Roswell Fanatics

Finally....

CHAPTER 9
“How come nobody is answering me?” Alex asked as he looked around at their solemn faces. “Where is Maria?”

“She, ummm…” Isabel started but was interrupted by the rapidly approaching Kyle.

“Wow! Nothing like a good shower…shame I didn’t have anyone to share it with!” Kyle chuckled. “Hey, Alex. What’s up buddy?”

Alex tossed a quick smile towards Kyle before returning his gaze to Isabel. “You were saying?”

Knowing there was no easy way to say it, Isabel just broke the news as gently as she could. “She decided to stay behind, Alex. She decided she wanted out.”

“No, not my Maria. She wouldn’t. She, she couldn’t!” Alex stated completely dumbfounded.

“Well, look who’s forming complete sentences?” Kyle looked at Alex and then over to Max and raised his eyebrow. “Your work?”

“Kyle, please!” Isabel snorted as Michael and Liz approached the group. “Yes, Max healed Alex!”

“He did?” Liz asked setting the food down. “Really? Oh Max. Oh Alex!” Liz immediately threw her arms around Alex’s neck. “I’m so glad you finally let Max heal you! It’s just so good to have you back!”

“Liz,” Alex said without breaking the embrace, “what’s going on with Maria?”

Liz took a step back and looked at Alex. “She stayed…”

“Yes, I got that. She stayed behind. What happened? What did Michael do?” Alex asked.

“Oh, so right away it’s my fault?” Michael ranted.

“Nobody said it was your fault, Michael. No need to get defensive.” Max said. “Come on everyone, sit down. We need to eat and get back on the road.”

“Liz?” Alex looked at her with pleading eyes. “Please?”

“I wish I could tell you, Alex. I really do. She just told us that she couldn’t do it. She didn’t want to run. It was all getting too weird for her.” A few tears stained her cheeks as she recounted the last time she’d seen her friend.

“Oh man! I bet you haven’t even told Whitman the best part.” Kyle hinted.

“What? What are you not telling me?” Alex asked.

“Michael thinks he knocked up Maria!” Kyle laughed.

“Valenti, could you be serious for like a second of the day?” Alex asked and then turned to Michael. “You got Maria pregnant?”

“Yes. Maria’s pregnant…” Michael started.

“And you just let her walk away?” Alex asked exasperated. “How could you?”

“I didn’t know she was pregnant, Alex. It came to me in a dream, like a vision or something.”

“Oh my God.” It was all that Alex could think to say.

“Isabel, I need you.” Michael implored.

“Me? What do you need me for?” Isabel queried.

“I need to know that Maria is okay…and as much as it hurts me to say this, Maxwell is right. We can’t just stroll back into Roswell.” He said looking at his lifelong friend. “I need you to dreamwalk her. Try to talk to her.”

“Okay.” Isabel said.

“Hey, Iz, maybe you can take Michael with you.” Kyle offered. “Like you did for me, remember?”

“How could I forget Miss Playmate of the Month?” Isabel laughed.

“That’s the best thing you’ve said all day, Kyle. Thank you.” Michael stated. “Do you think it will work? Isabel? Can you take me with you?”

__________________________________________________________


Clark waited for Maria to collect herself before he spoke again. “Who left, Maria?”

She looked up into Clark’s eyes. His embrace was so completely comforting. She hadn’t realized how much she needed a good cry. She knew she had been a spastic bundle of emotions lately and now they were all boiling up to the surface. “I can’t, Clark. I can’t talk about it.”

“C’mon, Maria. Your secret is safe with me.” Clark smiled at her and teased. “C’mon, I told you mine!”

“You spilled your guts to me, buddy!”

“Well, it’s not like I had a choice after you saw me use my abilities…and you’re changing the subject.” He flashed her a smile.

She didn’t know why, but she felt compelled to tell him the truth. After all, she did know his secrets and what harm could it do? Michael and the gang were well, who knows where exactly. A very faint feeling in her abdomen caught her attention. It was like bubbles. She placed her hand across her tummy. “Man, my stomach has really been outta sorts for a few days.”

“Yeah, I was on the receiving end of that one!” Clark laughed.

Maria turned about 50 shades of red. “I’m so sorry. Have I told you that already? Could I be any more embarrassed?”

“You feel sick or anything?” Clark inquired.

“No…well not right now anyway.” Maria told him. “That was just a weird feeling. Like a butterfly flitting around in there or something.” She blushed again realizing how that must have sounded.

“So, Maria…this guy you’re running from?” Clark prodded.

“What guy? Who said I’m running from a guy? I haven’t said the first thing about Michael!” She babbled.

“A-ha!” Clark smiled, “So you did leave someone behind in Roswell.”

“Not nice, Kent...not nice.” Maria smiled. It was the first time she had smiled in a few days. “Yes, his name is Michael, but no I’m not running…” She trailed off.

“Oh, so he is. What’s he running from?”

“The FBI.”

____________________________________________________________


As the gang piled back into the van there were nothing but questions. “Where are we going, Max?” “How long do we have to run, Max?” “What will we do if the dreamwalk doesn’t work, Max?” He knew he was their leader, but he also knew he didn’t have all the answers. He grabbed Liz by the hand before she could enter the van. “Liz, wait.”

“Sure, what is it, Max?”

“I’m sorry.” He said.

“Sorry for what?” She asked biting on her lower lip.

“Everything has been so crazy and this is not my idea of the perfect honeymoon, you know? I mean we’re newly married and it just kinda sucks…being on the run.” He kicked the ground nervously with his feet. “And I’m sorry that you couldn’t have the wedding of your dreams and that we couldn’t honeymoon in some tropical paradise.”

“Oh, Max! Stop it, okay?” She reached out to hug him. “My place is here, beside you, whether we’re vacationing in Antigua or cramped up in this van. I’m not sorry, Max, and I don’t want you to be either.”

“You are so incredible, Mrs. Evans. I love you, Liz. Have I told you that lately?” Hearing someone call her Mrs. Evans, even if it was Max, just took her breath away. God, Max took her breath away.

It had never really hit Liz until that moment. She was a married woman. “I love you too, Max, but that’s not why you pulled me aside, is it?”

“Liz, I’m not sure I should be telling you this, but I’m scared.” He looked at her with such an air that she could sense his fear.

“Scared of what, Max?” Liz asked.

“I don’t have all the answers, Liz. I have so many things running through my mind. How do I keep everyone safe? Where do we go from here?” Max asked.

“Awww, Max.” Liz cupped his face in her hands. “You don’t have to make this your burden. We’re all here, Max, and you need to let us help.”

“Some king I am.” He said kicking the ground again.

“Max, we’re not on Antar. You don’t have to lead us! There’s no reason we all can’t make these decisions together.” He shot her a sarcastic look. “Okay,” she conceded, “I know.”

“Yes, someone has to be in charge or things will just continue to spiral out of control.” His commanding tone began to return. Talking to Liz helped ease his mind about things. “Well, since I can’t give you Aruba, is there any place you would like to see?”

“It’s silly.” Liz stated, blushing. “But I’ve always wanted to see Niagara Falls.”

“Well, then it looks like we continue to head northeast then.” Max opened the door so that she could climb into the van and then they were on their way again.

____________________________________________________________

Chloe and Lana continued to look around at the coffee shop, looking for any last minute decorations that they could place. Chloe was supposed to check in with Clark in the early afternoon and have him bring Maria to the Talon. It was the perfect plan, Chloe thought, because Maria would never suspect Clark as being in on it. “Everything is looking great!” Chloe squealed with delight!

“Yes, it does.” Lana nodded in agreement. She turned to take the scene in one last time before heading off to the kitchen when she saw Lex pull up. “Chloe, no matter what, don’t leave.”

“Why?” Chloe questioned as she turned around. “Oh, okay.” She said as she realized what was going on. “Don’t worry, girl, I got your back!” She chuckled a little watching Lana squirm.

Lex entered the Talon and quickly made his way to the counter. He plopped down at the counter and quickly surveyed the muffins and pastries before him.

“Hey, Lex…can I get you anything?” Lana asked.

“Blueberry scone if you have one.” He said clearing his throat a little.

“Let me go check in the back for you.” Lana twirled and quickly made her retreat into the kitchen.

Chloe couldn’t help but smile to herself. Lex had his eyes on Lana. She clearly still had feelings for Clark and maybe if Lana were busy with someone else….

“Hello…Chloe?” Lex stated. “Are you there?”

“Oh, huh? What?” Chloe said pulling herself back into reality. “Did you say something?”

Lex laughed. It was obvious he had caught her completely off guard. “Look Chloe, it’s no surprise by now that I have feelings for Lana, right?” Chloe nodded in agreement and he continued on. “I’m thinking maybe, if we work together, we could both get what we want.”

Being the investigative journalist that she was Chloe quickly covered the option in her mind. “What do you propose, Lex?”

____________________________________________________________


“I’m bored!” Kyle called out. “God, isn’t there anything to do?”

“Why don’t you take a nap, Kyle?” Isabel asked.

“Oh please, Isabel. I’m starting to feel like a baby here. Eat, sleep, shower, shi…”

“Don’t say it, Kyle.” Isabel stopped him. “I know you’re bored. There’s not a lot to do on the road.”

“Especially when you’re running.” Alex added.

“Well, look at it this way, Valenti…we’re heading into Oklahoma. It’s the heart of tornado season and we’re going right up Tornado Alley.” Michael piped in.

“Oh, thank you Mr. Doom and Gloom!” Isabel snorted.

“No, wait a minute. That actually sounds kind of interesting.” Kyle said. “Please, go on.”

“Well, okay. There’s this whole section of the US that gets referred to as Tornado Alley because it’s the most likely place to find a tornado. And tornado season is from March to July, so this being June…we might see some action.” Michael stated quite matter of factly.

“Michael, I’m impressed.” Alex said.

“It’s Maria. She’s a closet weather channel fanatic and she hooked me into it to. We talked about coming up here sometime. You know, see if we could actually see a tornado.” Michael mused as he let out a long sigh.

“You think we’ll see a tornado?” Kyle asked with his eyes growing wider.

“Oh my goodness. I cannot believe what I am hearing!” Liz piped up from the front seat. “Not only are we running from the FBI, you people want us to run into a tornado!”

__________________________________________________________


Maria stood up and walked down the stairs of the porch. She had grown weary of sitting and figured the ‘county air’ might do her some good.

Clark wasted no time in following her gesture. “The FBI? Maria, what are you talking about?”

“It’s nothing, really. I shouldn’t have said anything. Just forget it.”

“Is it the mob? I mean do they have a mob in Roswell?” Clark asked.

Maria couldn’t help but laugh at that. “What are you crazy? Oh my God! Do you even know what Roswell is famous for? The mob? Do I look like the type of girl that would date someone in the mob?”

“Well, the FBI…that’s big time, Maria.” Clark replied. “And yes, we’ve all heard the stories about Roswell.”

“Look, Clark, I think the less you know about Michael, the better.” Maria sounded off.

“Maria, you know…it helps to have someone to talk about things, and I’m sure whatever it is that you left behind, Chloe knows nothing about it.”

“And your point is?” Maria asked.

“That whatever it is, it’s gotta be big and I just want you to know that you don’t have to go through it alone.” Clark offered as the walked into the barn.

“Well, ain’t that sweet?” Maria teased. “Someone’s concerned about little ole me!”

“You’re very good at changing the subject. You know that?” Clark giggled. He felt oddly comfortable with this girl. It was so easy to talk to her and so easy to laugh with her. She knew his secret and she didn’t flip out. Why didn’t he feel this way with Lana?

“Oh, you have no idea…” It was at that moment that Maria must have lost her footing because she tripped and landed comfortably in Clarks’ arms. They stood there for a moment locked in each other’s embrace.

He didn’t know why, but he felt the urge to pull Maria closer to him. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest and before he could stop himself his lips landed on hers.


TBC

Chapter 10

Maria leaned back for a moment to look up at Clark. His eyes were just mesmerizing. “Wow, that was like…just wow.”

“Yeah, wow.” Clark sighed.

“On my God!” Chloe exclaimed as she exited the glimmering red VW. “What the hell is this?”

“Chloe, it’s not what it looks like.” Clark started but was quickly interrupted by the fiery blonde.

“Really, Kent? Cause it looks like you were putting the moves on my cousin.” Chloe’s face was beat red with anger. “And you,” she said turning to Maria, “how could you?”

The accusation snapped Maria back into reality. Had she really just been kissed by Clark? “I was walking…well we were walking and these boots just don’t mix well with farmland, honey…I tripped.”

“Tripped? Right! And you just happened to fall on Clark’s lips? C’mon, I wasn’t born yesterday!”

“Chloe, it was innocent. I swear!” Maria stated looking over to Clark, her eyes pleading for help.

“All I asked was for you to make her comfortable, Kent. Hang out with her until we could get the Talon ready for the surprise party. In no way did I indicate that I wanted you to make out with her!” Chloe ranted, pointing to Maria. Maria was her cousin and she was sincerely trying not to be angry with Maria, but she was pretty sure that she had mentioned her attraction to Clark in some email or another.

“Chloe, you are completely overreacting! Maria and I have had a nice time together. When we were walking back to the barn, she honest to God tripped.”

“And you were there? Her knight in shining armor?” Chloe started to head for her car. “Let’s go, Maria.”

“Chloe, wait.” Clark started.

It sure was hard to be angry with him looking at his steely blue eyes. “Did you or did you not kiss my cousin? The facts are what they are, Clark, innocent or not.”

“Maria,” Clark stated turning towards her, “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

“God, this is just great!” Chloe said starting the car.

Maria looked over to Clark, her eyes wide with the wonder of what had just happened between them and smiled. She wanted to say something but there were just no words coming to her. Before she knew it Chloe was backing out of the drive.

Chloe reached down for the radio. She turned on the loudest rock station she could find and cranked it up. Maria hated the silent treatment. She could barely sit there until the song was over to reach over and turn it down.

“Hey! What are you doing?” Chloe asked.

“Obviously, you’re pissed. I get that. Don’t you think we ought to talk about it?” Maria offered.

“How could you, Maria? You could have any guy you wanted…why him?” She wasn’t quite sure but Maria thought she caught a small pool accumulating in the crevice of Chloe’s eye. “I mean of all the guys in Smallville, you pick the one that I’ve got feelings for?”

“What?” Maria asked a little startled.

“Oh, c’mon, Maria. I know I’ve mentioned Clark in some of my emails to you.” Chloe retorted.

“Okay, uh, number one you said you were over him, and number two there’s nothing going on! It was one kiss.” Maria said, her mind recalling the feel of his lips.

“I lied, okay! I lied to you. I lied to Clark and I’ve lied to Lana. I am not over Clark! I think about him everyday, but all he ever thinks about is Lana. God, I must seem so pathetic!”

Maria knew her cousin and she could feel her pain. “You’re not pathetic, Chloe. We’ve all carried that torch before. Please, don’t be mad at me. I can’t take that right now.”

************************************************************


Clark paced around the barn…his mind was a fury of thoughts. What have I done? What if Chloe tells Lana? Sure things hadn’t been going as Clark had expected, but he still had feelings for Lana. If I have feelings for Lana then what led me to kiss Maria? He was so lost in thought that he didn’t even hear Pete drive up.

“Clark, what’s up man? You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.” Pete said with a laugh.

“What?” Clark said facing his friend. “Did you say something?”

“You okay?” Pete asked, looking at his friend. “Where’s Chloe’s cousin?”

“Oh, they left. Chloe just left with Maria.” Clark was still somewhat lost in his own thoughts. He knew he was having a conversation with Pete but thoughts of Maria had him completely distracted.

“Clark? Clark? You with me man? What’s going on?” Pete questioned.

“Pete, I kissed Chloe’s cousin! There, I said it. I admit it.” Clark stated flustered.

“Whoa! That’s big time, dawg! What about Lana? What about Chloe? How’s Maria with all of this? Does she know about Lana?” Pete was firing questions at Clark quicker than he could answer them.

“Just slow down, Pete. I don’t know about any of it.”

“You got ‘em all, don’t you? Everybody loves Clark.” Pete chuckled, teasing his friend. “What happened? How did you, uh, kiss Maria?”

“She tripped.” Clark stated.

“You’re going to have to do better than that, Clark. I need details.”

“Pete, come on. She tripped and I caught her before she fell. I looked down at her face and I just felt drawn to her. I couldn’t stop myself.”

“Oh man! Lana’s going to be pissed.”

“No, no she’s not because we aren’t going to tell her.” Clark stated emphatically.

“Your secret is safe with me,” Pete said with a wink, “but what about Chloe?”

“Chloe’s over me. She said so herself.” Clark retorted.

“And you believed that?” Pete laughed. “No way man. She’s not over you. She still has feelings for you. She’s hoping that when Lana’s away in Paris you’ll realize you have feelings for her too.”

“Pete, this isn’t funny. What am I going to do?” Clark asked.

“I can’t answer that, but I know even Superman can’t juggle three women. Come on, we’re going to be late.”

“I don’t want to juggle three women. I want Lana.” Clark replied.

“Well, if you want to be with Lana then why did you kiss Maria?” Pete inquired.

************************************************************

“So, Michael, who knew you and Maria were such weather freaks?” Kyle questioned teasingly.

“Maria thought that tornados were exciting, Kyle, because she said nothing exciting ever happens in Roswell.” Michael answered.

“Present company excluded I hope.” Liz chimed in.

“Of course.” Michael replied. Michael was relieved that Max had turned the wheel over to him to get some rest. Driving was a great way to keep everyone from his thoughts while he focused on the road. Well at least they thought he was focusing on the road. All the while he focused on Maria and her daughter. His daughter.

Alex thumbed through the Atlas. “So this Tornado Alley, where is it exactly? It’s not like they highlight that on a map.”

“Mostly Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. There are a few other states too, but that’s the heart of it.”

“Kansas?” Kyle interjected. “Doesn’t that sound like fun? Maybe a twister will come and take us to the Land of Oz. You think the FBI could follow us there?”

“Kyle, where do you come up with this stuff?” Isabel asked before turning to Alex, “Can I have the Atlas please?”

Alex handed the Atlas over without a second thought.

************************************************************


Isabel eyed the map curiously. She knew they were somewhere in Texas and that Oklahoma was the next state they would come into. She looked at the pages outlining the details of Oklahoma. Nothing to see there, she thought. Oil wells, that’s about it. She continued her journey through the Atlas as the others chatted around her. She knew that Max didn’t know where to lead them so she thought she would look through the Atlas and when the time was right she would offer him some suggestions.

She flipped backwards and stumbled onto Ohio. No, boring.

North Dakota, too cold.

North Carolina, maybe.

New York. No, definitely not.

New Mexico was out. She laid her hand across the map though, with her finger on Roswell. She missed her parents. Focus, keep going.

New Jersey, no.

New Hampshire, don’t know anything about it.

Nevada, been to Vegas. Fun, but not going back.

Nebraska? Boring. Corn fields and chicken coops.

Montana. Montana caught her eye. Lots of open land.

Missouri, no.

Mississippi, no.

Minnesota, no...not crazy about the accents.

Michigan, no.

Massachusetts? A nice place on the Cape had possibilities.

Maryland, no.

Maine? She stopped there for a moment and then decided it was way too cold even if she did love lobster.

Louisiana. They have Mardi Gras there, which sounds like fun.

Kentucky? Do they have anything there but horses?

Kansas? She was about to flip the Atlas closed when something caught her eye. Smallville? Doesn’t that sound quaint? She smiled to herself.

*************************************************************

“God, Maria. I don’t want to be mad at you. I’m just hurt.” Chloe stated.

“I am so sorry, chica. I really don’t even know what happened.” Maria told her.

“Really? No wait. I don’t want to know.”

“Does he know? Does Clark know you aren’t over him?” Maria asked trying to keep the focus off of herself.

“No, he’s just so wrapped up in Lana. They have this whole on again, off again thing going on.” Chloe sounded defeated.

“You know…I think we’ve all been there before, but Chloe you can’t make someone fall for you.” Maria offered.

“God, I know that. I guess I just still wonder what might have been, you know?” Chloe said. Her voice finally sounded calm.

“You may never find out. Maybe we need to find you someone new.” Maria gestured.

“How was it?” Chloe asked. “Kissing Clark? What was it like?”

“Chloe, don’t…” Maria started.

“C’mon, I may never get to find out for myself.” She laughed. It was fake and Maria knew it.

“It all happened so fast, I’m not sure I remember.” Maria lied.

“Not fooling me,” Chloe said as they pulled into her driveway. “It’s okay, I can handle it.”

“It was nice.”

“Oh…that’s it? That’s all you’re going to tell me?” Chloe inquired.

“Yes, that’s it. Now, I’m going to change clothes for this party I’m not supposed to know anything about.” Maria smiled and walked down the hall.

When she was alone in her room with the door closed Maria fell onto the bed. She didn’t realize how tired she was. She laid back on the pillows and closed her eyes. Even if she wasn’t going to talk to Chloe about it, she couldn’t deny that she had enjoyed kissing Clark. God, I go from puking on the guy to kissing him. There are the ingredients of a great date! Everything had felt so natural at that moment. He could prove to be a great distraction for the summer, she mused but she wouldn’t do that to Chloe. She couldn’t do that Chloe. The waves of nausea began to roll in her stomach again. Great, I’m guilting myself into an upset stomach, she thought as she rolled over.

She stood up and headed to the closet. She needed something to wear to the coffee house. She tried on outfit after outfit. She reached for her jeans again. Her favorite pair of jeans that hugged her tight in all the right places. Gotta get that thought out of your head, girl. She pulled the jeans up over her hips. God, these things still won’t budge? What the hell? She stripped the jeans back off and stood in front of the mirror. A weird rumbling traveled through her abdomen. It almost tickled and she was sure it wasn’t a hunger pain. She ran her hand over her stomach and couldn’t believe it. Her belly actually looked swollen. She placed her hand on it one more time and looked in the mirror. Her eyes widened with fright. She thought she saw a faint silvery pink glow coming from under her hand. It was at that moment everything around her just went black!


TBC

Hi guys!

Sorry that I have been MIA. I haven't forgotten any of you. Or the delicate condition that Maria has found herself in. Unfortunately the healing is a S-L-O-W process. I don't recommend this kind of broken bone for anyone... (well, maybe Tess) I just got caught up on my lil sis's story today so who knows, the ideas are beginning to swirl around in my head and maybe I will be able to get them on paper. Writing is not actually the hard part right now... it's sitting down and having it typed out.

thanks for checking on me!

Hi everyone! I just wanted to drop in and say thank you for all of the nominations! I know it's been a long time since I've posted but sitting is still a real PAIN I hope to be back soon.