The Beginning

The Beginning.

AN: Purely based on the books if you have not read them what are you doing reading this go find the books and read them instead. Melinda does a much better job then me. (Background for those of you who have shortly after book ten)

"So…" Maria said not breaking the stare that Michael had her locked in.

"So…" he echoed with a faint smile. 

"Nope. Not fair you cheated." She said pointing and laughing at his faint smile that had looked more like a grimace then anything else.

"No you never said no smiling." Michael defended with a huge goofy grin on his face.  Maria pulled a shocked look and continued her head shaking.

"That most definitely was not a smile." She said as she finished shaking her head and pointed once more at him. "That was pulling a face. Therefore I win." She said poking him in the chest for emphasis.  He grabbed her wrist quickly and pulled her closer to him.

"Oh really?" he questioned innocently.

"Really." She fought back as the distance between them started to close rapidly.

"Really." He echoed then silenced her protest with a soul-shattering kiss.  She pushed against his chest but he still lingered tasting her lips as she continued to speak.

"Alex would call you on that. He wrote the book on staring contests. He even has a list on his website with some stupid staring contest rules or something."

"Should I invite him over too?" he teased.  Maria smiled pulling her lips away from his searching mouth and kissed him quickly on the cheek instead.

"You could. I've got work." She said standing up and picking up her backpack in the process.  Michael reached up and grabbed her around the waist quickly pulling her into his lap.

"Well Alex won't be nearly as much fun as you are." He whispered in her ear and traced his finger down her arm sending goose bumps through her.  She found it hard to believe that just a week ago this alien had been planning to leave her here on earth and return to his home planet with his older brother without even a decent goodbye.  Now he didn't want to let her go even for work.

"How come your so dense?" she questioned turning in his arms and teasing him.

"I think the stone of midnight had something to do with it." He joked back. "Maybe it had some sort of stupidity power too."

"You're an awful liar you know."

"No I think it must have been all those oils you've been making everyone sniff." He said tugging at a strand of her springy blonde hair.  She ran her fingers through his own dark mess and sighed.

"I should hate you for that comment.  But I'm in a good mood today." She offered instead.  Michael watched as the little flecks of silver danced through her sapphire aura telling him that yes indeed she was in a good and quite flirty mood today.  Pulling away from him she gave him a quick kiss then bounced to the door of his living room avoiding tripping over a beanbag chair narrowly.

"See ya tonight?" she questioned.  He pulled himself up and walked to the door where she was standing.  Murmuring a yes he escorted her to the front door of the museum and even opened it for her.

"You know I'm jealous." He started as she started away from the building turning around so she could see him she shot him a questioning look. "Every guy in town gets to see you in a little skimpy uniform which by the way you look more then a little tasty in, while I get to stay here and babysit the museum."  She shot him a sly grin and gave him a suggestive wink.

"I can give you a private fashion show if you want." She offered.  Michael was sure his face had turned red and Maria's giggle confirmed it.

"Where did my cute innocent Maria go?" he questioned.

"Oh didn't you know.  I traded her in for a sexier model shortly after the whole bounty hunter thing and before the Cameron thing." She joked back.  Michael smiled as she bounced away.  He was glad he'd decided to stay not that he really had any choice in the matter.