Chapter Three - A man broken, a smile faulted
Author: Sezza
Disclaimer: I own nothing but this fic
Spoilers: None, this is completely AU
Couple: M&M Candy of course
Rating: PG may get higher
Summary: To make him happy she must do the one think she never thought she would.
Author’s note: This fic is full of angst so watch out but don’t
worry; our favourite Candy couple get it right in the end. Also I got this idea
the episode Significant others so the bowling incident is used.
Distribution: Ally’s site, Belit’s site, Candy is Dandy, Kraving
Candy and Fanfiction.net. If you want it all you have to do is ask.
Email: sezza43@hotmail.com
***
Six months had past and still Maria had not come back. Kyle was worried for his friend. Maria leaving was the worst thing that had ever happened to him. He hardly ever went out or talked to people anymore. He seemed to think that if he left his house then he might miss it if Maria rang. Kyle of course knew that was not going to happen. They had, had no word from Maria since she had left. Kyle understood why she left though; Michael took their relationship for granted. He always thought that no matter what he did that Maria would always be there for him. He should have gone home that night. Kyle guessed that Maria had, had enough of it but Michael kept saying something about happiness. He couldn’t figure it out, but he knew one thing he could do for his friend and that was bring him back to reality.
“Hey Michael.”
“Hey,” he mumbled watching TV
“Ok dude I’ve had enough, come on were going out,” Kyle ordered turning the television off.
“No man I’ve got to wait, What if I miss her.”
Kyle sighed. “Dude, she’s not coming back ok, when are you going to realise that. She took a one-way ticket out of here. Didn’t you say that she wanted you to be happy or something?”
“Yeah so?” Michael asked.
“Well man I’ve got to tell ya that this isn’t what I call ‘being happy’. So come on we're going to the Crashdown whether you like it or not, because I’m hungry and you need a life.”
Michael glared at him. He didn’t understand, Maria was his life but she left. But maybe he was right about one thing. “She’s not going to call is she?” he asked defeated.
Kyle looked at his depressed friend and sighed. “No man I don’t think she will. Come on, we’ll go to the Crashdown and see if anyone’s there ok. Let’s have fun.”
Michael rolled his eyes but followed him anyway. He knew if he didn’t go then Kyle wouldn’t shut up, and start quoting Buddha. Why Kyle got into it was totally beyond Michael. Who ever heard of a once jock turned cop who practises Buddhism?
As they walked into the Crashdown they saw Michael’s sister Isabel who was waving frantically at them. “Oh god,” Michael groaned
Kyle looked towards Isabel and found the reason for Michael’s groan. Courtney Banks. Michael had gone on one date with her due to blackmail from Isabel and now this girl thinks she’s in love and want’s to marry him. Michael however finds her repulsive and annoying. “Dude, your ‘Girlfriend’ is waving at you.”
Michael glared at him. “She’s not my girlfriend. She’s some stalker that hasn’t got a clue.”
Kyle laughed as they went over. “Hey Iz.”
“Hey, you remember Courtney don’t you?” She asked Michael while trying to hold in a laugh. She knew Michael didn’t like her but it was fun torturing him.
“Yeah whatever.” he mumbled sliding into the booth.
“Hey Micky G” Courtney said before sliding onto his lap.
Michael tried to push her off but the girl had dug her claws into his neck. “The names Michael and would you mind get---“ Michael stopped talking. In fact Kyle had thought he stopped breathing then looked up to see why. Maria Deluca had walked into the Crashdown. Her smile faulted however when she noticed Courtney on Michael’s lap. She walked over to them anyway.
“Hey,” she greeted
“Hey Maria, when did you get back?” Kyle asked getting up and giving her a hug.
“Just a few hours ago. I stopped to talk to Tess, who by the way wants you home pronto, said something about Pickled Ketchup sandwiches?”
Kyle groaned. His girlfriend Tess had gotten pregnant 5 months ago and the cravings were getting weirder with each month. “Well the pregnant one calls. Maria how long are you staying?” he asked.
“I don’t know it sort of depends really.” She answered.
“Oh well it’s good to have you back Ria, I’ve really missed you.” He hugged her again.
“I’ve missed you too, oh and congratulations, on both accounts I guess.” Maria hugged him back
“She told you about the wedding?” he asked.
“Yep and already asked me to be maid of honour.” She smiled.
“Good I hope you said yes. Wouldn’t be a wedding without my best friend there now would it?”
Maria laughed. “Of course I accepted. She threatened to start crying if I didn’t.”
“Well that’s Tess for you. Well I better go I’ll see you later?”
“Definitely,” Maria said hugging him once more. They all watched as he left the café.
“Hey Iz, hey Michael.” Maria smiled.
Isabel got up and hugged the girl she considered a sister. “Oh my god I’m so glad you're back. Don’t you ever leave again you hear me,” she cried.
“Oh Izzy, I’ve definitely missed you,” Maria laughed.
“So where have you been I want all the details.” Isabel stopped and looked at her brother still with Courtney in his arms. “Ah you know what, I just remembered something I have to do so we’ll get together tomorrow ok? Come on Courtney.”
“I’ll see you later sweetie,” Courtney said giving Michael a kiss on the cheek before slipping out of the booth. “Oh hi, I’m Courtney Banks, Michael’s girlfriend.” she shook Maria’s hand.
Maria looked at Michael who hadn’t taken his eyes off her since she arrived. “Hi,” she said before letting them leave.
When they left Maria glanced back at Michael. “May I have a seat?” she asked.
Not trusting his vocal cords he nodded.
“So your girlfriend huh? She’s pretty.” Maria said.
“She’s not my girlfriend, she just thinks she is.” Michael answered.
“Oh, well she looked pretty comfortable there on your lap” Maria answered hoping her voice wasn’t showing the hurt she felt. She came back in hopes that Michael may still want her. She never wanted to leave but she thought that if she did then Michael might start living the life he wanted. Might start being happy.
“Yeah well she’s not. Izzy blackmailed me into going on one date with her. The girls like a leech, no matter how much salt you spray she won’t leave” Maria laughed. “I missed your laugh. I’ve missed you.”
Maria looked away from him. “I’ve missed you too Michael. So I heard you made deputy?” she said changing the subject. Michael looked happy and she didn’t want to ruin it. Only what she didn’t realise that it was because she was here that had made him happy.
Michael noticed the change and thought that maybe she had moved on and gotten over him. That she didn’t want him anymore. But that wasn’t going to stop him from trying to get her back he just had to be her friend first. “Ah, yeah I got the job after Hanson left for New York.”
“I bet Kyle was pissed,” she smiled.
Michael loved her smile. It warmed his heart seeing it again. “Yeah he was, he had been trying for that job but they offered it to me. I wasn’t going to take it but Kyle said I deserved it and if I didn’t take it then he’d punch my lights out.”
“Oh well then I guess you had no choice” Maria said sarcastically which made Michael smile.
“So where are you staying?” he asked.
“Umm, with Tess and Kyle. Tess offered and I said yes. I didn’t want to set her off by saying no.” She said acting frightened.
“Yeah I know what you mean. She’s been crying a lot lately, but the doctor said it was her hormones, there like out of whack or something,” he said confused but wondering what Maria would be like if she was pregnant with his child. He shook the thought out of his head. Friends first, pregnant with his love child later, “So what are you doing back?”
“Well I thought it was time, I mean I missed everyone and my mom told me about the wedding so I didn’t want to miss it.” She answered thinking that maybe Michael didn’t want her to come back. But that thought was scraped at his next statement.
“Well I’m glad you back,” he smiled making her smile. “So where have you been?”
“Umm, I started out in New York with my cousin Sean, then I moved onto San Francisco and stayed with my friend Alex. I got a job there and decorated a few places.”
“Oh, well that’s good.” Michael said not knowing what to say. He looked at her while she was playing with her nails. She had gotten even more beautiful since the last time he had seen her.
Maria looked up and smiled. “Well I better head off. I am in serious need of sleep and I need to get up early and start looking for a place.”
“So you’re staying?” Michael asked hopefully.
“For now yes but I can’t say definitely.” She answered.
“Oh, I can help if you want.” He asked hoping she’d say yes. If this friend’s thing was going to work he needed to spend some time with her. Get her to realise he was happy with her in his life.
“Really? Well yeah, that would be great. I’ll see you tomorrow. We’ll meet here around 10 am?”
Michael smiled and walked her out to her car. “Yeah 10 is fine,”
he waved as she drove off. It was time to think up a plan to get Maria Deluca
to be his again.