By: 9loveletters9
Rating: PG
Pairing: Why my favorite Candy Coated Couple of Course!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Roswell (though I wish I did because if I did there would be a revival by now!)
Type: Comedy (some Angst and of course Romance too!)
Spoilers: Takes place during the episode of MEET THE DUPES but no dupes- just our favorite couple having another one of their love-filled spats :)
A/N: When I watch Roswell Season 2 it makes me happy to see Michael and Maria together. They weren't official to the whole Laurie Dupree thing and this is just me feeling in the gaps of what led them to come together.
Dedicated to my beta reader and dear friend Deb/ZanEnthralled who encouraged me to submit this story for a competition.
This one's for you "Debonator"!
"Oh and don't forget about the pepper jack! Guy's nuts about his paperback," Maria called out from the heating station.
"Yeah all right," Michael replied through gritted teeth, toothpick in mouth.
Maria looked upon him lovingly the whole time while he was busy making her order. He looked utterly adorable. Sure she missed the spiked hair and black clothing, but his new hairstyle seemed to accentuate his softer side. He didn't like a lot of people knowing he had a soft side, but Maria knew of it very well. She was one of the fortunate few that had seen it and the first time she did were when Michael came to her on a rainy night to get away from Hank and his abuse. She missed those times of closeness. But now she was hopeful that they would be returning to those moments of closeness sooner than later since they were now not completely avoiding each other anymore.
The fact that they could now work on similar shifts made her excited and elated on the inside although she never dared to show it. The summer where he avoided her seemed years ago. She couldn't bear to share a shift with him then, and something told her inside beyond a wall of doubt that he couldn't bear it either. Not for any reason other than it would be hard, hard to see each other. She felt the same but they never communicated about it. It's like they always innately knew what the other was feeling and thinking, yet they never acted on rectifying their actions and succumbing to their true desires. Sure they weren't together, not really anyway. Actually, the lines still seemed funny and convoluted to Maria. Yet he wasn't ignoring and avoiding her anymore either. That, at least, was comforting. She smiled seeing as how far they had come from the summer.
"Oh, Max called. He said that he wants to have a meeting with everybody Saturday night."
"No, I can't make that," Michael replied not looking up from his culinary handiwork.
"Really?" Maria said with longing while her eyes flirtatiously met with his.
Michael cocked an eyebrow up. "Yeah I got big plans. I can't change 'em."
"That is so sweet!" Finally, her Michael was coming around putting her first. She was now a priority in his life and he was showing it!
"Sweet? It's the dirt bike finals!"
Maria's heart fell into her stomach. "Hello? I'm singing on Saturday at the new performance space next to the museum!"
"Yeah but I've heard you sing before. What's the big deal?"
Maria didn't know whether to scream in anger or cry in agony. She abruptly grabbed the sandwich from the counter and quickly wrapped it up completely catching Michael off guard. She then wordlessly opened a sandwich bag backhandedly and forcefully placed the sandwich inside. She stormed off to the UFO Museum to give Brody his order leaving Michael perplexed and confused.
"Women!" he grunted as he went back tend to his burgers on the grill.
After delivering the sandwich to the quirky yet well-mannered UFO museum owner Brody Davis, she walked back to the CrashDown to collect her things and be on her way home. She had discovered once she had delivered the order Michael had forgotten the pepper jack! Michael never listened to her.
"God! I could just strangle him!" Maria cried to herself as she opened the glass doors to the diner.
Liz noticed a very irritated Maria rushing by her as she took the order of a family of four. She looked over at Michael who definitely noticed Maria's frustrated demeanor as she walked past. Michael locked eyes with Liz who in return gave Michael a very disapproving look.
It was one thing that she and Max were on this rollercoaster of emotions after the whole Destiny debacle. She had made her choice and after the visit from Future Max she had been even more headstrong about her initial decision despite the passionate and longing feelings she still had for him. Sure Liz was still feeling conflicted inside though she unconditionally loved Max, but Maria had remained steadfast in her own decision as well. She wanted to still be with Michael. Despite everything she never once felt conflicted on her motives with Michael. Maria told Liz once that Michael needed her more than she needed him. Liz wondered if Michael had realized that yet but the looks of Maria just now proved he still hadn't.
Liz sighed as she ripped out the order note from her pad giving it to the kitchen as she went to the locker room. Opening the door to the backroom, Liz found Maria getting her purse from her locker and putting her jacket on.
Liz approached Maria stealthily. She knew Michael was not that far considering he was still at the grill and she didn't want to bring any attention (especially from Michael) to their conversation.
"Maria? You ok?"
"Peachy!" she said as she locked the clasp on her purse.
"Michael trouble?"
"When is it not Michael trouble?"
Liz gave a consoling smile as she combed a piece of wild hair behind Maria's ear.
"You know Liz like I'm willing to still be there for Michael. He's made progress, we've made progress, and have gotten like ...closer you know?"
"Well, didn't you say not too long ago he was the world's worst boyfriend?"
"Yeah but that's a given, we all know that. America knows that. The whole Universe knows that. Including Antar!"
Liz still looked on with a consoling smile to Maria.
"Look I'm not pathetic Liz. It doesn't take that much effort to even please me! I'm not as high maintenance as he thinks I am. I just want someone to show me some attention and to be there for me. Maybe the problem is I haven't set the bar high enough!"
Liz shook her head at Maria. Poor Maria. She was the most loyal person in the world and she couldn't blame her for feeling so upset at the unrequited care she was receiving from Michael.
"Maria he does care for you." Liz remembered how Max once cared for her the same way. But Liz had made her choice at that involved letting him go so he could fulfill his destiny with Tess.
"Then why doesn't he show it, Liz? It's not that hard. I deserve an over the top Casanova! I have so much love to give I could scream. I deserve to be loved the same way if not more!"
Liz smiled catching Michael from the corner of her eye looking in their direction, wondering what the two girls were babbling about.
"Maria I think Michael's on to us," she whispered.
"It doesn't matter. I shouldn't even be venting about this to you with everything you've been going through with Max. I'm just going to head home and mull over this sadness and rejection with some Cherry Garcia and a warm bath."
Liz embraced Maria just before she left for the Jetta.
Michael came over to Liz.
"Everything ok with Maria?" Liz smiled feeling satisfied on her stance that Michael truly cared considering there he was right now checking in on Maria. But then Liz put her serious face on adamant on teaching Guerin a thing or two.
"What do you think Michael?" she asked back with attitude.
He shrugged his shoulders. "How am I supposed to know? I don't know what's going on! That girl is always pissed about something!"
"Michael! Did it ever occur to you that she's only pissed around you because YOU make her pissed?"
Michael looked confused. "Look! I was clear about 'us' to Maria. I said thank you to her after learning about that old veteran guy saving our asses as pods back in the 40's. I get it that she's saved my ass; you all have saved our asses, and I appreciate that, but just because I gave an inch doesn't mean I'm budging about my stance. I've been clear!" Michael said holding his ground.
"No, you haven't been clear! Maria and I talk. She's been trying very hard not to confide so much in me because of…" Liz's voice trailed off. She didn't want to divulge so much about the fact that her and Max not together still hurt her. But that may mean Michael may go and run to Max with what she said and she couldn't open that door. Not after all that had gone down with Future Max, Destiny, and Tess. Maria was so perceptive and she rarely confided into Liz fearing that it would upset her since her and Max was not a couple anymore. Liz appreciated this about Maria. Why couldn't Michael appreciate this consideration about Maria as well?
"Look the point is, you haven't been exactly clear with her. When you were on the look-out for Courtney from your apartment Maria mentioned to me that you had hinted making out would pass the time," Liz said with her hands on her hips. Michael began to open and close his mouth the way he was well known to do when he couldn't find the words.
"Do you deny it?"
Michael sighed and was about to open his mouth to say something when Liz cut him off.
"So we haven't really been clear now have we?" Liz said as she walked past him. "Oh, and Michael," she said abruptly turning to face a glaring Michael, "I'm still waiting for my order!"
