****
“Wow,” said Kyle breathless.
“You can say that again,” said Alex.
“Wow,” said Kyle.
The circle was a mixture of awe and apprehension.
“Is everyone okay?” asked Max.
Everyone nodded.
“It’s definitely a rush,” said Michael.
“This is so unbelievable,” said an awed Alex.
“Wow, my girlfriend is an alien,” said Kyle in a faraway tone.
Maria’s eyes settled on Michael. He looked overwhelmed, which was a given, but Maria also noticed a flash of fear which quickly was replaced by the Michael wall again. He didn’t fool her though.
“Michael, are you okay?” she asked.
He met her gaze and she noted that a slight tugged at the corners of his mouth and she couldn’t help but mirror it and she had no clue why.
“Um yeah,” he replied, “just…there’s a lot to take in is all.“
He knew that she didn’t believe that was al it was. It still infuriated him sometimes that Maria could read him like that, like no one else had done in his life before. It was infuriating but it also gave him tremendous joy.
He wasn’t just overwhelmed, he was anxious and fearful. The rest of the aliens were experts, he couldn’t control his powers that well.
And the Skins? They were on the loose and then there was Nasedo’s death, which was obviously a murder.
He had wanted to know who he was, his heritage, but now that he did, a little part of him wished for that ignorance back because now, not only was he in danger but Maria, Liz, Kyle and Alex were too.
He looked around the circle.
’They don’t seem too broken up about it,’ he thought as he watched them talk to their girlfriends.
His eyes settled back on Maria who gave him a comforting smile. Even though they weren’t together, the truth had brought them closer. Apart from his love for her, he had no more secrets to hide.
It was then that Michael felt truly free.
Before anymore could be said, the group was disturbed by the sudden unexpected entrance of Maria’s father, Steven Adams.
“Dad!” squeaked Maria, “What are you doing here?” she asked, in what she hoped was a calm tone while her mind was in a state of mid-panic.
How much had he heard? Had he heard anything?
“Our play date remember?” he replied pulling her into a hug.
’Well from his reaction, I’d go for he heard nothing. Nothing that makes sense anyway,’ she thought relieved.
“Oh, I forgot about that-” she said breaking away from the hug, “when did you get here?“ she asked.
“Just a few minutes ago”, he replied. She moved to stand by his side as his gaze settled on her boyfriend. “Hey Max,” he said.
“Hey Mr. Adams,” he responded guardedly.
While on the one hand, he was happy that Maria had a chance to form a relationship with her father, Max couldn’t help but feel uneasy about him or their growing relationship.
Steven Adams made him uncomfortable, uneasy and Max had a feeling that he had the same effect on him, yet they had somehow silently agreed to give each other mutual acknowledge but that was as far as it went.
There was just something about him, something wrong that Max couldn’t quite decipher. The thought of Maria spending time with her father didn’t comfort him.
“So you ready to go?” he heard her ask him.
“If you are,” he replied happily.
“Let’s go.” she said. She planted a quick kiss on Max’s lips, “Talk to you later.”
“Bye,” he said before watching them go out the door.
“Are we done here?” asked Isabel.
“I guess so,” he replied.
“Great,” she turned to Alex. “I believe we have a date?”
Her smile faded as she saw his reaction.
“We need to talk,” he said.
She sighed dejectedly as her hope of acceptance was dashed, “Oh.”
“Same here,” said Kyle to Tess.
She echoed Isabel‘s response, “Oh“.
A tense, awkward silence descended on the remaining group.
“I guess we better go somewhere,” said Isabel finally.
“Ditto,” said Tess.
“I’m out,” said Michael gathering his jacket.
They filed out of the restaurant leaving Max and Liz alone.
Max turned to her, “I guess it’s just us”
“Yeah,” said Liz.
They stared at each other and smiled unsure of what to say.
Liz told herself to breathe.
It became even harder to do so when Max moved closer to her.
’Why did he have to do that?’ she thought faintly.
“Are you okay with all of this?” he asked.
His voice was low, filled with concern yet somehow she wanted to collapse in a puddle right in front of him.
“It’s a lot to take in…,” she said. She brushed past him just to create space between them. Her whole body was humming, her skin tingled in the most pleasurable way as her mind replayed what she’d seen during their connection, “…but I’ve known about Michael for a while, so I’m not as in shock as Kyle and Alex are,” she finished.
“Yeah, they took it pretty well,” he said.
The other images that she would rather forget flashed into her mind like a bucket of ice cold water.
“I’m guessing Maria took it in a very…Maria way huh?” she asked.
Max laughed, “Yeah”.
“Thank you, for saving my best friend’s life by the way,” she said.
“It was my pleasure, believe me,” he replied with an intensity that nearly brought her to tears. All she could do was stop the tears from flowing.
“You really love her don’t you?” she asked in a quiet voice.
“So much that it’s almost scary,” he replied.
A wave of heart-wrenching sadness suddenly washed over her. She needed space away from Max, just to collect herself.
“Um, do you want a drink?” she asked in a bright voice.
“Yeah sure, a cherry-”
“coke,” she finished. To his unspoken question she replied, “It’s your usual.”
With that, she escaped to the kitchen, rested her head against the fridge, closed her eyes and took a breath.
She had no idea how to even rationalize the connection she had felt with Max. She had concluded that the others had had a completely different view because Maria had told them that it would be like a movie playing in their heads, not a subjective movie but from all of them.
She had seen everything they had seen but all from Max’s perspective.
She had felt his fear, anger, confusion, isolation and how he had felt when he first saw Maria. His heart had recognized her before his conscious awareness did and that hurt Liz more than anything…and she didn’t know why.
She pursed her lips together and slowly exhaled. Of course she knew why, it was because not only had she seen the alien history from Max’s perspective, she had also got flashes of her and Max.
In the movie that had played in her mind, she had witnessed her and Max’s first meeting each at the Crashdown. She dropped a plate because something about him had elicited a weak feeling in her knees.
Max helping her wash dishes after dinner. She had cooked for them. He surrounded her and invaded every sense, smell, touch, sight, he was everywhere and it was all she could do to keep standing.
Breaking off from that connection had left her breathless, reeling with a thundering heart and a charged, trembling body.
She couldn’t ask Max about the flashes because it was awkward and strange. The important factor in her reluctance, was the fact that he was in a relationship with her best friend, she didn’t want to create any tension…and above all, if she really admitted it to herself, the over-riding selfish reason for reluctance to tell Max about the flashes was because, whatever they were, she didn’t want him to fix it. Seeing her and Max together and being able to feel everything, every touch and taste? It was a guilty pleasure Liz wanted to continue experiencing.
Gathering her composure, Liz took their drinks, took a deep breath and went back in. He was sitting on the couch and looked up when she entered.
That was all it took. A blinding light and the energy she was now used to exploded within her and she saw herself cross the room, straddle him and kiss him passionately.
The next second, it was gone and she was back to a reality without Max’s kisses.
“Liz, are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she assured him, “I’m just great“.
****
“So are we over?” asked Tess.
Kyle’s eyes nearly popped out of his head, it had only been a few seconds into their walk and already before he said anything she wanted to break up?!
“Why would we be over?” he asked coming to a standstill.
“Simple,“ she said, “You found out that I’m an alien, you think I’m a freak and don’t want to date me anymore“.
He suddenly felt terrible, she had opened herself up to him and he was not acting in the way she had hoped. He had tried, he really had, but he had to be honest.
“Tess, I won’t lie, I’m scared a lot and hearing about it was okay, but actually seeing it, having you use your powers on us?. This thing is bigger than us and…I need time to be okay with it.”
“So you don’t want to break up with me?” she asked surprised.
Kyle smiled and moved to hug her. “Not a chance in hell,” he replied.
He kissed her softly on her forehead before stepping out of the embrace.
“I’ll call, you later?” he asked.
She playfully pushed him and smiled. “You better.”
****
“If you wanna break up with me, I’ll understand,” said Isabel.
Alex felt like his head was going to explode.
“What?! Why would I want to break up with you?” he asked.
They had taken a walk in silence until they had ended up in the park and sat on a bench and in that time, Alex still hadn’t formulized a way of saying what he needed to without hurting Isabel.
“It’s just, if you didn’t want to say it back there, I’m giving you an out,” she replied.
She sat with her hands resting on her thighs, looking way from him and at the ground.
Alex covered her hands with his in an attempt to encourage her to face him.
“I don’t want an out Iz,” he said gently. Surprised wide eyes finally met his gaze. “I mean, yeah, it’s definitely not what I was expecting but,” he shrugged, “that’s life and I want it with you but I need time to think“.
She heaved a sigh of what he hoped was relief. “I understand,” she said.
“Thank you for that,“ he said.
A warm smile appeared across her lips, Alex couldn’t help but kiss them under the starlit night.
****
As Tess and Kyle went their separate ways, as Alex and Isabel sealed their understanding with a kiss, as Michael made his way home and as Max and Liz talked about his life, all were unaware of pairs of eyes watching them, standing outside the Crashdown…waiting, watching behind cars, driving behind cars and watching from behind trees in the park.
****
Her bedside phone rang and Isabel picked it up. Sleep wasn’t an option for her until she got his call.
“Hi” he said.
Isabel smiled and fell onto her bed. “Hi.”
“I just wanted to tell you what I’m thinking,” he said.
“Okay, what are you thinking?” she asked. She couldn’t stop herself from smiling and her heart from threatening to explode with joy and relief.
“That this is big, dangerous and I’m glad you told me,” he replied.
“I don’t know what to say to that,” she said.
“Say that we’re okay. I mean I know that wasn’t the reaction you wanted out of me earlier-”
“Are you kidding? Maria freaked out when she found out. You,” her voice adopted a dreamy tone, “you were fine.”
“I love you Isabel and I’ll admit that some things will surprise me but I am not repulsed by you in any way…you’re a goddess.”
Isabel closed her eyes and opened them again, just to make sure that she wasn‘t dreaming. He was amazing, he saw her for what she truly was and he loved her anyway. “Alex,“ she paused, it brought her immense bliss to say the words she was about to say, “I love you too.”
“Are you sure? You don’t have to say it just because.”
She chuckled into the phone. “I’m positive.”
****
Tess’ mobile ran and she picked it up. She already knew who it was.
“Kyle”.
“I freaked out that there are psychotic aliens out there,“ he began, “and I won’t be able to protect you. I mean, I’d feel pretty useless…”
’No hi Tess, just straight into the business,’ she thought wryly. ‘You must be totally freaked out.’
“Don’t sell yourself short,” she said curling up on her bed. It was late but neither her nor Isabel had planned on going to sleep until their significant others had called. “You may not be able to kill someone with an energy bolt but um, I’m talking to 160 pounds of varsity grecko-roman wrestler,” she teased.
Kyle laughed.
Her work was done.
“Seriously Kyle, I feel stronger with you in my life. I’m just sorry about putting your life at risk.”
Because that was what she was doing. It was incredibly selfish of her to be glad that Kyle knew because his knowledge could get him killed and to Tess, that’s what made the whole thing both happy and sad at the same time.
“Hey, I chose you and all the baggage you came with even if it wasn’t what I expected,” he said.
“What were you expecting?” she teased. She marveled at how he always knew what to say to make her relax.
“A couple of ex boyfriend’s at least,” he said playfully.
Tess relaxed into her bed as a mischievous smile played on her lips. “Well…”
“Tess…” he warned.
“Kidding” she laughed.
“Well,“ he sighed, “I gotta go, I just wanted to tell you, so that you know where I’m at - where we’re at, I guess,” he continued.
“Thanks for doing that,” she said smiling into the phone.
She knew that tonight, she would have sweet dreams indeed.
“Nite,” he said.
“Nite,” she responded.
She waited until she heard the dialing tone before she hung up.
“Everything’s going to be fine,” said happily and aloud.
Everything would turn out just fine.
****
Changes (UC/CC,YTEEN/ADULT) Pt 16, 7 April[WIP]
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willowbv
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AN: Hey all, I know it’s been a while since the last update of this fic, so I thought I’d just get it out there unbeta’d and I thought I’d give a little recap:
The Royal Four are aliens, as per usual, but when they hatched Michael got left behind in Roswell.
Michael and Maria were together, but he cheated on her with Liz.
The other three move to Roswell after Nasedo is killed and meet Maria.
They all become friends and Max and Maria fall for each other.
Maria is shot in the café and Max heals her. She finds out that they’re aliens, freaks out but gets over it. Her and Max get together while Michael and Liz, after realizing that they aren’t right for each other, break up.
Michael is still in love with Maria while Liz is getting very intimate flashes from Max, which she doesn’t tell anyone about.
Isabel and Tess get together with Alex and Kyle.
Maria’s estranged father makes an unexpected appearance.
The humans find out that the others are aliens. Michael finds out about his past.
All the secrets are out….
P.S. I also want to thank you guys for waiting for so long and for all your encouragement with this fic…
Part 14
The body of Steven Adams entered the luxuriously decorated rented apartment. Today had been a good day. Things were slowly but surely falling into place. The clueless imbeciles also known as the Royal Four had finally united and had firmly established the causes of their demise. He took out his cell as he shrugged off his jacket and dialled Nicholas.
"My liege."
"Things are going better than planned. The other humans know their secret. They'll be our leverage and Maria will be the key to destroying Zan."
"Are we to proceed as usual?" asked Nicholas.
"Yes. Make sure none of you are spotted. This is the final attempt, if you do anything to screw up, your life will end," he warned his more often than not incompetent servant.
"Understood Khivar."
No salutations were exchanged, the conversation was over.
Khivar headed to the drinks cabinet and poured himself a whiskey on the rocks to relax him. He would bide his time before he struck, in the meantime, he would continue to play his role as daddy dearest.
A smile pulled at the corners of his mouth as an image of the blonde green eyed human flashed in his mind. He could see why Zan had chosen her, she had a fire he admired, if he didn't have to kill her, maybe after it was over, he would take her to be his mistress.
Vilandra wouldn't mind if he had someone on the side - there was plenty of him to go around.
****
Maria rolled over her bed and reached out to answer the ringing phone.
"Hello?".
"Hey, it's Liz."
The tone in her voice made her sit up. "Oh hey, what's up?" she asked.
"Nothing much, I was just wondering if maybe you had checked on Michael."
Maria was momentarily silent as she tried to figure out where her friend was heading with her line of questioning. "Why would I?".
"Because he got this massive bombshell and might need someone to talk to after he's had time to himself," Liz replied.
Again Maria had to take a moment to consider what this all had to do with her.
"Let me amend my question,” she began, “why should I and not you go check on him?".
"Because you two were close, you talked about his family-"
"Or lack thereof".
"Exactly. You know him in a way I don't Maria, he needs you."
Why does it have to be me? she wondered. She had only just begun to see him in a mildly favourable way and now Liz was asking her to jump up a few steps and be the caring friend?. It was hard and she was reluctant but however tentative their friendship was, he still was her friend and she did want to make sure he was alright.
"I'll check on him,” she responded. “Do you think you can fix me up two hot chocolates to go with the works and tabasco sauce in one?".
"Sure."
"I'll pick them up in a few."
****
Half an hour later, armed with two hot chocolates, Maria made her way to Michael's doorstep only to find him sitting outside on the porch.
"Hey," she said softly.
Michael jumped, he hadn't realised that anyone was there. He wondered how long she had been there and more importantly, why she was here.
Responding to his quizzical look, she offered him one of her polystyrene cups. "I come bearing gifts, hot chocolate with the works and tabasco of course."
He took it gratefully as she settled herself next to him.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome. So feel like your head's gonna explode from all the info you got tonight?".
The smile appeared before he could even think to smile. Maria had a direct approach to things, she summarised everything he felt in a nutshell.
He nodded. She didn’t say anything after that which surprised him a bit, instead, they sat in silence; he knew that she was waiting for him and when he was ready, he spoke.
"I find people like me and they're my family which is what I've always wanted. Before I thought my life was in danger, but now, I know that it is and not just from the FBI, but from other aliens,” he paused to take a breath.
“Then there's the fact that there's a war going on, that I'm a soldier, second-in-command to an alien King, who happens to be your new boyfriend - what if I'm not good enough?...oh hell, I'm rambling, I'm turning into you."
Had his life really reduced him to a flipping-out-rambling Maria type?
I guess so, he thought wryly.
"Hey," she shoved him playfully, "you're allowed to ramble and freak out and be scared. It's a lot of danger and responsibility“.
Michael fixed her with an unimpressed hard stare. "Are you supposed to be making me feel better or worse?".
She shot him a withering glare. "If you let me finish, maybe I can make you feel better."
Michael raised his hands up in surrender. He was too tired to fight her, taking on Maria required more energy than he had, plus, she could do whatever she wanted, he was just glad that she had come.
"I was going to say that even though it's some heavy grown-up could-possibly die issues you're now facing..."
He glared at her.
"I'm getting there," she retorted, "I believe in you and so do Max and the others. Nasedo wouldn’t have sent them here if he didn't think that you could help in some way. The others will no doubt help you fine tune your powers and help you deal with that I’ve-lived-another-life thing. There is no doubt in my mind that you will be able to kick some major alien ass. Feel better?" she asked with beaming satisfied smile.
"You didn't suck." He meant it as a joke but she obviously didn’t see it that way because the next thing he knew, her smile disappeared and she looked anything but happy with him.
She shook her head as she got up to leave. "Why do I even try.”
Panicked, Michael grabbed her wrist, keeping her from leaving.
"Stay. Please,” he pleaded.
He didn’t usually do this, beg for someone to stay, he never begged. But he was doing it now, all for her. It seemed like an eternity before her features softened and she smiled.
"Only 'cause you said please," she relented, taking back her place next to him.
"Don't get used to hearing me say it,” he retorted hiding his relief.
"Am I staying for a reason?" she challenged.
This is no time to give attitude, he chided himself. Don’t be an ass.
Michael met her gaze and again felt the aching regret of what he had given up. "I-I just wanted to say sorry for not having faith in you, in us to tell you, but Max did."
Max had obviously trusted Maria to an extent that he didn’t. Max had trusted her with his life…and he hadn’t even though he loved her.
What kind of person did that make him? No wonder Maria was with Max, the alien king gave her more credit than he ever did. She was definitely with the better man.
"If it makes you feel better,” she offered, “he didn't tell me just because he wanted to, circumstances kind of helped him along“.
Her words made him feel a little better but they also made him feel worse because they reminded him of his betrayal. Even after everything that had happened, she still offered words of comfort to him.
For what he was about to say next, Michael couldn’t look at her. He looked up at the starlit night sky as he struggled to find the words to explain.
"About Liz and I. It was-"
"Don't,“ she interrupted. From the corner of his eye, he could see her staring up at the stars, as if finding comfort in them. “Don’t say what a mistake cheating on me was, that you didn't love her. I don't wanna hear it or rehash. It's done, besides, you and me are here now and I'm talking to you so I'd say, it's going good."
He had to agree, it was going well. What was happening was miraculous.
"Thanks for coming over,” he told her.
"We're friends now, it's part of the job description,” she responded.
"Don't bank on hearing this from me, ever, but you're amazing," he told her.
"So they say." He could her the smile in her voice and it made his spirits soar.
A comfortable silence descended on the pair as they sat side by side staring at the stars enjoying each other’s company for the first time in a very long time.
****
"So you killed a lot."
After four months of knowing her secret, Kyle's question was unexpected and took her a couple of miles aback.
"I thought you were okay with me being who I am," said Tess cautiously. She struggled to suppress the feelings of panic arising within her. She cared a lot about Kyle and after all this time, if he went back on all that he’d said, she had no idea what she would do.
"I am,” he told her gently. “It's just that I was thinking about you and all you've been through and it hit me, like really hit me. You're my age and you've had to take lives."
Tess nodded as memories of the first time she had had to kill came flashing back. It had taken her a while to deal with the repercussions of taking someone’s life but they’re weren’t just people, they were evil aliens hell bent on killing her and her family.
"Evil alien lives," she supplied weakly.
"Still."
"Do you think I'm a murderer?" she asked fearing his answer.
If he looked at her with disgust and rejected her…she couldn’t stand it. And she definitely couldn’t stay in the car with him. Paranoia gripping her mind, she moved to unfasten her seatbelt and escape while she could.
Kyle’s firm grip on her wrist stopped her.
"What? No!“, he objected. Letting go of her, he continued, “You guys are in a war and you're defending yourselves. I just had a woah moment you know, I'm still dealing with the implication of your Czechness but,” his smile melted her heart. “I don't regret you and I at all if that's what you're thinking."
Tess sighed with relief and settled back into her seat. "I know,” she told him, “it's just so unfair. We don't even care about Antar or the stupid war! It's a planet we've never been to and a people we don't know. We only fight because Khivar wants to kill us. If there was a way to end it all, believe me, we'd take it.”
Taking a deep breath from her rant, she paused to look at his surprised expression. I'm sorry,” she apologised, “I didn't mean to get all doom and gloom on you."
"It's the baggage you come with,” he leaned over and gently caressed her cheek. His touch brought her instant peace. Who would have thought a human could do that?
“You can get that way with me,” he continued, “I can handle it“.
He was so adorable and understanding. She wanted to kiss him and since there was nothing stopping her, she unbuckled her seatbelt, adjusted her position so that she could capture his head between her hands.
"Oh yeah? Can you handle his," she challenged playfully as her lips met his.
When the finally broke apart for need of air, Kyle nodded with a dazed happy smile. "Oooh definitely."
****
"What colour dress are you wearing at the formal so I can get a corsage to match?" asked Kyle.
He had reluctantly allowed Tess to drag him out of the car so that they could meet up with the others in the café. He would have preferred to spend the rest of his afternoon kissing her, as far as he was concerned, he had his priorities in order. Making out with Tess was number one on his list, he had needs only she could satisfy and vice versa, but if she wanted to hang out with everyone else that was fine. He could do the self-restraint thing.
"What makes you think I'm going with you?," she asked crossing her arms over her chest," you haven't asked me."
He looked at her dumbfounded by her serious expression.
She was his girlfriend. He had to ask?
He frantically looked for help from the males on the table. Max merely shrugged, while biting back a smile, he was no help. Alex was his only hope.
"Hey," he shrugged, "I asked Iz last week."
"I'm asking Maria today," added Max.
He looked at them in disgust.
They were so whipped.
"Did I miss the memo that said boyfriends had to ask their girlfriends to the spring formal? I assumed it was a given," he argued.
He was a modern man, he was not going to fall prey to womanly dictations. He was not whipped.
"Well you assumed wrong," retorted Tess.
From the tone in her voice, Kyle knew that she meant business. If he screwed up, there was no chance of any kind of touching between them in the coming days.
Kyle had to concede to defeat.
"Tess will you do me the honour of being my date for the spring formal?" he asked.
Instantly, her demeanour changed and she was all smiles. "Why Mr Valenti, it would be my pleasure."
The gathered group’s laughter died down as Maria burst into the restaurant and strode purposefully to the pick up point.
Sure after their bonding with the two hot-chocolates that night, their friendship had developed further, but there were still times when she wanted to wring his neck. This was one of those times.
Ignoring the fact that the restaurant was filled with customers, she started yelling before she reach him.
"Is it so hard to complete one order: one galaxy sub, hold the mayo, with lots of pepperjack. This is like the fourth time you've messed up Brody's order!" she shouted.
"Sorry, don't have a photographic memory," he retorted.
Maria slammed the order down on the table.
"The order is written down," she said through gritted teeth.
Liz who was serving a customer headed over to do damage control but even she couldn't interrupt the barbs exchanged between the two. She knew that they were causing a scene, but she couldn't help but enjoy it.
They were Maria and Michael again.
It was four months since the secrets that kept them all of them divided were revealed, she had her friends back and then some. She still got flashes from Max, but they remained her secret. They weren't harming her, they were pleasurable, there was no need to rock the boat again - it had weathered too many storms.
"You're such an ass," spat Maria.
"Really, why is that?" he goaded her.
"Michael," warned Liz.
"One simple thing you're asked to do, Brody doesn't ask for much-"
Michael rolled his eyes. Liz could practically see the fire burning in Maria’s eyes. This was bigger than her. Stepping aside, she looked to Max for help.
"What?!" demanded Maria.
The guy was unbelievable!
"Nevermind,” he replied.
Oooh no! No way! was she going to drop this. He had pushed her too far.
She fixed him with an unwavering stare. "You got something to say, say it."
Michael clenched and unclenched his jaw. She looked amazing, she was driving him crazy.
"Brody wants too much, the guy requests you everytime you're working!".
Maria couldn’t believe what he was inferring. "We're friends,” she told him slowly.
Michael shot her an incredulous look. "The guy wants the, friendship-with benefits-package, if you ask me."
His behaviour was all too familiar although there was no reason for him to be exhibiting it. The meaning behind his expression and his words were clear.
"You're jealous of Brody?!" she asked disbelievingly.
"Did I say that?!”, he responded defensively. “I'm just calling it as I see it."
That was a lie and they both knew it.
"You have no right to be jealous, you're not my boyfriend anymore Michael,” she told him.
"I know that!,” he retorted, “I'm just looking out for him,” he finished, pointing to someone behind him.
Maria turned to find Max watching them. From his body language and the expression that passed fleetingly across his face, she knew something was wrong. She would deal with that problem after she finished dealing with her current one.
Turning back to Michael she said, "Well he knows that I'm not into Brody like that. Brody knows that too. So next time, get the order right.”
Without waiting for a reaction, she turned and made her way over to Max.
“What is it?" she asked him.
"Nothing," he replied.
Maria sighed tiredly. Why couldn’t people just be honest and deal with problems before they grew out of proportion?
If Max wasn’t willing to tell her now, she would just have to make him.
"Don't play that games with me Max. Liz,” she called to her friend, “ I'm taking my break".
"Sure."
"Be back in fifteen!" she called over her shoulder as she dragged Max into the back room.
****
The Royal Four are aliens, as per usual, but when they hatched Michael got left behind in Roswell.
Michael and Maria were together, but he cheated on her with Liz.
The other three move to Roswell after Nasedo is killed and meet Maria.
They all become friends and Max and Maria fall for each other.
Maria is shot in the café and Max heals her. She finds out that they’re aliens, freaks out but gets over it. Her and Max get together while Michael and Liz, after realizing that they aren’t right for each other, break up.
Michael is still in love with Maria while Liz is getting very intimate flashes from Max, which she doesn’t tell anyone about.
Isabel and Tess get together with Alex and Kyle.
Maria’s estranged father makes an unexpected appearance.
The humans find out that the others are aliens. Michael finds out about his past.
All the secrets are out….
P.S. I also want to thank you guys for waiting for so long and for all your encouragement with this fic…
Part 14
The body of Steven Adams entered the luxuriously decorated rented apartment. Today had been a good day. Things were slowly but surely falling into place. The clueless imbeciles also known as the Royal Four had finally united and had firmly established the causes of their demise. He took out his cell as he shrugged off his jacket and dialled Nicholas.
"My liege."
"Things are going better than planned. The other humans know their secret. They'll be our leverage and Maria will be the key to destroying Zan."
"Are we to proceed as usual?" asked Nicholas.
"Yes. Make sure none of you are spotted. This is the final attempt, if you do anything to screw up, your life will end," he warned his more often than not incompetent servant.
"Understood Khivar."
No salutations were exchanged, the conversation was over.
Khivar headed to the drinks cabinet and poured himself a whiskey on the rocks to relax him. He would bide his time before he struck, in the meantime, he would continue to play his role as daddy dearest.
A smile pulled at the corners of his mouth as an image of the blonde green eyed human flashed in his mind. He could see why Zan had chosen her, she had a fire he admired, if he didn't have to kill her, maybe after it was over, he would take her to be his mistress.
Vilandra wouldn't mind if he had someone on the side - there was plenty of him to go around.
****
Maria rolled over her bed and reached out to answer the ringing phone.
"Hello?".
"Hey, it's Liz."
The tone in her voice made her sit up. "Oh hey, what's up?" she asked.
"Nothing much, I was just wondering if maybe you had checked on Michael."
Maria was momentarily silent as she tried to figure out where her friend was heading with her line of questioning. "Why would I?".
"Because he got this massive bombshell and might need someone to talk to after he's had time to himself," Liz replied.
Again Maria had to take a moment to consider what this all had to do with her.
"Let me amend my question,” she began, “why should I and not you go check on him?".
"Because you two were close, you talked about his family-"
"Or lack thereof".
"Exactly. You know him in a way I don't Maria, he needs you."
Why does it have to be me? she wondered. She had only just begun to see him in a mildly favourable way and now Liz was asking her to jump up a few steps and be the caring friend?. It was hard and she was reluctant but however tentative their friendship was, he still was her friend and she did want to make sure he was alright.
"I'll check on him,” she responded. “Do you think you can fix me up two hot chocolates to go with the works and tabasco sauce in one?".
"Sure."
"I'll pick them up in a few."
****
Half an hour later, armed with two hot chocolates, Maria made her way to Michael's doorstep only to find him sitting outside on the porch.
"Hey," she said softly.
Michael jumped, he hadn't realised that anyone was there. He wondered how long she had been there and more importantly, why she was here.
Responding to his quizzical look, she offered him one of her polystyrene cups. "I come bearing gifts, hot chocolate with the works and tabasco of course."
He took it gratefully as she settled herself next to him.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome. So feel like your head's gonna explode from all the info you got tonight?".
The smile appeared before he could even think to smile. Maria had a direct approach to things, she summarised everything he felt in a nutshell.
He nodded. She didn’t say anything after that which surprised him a bit, instead, they sat in silence; he knew that she was waiting for him and when he was ready, he spoke.
"I find people like me and they're my family which is what I've always wanted. Before I thought my life was in danger, but now, I know that it is and not just from the FBI, but from other aliens,” he paused to take a breath.
“Then there's the fact that there's a war going on, that I'm a soldier, second-in-command to an alien King, who happens to be your new boyfriend - what if I'm not good enough?...oh hell, I'm rambling, I'm turning into you."
Had his life really reduced him to a flipping-out-rambling Maria type?
I guess so, he thought wryly.
"Hey," she shoved him playfully, "you're allowed to ramble and freak out and be scared. It's a lot of danger and responsibility“.
Michael fixed her with an unimpressed hard stare. "Are you supposed to be making me feel better or worse?".
She shot him a withering glare. "If you let me finish, maybe I can make you feel better."
Michael raised his hands up in surrender. He was too tired to fight her, taking on Maria required more energy than he had, plus, she could do whatever she wanted, he was just glad that she had come.
"I was going to say that even though it's some heavy grown-up could-possibly die issues you're now facing..."
He glared at her.
"I'm getting there," she retorted, "I believe in you and so do Max and the others. Nasedo wouldn’t have sent them here if he didn't think that you could help in some way. The others will no doubt help you fine tune your powers and help you deal with that I’ve-lived-another-life thing. There is no doubt in my mind that you will be able to kick some major alien ass. Feel better?" she asked with beaming satisfied smile.
"You didn't suck." He meant it as a joke but she obviously didn’t see it that way because the next thing he knew, her smile disappeared and she looked anything but happy with him.
She shook her head as she got up to leave. "Why do I even try.”
Panicked, Michael grabbed her wrist, keeping her from leaving.
"Stay. Please,” he pleaded.
He didn’t usually do this, beg for someone to stay, he never begged. But he was doing it now, all for her. It seemed like an eternity before her features softened and she smiled.
"Only 'cause you said please," she relented, taking back her place next to him.
"Don't get used to hearing me say it,” he retorted hiding his relief.
"Am I staying for a reason?" she challenged.
This is no time to give attitude, he chided himself. Don’t be an ass.
Michael met her gaze and again felt the aching regret of what he had given up. "I-I just wanted to say sorry for not having faith in you, in us to tell you, but Max did."
Max had obviously trusted Maria to an extent that he didn’t. Max had trusted her with his life…and he hadn’t even though he loved her.
What kind of person did that make him? No wonder Maria was with Max, the alien king gave her more credit than he ever did. She was definitely with the better man.
"If it makes you feel better,” she offered, “he didn't tell me just because he wanted to, circumstances kind of helped him along“.
Her words made him feel a little better but they also made him feel worse because they reminded him of his betrayal. Even after everything that had happened, she still offered words of comfort to him.
For what he was about to say next, Michael couldn’t look at her. He looked up at the starlit night sky as he struggled to find the words to explain.
"About Liz and I. It was-"
"Don't,“ she interrupted. From the corner of his eye, he could see her staring up at the stars, as if finding comfort in them. “Don’t say what a mistake cheating on me was, that you didn't love her. I don't wanna hear it or rehash. It's done, besides, you and me are here now and I'm talking to you so I'd say, it's going good."
He had to agree, it was going well. What was happening was miraculous.
"Thanks for coming over,” he told her.
"We're friends now, it's part of the job description,” she responded.
"Don't bank on hearing this from me, ever, but you're amazing," he told her.
"So they say." He could her the smile in her voice and it made his spirits soar.
A comfortable silence descended on the pair as they sat side by side staring at the stars enjoying each other’s company for the first time in a very long time.
****
"So you killed a lot."
After four months of knowing her secret, Kyle's question was unexpected and took her a couple of miles aback.
"I thought you were okay with me being who I am," said Tess cautiously. She struggled to suppress the feelings of panic arising within her. She cared a lot about Kyle and after all this time, if he went back on all that he’d said, she had no idea what she would do.
"I am,” he told her gently. “It's just that I was thinking about you and all you've been through and it hit me, like really hit me. You're my age and you've had to take lives."
Tess nodded as memories of the first time she had had to kill came flashing back. It had taken her a while to deal with the repercussions of taking someone’s life but they’re weren’t just people, they were evil aliens hell bent on killing her and her family.
"Evil alien lives," she supplied weakly.
"Still."
"Do you think I'm a murderer?" she asked fearing his answer.
If he looked at her with disgust and rejected her…she couldn’t stand it. And she definitely couldn’t stay in the car with him. Paranoia gripping her mind, she moved to unfasten her seatbelt and escape while she could.
Kyle’s firm grip on her wrist stopped her.
"What? No!“, he objected. Letting go of her, he continued, “You guys are in a war and you're defending yourselves. I just had a woah moment you know, I'm still dealing with the implication of your Czechness but,” his smile melted her heart. “I don't regret you and I at all if that's what you're thinking."
Tess sighed with relief and settled back into her seat. "I know,” she told him, “it's just so unfair. We don't even care about Antar or the stupid war! It's a planet we've never been to and a people we don't know. We only fight because Khivar wants to kill us. If there was a way to end it all, believe me, we'd take it.”
Taking a deep breath from her rant, she paused to look at his surprised expression. I'm sorry,” she apologised, “I didn't mean to get all doom and gloom on you."
"It's the baggage you come with,” he leaned over and gently caressed her cheek. His touch brought her instant peace. Who would have thought a human could do that?
“You can get that way with me,” he continued, “I can handle it“.
He was so adorable and understanding. She wanted to kiss him and since there was nothing stopping her, she unbuckled her seatbelt, adjusted her position so that she could capture his head between her hands.
"Oh yeah? Can you handle his," she challenged playfully as her lips met his.
When the finally broke apart for need of air, Kyle nodded with a dazed happy smile. "Oooh definitely."
****
"What colour dress are you wearing at the formal so I can get a corsage to match?" asked Kyle.
He had reluctantly allowed Tess to drag him out of the car so that they could meet up with the others in the café. He would have preferred to spend the rest of his afternoon kissing her, as far as he was concerned, he had his priorities in order. Making out with Tess was number one on his list, he had needs only she could satisfy and vice versa, but if she wanted to hang out with everyone else that was fine. He could do the self-restraint thing.
"What makes you think I'm going with you?," she asked crossing her arms over her chest," you haven't asked me."
He looked at her dumbfounded by her serious expression.
She was his girlfriend. He had to ask?
He frantically looked for help from the males on the table. Max merely shrugged, while biting back a smile, he was no help. Alex was his only hope.
"Hey," he shrugged, "I asked Iz last week."
"I'm asking Maria today," added Max.
He looked at them in disgust.
They were so whipped.
"Did I miss the memo that said boyfriends had to ask their girlfriends to the spring formal? I assumed it was a given," he argued.
He was a modern man, he was not going to fall prey to womanly dictations. He was not whipped.
"Well you assumed wrong," retorted Tess.
From the tone in her voice, Kyle knew that she meant business. If he screwed up, there was no chance of any kind of touching between them in the coming days.
Kyle had to concede to defeat.
"Tess will you do me the honour of being my date for the spring formal?" he asked.
Instantly, her demeanour changed and she was all smiles. "Why Mr Valenti, it would be my pleasure."
The gathered group’s laughter died down as Maria burst into the restaurant and strode purposefully to the pick up point.
Sure after their bonding with the two hot-chocolates that night, their friendship had developed further, but there were still times when she wanted to wring his neck. This was one of those times.
Ignoring the fact that the restaurant was filled with customers, she started yelling before she reach him.
"Is it so hard to complete one order: one galaxy sub, hold the mayo, with lots of pepperjack. This is like the fourth time you've messed up Brody's order!" she shouted.
"Sorry, don't have a photographic memory," he retorted.
Maria slammed the order down on the table.
"The order is written down," she said through gritted teeth.
Liz who was serving a customer headed over to do damage control but even she couldn't interrupt the barbs exchanged between the two. She knew that they were causing a scene, but she couldn't help but enjoy it.
They were Maria and Michael again.
It was four months since the secrets that kept them all of them divided were revealed, she had her friends back and then some. She still got flashes from Max, but they remained her secret. They weren't harming her, they were pleasurable, there was no need to rock the boat again - it had weathered too many storms.
"You're such an ass," spat Maria.
"Really, why is that?" he goaded her.
"Michael," warned Liz.
"One simple thing you're asked to do, Brody doesn't ask for much-"
Michael rolled his eyes. Liz could practically see the fire burning in Maria’s eyes. This was bigger than her. Stepping aside, she looked to Max for help.
"What?!" demanded Maria.
The guy was unbelievable!
"Nevermind,” he replied.
Oooh no! No way! was she going to drop this. He had pushed her too far.
She fixed him with an unwavering stare. "You got something to say, say it."
Michael clenched and unclenched his jaw. She looked amazing, she was driving him crazy.
"Brody wants too much, the guy requests you everytime you're working!".
Maria couldn’t believe what he was inferring. "We're friends,” she told him slowly.
Michael shot her an incredulous look. "The guy wants the, friendship-with benefits-package, if you ask me."
His behaviour was all too familiar although there was no reason for him to be exhibiting it. The meaning behind his expression and his words were clear.
"You're jealous of Brody?!" she asked disbelievingly.
"Did I say that?!”, he responded defensively. “I'm just calling it as I see it."
That was a lie and they both knew it.
"You have no right to be jealous, you're not my boyfriend anymore Michael,” she told him.
"I know that!,” he retorted, “I'm just looking out for him,” he finished, pointing to someone behind him.
Maria turned to find Max watching them. From his body language and the expression that passed fleetingly across his face, she knew something was wrong. She would deal with that problem after she finished dealing with her current one.
Turning back to Michael she said, "Well he knows that I'm not into Brody like that. Brody knows that too. So next time, get the order right.”
Without waiting for a reaction, she turned and made her way over to Max.
“What is it?" she asked him.
"Nothing," he replied.
Maria sighed tiredly. Why couldn’t people just be honest and deal with problems before they grew out of proportion?
If Max wasn’t willing to tell her now, she would just have to make him.
"Don't play that games with me Max. Liz,” she called to her friend, “ I'm taking my break".
"Sure."
"Be back in fifteen!" she called over her shoulder as she dragged Max into the back room.
****
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****
Max squirmed uncomfortably under his girlfriend‘s determined gaze.
"We have fifteen minutes, spill”, she demanded. Then softening her voice to an almost pleading tone she added, “I saw your expression when I was with Michael. I've seen it a lot when you see the two of us together and now I'm calling you on it…what's up?" she asked.
He hadn’t planned on telling her. He had wanted to deal with it himself because he didn’t think that she noticed the way her spending time with Michael affected him, but she had. He couldn’t lie to her now.
"It's nothing big really,“ he told her averting his eyes. “It's just, you and him bicker, a lot and you get this spark in your eyes-"
"That's me, ticked off."
"I know.” An insecure almost wistful half smile crossed his mouth. “It's just the way you two are…I can see why you dated."
There he had done it. He had told her what had been bothering him ever since they had discovered that Michael was the one to complete their set and Maria had made positive attempts to re-ignite their friendship. He had been a little uneasy about it at first, but he’d dealt with that.
Maria and Michael had been friends before they were together and it would only help things along if they were able to be in the same room with each other, but as they spent more and more time together, he got the sense that Michael still had feelings for Maria. Then the insecurities had flooded his mind and they had led to this moment.
He chanced a look at her and found her staring at him with a look of utter incredulity.
"You're jealous of my friendship with the guy who cheated on me with my best friend?".
It was ridiculous, he knew that.
"I know I shouldn’t-", he tried to explain but she was on a roll which left no room for him until she was done.
"If anyone should be jealous, it should be me!".
"What?! What are you talking about?" he asked.
Who could she be jealous of?
"You and Liz of course!” she answered. “You two bond over stars and generally over science and,” she shrugged helplessly sad, “I'm not scientifically inclined."
It was true that he had developed a bond with Liz. They shared a passion for science, she was also a nice person. They had developed a friendship, that was all.
But then that was all Maria had done with Michael and while jealously was all that he felt with their growing friendship, to Maria, his growing friendship with Liz had another effect.
"You're afraid that I'll cheat on you with Liz,” he said realisation dawning on him.
"I'd like to say it hasn't happened before but…" she shrugged letting her past speak for itself.
"Liz is a good friend,“ he told her softly. “She's your best friend and while I have a good time with her, she isn't you Ria and I wouldn't cheat on you with her. I respect you too much to do that. Besides, Isabel and Tess would torture me if I ever did anything to hurt you like that."
"I know,” she said.
Both of them breathed sighs of relief as they closed the space separating them and entwined their fingers together.
“I'm sorry,” she continued, “I just had to hear you say it. I get flashbacks and it isn't pretty and you and I are so different-"
Max‘s placed a finger to her lips to silence her. “I like that you and I are different.” His finger caressed her cheek. “We balance each other out".
“Like yin and yang”.
The movement of her lips drew his attention to them. He nodded as he leaned closer to her.
“About the…um, relationship insecurity thing…”
She nodded wordlessly.
He moved in closer.
“I'll just have to keep reassuring you with words and kisses," he told her.
She bit her lip.
It nearly killed him.
"You've done the words part,” she murmured, “how about the kisses?".
"Coming right up," he said as their lips finally met.
He could never get enough of her taste, she was everything he had ever wanted and every time they kissed, he was reminded of that.
"Max,” she said breaking their tongue duel, “you don't have to worry about Michael. We argued a lot before we were a couple, that's how we work. I don't have any romantic feelings for him. I'm all yours - he knows that, I know that and you know that.”
"Yes I do," he nodded with a smile as his lips sought out hers.
But before he could taste her again, Liz burst into the room.
"Maria, a little help?" she called.
Maria pulled back from the almost kiss and whirled to face Liz.
Talk about interrupting a moment.
But then again, it was pretty busy, Liz was probably swamped.
"Be right there“ she told her.
Liz left them to say their goodbyes.
Maria gave Max a quick kiss before heading for the door.
"Oh, before you go,” he called, “will you be my date for the spring formal?".
A wicked idea popped into her head, the mischievous smile that came with it disappeared when she turned around to answer him.
"I was kinda going as friends with Michael,” she told him apologetically.
"Oh?". He tried to appear unaffected but he failed miserably.
Maria broke out into a smile. "Kidding. Of course I'll go with you. Love you,” as she disappearing through the door leaving a dazed Max standing with a smile on his face.
****
"It's been four months and we've done nothing!" yelled Nicholas.
"It's been four months and we've done plenty,” said Khivar calmly. Nicholas’ hot headedness was beginning to irritate him, after he had killed the Royal Four and tied up his loose ends, he would have to get rid of him too.
“We know their weaknesses and I've had an exceptionally good time in this body," he continued.
His eyes turned a bottomless black leaving Nicholas cowering.
"I gave you enough time to deal with them and you haven't. I had to come down and clean up this mess, so do not question me. The time is vast approaching when we'll make our move. We just need a little more patience.”
In a blink of an eye, Khivar’s eyes, those belonging to the body of Steven Adams, were back to normal. “Now if you'll excuse me, I have to catch a plane to see my wife and kids."
****
Michael saw her sitting on her bed and flicking through a magazine. Even doing something as ordinary as that, she looked beautiful. Why had he never appreciated that about her when they were together?
Without knocking, he climbed through her window.
"How about we see the 6 O clock showing?" she asked.
"I'd answer if I knew what you were talking about," he answered.
The voice startled her and Maria turned to find Michael standing in her room.
"Michael, I thought you were Max. He uses the door for official parental purposes but most of the time, the window-“
Wait, why was she explaining anything to him. He was the one who had just climbed through her window.
“What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I had time on my hands,“ he shrugged, “so I came to see you."
It was a reasonable answer and one she couldn’t argue against.
"Oh, okay."
"Sorry about the window, force of habit, I guess I'll stop."
Sitting up on her bed, Maria patted it signalling him to sit down.
"You climbed through my window when we were just friends - just knock next time," she told him. "How was practice?".
The other aliens all took time out separately and then together to help Michael work on his powers.
He took up her invitation to sit on her bed. "It went okay. I can't believe how far I've come in controlling my powers.”
She smiled. Everything was working out okay. She and Max had worked out their problems and Michael was developing relationships with his family.
"I knew you could do it."
"So what are you up to?" he asked.
"Well, just hanging out till Max and I spend some couple time, we're watching Alexander at the cinema."
"Not exactly a chick flick."
"Colin Farell, my number one bad boy. Want some?". She offered him a bag of chips. "There's tabasco sauce on my table...what?" she asked.
He was looking at her strangely.
"Tabasco in your room?" he asked.
"I'm well versed in handling your dietary quirks," she answered.
Michael smiled as she rambled on about Chad Michael Murray and One Tree Hill, this wasn't like old times. It was better.
*****
Max squirmed uncomfortably under his girlfriend‘s determined gaze.
"We have fifteen minutes, spill”, she demanded. Then softening her voice to an almost pleading tone she added, “I saw your expression when I was with Michael. I've seen it a lot when you see the two of us together and now I'm calling you on it…what's up?" she asked.
He hadn’t planned on telling her. He had wanted to deal with it himself because he didn’t think that she noticed the way her spending time with Michael affected him, but she had. He couldn’t lie to her now.
"It's nothing big really,“ he told her averting his eyes. “It's just, you and him bicker, a lot and you get this spark in your eyes-"
"That's me, ticked off."
"I know.” An insecure almost wistful half smile crossed his mouth. “It's just the way you two are…I can see why you dated."
There he had done it. He had told her what had been bothering him ever since they had discovered that Michael was the one to complete their set and Maria had made positive attempts to re-ignite their friendship. He had been a little uneasy about it at first, but he’d dealt with that.
Maria and Michael had been friends before they were together and it would only help things along if they were able to be in the same room with each other, but as they spent more and more time together, he got the sense that Michael still had feelings for Maria. Then the insecurities had flooded his mind and they had led to this moment.
He chanced a look at her and found her staring at him with a look of utter incredulity.
"You're jealous of my friendship with the guy who cheated on me with my best friend?".
It was ridiculous, he knew that.
"I know I shouldn’t-", he tried to explain but she was on a roll which left no room for him until she was done.
"If anyone should be jealous, it should be me!".
"What?! What are you talking about?" he asked.
Who could she be jealous of?
"You and Liz of course!” she answered. “You two bond over stars and generally over science and,” she shrugged helplessly sad, “I'm not scientifically inclined."
It was true that he had developed a bond with Liz. They shared a passion for science, she was also a nice person. They had developed a friendship, that was all.
But then that was all Maria had done with Michael and while jealously was all that he felt with their growing friendship, to Maria, his growing friendship with Liz had another effect.
"You're afraid that I'll cheat on you with Liz,” he said realisation dawning on him.
"I'd like to say it hasn't happened before but…" she shrugged letting her past speak for itself.
"Liz is a good friend,“ he told her softly. “She's your best friend and while I have a good time with her, she isn't you Ria and I wouldn't cheat on you with her. I respect you too much to do that. Besides, Isabel and Tess would torture me if I ever did anything to hurt you like that."
"I know,” she said.
Both of them breathed sighs of relief as they closed the space separating them and entwined their fingers together.
“I'm sorry,” she continued, “I just had to hear you say it. I get flashbacks and it isn't pretty and you and I are so different-"
Max‘s placed a finger to her lips to silence her. “I like that you and I are different.” His finger caressed her cheek. “We balance each other out".
“Like yin and yang”.
The movement of her lips drew his attention to them. He nodded as he leaned closer to her.
“About the…um, relationship insecurity thing…”
She nodded wordlessly.
He moved in closer.
“I'll just have to keep reassuring you with words and kisses," he told her.
She bit her lip.
It nearly killed him.
"You've done the words part,” she murmured, “how about the kisses?".
"Coming right up," he said as their lips finally met.
He could never get enough of her taste, she was everything he had ever wanted and every time they kissed, he was reminded of that.
"Max,” she said breaking their tongue duel, “you don't have to worry about Michael. We argued a lot before we were a couple, that's how we work. I don't have any romantic feelings for him. I'm all yours - he knows that, I know that and you know that.”
"Yes I do," he nodded with a smile as his lips sought out hers.
But before he could taste her again, Liz burst into the room.
"Maria, a little help?" she called.
Maria pulled back from the almost kiss and whirled to face Liz.
Talk about interrupting a moment.
But then again, it was pretty busy, Liz was probably swamped.
"Be right there“ she told her.
Liz left them to say their goodbyes.
Maria gave Max a quick kiss before heading for the door.
"Oh, before you go,” he called, “will you be my date for the spring formal?".
A wicked idea popped into her head, the mischievous smile that came with it disappeared when she turned around to answer him.
"I was kinda going as friends with Michael,” she told him apologetically.
"Oh?". He tried to appear unaffected but he failed miserably.
Maria broke out into a smile. "Kidding. Of course I'll go with you. Love you,” as she disappearing through the door leaving a dazed Max standing with a smile on his face.
****
"It's been four months and we've done nothing!" yelled Nicholas.
"It's been four months and we've done plenty,” said Khivar calmly. Nicholas’ hot headedness was beginning to irritate him, after he had killed the Royal Four and tied up his loose ends, he would have to get rid of him too.
“We know their weaknesses and I've had an exceptionally good time in this body," he continued.
His eyes turned a bottomless black leaving Nicholas cowering.
"I gave you enough time to deal with them and you haven't. I had to come down and clean up this mess, so do not question me. The time is vast approaching when we'll make our move. We just need a little more patience.”
In a blink of an eye, Khivar’s eyes, those belonging to the body of Steven Adams, were back to normal. “Now if you'll excuse me, I have to catch a plane to see my wife and kids."
****
Michael saw her sitting on her bed and flicking through a magazine. Even doing something as ordinary as that, she looked beautiful. Why had he never appreciated that about her when they were together?
Without knocking, he climbed through her window.
"How about we see the 6 O clock showing?" she asked.
"I'd answer if I knew what you were talking about," he answered.
The voice startled her and Maria turned to find Michael standing in her room.
"Michael, I thought you were Max. He uses the door for official parental purposes but most of the time, the window-“
Wait, why was she explaining anything to him. He was the one who had just climbed through her window.
“What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I had time on my hands,“ he shrugged, “so I came to see you."
It was a reasonable answer and one she couldn’t argue against.
"Oh, okay."
"Sorry about the window, force of habit, I guess I'll stop."
Sitting up on her bed, Maria patted it signalling him to sit down.
"You climbed through my window when we were just friends - just knock next time," she told him. "How was practice?".
The other aliens all took time out separately and then together to help Michael work on his powers.
He took up her invitation to sit on her bed. "It went okay. I can't believe how far I've come in controlling my powers.”
She smiled. Everything was working out okay. She and Max had worked out their problems and Michael was developing relationships with his family.
"I knew you could do it."
"So what are you up to?" he asked.
"Well, just hanging out till Max and I spend some couple time, we're watching Alexander at the cinema."
"Not exactly a chick flick."
"Colin Farell, my number one bad boy. Want some?". She offered him a bag of chips. "There's tabasco sauce on my table...what?" she asked.
He was looking at her strangely.
"Tabasco in your room?" he asked.
"I'm well versed in handling your dietary quirks," she answered.
Michael smiled as she rambled on about Chad Michael Murray and One Tree Hill, this wasn't like old times. It was better.
*****
-
willowbv
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 321
- Joined: Thu Aug 08, 2002 4:40 am
- Location: in a vegas chapel
- Contact:
AN: Hey all, I know I'm not too good on frequent updates on this fic, so thanks for sticking with me.
Sternbetrachter
minx
NicciStar
Lilmisspolarwhore
rainbow_watcher
Earth2Mama
Emz80m
Ninlil
Thanks for the feedback guys.
Drama is getting upped a notch from this part onwards. Secrets are going to come out and basically things will get a lot interesting.
****
Previously
"So what are you up to?" he asked.
"Well, just hanging out till Max and I spend some couple time, we're watching Alexander at the cinema."
"Not exactly a chick flick."
"Colin Farell, my number one bad boy. Want some?". She offered him a bag of chips. "There's tabasco sauce on my table...what?" she asked.
He was looking at her strangely.
"Tabasco in your room?" he asked.
"I'm well versed in handling your dietary quirks," she answered.
Michael smiled as she rambled on about Chad Michael Murray and One Tree Hill, this wasn't like old times. It was better.
*****
Changes - part 15
****
"What do you think?" asked Maria.
Isabel gave her a once over followed by a nod of approval. "That's the dress."
It wasn't anything special on its own. Yet it was that simplicity that had attracted Maria to the rich, spring green v-neck, thin strapped dress. It settled and fitted comfortably around her body, brought out her eyes and made her blonde hair almost glow.
"I would have to agree with you there," she said heading back into her fitting room cubicle.
"I'm glad we could shop as a duo today." Behind her curtain, Isabel began the speech that Maria had anticipated for over a week. She would play along because she needed to hear it.
"Me too," she agreed.
"It gives us a chance to talk and catch up," continued Isabel.
"Right."
"I'll just cut to the chase. Maria, you're a good friend which is why I have to be honest. I see what's going on between you and Michael and it has to stop."
Maria viciously pulled on her top. "Michael and I are just friends."
That was true, they were friends, but the times when the energy between them would shift into something more, were increasing and when they happened, she felt powerless to stop them.
She knew from the looks she and Michael were getting that Isabel wasn't the only one noticing, but there was nothing she could do about it. What was happening between her and Michael, they never talked about, but they both knew that she would never cheat on Max; he owned a part of her heart.
The problem, she realised, was that so did Michael. But that didn't matter because she was with Max and she wouldn't trade him for anything.
"You promised that you wouldn't hurt my brother," said Isabel.
Maria drew back the curtain to face her concerned friend. "And I won't. I promise."
****
Dressed in faded jeans, a faded grey shirt and brown leather jacket, Khivar admired the body he had possessed.
"Don't we look good Steven," he grinned at the reflection.
His heard turned to the noise at the door as Nicholas burst in.
"My liege, everything is in place," he said.
"Don't you knock?" he asked irritated.
"I'm sorry, but tonight is very important in our-"
"I know exactly what tonight is." His frown turned into an eerily pleasant smile. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go see my daughter, her date and her friends before they go to the spring formal, which promises to be very memorable."
****
Liz waved her fingers in front of Michael to try and get his attention.
"Hey," she smiled when he finally noticed. "You okay?".
"Yeah," he nodded loosening his tie as if it was strangling him.
Liz nodded knowingly. "You can't wait to see her can you?".
He looked as if he was about to deny it, but then decided against it. "I can't help it."
She understood. She couldn't wait to see Max either. Not that they hadn't seen either of their unrequited loves earlier on, it was just that this time, they would see them dressed up and no doubt looking jaw-droppingly stunning.
Liz was in love with her best-friend's boyfriend but this time, she wouldn't do anything about it because Max didn't see anyone but Maria. His faithfulness only made Liz love him more.
And Michael? well, it was now common knowledge that he had feelings for Maria and that she might reciprocate them. But it was also common knowledge that she loved Max passionately and when it came down to it, only saw him too.
So here we are, she mused, going to a dance together while hoping for something more with our friends who happen to be together.
Tonight should be fun.
****
Maria was more than Michael expected. To him, she glowed like a bright star against the dark night sky. Her hair shimmered in long waves, her eyes sparkled a brilliant light and her curve-hugging dress made his mouth water.
Max was a very lucky guy and from the way he made ever effort to touch her as the group chatted, he damn well knew it.
Michael’s focus turned to Maria's father who was talking to Amy. There was something about him that rubbed him the wrong way. If he was the only who felt that, then he would have blamed it on paranoia, but when he had broached the subject to Max, he had agreed with him.
They had nothing on him for now, so all they could do was watch and wait.
"Hey Michael." Isabel's voice drew him out of his thoughts.
"Huh?".
"You ready to go?". It was then that he realised that everyone was either standing or just getting up and staring expectantly at him. Ignoring Maria's searching look, he nodded. "Yeah sure.”
****
Sternbetrachter
minx
NicciStar
Lilmisspolarwhore
rainbow_watcher
Earth2Mama
Emz80m
Ninlil
Thanks for the feedback guys.
I can't see why Maria would go back to Michael either, I do agree that they have some serious issues to get through but...I won't say anything more, lolNinlil wrote: I can't see why Maria would go back to Michael. Sure, he's being nice to her now, but what about all those times that he broke her heart. He made out with Liz at school within her viewing range - if that isn't a downer for subsequent relations I don't know what is. And, then she finds out the whole thing was because he couldn't trust her enough to tell her the truth. Those are some serious issues to be dealt with before even becoming more than the cursory friends they are right now.
Drama is getting upped a notch from this part onwards. Secrets are going to come out and basically things will get a lot interesting.
****
Previously
"So what are you up to?" he asked.
"Well, just hanging out till Max and I spend some couple time, we're watching Alexander at the cinema."
"Not exactly a chick flick."
"Colin Farell, my number one bad boy. Want some?". She offered him a bag of chips. "There's tabasco sauce on my table...what?" she asked.
He was looking at her strangely.
"Tabasco in your room?" he asked.
"I'm well versed in handling your dietary quirks," she answered.
Michael smiled as she rambled on about Chad Michael Murray and One Tree Hill, this wasn't like old times. It was better.
*****
Changes - part 15
****
"What do you think?" asked Maria.
Isabel gave her a once over followed by a nod of approval. "That's the dress."
It wasn't anything special on its own. Yet it was that simplicity that had attracted Maria to the rich, spring green v-neck, thin strapped dress. It settled and fitted comfortably around her body, brought out her eyes and made her blonde hair almost glow.
"I would have to agree with you there," she said heading back into her fitting room cubicle.
"I'm glad we could shop as a duo today." Behind her curtain, Isabel began the speech that Maria had anticipated for over a week. She would play along because she needed to hear it.
"Me too," she agreed.
"It gives us a chance to talk and catch up," continued Isabel.
"Right."
"I'll just cut to the chase. Maria, you're a good friend which is why I have to be honest. I see what's going on between you and Michael and it has to stop."
Maria viciously pulled on her top. "Michael and I are just friends."
That was true, they were friends, but the times when the energy between them would shift into something more, were increasing and when they happened, she felt powerless to stop them.
She knew from the looks she and Michael were getting that Isabel wasn't the only one noticing, but there was nothing she could do about it. What was happening between her and Michael, they never talked about, but they both knew that she would never cheat on Max; he owned a part of her heart.
The problem, she realised, was that so did Michael. But that didn't matter because she was with Max and she wouldn't trade him for anything.
"You promised that you wouldn't hurt my brother," said Isabel.
Maria drew back the curtain to face her concerned friend. "And I won't. I promise."
****
Dressed in faded jeans, a faded grey shirt and brown leather jacket, Khivar admired the body he had possessed.
"Don't we look good Steven," he grinned at the reflection.
His heard turned to the noise at the door as Nicholas burst in.
"My liege, everything is in place," he said.
"Don't you knock?" he asked irritated.
"I'm sorry, but tonight is very important in our-"
"I know exactly what tonight is." His frown turned into an eerily pleasant smile. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go see my daughter, her date and her friends before they go to the spring formal, which promises to be very memorable."
****
Liz waved her fingers in front of Michael to try and get his attention.
"Hey," she smiled when he finally noticed. "You okay?".
"Yeah," he nodded loosening his tie as if it was strangling him.
Liz nodded knowingly. "You can't wait to see her can you?".
He looked as if he was about to deny it, but then decided against it. "I can't help it."
She understood. She couldn't wait to see Max either. Not that they hadn't seen either of their unrequited loves earlier on, it was just that this time, they would see them dressed up and no doubt looking jaw-droppingly stunning.
Liz was in love with her best-friend's boyfriend but this time, she wouldn't do anything about it because Max didn't see anyone but Maria. His faithfulness only made Liz love him more.
And Michael? well, it was now common knowledge that he had feelings for Maria and that she might reciprocate them. But it was also common knowledge that she loved Max passionately and when it came down to it, only saw him too.
So here we are, she mused, going to a dance together while hoping for something more with our friends who happen to be together.
Tonight should be fun.
****
Maria was more than Michael expected. To him, she glowed like a bright star against the dark night sky. Her hair shimmered in long waves, her eyes sparkled a brilliant light and her curve-hugging dress made his mouth water.
Max was a very lucky guy and from the way he made ever effort to touch her as the group chatted, he damn well knew it.
Michael’s focus turned to Maria's father who was talking to Amy. There was something about him that rubbed him the wrong way. If he was the only who felt that, then he would have blamed it on paranoia, but when he had broached the subject to Max, he had agreed with him.
They had nothing on him for now, so all they could do was watch and wait.
"Hey Michael." Isabel's voice drew him out of his thoughts.
"Huh?".
"You ready to go?". It was then that he realised that everyone was either standing or just getting up and staring expectantly at him. Ignoring Maria's searching look, he nodded. "Yeah sure.”
****
-
willowbv
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 321
- Joined: Thu Aug 08, 2002 4:40 am
- Location: in a vegas chapel
- Contact:
****
Crepe paper of yellows, greens and white twirled around the school gym; it was like spring indoors. The decorating committee had really gone out, though even if they hadn't, Alex would still have been having a good time.
He had come to dances mostly in a three-some with Maria and Liz and they had had fun, but tonight, as well as his friends, he had come with his beautiful girlfriend. So tonight, along with dancing goofy and crazy with his best-friends, he'd be having a different kind of fun like slow dancing with the girl he had given his heart to.
Who would’ve thought?
"You having a good time?" he asked in her ear.
She leaned back so that he could see the smile reach her eyes. "The best."
He decided to be daring in his dancing and twirled and dipped her.
"Didn't know I could do that did you?" he asked at her surprised expression.
"No, but I can't say I didn't like it," she replied. She nestled her neck on his shoulder and held him close.
"I love you," she said.
His heart stopped for a beat and then continued. "I love you too."
His dazed eyes cleared to make out Tess seated on Kyle's lap at their table completely lost in each other. Who would have thought that they'd each find happiness with alien hybrids?
His gaze landed on Max and Maria who had by now swapped partners. Now Max was dancing with Liz and Michael with Maria. He smiled at the image of Liz and Max laughing and completely at ease with each other.
With Michael and Maria, it got complicated; they danced with the ease of a couple well tuned to each other yet with a certain level of awkwardacity that suggested some form of sexual tension. Alex noticed that Maria tensed when a melody of fingers dancing on a piano signalled the beginning on another song.
Inside my skin there is this space
It twists and turns
It bleeds and aches
When the lyrics were sang, it hit him.
Absence of Fear, Maria's favourite song.
He'd played the keyboard and she'd sang it once. Michael knew that, but from the way Max and Liz were still dancing, he figured that Max didn’t.
Heaving a tired sigh, he turned his attention back to his own girlfriend; at least their relationship was less complicated.
****
Inside my heart there's an empty room
It's waiting for lightning
It's waiting for you
"I'm sorry, I couldn't resist," apologised Michael.
Maria couldn't look up at him.
And I am wanting
And I am needing you here
Inside the absence of fear
The melody, the lyrics, they took her back to a time when the song was about him, times when she sang it or heard it, she thought of him.
Muscle and sinew
Velvet and stone
This vessel is haunted
It creaks and moans
The way he held her as they danced, made her feel light-headed. He held her as if she were precious, fragile and dear to him.
My bones call to you
In their separate skin
Hearing the song, she thought of him.
I make myself translucent
To let you in, for I am wanting
And I am needing you here
Inside the absence of fear
"It was nice of you," she managed.
Tonight, as well as being Michael - cocky, blunt and irritating - he had been a gentleman. When he'd asked her for a dance, she didn't think it would be a big deal yet...yet somehow the song was making it into a big deal, she thought to herself.
There is this hunger
This restlessness inside of me
And it knows that you're no stranger
You're my gravity
"I remember you singing this song and I always wanted to request it at a dance," he told her.
"After I managed to get you to dance at one of these you mean," she added.
"Yeah. I remember listening to you singing the words and thinking wow."
"Very eloquently put," she mused.
My hands will adore you through all darkness aim
He chuckled. She felt his breath breeze over her cheeks as if asking her to lift her head, meet his eyes which she obliged and which left her breathing shallow, weak and faint.
They will lay you out in moonlight
And reinvent your name
"Michael," she breathed.
"Can I cut in?".
Maria's head jerked in the direction of her boyfriend's voice.
"Of course", she said, willing the dizzying feeling to go away. Without looking at Michael, she practically sank into Max's arms and sighed happily. She wasn't unbalanced anymore, in his arms, she was safe, loved and was so loved so much that it hurt.
He kissed her throat making her shiver with pleasure. "Missed me?".
She leaned back and kissed him, slowly, leisurely. "Hmm, yes."
For I am wanting you
She felt Michael’s eyes on her as they danced, but she refused to look at him.
And I am needing you here
I need you near
Inside the absence of fear
It wouldn't do any of them any good.
****
"Michael, you need to stop this," Liz told him, " you and Max are friends, the rest of them are your family and Maria is Max's girlfriend. You can't look at her like that or request a song like that while you dance with her."
"I know. I just couldn't help it," he responded.
"Well try because- I don't even want to think about what could happen if you don't."
"You're right,” he conceded, “Besides, I could look all I want, I'd never have her again, she wants Max."
She felt bad for him, she really did, but they couldn‘t change the way things were.
"Good,” she told him. “So let the pining go for a little while and let's have fun tonight okay?" she smiled.
"Why the hell not?" he grinned.
She could give him a reason; she could tell him that while she had danced with Max, she had been flooded with flashes that had touched her heart enough that it brought her to tears.
She had passed the tears off as being happy that they were all here and friends. Max had believed that. It was easier than explaining the truth.
Her pep talk to Michael had been as much directed to herself as him. Max was taken, plus he didn't reciprocate her feelings. She had to find a way to stop the flashes because they were getting too much for her to handle.
****
He hadn't planned on following them. He had just gone to get Liz and Isabel some punch when he saw them slip away into the hallway. His gut told him to follow and without thought, he did. He followed them down the halls as they giggled and laughed and whispered wondering why the hell he was torturing himself like this.
"Dad!".
Maria's surprised voice jerked him back behind some corner lockers.
What was he doing here?
"What are you doing here?" asked Maria.
"I came for you actually," Michael heard him reply.
"Zan."
Michael held his breath in shock. He knew that voice. He'd heard it through the others' memories.
"Nicholas", he heard Max say.
That was all he needed to hear, he stepped out from his hiding place surprising them all, but Max and Maria quickly got over that. He stood on the other side of Maria; she was the only one who couldn't take care of herself.
"This must be Second in command Rath," Steven Adams said.
There was something about his eyes, they didn’t seem…human.
"You're not my father are you?" asked Maria.
"Lucky for me because I have plans for you my dear," he replied in a tone that made both Michael and Max stand protectively in front of Maria.
"Stay away from her," warned Max.
"You can't have her," added Michael.
"Aww,“ he drawled, “so protective, so in love. Get out of my way."
It was like being the other north to a repelling magnet. The force tossed him away from Maria and he would have hit the locker and knocked himself out if not for Max's protective shield, which took most of the impact. He'd used his powers before in his practices, he'd even fended it off but it wasn't as powerful as this. Maybe because it was unexpected.
“Khivar,” he heard Max say.
What? Khivar as in the big evil dude from Antar currently on Max’s throne. Khivar, Khivar?!!!!
“I should be flatted that you recognise my strength Zan,” Michael heard him respond.
He gained his control of all his senses just in time to see Maria drawn into Khivar's arms. She wasn't conscious, she was limp. He glanced over at Max whose fists were clenched. He met his quick brief gaze and read the terse order: Do nothing, for now.
"What do you want with her?" asked Max.
"Now that would be telling," replied Khivar. "Don't worry, I didn’t just come all the way down for her, we'll meet again."
Michael couldn’t believe it. He was walking out with her! along with Nicholas smirking as he walked out backwards, prepared to defend his psycho of a boss. Michael wanted to blast that smirk off his face but Max's warning gaze told him to back off and he would, this time.
They let them walk out with Maria. Maria was in the hands of an evil megalomaniac and he hadn't done a thing to stop it.
"We need to get the others," said Max.
"What did he do to her?" he asked.
"Knocked her unconscious. She should be okay for now, but we don't know what he's up to, if he'll give her back when he's done with her,” he answered.
He was new to the fighting evil game, but Michael guessed that Maria’s chances of survival especially with Khivar weren’t too good and that made his blood run cold.
"I doubt it."
"Me too,” Max agreed. “Which is why we need to get the others and find a way to get her back."
Michael stared at him in disbelief. Maria, his girlfriend had just been kidnapped by his arch-enemy and he wasn‘t swearing or kicking into something. "How can you be so calm?".
"I've been doing this all my life,” Max replied as he marched down the hall. “We've handled worse. We'll get her back."
"I hope so. Otherwise, I'll track down that son-of-a-bitch and kill him,” he vowed.
Max didn't argue or correct him, Michael knew those were his sentiments exactly.
****
P.S. Lyrics for Absence of Fear belong to Jewel
Crepe paper of yellows, greens and white twirled around the school gym; it was like spring indoors. The decorating committee had really gone out, though even if they hadn't, Alex would still have been having a good time.
He had come to dances mostly in a three-some with Maria and Liz and they had had fun, but tonight, as well as his friends, he had come with his beautiful girlfriend. So tonight, along with dancing goofy and crazy with his best-friends, he'd be having a different kind of fun like slow dancing with the girl he had given his heart to.
Who would’ve thought?
"You having a good time?" he asked in her ear.
She leaned back so that he could see the smile reach her eyes. "The best."
He decided to be daring in his dancing and twirled and dipped her.
"Didn't know I could do that did you?" he asked at her surprised expression.
"No, but I can't say I didn't like it," she replied. She nestled her neck on his shoulder and held him close.
"I love you," she said.
His heart stopped for a beat and then continued. "I love you too."
His dazed eyes cleared to make out Tess seated on Kyle's lap at their table completely lost in each other. Who would have thought that they'd each find happiness with alien hybrids?
His gaze landed on Max and Maria who had by now swapped partners. Now Max was dancing with Liz and Michael with Maria. He smiled at the image of Liz and Max laughing and completely at ease with each other.
With Michael and Maria, it got complicated; they danced with the ease of a couple well tuned to each other yet with a certain level of awkwardacity that suggested some form of sexual tension. Alex noticed that Maria tensed when a melody of fingers dancing on a piano signalled the beginning on another song.
Inside my skin there is this space
It twists and turns
It bleeds and aches
When the lyrics were sang, it hit him.
Absence of Fear, Maria's favourite song.
He'd played the keyboard and she'd sang it once. Michael knew that, but from the way Max and Liz were still dancing, he figured that Max didn’t.
Heaving a tired sigh, he turned his attention back to his own girlfriend; at least their relationship was less complicated.
****
Inside my heart there's an empty room
It's waiting for lightning
It's waiting for you
"I'm sorry, I couldn't resist," apologised Michael.
Maria couldn't look up at him.
And I am wanting
And I am needing you here
Inside the absence of fear
The melody, the lyrics, they took her back to a time when the song was about him, times when she sang it or heard it, she thought of him.
Muscle and sinew
Velvet and stone
This vessel is haunted
It creaks and moans
The way he held her as they danced, made her feel light-headed. He held her as if she were precious, fragile and dear to him.
My bones call to you
In their separate skin
Hearing the song, she thought of him.
I make myself translucent
To let you in, for I am wanting
And I am needing you here
Inside the absence of fear
"It was nice of you," she managed.
Tonight, as well as being Michael - cocky, blunt and irritating - he had been a gentleman. When he'd asked her for a dance, she didn't think it would be a big deal yet...yet somehow the song was making it into a big deal, she thought to herself.
There is this hunger
This restlessness inside of me
And it knows that you're no stranger
You're my gravity
"I remember you singing this song and I always wanted to request it at a dance," he told her.
"After I managed to get you to dance at one of these you mean," she added.
"Yeah. I remember listening to you singing the words and thinking wow."
"Very eloquently put," she mused.
My hands will adore you through all darkness aim
He chuckled. She felt his breath breeze over her cheeks as if asking her to lift her head, meet his eyes which she obliged and which left her breathing shallow, weak and faint.
They will lay you out in moonlight
And reinvent your name
"Michael," she breathed.
"Can I cut in?".
Maria's head jerked in the direction of her boyfriend's voice.
"Of course", she said, willing the dizzying feeling to go away. Without looking at Michael, she practically sank into Max's arms and sighed happily. She wasn't unbalanced anymore, in his arms, she was safe, loved and was so loved so much that it hurt.
He kissed her throat making her shiver with pleasure. "Missed me?".
She leaned back and kissed him, slowly, leisurely. "Hmm, yes."
For I am wanting you
She felt Michael’s eyes on her as they danced, but she refused to look at him.
And I am needing you here
I need you near
Inside the absence of fear
It wouldn't do any of them any good.
****
"Michael, you need to stop this," Liz told him, " you and Max are friends, the rest of them are your family and Maria is Max's girlfriend. You can't look at her like that or request a song like that while you dance with her."
"I know. I just couldn't help it," he responded.
"Well try because- I don't even want to think about what could happen if you don't."
"You're right,” he conceded, “Besides, I could look all I want, I'd never have her again, she wants Max."
She felt bad for him, she really did, but they couldn‘t change the way things were.
"Good,” she told him. “So let the pining go for a little while and let's have fun tonight okay?" she smiled.
"Why the hell not?" he grinned.
She could give him a reason; she could tell him that while she had danced with Max, she had been flooded with flashes that had touched her heart enough that it brought her to tears.
She had passed the tears off as being happy that they were all here and friends. Max had believed that. It was easier than explaining the truth.
Her pep talk to Michael had been as much directed to herself as him. Max was taken, plus he didn't reciprocate her feelings. She had to find a way to stop the flashes because they were getting too much for her to handle.
****
He hadn't planned on following them. He had just gone to get Liz and Isabel some punch when he saw them slip away into the hallway. His gut told him to follow and without thought, he did. He followed them down the halls as they giggled and laughed and whispered wondering why the hell he was torturing himself like this.
"Dad!".
Maria's surprised voice jerked him back behind some corner lockers.
What was he doing here?
"What are you doing here?" asked Maria.
"I came for you actually," Michael heard him reply.
"Zan."
Michael held his breath in shock. He knew that voice. He'd heard it through the others' memories.
"Nicholas", he heard Max say.
That was all he needed to hear, he stepped out from his hiding place surprising them all, but Max and Maria quickly got over that. He stood on the other side of Maria; she was the only one who couldn't take care of herself.
"This must be Second in command Rath," Steven Adams said.
There was something about his eyes, they didn’t seem…human.
"You're not my father are you?" asked Maria.
"Lucky for me because I have plans for you my dear," he replied in a tone that made both Michael and Max stand protectively in front of Maria.
"Stay away from her," warned Max.
"You can't have her," added Michael.
"Aww,“ he drawled, “so protective, so in love. Get out of my way."
It was like being the other north to a repelling magnet. The force tossed him away from Maria and he would have hit the locker and knocked himself out if not for Max's protective shield, which took most of the impact. He'd used his powers before in his practices, he'd even fended it off but it wasn't as powerful as this. Maybe because it was unexpected.
“Khivar,” he heard Max say.
What? Khivar as in the big evil dude from Antar currently on Max’s throne. Khivar, Khivar?!!!!
“I should be flatted that you recognise my strength Zan,” Michael heard him respond.
He gained his control of all his senses just in time to see Maria drawn into Khivar's arms. She wasn't conscious, she was limp. He glanced over at Max whose fists were clenched. He met his quick brief gaze and read the terse order: Do nothing, for now.
"What do you want with her?" asked Max.
"Now that would be telling," replied Khivar. "Don't worry, I didn’t just come all the way down for her, we'll meet again."
Michael couldn’t believe it. He was walking out with her! along with Nicholas smirking as he walked out backwards, prepared to defend his psycho of a boss. Michael wanted to blast that smirk off his face but Max's warning gaze told him to back off and he would, this time.
They let them walk out with Maria. Maria was in the hands of an evil megalomaniac and he hadn't done a thing to stop it.
"We need to get the others," said Max.
"What did he do to her?" he asked.
"Knocked her unconscious. She should be okay for now, but we don't know what he's up to, if he'll give her back when he's done with her,” he answered.
He was new to the fighting evil game, but Michael guessed that Maria’s chances of survival especially with Khivar weren’t too good and that made his blood run cold.
"I doubt it."
"Me too,” Max agreed. “Which is why we need to get the others and find a way to get her back."
Michael stared at him in disbelief. Maria, his girlfriend had just been kidnapped by his arch-enemy and he wasn‘t swearing or kicking into something. "How can you be so calm?".
"I've been doing this all my life,” Max replied as he marched down the hall. “We've handled worse. We'll get her back."
"I hope so. Otherwise, I'll track down that son-of-a-bitch and kill him,” he vowed.
Max didn't argue or correct him, Michael knew those were his sentiments exactly.
****
P.S. Lyrics for Absence of Fear belong to Jewel
-
willowbv
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- Posts: 321
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AN: Finally bringing this fic out of dead and buried, I hope it's still remembered.
Thanks for all the pms guys, especially xmag.
PREVIOUSLY
It was like being the other north to a repelling magnet. The force tossed him away from Maria and he would have hit the locker and knocked himself out if not for Max's protective shield, which took most of the impact. He'd used his powers before in his practices, he'd even fended it off but it wasn't as powerful as this. Maybe because it was unexpected.
“Khivar,” he heard Max say.
What? Khivar as in the big evil dude from Antar currently on Max’s throne. Khivar, Khivar?!!!!
“I should be flatterd that you recognise my strength Zan,” Michael heard him respond.
He gained his control of all his senses just in time to see Maria drawn into Khivar's arms. She wasn't conscious, she was limp. He glanced over at Max whose fists were clenched. He met his quick brief gaze and read the terse order: Do nothing, for now.
"What do you want with her?" asked Max.
"Now that would be telling," replied Khivar. "Don't worry, I didn’t just come all the way down for her, we'll meet again."
Michael couldn’t believe it. He was walking out with her! along with Nicholas smirking as he walked out backwards, prepared to defend his psycho of a boss. Michael wanted to blast that smirk off his face but Max's warning gaze told him to back off and he would, this time.
They let them walk out with Maria. Maria was in the hands of an evil megalomaniac and he hadn't done a thing to stop it.
"We need to get the others," said Max.
"What did he do to her?" he asked.
"Knocked her unconscious. She should be okay for now, but we don't know what he's up to, if he'll give her back when he's done with her,” he answered.
He was new to the fighting evil game, but Michael guessed that Maria’s chances of survival especially with Khivar weren’t too good and that made his blood run cold.
"I doubt it."
"Me too,” Max agreed. “Which is why we need to get the others and find a way to get her back."
Michael stared at him in disbelief. Maria, his girlfriend had just been kidnapped by his arch-enemy and he wasn‘t swearing or kicking into something. "How can you be so calm?".
"I've been doing this all my life,” Max replied as he marched down the hall. “We've handled worse. We'll get her back."
"I hope so. Otherwise, I'll track down that son-of-a-bitch and kill him,” he vowed.
Max didn't argue or correct him, Michael knew those were his sentiments exactly.
****
Changes - part 16
All eyes were on Isabel. They were all awaiting her return from the dream-plane hoping that she had managed to make contact with Maria. Their dance had been cut short with news of Khivar’s appearance in Maria’s father’s body and his subsequent kidnapping of her. Whereas Max, Isabel and Tess were used to disruptions in their lives because of dangerous events, the rest of the group weren’t.
Panic and fear had been their first reactions, they all wanted Maria found but Michael had been the hardest to calm down, he had wanted action then not later, but they didn’t know what Khivar wanted with Maria or where was, they had nothing to go on and so had no choice but to sit it out and wait.
Isabel jerked up from Alex’s bed. They had chosen to re-group at his house because his parents were away and that would be the least likely place anyone would look for them first.
“Well?”, Kyle asked. He was worried out of his mind and so scared for his sister. He was tired of sitting around and waiting even though he doubted that he could hold his own against aliens, he just wanted to do something to help find his sister. Amy would kill him if anything happened to her.
“I couldn’t get in,” she hung her head in defeat. Alex drew her against him in support. She squeezed his hand in gratitude. It had been hard even making initial contact.
“Khivar has some kind of field or block on her mind. I barely made contact but couldn’t get in to reach her. I’m sorry guys,” she apologised.
“At least you tried,” Liz consoled her. “That’s all any of us can do.”
This whole thing seemed unreal to her, one minute she and Alex were laughing by the drinks area and the next, Michael had pulled them aside with news that Maria had been kidnapped by aliens.
“What’s our next move?” she asked Max.
All eyes now focused on him. He was their leader after all and he stepped into the role with grim confidence.
“Khivar wants us dead, he also wants the granolith. He must have taken Maria because he knows who she is to me and because he thinks that she knows where the granolith is. She’s human, so she won’t be as hard to break as an alien,” he bleakly told them.
“By break her, you mean…”
Max nodded as Liz trailed off. “He’s probably going to torture her if he believes she’s with-holding information or even if she isn’t just because he can.”
The bluntness with which he told them what could be done to Maria shocked them all into momentary silence.
“Remember when all knowing that aliens walked among us got us was the perks of their cool powers?,” Kyle gravely mused. “I miss those days.”
The wordless cutting looks he received in response had him shrugging apologetically. While they all agreed with the sentiments behind his words, no-one wanted to ponder the dangerous implications of their friendships with the aliens. There was no need, now that they terrifyingly real.
“We need to stay focused, we can’t let fear over what’s happening to Maria mess us up,” advised Tess.
“She’s not your best friend,” lashed Liz.
Tess glared at her with laser like precision. “If you’ll check your friendship history for the past oh few months, you’d remember that you’re still crawling your way back to the friendship status Liz.”
“Why don’t you just-”
“Stop it, all of you.” Max’s order was obeyed not because he shouted but because he issued it in frighteningly calm no-nonsense tone. “We’re all worried, we’re all tense. Let’s not turn on each other. Khivar will contact us with his demands or threats whatever game he’s playing this time. In the meantime, our only tangible clue to Maria and her safety is through the dream walks, so Iz, can you keep trying?”.
“You know I will,” she replied.
“What about the rest of us?” asked Liz.
“You really can’t expect us to just wait around and do nothing?!”, challenged Michael.
Maria was missing. Max wanted more than anything to just go rushing in to save her, but he knew from experience that was a sure fire way to get yourself killed. No matter how much it frustrated him to wait, to plan. To give Maria the best chance of surviving, it was what they would all have to do.
“That’s the worst part about events like this,” he responded. “When doing nothing is the safest and smartest option all round. All we can do is prepare on our end for whatever Khivar has planned. Otherwise we act normal.”
“Someone remind me what normal looks like these days?”. Alex’s question was responded to with heavy silence.
****
Maria snuggled deeper and deeper into her duvet. Alert awareness to life outside sleep was drawing her away from the cocoon she was in. She wanted sleep, warmth and comfort.
The dance. Max. Michael. Khivar.
The words accompanied with vivid images that could only come from memory shoved her out of her world of safety. Greeting reality with a breathless gasp and an overwhelming sense of panic, she wildly searched her room for the horrors that awaited her.
Then she stopped, took a breathe and looked around her again.
She was in her room, with no Khivar…
Her room wasn’t in the mess it had been on prom night…
She was in her pyjamas…
A search through the rest of the house revealed the absence of her mother and everyone else.
She’s probably at work. Everything is fine, normal.
A dream.
Just one heck of a dream, she mused as she showered.
She had a shift at the Crashdown. Then maybe after she’d go visit Max and see if he was free for the evening.
****
Maria left the house humming a tuneless song and completely at ease with everything in her life as she knew it to be. One foot into the employees area at the Crashdown, sucked all that ease out of her.
Relief brimmed from tired bag laden eyes as one after another, each of her friends stood up and stared at her, almost fearful to approach her.
“Maria, you’re alright.” Max uttered the words in an almost fearful whisper.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” she asked.
****
Max watched momentarily speechless as Maria shrugged and quizzically glanced at them.
“Did somebody die?” she asked.
“Luckily, you didn’t,” Kyle quipped.
Max couldn’t work out what was going on, she seemed confused by their behaviour and they in turn were confused by hers. He had barely had two hours sleep and even then, his dreams had been of Maria in unbearable pain screaming for his help.
Now she was here and eerily chirpy with no sign of distress he would have expected.
“What did Khivar do to you?” he asked slowly approaching her.
At his question, she instantly tensed and held up her hand, palm outwards - the universal hand traffic sign for stop. And Max, not one to break laws unless he had to, obeyed.
He stood there and watched her expression darken as her eyes swept across the rest of the group. After what felt like endless minutes, her eyes, now murky and brimming with thoughts and emotions he couldn’t comprehend, settled back on him.
“Maria,” he heard Liz call her.
He retained eye contact with, she didn‘t acknowledge Liz, instead she focused on him.
“Don’t,” Maria responded to his wordless questions.
“Don’t what?” he asked aloud.
“Don’t let’s do this all over again Khivar. I’m sick of games. I’m not playing. You won’t get what you want from me. You’ll have to kill me first.”
And with those words uttered with strong conviction, she turned on her flat soles and strode out to the front of house area.
Baffled and bewildered silence settled on the group.
“What just happened?” asked Alex.
“Well…she’s…alright,” said Isabel.
“If that’s what you call alright,” Kyle added grimly.
“She thought you were Khivar and we’re playing some sort of game,” Tess commented. “What game?”.
“I don’t know,” Max replied. “But clearly she’s experienced this scenario before. Khivar can…mess with your mind. He must have-”
“What? Warped her?”, interrupted Michael. “Into imagining all of us?!”.
But Max wasn’t listening, he was replaying Maria‘s words in his head. “Again. She said again,“ he mused. “Khivar must have done it countless times and she was strong enough to break through. That’s-”
“Woah, woah. Let’s not rush to any conclusions yet,” interrupted Liz, “ until we talk to her.”
“Yeah, she thinks we’re a figment of her imagination and you wanna try to talk to her?” asked an incredulous Kyle. He swung open the door to the front of house to reveal Maria happily chatting to a customer. “Give it a shot.”
“So what are we supposed to do then?” asked Michael. Standing around, waiting was driving him crazy. The way Maria was acting was driving him crazy with worry. What had Khivar done to her?
“Is that even Maria?” he asked.
“Of course it is,” Max answered instantly.
“Bodysnatcher theory?” Kyle suggested.
“I can sense her”, Max assured them. “It’s really her”.
Michael narrowed his eyes at that. “What do you mean sense her. Have you and her-”
“None of your business,” Max retorted.
“Fighting over Maria through subtext isn’t helping her,” interjected Isabel. “Now could you all get a grip. We don’t know what Khivar’s up to, which makes us solely reactionary. Not a good place to be in my book and the only person who could give us a clue thinks we’re not real. So how about we get to work on making her see the truth?”.
“She’s teetering on the edge of something,” Max added, “we can’t ambush her.”
“What do you suggest?” asked Liz. She remembered wishing for a life of excitement and adventure.
Now you’ve got it, first Michael, now this and all at Maria’s expense.
“Let the day play out. We just act normal around her and then talk to her after her shift,” Max replied.
“I don’t like it,” Michael argued.
“You wanna try her now?,” Max challenged. He was getting irritated by Michael’s lack of foresight. “She’ll make a public scene and because she thinks we’re not real you can just imagine what she’d say.”
“So we wait,” Kyle stated. Tensions between Max and Michael were running on overload and he wasn’t up for breaking up a fight, they already had enough to deal with.
“We wait,” agreed Michael with a heavy sigh.
****
Michael waited when the Crashdown emptied.
He waited while Maria and Liz chattered after shift.
He waited and remained silent when the group ushered into the back to talk to her.
“Why do you think we’re not real?” Liz asked.
Maria rolled her eyes. “You wanna do it like this? Fine, I’ll play along. We’ve been this and many other scenario’s like this Khivar. You make me believe I’m back to my life and everything’s fine or painfully not and you work it so we end up talking about the granolith. Whatever form you come at me in, whatever trick or torture you pull, get this embedded into your thick skull:
I. Won‘t. Tell. You. A. Thing.”
“What can we do to convince you we’re real?” asked Kyle. Maria was stubborn and with whatever Khivar had done to her mind, he knew trying logic from their position would get them nowhere.
“You’ve been in my head, you’re using my knowledge about the people in my life against me. I doubt there’s anything you can do. So let’s just quit this game, either dump me somewhere or kill me now.”
“What about this…”
Michael watched and waited with an internal grimace as Max captured her face and lips in a deep kiss she willingly returned.
When they surfaced for air, he took a step back. “You’re blocking me,” the tone of hurt and surprise was evident in his voice.
“Sorry”, Maria responded softly, “but you’ve tried this before. I won’t let you see me, you’re not my boyfriend.”
“Oh for the love of Buddha, he is!”, shouted Kyle.
Michael waited quietly as they all attempted to convince her. After Liz failed, he snapped and purposefully crossed over to Maria and jerked her against him.
“For fuck’s sake, this isn’t a twist alien mind manipulation or whatever the hell Khivar’s been doing to you! This. Is. Real. Life. We’ve been up worried about whether you were alive or dead. So cut the crap and snap out of it blondie!.”
He took a breath, deflated by the release of suppressed tensions. Then looked down to where his hands gripped her upper arms and then up into her round glistening eyes.
He hurt her. The shocking realisation had him quickly fumbling for an apology when her hands covered his. He lessened his grip on her but didn’t break away, she wouldn‘t let him. She was smiling at him. A wide open smile.
“This is real,” she said testing the words out.
“Finally she gets it,” he muttered.
She pierced his soul with her eyes. “You’re real.”
He had forgotten how vibrant green her eyes got and how breathless they left him. “Yes.”
She beamed at him now and unexpectedly launched into his arms, nearly choking him to death - not that he minded - any close contact to Maria was worth a little pain.
“This is real!,” she gushed.
All too soon, she broke away from him, but to his pleasant surprise, she kept a hold of his hand as she surveyed the rest of the group.
“I’m back?” she asked them tentatively.
“You’re back,” Kyle nodded.
The relief was evident in their faces, so was the curiosity as to why she was still holding on to Michael’s hand.
“Why did you believe Michael and not us?” Isabel asked.
“Khivar could structure all your behaviours aside from Michael,” she beamed at him and squeezed his hand. “He couldn’t quite get you right. I could always tell the difference.”
His throat burned with emotion at her words, all he could do was give her a small smile.
Then she left him. Flew into Max’s arms, where she laughed joyously and then broke down into sobering tears that visibly wracked her body.
Michael shared panicked looks with his friends as they watched her exchange with Max. The couple were sharing a private moment and technically they should have left them to it, but the sudden change in Maria had them concerned and curious.
“I’m so tired. I’m just so tired,” she mumbled. “I tried to fight them. I tried to fight him, but he was too strong. He-”
“It’s okay,” Max soothingly comforted her. Timeless minutes passed by marked by Max’s gentle strokes across her back and her hair until the sobs subsided and she fell asleep.
Max lifted her into his arms, distress etched into his features. “She’s exhausted. Whatever they did to her, she was hanging on by a thread.” He glanced at Liz, “Can I-”
“Take her to my room, use my bed, whatever it takes,” she told him.
“Thanks.”
Without saying anything more, he took her upstairs leaving the rest of them all in perturbed silence.
****
TBC
Thanks for all the pms guys, especially xmag.
PREVIOUSLY
It was like being the other north to a repelling magnet. The force tossed him away from Maria and he would have hit the locker and knocked himself out if not for Max's protective shield, which took most of the impact. He'd used his powers before in his practices, he'd even fended it off but it wasn't as powerful as this. Maybe because it was unexpected.
“Khivar,” he heard Max say.
What? Khivar as in the big evil dude from Antar currently on Max’s throne. Khivar, Khivar?!!!!
“I should be flatterd that you recognise my strength Zan,” Michael heard him respond.
He gained his control of all his senses just in time to see Maria drawn into Khivar's arms. She wasn't conscious, she was limp. He glanced over at Max whose fists were clenched. He met his quick brief gaze and read the terse order: Do nothing, for now.
"What do you want with her?" asked Max.
"Now that would be telling," replied Khivar. "Don't worry, I didn’t just come all the way down for her, we'll meet again."
Michael couldn’t believe it. He was walking out with her! along with Nicholas smirking as he walked out backwards, prepared to defend his psycho of a boss. Michael wanted to blast that smirk off his face but Max's warning gaze told him to back off and he would, this time.
They let them walk out with Maria. Maria was in the hands of an evil megalomaniac and he hadn't done a thing to stop it.
"We need to get the others," said Max.
"What did he do to her?" he asked.
"Knocked her unconscious. She should be okay for now, but we don't know what he's up to, if he'll give her back when he's done with her,” he answered.
He was new to the fighting evil game, but Michael guessed that Maria’s chances of survival especially with Khivar weren’t too good and that made his blood run cold.
"I doubt it."
"Me too,” Max agreed. “Which is why we need to get the others and find a way to get her back."
Michael stared at him in disbelief. Maria, his girlfriend had just been kidnapped by his arch-enemy and he wasn‘t swearing or kicking into something. "How can you be so calm?".
"I've been doing this all my life,” Max replied as he marched down the hall. “We've handled worse. We'll get her back."
"I hope so. Otherwise, I'll track down that son-of-a-bitch and kill him,” he vowed.
Max didn't argue or correct him, Michael knew those were his sentiments exactly.
****
Changes - part 16
All eyes were on Isabel. They were all awaiting her return from the dream-plane hoping that she had managed to make contact with Maria. Their dance had been cut short with news of Khivar’s appearance in Maria’s father’s body and his subsequent kidnapping of her. Whereas Max, Isabel and Tess were used to disruptions in their lives because of dangerous events, the rest of the group weren’t.
Panic and fear had been their first reactions, they all wanted Maria found but Michael had been the hardest to calm down, he had wanted action then not later, but they didn’t know what Khivar wanted with Maria or where was, they had nothing to go on and so had no choice but to sit it out and wait.
Isabel jerked up from Alex’s bed. They had chosen to re-group at his house because his parents were away and that would be the least likely place anyone would look for them first.
“Well?”, Kyle asked. He was worried out of his mind and so scared for his sister. He was tired of sitting around and waiting even though he doubted that he could hold his own against aliens, he just wanted to do something to help find his sister. Amy would kill him if anything happened to her.
“I couldn’t get in,” she hung her head in defeat. Alex drew her against him in support. She squeezed his hand in gratitude. It had been hard even making initial contact.
“Khivar has some kind of field or block on her mind. I barely made contact but couldn’t get in to reach her. I’m sorry guys,” she apologised.
“At least you tried,” Liz consoled her. “That’s all any of us can do.”
This whole thing seemed unreal to her, one minute she and Alex were laughing by the drinks area and the next, Michael had pulled them aside with news that Maria had been kidnapped by aliens.
“What’s our next move?” she asked Max.
All eyes now focused on him. He was their leader after all and he stepped into the role with grim confidence.
“Khivar wants us dead, he also wants the granolith. He must have taken Maria because he knows who she is to me and because he thinks that she knows where the granolith is. She’s human, so she won’t be as hard to break as an alien,” he bleakly told them.
“By break her, you mean…”
Max nodded as Liz trailed off. “He’s probably going to torture her if he believes she’s with-holding information or even if she isn’t just because he can.”
The bluntness with which he told them what could be done to Maria shocked them all into momentary silence.
“Remember when all knowing that aliens walked among us got us was the perks of their cool powers?,” Kyle gravely mused. “I miss those days.”
The wordless cutting looks he received in response had him shrugging apologetically. While they all agreed with the sentiments behind his words, no-one wanted to ponder the dangerous implications of their friendships with the aliens. There was no need, now that they terrifyingly real.
“We need to stay focused, we can’t let fear over what’s happening to Maria mess us up,” advised Tess.
“She’s not your best friend,” lashed Liz.
Tess glared at her with laser like precision. “If you’ll check your friendship history for the past oh few months, you’d remember that you’re still crawling your way back to the friendship status Liz.”
“Why don’t you just-”
“Stop it, all of you.” Max’s order was obeyed not because he shouted but because he issued it in frighteningly calm no-nonsense tone. “We’re all worried, we’re all tense. Let’s not turn on each other. Khivar will contact us with his demands or threats whatever game he’s playing this time. In the meantime, our only tangible clue to Maria and her safety is through the dream walks, so Iz, can you keep trying?”.
“You know I will,” she replied.
“What about the rest of us?” asked Liz.
“You really can’t expect us to just wait around and do nothing?!”, challenged Michael.
Maria was missing. Max wanted more than anything to just go rushing in to save her, but he knew from experience that was a sure fire way to get yourself killed. No matter how much it frustrated him to wait, to plan. To give Maria the best chance of surviving, it was what they would all have to do.
“That’s the worst part about events like this,” he responded. “When doing nothing is the safest and smartest option all round. All we can do is prepare on our end for whatever Khivar has planned. Otherwise we act normal.”
“Someone remind me what normal looks like these days?”. Alex’s question was responded to with heavy silence.
****
Maria snuggled deeper and deeper into her duvet. Alert awareness to life outside sleep was drawing her away from the cocoon she was in. She wanted sleep, warmth and comfort.
The dance. Max. Michael. Khivar.
The words accompanied with vivid images that could only come from memory shoved her out of her world of safety. Greeting reality with a breathless gasp and an overwhelming sense of panic, she wildly searched her room for the horrors that awaited her.
Then she stopped, took a breathe and looked around her again.
She was in her room, with no Khivar…
Her room wasn’t in the mess it had been on prom night…
She was in her pyjamas…
A search through the rest of the house revealed the absence of her mother and everyone else.
She’s probably at work. Everything is fine, normal.
A dream.
Just one heck of a dream, she mused as she showered.
She had a shift at the Crashdown. Then maybe after she’d go visit Max and see if he was free for the evening.
****
Maria left the house humming a tuneless song and completely at ease with everything in her life as she knew it to be. One foot into the employees area at the Crashdown, sucked all that ease out of her.
Relief brimmed from tired bag laden eyes as one after another, each of her friends stood up and stared at her, almost fearful to approach her.
“Maria, you’re alright.” Max uttered the words in an almost fearful whisper.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” she asked.
****
Max watched momentarily speechless as Maria shrugged and quizzically glanced at them.
“Did somebody die?” she asked.
“Luckily, you didn’t,” Kyle quipped.
Max couldn’t work out what was going on, she seemed confused by their behaviour and they in turn were confused by hers. He had barely had two hours sleep and even then, his dreams had been of Maria in unbearable pain screaming for his help.
Now she was here and eerily chirpy with no sign of distress he would have expected.
“What did Khivar do to you?” he asked slowly approaching her.
At his question, she instantly tensed and held up her hand, palm outwards - the universal hand traffic sign for stop. And Max, not one to break laws unless he had to, obeyed.
He stood there and watched her expression darken as her eyes swept across the rest of the group. After what felt like endless minutes, her eyes, now murky and brimming with thoughts and emotions he couldn’t comprehend, settled back on him.
“Maria,” he heard Liz call her.
He retained eye contact with, she didn‘t acknowledge Liz, instead she focused on him.
“Don’t,” Maria responded to his wordless questions.
“Don’t what?” he asked aloud.
“Don’t let’s do this all over again Khivar. I’m sick of games. I’m not playing. You won’t get what you want from me. You’ll have to kill me first.”
And with those words uttered with strong conviction, she turned on her flat soles and strode out to the front of house area.
Baffled and bewildered silence settled on the group.
“What just happened?” asked Alex.
“Well…she’s…alright,” said Isabel.
“If that’s what you call alright,” Kyle added grimly.
“She thought you were Khivar and we’re playing some sort of game,” Tess commented. “What game?”.
“I don’t know,” Max replied. “But clearly she’s experienced this scenario before. Khivar can…mess with your mind. He must have-”
“What? Warped her?”, interrupted Michael. “Into imagining all of us?!”.
But Max wasn’t listening, he was replaying Maria‘s words in his head. “Again. She said again,“ he mused. “Khivar must have done it countless times and she was strong enough to break through. That’s-”
“Woah, woah. Let’s not rush to any conclusions yet,” interrupted Liz, “ until we talk to her.”
“Yeah, she thinks we’re a figment of her imagination and you wanna try to talk to her?” asked an incredulous Kyle. He swung open the door to the front of house to reveal Maria happily chatting to a customer. “Give it a shot.”
“So what are we supposed to do then?” asked Michael. Standing around, waiting was driving him crazy. The way Maria was acting was driving him crazy with worry. What had Khivar done to her?
“Is that even Maria?” he asked.
“Of course it is,” Max answered instantly.
“Bodysnatcher theory?” Kyle suggested.
“I can sense her”, Max assured them. “It’s really her”.
Michael narrowed his eyes at that. “What do you mean sense her. Have you and her-”
“None of your business,” Max retorted.
“Fighting over Maria through subtext isn’t helping her,” interjected Isabel. “Now could you all get a grip. We don’t know what Khivar’s up to, which makes us solely reactionary. Not a good place to be in my book and the only person who could give us a clue thinks we’re not real. So how about we get to work on making her see the truth?”.
“She’s teetering on the edge of something,” Max added, “we can’t ambush her.”
“What do you suggest?” asked Liz. She remembered wishing for a life of excitement and adventure.
Now you’ve got it, first Michael, now this and all at Maria’s expense.
“Let the day play out. We just act normal around her and then talk to her after her shift,” Max replied.
“I don’t like it,” Michael argued.
“You wanna try her now?,” Max challenged. He was getting irritated by Michael’s lack of foresight. “She’ll make a public scene and because she thinks we’re not real you can just imagine what she’d say.”
“So we wait,” Kyle stated. Tensions between Max and Michael were running on overload and he wasn’t up for breaking up a fight, they already had enough to deal with.
“We wait,” agreed Michael with a heavy sigh.
****
Michael waited when the Crashdown emptied.
He waited while Maria and Liz chattered after shift.
He waited and remained silent when the group ushered into the back to talk to her.
“Why do you think we’re not real?” Liz asked.
Maria rolled her eyes. “You wanna do it like this? Fine, I’ll play along. We’ve been this and many other scenario’s like this Khivar. You make me believe I’m back to my life and everything’s fine or painfully not and you work it so we end up talking about the granolith. Whatever form you come at me in, whatever trick or torture you pull, get this embedded into your thick skull:
I. Won‘t. Tell. You. A. Thing.”
“What can we do to convince you we’re real?” asked Kyle. Maria was stubborn and with whatever Khivar had done to her mind, he knew trying logic from their position would get them nowhere.
“You’ve been in my head, you’re using my knowledge about the people in my life against me. I doubt there’s anything you can do. So let’s just quit this game, either dump me somewhere or kill me now.”
“What about this…”
Michael watched and waited with an internal grimace as Max captured her face and lips in a deep kiss she willingly returned.
When they surfaced for air, he took a step back. “You’re blocking me,” the tone of hurt and surprise was evident in his voice.
“Sorry”, Maria responded softly, “but you’ve tried this before. I won’t let you see me, you’re not my boyfriend.”
“Oh for the love of Buddha, he is!”, shouted Kyle.
Michael waited quietly as they all attempted to convince her. After Liz failed, he snapped and purposefully crossed over to Maria and jerked her against him.
“For fuck’s sake, this isn’t a twist alien mind manipulation or whatever the hell Khivar’s been doing to you! This. Is. Real. Life. We’ve been up worried about whether you were alive or dead. So cut the crap and snap out of it blondie!.”
He took a breath, deflated by the release of suppressed tensions. Then looked down to where his hands gripped her upper arms and then up into her round glistening eyes.
He hurt her. The shocking realisation had him quickly fumbling for an apology when her hands covered his. He lessened his grip on her but didn’t break away, she wouldn‘t let him. She was smiling at him. A wide open smile.
“This is real,” she said testing the words out.
“Finally she gets it,” he muttered.
She pierced his soul with her eyes. “You’re real.”
He had forgotten how vibrant green her eyes got and how breathless they left him. “Yes.”
She beamed at him now and unexpectedly launched into his arms, nearly choking him to death - not that he minded - any close contact to Maria was worth a little pain.
“This is real!,” she gushed.
All too soon, she broke away from him, but to his pleasant surprise, she kept a hold of his hand as she surveyed the rest of the group.
“I’m back?” she asked them tentatively.
“You’re back,” Kyle nodded.
The relief was evident in their faces, so was the curiosity as to why she was still holding on to Michael’s hand.
“Why did you believe Michael and not us?” Isabel asked.
“Khivar could structure all your behaviours aside from Michael,” she beamed at him and squeezed his hand. “He couldn’t quite get you right. I could always tell the difference.”
His throat burned with emotion at her words, all he could do was give her a small smile.
Then she left him. Flew into Max’s arms, where she laughed joyously and then broke down into sobering tears that visibly wracked her body.
Michael shared panicked looks with his friends as they watched her exchange with Max. The couple were sharing a private moment and technically they should have left them to it, but the sudden change in Maria had them concerned and curious.
“I’m so tired. I’m just so tired,” she mumbled. “I tried to fight them. I tried to fight him, but he was too strong. He-”
“It’s okay,” Max soothingly comforted her. Timeless minutes passed by marked by Max’s gentle strokes across her back and her hair until the sobs subsided and she fell asleep.
Max lifted her into his arms, distress etched into his features. “She’s exhausted. Whatever they did to her, she was hanging on by a thread.” He glanced at Liz, “Can I-”
“Take her to my room, use my bed, whatever it takes,” she told him.
“Thanks.”
Without saying anything more, he took her upstairs leaving the rest of them all in perturbed silence.
****
TBC