Chapter 1

Author: heavenly-vixen aka Ally
Email: team_x_4eva@hotmail.com
Rating: PG-13 but may mature into an R or an NC-17.
Disclaimer: Me no own, although if I did, I have lots of things I could do with Michael
Distribution: Please Ask!
Description: MM - Set after the Michael/Maria scenes in season One's episode "Max to the Max". This is an Alternate Universe sort of a fic, like what would have happened if...? Pure MM fluff.

Maria walked in to the back room of the crashdown pulling her headband off and sighing. It had been a dreadfully long night and all she wanted was to go home. It hadn't helped that Michael sat at the counter all night watching her. They hadn't said one word to each other since earlier when she'd found out that Isabel wasn't pregnant. But for some reason he refused to leave. Isabel had left just after Michael had gone to speak to Maria, Max following suit. Liz had finished her shift and gone upstairs to study, like she ever does anything else. Gradually the customers left one by one and now as she walked into the back to get the broom it was only her and Michael. She hoped that by the time she walked back out he'd be gone but no such luck. She really didn't want to face him, not after what he'd said to her the other day. "Maria, this isn't about you or me or our stupid relationship. This is about Isabel. Something is happening to her, and that's all I care about." She never admitted to anyone but it had hurt her more than she could ever tell.

"You have to leave" Maria didn't even look at him when she spoke. "It's closing"

"I know, but we have to talk" Michael replied quietly. Maria chuckled slightly, it wasn't one of amusement more one of anger or frustration.

"This coming from Mr. Chatter Box." Michael knew he deserved the sarcasm and quite frankly after what he'd said he deserved for her to break that broom over his head. But he had to try to fix this; Maria being mad at him or worse hurt by his doing ripped him apart.

"Maria please" He pleaded. She still refused to make eye contact with him. But finally she looked up and at him.

"What Michael? What do you want to say? Are you going to say I'm ugly now, or that all I ever was to you was someone to pull into the eraser room? Go ahead Michael rub a little more salt into the wound!" Maria spat out at him; she'd had enough of all of this alien-stonewall-crap. Michael, frustrated at her words stood up and walked towards her as she spoke. By the time she was finished he was close enough and angry enough to grab her by the arm. Maria always had this knack of making him so mad. He grabbed her a little roughly and pulled her toward him. His eyes bore down into hers as he yelled back at her.

"I wanted to apologize; to make things right. I never meant anything I said Maria. But if could just shut up for a second you would have realized that. God! How do you do this to me" Michael yelled as he let go of a frightened Maria and ran a frustrated hand through his hair. Maria gulped; her eyes wide. His sudden outburst had scared her. Michael turned back to her and saw that she had gone extremely white and was shaking lightly. He'd screwed up again. He walked towards her and she stepped back. He stopped and looked at her.

"I'm sorry Ria, I didn't mean to scare you" Maria looked down and Michael tried again. He stepped towards her and she didn't move. He took another step and still nothing, he walked right up to her and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. She calmed down a little and after a few minutes he pulled away gently and looked into her face.

Michael ran his hand down the side of Maria's face lovingly. She looked up into his eyes and saw straight through that stonewall. Her eyes widened a little and she reached up to stroke his face in return. Michael leaned down and softly brushed his lips over hers. Maria slid her hand around to his neck. She pulled him closer to deepen the kiss. The kiss became very passionate, Maria's arms wrapped around Michael's neck, one hand caressing the nape of his neck. Michael's arms snaked around Maria's waist and pulled her closer into him, making their bodies press against each other. Michael pulled away and his lips traveled to Maria's neck. Maria gasped. Her eyes flew open as she saw a million stars fly by, followed by some moments from Michael's life and finally herself. She saw how Michael saw her. It brought a tear to her eyes to see how much Michael really loved her. She didn't need to hear it now, she knew, although apart of her already knew. Michael became aware that Maria had stopped moving. He pulled away and looked at her. A single tear dropped from her left eye and slid down her cheek. Immediately Michael panicked.

"What? What's wrong? Did I hurt you?" Maria smiled and shook her head.

"No, the opposite" She said softly while looking at him in awe.

"I'm confused, why are you crying?" Maria smiled and pulled him close. She rested her forehead against his.

"I saw you" Michael looked at her, if she was faking again, this wasn't the time. Maria must have sensed it because she quickly explained.

"I really saw it. I saw all these stars fly past, I saw hank hurt you, and I saw me. How you see me" She smiled as another tear ran down her cheek. Michael's hand immediately flew up to wipe it away.

"Really?'" he asked unsure. Maria nodded and kissed him again. This time Michael saw what she saw earlier. He pulled away suddenly and looked at her.

"That's what you saw? The stars, Hank, you?" Maria smiled and nodded. "Let's go home" Michael muttered while staring into her eyes. Maria nodded and reluctantly peeled herself away from Michael. She walked into the back and grabbed her bag. When she returned Michael was staring off into space, deep in thought.

Maria walked towards him and placed her hand on his shoulder. He snapped back into reality and looked at her, for the first time Michael smiled. He really smiled, Maria couldn't help herself, a big stupid smile spread across her face at the sight.

"Come home with me?" She stated more than asked. Michael nodded; the implications of her words didn't sink in. He took her hand and they walked out.

Not a word was uttered as Michael walked Maria home. When they got to her front door and Maria opened it Michael brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it softly. He dropped her hand and turned around. He started to walk down the path but Maria's voice stopped him.

"Michael!" He turned and looked at her waiting for her to continue.

"Come in?" She hoped he would. He seemed to think about it for a minute before he nodded silently and walked inside with her.

"Where's your mom?" Maria turned to close the door.

"She's away for the weekend, won't be home until tomorrow night" With that, she closed the door and Michael's eyes grew wide. The meaning of her words from earlier finally sank in.

"Come home with me" Suddenly Michael was very nervous.

TBC...

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