Chapter Thirty One

It was one of those things where everything you believed in vanished within a blink of an eye. Some people never know what that’s like. I've been through it twice now. First with my dad dying and now with Michael. The two men I've ever trusted and one died on me the other lied to me.

The couch was comfortable, but I was alone and I was pissed. I didn't know if sleep would even find it's way to me tonight or not. I guess it really didn't matter. I didn't know what I was going to do. All the lies. All the bullshit that had come from that mans mouth, I wanted to scream. I probably would have if I didn't think I'd scare the hell out of Isabel and Alex.

I shook my head and sat up. I snuggled under the blankets and tried to make sense of everything. I mean, in the world I used to know, none of this would make sense. How many people have to sit down and really consider the possibility that they know aliens let alone are in love with one? I never imagined anything like this happening.

When I woke up in Section and was told I was going to be an alien hunter, I had no clue that it would ever turn out to be like this. I never thought my supervisor would be an alien. I never imagined the man I had given my heart and soul to would be from another planet. Pod? He was hatched from a pod. I don't know if I could get past that. God, a streetwise girl like me can only take so much sci-fi bullshit before she blows. I glanced across the darkened room to my suitcase. Everything I needed was in there. I could leave now and take my chances alone. How was I supposed to ever be able to trust Michael again?

I reconsidered leaving, it was entirely too comfortable on the couch. I wondered if Michael was asleep or if he was agonizing how bad he fucked up with me. I couldn't understand why he didn't tell me truth. Did he really think I was going to freak out if he told me he was an alien? Okay, yeah, I would have. Would I have still slept with him? I couldn't even think about that right now. But would I have still fallen in love with him? Yeah, I think I would have.

Maybe.

I couldn't answer anything right now. My mind was severely clouded with the illusions he'd made me fall into. All the things he'd said to me, could I believe him or not? He told me he loved me. I heard him say it and I believed him when he did, but now it's all different. Everything has changed now. Same thing as I thought before, the old rules don't apply. I didn't see Michael and I changing the covers on a bed together anymore. Right now I couldn't even see us in the same house, let alone room.

Those stupid tears fell and I cursed myself. I couldn't let them win, not now. Sure, I had made the sacrifices but for what? Did I really see a future with Michael in it now? I laughed and covered my mouth. Then I couldn't stop. There was absolutely zero to laugh about, but I couldn't help it. The absurdness of the situation was unbelievable. How could I turn my feelings on and off so easily?

Michael was still Michael and yeah, I still was so in love with him it made my head hurt. I pushed Michael thoughts away and centered my attention on Isabel. She had said they were pretty much like me, and I could see that. I would have never guessed she was an alien. She seemed like the epitome of an all human woman. If I wouldn't have seen her use her alienesque powers to cure Michael from a fucking bullet wound I would have never believed it. But she did and I saw it and I believed it.

Right now I believed in everything. I believed in ghosts, werewolves, the freakin' Bermuda Triangle and crop formations. If it was possible then I was firm believer in it. I also believed that my boyfriend was an alien. I could do this; I nodded to myself. Look at Alex and Liz. They love their aliens and so could I. That's when I realized that I did still love him as much as I had earlier. I loved him with all my heart. But I didn't trust him. Not yet. I prayed that I'd be able to again. He gave me his trust and I defended it. I gave him mine and he used it. I knew we'd have to talk about it and I'll listen to him. That was all I could promise myself right now. Anything more and it would be a lie.

"I thought you'd still be awake." Isabel. Anyone else and I would have jumped out of my skin. She walked over to me and sat down. She was wearing a pair of men's pajamas, but on her they looked incredibly sexy. I felt embarrassed in my stupid yellow nightgown. I offered her part of the blanket and she accepted. "You're not going to sleep too good tonight are you?"

I shook my head. "Probably not."

"I didn't think so. Alex was out as soon as his head hit the pillow," she paused. "I know Michael's awake."

"Do you know, like alien know…?" I tried not to smile.

"I heard him," she laughed. "He's tossing and turning and mumbling."

Oh. I nodded and was at a loss for words. It was reassuring to know he wasn't sleeping like a baby, though. If I knew he was tossing and turning for me and not because of this whole 'I found the other aliens' thing it would be better.

"You're a good actress," Isabel said. "You had me fooled. You had us all fooled, well, except Liz. She thought there was more to you when she met you. Then when Michael came she was adamant about it. I really thought he was your brother. You two had a certain kind of chemistry. But now I know where that came from," she winked and I blushed. "The way you two acted around each other was amazing. I mean I was convinced and I'm usually more leery of people than the others." I let her talk. "When I went out with Michael and you and Kyle showed up, I was so happy. I was so happy that you and Kyle had gotten together."

"How did you find out that we weren't who we said we were?" I asked. No one had mentioned how they knew we weren't related.

"Max and Liz. They spied on you and caught you kissing outside." Isabel raised her eyebrows.

I nodded. I remembered our mistake. "It was a stupid thing to do considering…"

"When Max told me, I didn't believe him. We fought about it and I wouldn't believe him. I didn't want to believe him. I had trusted you Maria and I felt like you had used me." Isabel shook her head and I felt a little lower than a slug. "I guess I was partially right."

"No." I shook my head vehemently. "You weren't right. I didn't use you. I didn't even know it was you until last night. I didn't want to hurt anyone I was just doing a job..."

"I know," she smiled and it made me feel good. "I guess Kyle and I both saw the real you peeking through your acting skills. We both liked you, we both still do, there's just so much I don't understand. I know this was a lot for you to take in tonight. No, actually I guess I don't. Michael never told you he was…like us?"

"No, but a heads up might have been nice." I laughed.

"You work together and obviously play together and you were here to help him find us, so how could you not know?"

I weighed my options and decided the truth was the best one here. I wanted Isabel to trust me again, I know on some level she still did, but I also wanted to restore faith in myself. "I haven't known Michael all that long and we've never worked together before this." I took a deep breath and told her my story. I left out a few things, like the nightmares and real information about Section, but otherwise, I told her the truth.

"Oh God…" She raised her hand to her mouth when I was finished. "Maria, you poor thing…"

"No, I'm okay. Don't feel sorry for me." I yawned. "I'll be okay. I think we're friends and I wanted you to know the truth."

"We are friends Maria." Aww…My mind at ease. "It's going to be okay, I really think it is. I don't want you and Michael to go, but…"

Go? I didn't want to go either and especially not with Michael. I was willing to stay curled up on this couch for a very long time. I could live here happily with Isabel and Alex. Now they wouldn't have to get a dog, they could have a Maria instead.

"I better let you get some rest, I think tomorrow might be a little harder to absorb, you know, after the shock has worn off and decisions have to be made."

She squeezed my hand and walked away leaving me alone with my thoughts. Decisions to be made and harder to absorb? I could only take so much and I think I hit my breaking point.

I stood up and paced the room. I felt like the girl on the videotape. Pacing back and forth. Alone, scared and hurting. I didn't want to make anymore decisions. They probably weren't my decisions to make anyway. I was on the outside looking in and I hated it.

I looked at my suitcase on the floor and then saw the twinkling of my car keys next to the couch. The temptation to run was too much. I changed quietly and quickly into jeans and a sweatshirt, threw that yellow nightgown on the couch and looked out the front window. Sure as hell, my pony was sitting right out front and I think I heard it calling my name.

I could start over again, right? I had some cash, a lot of cash, and I had valid ID. If nothing else, Rena had taught me how to blend in. I could do it alone. But did I want to? That was a whole other issue. I didn't want to leave the friends I'd made but Michael…Damn him! Why'd he do this to me! Why'd he make me rethink my feelings? My feelings, that were already damaged goods, were the only things I had left and…Damn him!

I paced some more. If Michael had been truthful with me from the start I wouldn't be freaking out right now. I would be past that part and on my way to a happy hidden life with Michael.

I picked up the car keys and slid them in my pocket. I paced some more weighing my options. For once, I did have options. Fuck it. I found a pad of paper by the phone and a pen. My note was simple. Two words: I'm sorry.

I grabbed my purse from the floor and picked up my suitcase. With ninja-like silence, I walked out the front door and quickly loaded my suitcase in the trunk. I got in the car and with a longing look at the house I started the engine and floored it. I'd like to say I didn't look back, but I did. Shit! I slammed the car into park in the middle of the street a few blocks away and wanted to smoke.

"What are you running from DeLuca?" I asked myself and I think I waited for a verbal answer. When I didn't get one I went internal again.

You're acting like a stupid girl. I was and I knew it. I was trying to run away from my problems. God, I wasn't even giving Michael a chance to explain. Who knows, there might actually be a reasonable explanation for everything. Riiiight. I owed it to him to listen, though. I owed him a lot and if listening and then making a decision was how to pay him back, then maybe I should do it.

* * *

Michael jumped out of bed as he heard an engine roar to life. He looked out the bedroom window just in time to see taillights. Mustang tail lights.

"No…No!" He ran from the room and looked at the couch. Empty. His eyes flew towards the door. Only one suitcase remained. Maria was gone. He saw the note and felt his heart break. She was in danger from Section and she ran from the safest place she could have been. And she ran from him.

He sat on the couch and buried his face in Maria's yellow nightgown.

"Where's Maria?" Isabel asked walking in the room and flicking on a light. "Michael?"

"She's gone." He faced her. "She left. She left me."

Chapter Thirty Two

I sat in the car for a while, I don't even know how long, before I turned around and went back to Isabel's. I knew I was busted when I saw the lights on in the living room. Shit. I walked slowly to the front door and pushed it open. I set my purse down and met two pairs of eyes. One pair filled with knowing and the other with relief. The ones full of relief came at me.

Michael wrapped his arms around me and picked me up holding me tight against him. I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around his neck. I couldn't help it. No matter how pissed I was, he felt good. He felt right. This is where I was supposed to be.

"Maria, thank God you're okay," he murmured into my neck. "I got scared. Oh God, why'd you leave?"

Why did I leave? He wasn't seriously asking me that was he? I shook my head and opened my eyes to see the back of Isabel walking away. He set me down and looked at me. I mean, he really looked at me.

"Thank you for coming back, it's not safe…"

"No shit." I pushed away from him and sat on the couch. I picked up my nightgown and held it. Damn! Where was Mr. Bear when you needed him? Michael sat next to me and I scooted away. I was still pissed.

"Maria," he took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"You should be!" I snapped.

"Trust me, I am." He leaned back against the couch and I looked at him.

I saw him candy-coated and full of chocolate. I saw him as I wanted to see him. He was it. He was the one who made me happy, made me feel wanted and needed. And most of all, loved. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't think I could," he met my eyes and my heart broke. "I wanted to, but there was so much. I couldn't find the words to tell you. I told you I searched for you, and I did. There was only one person who could do this job and it was you and you proved it. You found exactly what I was looking for and I'll never be able to thank you enough for that. I don't know how, but you fell right into the middle of them."

"I'm good like that." I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Yeah, you are. I didn't mean to fall in love with you, but I did. It might have been before I even met you. I looked into your past and I knew you were determined, strong and caring." He sighed and the ice around my heart was beginning to thaw. "I've told you before you were the one, and you are. I surrendered myself to you."

"But you didn't tell me the most important part Michael!"

"What if I told you I was scared?"

Scared? "Okay. Of what?"

"Of losing you once I had you. When I looked into your eyes, I knew you loved me. I know you said it over my shoulder a few times too." He smiled and I blushed, big time. "That's when I got scared. How could I tell you I was an alien? I was what you were trained to find? I couldn't tell you and keep you safe. I told you the less you knew the safer you were."

"Section?" Hmm…

"Yes. If you would have freaked out and caused a collapse of this mission, I was done for and so were you. You were expendable, Maria." I could tell in his voice he didn't want to tell me that. "I was trying to keep you safe. I told you I'd die to protect you and I meant it. I think I damn near proved it."

Instinctively I ran my hand over his chest. "I thought you had." I then quickly crossed my arms back over my chest. Damn! If he wasn't so…Michael!

"Me too. And the last thing that went through my mind was I never got the chance to tell you I loved you." He smiled. "Thank God for Isabel and those magic hands, huh?"

Okay, getting a little too flighty about alien abilities now and freaking me out.

"I should have told you, hell, I should have bared my soul to you-"

"The way I did?" I asked bitterly. "The way I told you things that I swore I would take to the grave with me? I let you inside of me and you didn't do the same. You kept secrets from me and lied to me," I held up my hand. "I know you did it to protect me, but it still hurts Michael. Right now I don't even know if I can trust you or not."

"You can, Maria." He uncrossed my arms and picked up my hand and brought it to his lips. "I promise you Maria, my Sweet Maria, I'll never withhold anything from you again. You'll only get the truth from me."

I nodded but couldn't speak. My mind raced with witty comebacks, but they all fell flat. I looked at him and I saw the true him. "Okay." Okay? Was that it? I seriously considered getting my head examined if 'okay' was the best I could come up with.

"Okay?" He asked and I bet he was thinking the same thing.

"Yeah, okay." I nodded. "I have to believe you Michael, I don't have a choice." Shit, here we go. "I don't have anyone in this world except you. I don't have anywhere to go, no family to worry about me. Nothing. All I've had since I woke up at Section was you! I have to take your word for it because it's all I have!"

He wiped at my cheek where I imagine one of those stupid tears was. Damn. I really needed to rethink this whole 'I'm not a crier' attitude. "You do have me. But do I have you?"

Good question. I shrugged. Deep down I knew I was his. Damn! I'd always been his. So my boyfriend was an alien, so what? He was my alien and he was going to damn well stay that way! "Yeah Michael, you have me."

He smiled and it may have been the biggest one yet. I could almost see the happiness surrounding him. His eyes were alive and I knew I made the right decision. Sure, there would be more discussion, but it wouldn't matter. My heart was leading my hand on this one. My hand was leading my brain. My brain was telling my hand to rip that shirt off of him and lick that chest.

"I love you Maria DeLuca," he whispered and pulled me into him. I went willingly and wrapped my arms around his neck.

"I love you Michael Guerin, but we have to get a few things straight first." I kissed the top of his head and heard him sigh. I rolled my eyes and thought under the circumstances he should not be sighing. "I heard the sigh and shut up." I smiled as I met his eyes. "First, is there anything freaky you can do that I should know about?"

"I can do a few things," he winked and I shivered. "I can move things and open things. I can't do what Isabel did or anything close to it either. I guess I got the low end of the alien power scale."

"Okay, we'll work on that. Next, you tell me I have you, but do I really? Will there be any conflict with this new alien family you found? I don't want my heart broken." I almost added again, but decided to skip the dramatics tonight.

"No conflict, Maria. You do have me, all of me." His eyes verified that fact. Good. "Always."
I nodded in approval. "Now what? What do we do now?"

"We leave," he looked down. "We leave tomorrow night and we're not heard from again. After tomorrow night, Maria DeLuca and Michael Guerin don't exist."

Wow. Okay. So I got to pick a new name, I could handle that. "Where do we go?"

"Where do you want to go?"

"Honestly, I'd like to stay here." I looked at him through the tops of my eyes. "But I guess we can't, huh?"

He shook his head. "No, I'm sorry. I wouldn't mind sticking around here for awhile either. But that's not an option. I have to deal with Section tomorrow as Rena online so we'll see how that goes. I'm telling them that she found us and she was right, we had nothing. We were noncompliant and fought her. I tried to protect you and she beat us both."

"Then how do you explain Rena's sudden disappearance?" I couldn't believe I was asking that question. I felt like I was in a spy novel now. My adrenaline was flowing again with the excitement.

"I've been thinking about it and I think I'm going to have her tell Section she's not coming back because of the guilt. The guilt of killing me."

Wow. This was sounding so final. "Will they buy it?"

He shook his head. "Not at first. They'll send some of their operatives down to try to sniff out something, but there won't be anything to sniff out. It's all covered Maria." He tried to reassure me. "I've covered our tracks."

"What about theirs?" I asked. "What about Isabel, Max and Tess?"

"They'll be fine. The mission was bogus and I never turned in anything from you. Their names were never mentioned. You failed the mission Operative DeLuca." He kissed my lips and I knew everything was going to be okay.

I ran my hands along his cheeks. "I really do love you Michael, but if you're holding anything else back from me…" I trailed off when I saw that expression. "What? What else?"

"When I saw her pointing that gun at you I couldn't think," he ran one hand through his hair while keeping the other tight around me. "I saw my life, alone, flash in front of my eyes. Maria, you're mine. You really do belong to me."

As much as I hated being referred to as property, for some reason when Michael said that I knew I was going to be with him forever. Nice.

"You better believe it," I kissed his lips. "So where are we going to go from here?"

"Anywhere you want. The beaches?"

Ooh…The daydreams of naked Michael chest glistening with oil in the baking sun with sand sticking to that perfect body were hitting me like a freaking bulldozer. Beaches. Definitely beaches. I nodded enthusiastically. "Beaches. Must be beaches."

He laughed and slid me off of him. He extended his hand I took it. Man, I knew I'd eventually cave. How could I not? I followed him down the hall to the guestroom and couldn't get out of my clothes fast enough. I slid underneath the blankets and watched as Michael stripped, I don't know if it really was in slow motion or not, but it sure as hell seemed like it to me. I watched him in the dim light from outside as he came to me underneath those wonderfully soft blankets. Then I froze. We had no protection. Damn! Damn! Damn!

"Shit." He whispered. "I'll be back." He slipped his pants back on and I heard him jog into the living room. I heard the zipper of the suitcase and knew we had scored! He walked back in the room and locked the door behind him. I saw that little silver wrapper in his hand and knew I had to get on the pill ASAP.

He mastered that condom and was back next to me in an instant. I felt his warm body against mine and got dizzy. Those soft callousy hands roamed over me leaving nothing ignored. How I ever thought I could run away from this man was beyond me. He was my everything.

He hovered over me and I touched his lips with my finger. "Don't make me feel that way again, okay?"

He nodded and kissed my fingertip. "I promise Maria."

I sighed as he came down on me and crushed me beneath his weight. He stroked my hair out of my face and kissed my forehead. There was nothing softer in this entire world than his full lips. God, I loved those lips. I had to kiss him, that was it. I forced his head down to me and crushed my lips against his. I slid my tongue inside of his mouth and was saturated by warmth and love. This was how it was meant to be. Always.

I rolled him over and straddled him. Had to make a man see who was in charge sometimes. I guided him into me while his hands found new homes on my breasts. I was happy here and now I knew this was where I could stay. Okay, not exactly where I will stay, but close, I hope.

Before I knew it, Michael pulled his own Kama Sutra move on me and he was back on top. I wrapped my legs around his waist as we clasped hands. "Sweet Maria, you'll never know how much I truly love you."

No? I thought I had a pretty good idea.

Chapter Thirty Three

I woke up with Michael's arms holding me against him. This was nice. I think I wanted to wake up this way everyday. I smelled…Pancakes? I nearly jumped out of bed.

"What's wrong?" Michael sat up obviously alarmed. The blankets falling off of him leaving his completely exposed. I was really going to have to get on the pill and pick up more chocolate syrup before too long. My urges were getting uncontrollable.

"Pancakes." I smiled and put the jeans and sweatshirt from last night back on. "Hungry?"

He nodded and got out of bed putting his pants from last night on. He didn't put on a shirt and once again I marveled at that chest. I had to touch it again just to make sure there really weren't any bullet holes "Good as new."

I nodded. "Thank you for what you said to me last night. Those were all things I needed to hear." I stood on my toes and kissed his lips.

"It was all the truth." He pulled me into him as I got another whiff of pancakes.

"We gotta go eat."

We held hands as we walked out of the bedroom and into that sweet-smelling kitchen. Isabel was at the stove and there was a plate of pancakes next to her.

"Smells unbelievably good for…" I glanced at the clock on the microwave. "Lunch." Damn! It was already eleven. I inspected the pancakes a little closer and noticed they were shapes. A stack of oval pancakes and I'll be damned, they had antennas; we were having alien-shaped pancakes for breakfast.

"I thought you two might be hungry," she winked and I know I blushed. Still must work to control the blushing. "Have a seat."

We sat at the table and I noticed a huge bottle of Tabasco sauce next to the maple syrup. I flashed back on Max using it on his burger at the Crashdown. Must be an alieny thing; but I couldn't ever remember Michael using it. Oh well, maybe he held back so he wouldn't gross me out.

Isabel fixed up plates and I watched as Michael grabbed the Tabasco. He looked at me and smiled. "I love this stuff." He poured it on his pancakes and I frowned.

"Yeah, I can see that."

"We all do," Isabel explained taking the bottle from him. "I guess you got everything worked out last night?"

I nodded and Michael smiled. "Thanks for everything Isabel," he smiled at her and I wondered what the hell they had talked about while I was sitting in my car last night. Whatever it was I know I was thanking her for it too.

"Your welcome," she smiled back at him. "Max wants to take you to the pod chamber today…" She trailed off looking at me. "I'm not going, Maria, we can hang out here. You don't have to go if you don't want to."

Sigh of relief. I could accept the fact that Michael was an alien, but to see this 'pod' thing was out of the question. I accepted him for who he was but that didn't mean I'd ever be able to get the image of a pod out of my head. "Cool."

We ate breakfast and eventually Michael and I both took showers. When I got out Michael and Isabel were at the dining room table with Rena's laptop in front of them. I knew the look of labor and took a seat without interrupting.

"So this Section, they're not going to down here for us…Are they?" I heard the hesitation in Isabel's voice. Could I blame her for being nervous?

"They'll come down here and look around. They'll check out Maria's apartment; but that's it. There's nothing to lead them to you," he met her semi-scared eyes. "I promise Isabel. I did everything right." He looked to me. "On that end. You'll be fine."

She nodded and looked convinced. Well, that was easy. Must be some type of alien connection telling her she's safe. Or maybe she just saw the truth in his eyes like I did.

I watched Michael type and eventually close the laptop. "Very strange writing about my death." He nodded. "I don't think I liked doing that too much."

I reached across and touched his hand. "It'll work though, right? Or are we going to have to be on the run for the rest of our lives?" Nervous? Who me? Yeah.

"I don't think so, but we won't be back in D.C. for any reason, ever. We're not going to have to run, but we're going to have to be careful. Section has operatives all over the world and I don't know them all; they add new ones all the time."

"We're still going to have to hide."

He nodded. "We'll be in hiding, but that doesn't mean we have to hang out in a cave. We're going to live a nice semi-normal life…"

"Will we ever see you again? I mean, we just met and you're a part of us, we can't lose you now." Isabel asked quickly. "Either of you."

"You'll see us again, Isabel." I answered for Michael and hoped I wasn't lying. I saw him nod and knew I wasn't. "I don't know if it will be here, but somewhere. I'm not losing you either. Just because I'm actually from this planet doesn't mean I don't care about all of you!"

Isabel stood and hugged me. God, I was going to miss her.

We finished breakfast as Max let himself in the front door followed by Tess. I realized I was looking at them a little differently now that I knew they were both aliens. They didn't look any different than I did. Or Kyle or Alex. God, how could I have ever thought it was Kyle? I smiled to myself.

"You ready to go?" Max asked without even glancing in my direction. Alrighty then, it's a good think I really didn't want to go otherwise I was going to have to get ugly on him.

Michael stood as Isabel and I did. He met my lips and cupped my face. "I'll be back soon, then we have to make our plans. I love you Maria, my Sweet Maria."

"You better," I kissed him back. "After all this, you better."

He smiled and left with Max and Tess. I helped Isabel with dishes and I think my heart nearly stopped when the back door opened. It was Kyle. He hugged me and I didn't want to let go.

"When do you leave? Where are you going?" He asked after prying me off of him.

"Tonight I think and I don't know."

He sat at the kitchen table and had the same look Isabel did. "Will we be able to see you again? At least talk to you?"

I nodded and wanted to cry. This was so not fair. All these years of being alone and now I had a boyfriend who loved me and new friends who cared about me and I was going to have to leave them. Thank God I'll always have Michael. "I promise."

I had a favor to ask Isabel and after a short phone call, it was arranged. Kyle waited at her house while she drove me to her gynecologist. I did have my priorities straight. She waited for me while I was examined and given a prescription. A quick stop at the pharmacy and I now had a year's worth of little pills that would prevent any alien babies. Ahh…Life was good.

We stopped in a few stores and Isabel bought some postcards. In the car she scribbled her name and address on them. She handed them to me. "Send these to me when you get where you're going. So I know you made it there and that you're okay."

I nodded and wiped at my stupid eyes. Damn! We went back to Isabel's and sat around with Kyle. Alex was at school and Isabel explained he didn't take all the 'alien pod chamber' talk to well sometimes. I knew I liked him.

"Where are you going?" Kyle finally asked.

I shrugged with thoughts of sandy beaches and Mai Tai's dancing in my head. "I don't know yet."

"This is bullshit!" Kyle stood up and began to pace. "I'm serious, this is complete bullshit! I don't see why you have to go anywhere!"

Uh-oh. "We can't stay here Kyle, they'll look for us to make sure we're really dead."

"Why did you work for a place like that?" He turned to me with pain in his eyes. Oh God, I didn't want to leave Kyle.

"I didn't have a choice." I gave him the abbreviated version of my life. "That's why."

He let out a deep breath slowly. "Wow. Okay, I understand a little better now. You're a very strong person Maria DeLuca and I'm going to miss the hell out of you." He walked over to me and I stood up for one of those incredible Kyle Valenti hugs. "I still think this is bullshit, but at least it's semi-understandable bullshit."

"I know." I broke away from him and looked at him and Isabel. "I'm going to miss you guys so much! I have to ask you a question though. Was there really a dip in the park?"

Isabel and Kyle looked at each other and grinned. They said it together and I could have sworn it was rehearsed. "A really big fucking dip!"

We laughed about that for a few minutes and then grew sullen again. The three of us sat in silence for a long time. The occasional smile and brow furrowing allowed.

The front door opened and Michael, Max and Tess walked in. Michael looked alive with knowledge and I knew I was going to have to eventually hear all about the chamber; I just hoped it wasn't today. Today was a day of good-byes. Alex and Liz showed up around dinnertime bringing pizzas with them. Michael was at his laptop making plans of some kind. I assumed they were our travel plans.

Dinner was somber. I don't think Michael wanted to leave anymore than I did. He had more to lose by leaving; he'd just found others like him. Others that could help him understand what he was. I shivered on that thought. Michael wasn't a 'what'. He was a who and I loved him. I hoped that was enough to keep him happy. I caught his gazing at me and knew it was more than enough.

He reached for my hand and I squeezed his tight. We were going to be okay. We weren't losing anything by leaving. I think the bonds we'd made with these people in Roswell were strong enough to last a lifetime. Who knows, maybe someday we can come back and visit? Or live? Our future was hanging by an unseen ribbon. We could go anywhere and do anything. Apparently we didn't have to worry about money because Michael was loaded. I was finally on the pill. Our big concern was Section and Michael didn't seem all that worried about them right now. After all, Rena had killed us.

Michael had let me in a little secret. He really had taken care of everything. There were no loose ends to tie up. We were free. Our life together was about to begin and I wasn't nervous at all. I trusted Michael with everything I am and had. I knew from that moment on we'd always have each other. We belonged to each other.

Chapter Thirty Four

-Epilogue-

Now I know why people always say they hate good-byes. They suck. I never had to say good-bye like that before and it hurt. Oh God, it hurt like hell.

I have completely given up saying I'm not a crier. I am. Plain and simple, Maria DeLuca is such a crier. Maybe the old me wasn't a crier, but this one is. The hugs and the kisses and the promises. That's what our last night in Roswell was all about.

I didn't want to leave, but I knew we had to. There was no other choice. Michael and I were running off together to live happily ever after; the key word being live, safely hidden. But when I looked at what we were leaving behind…

Isabel. I was going to miss her so much. In this short time I knew I had a found a friend for life. Someone I could talk girl-talk to and go shopping with. Alex. I didn't know much about him, but I knew I was going to miss that smile. The smile that made my friend Isabel so happy.

Max, Liz and Tess. What could be said about them? Max seemed to be the leader of the aliens and wanted to teach Michael so much. Michael had promised they'd email often and we'd come back to visit as soon as it was safe. Liz? Well, I guess it's good sign that I hadn't referred to her as 'that Liz' since she shook my hand. Yeah, we'd never be good friends, but at least now we could be civil to each other. Tess was Tess. She promised to visit and do colorful things to me. I guess that was the cosmetologist in her talking. Or maybe it was the alien…

Kyle. I was going to miss him as much as Isabel, maybe even a little bit more. What I felt when I was around him was fantastic. There was no threat, there never had been. When he had told me he felt like he had found part of his family in me I knew exactly what he meant. He was the brother I never had. He was the best childhood friend I had lost and found again. He was a part of me. I knew we'd see Kyle no matter wherever we went to, if I ever had a brother I'd want him to be just like Kyle. If I ever get off the pill and have alien babies, I swear I'll name each and every one of them Kyle.

So that's why I'm joining the legions of others that hate good-byes. They do nothing but really fucking suck.

They all watched from the porch as we loaded into the pony that I wouldn't have anymore and drove off into the night.

Michael took my hand as he drove, the cool air whipping through our hair. The night was ahead of us and the past was gone. Erased. Terminated. I smiled as he gave me that little smile I used to hate and raised his eyebrows.

"You know you're stuck with me now," he stated.

"Yeah, " I sighed and then giggled. "I think I can deal."

We drove out of Roswell and I did look back. Several times.

* * *

Well, Isabel and Alex couldn't take it anymore. They got tired of waiting around for the 'wedding of the century' and eloped. They honeymooned down here with us and I've never been happier! Kyle's been here a few times too and promises he'll visit more. Personally, I think he just likes to look at the girly-girls on the beach.

Max and Liz said they'd visit too, but I'm not holding my breath. Michael and Max communicate via the computer daily. He's learning more and more about his alien side and to be honest, I think it's kind of cool. He tries new things out on me and I'm actually impressed if not awed. I still don't want to hear details about the pod chamber, but hell, it's only been two months. Maybe in a few years…

This morning we made up the bed together and it felt right. I mean, we had to change the sheets, all that chocolate everywhere… I look at him sometimes and realize how lucky I am to have him. Sometimes he says the same thing to me. Okay, most of the time. And he's right. We both are. Two lost souls who were lucky enough to find each other. That's the way it's supposed to be.

I was lounging on my beach chair with my husband a few feet away. Say what? That's right, my husband. Yup, sure as shit we got hitched. It was a little ceremony on this beautiful beach the last time Kyle was here visiting.

Michael and I both know we'll all get together again someday, I hoped it was for a good reason though. They might need our help someday; or hell, we might need theirs. We were missed as much as we missed. But the knowledge of having this freaky 'family' of sorts kept us strong. I have mastered that whole email thing and Michael had made our lives good and easy here. I don't want for anything.

Okay, I pussed out and kept my first name; I had to. I couldn't imagine Michael calling me anything but 'Sweet Maria'. Yeah, he kept Michael, but our new last name? It's a secret.

I looked at my husband, holy shit I still can't believe I have one of those, as he lay stretched out in the lounge next to me. Oil glistening on that perfect chest. Those arms, oh God, those arms! I saw sand stuck to his side and I wanted him right then and there. I don't think I'll ever tire of the beaches.

Our life is good and I'm not in any rush to leave. It's beautiful here, almost like paradise. I never knew someone could look so good on sand. Even though we're in hiding, I can't imagine hiding anywhere else. We both look over our shoulders a lot for the big bad Section; so far so good. I can't tell you our new location though; otherwise I'd have to kill you.

"Sweet Maria," Michael murmured behind those sunglasses. I smiled at him. God, I loved him. "Who do I belong to?" He flashed me that wicked little grin and licked his lips as I melted.

"You belong to me, baby." I winked at him.

The End
PARTS 31-34