Roswell Fanatics

Title: Two Of us
Author: RosWool
Catergory:Mostly Michael and Marie, but other couple our feature also
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters storylines, etc etc etc. Jason Katmis, Melinda metz, you get it.
Sypnosis:Takes place after the series finale. Michael & Maria are on a seperate mission from the rest of the gang who go to Boston To help Jesse.

**Author's Note**
Some of you may remeber this story. It was prune because it wasn't updated for a while. My computer died, but know since I've got a new one. I've decided to start it up again. I will re-post every Wednesday.



Two of us ~ By Carolyn Sawyers ~ Roswell/ Jason Katims productions/Regency Television/20th Century Fox. (Copyrighted) Two of us ~ By John Lennon and Paul McCartney publish under SONY/ATV Tunes LLC (ASCAP) Copyrighted.

Prologue

The beat up VW van left the church with everyone in high spirits. Yes the FBI was after them because three of the passengers were aliens, but they felt like they had a new purpose. To travel the country like a bunch of gypsy’s, and to do some good in the world.

Max and Liz kissed each other passionately in the back of the van. Being newly married reconfirming their love and ready to deal with whatever lays before them…together.

Michael couldn’t help but smile and be happy for them. They deserve this happiness. God knows the last few years have been hell for them.

Looking over at Maria, he kind of hoped that maybe they’d get back together. Just like how it was before that stupid friend of hers came to visit. Okay maybe there’s more to it than Billy Darden’s presence. Hell he’ll admit it, their problems occured way before Billy came into the picture. Michael wasn’t the most romantic, understanding, thoughtful, caring or…ah okay he was the worse boyfriend in the entire universe. He’ll be the first to admit that maybe Billy’s visit was like a swift kick of reality to his dumb ass, but he was trying so hard to change. Could she have seen that?

Maria just had enough of dealing with “Czechoslovakian” (this was the name Maria used to describe aliens in public, it kind of stuck and everyone uses it now) hootenanny’s.

So, she got back into her music again. Distancing her self from Michael, and anything “alien”. Was he surprised; maybe a little? He always counted on Maria being there for him. However he never really was there for her; well in the boyfriend aspect anyway. He sees that now.

When they broke up yet again; with Maria ending the relationship this time. He’d thought they’d get back together like they always do. Yet time went by and Maria wasn’t caving. She stood her ground and when a producer of a music label dangled a record contract in front of Maria’s face, the prospect of their already non-existing relationship got further and further from ever being reconciled.

Even when she came by his apartment and told him the good news and they “celebrated” by making love. To her and he quotes “It--it was great, I mean-- it's just that it doesn't mean that-- it was a spontaneous thing. You were feeling good, I was feeling good.”[i/]

Boy did he ever get his signals cross. Even though she thinks of him as a very good friend, he for a time couldn’t be around her. It hurt so much; he gave her the space she wanted; yet she still wanted to be around him. He regretted some of the things he said to her, but Maria was being selfish getting all caught up in being a rock star, and less about her friends feelings during that time.

“I maybe turning down a huge opportunity, I need someone to talk to.” Maria said one night that seemed to happen ages ago. She waited outside his apartment upset that they turned one of her songs into some Britney Spears knock off.

Though he was ecstatic that she was there and waiting outside his apartment for two hours he remembered what she did to him and what she said. So he held back, hid his true feelings, cause he didn’t want to be setting himself up for a fall again.

”Let me get this straight, you dumped me so you can go live your dream, and now you're telling me you're dropping that too?” Michael asked, glad that he’s holding a bag of groceries, cause it prevented him from pulling her into his arms, even though he’s angry with her. She came here to use him again, and no matter how much of an asshole he was, this was just wrong.

“I'm sorry, I just really need some advice right now.” Maria asked distressed, oblivious of what she’s doing to him.

Michael sighed in frustration, his head lowered, raising his head to look at her, and said, “It’s like you said we’re not linked anymore I could invite you inside, tell you to stay in Roswell, because that's what I want, but you know what? I'm not going to be the guy you blame for ruining your life.

“Michael.” Maria said softly, not understanding why he was saying these things.

Michael unlocked his door, as he demanded, “You should leave now.” Michael opens the door and went inside. He turned around and looked at Maria’s shocked face. It took everything he had not to change his mind.

“ I have no where else to go.” Maria said sadly, hoping he’d do exactly that.

“You've got plenty of other friends.” Michael pointed out, really needing to close the door now.

“Like who? “ Maria asked shaking her head, and added angrily, “Liz? I've tried to talk to her she hasn't been around.”

That did it for Michael, the anger welled up in his chest as he exclaimed, “Do you even know what's going on with her?”

Maria shook her head and crossed her hands over her chest and exclaimed catty, “Yeah, she's pissy and preoccupied and doesn't return my phone calls.”

Having about enough of her selfish attitude he announced, “She might be dying, Maria.”

That got her attention, “What?” She exclaimed distressed.

When her music career suddenly came to a stop, the selfish bastard in him came out and he was glad she didn’t move to New York City. Michael was glad that she was still in Roswell. So yeah, things between them have gotten better since then, but he wished that maybe they could work on being more, but that hasn’t happen and he wasn’t about to push things with her.

They’re on the run, from a special force of FBI agents who hunt aliens. They found them out, so they hit the road. Hopefully to do some good, while using Liz’s new power. She gets visions of the future; she’s the one that saved the aliens from the FBI’s assassination plans at their high school graduation ceremony.

Since they left Roswell, Liz has yet to receive another vision. However it’s bound to happen eventually so they can play super hero to those who are well...pretty much like themselves in a jam. Talk about the blind leading the blind. Yet, with their powers they do have an advantage. Who knows what adventures awaits them?

They’ve just left Roswell two weeks ago. The first week was the worse. Determine to distance themselves from the FBI agents as much as possible. Only really stopping to switch drivers and eat. It was a very stinky week. They stopped yesterday at a dump of a motel to shower and dress for Max and Liz’s wedding, which pretty much brings us to the present…

“Shouldn’t you be watching the road space boy?” Maria asked, catching him glancing at her. Michael shook his head and beamed. Maria and her nicknames. God he loves her so much.

“Yeah, I was just wondering if you needed a bathroom stop or something?” Michael answered, turning his face back to the never-ending highway before him, he shrugged his shoulders and continued, “ I know you had one of those big gulps you like so much, and there’s a rest stop coming. So-ah I was just wondering how your bladder was doing.” Michael grimace, thinking how terribly stupid that sounded.

“My bladder is find, thank you Michael.” Maria answered chuckling.

“Good, “ He said nodding his head; he looked in the rear view mirror so he can see in the back of the Van.

Isabel was asleep on Kyle’s shoulder and Max and Liz was in the back Making out.

They should at least find a cheap motel so Max and Liz can have some alone time. They just got married. It’s bad enough they’re not going to have a decent honeymoon.

“Hey were stopping soon.” He announced, though it was only Kyle who nodded his head.

Michael quickly glanced at Maria, who was fiddling with the radio. It was annoying the hell out of him. However he didn’t care. She was here and they were friends and soon they’d be together just like Max and Liz. It’ll happen, even if it’s the last thing he does.

TBC

**Author's Note**

Hey sorry for the big delay in updating. I was so sick for the past couple of days, I thought I was going to die.

Thanks to AngelicFairy for your response, and anyone else who has intrest in my story.

Peace Carolyn

Part one ~ Two of Us ~ By Carolyn Sawyers

Two Months Later

Michael was running hard, feeling Maria’s hand in his. They were almost out, but they we’re hardly far from safe until they were outside breathing the night air and making their get away in the van.

It was so much easier sneaking into a place where you’re not supposed to be; then getting out.

Especially when you have something that they didn’t want to be retrieve. You know they’d do what it takes to prevent anyone who dared to mess up their plans.

However what they took didn’t belong to them (The people they were avoiding) in the first place. It angered Michael to no end that they’d kidnap an innocent child just to get something that’ll help them commit illegal acts.

Michael allowed himself to look behind him for a brief second. Maria’s free hand held onto the ten-year-old boy who surprisingly enough managed to keep up with their fast running pace. The fact that he didn’t want to be a prisoner again probably inspired him to keep up.

Salem Williams, (son to Jackson Williams, a computer programmer who was designing a special software for the US Government to prevent hacking of sensitive materials in their computer banks) was the kidnapped child, that Maria was dragging through the damp twisty corridors of the warehouse basement.

Salem was thought to be kidnap for ransom purposes. Especially when a note showed up at the William’s house Fed-Ex. However when Michael and Maria found the room he was kept prisoner in. Handcuffed and feet chained to a table with a computer on it, they realize he was being force to retrieve his father’s software program. The ransom was a distraction nothing more.

Salem Williams was not your ordinary ten-year-old boy. He was a computer genius just like his dad, and was pretty much world renown, winning junior computer competitions and having his hand in other media covered events, regarding his amazing talent. His kidnappers knew that if the father would be a bit harder to kidnap then the boy. Not that it was easy for the kidnappers to obtain Salem either.

It was the boy’s nanny who worked for this conglomerate of bad guys that managed to take the boy. Years ago their plan went into motion when Jackson Williams was looking for a nanny to take care of his boy after his mother died. Enter Patricia Burns, with a made up life to pass the background check, earning the William’s trust, not knowing that two years later she would betray them.

They threaten the boy’s father’s life to get Salem to cooperate. Not wanting to lose another parent, he did what they told him.

Liz saw the boy’s death in a vision. Not too soon after she and max got married. They were going to kill the boy after they got what they wanted from him, at the time they had no idea what “it” was.

Knowing that getting close to the boy’s father, to obtain what they needed, wouldn’t be easy, especially with the FBI being involved with the kidnapping.

Michael and Max (with their features altered) got jobs as delivery guys with a nearby pizza place that the FBI was ordering food from. After a few days they got a rough idea of the houses layout.

Liz needed some items from the boy since she couldn’t physically be in contact with him. Usually when her visions showed her the future, they could prevent it from happening. However she didn’t get a vision of the boy’s kidnapping, but of his death. The visions of the boy’s fate stopped there and Liz was frustrated.

Sometimes if she touches someone or an item connected to the victim she could get images off of them, sometimes nothing would happen. So deciding that they’d get what they needed in the boys room, and perhaps a picture also for Isabel in case she needed to dream walk the boy, to maybe get a location from him.

It was Isabel who found out the location of the boy and his kidnapper’s, an abandon warehouse just outside of town.

It was huge and the gang split up in three groups of two, so they could cover more ground. One person from each group had a cell phone set on vibrate so if someone found the boy, each group could escape from the property and not waste time roaming the warehouse and risk getting caught.

Michael, and company, turned the corner quickly stopping in their tracks upon seeing the two guards blocking their escape.

Their not so quiet entrance alerted the guards to their presence, and the shooting began. Of course the commotion could bring in more guards if they didn’t leave soon.

Michael quickly reacted and with a raised hand, flung the two guards easily against the wall. They we’re unconscious and not a threat to them anymore.

“Michael, its Maria!” Salem exclaimed behind him in a panic.

Michael turned around and there was Salem, obviously in shock, trying to cover with his hands a gunshot wound on Maria’s stomach.

He was quickly by her side as he shouted, “Maria!”

Michael sat straight up, feeling like the wind was knocked out of him. He looked around his environment, trying to focus his sleep filled eyes, rubbing his face and with the back of his hands wiped the beads of sweat forming on his face. Michael inhaled and exhaled for a few minutes. Realizing he was on the floor of the moving van, and turning his head slightly behind him, he saw that Maria was safe and fast asleep on the bed that they recently built in the back of the van. He was having that nightmare again.

Michael scooted closer to the back for a better look. He smiled, and lightly moved a strand of hair from her face. He kissed her forehead slightly she didn’t once stir. However she was breathing. She has this kind of sexy soft snore that made Michael smile.

Michael stood up and began to walk awkwardly to the front of the van. Kyle was fast asleep on the full-length seat on the side of the van that was opposite of the sliding door. He must’ve been out for a while. When he decided to take a nap, it was Kyle who was driving.

Michael took the passenger seat and nodded a greeting to Max, who had a worried look on his face. Michael went into the glove compartment and withdrew his stash of Hershey bars and Tabasco sauce. He hungrily ate his snack waiting for Max to begin the third degree.

“We’ll be stopping in an hour or two.” Max announced suddenly. This was his way of slowly segueing into what he really wanted to say. Michael just nodded his head, dumping Tabasco on the chocolate and took a healthy bite. Max cleared his throat and after a slight pause asked, “So how’s Maria?”

There it is, Max.’s segue. He was really good at that.

“She’s fine considering what her future is going to be like.” Michael said deciding just to get the conversation Max wanted over with.

“Michael I know us being on the run is dangerous, but I healed her.” Max responded, allowing himself a glance towards Michael before looking back in front of him, with a sigh he added, “WE just got to make sure we’re careful. It’s hard on all of us.”

“I wasn’t talking about our life on the run Maxwell, I was talking about Maria being healed by you.” Michael said with a huffed sigh, “I’m scared for her.”

“Oh I see.” Max replied nodding his head realizing what Michael was getting at.

“Yeah, the day she starts snap crackling and popping, like Liz. Remember that Maria was healed after you came back to life. I can’t help but think that maybe Liz’s theory of why you can touch her, and that maybe Maria won’t be so lucky.”

Back when they weren’t running from the FBI. Liz began to experience alien powers. An after effect everyone assumed was from when Max healed her three years ago, from the gunshot wound at the Crashdown.

Max tried everything to control the powers but it made everything worse. Liz couldn’t be around max without her uncontrollable powers wigging out and the pain caused by those manifestations from happening. It scared and frustrated Max that he couldn’t help her. Liz still hurt by him sleeping with Tess Harding (an alien also like them, she’s dead now but that was a whole other story), getting her pregnant (Tess) and her suddenly new status in the I-know-an-alien club. Liz left for Vermont to go to Boarding school. She thought she was starting a new life, but that was far from the case.

While Liz was meeting new friends and trying to forget life in Roswell, Max and the rest of the gang had their own problems. One of them was being Max.’s death.

Maris Wheeler wife, of Pharmaceutical giant Clayton Wheeler owned Meta-Chem. That was where Michael worked third shift to make ends meet. She was digging into the Crashdown shooting back in September. Her husband was dying of old age, and from all the FBI evidence, what little there was that she managed to obtain. She believed that Michael was Max (the healer) and set plans to obtain Michael so he could heal her husband back to health. Which made him realize why he got the job in the first place.

The night she wanted to prove her theory, Michael lost a good friend, Monk Pyle. Knowing something wasn’t quite right with the events of that night, he asked Ex-Sheriff Valenti to help investigate on the down low. The sheriff got a job at Meta-Chem and together they played detective.

Well they found something all right, and the Sheriff disappeared. Max, Isabel and Michael went into Meta-Chem to get him, knowing very well that Maris was setting up a trap. They however just couldn’t leave their friend, they just hoped they wouldn’t get caught. Jim Valenti got shot, max healed him, and Maris got her healer. Though it wasn’t whom she thought it was, but she didn’t care. All that mattered was her husband.

Healing Clayton Wheeler of old age wasn’t what max.’s powers were all about. He wasn’t God, but had no choice but to do as Maris Wheeler threaten him to do. Things got a bit out of hand and Max lost control feeling him getting lost in Clayton. The two became one. The essence of Max Evans if you will locked inside of Clayton Wheeler.

Everyone thought Max died in the explosion at Meta-Chem. What they didn’t know was that max was inside of Clayton Wheeler, who started morphing into Max Evans. Clayton and max were fighting for existence.

Clayton and Maris knew that if Liz remains alive, Max Evans inside of her husband would continue to fight. So they went to Vermont to get rid of Liz permanently.

Max as Clayton tried to kill Liz. During a free fall off of the boarding school roof Max got control and saved Liz from crashing to the ground with his shield. He sacrificed his new life for Liz’s, he was dead again lying motionless on the school grounds, Liz crying over him. Though of course this wasn’t the case. Liz through some kind of sure will brought her true love back with a kiss (anything is possible when alien powers are involved). Since that day Liz was able to be around Max without her powers freaking out.

Why was that possible? No one really is quite sure. However Liz had a theory that when max was brought back. He acquired a new genetic make up. The Max that healed her was gone, replaced by the new and improved Max. He was the same, just altered slightly to the point where the powers inside of her couldn’t register its original owner.

Which doesn’t sit well with Michael. That old Max healed Liz, Kyle and Sheriff Valenti. Maria was healed by the Max brought from the dead. Who’s to say when her time comes to “manifest” her powers, it’s not going to be like when Liz first manifested hers. He witnesses the pain and confusion Liz went through during that time. Michael didn’t want that to happen to Maria.

“I understand your concerns Michael, but that’s just one theory.” Max responded interrupting Michael’s thought. He then continued, “Who’s to say that there’s not a time period that the manifestations begin and end. That when Liz and I were able to touch her newly founded powers were completely set in place.”

“I hate all these what ifs.” Michael anxiously replied, then added, “I hate not knowing what’s going to happen. I want to have some kind of heads up so I know what to do.”

“I know, believe me, I wish we had some kind of instruction manual for who we are, but we don’t.” Max replied shaking his head, he looked Michael’s way and added, “All we have is each other. We’ll do what we can when it happens. I mean Kyle still hasn’t changed yet. It’ll be at least a few years before it’s Maria’s turn. We’ll just have to learn as we go, that’s the only answer I have for you.”

Michael sighed and lowered his head, closing his eyes, trying to calm down the insecurities that invaded his mind. After inhaling and exhaling a few times he looked over at Max and replied, “I know, thanks.”

“No problem.” Max said with a smile, then added, “It’ll all work out it always does.”

“Yeah, but not before we have to go through some crazy mixed up extremely long path when it finally does.” Michael relied gloomily.

“Would you have it any other way?” Max asked grinning.

“Can I say yes and no to that question?” Michael asked.

“Yeah I think you have that right.” Max agreed nodding his head, then with a sigh said, “Listen why don’t you go back to sleep, We’ll be stopping in an hour or so, you look like hell.”

“Thanks.” Michael said laughing standing up and going back to his sleeping bag on the van floor. He was tired, except for that little catnap he had before talking to max, he hasn’t been able to close his eyes to sleep since Maria was shot two days ago.

He’d do anything to protect her cause he loves Maria Deluca, more than his life.

TBC

Part two ~ Two of us ~ By Carolyn Sawyers

Michael stepped out of the van and took a deep cleansing breath of fresh air. His bones crack as he stretched and bend, enjoying the feel of the kinks loosing from his travel weary body.

They’ve been on the road for fourteen hours straight. Though as he moved his head side to side, listening to his neck crack, he realize that he must’ve slept on his neck wrong. The downfall of sleeping on a hard van floor.

Max finally stop at another dump of a motel; he shook Michael awake, along with everyone else in the van.

While everyone slowly came into consciousness, Max went to rent some rooms. Michael was the first one to leave the van. Stretching and enjoying air that wasn’t stale.

Max returned with two sets of keys. He gave Kyle one of the sets, bid good-bye to everyone, as he and Liz went to their own room. Obviously taking this private time to enjoying their recent Husband and wife status.

Michael felt two arms wrap around his neck, he looked behind him and smiled when he saw Maria resting her head on his shoulder. She was standing on the raised floor of the van. He knew what would happen next.

Reaching behind him he hooked his arms underneath her knees and gave her a piggyback to one of the rooms Max just rented for them.

Nothing romantically has progress in their relationship so far. However their friendship has been the strongest he’s ever known.

“I so need a shower.” Maria mumbled in his ear.

“Yeah you do kind of stink a little.” Michael joked, as he went through the door Kyle held open for them.

“Ha, ha space-boy.” Maria replied softly, nuzzling closer to the crook of his neck. Making Michael feel all kinds of good.

Going to one of the twin beds in the room, he gently sat down and let her go as she sank into the softness. She was awake, but he could tell that she was exhausted and that a shower would not be happening until she woke up from her soon unconscious state.

They’ve all been through an ordeal, and sleep was something everyone needs right now.

Though from the sound of it, Isabel appeared to have upon entering the room headed immediately straight to the bathroom.

Kyle sat in one of the matching armchairs and began to channel surf the TV.

Michael took off Maria’s shoes, and then helped tuck Maria in. She was soon out cold, and he kissed her forehead as she snored softly. God if he could only sleep as easily as that.

Though he was afraid for what will happen to her when her powers come to play. Michael would be a liar if he weren’t thrilled to death that Max had that damn healing power of his. Maria would be dead if he didn’t.

After kissing her forehead, he got up and decided he was starving. He’d go check out the local atmosphere and see about getting some food. God he hoped a McDonalds was nearby he could use a nice greasy hamburger and fries right now.

“I’m making a food run want anything?” Michael asked Kyle, who was contently changing channels at a rapid pace.

“Yeah sure.” Kyle said nodding his head, knowing that he’d have to be happy with whatever restaurant or convience stores Michael manages to find. Since they really have no clue what’s near by and available.

Michael went to the bathroom door and knocked softly as he announced, “Isabel I’m going to find food. Do you want anything?”

“No I’m fine.” She responded, then the sound of her hair dryer could be heard from behind the closed door.

Turning towards Kyle he said, “I’ll be back in a few. If Max comes around tell him where I am.” Then with a grin he added, “I’m not going to knock on their door, knowing exactly what’s taking place between the two of them right now.”

“Yeah baby.” Kyle answered laughing and wiggling his eyebrows up and down knowingly. Finally stopping on a channel that was playing a Basketball game.

Michael laughed with his friend as he exits the motel room. He put on a pair of sunglasses and was glad that he was still altered in appearance.

He rubbed his shaved head, missing his hair, but of course being fugitives from the FBI didn’t give you the luxury of keeping long locks that’ll help identify you to the authorities.

Shoving his hands in his coat pocket he walked through the parking lot of the motel onto the strip that was home to a variety of stores and restaurants. Maxwell did well this time. There was no McDonalds, but he could make out signs for Burger King and Kentucky fried chicken. Kyle would definitely like some Chicken, he’s been whining about the stuff since they left.

Kentucky Fried Chicken was his first stop. While waiting patiently for his order to be prepared, he grabbed a bunch of napkins, straws, lids and other items needed for his take out meal and planted himself in a booth near by so he could hear his number when it’s called. Going into his inside coat pocket retrieving a pen, he took a napkin and began to draw.

The year Max healed Liz and their whole, trying to find out who they were, found Michael on his own little quest for answers. Finding that key in the Sheriff’s office while looking for pictures that Liz saw of a man with a silver handprint much like the one Liz sported after Max healed her. He unexpectedly got a vision of a dome house (Later they found out it belongs to UFO enthusiast and author of the book, Among Us, James Antherton, he’s also the corpse in the pictures they were all looking for originally). He began to draw the thing, with each rendition getting more and more detailed. Desperate to find answers, and hoped something would click in his mind about his alien past. His art teacher at first was thrilled of his sudden interest and talent. However that was all Michael drew much to the horror of his art teacher.

After that he didn’t much care for drawing, thinking that he wasn’t at all talented, that drawing dome shaped houses was as far as his artistic talents went. That is up until about a month ago when out of sheer boredom Michael picked up Maria’s sketchbook and began to doodle. Well the doodles formed into sketches of Max and Liz, Maria and Kyle, Isabel, the van. His recent drawings were of Salem and his dad. He was actually enjoying his rediscovery of drawing.

Maria one day discovered the sketchbook and all its drawings and when she found out it was Michael's, she was impressed.

“When did you learn how to draw?” Maria asked, flipping through the pages, stopping at one of her, and smiled.

“I don’t know, I just picked up a pencil one day and drew. What’s the big deal?” He asked embarrassed, but doing a good job of not showing it.

“What’s the big deal? Michael these are amazing!” She exclaimed, handing the book to Kyle. Michael tried to retrieve the sketchpad before Kyle got a hold of it, but it was to late.

“I don’t know, I feel you didn’t get the real me.” Kyle joked placing the picture of himself next to his face.

“Give me that.” Michael exclaimed grabbing the sketchpad and whack Kyle’s head with it.

“Ow, it was a joke man.” Kyle whined rubbing the area that the Sketchpad assaulted.

“Yeah well it wasn’t funny.” Michael spat, closing the pad and stuffing it in his bag near by.

“You need to get that pickle out of your ass Gurien.”

“Oh why don’t you go meditate or something, Buddha Boy.”

Maria watched the two, bicker in silence casting his way a knowing look. Since being on the run, their future was pretty much unknown. When the FBI wasn’t after them, they all had their dreams, well most of them anyway. Maria, Liz and Kyle knew what they wanted to do after graduation and collage, the later being nothing but a dream now.

No music career, or any aspirations of being a biochemist, no professional career as a left fielder for the Houston Astro’s. This van was their home; the road stretched out before them into the unknown was their future now.

Even Isabel who was starting to be happy in her marriage to her father’s newly hired lawyer, Jesse Rameriz and her brief time in collage was left out. Max had Liz, which was all he hope his future would contain, and Michael he knew he’d never amount to anything. However when his doodles actually became art, he felt that the fates were laughing at him. We give you this talent that you didn’t know you had and there’s no way it can be anything but a hobby you have to pass the time while you’re a fugitive.


“That’s good work.” Came a voice that brought him out of his depressing thoughts. He got transported back to the dinning area of Kentucky friend chicken.

He looked up and almost thought he was daydreaming again. For the man in front of him could’ve been the spitting image of his dead friend Alex Whitman. But taking a closer look you realize it’s not the same person. He was older with the same dark hair but he sported a goatee and glasses. The eye coloring was wrong too if he remembered. Alex had Brown eyes. The eyes looking back at him right now were a blue-green.

“Huh?” Michael asked, still feeling a bit disoriented from his daydream.

“You’re artwork it’s amazing. Have you’ve been drawing long?” The Alex Whitman look alike asked sitting down in the seat across from Michael and pointed to the napkin that Michael was using to sketch on.

“No.” Michael answered curtly, he began to ignore the guy by touching up the sketch, hoping the guy would get the hint and go away.

“Well, it looks like you been doing it for awhile.” The guy said, obviously the man was clueless, then added, “You ever thought about maybe going to art school?”

“I don't want to be rude; but I’m going to be anyway. Can you please leave me alone.” Michael exclaimed angrily, hating that he was being disturbed.

“I’m sorry.” The man said happily, and not making any attempt to get up from the booth, “The name is Jacob Kane, I own the local Community center, just up the street.”

“Good for you, what is it that you want?” Michael asked starting to get perturbed, waiting for whatever this guy had on his mind. He hoped he’d tell him and then leave.

“Well you actually.” The guy replied, causing Michael to turn pale. This guy was hitting on him.

“Ah-listen, I’m flattered and all but you see-I’m you know into girls and all so-“

“Oh no, I wasn’t and I’m not. Wow am I feeling all kinds of awkward, what you think of me huh?” Jacob laughed nervously, turning all shades of red from embarrassment, he exhaled loudly and continued to ramble, “I’m sorry for the misunderstanding. I tend not to explain my self all to well, I have this-“

“Jacob, breathe and spit out what’s on your mind, cuz if you don’t by the time my food order is up, all is lost okay.” Michael replied impatient wondering why he was even having this conversation with this stranger in the first place. Well he was curious in what this odd and strange man had to say.

“Right, thanks, you see, I was hoping maybe I could convince you to volunteer at the community center a few nights a week. Teach under privilege kids how to draw.” Jacob said, sigh in relief, however he didn’t give Michael much of a chance to respond as he continued, and “You see my mother and my grandmother before me owned the community center what a weird family tradition huh? Well you see these days the center has been far from-well active and with the lack of volunteers and kids, the good people over at the Janice Difranco foundation might not renew the funding another year to keep this place running. Janice her self died a few months back and her daughter has taken over things."

"I remeber hearing about that, the Difranco's fund a lot of charities; Macdonald's house, Elizabeth Galser, Easter Seals, the list is huge; but so is the Difranc's bank account." Michael said, repeating something that he heard Liz mumble about a few weeks back.

Jacob smiled as he exclaimed in surprise, "Yes, alot of charities, and Patricia, that's the daughter, she hasn't decided anything yet. I mean we had fund raiser's throughout the past year, but it will barley cover the cost to run the center." Jacob paused looked at Michael and added, "That's why I'm trying to recruit some volunteers, and it’s been very frustrating cause I’ve been met with resistance one turn after another."

"Why?" Michael asked, actually curious.

"Eric Cole," Jacob spat out with disgust, "He’s a big time property owner in this town and he’s like dying to get a hold of the community center’s property. Wants to build some stupid mini mall, like we need another one of those, hee, hee. So I was hoping to-I don’t know try to beat the man by making the community center thriving again, back when My grandmother and mother ran the place.If I don't suceed, I have no choice but sell the property and frankly that's just something I don't want to do." He looked hopefully up at Michael and asked, " So what do you think, Interested?

Michael was at a lost for words, for once in his life. This guy was a total nut job, but a nut job that was trying to make a difference in a kid’s life. He was sympathetic to this guy’s trouble, but there was nothing he could do about it. They’re going to leave in a matter of days maybe sooner. There was no way he could fix this guy’s issue in that time frame.

“Listen Jacob, I’m not from around here, I’m just a guy passing through, with a bunch of friends, who have problems of their own. I can’t help, I wish I could, but well I’m sorry, I truly am. I hope you win.” Michael answered, starting to get up, cause he heard his number being called.

“I understand, but as one who doesn’t give up so easily-“ He reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card and handed it to Michael, “Here. Maybe you’ll change your mind. Maybe one of your friends would like to help out too. Come by the center check things out if you like.” He got up, and held out his hand to Michael, who took it, Jacob then added, “Thanks for at least listening-ah-hey, I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name.”

“Raymond, Raymond Foster.” Michael said using his Alias.

“Nice to meet you Raymond.” He replied nodding his head, “ I hope you change your mind. The community center can use good people like you.”

“Jacob you hardly know me, how do you know that I’m not a psycho killer on a country wide killing spree.” Michael asked a bit confused.

“Good instincts.” Was all Jacob said before he walked away to get his food.

Michael looked at the card, everything was there, phone number, the location, even e-mail and a web site address. He couldn’t explain why he was even remotely interested, cause he was. That’s one of the reasons they’re on this forced road trip. To help others in need, and it’s obvious Jacob Kane and his community center needs a lot of help from the big bad corporate shark.

Then an idea flittered through his head. He could bring Maria with him. She’s talented with her music, she could help out by teaching the kids the guitar, or sing. Hell this could actually be a great idea, to take a break form running. There’s nothing Czechoslovakian about hiding out in a small town, and teaching a few kids some art and music and in the meantime maybe the two of them can get to know each other romantically again.

Jacob Kane was gone, by the time he was done wrestling with his thoughts and concocting a plan to convince Max that it was in their best interests for him and Maria to stay here and play let’s save the community center from the big bad business guy. However nothing convincing came to mind. He knew he needed the assistance of Liz to help him with this one.

After picking up his order he went outside and for the first time he felt happy. He really wanted to do this, he wanted to stay and help. That running into the eccentric Jacob Kane was meant to be. That this was a great opportunity for him to prove to Maria that they belong together and that he has changed for the better.

TBC

**Author's Note**

Thanks for everyone's FB. I will post another part 4 tomorrow, but I want to tweak it a little bit before I do.

So enjoy Part 3 in the meantime.

Peace CarolynPart three ~ Two Of Us ~ By Carolyn Sawyers

Michael quickly finishes doing the food run, taking a small detour at a superstore to get some Tabasco sauce and other amenities. Then pretty much ran back to the motel. He needed to talk to Liz and fast, and hoped she’d go along with the plan.

Knocking on Max and Liz’s motel room door. He took a deep breath and hoped max wouldn’t think he was up to something.

The door swung open and there stood Max, his long hair that was know a light brown in a pony tail, stood there smiling.

“Hey Michael, you’re finally back.” Max replied opening the door and stepping back so Michael could come in.

“Hey.” He replied a bit distracted as he unceremoniously shoved a Burger King bag at Max, he then added, “Where’s Liz?”

“Nice to see you too Michael.” Max laughed, opening the bag to inspect the contents; “Oh this looks good thanks.”

"Yeah, ah where’s Liz?” Michael asked a bit anxious.

Max raised a curious eyebrow as he answered, “In the van, probably on the computer chatting away with Salem why?”

“Ah well it’s-ah about Maria.” Michael replied, not totally lying, but twisting the truth just a little.

“Oh I get it.” Max sighed as he shook his head, he reached in the bag and pulled out a few French fries, and after a couple of bites, he replied, “Still trying to win her back. Huh?”

“When am I not.” Michael answered, rubbing his head and sighed in frustration, “I need her back Max I miss her.”

“Michael you see her everyday, you share the same living quarters, something will happen, you just got to let it happen, not force it.” Max suggested, going over to the nightstand where a few bottles of Tabasco sauce stood, he grabbed an open one and proceeded to dump a healthy amount on the fries that he pulled out, he took a fry and sighed in relief, “Much better.”

He looked at Michael who remains silent, and took a seat on an armchair near the bed. Max sighed and said, “You two will get back together it’s bound to happen.”

“I don’t know Max, I want to believe it, but the whole on again off again relationship has gotten old, and I want us to be on again and permanently.” Michael said, placing the variety of bags he held on the floor next to him.

“So Liz is going to help you how?” Max asked, sitting on the bed as he ate his dinner.

“I don’t know-I just want to talk to her, maybe she can…I don’t know give me some new insight.” Michael answered, looking at Max in defeat.

“Michael I hardly think there’s anything new about Maria that you don’t already know.” Max laughed shaking his head, he then added, “The two of you know each other better then you realize.”

“Perhaps.” Michael replied picking up his bags before he got up, he started walking towards the door, and he turned around as he added, “But I’m going to beat this horse until I know it’s dead if you know what I mean.”

“Well then I wish you luck Michael.” Max replied getting up to see Michael out.

“Thanks.” Michael said opening the door and existing without further discussion.

Maria was still asleep when he dropped off the bags off food. Kyle was thrilled about his Kentucky fried chicken dinner. He and Isabel were watching some sappy Romantic movie on the television. It was probably on at Isabel’s insistence.

“I’m going to talk to Liz, this is Maria’s when she wakes up okay.” Michael announced quickly, shaking a Burger King bag and placed it on the nightstand, before he darted out the motel room again.

“He’s the busy little bee.” Kyle joked, making a face of ecstasy as he bit into his chicken.

“That looks good can I have some?” Isabel asked reaching for his lap.

“I should say you should’ve gotten your own, but I’m scared of you.” Kyle joked as he handed her a napkin.

“Wise move.” Isabel laughed, taking the napkin and enjoying her chicken.

***

Michael opens the van sliding door. Liz smiled as he entered the vehicle. She was taping away on the keyboard.

Salem and his father, thankful for the Scooby gang’s help, kind of upgraded their van a bit. By giving it a tune up, new tires, installing a small fridge, the bed in the back of the vehicle, and a state of the art Computer set up. He’s still not quite sure how they’re able to get online, and how Salem and his dad got half of the stuff, without someone getting suspicious, but the computer was helpful and they weren’t going to say no. In fact Michael’s pretty sure that the William’s weren’t going to take no for an answer. The fates were definitely looking out for them, having them save a very powerful computer programmer’s son, and having them be forever grateful made their life on the run, just a smidgen easier.

“So Michael, what’s up?” Liz asked, tapping something quickly before looking his way.

“I need a favor.” Michael answered, sitting on the full-length chair across from the computer station. Since the door conveniently slid outwards, it was possible for them to have the computer where it was.

Liz arched an eyebrow and asked cautiously, “What kind of favor.”

Michael handed her Jacob Kane’s business card. She took it read it and shrugged her shoulders confused in what she was supposed to do, “A community center? What do you want me to do with this?”

“I met this guy today and he saw my drawings and he offered me a chance to teach art to under privilege kids at his center that’s pretty much on the brink of going out of business.” Michael explained.

“So you want to stay and help this guys, because…”

“Because it’s the right thing to do.” Michael replied shaking his head, “If he doesn’t show the Jancie Difranco fondation board trustees that this center is busy helping kids, then he’s going to lose this center to some stupid business guy who wants to turn it into a strip mall.”

"The Jancie Difranco Fondation, Holy shit!" Liz exclaimed.

"Yeah, I know you were just talking about her a few weeks back." Michael agreed. "Her daughter isn't sure if she'll fund the communtiy center this year, and they need that money. The community Center is all that Jacob knows. WE need to help him Liz."

"Michael, it's nice that you want to help, and it's awful that this communtiy center may not last the year, but why do you think you’re the end all be all, doesn’t he have other’s to help him out?” Liz asked handing Michael back the card.

“Not really, I’ve come to terms that he asked me out of desperation.” Michael explained, and continued, “This crook disguised as businessman, has gotten a lot of people scared, and those that he hasn’t scared from helping Jacob are not really quite high in the numbers, well that’s the impression I got anyway.”

“Well Michael I’ve got to be honest, I’m in awe at your need to help this guy, but I smell an alternative motive here.” Liz responded, seeing all too clearly through Michael’s good deed.

“Well yeah, it’s true I want Maria to accompany me alone with this mission, but I do want to help this guy, he’s getting screwed along with those kids.” Michael replied truthfully, he gave Liz a pleading look.

Liz sighed, shook her head and said, “Max isn’t going to go for it you know.”

“Yes, that’s why I came to you.”

“Because you want me to fake a vision.”

“See, I’m so glad we’re on the same page here.” Michael said excitedly gesturing his hands out before him.

“Michael I can’t lie to Max.” Liz said sternly.

“Why not?” Michael asked, then nodded his head as Liz gave him a death glare, he held up his hands in defeat and added, “Okay, Okay, how about when you guys are far away to the point that coming back is pointless. Then you can tell him what we did.”

“Michael you should tell Maria too, you’re lying so that you can be alone with her.” Liz said disapprovingly.

“Listen I will I promise. It’s-just she got shot and I think this could be a vacation from the Czechoslovakian madness.” Michael replied, he got up and walked over to Liz, bending pretty much in half because of the ceiling, he kneeled next to her and pleaded, “Come on Liz you know this is exactly what Maria needs, she’s been a wreak.”

Liz ponder for a moment, then gave Michael a sidelong glance as she nodded her head in accordance, “Yeah she has been a bit stress.”

"So you’ll do it?” Michael asked with hope.

“Yeah I’ll do it. BUT---“ Liz started to say as she interrupted Michael’s celebration, “I’m going to have Salem do a background check first. Also we need to give you and Maria new identities.”

“I have to be Raymond Foster still, that’s who I introduce myself as to him.” Michael replied, grinning.

“Find, now swear to me Michael you’ll tell Maria about this.”

“I swear, when the time is right.” Michael promised holding up the three fingered Boy Scout gesture.

“You really care for her don’t you Michael.” She said gently, impressed what he’d do to get her back.

“I more than care for her Liz, I love her.” Michael answered softly.

“Now get out of here, I’ve got work to do.” Liz said, whapping him playfully on the arm.

“Cool.” Michael said he was about to get up when Liz kind of passed out in the chair.

Michael knew she was having a vision. This was one of the reasons Liz got out of driving duty. Who knew when a vision would come?

The only thing that Michael could do was wait until she came out of her unconscious state. To make sure that she was okay.

Of course at this moment Max decided to come in the van to check on things.

“Are you two still-“ He stopped his sentence short as he realize what was going on, he turned to Michael and asked, “How long has she been out?”

“She just went into it.” Michael answered as he moved out of the way so Max could be near her, he then added, “I was just about to leave.”

Max nodded, and he held Liz’s hand. The two of them waited anxiously for her to awake.

Five minutes later, her eyelids fluttered open and she smiled tiredly at Max, glad that he was there.

“Are you okay.” He asked softly, caressing her face gently with his hand.
Liz nodded meekly and whispered for some water. Michael went to the small fridge as Max asked, “What did you see?’

Liz took the bottle water Michael handed her and after taking a few sips, she cleared her throat and announced, “We need to go to Boston. Jesse’s in trouble.”

TBC
******************************************************************

**Author's Note**

As promised Part four.

Thanks for everyone's FB.

Peace CArolyn

Part four ~ Two of us ~ By Carolyn Sawyers

Everyone gathered in Max and Liz’s room. The news was shocking especially to Isabel.

“So we’re leaving like now right?” She asked a bit agitated.

“Yes we leave tonight, but there’s also another snag that has to be talked about.” Max announced a bit anxious.

“So tell us Senor Presidente, what’s going on?” Kyle asked, his hand on Isabel’s shoulder. The guy has totally got it bad for Max.’s sister. What was he expecting Isabel to do shut off her feelings for her husband? Michael kind of felt sorry for him. He hardly was lucky in the relationship department.

“Well it appears that there’s a counter mission.” Max stated, shaking his head. “Michael and Maria will stay here and help a local keep his community center open.”

“Wait, why just me and Michael?” Maria asked, not sure if she liked the way the plan was going.

“In my vision I saw you and Michael watching the community center being torn down.” Liz lied perfectly. Michael smiled to himself glad that Liz was still willing to go through with his plan, even though she had a real vision regarding Jesse.

Maria looked at Michael her arms crossed over her chest. She gave him a small smile, and Michael’s heart soared. Not to jump to any conclusions, but it seems his plan may actually work.

“We’ve got a two week window to stop Jesse from being framed for murder.” Max replied, then added, “So that means we need to leave tonight. Michael, you and Maria will meet us in Boston when you're through here.”

Michael nodded his head. When Liz tells Max what he and Liz had planned he was going to be livid. However even though he had an alternative motive that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want Jacob’s community center to go under either.

“So everyone Boston bound, get your things together, we leave in an hour.” Max announced ending the meeting.

Everyone left the room. Maria being the last to leave grabbed Michael’s arm to prevent him from walking further.

“Hey listen I want to talk to you.” Maria said with determination.

“What for?”

“It’s not like we’ve got to pack and leave we’re stuck in this town for god knows how long.”

“I’m sorry you think that this is some kind of torture, but don’t worry I’ll behave.” Michael concluded

“Oh you’re so thick sometimes!” Maria exclaimed angrily. “I just wanted to say that it was kind of weird; Liz having like two separate vision’s but at once, but please jump down my throat.”

Maria spun on her heals to leave, but it was Michael’s turn this time to grab her arm to prevent her from going.

“Wait, I’m sorry, it’s-ah-I’m worried that being here may harm the other mission you know they won’t have as many helping hands.” Michael replied hating that he was being an ass yet again. What a way to start off their time together, real smooth Gurien. Plus he did feel guilty actually staying behind. What if all of them needed to be in Boston, instead Michael railroad Liz into helping him set up project “alone time” with Maria. If anything happen to anyone because of this, it’ll be all his fault. He honestly didn’t think Liz would continue with the sham after getting the other vision.

Maria sighed and ran into his arms, kissing his cheek, her arms hung loosely around his neck and responded, “You’re forgiven space-boy.”

Michael taken a back smirked as she let go and walked back to her room. He touched his cheek where her lips touched minutes ago, and as he closed his eyes, he wondered if maybe keeping Maria in this town under false pretenses was a good idea.

“Hey Michael.” Liz replied from behind him.

Surprised Michael turned around and said, “I didn’t think you would still go along with everything.”

“I wasn’t at first, but well I’m feeling charitable, plus I can’t wait to come up with an amazing favor that you’ll owe me…one day.” Liz laughed punching his arm.

“Great can’t wait.” He responded sarcastically. Then added, “So I guess if you told Max about the “Supposed” counter mission that everything checked out.”

“Indeed it did.” Liz said nodding her head, “Mr. Kane’s family put a lot of time, energy and even some money into that place. I hope you and Maria will be able to help save it.”

“Me too.” Michael said agreeing, looking cautious over Liz’s shoulder afraid Max will have his less than perfect moments of walking in on a conversation, when he shouldn’t.

“Don’t worry Michael he’s taking a shower.” Liz replied laughing, then added, “I’ll have your prints outs for your new life in an hour before we leave. Change your ID’s, social security cards and birth certificates accordingly.”

“Thanks Liz.” Michael replied.

“No problem.” She said as she began to walk towards the van.

“Oh hey Liz.” Michael started to say. Liz stopped and turned to look at him, he then continued, “If at anytime things get crazy, please call us. No community center is as important as you guys.”

“Thanks for saying that Michael.” Liz said smiling then started walking towards the Van again.

Michael shoved his hand in his pockets and strolled toward his motel room, feeling good and awful at the same time.

***

“Yolanda Perez, agh that’s a horrible name!” Maria exclaimed scrunching her face in distaste. She looked over at Michael new identity and gasp in horror, “Hey how come you have the same name.”

“Because that’s who he knows me as.” Michael replied, waving his hand over her birth certificate.

Two hours have gone by since the beat up Volkswagen bus drove off into the night. Leaving Michael and Maria on their own.

“Well I’m going to have words with Salem and his horrible choice in names.” Maria pouted, throwing her License on the bed and reached in a bag of chips and began to munch hungrily.

“So we’ll come up with a nickname.” Michael suggested grabbing Maria’s discarded License and changed the name and all it’s facts.

“Yeah a nickname, but what?” Maria asked, chewing thoughtfully.

“How about Lana?” Michael suggested, admiring his handy work.

“I like it.” Maria said cheerfully, clapping excitedly.

“So you’re officially Yolanda Perez.” Michael announced handing her the pile of documents that he altered.

“Thank you.” Maria said grabbing the papers and placing them on the nightstand. She then added, “You know it’s kind of funny how everything happens for a reason.”

“What do you mean?” Michael asked, looking up at Maria with peaked interest.

“Well take for instance, That guy, Jacob that’s his name, Right?” Maria started to say. Michael nodded his head, and then she continued, “Well Geez, he sees you drawing and offers you a job, hence giving you that business card.”

“Okay, I’m not quite following you Maria and by the way we don’t get paid, we’re volunteers.” Michael replied, hoping she’ll get to her point soon.

“Whatever space boy," Maria excalimed rolling her eyes and continued, without skipping a beat," What I’m trying to tell you is that you go to Liz, tell her your strange encounter, hand her the card and whamo she not only has a vision of a future Jacob’s community center being turned into rubble, but of Jesse’s dilemma also.”

“Ah yeah so it was meant to happen me going out to get food, so that we could get our next mission.” Michael said scratching his head, feeling guilty that he was the one who initiated the whole counter mission. Telling her is going to be tough, and she’s going to be pissed.

“Exactly.” Maria said gesturing her hands out before her. Then after a pause she gets this serious look on her face and adds, “Hey do you think that Jesse and this Jacob guy are like connected in some way?”

“No I think it was the Van, he was the one that got it for us.” Michael reminded her.

“Oh yeah that’s right.” She said nodding her head in realization.

“So tomorrow we go down to the center in person, tell Jacob we accept.” Michael said suddenly

“Cool, I’m actually looking forward to this.” Maria replied smiling, “I mean it’s kind of a cushy job if you ask me.”

“Ah Maria we’re going to be teaching under privilege kids, that is hardly cushy.” Michael said shaking his head, “Believe me I was at one time under that category, I was hardly easy to deal with.”

“Like anything’s changed.” Maria said jokingly.

“Ha, ha funny.” Michael countered giving her a playful glare, which she gave back in return.

“Seriously though Michael.” Maria started to say as she got up from the bed and went to the dresser to grab her amenity bag, “I’m not naïve to think that it’s not going to be hard work. I’m just saying that dealing with a bunch of punk kids is hardly dangerous, you know.”

“Yeah I do.”

Michael slowly nodded his head. Watching her go into the bathroom. Knowing exactly what she meant. Ever since she got shot, while they were rescuing Salem. He couldn’t help but spend sleepless night’s tossing and turning with worry. Though wrong, it was why he concocted this entire lie in the first place. To get her away from that danger, if anything for a little while anyway.

“Be out in a bit.” Maria announced closing the bathroom door.

Michael smiled and turned on the TV, knowing that a little bit would be an hour or so.

This is what he missed most when they were dating and she would spend almost every night at his apartment. The chats about silly things, her taking forever in the bathroom while he watched a hokey game, the two of them spending quiet nights just snuggling on the couch watching a movie, just a simple normal life. Though at times, life would throw in not so simple moments and ruin the fantasy.

Now the fantasy is back, the two of them are alone, far from Roswell and far from the complications that caused them to break up in the first place. Now let’s hope things will turn around and the fantasy will bring them back together, though when she found out how he arrange to get them here, could the fantasy keep them apart?

TBC

Hello everyone!

I'm going to start off with some long over due Shout Outs!!

AngelicFairy,lovinguerin2Much,roswellluver,faithfulangel24 (Hello Again),xmag,brighteyes,gnrkrystle, tuggytoots & all the lurkers!

YOu Guys Rock!!

Peace Carolyn Part Five ~ Two Of Us ~ By Carolyn Sawyers

Jesse Rameriz tried not to look nervous as he sat in the lounge near the baggage claim area. Reading his paper or pretending to read his paper, he wondered why in the world Isabel and the rest of the gang were risking possibly getting caught to see him.

The FBI has tails on him 24/7 in hopes that they would catch his friends the fugitives. He shook his head and sighed in frustration.

Reading Salem’s coded e-mail about this meeting place, he wanted to send one back and tell them to stay far away from him and Boston. However it would be risky, even if he could get his message across in code so the FBI who been monitoring everything wouldn’t catch on. He prayed Max and the other’s knew what they were doing.

The upside of all this was seeing Isabel again. God he missed her so much and regretted the time when he couldn’t deal with her non-human status and stayed away from her. All the time wasted because he couldn’t handle the fact that she was an alien and that he felt like that he really didn’t know her. That the woman he married wasn’t Isabel…How wrong he was, she was Isabel, but with just more to her wonderful personality. He hated for being such a dope, but he was glad they spent some time together before Liz’s vision. At least he knows she’s alive and free and not being tortured by the FBI, which now with her coming to Boston brought those same fears to the surface once more…Will she get caught? Why are they coming here? Liz had to have a vision of some kind that’s the only possible explanation.

A woman with short red hair in a white summer dress with tiny printed flowers sat down next to him. He briefly looked at her and smiled. She acknowledge him with a smile back and situated her self on the chair, arranging her purse and magazines and such until she was comfortable.

Going back to looking blankly at his newspaper, Jesse had a weird feeling that he’s seen this woman before. He inwardly shrugged his shoulders and got lost in his own world wondering who and when someone representing the gang would get here?

“Man I hate waiting.” The woman suddenly announced with a sigh.

Jesse looked up from his paper. The voice was familiar to him. Maybe he did meet this woman before. However for the life of him, he couldn’t put a time and place to the woman’s face.

“Yeah, so do I.” He replied looking at her with curiosity. His face scrunched in thought trying to remember her, but his mind wasn’t cooperating with conjuring up a memory.

“Can I borrow the entertainment page?” She asked indicating her finger towards the newspaper he was holding in his hands.

“Ah yeah sure.” He said jumping a little, turning to the empty seat opposite of him and looked through a few of the folded sections that he finished reading, picked the one he was looking for and handed it to the woman.

“Thanks.” She said with a smile. She pointed the paper towards the baggage area and asked, “So you waiting for someone?”

“Yeah you can say that. You?” He asked, glad that he had someone to talk to. It made him not worry too much about Isabel and the others.

“Yeah, but I came a little early.” She said with a huffed sigh, shrugging her shoulders and, “Oh well.”

“So ah, you live in Boston then?” He asked, folding the section he had and placed it over his lap.

“No actually I’m not from around here.” She said, opening the paper. “Just passing through with some friends.” She looked up at him with a smile and, “I live in Kansas actually.”

This bit of information made Jesse grin. This girl was Liz Parker in disguise. Now he knew before why he knew this woman; it was Liz incognito. Kansas was the code word that they were going to use.

“Kansas really, my friend Salem lives in Kansas.” Jesse replied, saying his part of the code to finalize that everyone was who they were and they were at the right place.

“Neat.” Liz said, looking through the paper and then getting bored with it folded it back in half. He saw Liz place something in-between the fold, and handed it back to him, making sure what ever she put in-between the paper wouldn’t fall out. He grabbed the paper making sure that the item didn’t fall out.

Liz got up and said, “Well I’ve got to make a phone call to my husband back at the hotel, tell him I’m going to be a little late.”

Jesse looked at the paper wondering what it was that Liz gave him. He stared up at her looking down at him and he asked, “Well I hope you’re staying at a nice hotel. Some of them can be pretty crappy.”

“It’s not too bad for the money. The holiday Inn right near Faunal Hall.” She answered, swinging her purse strap over her arm and said, “Well I’ll see ya.”

Then Liz just walked away. Disappearing into the crowd. Leaving Jesse alone and smiling. He would’ve never guessed it was her. Man she changed dramatically, but the three aliens she’s with probably helped. He’s seen Isabel change her hair color a few times with just a wave of her hand.

Opening the paper slightly he glimpse at the present Liz gave him. He smiled it was a room card key with the number 35 on it. He discretely removed the key card and smoothly slid it in his jacket pocket. Nonchalantly folded the paper sections together, and after getting up, slowly made his way out of the Logan airport terminal.

It was time to be reunited with his wife.

****

Isabel nervously waves a few shades of lip color over her mouth, in five second intervals. Hating every one of them. Her hair was next, and that made her more upset. She hasn’t seen Jesse for at least six months. She missed him so much and didn’t want to look like a scumbag. Being on the run made it hard to keep vast amounts of clothes, make-up and other beauty aides on hand.

“You look beautiful Isabel.” Kyle replied from behind her, his hands went to her shoulders, he began to massage them gently. She was a bit tense and his administration’s felt wonderful. Kyle was such a rock to her these days. She probably would’ve curled her self in the fetal position and never come out of it without Kyle’s positive words. Even his stupid Buddha quotes put a smile on her face and encouraged her to just smile and deal with her life minus her husband, that the two of them will find a way to be together again.

“We’ll find a way together, I promise Isabel.” Kyle said one night in the van. She was in his embrace crying like a baby and he just held her, caressed her, and made empty promise’s, but it made her feel better just the same; and she was thankful for it.

Now here she was in a Boston hotel room, waiting for Jesse to walk through the door. She waved her hand over her lips and she looked at the shade wondering if she should keep it.

“It’s perfect Iz.” Kyle said, still massaging her shoulders, “You’re beautiful no matter what. Jesse is not going to stop loving you because you’re wearing the wrong shade of Lipstick.”

Isabel placed a hand over his and said with a smile, “Thanks for saying that Kyle, but I think you’re a little Bias.”

“How’s that?” He asked, looking at her through the mirror with a confused look.

“Because you’re my friend, you’re suppose to tell me I look beautiful even when it’s not true.” Isabel answered laughing.

“When have I ever said something I didn’t mean?” Kyle asked grinning.

Isabel was going to answer but realize she couldn’t. Kyle was always straightforward with everyone. Her especially.

“See, you can’t cause it’s true.” Kyle replied patting her shoulders, and walked to sit on the chair near the dresser. “Besides you told me-no threaten me to never lie to you. So I’m keeping my promise.”

Isabel smiled and shook her head. God but Kyle was such a wonderful man. Isabel wished that Kyle could find love. Of course being on the run makes it kind of hard, since being constatnly on the move and not staying around in one place to actually get to know someone kind of makes it diffcult. Hopefully they'll be able to return home one day, then he could meet a woman and make her very happy one day. Kyle deserves happiness with all the crap he's been through.

After a few more minutes of primping, she turn towards Kyle and threw her hands up in the air, turning around so he could get the over-all view, and asked brightly,“So what do you think?”

“You’re going to knock his socks off baby.” Kyle complemented, giving her a wink and an okay sign.

“Thanks.” She gushed with a grin.

“Okay so I’m going to leave before he gets here.” Kyle announced suddenly, whapping his legs before getting up, and “SO you can have some alone time.” He kissed her cheek, and was about to turn away before he felt her grab his arm.

“Wait you can’t go out yet, your disguise.” Isabel exclaimed.

When they got into their rooms. Kyle asked if Isabel could turn him back to his normal looks. She obliged, but now it was time to put on back the Neil Marshall’s costume.

“Oh Crap that’s right.” Kyle said sheepishly, and “Thanks.”

Kyle stood there and closed his eyes as he felt Isabel’s hands go down his hair, turning it blond. His goatee got the same treatment and he felt her hand cover his close eyes. He knew when he open them they’ll be green. Kyle sighed and open his eyes turning to look at his “other” look and sighed. He hated it. However it was what people do on the run. Change their appearances.

Isabel hugged Kyle from behind and kissed the side of his cheek. Leaning her head on his shoulder and said, “I know you hate this. One day we won’t have to do this anymore.”

“I know, it’s just I look horrible as a blonde.” Kyle joked shaking his head.

“No you don’t, I think you’re a handsome blonde.” Isabel replied, telling the truth. Though she prefers Kyle’s dark haired looks, she did find the blond “Neil” very attractive.

“Well I’ve got to go.” Kyle said breaking out of the spell that being around Isabel puts him under. He walked towards the door with Isabel not too far behind him. Before leaving he said. “Remember you’ve got a few hours and then you need to bring Jesse by Max and Liz’s room. We got a lot to discuss.”

“No problem.” Isabel said as Kyle existed the room, and “Oh and Kyle-“

Kyle stopped and turned around to face her as he answered, “Yeah.”

“Thanks for convincing Max to let me spend some alone time with Jesse.” Isabel said running to Kyle and giving him a huge hug.

“Hey that’s what friends are for, to look after one another right.” Kyle replied pulling away from Isabel’s embrace. Hating that he wanted to kiss her so bad, that he was jealous of Jesse, that he wanted to be so much more than Isabel’s friend. With a sigh he said, “You have fun.”

Isabel smiled and watched as Kyle walked towards the elevators. She went back inside her room and anxiously began to pace the floor. Wondering how long it was going to be before she saw her husband again.

Twenty minutes later she was on the bed, the TV remote control in her hand. Everything on was utter crap but she still changed the channels hoping something good would catch her eye.

Then she heard the door open; she dropped the remote and was quickly on her feet. Isabel couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear. There before after so long was her husband.

“Jesse.” She replied softly, tears forming in her eyes.

“Isabel.” He bearly choked out, closing the door behind him.

They stood there for a few minutes wondering if this was a dream? Their eyes soaking in each hungrily. Then as if they were reading each other’s minds, simultaneously the two ran toward each other, and their lips locked in a passionate kiss.

“God I missed you.” He announced as he lifted her up in his arms. She squealed by this action.

“I missed you too.” Isabel repeated, wrapping her arms around his neck as they headed toward the bed.

Jesse placed her down and sat next to her. He looked into her eyes, and caressed her cheek with his hand. Her eyes closed by his soft touch.

“What are you doing here?” Jesse asked softly.

“In time baby. But right now, please make love to me.” Isabel asked softly, her arms linked around his neck.

He nodded his head and closed in on her lips. Enjoy the familiar warmth and softness. Glad for the time no matter how short he had with his wife.

Cause right now there could be hundreds of FBI agents outside ready to come through that door. Yet that wouldn’t stop him from loving the woman who he’s long to be with after all these months.

TBC



[/b]

Part six ~ Two of us ~ By Carolyn Sawyers

Maria nervously tugged at her skirt hem. Trying to keep the thing from riding up on her. Maybe the short clingy black skirt was a bad fashion move. Especially if she was going to be teaching kids how to play music. The whole Mrs. Robinson vibe was not the way to go.


Michael who was walking beside Maria gave her a look, wondering what was going on with her.

“You okay?”

“No I’m not. Fashion issues.” She replied angrily, her tugging of the skirt continued.

Michael looked her over and thought she looked amazing. He always did like that skirt, but of course it was a little short. Looking around Michael notice that they were near an alley. Grabbing her arm he said, “Come here.”

Surprised by their sudden direction change. Maria awkwardly followed him.

“What are you doing?” Maria asked, nearly tripping over her feet, cursing also the choice of her shoes. The black open toe high heals were also a bit too much. However she never gets to dress anymore, so of course she realize after they left the hotel room that she over dressed for the occasion.

“Fixing your dress.” He proclaimed, bringing her behind a huge Dumpster.

“Huh?” She asked a bit baffled, and a little taken aback when his hands fell to her waist. “Hey what are you doing buddy?” Maria whapped his hand away.

“Would you cut it out.” Michael exclaimed blocking her attacks, taking a few steps back and explained, “I was going to fix your skirt. It’s obvious you’re uncomfortable in it.”

“Oh yeah.” Maria said softly biting her lower lip feeling a bit silly, then she countered, and “You could have told me what you were doing.”

“I know I’m sorry.” Michael apologized, stepping closer to her, his hands raised, pointing to her lower half he asked, “Is it okay?”

“Yeah, yeah go ahead.” Maria said nodding her head, she sighed and said, “Thanks.”

Michael looked at her with a grin and said “No problem.”

His hands went on her hips slowly lowering them on the sides. The spandex like material became flowy cotton; he lengthens the material a few inches under her knee. He stood back to admire his handwork. He was pleased. There was a time when he’d probably have destroyed her skirt, but he managed to control his powers, and was happy for once to do something nice for Maria.

Maria looked down, then backed up at Michael and smiled. “This is beautiful Michael thank you.”

“So can we go, or is there anything else I need to alter for you?” He joked, taking his hand and grabbed hers.

“No, I’m feeling less like a slut, so I’m better.” She answered, nodding her head, having no intention of pulling her hand from his, which made him feel good.

They walked back onto the street. Making their way to the Community center hand in hand. He turned to look at her and stated; “Well for the record I thought you looked great before the alteration.”

“Well yeah of course I did.” She exclaimed confidently, causing Michael to laugh at Maria’s candor and “ but hardly the look of someone trying to impress the director that I’m a perfect candidate for teaching kids.”

“True.” Michael said laughing.

“So, may I add Mr. Gurien that you yourself also looks very spiffy today.” Maria said smiling.

Michael had decided to forgo his T-shirt and jeans and decided to put on the only pair of dress khaki’s he owns and his nicest button down shirt. It was a dark bluish black, one of Maria’s favorites, and if he wasn’t mistaken had bought it for him one year for his birthday.

“Thank you I thought I’d go in there looking respectable for once.” He said, smoothing the front of his shirt. Causing Maria to laughed at his comment.

“Well you pull it off splendidly.”

“Thank you.” Michael answered; pulling her hand up to his mouth and gave it a quick kiss.

Maria startled by this action, was suddenly feeling awkward…in a good way. Maria shook her head, trying again to talk herself out of these thoughts, she was sure it was because they’ve been traveling together in cramp quarters, with no one for company except the six of them. They’ve managed to get back to being friends again. However lately, she’s been feeling the familiar stirrings of what she felt for him before they broke up the last time. Feelings of love (well that will always be there in some sense), feelings of needing to kiss him, hold him, be naked with him, to be with him completely. For some reason this scared her. The two of them was known as the on-again off-again couple. She invested so much of herself being with him, in the romantic sense. The thought of being with Michael in a more than friends aspect tempted her. However she could see herself falling into that routine they have. Being involved with Michael comes with two others, Max and Isabel. Then there’s the alien status and the never-ending hootenanny that comes with being involved with a not of this earth being.

For three years she’s done about everything illegal to keep the pod squads secret (This is the nickname given to the three of them, cause the day they came into this world, was from hatching out of these incubation pods. They were alien Hybrids, created by aliens from their world in hopes they’d come and save them from an evil tyrant named Kivar, the man who killed Max, Isabel, Michael and Tess years ago on a far away planet known as Antar. But that’s another long and complicated story). Maria knew if she had to do it all over again, that she wouldn’t hesitate to say yes that she would. They’ve all become friends, and the aliens have done their share of being there for their human friends. But that’s the problem, she could never be herself anymore. That was why she broke up with Michael the last time. She got so caught up in playing this whole cat and mouse game with the FBI agents, and the pod squads enemies known as the skins. She couldn’t really stop and have a life of her own. Her life was Michel’s, Max.’s and Isabel’s.

Though she agreed to go on the run with the gang, mostly because she would miss Liz her best friend in the whole world, but she knew one way or another they (as in the FBI agents) would probably make her and her mother’s life a living nightmare.

When a way was found where they could all live in the real world again, and be done with this whole on the run thing. Maria swore she’d slowly wean herself out of life with aliens. Not that she’d abandon them or anything; she’d always be there for them. However she wanted a relationship with a normal guy. Find a way to get her music career going again, maybe even along the way find the girl she once was before Liz got shot at the Crashdown, before Max healed her and brought the chaos they now know into their lives.

No getting involved with Michael again would definitely be a mistake. She could see herself getting sucked into his world again; not that she isn’t now. However she’s thinking of her future. A future of peace and not looking over her shoulder, wondering if that those FBI agents want to do tests on her cause she’s dating an alien. Yeah they may find a way to get out of their present situation, but there will always be other’s. Experience has taught her that.

“Well here it is.” Michael said stopping in front of a turquoise A-Frame house. A chain linked sign hanging from a wooden post, indicated that indeed it was the Ashland Community center.

“It looks like a triangle.” She exclaimed titling her head to look at the house, and added, “And it’s turquoise.”

“It’s an A frame design Maria.” He corrected, the agreed, and “Yes it’s indeed very turquoise.”

“I should be surprise that you knew that, but you’re the guy who quoted Ulysses to me by heart.”

Michael smiled as he remembered the time he kidnapped Maria for the use of her car. He (the night before), broke into the UFO center, found out more about this Atherton guy, and that his Geodesic dome house was in Marathon, Texas. Michael was sure that the key he found in Sheriff Valenti’s (Kyle's Dad) office was too this place. Of course Max being forever cautious wanted to wait and find out more about the place. Michael knew he needed to leave and immediately. However he didn’t have a car and wasn’t about to walk to Texas. It was three hours by car; god knows how long it’ll take him hoofing it.

So he used Maria’s need to finish their history project as an excuse to get her car. She was dropping off one of her mother’s silly Alien souvenirs that she makes; to some gas station out by the highway. So when she got out of the car, to collect the money, he tried to drive off without her. She was quicker than he thought, and had no choice but to drag her along.

Though she told him not to. He went over Eighty and over heated her mom’s Jetta. After much arguing, he notices the hotel down some ways. So he went to get a room. Maria was quick to follow, not really keane on being cold, hungry and left alone in a broken down car by a deserted highway.

He loved the look on Maria’ face when they entered the seedy motel room.

“It's like the porno version of Aladdin.” Maria announced her face scrunched in disgust.

“At least it's warm.” Michael offered, not quite sure if he should hate her or like her. She really helped him out when the cop pulled her over for speeding. Making up that she had to pee really,really badly after drinking a big gulp. Then there are times when she acts like a total snob. He gets a motel room so they have somewhere warm to sleep in and she still has to complain.

Maria looks at the heart shape bed with the fake red velvet bed spread and balked, “I don't even want to think about what I could catch in here.”

MICHAEL having enough of her snootiness exclaimed, “You know, if you stop being such a princess about things-“

“Princess?” Maria shouted, as she angrily spun around to face him, waving a finger in his face she continued, “ No, no, I think I've been a pretty good sport up until now. However, I'm cold, and I'm hungry, and I'm in some nookie motel with a guy I--I barely even know, and I...and I just--I really want to go home right now.

Michael decided that she was right. He was the one who hijacked her and Maria’s mother’s Jetta so he could go on his vision quest. She did help him out even after all of that. The least he could do was try and understand what she must be going through. With a sigh he pick up his jacket that he threw on his bed and said, “Why don't you stay here? I saw some vending machines outside. I'll go see what they have. Lock the door.”

After pigging out on Vending machine Junk food. Maria decided to work on their history project. There was a list of questions, cause the teacher wanted the students to find the history of the person they were interviewing. One of the questions was his favorite book. When he said James Joyce’s Ulysses, she didn’t believe Michael…

“ Ok, favorite book?” She asked, Maria got comfortable on the bed, while Michael pulled a chair nearer to the bed.

“James Joyce...Ulysses.” He answered quickly, taking a big bite of a Hershey bar, covered in Tabasco sauce.

Maria shook her head in disbelief and countered, “You have not read Ulysses.”

Michael with a huge grin on his face was going to enjoy proving her wrong. Clearing his throat he began to recite, "What incensed him the most was the blatant jokes of the ones who pass it all off as a jest, pretending to understand everything and in reality not knowing their own minds." Page 655...told you, you wouldn't understand. Next question.

Dumbstruck, Maria threw her pen and paper in the spot in front of her as she asked, “All right, if you're so smart, then how come you fail every class in school?”

“What number is that?” Michael asked

“It's my own personal question, ok?” Maria countered

“ I don't answer personal questions, ok?” He re-countered, with a scowl

“All right, fine. Then maybe it's the answer to number 16.” Maria replied in desperation, picking up the paper and asked, “ What are you afraid of?”

“I hate this. This is stupid.” Michael protested, obviously Maria hit a sore spot, but that didn’t mean he was going to reveal all.

“All right, how about just one personal question? You know, since I didn't turn you in back there.” Maria suggested, trying to guilt trip him into revealing more of himself to her. She oddly enough found Michael to be quite the interesting character. Plus he’s pretty cute. “Why is it so important to you to find out where you come from?”

“ Because there's gotta be something better out there for me than Roswell, New Mexico. “ Michael reluctantly answered, having no idea why he is. Something about this girl made him want to say and do things that he’s been trying to avoid all of his life. What is it about this girl that made him go against his better judgment? He looked at Maria, and she had this smirk on his face, which enraged him, who does she think she is laughing at him, after he open up to her? “You think that's funny. “

Maria shaking her head, realizing he was getting the wrong impression began to explain herself, “ No, no. It's just, um...when I was a kid, I used to stay up at night and, um, make up stories about my father...you know, and who he was and.…What he was doing. And they all ended exactly the same way. He would come in a limo and pick my mom and me up and take us off to some exotic place where we'd live like royalty. Because, you know...I thought to myself...there's got to be something better out there for me than Roswell, New Mexico.

Michael grinned himself realizing that maybe the two of them wasn’t so different after all, “ Substitute a spaceship for a limo, and you know what I mean. “

Maria began to stifle a yawn as she replied, “ Yeah. I...I'm, uh, I'm getting kind of tired. “

Michael nodded his head, looking at Maria in a whole different light, “ Yeah. It's been a long day, huh?

Maria nodded in agreement and, ”Yeah.”

Michael thinking that since they bonded that maybe she would share the bed with him, he asked, “I don't suppose we could share?”

Maria got up from the bed and stood face to face with him. TO Michael’s point of view it appeared she was going to kiss them, then she announced huskily, “ Not if you were the last alien on Earth.”

“Yo, Michael are you even listening to me?” Came Maria’s voice bringing him back to the present.

Michael shook his head, wondering how long he stood there spacing out like an idiot. “I’m sorry, I’ve been not getting much sleep…What were you saying?”

“I said…” Maria asked shaking her head in frustration, “…What made you read about different architecture?”

“Well after I found out about Atherton’s Geodesic dome house, and that even though we failed in getting answers cause the FBI got the files we took from Atherton’s house in Marathon… I don’t know I kind of thought that if I look at oddly design houses long enough I’d get another vision.” Michael offered looking at Maria who was grinning at him. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “What? Am I that lame?”

“No you’re not lame.” Maria said softly shaking her head and, “You just wanted to find out who you were. Why they sent you here on earth? You wanted to know what your purpose was.” Maria wrapped her arms around him and gave him a huge hug. Michael couldn’t help but discreetly smell her hair. It was of lavender and whatever Aromatheropy oils she was sniffing that day. She looked up at him and added, “No matter if you’re an alien from another planet, or a home grown earthling. Everyone wants to find a reason to belong Michael.”

Michael smiled at her kind words and after a quick kiss on top of her head said, “Thank you for saying that Maria.”

“Yeah well don’t think I’m always going to encourage your heat of the moment actions, but some of them kind of was…well…worthy.” She grinned, pulling away from him and looked at the house again. “It doesn’t look very big.”

“No it doesn’t.” Michael answered, shaking his head, “but I know from reading the research materials Liz gave us that the house does extend out further behind the house. It’s kind of on a hill, so we don’t see everything from where we are. It’s suppose to be quite impressive I hear.”

“Huh?” Maria replied, a bit curious and, “Well then I guess we better get this mission started.” She held out her arm, and Michael willing hooks his through hers. They began to walk down the path that would lead them to the double glass doors of the center.

Michael almost felt like he was walking down the path of his future. Like great and amazing things are about to happen. As long as Maria is in it with him, he didn’t care what else happens.

TBC

Heres my update finally. Enjoy. Thanks for everyone's FB and having Patience! YOu guys are the best!!!

Peace CArolyn

Part 7 ~ Two of us ~ By Carolyn Sawyers

“So that’s the nickel tour.” Jacob Kane announced gleefully, they were in front of a door that had his name on it. So all considering, it would appear to be his office. “Anyone got any questions?”

“Yeah when are we starting?” Maria asked, her arms folded across her chest. She enjoyed the tour of Jacob’s community center and was amazed about all the work His Grandmother mother and Jacob himself have put into the place. It would be just awful if Eric Cole wins this battle and tears down this great place so that another strip mall can be built for the consumer masses.

“Well you can start in a few days if you like. Give you some time to prepare and all, but tonight I’m throwing a little soirée for all the new volunteers, though not many and the ones who have decided to stick with the Ashland community center until the end.” Jacob announced, taking out a set of keys to open his office door. Swinging it open he gestured for the two to enter, “Come on in…I also invited all of the board members from the Janice Difranco foundation. Hopefully we'll impress them enough to show that we are not going anywhere…well that’s what I hope to convey to them anyway.”

Michael and Maria entered the cramp and very cluttered office, both taking the two chairs in front of Jacob’s desk.

Light filled the room as Jacob before entering his office flick the switch near the door. He quickly entered the room and went directly to his desk. He remains standing as he asked, “So are you guys in?”

“For the party or for the volunteer position?” Michael asked feeling a little lost.

“Well both actually.” Jacob answered, finally taking a seat.

He looked at Maria who shook her head. A party is definitely in order. They haven’t been to any real social functions since being on the run, well if you count the one time the all stopped at some very seedy bar so that they could do a round of Karaoke. Maria was so elevated that night. Singing has always made Maria happy.

Michael shook his head and replied, “Yeah we’re in.”

Jacob slapped the desk with his hand triumphal and declared, “Great, party is at 7:30, it’s casual, but you know not too casual.”

“Got it.” Maria said, having a hard time to contain her excitement.

“So anyway, I also wanted to ask you about your living arrangements.” Jacob inquired, opening a side drawer and began to rummage through it’s contents.

“Well were at the Motel 8, right on the strip. We haven’t really thought that far.” Michael answered, watching as Jacob intently search for whatever he was looking for.

“Yes, you told me you were just passing through with some friends.” Jacob remembered, looking up briefly and smiled at the two, then went back to his search. “Now I’m glad that you guys want to help, but you do know that this doesn’t pay that you’re going to need to find jobs.”

“Yeah we’re aware of that.” Maria answered, giving Michael a sidelong look, making funny faces at him.

Michael afraid that Jacob would look up to see Maria goofing around, shot her a would-you-behave look

“Found it!” Jacob announced, looking up from the drawer. Maria and Michael immediately sat front and center, sitting rigidly in their seats, hoping they were not caught in the act.

He threw a set of keys across the desk. They landed with a thunk, inches from the end. Michael and Maria looked at them in confusion.

“Those are to the center, and the apartment in the back. You can move in tonight.” Jacob replied pleased with himself.

Michael took the keys. At a lost for words with Jacob’s kindness.

Maria spoke for him as she uttered in disbelief, “Jacob this is-well gracious of you.”

“Well I felt kind of responsible for detouring your little road trip. I know getting an apartment is hard to do and expensive. I mean the apartment has electricity, heat and hot water, but if you want cable or a phone you’ll have to put that in when you have enough money saved, but since I’m sure this is only temporally for you. There is however a TV with cable in the Rec. room at your disposable along with the phones…I appreciate you coming on and helping me out with my little cause.” Jacob said quickly, doing that babbling, rambling thing he does so well. “I know the diner across the street is hiring a waitress-“ Maria gave Michael an oh-great-I’m-going-to-forever-be-a-waitress-look as Jacob said this. “…As for you Raymond, my Uncle runs the hardware store in town and is looking for night help, stocking and cleaning that kind of thing. I can give you a high recommendation.”


“Thank you.” Both Michael and Maria said at the same time.

“No problem. Mrs. Cantrell who runs the diner will be here tonight, so I’ll sing your praises Yolanda, ah I mean Lana.” He corrected getting a huge grin from her; he looked at Michael and continued, “Regarding my Uncle, I can talk to him first thing in the morning on your behalf Raymond. If you like you can come with me to his shop.”


Michael shook his head gratefully as he responded, “Yeah I can do that, again thank you.”

“Wonderful, so you guys go and get your stuff from the motel. Find some party duds and I’ll see you in the Rec. Room at 7:30 tonight.” Jacob declared joyously, standing as Michael and Maria got up from their seats.

Michael held out his hand, and Jacob took it, as they shook hands Michael said, “Thanks this is kind of you.”

“I can say the same thing. I can’t pay you so this is the least I can do.” Jacob replied laughing, letting go of Michael’s hand he gestured it towards his door and said, “Now get out of here. I’ll see you tonight.”

Walking numbly out the office door, Maria clutches onto Michael’s arm. The both were silent as they made their way out of the building. Only talking when they were outside walking back to their motel room.

“Can you believe this Michael our own apartment, and no charge!” Maria exclaimed, jumping into Michael’s arms. At first He was a bit shocked, but soon his arms wrapped around her, enjoying the warmth softness of her body next to his.

“I guess its karma the good kind.” Michael said softy into her ear, closing his eyes and inhaling the lavender sent of her hair.

Pulling away quickly and catching Michael off guard as she grabbed his hand and practically dragged him back to the motel. “I can’t wait for tonight! An actual party I mean I know it’s just some silly ass kissing feast, but who cares. OOO…” Maria said suddenly, stopping short in her tracks, nearly causing Michael to trip over his feet and fall, “…I hope there’s like music! Oh Michael I hope there is and dancing!” She exclaimed dreamily, clapping her hands, she looked at Michael and gave her those big sad puppy dog eyes of hers and knew exactly what she was going to ask him, “ Michael please-“

“I would be honored to dance with you. In fact if you want to dance all night, I’m am but you willing servant.” Michael answered enjoying the shock look on her ace. It’s been documented in the past how he hated dancing. Well he hated it cause he really couldn’t dance well.

During Prom season he refuse to go because he didn’t want to look like an ass yet again in front of Maria. He tried taking dancing lessons from this dance teacher name Juanita and Maria thought he was cheating on her with an older woman. Of course that was far from the truth and Michael actually enjoyed one of the few moments that he was right and she was wrong. He ended up going to the Prom anyway telling her why he didn’t want to go. The rest of the night she was teaching him how to dance. Patient enough that he could actually go through an entire dance without stepping on her toes.

“You hate dancing.” Maria reminded him.

“Yes I do.” He concurred shaking his head.

“Yet you’re going to spend an entire evening doing it.”

“Yes.”

“I want to say what have the pod people done with the real Michael Gurien, but you are a pod person.” Maria said jokingly, after a moment’s pause she asked, “Did you fall on your head at some point that I wasn’t aware of?”

“Ah no.” Michael answered shaking his head and laughing.

“Ok I was just wondering.” She asked, raising a suspicious eyebrow, as they began to walk again back to the motel.

“God what to wear.” Maria said, knowing she’ll probably wear the same skirt she has on cause it’s the only nice thing she’s really got. Maria will probably change into her only other nice shirt; it was a tan peasant blouse.

“We can go shopping after we move our stuff into the apartment.” Michael suggested, causing Maria to stop in her tracks again. At the rate they were going they’re never going to get back to the motel.

“Did the word shopping escape from your mouth?” Maria asked, standing in front of him, her palms lay flat against his chest.

“We don’t have to go if you don’t want to.” Michel said all matter of factly.

“Oh course I want to go.” She exclaimed, whacking him hard on the shoulder.

“Ow.” Michael cried, clutching the arm she assaulted, and “I have the right mind to change my decision.”

“You do that and your other arm is going to get smacked!” She threaten pointing a finger at him, then sighed sadly and asked, “Michael do we really have the money to go shopping.”

“Maria,” he said in a whisper, “You forget I have this power that can make me manipulate the molecular structure of things.” He shoved his hand in his pocket, pulling out two, one-dollar bills, the only money he knew they had. Maria watched that as he crumpled the paper in his hands a few seconds later, he pulled the two bills apart for Maria to see that they were now one hundred-dollar bills.

“Michael you know what max says about doing that. Only if there’s an emergency.” Maria whispered through grit teeth, glancing around all paranoid.


“Max isn’t here, besides…” Michael said defiantly, “…I think this is considered an emergency.”

“Awa, Michael that’s so sweet.” Maria replied, walking into his arms and kissing his cheek. He stood still as she moved back slightly and for a moment, the two locked stares. The town of Ashland disappearing. Michael could hear his heart pound and knew sweat was beading on his forehead. He swore her head was moving towards his. He remembered how amazing soft her lips felt, so warm and lip-gloss sweet. Should he dare try and kiss her? Every muscle in his body was tense and just when he finally decided he was going to go for it. Maria pulled away suddenly causing the moment to evaporate like rain on a summer’s day.

“Oh kind of spaced it there for a moment.” Maria stuttered he could tell she felt it too, that intense moment, but she was holding back. He didn’t blame her. There was plenty of time for him to win her over. He’ll just have to be patient.

“Yeah, I mean we haven’t had lunch yet.” Michael replied, playing along with her denial…for now.

TBC

Hey everyone!

Sorry for the delayed updates. Everyone knows that my computer is being a pain in the ass.

Peace CArolyn



Part 8 ~ Two of us ~ By Carolyn Sawyers

It took just twenty minutes to pack, go back to the center and get settled into the new apartment. With only two huge hiker back packs holding the only possessions they own, made it that much easier.

The one room apartment was on the third floor in the very back of the community center. There was a back entrance and if you followed the stone path, it’ll lead you to the tall wooden fence that blocked the back of the house from the street. Opening the gate, you’d be right in the front lawn of the Ashland Community center.

The second way to get to their apartment was through the kitchen. In the back of the kitchen a flight of stairs took you to the apartments. Jacob was on the second floor, Michael and Maria had the third floor, there was another apartment on Michael and Maria’s landing, but it was empty.

AS promised, Michael took Maria shopping. Nicole Harper, the community center’s soap opera watching, receptionist was very helpful in directing the two to the nearest mall.

“You’ll have to take a bus over to the next town. It leaves from across the street every hour.” Nicole said, filing her nails. They had to wait until her soap went on commercial break before they could even talk to her. “If you hurry you can catch the next bus in about five minutes. Make sure you have exact change, the drivers are insane about that.”

Five minutes later, Michael and Maria were cruising along, taking the seats in the back of the bus, and watching the scenery pass them by.

Maria was anxiously bouncing in her seat, pointing out some houses to Michael that she thought was gorgeous.

Twenty Minutes later, the bus driver kamikaze style entered the Mall parking lot. Bearly letting them gets off the bus before he pealed out of the parking lot.


“Jesus, let’s make sure we’re here early, I can see us missing the bus.” Maria exclaimed, opening the door to the mall.

“Yeah, good idea, they don’t like to stick around long.” Michael agreed laughing.

Their mall experience lasted about four hours. Mostly because Maria was in her element and loved that she was shopping for clothes. There would’ve been a time when Michael a very intolerable being to long hours of mindless shopping, like most men are, would’ve have complain hours ago. However he’s a new Michael and any time with Maria was a pleasure. Never again is he going to take for granted quality time with Maria.

Even Maria, was surprise at his lack of protesting.

“Are you okay?” Maria asked, as she rummages through a shirt rack in the Gap.

He was watching Maria the whole time, and when she acknowledged him, he snapped out of the hypnotic state a bit surprised, “Yeah why?”

“Well it’s 2:30.” Maria explained, pointing to her watch.

He looked at her for a moment, then gently grabbed her wrist so he could look at the time. He looked back at her and said nonchalantly, “Well indeed it is.”

“Well we’ve been here for almost two hours now and you’ve not acted impatient, grouchy, in fact you’ve been an down right gentleman.” Maria explained raising a curious eyebrow, a hand on her hip, as her other held a few chosen dress shirts. “What’s wrong with you?”

“There’s nothing the matter with me.” Michael answered, laughing, Maria shot his a disbelief look and Michael defended him self by exclaiming, “What I can be patient.” Maria’s eyebrow went higher in disbelief, “What I can’t suddenly realize that shopping is not all that bad.”

“Right that’s a good one.” Said a sales clerk from right behind him, “A man enjoying shopping, hee, hee, hee.” The lady giggled as she walked away. Causing Maria to give him an-I-told-you-look.

“Find you know what, I’m hungry.” Michael announced, hating to be stereotyped, he added, “I’m going to McDonalds.”

“Ah ha! See I knew you hated being here.” Maria said, accusingly, waving a finger at him.

“No I didn’t say that, but obviously you think I don’t so why don’t I just leave and let you believe that everything that you think about how I feel is true.” Michael said a bit pissed off. Before turning on his heal to leave he mumbled, “I’ll be at the food court, meet me there.”

Leaving Maria stunned and confused as she watched Michael disappear in the crowd outside the gap.


It was 6:45 and Michael finished tying up his brand new pair of Doc Martin boots. Maria was in the bathroom and still taking a shower.

He looked in the mirror over the couch and smoothed out the front of his brand new button up shirt. It was a rust brown and it went well with his brand new black khaki pants.

“Maria!” Michael screamed as he made his way to the bathroom door and started pounding on it. “Is your goal to make sure no one in Ashland will ever be able to take a warm shower for the next two weeks. Come on already it’s almost show time!”

A few minutes later he heard the shower shut off, then some movement and it surprised him when the door swung open and Maria had a towel wrapped around her head, and was in nothing but a very thin, not so decent black silky robe.

“Must you bang on the door like a mad man?” Maria exclaimed, her hands in fists on her hips.

“Ah-well-I was-just –ah-well anxious to leave and ah-well it’s getting late.” Michael stuttered, feeling his face heat up. He averted his head feeling kind of weird to see Maria half-naked in front of him. Though it was making him also very aroused and wanting to do nothing but take her in his arms and carry her over to the bed and to say hell with the party and have their own private one.

“Is that what you’re wearing.” Maria asked, bringing him out of his naughty thoughts.

Michael looked down at his Ensemble then at Maria, making sure he was focused on her face, and not her scantily covered breasts and asked, “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

“Well to what I usually see you in nothing.” Maria answered and added, “But Michael we need to be respectful looking. We need to impress those uptight board people out of their socks.”

Michael watched as she walked into the bedroom. A few minutes later she came out with a garment bag in one hand and a pair of black shoes in the other.

“Where did you get this?” Michael asked, as he watched her unzip the bag to reveal a very nice black suit.

“When you went to McDonalds. I don’t know how I got it in the bag without you seeing it. I wanted to surprise you.”

“Maria this is very nice.” Michael said, taking the suit from her, then added, “Well it would’ve been nice if you’ve done it a bit earlier, it’s getting late.”

“Ah we’ll make it on time.” Maria said, waving her hand without a care, “Go put it on.”

“Okay.” Michael said shaking his head. Maria went back to the bathroom to get dress.

Twenty minutes later with ten minutes to spare, Michael was in his suit. It fit him perfectly. He always appreciated Maria’s good fashion sense. She was right, if this mission was to be successful; they needed to make as many good impressions with the board members.

Now if he can only get this tie on without it looking like a five-year-old did it.

He heard the squeak of the bathroom door opening, and Michael’s jaw dropped to the ground.

Maria stood there looking all kinds of sexy in a spaghetti strap dress that went just past her knees. It was sheer and black and Michael was definitely happy that he broke the rules about using his powers to get more money so he could see Maria in that dress.

“Having problems with the tie?” Maria asked walking up to him. All he could do was shake his head. Maria smiled, obviously she was aware that he approved in how she look. You would’ve been blind if you couldn’t see the look on his face. She took the two ends of the tie from his hands and said, “Here let me.”

“Thank you.” Michael answered softly; looking down at her as she expertly worked the tie into a perfect knot around his neck.

“You’re welcome.” She replied, straightening the tie then took a few step backs to admire her work. Smoothing out his jacket she said, “I love it when you wear a suit”

“Really.” Michael said, raising an eyebrow, storing that little fact in his head for future reference.

“Yes, you look so handsome, especially tonight.” Maria said softly, looking up at him with a drop-dead smile.

Michael gave Maria a half grin and asked, “I’m handsome?”

“Yes, you clean up so very well.” Maria said, in almost a whisper, her hands stopped moving and were flat against his chest, looking up at him with brown puppy dog eyes.

“That’s good to know.” Michael whispered, framing her face with his hands. Leaning in closer to her mouth.

Her lips parted invitingly, her head arched back so that there was no question about what she wanted from him.

Deciding not to be afraid anymore, Michael gently took her lips with his. It was like he remembered it, yet somehow better. He kissed her with everything he had inside of him. The longing, the passion, the hope and possibility of them being together, yet the most important thing he was telling her with his lips, was that he loved her and that he never stopped.

Her arms went around his neck; Michael’s hands went from her face down to her waist. He brought her closer, and their bodies just as he knew it would, fitted perfectly together.

His head began to spin, and his heart pounded faster. Flashes of Maria’s life passed before his eyes…The red sneakers, the Dalmatian, the first time he kissed her and every single one after that. He wasn’t planning on stopping, but Maria had decided for the both of them.

He slowly opens his eyes, daring to look at her hoping that everything wasn’t ruined. Letting out a long and frustrated sigh, Michael saw in her eyes the one thing he feared the most… regret.

HEy everyone,

Sorry it's been a while.

PArt b next post.

Peace CArolyn

Part 9a ~ Two Of Us ~ By Carolyn Sawyers

Maria stole a quick glance over at a section of the Rec. room that had rows of metal chairs. There sat Michael acting like a wallflower, his face was in his trademark scowl, his body language making it pretty obvious that he rather be anywhere but here.

Maria sighed to her self, clutching her napkin wrapped drink in both hands, thinking about the kiss they’d shared but hours ago, and not about the subject matter that was being discuss between the group of people that she meet this evening. They were also volunteers of the community center.

The kiss was a pleasant memory of the past, and a possibility of what could be. Its familiarity scared her, not sure why after all her protesting of the relationship that until that kiss was consider to be a happy memory.

How fickle she suddenly has become. Early today before they even went to the mall, she was swearing up and down that never again would Michael mean anything to her than a friend. Well that kiss changed everything.

Maria could still feel his soft lips on hers, his tongue playfully teasing hers. His hands moving up and down her body. Then she just pulled away confused and regretful. Well regretful that it took her this long to finally figure out how much she really does love Michael and how much she needs to be with him.

Well as she was silently becoming aware of her feelings, Michael was looking at her. He was angry, and the fact that she pulled away from their kiss and was just standing there not saying anything, feed Michael’s fears. Maria wanted to tell him what she was really feeling, but she was too much in shock to even begin to form the right words to say.

“What was that?” She finally manages to blurt out, realizing too late that maybe it wasn’t the right phrase of words to come up with.

“A kiss Maria.” Michael answered back coldly, then added, “But from your lack of enthusiasm, I’m thinking that this was just nothing but a big mistake in your eyes…”

“Wait Michael-“

Michael continued his rant, totally ignoring Maria’s protests, “…In fact, I’m sure you were just caught up in the moment. I was here you were here. I mean what’s a little harmless tongue hokey between friends right!”

He shook his head angrily, and he paused, just long enough for Maria to reply, “Michael you’re totally overreacting over this?” again, Maria knew immediately after saying those words, they were the wrong ones.
What is wrong with her?

“Why? Because I haven’t stopped loving you that I wanted tonight to be special and…Oh just forget it Maria, I promise I won’t kiss you ever again.”

That was when he turned on his heals and stormed out of the apartment. Swinging the door open. It banged loudly against the wall, remaining open.

He still loved her. Maria’s heart melted, and then realizes that she needed to talk to Michael. He so had the wrong idea about what she was feeling.

“Wait Mi-Raymond, where are you going?” Maria screamed after him, standing just outside their apartment door.

“Downstairs to the party.” What was all that Michael say. His voice is beginning to sound very distant.

Maria shaking her head, deciding she was going to fix this mess. Going quickly back inside the apartment, Maria grabbed her small black purse and the sheer Shaw that came with her dress off the couch and ran after him.

Arriving at the REC, room. Maria scoped out the area, trying to find Michael’s closely shaven blond head. Craning her neck and looking ever which way. Maria smiled when she finally saw him at the buffet table. Loading up a plate and not looking at all happy. Maria began to walk through the sea of people, saying “Excuse me, ‘ “Pardon Me,’ “Coming through.”

Michael turned around as she reached him. He seemed like he was going to smile, but quickly changed his mind.

“Raymond we’ve got to talk.” Maria replied, remembering to use his alias in public.

“Yolanda, I think now is not the time to be airing out our life’s drama’s.” Michael said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “Besides, I think everything has been said that needed to be said upstairs. So let’s just pretend like it never happen and just concentrate on Jacob and his center okay.”

“Raymond, everything has not been said cause you’ve not let me say anything. Don’t I have a side to tell?” Maria asked, feeling rather frustrated. God but he can be a stubborn pig headed bastard.

“Oh wait I’m sorry.” Michael said through gritted teeth, “Am I suppose to listen to your excuses on how you’re sorry that we kissed and how you’re going to stand there and tell me that you felt nothing and that it was a mistake and that the only thing that we are is friends. No I get it Ma- ah I mean Yolanda…so just leave me the hell alone.”

“No You-“

“Hey you guys are here.” Came Jacob’s voice out of the blue. The two turned towards him and both gave them an unintentionally irritated ‘What?” Look.

Suddenly feeling the overwhelming tension that swarmed around them like a dense fog. Jacob scrunched his face up in concern and asked, “Should I leave and come back later?”

Michael said, “No.” As Maria at the same time said, “Yes.”

“Okay that was confusing. I’m going to leave now.” Jacob decided feeling all kinds of awkward weirdness.

Just hours ago he saw these two content and happy with each other. Jacob knew that the two claimed to be nothing but friends, but he definitely saw something more floating around the two of them. Now well something happen and it wasn’t good. Maybe he should pull Raymond aside later and ask him what’s up.

“No I’m going to leave now.” Michael declared, glaring at Maria before he took his plate heaping with food away to a row of metal folding chairs.

Maria closed her eyes, averting her face away as if Michael had physically slapped it. Jacob looked at Raymond a cloud of anger threatening to explode over her head. Then at Yolanda who looked like she was trying not to cry? He wanted to ask her if she was okay. However he bit his lip knowing just by looking at her that she wasn’t. So instead he’ll just avoid his curiosity and just announce what he came over here to tell her.

“Well ah Mrs. Cantrell is here. She’s anxious to-“

“Great lead the way.” Yolanda interrupted, putting on a brave face, but her misty eyes, gave away her true emotions. She was sad and in a lot of pain.

So here is where we started…With Maria trying not to cry and concentrate on the conversation that’s taking place. Wanting to leave and talk to Michael but every time she thinks she’s free, someone else comes up and introduces them selves.

Maria sighed as her facade of a smile is plastered on her face. It’s going to be a long night.