Chapter 2

Author: heavenly-vixen aka Ally
Email: team_x_4eva@hotmail.com
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: My words only.
Summary: Tag to Season 2 Episode “How the other half Lives” with references to “The End of the World” Maria and Michael make a connection one night and past indiscretions re-surface.

"What's wrong?" Michael turned towards the voice coming from behind him, Laurie.

"Nothing, just an old fight" Laurie however had heard everything. The yelling had woken her.

"You cheated on her" it was more of a statement than a question. Michael looked down.

"Sort of. I didn't sleep with the girl, just…" he trailed off, he didn't need to finish. Laurie nodded. She knew there was something behind this, more than what she heard.

"Wanna talk about it?" Michael shook his head no. "Well, too bad, we are." Michael smiled.

"Ok. Where do you want me to begin?"

"How about the beginning". The two talked, Michael told her everything, minus the alien parts.

"So what you're telling me is that you and this girl didn't mean anything?"

"Yeah, exactly."

"But were you and Maria together at the time?" Michael nodded. "And she caught you" again Michael nodded, there was nothing else he could do. "Bad form Michael"

"I know, but it wasn't recently, I thought she was over it"

"Michael, she will never be over it. You cheated on her. Whether the girl meant anything, or there was extenuating circumstances or whatever. You and Maria were together and you cheated on her. How is she ever supposed to get over that?" Michael looked away from her; he couldn't meet her gaze. She was right, of course she was, but how was he supposed to make this right. He's not the kind of guy that talks about his feelings or opens up. He's a soldier, a stonewall and for the first time as he repeated it in his mind, those words sounded so ridiculous.

"What started this up again anyway?" Laurie asked after several minutes of intense silence.

"That too is complicated" Laurie looked at him.

"There is still one question I have for you Michael"

"Really? What's that?" He said rather sarcastically.

"What are you doing here with me?" He looked at her confused, so she continued. "Why aren't you in there with Maria making this right?" He looked down ashamed.

"I don't know how" he whispered, Laurie barely heard him.

"Yes you do… G'night" With that, she turned and walked away. Michael looked towards the direction of Maria's room. A light beamed from under her door, and as he made his way closer he could hear her crying.

Michael knocked slightly. It was enough, she heard, and she hesitated, he could tell by the silence.

"Go away Michael" Her voice was raspy with tears.

"No" was all he said. It had the desired effect. It got her mad. Maria stomped over to the door and swung it open. Immediately she glared at him and started yelling.

"No? NO… You BASTARD! Stay. The. Hell. Away. From. Me" She pronounced every word. She was really fuming. This was going to be hard.

"No, Maria we have to talk"

"Talk? Mr. Stonewall, cone of silence Guerin wants to talk. Wait, let me call Guinness this is one for the record books." She turned around as the sarcastic words fell from her mouth.

"I'm sorry" He whispered, although she heard that too.

"Sorry? Woah, is the world coming to an end? First you want to talk, now you're sorry. Guinness is going to have a field day." Michael rolled his eyes and walked towards her closing the door.

"Listen to me damn it!" He yelled then composed himself.

"You wanna talk? Talk Michael" She sat down and waited.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry that all the alien crap and me came into your life, I'm sorry I kissed you and ruined your life. I'm sorry I walked away and hurt you, I'm sorry for Courtney, damn it I'm just sorry. But I can't take it back; there is nothing I can do about it. Even with all my alien voodoo crap, I can't make it so it never happened, I can't go back and stop myself from hurting you. And believe me I never wanted to." Maria stared at him in shock, either that was incredibly sweet or incredibly insulting. Which, she was still trying to decide.

"Are you saying you regret us, me?" Michael sighed.

"I'm saying I regret hurting you… God, I'm not good at this touchy feely, emotions thing."

"Well, you're not doing too bad at the moment Spaceboy" There it was, there was a glimmer of hope as long as she was still calling him Spaceboy.

"Yeah?" However he was still sceptical.

"Yeah, but don't think that I'm just going to forget or that it's going to stop hurting anytime soon. Because it won't, I won't. Whether you meant to or not, you hurt me… and in the worst possible way." She choked out the last word. Michael moved to sit beside her. Carefully he put his arm around her, drawing her in closer. He lightly placed a kiss on her forehead.

Maria finally stopped crying and she pulled away. Michael's glimmer of hope that had returned just flew away. She still didn't want him to touch her. Michael stood up slowly.

"I'll leave" was all he said as he turned towards the door.

"Michael, wait" He stopped at the door and turned to face her. "Did you feel anything for her, at all? Did you want her?" Michael looked her dead in the eyes.

"No" was his simple reply.

"What about me?"

"What?" He was confused again; she could always confuse him.

"Did you love me? Did you want me? Do you still?" She spoke with fear. Fear of his answer.

"Always" It was a simple reply. One word, but it meant so much; especially from a person who could never open up, who could never admit to his feelings, one word said it all. Before Maria knew what was happening, Michael had closed the gap between them, his hands coming up to cup her face. He looked into her eyes, before gently brushing his lips over hers.

When he felt her respond Michael deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue over her lips. Maria opened her mouth, allowing him access to give her what would prove to be the best kiss of her life. It was mind blowing. They pulled apart gasping for air and Michael pulled Maria into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck as his went around her waist. They stayed like that for a moment, just holding onto one another.

"It's late, we should try and get some sleep." Maria nodded against his shoulder.

"You know to do that you're going to have to let go Maria" She nodded again but made no effort to release him, nor did he her. Finally however they released each other. Michael grabbed her hand in his.

"Good night." He turned to leave but Maria didn't let go of his hand. He was forced to stop and turn back to her.

"Stay with me? I don't want to be alone, these rooms are kinda creepy" Michael grinned. He walked towards the bed, her hand still in his and pulled the covers back. They climbed in; Michael wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her in close. They relaxed, and just as Michael was about to drift into a peaceful sleep with his Maria in his arms her voice lulled him back to reality.

"Oh by the way, Alex really wailed you one" She smiled and giggled lightly. Michael poked her lightly.

"Ha Ha Maria" It only caused her to giggle more. Michael kissed her neck and she immediately stopped giggling and just enjoyed the moment, a moment she found herself envisioning experiencing every night for the rest of her life. As scary as that could be she ignored the fear, along with the alien beside her who was thinking the very same thing. The two fell asleep in each other's arms.

The End??

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