Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Disclaimer: I don’t own Roswell or it’s characters,
nor do I own ET, MTV or any of the lyrics written.
Rating: PG/R
Spoilers: None, its AU
Pairing: Michael/Maria with some Kyle/Tess
Summary: A stalker wants her dead. What will she do when she
finds out that the killer is actually a close friend? Secrets from the past
are revealed and a new love is born.
Distribution: Belit’s site, Kraving Candy, Candy is Dandy,
Aliens love and Roses, Second in Command, Fanfiction.net, Roswell Desert Skies,
Ally’s site, and if anyone else wants it, all you have to do is ask.
Author’s note: This is in response to a challenge issued
at Belit’s planet called Bodyguard. As I was reading it all these thoughts
just entered my head so I couldn’t not write it. Remember when reading
this that I intend this fic to have a sequel so there will be many questions
but all with eventually be answered. This is in no way related to the movie.
Feedback is appreciated, as is honesty. Challenge can be found here:
http://pub10.ezboard.com/fbelitsplanetfrm110.showMessage?topicID=54.topic
Email: sezza43@hotmail.com
****
“It’s a woman.”
Michael shook his head and walked out of the room. He had only been at his sister’s place for 5 minutes before she began to analyse him. Deeply regretting not going with Kyle and Maria to their parent’s house, he grabbed his beer and sat on the couch next to his brother in law, Alex Whitman.
“Michael, don’t walk away from me while I am talking to you,” Isabel said with her hands on her hips from the doorway.
“You weren’t talking to me Iz, you were analysing me. There’s a difference,” he told his sister without looking away from the TV. There were serious disadvantages to having a phycologist in the family.
Sighing, Isabel waddled over to the couch and fell onto it. At seven months pregnant, it wasn’t easy to get around and having her brother ignore her was not helping the situation. “Well…who is she?” she asked. As soon as Michael had walked into the house she could see the change in him. He smiled, and her brother hardly ever smiled, so the only explanation was another woman.
“Resistance is futile, you know she’s going to get it out of you eventually.” Michael threw a glare at Alex who raised his arms in mock defence. “Hey, just telling it like it is.”
Michael glanced at Isabel. “How do you know it’s a woman?”
She smiled and gave a small laugh. “Michael, I haven’t seen you this happy, yet troubled, in a very long time… if ever actually. So the only conclusion I can reach was that it must be a woman. Who is she? And you might as well just tell me now.”
“And if I don’t?”
Isabel smirked. “Then I’ll tell Laurie.” She enjoyed the look of fear that crossed over his features as he considered his options, knowing that he’d tell her. Little did he know that she was planning to tell their other sister anyway.
Giving in, Michael rested his head on the back of the couch. “Maria,” was all he said, not really wanting to tell them anything. “Her name is Maria.”
“Hello, anyone home?” A voice called from the door and Isabel told them to come in. Michael covered his face with his hands knowing exactly who it was and hoped to god that Isabel would keep her mouth shut. “Michael!” He looked up and saw the smile cross over his baby sister’s face before being sat on and hugged.
“Laurie,” he greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. “What are you doing here?”
“Dropping something off, so…what are we talking about?”
Michael looked to Isabel and shook his head silently telling her to keep quiet.
Isabel grinned at Laurie and ignored the look Michael was giving her. “Michael’s found a woman. Her name is Maria.”
Laurie looked at Michael in amazement then turned to Isabel for an explanation. “That’s all I know so far. Michael was just about to tell me the rest.”
Smiling wildly, Laurie clasped her hands together. “Looks like I got here right on time then,” she said as she turned to Michael. “So… talk on dear brother, who is the woman that has captured your heart,” she said dramatically then glanced at his chest. “If indeed you really do have one.”
Michael glared at her then sighed knowing that there was no way in hell he was getting out of this. He hated having two nosey sisters. “She’s the client Kyle and I are currently working for. Kyle’s sister actually.”
“You're in love with a client? Isn’t there like…rules against that or something?” Laurie asked.
“I’m not in love with her Laurie, I like her, nothing more,” Michael said, trying to sound convincing. He didn’t really know what he felt for Maria. All he did know was that it was definitely more than just like, only he wasn’t about to tell his sisters that. “And since when do I follow rules?”
Thinking it over for a moment Laurie nodded. “True, so come on, what else? What does she look like?”
“You’ve probably seen her before. She’s famous apparently,” Michael told them. “Maria Deluca. Blond hair, green eyes and a set of incredibly sexy legs.”
Alex let out a small gasp from beside him. “Maria Deluca? As in the singer Maria Deluca?” When Michael nodded Alex’s smile grew. “So she’s here then? In Roswell?” Again Michael nodded, only a little confused at what Alex was trying to get at. “Man, I love her.” Alex smiled dreamily.
Isabel glared at her husband who cowered and quickly added, “Her music, I love her music.” He hoped his wife would take pity on him and let it go. Since getting pregnant she had been overly hormonal to the point of turning a guy insane. He loved his wife dearly but sometimes it was all too much. He turned back to Michael. “Hey, you think you can introduce us?” he asked with hopeful eyes.
“Sure man, I’ll see what I can do.”
Alex let out a ‘whoop’ and jumped off the sofa.
Michael laughed and turned to Isabel. “I still don’t understand why you married him.”
“Me either sometimes,” Isabel commented while watching Alex do his version of the happy dance in front of them all.
“Wait, Maria Deluca?” Laurie asked.
Michael rolled his eyes. “Yes, Maria Deluca, didn’t we just go over this?”
Hitting him in the arm, Laurie shook her head. “Shut up Michael. I just mean -- that I know her,” she said with a smile as she claimed the spot Alex had just jumped from.
“Yeah, everyone does Laurie, she’s famous,” Michael said with a look that read ‘duh’ and ducked when Laurie tried to hit him again. “And would you stop trying to hit me?”
“No you idiot, I was her roommate in college. She’s the one who introduced me to Max,” she explained. “We met at orientation then discovered that we were rooming together and became really good friends up until she was ‘discovered’ at the pizza pan. We still occasionally e-mail each other,” she said, then creased her brow and frowned. “Wait, how in the hell did you of all people, manage to snag Maria Deluca?” she asked confused.
Michael scoffed. “Wow, your confidence in me is amazing,” he said with a fake smile once again moving out of the way of Laurie’s small fist. “And I haven’t snagged her as you so eloquently put it. I mean… we haven’t even kissed yet.”
“You haven’t… wait… you haven’t what?” Laurie asked not thinking she heard right then looked at Isabel. “I thought you said he had a woman?”
“You haven’t kissed her yet?” Isabel asked then sighed. “Michael, how can you marry the girl when you haven’t even kissed her yet?”
Michael stared at Isabel, jaw dropped and wide-eyed. “Married? Who said anything about marriage? I’ve only just met the girl.” Michael shook his head then thought, ‘Well that idea actually doesn’t sound too bad.’
Isabel and Laurie both looked at each other before nodding and saying at the same time, “He’ll marry her.”
Michael buried his head in his hands and groaned. He hated having sisters.
*~*~*~*
Maria put on a fake smile while her mother fussed over her. She threw a glare at Kyle who was snickering beside her.
“Oh my… Maria, look at you. Don’t they feed you in Los Angeles? You’re all skin and bones,” Amy Deluca-Valenti said, putting a plate of food in front of her daughter. “I knew sending you there was a bad idea. Look at you, you’re too skinny, now eat everything. I want to see that plate empty.”
“Mom, would you stop?” Maria pleaded. She loved her mother like anything but sometimes she could be a little over bearing. “Why aren’t you making Kyle eat?”
Amy looked towards Kyle then back to Maria and whispered, “Because between you and me, Kyle could stand lose a few pounds.”
Maria and Amy giggled and Kyle furrowed his brows.
“What?” he asked and the two laughed harder. “What?”
Liz chose that moment to walk back into the kitchen and Kyle looked to her for help. “Can you please find out why those two are laughing at me?”
Before she could answer, Amy stopped laughing and dragged Liz over to the table, seating her next to Maria. “Does nobody eat in LA?” she asked while placing a plate of food in front of Liz.
Liz glanced at the food, then at Maria and back at the food. “Ah…thanks?” she said confused and Maria laughed.
“She thinks that we’re all skin and bones, that we don’t eat enough,” she told the brunette who now understood. Amy always did act a little too motherly at times. Liz was about to comment when two small children came barrelling into the room trying to climb all over their Aunt Ria.
“Aunty Ria, Aunty Ria,” they chanted and she laughed, picking them both up.
“Hey guys, how you doing? And where’s mommy?” she asked and the two pointed towards the door. Maria looked up and smiled as Tess came into view. “Tess, Oh my God, come here,” she said and Tess walked over and gave her a hug.
Pulling away, Tess pried her children off their Aunty. “Hey babe, I came as soon as I heard you were back. How long are you staying?”
Maria shrugged. “I’m not sure, but I’ll be here for a while.”
Tess smiled then glanced at Liz, her smile lessening a little. “Liz,” she greeted. She didn’t really know why, but ever since meeting the girl she hadn’t liked her. Liz felt the same way but both stayed friendly in the presence of Maria. Tess turned back to Maria, taking a seat beside her. “Are you staying here?” Maria nodded. “Oh that’s great, we’ll get together to do some shopping later.”
“Yes definitely. You, me and Liz must do that,” She said with a smile while the two other girls looked at her in horror. They could barely stand the presence of one another let alone having to spend the whole day together.
Picking up her son that ran past, Tess shook her head. “Oh but Maria, I was hoping that you and I could spend some time alone together,” she said, emphasizing ‘alone’ while glancing at Liz who glared at her.
Maria looked apologetically at Liz who simply smiled. “Hey, no problem. I need to spend sometime with my family anyways,” she said as she stood and pushed her chair back under the table. “I think I’ll go and see them now. I’ll meet you at the Crashdown later though right?” Maria nodded and Liz waved goodbye as she headed out the door.
Turning to Maria, Tess slowly grinned at her. “So… tell me everything. What’s LA like? What are the guys like?” That question got a heated reaction from Kyle who was ignored by his wife and continued anyway. “Are they as hot as they are on TV? Did you meet anyone famous? Do you have a boyfriend?”
“Tess, Tess. Slow down babe,” Maria laughed as the blue-eyed blond blushed shyly. “But to answer your questions, LA is wonderful but noisy, yes the guys are as hot as they are on TV, I met a few famous people while on tour but nothing to brag about really, and no I do not have a boyfriend…yet.”
“Yet? What do you mean yet? There’s a yet?” Tess asked getting excited. As far as she knew, Maria hadn’t had a boyfriend since Max so it was about time that she started dating again. After all, she was only 19.
Maria giggled at her excitement. “There is a big possibility of a yet,”
“Not if I can help it,” Kyle mumbled and Maria glared at him.
“Kyle, go help Dad,” she ordered him. Jim Valenti was currently in the living room going over all the information Michael and Kyle had gathered about the stalkers. They figured that they’d use his help considering he was still the Sheriff of Roswell.
Tess looked back and forth between the two and wondered what was going on. “Ok, rewind here, what?” Maria waited until Kyle had left the room before continuing.
“You know Kyle’s partner Michael?” she asked and Tess nodded. “Well, he is possibly the ‘yet’ I was talking about,” she explained and Tess nodded her approval. Michael sure was a hot one. “But so far nothing has happened. There have been a few almost kisses, some minor flirting and what not but so far nothing. Your husband seems to conveniently interrupt us at the worst times.”
“He doesn’t?” Tess gasped. “Don’t worry sweetie,” she said patting the blonde's hand, “He’s home now, I’ll keep him occupied for you,” she finished with a wink, which set Maria off in a bout of laughter just as Kyle re-entered the room. Maria glanced at him before laughing again, this time along with Tess. Kyle just rolled his eyes. He’d never understand women.
*~*~*~*
Maria sat glaring at Kyle as they sat in one of the booths in the Crashdown. “Oh come on sis, they weren’t that bad.”
Apparently, before Michael had even met her, Kyle had shown him photos of her when she was younger. The two of them along with Liz were now laughing at her. “Not that bad?” she yelled. “Kyle, I had braces and a Meg Ryan hair cut. Not to mention I also had absolutely no fashion sense. Couldn’t you have made him look at a more recent picture?”
“What’s the fun in that?” Kyle asked as he ducked from an oncoming fry she threw at him. Maria buried her head in her hands and groaned. Of all the photos he had to show Michael, it just had to be of her in 8th grade. She glanced around the café in hopes of finding a small hole she could crawl into.
“Hey, it wasn’t that bad really. I kinda thought you looked cute,” he whispered in her ear. He had been sitting beside her and watched in fascination as she flushed red from embarrassment and tried to hide herself. He placed his hand on her knee hoping to gain her attention and couldn’t help but love how soft her skin was underneath his hands, wishing nothing more than to be able to touch more of it. He smiled as she jerked slightly and looked at him.
“Really?”
Michael nodded and her smile grew, however the moment was ruined when a rather loud cough was heard from beside them. Michael glanced at Kyle, about to glare at him, when Maria suddenly jumped out of the booth. Looking to where she had jumped to, Michael realised that this time it was not Kyle who ruined the moment, but his loving, if ever annoying sister, Laurie.
Laurie laughed as she hugged the small blond that jumped into her arms. “Maria, Oh my god, it’s been too long,” she said letting go.
“Oh god Laurie, I can’t believe it. How are you?” Maria asked while grinning wildly.
Holding out her left hand, Laurie smiled. “Engaged.”
Maria gasped as she saw the ring and squealed as she once again jumped into Laurie’s arms. Both girls jumped up and down as they laughed.
“Congratulations,” Maria said then finally noticed the man standing behind the taller bond. “Max,” she gasped then ran over to give him a hug. Max smiled as he clutched the small girl to his body. How he missed her. He pulled back to look at her face.
“Maria,” he breathed out. He had almost forgotten how beautiful she was and how much he longed to once again have her in his arms. However, now it was slightly different. Instead of the feelings of lust and desire he once felt, it was now of a close friendship being reborn.
Michael looked at the two with a scowl on his face. The moment she ran into Max’s arms a feeling of possessiveness rushed threw him. He didn’t at all like the way Max had his arms around her or the way he looked at her. He suddenly became aware of how tightly he had been holding the tabletop and his fingers now hurt from the grip. He glanced over at the two again and let out a small growl when Maria reached up to kiss Max on the cheek.
Laurie watched her brother with amusement. He looked about ready to drag Maria off caveman style and mark his territory. She shook her head and turned back to her fiancé and friend. Michael had nothing to worry about. Max and Maria had there time together. She knew how much Max loved Maria, she had always known but now it was more of a love you would have for a friend, nothing more.
Maria reached up and planted a chaste kiss on Max’s cheek. “I guess a congratulations is in order,” she said with a smile that equalled the one Max was wearing. “I knew you two would be great together.”
He nodded. “Yeah, you do know how to pick them don't you?” he chuckled. “It’s great to see you again Maria, I’ve really missed you,” he said softly while placing his hands on her arms.
“Me too, how about we get together later and talk?” she offered.
Max smiled and gave a curt nod before hugging her once more and looking at the table. “Hey Liz,” he said giving her a toothy grin before greeting Michael and Kyle.
Michael looked on as Liz smiled dreamily at Max before glaring at the back of Laurie’s head. Maria invited the couple to sit with them and Liz mumbled something about helping her parents out upstairs and left the booth. He watched as Liz walked to the back door but before entering, she threw one more glare at his sister then disappeared. Michael wondered what that was all about. He didn’t think that Liz knew Laurie.
Shaking his head, Michael faced everyone back at the table. He turned to Maria. “So how do you know him?” he asked motioning to Max, hoping that the jealous tone in his voice wasn’t too noticeable.
Maria smiled. “Oh, Max and I dated when I was 17 for about a year, then we broke up right before I left for college,” she explained. “And then, while he was visiting me, I introduced these two to each other,” she said pointing to Max and Laurie who where snuggling up together, “Then from then on they’ve been together.”
“And we thank you every day,” Max said, kissing Laurie’s temple as she giggled.
“I can’t believe that you knew my sister all this time and we never met,” Michael said, genuinely confused.
Maria shrugged. “Hey, you knew my brother all this time and I never met you either.”
Michael nodded and both laughed at the situation. How is it that two people belonging to the same group never meet each other?
*~*~*~*
Later that afternoon, Max had taken Maria up on her offer to talk. He drove her out to there private spot by the old quarry. “So how’s it feel being back?” he asked breaking the silence.
“It’s good, I missed everyone,” she said, throwing a rock into the distance. “I missed you.”
Max smiled. “I missed you too.” He walked up behind her and gathered a few rocks up himself and started to throw them. “Are you happy?” he asked, but already knowing the answer. He had grown up and been in love with Maria since they were little. He saw straight through her every time. She couldn’t hide her emotions from him. She never could.
Sighing, Maria dropped her rocks and sat down, her feet hanging over the edge of the small cliff. Max took a seat beside her and waited for her answer. She shook her head. “Honestly no, I’m not. I mean, I love music and singing it’s just…,I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I feel like there’s something missing.”
“Or someone.”
Maria let out a small smile as she turned to look at Max. “How is it that you know me so well?” she asked softly nudging him with her shoulder. “But you’re right. I know that I’m only 19, but still…” she trailed off.
“But still you want that perfect someone to fill in the gaps,” he finished for her and she nodded. He slung an arm around her shoulder in comfort. “Don’t worry, you’ll find him,” he assured her, then added quietly, “And I think you already have.”
Maria looked up at with and furrowed her brows in confusion so he explained using only one word. “Michael.”
Maria bit her lip trying not to smile and Max laughed. “See I knew I was right. Maria’s got a crush,” he sing-songed. “Maria’s got a cru—ouch Maria,” he said rubbing his arm where she had pinched him.
“Well stop singing like a five-year-old and I won’t need to hurt you,” she said with a grin. “Now getting off the topic of me, how are you? What are you doing, how are things?”
Max laughed. “You do know that you sound exactly like Tess right?” Maria blushed. “Well, as you know Laurie and I are engaged. And before you ask, I proposed to her during a picnic and it was incredibly romantic up until it rained. It poured down just as I asked her. She made me kneel in the rain for about 5 minutes before the shock subdued and she finally said yes.” Maria couldn’t stop herself from laughing at the image that created. Max shook his head. “You think that was funny, Laurie didn’t even realise it was raining until she said yes. The shock of me proposing was too much apparently.”
“Oh god, I can only imagine,” Maria said, wiping the tears from her eyes. Poor Max, always the romantic who tried too hard.
“Yeah, but she didn’t care though, we made love right there in the rain,” Max said with a smile remembering.
Maria covered her ears. “Ok, too much information there, buddy.”
He laughed and decided to change the current topic. “Other than that, not much has really happened to me. I am still a doctor, still living in the same apartment only now with Laurie and we have a dog.”
“Are you happy?” she asked.
“More than I could have ever imagined,” he answered truthfully.
Maria smiled at the dreamy look on his face. “Good. So when’s the wedding?”
*~*~*~*
Click…Click…Click
“Are you getting these shots?”
The person holding the camera nodded. “Yes, I’m getting the damn shots,” they said, sounding annoyed. “Just look at them, they look like they did in high school.”
Looking at the two talking in the distance, the person in the shadows nodded. “Yes they do. But don’t worry, she doesn’t want him, not anymore.”
The one holding the camera glared at scene in front of them. “Good, I didn’t sign up for this to watch her get it on with an old boyfriend. Watching her go at it with that bloody bodyguard is hard enough. It took all I had not to just kill the bastard at that party when I saw them on the balcony.”
“Patience, our time will come.”
TBC…