Disclaimer: I don't own Roswell- and you know who does. But I'm one of millions that still love Roswell, and I love Michael and Maria most.
Summary: How I wished Season 3 of Maria and Michael really went down. In all fairness Maria did not really get the character development she deserved in Season 3, which is deeply sad given that her role is one of the most beloved characters among die-hard Roswell fan base. (I get it the show was pressed for time and even had episodes cut down by UPN but still :( ) I sometimes wondered what would the cancelled episodes have explained about Maria and Michael's relationship? How did evolve? Well I guess we will never know….
This story is my humble attempt to paint more of that picture. This version starts when Michael gets a job at the Meta-Chem. Meeting new "human" friends for Michael is only the start of figuring out how to live on Earth and make a home here with Maria. It will also attempt to give more of a reason as to why Maria broke up with Michael. (I felt this part in the show was a bit abrupt- did you?) Don't worry, though- not all is lost for us Candy Lovers- I'm hoping to provide a Happy Ending! This is also will have a touch of some AU attributes though it will mostly follow the Roswell storyline.
Author's Note: I truly felt, that Michael staying back for Maria was a romantic story arc that didn't get the evolution it deserved in season 3. To add more to this beautiful sacrifice, I wanted to write Maria and Michael in my own way because I felt like Michael changed, but it wasn't enough- how could it be? Their relationship didn't go through much evolution due to time constraints in that season. They weren't given enough time to completely evolve in the series and Maria breaking up with him was a little abrupt. As a Candy Lover, I do love their chemistry and their relationship had a lot of love, so this is just me giving it some more love- a love they deserve. In this version, I give Maria a little more leverage than a reason of just the words and actions of an old friend from "band camp coming back" to ruin things for Michael and her. This is more, and it's only about Michael and Maria.
Spoilers: The whole Roswell series! But I will give a better reason than Maria did for why she broke up with Michael- yes in this version she will still break Michael's heart but I'm hoping for a happy ending for these two. Don't all we Candy Lovers wish the same?
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Chapter 1
I don't usually pay attention in school. I'm often daydreaming about various things. If anyone were ever to go inside my head they would think I was crazy with all of the random thoughts and genres that seem to seep from one synapse to another. It's usually about music. Some crazy tune accompanied by a loony verse that just popped up in my head or about my badly groomed yet incredibly sexy boyfriend. But today, a quote from Einstein told by my AP Chemistry teacher stuck with me that day.
"Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again
and expecting different results."
Einstein's words didn't pertain to anything else to me in that moment except with my up and down, tumultuous, romantic, yet crazy relationship with my boyfriend-Michael Guerin.
I let out a sigh as the teacher instructed us to start the assignment with our lab partner but my present thoughts only resonated on the relationship with Michael and how insane we both were -especially me. We all know he's the worst boyfriend in America, but was I any better? I put up with all his antics expecting he would come out differently and in the end it always comes out to be the same- disappointment, regret, and me having to put on the Teflon exterior more. My hope of expecting more desirable results hardly occurred.
Sometimes this Teflon babe gets tired of being a Teflon babe. Sometimes, it gets really hard to make sense of this relationship. I guess it was my fault because I enabled it. Did I enable it?
"Maria! You coming?" I heard a voice from behind. Kyle. He was AP Chemistry Lab partner in this class. I nodded acknowledging to him that I was coming over to the lab table as I saw him starting for the supply closet collecting the materials we needed for today's little science experiment.
As I set my science folder down next to Kyle's I got lost in my thoughts again remembering an incident that happened a couple of years ago, when I went out my first double date with Michael, Liz and Max. I was undoubtedly upset at the fact that Michael got me the worst present (shampoo…oh and conditioner, in one!) and told me I had to pay the bill. When it came to acts of romance and courting, Michael was clueless and I went on a rant telling him how disappointed I was about the evening. And then, he asked me something that I will never be able to forget:
"What I want to know is if I'm such a loser, then why do you want to be with me?"
Michael doesn't know how much my heart broke in guilt when I heard those words come out of his mouth that day. Though I told him I was profusely sorry for the comment, I never told the reason I wanted to be with him. I figured he understood without the need of words.
So why do I want to be with Michael?
Yes, when it comes to romance Michael can be a bit clueless, but when it came to protecting me, he was the best. I remembered the many times I would compare Michael to Max, and how much it bugged Michael when I did that. I've made a strong effort since then to really try to minimize the boyfriend comparisons.
After all, in truth, in the areas where Max lacked Michael soared.
Michael never cheated on me, not deliberately unlike Max who got Tess pregnant. I know that whole destiny crap was in the way and I understand why Max did what he did, I get it. -But bottom line Liz got hurt.
I could never see Michael hurting me in that way. He never even pursued destiny with Isabel at all. It's these little details that prove to me time and time again how much Michael shined, especially in my heart.
Michael never failed to make sure I was safe. And when I mean that he excels at being nonverbal, I mean it. He's especially good with his hands, as I remember making out with him the night before.
Being in AP Chemistry class right now just doesn't seem right to be in without the number one fella I have chemistry with, I thought as I chuckled under my breath. Oh crap! I think Kyle heard me chuckle! He just darted the most "weirded-out" look to me. Ok keep it together DeLuca! To my dismay Michael barely passed Biology so it meant no AP classes his senior year. The only period we had together was the eraser room at 1:00pm.
I don't have to explain to him why I love him and he's ok with that. Actually, come to think of it, I think he prefers that. Anyway, the important thing is he knows I do and that's enough.
I look back time to time at that "double date debacle" and I laugh to myself at how senile and immature I was about it all. I should've known better, for how could a boy who grew up in a home that wasn't one, but filled with hate and austerity know how it was like to show considerate attentiveness?
Overtime I realized he did show his care for me. He cares for me immensely and most of the time it was shown in the most unconventional of ways.
Michael doesn't deserve to be compared to Max, and I know he doesn't deserve to have to apologize for his ways either because that's who is- I get that. I understand, out of everyone I would think I understand it the most! It's just- oh I don't know? For a change, it would be nice if he did progress, even just a little bit for this relationship. But I guess that's too much to ask…and if I was a good person, I should just take him for who he is, and love him. Right? Right. Of course. That's what a good person would do.
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"I have to hand it to you Michael that was a pretty ballsy thing you and the crew of Skunk and Flea did," Maria said complementing Michael's break in into Meta-Chem, catching Karl in the act, and getting all their jobs back.
"It's Monk and Fly!" Michael corrected Maria as he grabbed a Snapple from the fridge sitting next to her on the couch remote in hand ready to watch the hockey game.
"Whatever," she smirked as she curled in closer to him.
"I just came back from Steve's place, told him all about it," Michael said still not taking his eyes from the TV.
She nodded. "You do a lot of good things, Michael."
"Yeah well," he said as his voice trailed off. Michael didn't really want to talk about his good deed of the day. He knew deep down he was partially to blame for the whole security team being fired even though Karl was a swine up to no good tampering with materials at night, giving them to unauthorized parties. It still bothered Michael that he wasn't really sure what Karl was up to. Sure he got their jobs back, but he still didn't solve the whole mystery, and if there's one thing about Michael- he always wanted to get to the bottom of all the answers- all of them. Maria knew this bothered Michael, but she couldn't bear to expand upon it right now. She was completely exhausted from school and work. Even more so, she was just proud of her boyfriend and wanted to relish in his feat, and hopefully make him feel proud as well. He needed those things. She always tried making sure he had a sense of self-worth and proudness. Not pride, just proudness, a feeling she knew Hank did nothing of fostering.
Maria never talked about Hank with Michael unless he brought it up, thus Maria never told Michael how she felt Hank was always her life-long nemesis. When Michael was at his lowest of low, it was never a battle of Michael against the world. Instead she always felt like it was a battle between her and the man who created all the little monsters in Michael's heart and soul. She had been getting rid of the little monsters one by one since she had met Michael, and she did so with poise and grace. Michael knew that about her, knew in the end, she was his salvation.
"Really Michael," she added as she cuddled against him laying her head on his chest tucking it under his chin. "I always see it. You show it in your crazy ways, but you're a lot of good." She caressed his chest, and then held it over where his heart was as she looked on to the TV.
"Thanks, I guess," he said finally smiling ever so subtly, as he kissed the top of Maria's head briefly.
Michael and Maria had just come home after closing the Crashdown together. He would have to go start his graveyard shift at Meta-Chem in a few hours, so he had just enough time to catch the hockey game. He wasn't expecting the Crashdown to be so busy but to his dismay it had been one of the busiest Friday nights while working at the Crashdown since.
After about an hour or so, Michael realized that Maria had fallen asleep when he felt her hand fall from his chest to his lap. He looked down at his Maria, and lifted her off of his body so that she could lie on a pile of cushions resting against the arm chair hoping it would offer her more comfort. Resting her down, Maria shifted in her sleep to pull her legs up curling them up as she turned inward into the back of the couch. She was completely asleep, and not even the sound of a pin drop would break her from that deep slumber. Michael subtly smiled looking at how she looked so peaceful yet so alive all at once as she lay sleeping next to him.
The tiresome day was written all over her face and body. Michael combed Maria's hair out of her face and slowly stroked her cheek. He wanted more than anything to stay with her that night. He missed the nights they use to have together. Now with Meta-Chem, it took a toll on their alone time. Not to mention Max was now sleeping on Michael's couch.
He would always be loyal to Max. It went deeper than just brothers. He knew it was an intense sense of obligation and duty that came from a lifetime before. All of a sudden, Michael heard the front door open.
"Hey, be quiet, Maria's sleeping," he said as he pointed Maria. Max nodded as he softly closed the door behind him. Max hung his leather jacket up and sat on the couch opposite from the one Maria and Michael was sitting on. He noticed how Michael kept his arm on her legs the whole time, as if to offer a constant sense of security for Maria.
Max had seen Michael change the most in only the last couple of years. It started when Maria entered Michael's life. Even Maria had become one of Max's dearest friends. He was her "girlfriend" as she so lovingly nicknamed him. Maria was something more than she would ever know Michael and Max he could see their unwavering bond evolving into something in its own entirety. It was still in its rough changes but it was in the middle of something that could be wonderful.
"Want a Snapple?" Max asked quietly as he got up to the fridge feeling thirsty.
"No thanks had one. OH!" Michael exclaimed all of a sudden as a scream of excitement escaped from his lips as he ran over to the TV! Max turned his attention to a very startled Maria that jolted up in pure panic sitting up in the couch, perplexed at what had just had happened. 'Poor Maria' Max thought as she looked completely startled.
One moment she was sleeping soundly and the next awoken with the feeling of fear engulfing her all at once. That's how she always slept although Michael didn't know. She hadn't yet divulged to him that a part of her was always on edge ever since he had come into her life. The alien chaos that enveloped her life while awake in the form of pure anxiety had even found its way into her sleep at night.
Maria looked up saw an excited Michael Guerin whirling around near the TV cheering that the Hockey team he was rooting for had just won. Her anxiety quickly dissipated and she sighed for relief. It was just Michael being happy over the stupid hockey game. They weren't in danger, they weren't being shot at, and they didn't need to escape or anything like that.
Maria got up slowly hoping had a vile of cedar oil in her purse to help calm the jitters down. She began combing her hair with her fingers, brushing them down, as she noticed Max sitting in the chair next to the couch shaking his head smiling at Michael's reaction drinking a Snapple.
"Hey," Max said waving to Maria.
"Hey back," she replied with a tiered smile.
"You know for the record I was quiet, and Mr. General over there was the one that gave the orders on silence," Max pointed out as Maria nodded.
"Figures," she simply responded as looked down on her wrist watch. It was almost 1:00 in the morning. She headed for the breakfast table to collect her purse and my car keys from the breakfast table. When it got late like this Maria usually stayed over Michael's place, but with Max now living on the couch, she didn't feel like it. It felt a bit uncomfortable and awkward, and she was sure Max felt the same way. Max was like a brother to her so knowing your sister was sleeping over with your best friend, kind of put a weird damper on things.
Maria knew she would be heading back to another night of loneliness at her house. Her mother had been going back and forth to Las Cruces for the past year opening another shop. To Maria's dismay Amy has been hinting moving out there eventually leaving Maria a little unsure just when that would exactly be if it actually panned out. Maria contemplated that perhaps her mother was waiting till she graduated high school for she doubted that she would actually pick Maria up from Roswell and move her in the middle of the school year away from her friends and the only home she knew.
And it didn't stop from Maria wondering why her mother would go for weeks at a time. Was it really becoming that successful? Simultaneously Amy had been going to Art & Design night classes along with a few homeopathic cosmetology classes at a community college in Las Cruces which lead Maria to guess Amy had to stay for weeks at a time to attend school regularly and all. Maria complimented her mother for taking college courses, noting that it would definitely make her products stand out more. 'One can only assume just how much we could rely on selling Alien stuff, body oil, and herbal remedies for the rest of our lives' she thought to herself.
The romantic in Maria also wondered on the possibility her mother had finally met someone- not just anyone, but someone stable. Her mother had gone through a series of relationships with men ever since Maria's father left. Some had been nice but some had creeped Maria out completely. The good thing about Amy was that she always read into her daughter's discretions and kept that into consideration immensely. No one really stayed long enough though, expect that is for Sherriff Valenti. Jim Valenti and Amy never really came to be in the end. As much as Maria acted like it totally grossed her out when she saw them flirting and making googly eyes at each other, she knew the man made her mother immensely happy. In the end Maria wouldn't have minded if they came to be, as long as her mother was happy.
Maria secretly hoped her mother would meet someone charming and endearing one day. Then Amy wouldn't be alone. In the end, Maria would have Michael, but who would she have? And if all this alien crusading did turn for the worst and Maria had to run away and hide from FBI special units there was no way Maria could leave without knowing for sure that her mother would be well taken care of and not alone.
Maria looked up and saw Michael still face-glued to the TV, with the biggest smile across his face.
"Never mess with the Canucks!" Michael explained as he grabbed Max's collar in exhilaration shaking him in excitement.
"Okay! I'll keep that in mind," Max replied trying hard not to crack up at Michael's uncharacteristic display of over-excitement. Max then gave Michael a look of warning dodging his eyes to Maria as he pulled out of Michael's grasp.
Michael looked over, finding Maria collecting her things as if she were about to leave.
'Damn! Did I wake her up?" he thought apologetically.
"See you later Michael," she called out heading to put her jacket on.
"You leaving?" he asked coming over to Maria. He put his arm around her waist pulling her close to him. He was so much taller that Maria, practically towering over her causing her to always look up.
"Yeah. Long day at school and the double shift at the Crashdown have got me swiped," she responded half smilingly as she caught Max looking at them. Max quickly turned his attention to the TV. It seemed even Max felt a little out of place to be there. Max wondered if Maria stopped staying overnight as much since he had moved in. It's a shame to think that, but his inclination was right and all three of them decided not to speak of the obvious for friendship's sake. After all, Maria and Michael both knew of the multiple times Michael use to climb into Max's room, sometimes without any warning, to sleep there for the night.
"Yeah you fell asleep," Michael noted as he sat down on one of the breakfast chairs so she didn't have to strain herself to look up at him. "I'll see you tomorrow?" Maria tried not to frown to show her disappointment for she was hoping he would insist her on staying overnight at the apartment.
"Tomorrow's Saturday, and I have off I'm just going to chill at home," she replied.
"Well, I'll come by later. Is your mom going to be home?"
"No not till Tuesday."
He kissed her on the cheek as Maria left, letting herself out.
Michael looked out the window till he was content that Maria was safe in the car. He didn't turn away till he heard the ignition of the car start and seeing the Jetta completely out of his apartment complex.
As he turned around he saw Max's glare staring straight back at him.
"What?" Michael asked exasperated. Max flinched at how just quickly Michael's elatedness changed to pure frustration split second.
"Michael," he started softly, "Maria was sound asleep. You warn me not to wake her up but then you scream at the winning of a hockey game-"
"I know I felt bad about that," Michael sighed as he sat on the couch. "She and Liz both had a long day. Maria was tiered. I should've been more-"
"Considerate?" Max interrupted making Michael give him the death stare he was known for.
"I was going to say be more quiet."
Michael went on to turn off the TV, as Max made himself comfortable on the couch getting ready for bed. Michael could tell by Max's demeanor he was still disappointed in the lack of attentiveness Michael had just shown Maria.
"Just as well," Michael said out loud in such a way that almost defended his act of waking Maria up was actually a good thing considering his graveyard shift would begin in an hour. "I have to shower now and get ready for my next job," Michael said as he went off to the bathroom.
Max rolled his eyes and put his head down. Another day done and another day gone and still no inkling about where his son could be.
Maria drove home thinking the lack of consideration that was apparent just now. 'I know he was excited about the game and all, but I was sound asleep right next to him.' The lack of attention to detail was getting to her more and more. 'Did he have to clap so loud? He noticed me sleeping soundly on him after all. '
Though Michael had only worked at Meta Chem for a few days she was already missing him immensely. She wished he had asked her to stay over with him, to be with him. But then it occurred to Maria that perhaps he also felt a little out of place since Max was there nowadays. Maybe Michael knew Maria would've denied his offer anyway since Max was there, so she concluded that perhaps Michael felt it was pointless to even ask. But still it would've been nice to hear it. Hear that he wants me over with him. Was that asking for too much?
"Get it together DeLuca you're sounding like a whiny puppy," Maria said to herself out loud as she turned into the driveway. Maria decided to dismiss it just like she found herself doing all the time. 'Why start doing something differently now?'
