Better Man [CC, AU, Mature, Part Six, 4/9]

[candygazerdreamer87]

Title: Better Man

Rating: Mature, possibly Adult later on.

Category: CC, but with a focus on M/M. However, the story does begin UC. Also it is AU. No aliens.

Summary: Maria 25, married, and desperately not in love with her husband. This story came to me one morning while getting ready. Better Man came on my Ipod and the gears started turning.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Roswell or the associated characters. The song is Better Man by Pearl Jam. This is purely for fun, not profit.

Waitin', watchin' the clock, it's four o'clock, it's got to stop
Tell him, take no more, she practices her speech
As he opens the door, she rolls over...
Pretends to sleep as he looks her over

She lies and says she's in love with him, can't find a better man...
She dreams in color, she dreams in red, can't find a better man...
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Ohh...

Talkin' to herself, there's no one else who needs to know...
She tells herself, oh...
Memories back when she was bold and strong
And waiting for the world to come along...
Swears she knew it, now she swears he's gone

She lies and says she's in love with him, can't find a better man...
She dreams in color, she dreams in red, can't find a better man...
She lies and says she still loves him, can't find a better man...
She dreams in color, she dreams in red, can't find a better man...
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Yeah...

She loved him, yeah... she don't want to leave this way
She feeds him, yeah... that's why she'll be back again

Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better... man...

Better Man

Chapter One
3:38

The red letters brightened by the minute, mocking her and her insomnia. She had to be up and out of the house by 6:30 to open the store. At this point she would settle for just one hour, even just forty-five minutes, of peaceful, dreamless sleep.

Thunk.

3:39

Thunk.

3:40

Thunk.

“Damn it Peter wake up!” Maria shouted loudly. She rolled over and whacked her husband’s arm with as much force as she could muster, which obviously wasn’t enough to wake the dead. He simply rolled a little farther away from her and continued to sleep, alternately between snoring and talking to someone named Hilda.

Maria could deal with the snoring and even the talking, although she usually waited to hear the girls name before she fell asleep herself. The names didn’t really matter to her that much, but she liked to have a file locked away in her head just in case someday she ran into one of them. The point was, she could deal with snoring and talking, but the damn…

Thunk.

“Fuck.” She cursed and pushed the covers away from her. She continued cursing her husband as she climbed out of bed and walked out into the kitchen. She considered making some tea and maybe even sorting through some bills, but the damn thunking was too distracting.

She had asked him two months ago to fix the gutter, which had come detached from the side of the house and was now banging rhythmically against the house. Of course she also asked him to fix it three months before then and four months that.

She didn’t bother to grab a rain coat or even a house coat. She unlocked the back door and walked out into the warm rain. It didn’t rain often in New Mexico, but that morning it was coming down in buckets. Her thin T-shirt was soaked as soon she stepped out from under the overhang, but she ignored the rain, the mud, and even the newspaper-man who was giving her a strange, and then lecherous, look.

When she reached the offensive gutter she stared at it for a second, watching the wind knock it repeatedly against her bedroom wall. She hadn’t brought out any tools to fix it.

“Ahhh! UGH…” she screamed and grunted as she pulled at the brown monster. After a few minutes, it came loose from the connecting gutter attached to the roof and she was sent flying backwards on the grass. Her ass and legs splattered with mud, she let out another scream of frustration and desperation. “FUCK!”

**********

Michael lifted a red lawn mower into the bed of his black pickup truck and rolled his eyes when he saw Isabel’s purple Lexus pull up behind him. Alex had warned him she would be “stopping by” to wrangle him into a double date.

Of course for them it would be great. Isabel and Alex had only been dating for two months, so they were still in the mushy honeymoon phase. Michael, on the other hand, would be going out with some chick Isabel had handpicked from the Santa Fe office. Every girl she had ever set him up with was from their parent’s law firm and every girl was dull as shit. The thought of going through another night of torture at the hands of some young lawyer with a gavel up her ass made him cringe.

“Jack.” He motioned the dog to come over to the truck. He jumped off the truck and secured the tailgate. “Hey Isabel.”

“Hi!” she replied brightly.

If there was anything in this life Michael could count on it was that his sister was always happy to see him.

“Hi Jake,” she said a lot less enthusiastically as the dog sniffed at her passively, before continuing on towards Michael. “So, Alex and I are going to Loon tonight to listen to a couple of bands.”

“You don’t say.” Michael opened the driver’s side door of the pickup and let Jake jump in.

“Alex used to be in one of the bands back in high school,” she explained. “We were wondering if you wanted…”
“I’m busy.”

“With who? Jake? I know you love that dog and all, but he’s not going to marry you and have your babies…”

“Iz…”

“You’re a successful, handsome business man…” Isabel informed her thick headed brother.

“I’m going to stop you right there. First of all, I am not a “business man”. I cut lawns. I just happen to own the company,” Michael cut in.

Isabel rolled her eyes, but kept her mouth shut so she could hear his second point. Before of course refuting his claims and convincing him she was right.

“Second of all, I do not need you setting me up. It’s pathetic to have your big sister finding you dates at this age. No wait, it’s pathetic at any age. So drop it.”

“Michael,” Isabel replied sweetly, “you’re coming.”
**********

“Hey.”

“Hey,” Maria muttered back. She unbuttoned her jacket and threw it on the chair. Her entire day sucked. Not only had she not slept, but the store had flooded thanks to the monsoon that had hit in the early morning hours. Then a shipment of candles came in late and the entire shipment was black tea light candles. What the hell was she going to do with 1000 black tea lights? She wouldn’t even have been able to sell them all at Halloween. The real kicker though was when the fire inspector came in and slapped her with a $500 fine for having too much inventory displayed on the floor. Not even a warning, but a $500 fucking fine.

“You left early this morning,” Peter commented.

She didn’t answer.

“You should have woke me.”

Maria stared at him incredulously. Was he kidding?

“I needed money.”

Maria opened her mouth slowly and then closed it. She was speechless, for a moment, and then all hell broke loose.

“I gave you twenty dollars yesterday,” she replied coldly.

“So?”

“So, how the fuck did you spend twenty dollars between yesterday afternoon and this morning?”

“I’m not a fucking high school kid asking for a raise in his allowance Maria.”

“No. Most high school kids don’t even get an allowance. They get off their lazy asses and get a fucking job. You want twenty bucks; follow their example and find a job, or hell, panhandle for all I fucking care!” Maria screamed. She pushed herself out of the chair, leaving her jacket behind. She stormed out the front door and jumped in her car.

Her car. It was her car. It was also her house and her business. He owned nothing and he contributed nothing, but it was still all about him.

His dreams, she thought bitterly. They are all that matter. They’re all that have ever mattered.

TBC...

[candygazerdreamer87]

Thank you everyone .

Chapter Two

“I’m just saying, you talk a big game, but when it comes down to it your big sister calls the shots,” Alex teased Michael later that day.

Not only had Isabel insisted Michael go, but she also sent him to the club early to help set up the sound equipment with Alex.

“Whatever,” Michael grunted as he lifted a speaker up the steps onto the stage.

Alex chuckled.

“So,” he said turning his attention to Parker, “I heard Maria’s pissed at you.”

He had been friends with Parker for years, but Maria would always be his best friend. She was like a sister to him, her and Liz both.

“Go figure,” Parker answered. “I don’t know what her problem is, but she’s been the biggest bitch lately.”

“Who’s Maria?” Michael asked. He didn’t really care, but he wanted to keep the conversation focused on Peter and his girl troubles.

“The wife,” Peter grunted back.

“The wife,” Michael repeated. “Isn’t getting married against all the rock star rules?”

“Yeah, I should have read the career packet before going to the court house,” Peter grumbled. “Maybe I would actually be a rock star.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Alex answered matter-of-factly, “they recommend wannabes marry a stable and supportive wife, because the ones who don’t usually off themselves.”

“Stable, maybe,” Parker laughed, “but she’s not the brightest bulb. This morning she apparently thought it would be a good idea to bring a broken, muddy piece of gutter into the house and leave it on the kitchen table.”

“Dude, I don’t think the bulb is the problem. Maybe you should take a look at the socket,” Alex replied. He had heard, in detail, about the infamous piece of gutter.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Alex just shook his head. He knew better than to get too involved in the couple’s affairs, so he smartly kept his mouth shut.

“Is she hot?” Michael asked.

Alex laughed at Michael’s candor, but cringed instinctively when Parker answered.

“Wouldn’t have married her otherwise,” he answered immediately. “She’s a little small up top, but the legs and lips make up for it, you know.”

Michael nodded.

“I don’t know. I guess I have to find a job. Something temporary to make her happy,” Peter admitted thoughtfully. His music always came first, but he could take on part-time work if it meant keeping Maria off his back for a while.

“I’ve been looking for some help,” Michael offered. “One of my guys got arrested last week and I haven’t gotten around to finding a replacement. The pay, the hours, and the work all suck, but the job is yours if you want it.”

“Awesome. Thanks,” Peter replied. “I’m going to go call Maria and tell her. Maybe she’ll actually come tonight,” he added hopefully.

Alex waited for him to leave before cursing him.

“If he wasn’t one of my closest friends I would have punched him out years ago,” he huffed.

“He doesn’t seem like that bad of a guy,” Michael replied.

“He’s not, not really. In fact he can treat Maria really well sometimes and I know he really loves her. But he takes her for granted in the worst way,” Alex explained. It was days like these he really missed Liz. She was only in Santa Fe, but sometimes it felt like she was in China. Liz hated her brother, so whenever Alex needed to vent she was a more than welcoming ear.

**********

Taco Barn: her home away from home.

Maria bit into her third spicy taco supreme and sighed heavily. After driving around Roswell a couple of times, not a hard thing to accomplish considering how small the town really was, and calling Alex to, well, flip out on him about her problems, Maria drove straight to her favorite haven. She couldn’t go home, not yet. Even though Peter was at the club setting up with Alex she couldn’t stand the thought of being in that house.

She was going to leave him. She had practiced the speech a thousand times and she was finally going to tell him tonight.

Tonight, she repeated to herself.

She hadn’t told anybody about this yet, not even Alex. Sure everyone knew they had problems, but what married couple didn’t? But this was different. This was worse.

She loved him. She really did, but she wasn’t in love with him. And now she couldn’t figure out if she really ever had been in love with him.

They had grown up together, but during high school they became best friends and sometime lovers. They had a connection through their music; a connection Maria had never found with another person. She had tried several times to write songs with Alex, but it never worked out. With Peter it was simple, even easy. They understood each other and it made them a hell of a team.

Unfortunately, this new connection effectively ruined her friendship with Liz. She didn’t mean for it to happen. She always believed that Liz would get over her choice to be with Peter and that things would go back to normal, but they never got their friendship back. They were cordial and even friendly at family events, but the closeness that bonded them through elementary school and junior high was gone. It wasn’t until they became sisters-in-law that Maria realized they really were no longer sisters. Maria had plenty of regrets, but losing Liz was one of her biggest.

Maria wasn’t the type of girl to marry at eighteen. In fact, during high school she was the one always pushing Peter away. She loved being in the band with him, Alex, Pedro, and Ronnie. She also loved being a free spirit and craved change and excitement. They toured New Mexico and even parts of Arizona and Texas during high school. The band was really going places. It was an incredible high to be so young and standing at the edge of success. Then everything changed and Maria learned to hate change.

Alex was accepted to MIT after high school and Liz got into Harvard. Alex decided that as much as he loved music, what he really wanted was a career in software design. So, Alex and Liz spent five years in Cambridge together. Maria didn’t think she could feel more abandoned. The band was falling apart and she was going nowhere. She hadn’t bothered to apply to any colleges because she knew higher education just wasn’t for her and although she didn’t want to go to school she was still jealous of everyone who was moving on to bigger and better things, while she was left in Roswell to wait tables indefinitely.

This is when she first started getting more serious about Peter. She had dated plenty of other guys, but she always came back to him and he was always there. When her mother met Ralph, an environmental lawyer from Seattle, she was truly happy for her. Her mother was so happy; happier than she had ever seen her and Maria liked Ralph. He was funny, kind, and genuinely cared about what Maria was going to do with her life. He never pressured her, but he made her think about her future and all the possibilities that were out there for a “talented young lady”. With the band stalling, he encouraged her to focus her creative energies elsewhere. She started first by designing and then making candles for her mother to sell in her shop. Then she began designing dresses and tops, all one of a kind, to also sell in the shop. Soon she quit her job waitressing and began focusing her attention solely on adding diversity to Amy’s alien themed storefront. She turned the once tourist trap into a “hodgepodge of the obscure”, as she liked to call it.

They still sold the alien paraphernalia, but they added: herbal remedies from the Indian Reservation outside of town; calming oils; homemade lotions; handmade candles; CDs made by local and underground bands; independent movies that were hard to find in a small town (unless you bought them online); and even books written by local amateur authors (A brilliant idea on Ralph’s part. Once a year they allowed authors from Roswell and the surrounding counties to submit manuscripts and the winning manuscript would be published. Only 200 copies would be made and sold exclusively in the shop). The store was growing exponentially now that it attracted local customers, not just tourists.

Maria was really proud of her contributions to the store, but Amy was even prouder of her daughter. More and more, Amy left Maria alone with the store, until she announced that she and Ralph were getting married and moving to Seattle. Maria was crushed. She tried to be happy for her mother, but she couldn’t help but to feel abandoned, again. Looking back now she understood that Amy had made the right choice. She left her daughter with a successful business, a house, and the confidence to be a successful single woman.

But Maria was afraid of being a single woman. So, she clung onto the one thing that hadn’t changed in her life, the one thing that had always stayed constant: Peter. She was needy and pathetic, but he was there for her. He brought her lunch at the shop, fixed the garbage disposal when it exploded, and walked the dog when she was stuck at the work or on a buying trip. He wasn’t perfect, but he didn’t pretend to be. Parker was always honest about who he was and Maria knew what she was getting into when she asked him to marry her.

She knew there were other women, but she also knew he was fiercely loyal and protective of her. She knew his music came before her, but also that her singing to him at night came before his music. She knew he would say stupid things when he was drunk, but that he would never raise a hand to her. Most importantly, she knew he loved her. He always had and he was never afraid to tell her, not even in high school when, for the most part, they were just screwing around. She was his favorite girl and he was her best friend.

He was stable. He always came home at night and showed up whenever said he would. He kept every promise he ever made to her. Yes, he forgot to fix the gutter because he got an idea for a new song. Yes, he violated their vows and slept with other women. Yes, he once told her if she got fat he would divorce her (one of his stupid drunk remarks he later apologized for). But she never held any of those things against him because he hadn’t broken any promises that she cared about. Should she be angry about the other women in his life? Yes. Was she? Not really. She tried to be jealous. She tried to get angry with him, but the truth was she really didn’t care as long as he came home to hold her at night.

He would never leave her and she loved him for that, which is why she felt so incredibly guilty. She used him for so long and now she was just going to drop him. For what? Because she suddenly realized that what she felt for him wasn’t the kind of love that people built marriages on? He makes her laugh with just a look. He makes her grilled cheese when she’s sad. He tapes American Idol for her, even though he hates that show and knows she’ll make him watch it with her the next day.

She had to tell him. If she waited any longer, the resentment and bitterness she was beginning to feel and consequently take out on him would eventually lead to hatred and she couldn’t stand the thought of that.

“Tonight,” she whispered to herself.

**********

“I thought you hated your brother?” Max asked.

“I do,” Liz admitted. She and Parker had never gotten along, mostly because her older brother was an ass, but if she was completely honest with herself she didn’t really hate him. In fact, she was even a little impressed that he had stayed committed to his music all these years, even if it hadn’t taken him very far.

“So, why are we going?” Max inquired. He would rather go out for a quiet dinner with Liz and then bring her back to his place to watch a movie. Going to a club that was an hour and a half away to watch a couple of bands play was not his idea of a fun night.

“Because I said so,” Liz answered exasperated.

Max smirked and answered, “Okay.” He and Liz hadn’t been dating long. Most of their conversations were still light and friendly, so he enjoyed seeing her a bit annoyed. Her ears reddened and her she bit her lip unconsciously. She was adorable.

“Hey.” Max wrapped his arms around her waist and she stopped fussing with her hair. “You look perfect.” He dropped a kiss on her shoulder.

“Thank you,” she smiled back at him in the mirror. “It’s been awhile since I’ve been home, you know besides holidays.”

Max nodded thoughtfully. “I was down there a few months ago. It would be a nice place to raise kids.”

Liz’s stomach fluttered. “Santa Fe has better schools,” she answered rationally.

“There’s a private school in Dexter that has small class sizes and a variety of social programs.”

“You really liked Roswell that much?” Liz asked. She was kind of surprised. She grew up in Roswell so of course she had a soft spot for it, but it wasn’t exactly the ideal town.

“I really do,” he answered honestly, his eyes locked with hers.

**********

Alex left the club around 6:30 to pick up Isabel and Maria, who had reluctantly agreed to tag along. Michael stayed behind and hung out with Parker and the rest of his band. They seemed like a cool group to him, but then anyone who loved Metallica and hated Jessica Simpson on principle was cool to him.

Around 7:15, Michael saw Alex and Isabel come through the entrance, trailed by a gorgeous blonde, and his older brother Max and his girlfriend Liz. He didn’t know Max and Liz were coming and was a little shocked to see the quiet couple entering a seedy night club. He could tell his brother was already uncomfortable and he couldn’t wait to tease him for it.

As for his date, Michael was impressed. She looked nothing like a lawyer. She had soft, long, honey blonde hair that flowed down to the middle of her back and bee stung lips covered in shiny lip gloss. Her outfit was far from conservative, but she managed to pull it off without looking slutty. She wore a loose silver halter top, black leather pants, and high heeled leather boots. Her makeup was natural and her jewelry was simple, not showy. She looked relaxed and mellow.

Michael stood up and smiled. Isabel had finally found a girl her would actually like to get to know.

“Hey Michael,” Isabel beamed when they reached him.

“Iz,” he said with a nod and an appreciative wink. Isabel gave him a look, but didn’t ask him what the wink was for. “Hey bro, do you really think this is a good place to bring your girl?” He clapped Max on the shoulder and smiled at Liz. He wasn’t usually so good natured or talkative in public, but the blonde beauty was making him feel a little euphoric. She gave out this vibe that calmed and excited him all at the same time.

“Hi,” he greeted the blond, “you must be Tess.”

“Oh, no,” Maria answered shaking her head slightly, her loose curls bouncing.

“Oh, Tess had to take a phone call. She’ll join us in a minute,” Isabel explained. “This is Maria.”

“Oh,” he answered. He tried to hide his disappointment, but Isabel’s warning glare told him he wasn’t very successful. Maria, he thought, Parker’s wife. Fuck.

TBC...

[candygazerdreamer87]

Thank you Nibbles!

Chapter Three

“Hello? Tess?” Isabel answered her phone a few minutes later. Her face washed with confusion as she listened to whatever Tess was saying. “What?! Hello?”

“What happened?” Alex asked.

Isabel looked up at Michael who was in deep conversation with Maria about something. Whatever it was, Maria was giggling and Michael kept egging her on, even pinching her side a couple of times. He was clearly flirting with her and she’d have to remind him Maria was married and by the looks of it she’d have to remind Maria too.

“Um, Michael can I talk to you for a minute?” Isabel asked as she rose from her seat.

“Why?” he asked, clearly annoyed at being interrupted.

“Because I said so.”

Michael rolled his eyes. “I’ll be right back,” he said to Maria before getting up to follow Isabel to the bar.

“Okay I have bad news,” Isabel began. “Tess isn’t coming.”

“Work emergency?” he guessed. Those lawyer chicks were really all the same: work first and everything else second.

“Not exactly,” Isabel answered. “She, well, I think she met someone out in the parking lot.”

“Seriously?” Michael laughed. Well maybe she wasn’t like most lawyers. “Whatever Iz. It’s fine. I’ll just hang out with Maria while you guys do your couple stuff. Parker will be busy most of the night anyways.”

“Yeah about that, stop flirting with Maria,” Isabel ordered bluntly.

“I’m not,” he denied.

“You so are. She’s married and it’s never going to happen, so forget it. Okay?”

Michael rolled his eyes again. His sister was the only person in the world who could annoy him enough to actually roll his eyes. “Fine. Whatever. We’re just going to have a good, innocent time. ‘Kay?”

He didn’t wait for Isabel to answer before turning to head back to his seat next to Maria.

“Hey how is everyone doin’ tonight?” a voice boomed over the microphone as the lights in the club dimmed.

The crowd screamed and clapped. The band had played here hundreds of times over the years and every time they received a huge round of applause.

“Well, I don’t know how many of you remember this, but in the good old days we used to have another member in this band. Her name was Princess Sunshine Guitar Hopper at the time, but these days she’s just going by Maria Parker.”

Maria groaned and buried her face in her hands. She hated that nickname, but the guys insisted on calling her that for more than five years. She was sure now that they had been reminded of it they wouldn’t drop it for a few months, at least. Whatever Peter was doing she was going to kill him for it.

“It’s been nearly five years since she’s graced this stage and I think it’s time for a little reunion.” The crowd cheered louder. “Come on up here Princess the crowd loves you.” The crowd responded and grew even louder.

“I’m going to kill him,” Maria screeched as she got up from her seat and walked towards the stage. It had been five years since she had sung in front of this many people. Hell, she hadn’t even practiced in all that time. This was going to be a disaster. The crowd continued to cheer and whistle as she walked out onto the familiar stage.

She met Parker at the mic in the middle of the stage and covered it with her hand. “I hate you,” she whispered fiercely.

“You wish,” he retorted. “You’re gonna love this and you know it.”

Peter wrapped an arm around Maria’s waist and pulled her towards him. She stood in front of him and positioned the microphone so they could both sing into it. The familiar beat of one of their oldest songs started to play and Maria automatically began swaying her hips in time.

Peter began to sing after a couple of beats.

Are we growing up or just going down?
It's just a matter of time until we're all found out
Take our tears, put them on ice
Cause I swear I'd burn this city down to show you the light

Maria closed her eyes and let her mind go back to the night they wrote this song. It was the first song she and Peter had ever written together. Maria’s mother was out of town so they had her house to themselves. They had been fooling around most of the night and then Peter picked up her guitar and started plucking at random chords.

We're the chemists who've found the formula
To make your heart swell and burst
No matter what they say, don't believe a word

Suddenly, his beat made sense to Maria and she began humming along and then slowly adding lyrics to the music. Maria opened her eyes and came back to the present. She picked up where his voice left off without a second thought. The words were burned in her memory and throat.

Cause I'll keep singing this lie if you'll keep believing it
I'll keep singing this lie
I'll keep singing this lie

Are we growing up or just going down?
It's just a matter of time until we're all found out
Take our tears, put them on ice
Cause I swear I'd burn this city down to show you the light

She leaned slightly back into Peter’s embrace and felt a rush of warmth and love wash over her. A hard lump formed in her throat and she fought to keep her voice strong and clear and the tears from her eyes. Things had changed so much since they had written this song and yet so much was still the same.

We're the kids you used to love
But then we grew old
We're the lifers here till the bitter end
Condemned from the start
Ashamed of the way
The songs and the words own the beating of our hearts

Cause I'll keep singing this lie
I'll keep singing this lie

They were still living the lie and Maria couldn’t take it anymore, but she kept singing. She kept moving to the music and she kept hoping that the song, the night, would never end.

Are we growing up or just going down?
It's just a matter of time until we're all found out
take our tears, put them on ice
Cause I swear I'd burn this city down to show you the light
There's a drug in the thermostat to warm the room up
And there's another around to help us bend your trust
I've got a sunset in my veins
And I need to take a pill to make this town feel okay

Maria stopped singing and sighed inaudibly as Peter leaned forward and began singing into the microphone. He started out soft and his voice rose as Maria joined in. Their voices mingled harmoniously, weaving together as one.

The best part of "Believe" is the "Lie",
I hope you sing along and you steal a line
I need to keep you like this in my mind
So give in or just give up

Are we growing up or just going down?

Are we growing up or just going down?
It's just a matter of time until we're all found out
Take our tears, put them on ice
Cause I swear I'd burn this city down to show you the light

As the music faded out, Maria closed her eyes once again and let the familiar sound of applause consume her. It had been years since she heard a crowd clap for her. It was…unsettling.

**********

Maria walked off the stage and straight to the bar. She didn’t normally drink, but tonight she couldn’t get enough. She downed four shots of Tequila, before joining her table of friends, with two beers in hand.

She stumbled and almost lost both beers as she took her seat next to Michael.

“Wow,” Michael laughed, “here.” He helped her into the seat and patted her on the back. “You weren’t that bad,” he joked, “not bad enough to force you to drink yourself into oblivion anyways.” He honestly thought she was amazing, much better than Parker alone.

“Mhmmm,” Maria half moaned, half groaned.

“Are you okay?” Alex asked worriedly. He couldn’t remember every seeing Maria actually drunk. She looked like she was about to pass out face first onto the table.

“Dandy,” she slurred.

“Here,” Alex said, passing her an extra glass of water from the center of the table.

Maria pushed it away and took a long swig of beer number one. She was mostly quiet during the rest of the show, only breaking her drunken silence to giggle loudly at something Michael would whisper in her ear. Although they did hit a rough patch when Alex suggested Maria sell some of Michael’s paintings in her shop and Michael called the store “a tourist trap”. She promptly slapped the back of his head and called him a heathen, then fell off her chair into a fit of giggles and coughs. But she quickly forgot about his comment and he soon had her laughing again.

“That son of a bitch,” she said loudly after the band’s set was complete. Off to the left of the stage, Peter stood talking to a bleach blonde with fake boobs and in a disgusting pleather dress. “That fucking…” she continued to mumble curses as she got up from the table and stalked over to where the two stood.

Michael, Alex, and Isabel all stood and followed her.

“Maria. Maria stop,” Alex called after her. “You’re drunk and irrational. Don’t say or do anything you’ll regret.”

“The only thing I’ll ever regret is not saying it sooner,” she yelled back to him.

Maria stopped when she reached Peter and the bottle job bimbo. “What the fuck is your problem?” she snarled.

“Maria…” he started. He reached out to touch arm, but she batted him away.

“Don’t you dare fucking touch me. You want to cheat on me? Fine. But don’t think you can fucking parade me across the goddamn stage and then hit on some slut right in front of me, you arrogant prick.”

The blonde rolled her eyes and took out a rectangular card from her cleavage. “If you ever lose the whack job give me a call,” she said snidely before walking away into the crowd.

“You fucking…” Maria made a move to grab at her ugly tresses, but Peter grabbed her arm and turned her around roughly to face him.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he roared. “She was from a goddamn record company!”

Maria laughed derisively and growled back, “They are all from fucking record companies, but they’re never interested in your music! They fuck you, but they never sign you. You know why? You suck! Your lyrics suck! You’re music sucks! It all fucking SUCKS!” Maria paused for a brief half a second and lowered her voice, making it, surprisingly, even harsher. “You’re a talentless hack who couldn’t even sell a cover band without looking the way you look. It’s pathetic. You’re whole fucking life is fucking pathetic!”

Peter didn’t know what to say. He stood there with his mouth open looking lost and confused. Maria pulled her arm away from him roughly, turned on her heel, and stalked away from him and straight out of Club Loon.

TBC...

[candygazerdreamer87]

That is so sweet April. Thank you very much!

Chapter Four

Michael followed Maria towards the small red Jetta and grabbed her keys before she could reach the lock.

“No way,” he said firmly. Michael told Alex and Isabel that he would take her home. Isabel didn’t look too thrilled, but Alex nodded his permission, so he went after her.
His reasons for taking Maria home weren’t completely selfish, though he was sure his sister believed they were. He saw how much fun Isabel was having with Alex and he didn’t want anything to spoil their night. Alex made Isabel happier than he had ever seen her before.

“I’m fine,” Maria snapped.

“You’re drunk.”

Maria turned and looked up into his liquid brown eyes. She bit her lip gently, pleadingly. Michael barely resisted the urge to cup her cheek and kiss her full lips.

“I…I…” she stammered and cleared her throat. She averted her eyes and stared at his chest as she continued. “I’ve never cheated on my husband,” she said firmly. “So you may have incredibly kissable lips and that whole ‘I’m a landscaper, watch my muscles ripple’ thing going for you, but you can forget it pal.”

Michael chuckled a little. “You look like you’re about to lose your cookies and cream. I promise I’m not going to try anything. Just let me take you home.”

Maria looked back up at him. She took a minute before answering, “Fine, but I don’t want to go home.”

“Okay. Where do you want to go?”

“Do you live somewhere?” Maria mumbled.

Michael quirked his eyebrow and retorted, “Everyone lives somewhere, even if it’s just a box under an overpass.”

“Well, do you have a box then?” she smirked.

“Are you hitting on me?” he teased.

Maria’s smile shifted into a frown, before she doubled over and lost both her cookies and her cream.

“Fuck,” Michael cursed under his breath. He only had one good pair of jeans that weren’t stained with grass and mud, but now it was safe to say he had none.

**********

Michael placed Maria gently onto his bed. Once she was threw retching, he picked her up and helped her into his truck. She fell asleep on the drive over, but opened her eyes when he pulled away from her and moved to the end of the bed to remove her boots.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled. Her head was clearing and she could feel herself sobering.

“It’s okay,” he whispered back. She looked like a goddess when she walked through the club door just a few hours ago. She was strong, fierce, and beautiful. Now she looked sad and helpless and Michael couldn’t help but feel bad.

“I don’t usually drink like this,” she said.

When he finished removing her shoes, he sat next to her on the edge of the bed and looked down at her.

“So why tonight?”

Maria bit her lip again and closed her eyes tightly.

“I was going to tell him.”

“Parker?” Michael guessed. She nodded her head slightly. “What were you going to tell him?”

Tears slid from beneath her closed eyes, but she answered clearly, “That it’s over. I want a divorce.”

Michael didn’t say anything. He didn’t know either of them well enough to make any sort of judgment, so he didn’t even try.

“But then he brought me up on stage and I started to feel so guilty and I knew I was going to chicken out, again. It was overwhelming. I couldn’t breathe,” she admitted in a strangled whisper. “Then I started drinking and I started getting angry and then angrier and angrier.” She closed her eyes even tighter, and turned her face into his pillow, letting out a harsh sob as she did. “I was so angry with him for making me feel guilty and then I was angry with myself for blaming him for everything. It’s not fair. We’re both to blame,” she continued between sobs. “It’s just not fair.”

Michael watched her shoulders shake desperately and without another thought climbed over her small body and laid down next to her. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close to his body.

“It’s okay,” he whispered softly. “It’s okay.”

He held her until she stopped shaking and her breathing evened out as she slept into a deep sleep, and for quite a while after that. Michael closed his eyes and tried to remember a time when a woman had felt so right in his arms. He breathed in the smell of her strawberry shampoo and opened his eyes.

Maybe it wouldn’t be okay, but that didn’t matter tonight.

**********

The sun was streaming through the windows and hurting her eyes even before she opened them. She felt wet kisses caressing her neck and flinched. Lights were exploding behind her eyes and her head felt like it would pop off.

“Not now Peter. How much did I drink last night?” she asked softly. The sound of her own voice was reverberating painfully inside her skull. The kisses didn’t stop and they seemed wetter than usual. “Peter? Why am I on your side of the bed?”

She rolled over and saw the large Dalmatian she was sharing her bed with. “AHHH!” she screamed and rolled out of the bed, pulling the comforter to the floor with her. The dog tried to follow and continue licking her at first, but she continued to scream, so he stayed on the edge of the bed quietly watching her with obvious curiosity.

Maria looked down at the comforter she was holding to her body. It wasn’t hers. She looked around the room and realized she didn’t recognize anything. Then she pulled back the comforter and screamed again.

“What’s wrong?” Michael asked as he came running through the bedroom door. “Jake! Get out of the bed,” he ordered. “I’m sorry. I told him to sleep out in the living room with me, but he must have been curious about you.”

Maria continued clutching the comforter in front of her fearfully.

“You okay?” he asked with a small smirk.

“What am I doing here?” Maria asked.

“You don’t remember?” Michael replied, as he sat down on the edge of the bed where Jake had been and scratched his eyebrow unconsciously.

Maria shook her head slowly.

“Do you remember me?”

“You’re Isabel’s brother, right?” she guessed correctly.

“Yeah. You got a little drunk last night…” he started to explain.

“Oh my god,” she squealed. “And I slept with you?!” she asked shocked and confused.

“No, no,” Michael laughed. He felt a little bad for laughing because she looked so scared, but her shock that bordered on disgust about sleeping with him, didn’t stop him from laughing at her.

“Then why am I naked?” Maria squeaked.

“What? You’re not,” Michael answered definitely.

“Uh, yes, I am,” Maria responded, shaking her head up and down emphatically.

Michael scratched his eyebrow again and noticed her leather pants lying on the floor not far from his foot. He shrugged.

“I’m as confused as you on that,” he replied honestly. “I swear, I laid you down and took off your boots, nothing else.” She didn’t look appeased, so he added, “After you fell asleep I went and slept on the couch, all night.”

“So, what? I sleep undressed?” she said accusingly.

“I don’t fucking know,” he replied getting angry that she was accusing him of taking advantage of her.

“Listen pal…” she started.

“Hey!” he interrupted her angrily. “You got drunk, you made a fool of yourself, you threw up on me, and I still took care of you. You didn’t want to go home and asked to come here. You cried and I held you. When you fell asleep I went to sleep on the lumpy couch. End of story.”

Maria looked down. “Why was I crying?” she asked softly.

Michael shifted uncomfortably on the bed. “You were upset about what you said to Parker.”

“Oh god,” she moaned. “I told him?”

“You told him a lot of things, but no, you didn’t tell him that,” Michael answered.

“That?” Maria asked, looking up at him.

“You know,” Michael answered uncomfortably, “about wanting a divorce.”

Maria’s eyes widened. “I…I didn’t tell him? But I told you?”

Michael shrugged, “Yeah.”

“Does anyone else know?” Maria questioned fearfully.

“No.”

Maria nodded her head solemnly. “What did I say to him?”

“Uh, well, cliff notes version,” Michael began, “you told him he was a talentless man whore. Although you did it with far more expletives and it was a lot harsher. You were like a wild tiger thrashing around a four year old in…”

“Okay I get it,” Maria interrupted. She put up her hands to signal him to stop, but quickly caught the comforter and pulled it tighter against her naked chest.

“You want some breakfast?” Michael asked, forcing himself to politely avert his eyes and pretend he hadn’t noticed the blanket move.

Maria shook her head, which she regretted immediately.

“How about coffee and a handful of aspirin?” he smirked.

Maria smiled a little despite herself. “That sounds good.”

TBC...

[candygazerdreamer87]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! Sorry it took so long for me to update.

Chapter Five

“Alex?!”

Alex cursed. It was Saturday morning and neither he nor Isabel had any morning plans, so they were still in bed enjoying the late morning hours.

“What?” he growled harsher than he expected. Isabel giggled evilly at his tormented expression.

“Maria never came home last night!” Parker said in a frantic rush.

“Okay calm down,” Alex ordered.

“No! You don’t understand. I took the Jetta and I spent the night driving around. I didn’t come home and now I’m here and she isn’t,” he tried to explain desperately.

“Okay…” Alex sighed as Parker continued.

“I always come home Alex. What if something happened to her? I should have come home.” His voice was equally full of fear and anger.

“Calm down,” Alex soothed his friend. “Michael went after her last night. I’m sure he took care of her.” He felt Isabel shift away from him and roll out of bed muttering something unintelligible, but clearly hostile if her posture was any indication. He gulped. She was sure to be angry with him for letting Michael go after Maria. “She was pretty upset,” he said cautiously. “She probably just didn’t want to go home, just like you,” he reminded him. “Listen, I’ll call Michael and then call you right back, okay?” Alex asked.

“Don’t bother,” Parker responded. He watched the black pickup pull into their driveway and Maria stumbled out slowly a couple of seconds later. “She’s home,” he sighed with relief.

**********

“I should go home,” Maria mumbled between bites of omelet. She downed two aspirin and a tall glass of water earlier and Michael insisted she try to eat something. At first she refused, but she let the smell of cooking eggs, sizzling bacon, and browning toast assault her senses while she drank her water and she ultimately changed her mind.

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a home cooked breakfast. Usually, she would grab something simple while going out the door to the shop, like a yogurt or a banana. She and Peter sometimes went out for breakfast on Sunday mornings, but that just wasn’t the same as a real home cooked meal.

“Thanks,” she mumbled. She avoided his eyes, but was clearly sincere and she wasn’t just thanking him for the amazing meal. After her initial freak out, she felt completely and utterly embarrassed. The person she was last night wasn’t her and it made her cringe to think what she might have done or said.

“No problem,” he answered softly. He also wasn’t looking at her. He never had a guest for breakfast before and it made him feel…weird…to be sitting across the table from Maria. If he focused really, really hard on only her and not the drama that surrounded them since they met last night, he could almost imagine them sitting here as a real couple.

Jake sauntered into the kitchen and stopped to sniff Maria’s leg, giving her light lick, before heading to his water bowl.

“He’s beautiful,” she commented.

“He’s not a girl,” Michael sneered.

Maria rolled her eyes. “Fine. He’s handsome.” She emphasized the last word sarcastically and sighed. “I had one once.”

“A dog?”

“A Dalmatian.”

“Cool,” Michael nodded absently and speared another piece of omelet. “Do you have any pets now?”

“No,” Maria frowned. “I had Spot, my Dalmatian, until I was seven. He died a couple of months after my dad left. Peter got me a Black Lab, Leila, for my fifteenth birthday, but she died a few weeks after my mom left. I’ve avoided pets ever since.”

“Why?”

Maria shrugged her shoulders and looked down into her eggs intensely. “Bad associations I guess.”

Michael watched her face carefully for a second, trying to figure out the look that shadowed her features. He decided to change the subject because the look on her face made him feel oddly upset.

“Are you feeling any better?”

“Yeah. The headache is now just a dull pain and the nausea seems to be at bay,” Maria sighed. “I never drink like that,” she admitted.

“I can see why,” Michael chuckled. “Okay so I have a serious question I need to ask you.”

Maria looked up, “Alright…”

“When you said, ‘Peter bought me a Black Lab’, you weren’t talking about Parker were you?”

Maria scrunched her nose and replied, “Um, yes. Why?”

“Peter Parker? Are you serious?” he chuckled.

“Yeah and I see where you’re going with this and I wouldn’t mention it in front of him,” Maria answered seriously, although she couldn’t help but smile at the incredulous look on Michael’s face.

“Why not? Spiderman’s the best,” he said seriously.

“Not according to him. Come on. Would you honestly want everyone teasing you and calling you Spiderman all the time?” Maria asked.

“Yes.”

Michael answered so seriously that Maria couldn’t help laughing, not giggling or chuckling, but really laughing. Her entire body shook with amusement and she had to fight to keep herself breathing. Michael was a little shocked by her sudden outburst, but he couldn’t help laughing himself.

She was infectious. He had known her for less than a day, but when she smiled, he smiled. When she cried, well he didn’t cry, but he felt like maybe he could if he let himself. Her eyes were always open and conveyed every emotion she was feeling, bearing her true self to him in every intense look. And she didn’t seem to care or notice the fact that they were practically strangers. She seemed comfortable, even at home with him. This amazed him. She amazed him.

When Maria was finally able to control her ragged breathing she looked up, wiped the tears out of her eyes, and smiled warmly at him.

“Thanks,” she repeated.

“For what?” he asked puzzled.

“Reminding me how to laugh,” Maria whispered, but she didn’t look away. She held his eyes and let him evaluate the sincerity in her words.

“Anytime,” he answered simply. He couldn’t help smiling back.

**********

“You know, you don’t have to get out. I could have us in Mexico in a couple of hours,” Michael said seriously.

Maria rolled her eyes and smiled.

“Running for the rest of my life isn’t an option. I need to do this. I’m going to do this.”

“Good luck.”

“Thanks,” Maria mumbled as she reluctantly opened the passenger side door.

Maria slowly trudged up the front walk, noting that the Jetta was parked in the driveway on her way. She stopped on the stoop and took a deep breath as she reached out for the door knob. She retracted her hand quickly when the door flew open before she could reach the knob.

“Jesus,” Peter grumbled as he reached out for Maria and enveloped her in a tight hug.

Maria stood stiff for a second before wrapping her arms around her husband and melting into his familiar embrace. She had hurt him the night before, but in this moment he didn’t seem to remember that. She was grateful.

Parker watched the black truck pull away, while he held Maria tight. After a long moment he pulled back to look into Maria’s eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he said slowly.

“Peter I…”

“It doesn’t matter. You were right last night, not about everything, but enough. I know I haven’t been the best husband Maria, but I love you and I promise…”

“Peter,” Maria interrupted more firmly, “I love you too.”

Peter smiled and pulled Maria into another tight hug, kissing her neck softly.

“But we need to talk,” Maria began slowly.

“Okay,” Peter replied hesitantly. He pulled away again, took her hand and led her to the cinnamon couch. “I figured I wouldn’t get off that easily,” he chuckled. “Just so you know, I’ve been up all night and I have a plan.”

“A plan?” Maria asked confused. Peter and a plan wasn’t a concept that made sense to her. He was impulsive to the extreme, the exact opposite of his sister.

Peter smiled brightly, clearly impressed with himself.

“I’m going to take that job that Michael offered me for now. I don’t think lawn care is really my calling, but I’ll stick with it until I find something better. I’ll only practice with the band two nights a week and play gigs on the weekend. But the band comes second. I know we need to spend more time together and I’ll limit the number of shows we do, maybe 4 or 5 a month,” Peter paused and smiled warmly at Maria.

She wanted to take advantage of his pause to stop him from saying anything more, but she couldn’t move her mouth, a historic first. So, Maria simply continued sitting on the couch staring at an animated Peter who was planning out there life with hand gestures and everything. She wasn’t sure when it happened, but she was pretty sure they had been living together for so long that they had swapped personalities.

“Last night I drove all night just thinking. Like I said, you were right. It’s time I grow up. I’ve had the same dream for twenty years, to become a famous rock star, but I have other dreams too. We have other dreams. I’ve just been so obsessed and focused on my music…Maria…I want those other dreams just as much…no more. I want them more. And I know I haven’t given you many reasons to have faith in me lately, but I hope you know me well enough to know that I would never suggest this unless I was absolutely sure I was ready for the responsibility.” He paused again and looked imploringly into Maria’s eyes.

“Ready?” she choked out finally.

Peter took a breath and sat down next to Maria.

“We always had one dream Maria. One dream that we both shared and always knew would come true,” he said slowly.

“Peter…” Maria whispered, hoping against hope that he wasn’t thinking what she thought he was thinking.

“We’ve been married for six years Maria. I think it’s time we finally start a family,” he finished.

Maria looked away from his smiling eyes and focused on the coffee table. She didn’t say anything for a few minutes, but Peter didn’t push her for an answer. He knew this was a major decision and Maria always thought major decisions through carefully.

“Seven,” she said finally.

“Seven?” he asked slowly. “I thought we wanted four?” he asked, his voice tinged with obvious fear.

“We’ve been married for seven years,” Maria whispered, “eight in June.”

“Oh,” he sighed with relief.

TBC...

[candygazerdreamer87]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone!

Chapter Six

Michael sighed and cut the engine of his truck. He sat very still for a second, thinking back over the events of the last twenty four hours.

It figures that the one girl, the one person, he had ever been drawn to would be someone who he really should stay away from. He hated drama and although Maria’s little skit last night had been mildly entertaining he didn’t want to be involved in the whole mess. Even if she did finally get the courage to leave her Parker it would still be a long time before the situation was really taken care of.

He sighed again and climbed out of the truck.

On the walk to the front door he decided that how he felt didn’t really matter. He probably wouldn’t see her again anyways, or at least not very often.

He heard his sister’s angry voice even before he opened the front door and cringed.

“…swear to god Michael!”

The answering machine beeped and rewound itself. Michael didn’t bother to play the message before deleting it. He didn’t need to hear his sister’s tirade. He got the point loud and clear: STAY AWAY FROM MARIA.

“Hey Jake, what do you got?” Michael put out his hand and caught the keys. He stroked the tiny green alien and chuckled. “You hid these, huh?” he asked suspiciously.

Jake ignored him, walked to the door and waited patiently for Michael to let him out.

“Okay, okay,” Michael relented. “We’ll go drop them off to her, but we’re not staying,” he warned.

Ten minutes later Michael pulled up in front of Maria’s house and he couldn’t suppress a grin. He and Jake watched her fight with little red lawn mower for several minutes before getting out of the truck.

Maria didn’t seem to notice them approaching. She continued to curse and scream at the machine. She pulled back on the cord with all her strength, but lost her grip and went flying back.

“Whoa.” Michael reacted quickly and catching Maria before she hit the ground. “Careful Hercules,” he chuckled, still holding her up.

Maria growled in frustration and ground out a low thanks. She pulled away from Michael and dropped to her knees before the cursed machine.

“What are you doing here?” she asked a little more conversationally.

“You left your keys,” Michael replied simply.

Jake dropped them next to Maria and sat down to watch her.

“Oh thanks,” Maria mumbled again.

“No problem.” Michael stood there awkwardly for a moment, not really sure what to say or where this coldness was coming from. “Do you need some help?”

He watched the back of Maria’s head bob up and down desperately. Michael kneeled down beside her and took a look at the old, rusted lawn mower.

“This is hopeless,” he concluded after a few seconds. “You need to invest in a new one and judging by the amount of rust you should also think about getting a tetanus shot just in case,” he half joked.

Michael’s head whipped around at the sound of a loud sob. He froze and watched her for a second. She must have been crying silently for a while because her shirt was wet and her eyes were already puffy and red.

“I was kidding about the shot, well mostly,” Michael offered. When she buried her face in her hands and continued to sob he added stupidly, “I could hold your hand or something, if you’re afraid of shots.”

Jake got up and walked around Michael to sit closer to Maria. He leaned his head on her shoulder and tried to lick the tears of her cheek.

Michael reached out slowly and wrapped one arm around her shoulders, pulling her towards his chest. He held her cautiously. Last night when she was drunk she was a different Maria, this Maria didn’t remember the way her had held her and he didn’t want to scare her off by clouding her personal space without her consent. It only took Michael a few seconds to realize that Maria needed more than a half hearted hug.

He wrapped both arms around her tightly and stroked his fingers through her hair. Slowly the sobs subsided, but Maria didn’t pull away. She kept her face buried in the crook of his neck. Her breath felt warm and tingling against his neck, but her breathing had evened out. Michael wondered if she had fallen asleep. He was uncomfortable and his knees were aching from kneeling for so long, but he didn’t dare to move.

“Is Mexico still an option?” Maria asked in a tiny voice.

“Always,” he answered immediately.

Maria laughed sadly and pulled away from Michael’s warm embrace.

“I should get inside…” Maria started. She stood up and brushed the dirt and grass off her jeans. “Mrs. Finkle is probably watching us.”

“Mrs. Who?” Michael asked, absently scratching his eyebrow.

“The crazy lady across the street,” Maria clarified. “She’s out very own neighborhood watch dog,” Maria added sarcastically. Her voice was still hoarse and laced with tension.

Maria paused and stroked Jake’s head affectionately.

“Peter wants to start a family,” she muttered under her breath. Before Michael could say anything she headed for the front door. Michael looked down at Jake and they both followed her into the house.

When Michael finally regained his voice he asked, “So, you didn’t tell him about wanting out?” He tried to keep his voice casual.

“I couldn’t. I…He started saying all these things and every time I tried to interrupt…” Maria stammered. Maria stood in front of the sink, thoroughly, if not obsessively, washing her hands. “I want kids,” she admitted slowly.

Michael sat down in the closest chair. He stayed silent until she finished washing her hands and took the seat across from him.

“Leaving Parker has nothing to do with you having kids,” Michael replied.

“What if I never get the chance…” Maria started.

“Shut up.”

“Excuse me?” Maria glared.

“You’re young. You’re hot. You could have any guy you want. I promise. Guys will be lining up to impregnate you,” Michael explained quickly.

“I hope it’s a little more romantic than that,” Maria laughed.

“Seriously though,” Michael added, “you’re too good for him. You can do better.”

“Like you?” Maria asked with a flirtatious grin.

Michael chuckled. “I’m no good for you.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“You don’t really know me,” Michael reminded her.

“I know,” Maria agreed, “and yet…”

“What?”

“I kind of feel like I’ve known you forever,” Maria whispered. “I talk…a lot and I’m not known for being shy, but I don’t usually open up this much to a stranger.”

Michael nodded. “I get that.”

**********
Parker sighed when he saw Liz coming his way. He had never been close to his sister, but he knew her looks and this one wasn’t one he liked to see.

“Hi,” Liz said as she sat down in the booth across from Parker.

“What are you doing here?”

“They’re my parents too,” Liz answered coldly. Liz looked around the alien themed restaurant and cringed a little. She spent too much time in this place during high school. The customers, the food; it made her skin crawl.

“I’ve kept my mouth shut for years, but I’m breaking my silence. I probably should have done it sooner,” Liz started slowly. “If Maria’s unhappy, let her go. Don’t hold her back,” Liz warned him. “It’s not fair to either of you. You’ll both only end up hurting more in the end.”

**********
“Hey. Where have you been?” Max asked. He looked up from his laptop and kissed Liz gently when she sat down next to him.

“Roswell.”

“Checking out schools?” he half joked.

“Talking to Parker,” she admitted.

Max didn’t push her. He waited until she settled her head on his shoulder and continued.

“He’s killing Maria.” Liz sighed. It felt good to finally get her feelings about Maria and Parker’s relationship off her chest.

Max nodded and ran his hand through her hair.

“You should try talking to her,” Max suggested.

“I should have, but I think it’s too late,” Liz admitted sadly.

“I don’t believe that. I know I didn’t know you then, but I’ve seen the pictures of the two of you. You were best friends growing up. That’s something that bonds people for life.” Max adjusted his arms and pulled her a little closer to his chest. “You were family before she married Parker and you’ll be family no matter what.”

“You’re right,” Liz agreed. “I have to talk to her.”

Liz got up and grabbed her purse.

“It’s a little late in the day for another trip to Roswell,” Max smiled. “You know, I do have a phone.”

“You’re a very wise man,” Liz joked.

“I guess I just have a different perspective,” Max concluded. “Isabel is no more my sister than Michael is my brother, even though Isabel and I are biologically related. Just like my mom and dad are my parents. Blood isn’t what makes people family.”

**********
“You’re serious?” Maria asked skeptically.

“You wanted to feel free, right?” Michael smirked. “Trust me. This isn’t just any riding lawn mower. I tweaked the engine.” He handed her an old football helmet and grinned.

Maria climbed on the lawn mower behind him. She clutched tightly onto his shoulders and planted her feet as solidly as she could.

“Hang on tight,” Michael warned as he revved the engine and sped away.

“Holy…” Maria screamed. She wasn’t sure how she didn’t go flying backwards, but she managed to hold on. Then Maria was screaming again. She had always wanted to know what it would be like to fly. “This is awesomeeeeee!!”

TBC...