoulder and gives him a quick kiss on the cheek. Max returns the favor by giving Liz a kiss on her lips. They are facing each other, and smiling. He greets Liz, “Hey sweets!”
She returns the kiss, “Hey yourself handsome. What's on the agenda for the day?”
Giving her a tight squeeze, “I have no plans until your shift is over. I thought that I'd stay here and nurse a cherry coke until you do. Wanna see a movie?”
Liz returns the hug and a slight shrug of her shoulders, “Whatever you wanna do is just fine. I'll be off in a couple hours.”
He motions to a booth, “Ok, I'll be over here counting the minutes!”
Liz smiles and heads for the kitchen. Maria heads to the back to place her newest order with Michael.
Maria walks up to the grill and tells Michael, "I need a Will Smith and a Sigourney Weaver.”
In typical Michael style, he replies to her request with a very huffy "Hey! Keep your shirt on, I got orders backing up here. Your order is gonna have to wait.”
Maria rolls her eyes and slams her hands on the counter “Michael, you always do this to me. Why do you…?”
While Maria and Michael are having their usual disagreement, a guy walked into the cafe. He's dressed in all black with a black backpack. He has facial piercings and tattoos, and coal black hair. He looks the same age as the gang and he's hungry. He looked around the busy café and found an empty booth, which just happened to be one of Maria's tables and had a seat. Jeff Parker has to remind Maria that they are in business to make money, and that someone has just taken a seat at her station. Zan picked up the backpack that was on the floor and searches it to see how much money he has. By this time Maria walks to the table.
Maria pulls out a order tablet, “Welcome to the Crashdown, what can I get for you today?”
Zan glanced up at Maria and replied in a loud pushy voice, “Blondie! All I wanna know is are you on the menu?”
Maria “Now look bucko, I'm here to take legitimate orders, not wisecracks, so why don't I let you eyeball the menu and I’ll come back, ok?”
Zan shrugged his shoulders, “Yeah you can do that, but the request will remain the same.”
All eyes in the cafe are on Zan and Maria while he flirts with her. When I say all eyes, I'm putting particular emphasize on Michael, Max, and Liz.
The discussion gets heated when Maria tries to leave the table and Zan catches her wrist, “Where are you going blondie? Suddenly I’m not as hungry as I thought. Well not for food anyway.” He said while smirking, “Why don't you take a load off and keep me company?”
Maria looks down at his hand on her wrist, “Look, I'm working and even if I weren't, I don't think I'd choose to sit and spend time with you!”
Michael has an eagle eye on the table. He sees that the stranger still has his hand on Maria's wrist, and like a gunshot, he runs to the table to assist her. “Maria, are you alright? Look buddy I think you've spent or should I say wasted enough time here. Either you're gonna order some food or you're gonna let the front door hit ya on the way out.”
Zan slowly rises from his chair, opposite Michael. Max is very aware that this discussion is on the way to getting violent, so he hurries to the table.
Max tries to position himself between the two men. “Hey guys, there's no need for all this hostility.”
Zan slides a disgusted look over Max, “Who the hell are you? And why are you in my face? Coming to help your boy out of a situation that doesn't concern either one of you?”
Michael turns to Max, “Yeah Maxwell let me handle this. This reject from a costume factory will be just fine, once I bust him in the face.”
Zan steps forward and gets closer to Michael, “You think you got what it takes? Come on I dare ya!”
Maria then puts her life in danger by trying to prevent a knock down drag out from happening. “Hey, hey, hey, all this showboating is not necessary. Michael go back to the grill, you too Max, I got this.”
Zan leans back with a satisfied look on his face, “Yeah you guys listen to blondie here, and nobody gets hurt.”
Maria tells Zan and the rest of them, that if he has no intention of ordering food that he should hit the bricks. Zan smirks, and then smiles at Maria, ”Ok blondie, I can bide my time. Besides I know where you work. We’ll meet again.”
Michael sneers at Zan, “You won't be seeing my girl without me.” He then lunges at Zan but Max quickly grabs him. Zan looks back as though he hasn't a worry in the world. He slowly walks out of the cafe, but not before turning and winking at Maria.
Liz runs to the table, “What was that all about?”
Max casually puts an arm around Liz, “Looks like Maria has an admirer that won't take no for an answer.”
Michael’s hands ball into fists, “I can see my fist connecting with his face so clearly. But do you know what I really see? That guy has a striking resemblance to you Max.”
Maria cocked her head to the side, “Yeah, I didn't want to mention that but it's true.”
Max looked around at all of them, “What? What are you guys talking about? That guy looks nothing like me.”
Liz puts a hand on Max’s arm, “ Max you’ve got to admit that there was a striking resemblance between you and that guy.”
Max brushes off Liz’s hand, “I don't have to admit anything. Who was that guy?” Angling his head to the swinging door.
Maria and Liz head for the back, giving Michael and Max time to talk, “Maxwell, there's something I didn't tell you.” He pulled Max closer so no one could overhear.
Max turned a concerned look towards Michael, “And what would that be Michael?”
Michael shuffled his feet on the floor, “Remember when I had to do a report on that old military dude that came back here for a reunion?”
“Yeah. And?” Max gives him a confused look.
Michael starts motioning with his hands, “Well he told me that there was another set of pods, other than ours.”
Max is really irritated now, “I really hope you're not saying what I think you are.”
Michael shrugs, “You got it dude, I think that guy was your duplicate.”
Max puts his hands on his hips, “Well let me tell you something, he definitely has his eye on your girl. So it seems we both have a problem. What do we do about it?”
Michael turns towards the direction Maria went, “We need to find out where he's from, what he wants, why he's here and how much about Antar he knows.”
Max looks like he gets an idea, “I say we get Maria to act chummy with him. He'll hopefully spill everything to her.”
Michael shakes his head and looks at Max seriously, “Let me ask you this,” He puts a hand on Max’s shoulder, “if this guy was flirting with Liz, would you be so willing to use her to get the info?”
Max’s face turned bright red, “Well what can I say, desperate times call for desperate measures.”
Michael slams his hand on the booth backtop, “I don't think so.”
While the verbal sparing of Michael and Max was reaching a fevered pitch, Isabel and Kyle walked in the cafe and took ringside seats at the counter.
Isabel leans into Kyle, “Did you see that?” Indicating the fight between Michael, Max and the unknown stranger.
“The battle of the Neanderthals? Yeah. I bet Michael never ever took into account that someone else could actually be attracted to Maria”
“You know I've tried to help him with her so many times. Maybe now his mind will finally open to the thought of treating Maria the way she deserves to be treated. But somehow,” she shrugged, “I doubt it.”
Kyle rolled his eyes, “We're talking about Michael Guerin here. A tiger can't change his spots.”
Isabel looked at him “What?” Giving a slight laugh, “A leopard Kyle, a leopard can't change his spots.”
Kyle shrugged “Potato, Potata” He laughed with her, “Whatever!”
Another working day ends at the Crashdown. Liz and Maria are cleaning; Max is still there patiently waiting for Liz so they can have that alone time they spoke of earlier. But Liz has a change of plans. She tells him she wants to stay home and dish about what happened earlier with Maria. “Max” she starts caressing his cheek, “I know we're supposed to have some alone time tonight, but I really want to get the goods on how Maria feels about what happened today. Can I get a rain check on tonight?” She then kisses Max's cheek.
Max’s face shows that he is clearly disappointed. “Yeah I guess so. Don't forget you owe me some alone time.” He then hugs her.
“Oh yeah, I won't forget.” They lean in and share a passion filled kiss. “Call me later?”
Max reluctantly pulls away, “Ok see ya.”
Maria walks into the room as Max leaves, “What? Max finally left and without you?” A look of mocked surprise on her face, “Is the world coming to an end?”
Liz swatting at Maria laughing, “Stop it. Seriously Maria, how did you feel about what happened earlier with Michael, and that guy dressed in all black.?”
Maria Is In the back of the café changing her uniform and chatting about the day's events to Liz. “To be perfectly honest, I found it flattering to see Michael react that way. It's about time he wraps his pea sized brain around the fact that I might not be his little petunia forever.”
Liz folded her apron and put it into her locker, “Ok and what about Zan? What did you think about him?”
Maria pondered the question “I thought that maybe he could be worth knowing once you clean him up a bit and get him out of all that black. I don't know what intrigued me more; the tattoos, or the earrings. Liz, the guy has an earring on his eyebrow and probably in his tongue too if you know what I mean.” She wiggled her eyebrows.
Liz expresses clear shock to Maria’s comment. “Maria!”
Maria rolled her eyes, “Open your mind Liz, shish!”
The work and conversation is done. Liz walks Maria to her car, makes sure the cafe is locked tight and makes her way to her room. When she gets there, her phone is ringing. She knows its Max. A lustful smile comes over her face.
Max’s voice heard on the other end, “Hey gorgeous, you busy?”
“No you called at the right time, Maria just left.” She plopped down onto the bed,
“Did you have a nice talk with her?”
Liz winding the phone chord around her finger, “Nosy aren’t we? Well let me say this, Michael better get on his J.O.B. and fast.”
“I don't mind telling you that I would have reacted the same way if that guy came on to you. Matter of fact I called to see if I can get you to sneak out with me tonight so I can show you how much I love you.”
Liz looked over at her bedside clock, " Max it's after 11:30pm!”
“Please! I need to see you, Liz please!"
Liz sits up , “Ok, where are we going?”
“To the desert so no one can hear you scream” His soft laugh comes across the line.
Liz stands to get ready, “Alrighty then, hurry up.”
“Um, I'm right outside your window.”
Liz looked over at her window, “Did you know I'd say yes?”
“No, but I was hoping you would.”
Liz puts a hand on her hip, “Just for that I should stay right here.”
“Liz, I need to be with you tonight. Come on sweetheart.”
Liz smiles slightly, “Alright, I’ll come out.”
“Oh, and you will, I can guarantee that! I’ll be waiting, bye.”
Liz giggled, “Ok Max. “Bye.”
As Max and Liz head for the desert to enjoy each other fully, Maria has a visitor at her bedroom window, Maria walks over to It and looks out. She's clearly surprised to see Michael standing there. “Michael what's up?”
Michael leans against the window frame, “Let me in, I need to talk to you.”
He climbs through her bedroom window and starts pacing. Maria sits on the bed looking at him. After a few tense moments Michael speaks, “I don't want you around that idiot In black, ok?”
Maria gives Michael a cross look, “What is this Michael, telling me what to do? I don't know that guy and up to now I didn't want to know that guy. What's wrong Guerin, feeling threatened?”
Michael walks over to face Maria and grabs her left hand. “You're my girl, and I don't want you around him period, end of discussion.”
Maria shakes off his hand, “What? Oh here we go again with what you want. That's the problem Michael, you never consider me.”
Michael tried to reach for her again, “But I am considering you, I just don't want you around him ok?”
Maria skirts away from Michael and shaking her head. With fire like anger in her eyes she exclaims, “That's it! Get out!”
Michael looked at her like she has lost it, “What?”
“Just get the hell out right now! Right now Michael!” Maria points to the window.
Michael leaves. Maria is so upset that she can't sleep. She decides to walk to the nearby park and have a seat on a bench. As fate would have it, Zan just happens to be walking. He notices her.
Zan walks up to Maria and speaks to her. “Blondie, is that you? Now you know a pretty girl ain't got no business being out here alone.”
Maria whipped around with a shocked look on her face, “You again? To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure.”
Zan moved closer, “I couldn't sleep so I decided to take a walk, what's your excuse?”
“Well if you must know, I had an argument with my boyfriend and I can't sleep either.” She wants to move away but finds herself drawn to him.
“Do you mind?” Zan motioned to a seat on the bench.
“It's a free country.” And sits down.
Zan puts his arm around the back and starts to lower it to her shoulder, “What can I say baby, you're just my type. Get rid of that zero and let me be your hero.”
Maria leans away from his coming arm, “Wait a minute, I don't even know you, where you're from, school, if any, or anything else about you.”
“The name's Zan, I live in New York, but you can say I was drawn here for some strange reason.”
While Zan and Maria are getting acquainted, Kyle is witnessing it. He calls Liz and interrupts her and Max's party.
Just as soon as Max and Liz reach the dessert and park the jeep, Liz's cell phone rings and she reaches Into her purse to answer It. Max looks at the phone and frowns. Liz promises him that this will be a very brief call and softly strokes his face to reassure him of her Intentions.
Kyle’s voice is heard on the other end, "Liz, I'm at the park next to Maria's house and guess what I'm looking at right now"
"Kyle I don’t have time for twenty questions, what's up?"
"Ok, I'm looking at Maria In the park talking to that guy that Michael had the run In with."
Kyle's Info has Liz very puzzled. Max can tell from the look on her face that something is not right. "Hey what's wrong Liz?"
Liz ignores Kyle for the moment, and puts a hand over the receiver, "Kyle just told me that he's looking at Maria and that guy from the Crashdown talking in the park."
"Why would Maria be at the park at this time of night, and more Importantly, why Is she conversing with a guy she doesn't know?”
Liz shakes her head in complete confusion. Kyle reminds her that she's still on the phone with him, "Hello! I'm still here!, So, what are we gonna do about this"?
"One thing I can say about Maria is this, she's a pretty good judge of character. If she feels comfortable enough to actually hold a conversation with this guy, then he's probably ok. Kyle? Can you to continue to watch her just to be on the safe side?”
Kyle stutters out, "Ok, but It's 12:45am, I'm not gonna be out here much longer. I need my beauty sleep.”
Liz laughed at Kyle’s comment. “Thanks Kyle, I'll call you tomorrow"
"Hey, Is Max with you?” His amusement is heard through the phone line, “Did I Interrupt something hot and steamy"?
Liz rolls her eyes "I’ll talk to you tomorrow Kyle, Bye.”
Liz takes her metallic pink phone and puts It back In her purse hoping that there will be no more Interruptions tonight, but then she starts thinking about Maria. Max can sense that he doesn't have her full attention yet, but he knows just what to do to remedy that problem. "Hey gorgeous, where are you? I get the feeling your thoughts are a million miles away. Gazing Into her eyes. “You're not supposed to be thinking about anything but me and what I'm gonna do to you starting right now!” Max and Liz are still in the jeep. He reaches over and plants a kiss on Liz's neck. He then kisses her cheek, and gently cups her face in his hands and gives her a very warm and Inviting kiss.
Liz starts warming up to his advances, “Oh, now I remember why we came all the way out here” She smiles at Max. “So, what else do you have in mind for me handsome?”
“Let me get the blanket off of the back seat and I'll show you all that I have in store for you. Max reaches for and grabs a red and black checked blanket from the back seat and heads out the jeep. He notices that Liz Is opening the passenger side door to get out and stops her. "Oh no Liz, let me!”
Max quickly walks around to the passenger side of the jeep and holds the door open and takes Liz's hand. The electricity that’s shooting from their bodies at their mere touch Is enough to light up the night sky. Max leads Liz to a nice spot, and covers it with the blanket. He then turns and faces her, brushing a stray hair out of Liz's face, he touches her right cheek. "Liz, I love you and I want you so much. I want you more now than I did the first time we made love. You're my heart and soul. I need you, say that you'll never leave me" He gives her a kiss full of sexual longing telling her what he is feeling until there is no more need for words.
Instead of saying a single word, Liz chooses to show Max how she feels about him and what he said. She reaches up and starts to remove his black leather jacket. She then starts to unbutton his brown oxford shirt. As she removes the shirt, she allows her fingers to gently graze Max's beautifully sculpted chest and shoulders. The sight of his perfectly muscled torso still gets Liz so hot and excited to be joined with him again. So begins their night of love.
********
Zan and Maria are still at the park talking until Zan takes a quick look at his watch. "I hate to break up this little party, but I think you should be getting home, I'll walk with you to make sure you get there ok.”
"Oh!” She puts a hand to her chest, “How gallant.” She dismisses his suggestion to walk her home, “I'm only a couple blocks away. Trust me, I'll be just fine.”
"Suit yourself doll, I'm out then. See ya around.”
Zan heads to the opposite exit of the tree filled park, but as soon as Maria heads home. He makes sure she can't see that he's watching her while he slowly trails her to make sure she gets home safely. As soon as Maria makes it to the front porch of her house, instead of unlocking her door and letting herself in, something urges her to take a look down her street. That's when she notices that Zan Is standing four houses away, starring at her.
Zan notices Maria looking at him with her mouth open ready to spew some indignities to him about following her home like a stalker.
Zan to himself, Oh what the hell, time to face the music, He walks toward Maria.
Maria trying really hard not to wake the neighbors, "Zan, what part of ‘I'll be just fine.’ did you not understand?”
Zan walks up to Maria's porch voicing his obvious displeasure to her statement "Look babe I wanted to make sure you were ok, so sue me!" Zan slowly makes his way to the porch to face
Maria. He reaches her and almost Invades her personal space. It Is then that Maria gazes up at him and starts to feel her heart race, the same way It does when she's "In the mood for love" with Michael. Not saying a word, Maria gazes Into Zan's beautiful hazel eyes while he gets lost In her green orbs. Maria, managing to come out of the hormone Induced haze she was just In tells Zan "I….I'm suddenly not feeling very well, I better go Inside and lie down. Zan, clearly feeling the same way she Is doesn't buy what she's saying " Don't play with me, you're feeling the same way I am and I'm not feeling bad.Look, If you can't face the music and be honest about It that's cool". Zan slowly raises his right hand with the Intention of brushing the right side of Maria's flushed cheek, but stops short deciding to show Maria that he can control himself. Slowly backing away, Zan decides It's time to go home. Before he makes his way down the wooden stairs of Maria's porch, he looks at her and says " We will meet again, I'm out." As Maria watches Zan strutt down the street, she decides to go Inside. She makes her way to her bedroom. When she gets there, she collapses on to the bed In deep thought about how a mysterious stranger could affect her the way Michael has too many times to count. Running her fingers through her shoulder length blonde hair, she wonders what would have……what could have happened If Zan had pushed the Issue of what they were feeling. She admits to herself that she wants Zan.
