* * 9 * *


{Have you ever woke up one morning and just knew, felt it in your heart, things were finally going to go your way. Well that's how I felt the day after my mom, Tess, and Isabel arrived to visit me. Both girls were acting mysterious and secretive. However, my mom was still the same. She was still threatening to kill the asshole that fathered my child. (Not that I'm calling Max an asshole. I reserved that comment strictly for Michael) Anyway, let me get back to the point. Things just felt so right that day. I felt like a completely different person. I just knew that there was a major change coming on. I could feel it moving through the air. I immediately got out of bed that morning with a very excited pep in my step.}

Maria rifled through her closet trying to decide on what to wear. She finally decided on a pale yellow sundress with miniature flowers all over. The maternity dress came down to her ankles. It had a spaghetti straps with a princess style waist. She wore her hair up in a French twist. She settled on wearing a pair of flat strappy sandals. She didn't need any make up because her pregnancy made her look positively radiant.

Just as she finished dressing there was a knock on her room door. "Come in." In walked Tess and Isabel.

"Damn!" Exclaimed Isabel.

"Wow!" Shrieked Tess.

Maria laughed. "I'll take that as a compliment then."

Amy walked in. "Maria, don't forget to wear a hat and put on some sunscreen. It's really hot out there."

"Kay mom." She turned back to Tess and Isabel. "Where are we going?"

"Breakfast at Shoney's, shopping trip for the baby, and then lunch at the Jacksonville Landing." Said Isabel.

"Sounds like a plan. Are you and aunt Maggie coming with us mom?"

"No. Your aunt and I are just going to hang out by the pool and work on our tans."

"Kay. Well see you later then." The girls piled in Maggie's car then drove off.

"Ooh Ria, this would be perfect for the baby." Tess said holding up a Winnie the Pooh baby blanket.

"Yeah it is cute." Said Isabel. "Gosh I am so glad we were able to veto Amy's idea to give the nursery an alien theme."

They all laughed and Maria said. "My baby has enough to worry about as it is. Her being half Czechoslovakian and all."

Tess grinned. "So have you decided on a name for her yet?"

"Kind of. I'm leaning towards Shayla Maxine."

"And the last name?" Pressed Isabel.

"I don't know yet. It'll go with either one." Maria sighed. Her mom managed to talk her into moving back to Roswell. She knew that once she got there it wouldn't take Max long to realize that her baby was his baby, especially if she gave her his last name.

Just then Isabel's cell phone rang. She pulled it out of her purse and said, "I'll be right back."

"Hello?"

"The eagle has landed. I repeat the eagle has landed."

"Okay. Do you remember the directions I gave you?"

"Yes. Take a cab to the Jacksonville Landing. Buy two tickets for a ride on the Annabelle Lee, for the eagle and I. Get the last bench seat on the top deck."

"Don't forget to pickup the picnic basket at Ramos's. It's right inside the landing. By the way, how is the eagle doing?"

"The eagle is holding up. He's in a rush to see his mate but other than that he's fine."

"You didn't tell him anything about his mate's condition? Did you?"

"Not at all. You swore me to top secret madam."

"Good. Now don't screw up. Got that?"

"Got it."

"Bye Alex. Tell Max I said hi."

"Bye sweetie. See ya soon."

Isabel hung up the phone and went back over to Tess and Maria. She gave Tess a thumbs up sign behind Maria's back. They spent the next hour shopping. Then Isabel said that it was time to go get lunch.

"Where are we eating lunch?" Asked Maria.

"On the Annabelle Lee."

"Ooh I love that boat." Gushed Maria.

"We know. That's why we're eating there." Tess commented.

Maria smiled. "You know you guys sure do know how to show a pregnant gal a good time.

"We aim to please. Now come on let's go."

The girls walked over to the loading area for the riverboat. Isabel looked around to see if she could spot Alex. Tess was the first to see them making their way to the bench at the back of the boat. She pointed them out to Isabel and they followed.

Tess talked nonstop pointing out things to Maria so she could keep Maria distracted from where they were heading. Finally they stopped next to the guys. Max had his back to them. He was leaning against the rail staring out at the river.

"Hey guys." Said Tess and Isabel in unison.

Maria stared in surprise at Alex not yet noticing Max. "Alex? When did you get here babe?"

Before he could answer Max turned around when at the sound of her voice. "Maria?" He looked her over noticing her bulging belly. "You're... you're..." He stuttered.

"Hello Max."

Isabel, Alex, and Tess strolled off leaving the two alone to talk things out. Max stared at Maria waiting for her to start the conversation. She sat down on the bench and patted the seat next to here. He sat down.

"What are you doing here Max?" She asked still in shock.

"I came to see you. To try to talk you into coming back home." He turned to face her taking her hands in his. "The baby is mine, right?"

Thoughts of lying didn't even enter into her mind. "Yes. She's yours."

"She? We're having a girl?" He asked with a big goofy grin on his face.

She laughed at the look on his face and with both her hands she gripped each of his ears. "Yes we're having a girl. I just hope she doesn't come out with your ears."

Max laughed for a few minutes then he went back to being serious. "Why didn't you tell me?" He paused for a minute to think then he said. "Never mind I know the answer to that. Liz!"

"You know about that?"

"Yes I do." He went on to explain about the visit he received from Kyle and the one he made to Liz.

"So you're saying that the only reason Liz explained things to me is because she knew we were getting close?" Maria asked in amazement.

"Yes. That's it." Max replied.

"Gosh when did Liz become such a conniving bitch?" Maria was furious.

"Calm down Ria. All that anger isn't good for the baby. Besides, I asked her that exact same question myself."

At that Maria laughed. She couldn't picture Max saying that to Liz at all. After a few minutes she turned serious again. "Max?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you still in love with Liz?" She asked while holding her head down. She didn't want to see the look on his face, especially if it was one of pity. Max was shocked that she would ask such a stupid question. He gently gripped the bottom of her chin and forced her to look up at him. He didn't say anything for a while. He just looked deeply into her eyes. Instead of answering her with words he just pulled her into his arms and seared her with the most sensuous kiss she had ever received.

Minutes later he pulled back and asked. "Does that answer your question?" She could only nod her head dumbly.

He laughed. "Maria I love you. I've loved you ever since that first moment you told me to stop moping over Liz or else you were going to kick my kingly ass all over Roswell. Course I didn't realize at that moment I loved you but I did none the less."

"Oh Max, you say the most sweetest things." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you too. When I said I was in love with Michael still I was just lying."

"I know you were. I forgave you for saying that months ago." He spread kisses across her face. "So does this mean you're coming home now?"

She laughed. "I was already planning on coming home. My mom talked me into it last night."

"Tess and Isabel didn't know?"

"No I hadn't told them yet. Why?"

"Because they're the ones who set things up for me to find out about Liz. They're the ones who planned my trip to Florida."

"Those two have been so wonderful to me. I don't know what I would have done with out them."

"I'm glad they were there to help you in my place."

Just then Maria's belly started rumbling. Max pulled back startled but then he started laughing when he realized what it was. "Sounds like my baby girl is getting hungry. Sit here while I go find Alex. He has our lunch." He walked off in search of Alex and the others.

After lunch they all piled up in the car to head back to the house. Alex and Max had came with no luggage so they made a quick stop at the local Wal-Mart for some things. In the car Isabel was driving w/ Alex seated in the passenger seat. Maria sat in between Max and Tess in the back seat.

Isabel looked in her rearview and smiled when she noticed that Maria had fallen asleep in Max's arms. They look so good together. She thought to herself. Her eyes made contact with Tess and they silently congratulated one another with a smile. Then another thought crossed her mind, this one not so good.

Aloud she said, "Oh shit!"

Everyone looked at her in shock except Maria who was still asleep.

"What's wrong Isabel?" Asked Tess.

"In all our planning Tess, we forgot one simple thing."

"What is that?" Max wanted to know.

"Amy!" Isabel stated simply.

"Oh shit!" Everyone else said together.

"Oh man! I feel for you Max." Said Alex trying to hold in his laughter. "I really do."

Max didn't find anything at all funny. Amy was going to kill him. Literally. "Hey maybe we could hold off telling her."

"For how long?" Isabel asked with a smirk.

"I don't know. Maybe until after Maria and I graduate from high school and Move to Europe?"

Tess laughed. "Maybe not. I figure we could hold out until the baby is born. After that it all depends on how she looks."

"Yeah that's true." Alex agreed. "But if she comes out with your ears man it's all over."

Max frowned at them. "I really don't see what all the fuss is about my ears. They're perfectly normal."

Maria having woke at Tess's comment snorted in response. "Yeah they are normal. If you think the Dumbo look is normal."

"Anyway," Isabel said. "There's no sense in trying to hide it Max. You should be a man and just tell Amy you're the daddy and if she has a problem with that then that's just to bad."

"And when I finally come out of the comma what should I do next?" He asked. "No really Max, that just might work." Said Alex.

"Okay if you're all so agreeable with that idea, then why don't y'all stand between me and Amy when I tell her that."

"Hey Max you're our king." Said Tess with a big grin on her face. "We have your back."

"Yeah." Said Isabel. "I'll be standing outside waiting for your call when you need us."

They finally arrived at the house. Max was very reluctant to get out the car. He was thinking maybe he should have just stayed in Roswell. Amy and Maggie came out on the porch to stare in curiosity at the teens.

"Are y'all going to get out the car any time soon?" Asked Maggie. They all piled out the car.

"Hey Alex and Max. Where did y'all two strays get picked up at?" Asked Amy

. "Hey Mrs. Delucca. We arrived here about two hours ago. We met up with the girls at the Jacksonville, Landing." Replied Alex.

"Hi Mrs. Delucca."

They all went into the house. Tess, Isabel, and Maria went up stairs to freshen up leaving the two guys downstairs to face the firing squad.

"So what made you two decide to come a visiting?" Asked Amy.

"Well we really missed Maria." Said Alex when Max made to move to respond.

"She'll be returning to Roswell with me." Amy stated with a smile.

"Yeah she told us." Max said.

"I don't mean to be rude by asking y'all this but I really need to know." Amy started on a serious note.

"Sure ask away Mrs. Delucca." Alex said not thinking. "What do you need to know?"

"Well I was wondering if y'all knew who the father of Maria's baby is?"

Max gulped in panic. His hands started to sweat. He collar felt tight around his throat. "Umm... umm..." He stuttered.

Alex laughed nervously. "We really wish we could tell you Mrs. Delucca."

"Oh well it's not like I want to kill him or anything. I just want to make him own up to his responsibility."

"Well I'm pretty sure that if he knew that Maria was pregnant he would take full responsibility." Max managed to say. As he was talking Maria and the other two came downstairs.

"Do you think Michael is the father?" Amy asked.

"Mom! Please stop torturing Alex and Max." Maria said sternly. "I'll tell you who Shayla's father is when I feel you're capable of handling it without actually going out and killing him."

At the moment of hearing his baby's name Max made a very stupid mistake of opening his mouth. "You're naming our baby Shayla?"

"Our baby?" Amy asked in shock. "You mean you're the father. Why I ought to..." Max started to run.