" Wait. That's called emancipation, right? "
Michael nodded and tossed the crumpled napkin that contained the rest of the broken dish into the garbage can. He snapped the oven dial to 'Off' and grabbed a pair of forks. " It's ready now, Maria. "
Maria DeLuca picked up her fork and pinned a piece of pancake. It was kind of odd to be around someone who suddenly knew random things about you, reflected Maria. But still, she wouldn't trade the experience for anything. She wasn't ashamed of her life. There was nothing she really had problems with Michael knowing. There were embarrassing events, true, but chances were he hadn't picked up on all of them. And although he had seen into her, she had gotten to see into him as well.
It had been like watching a movie in a few minutes. But it still left her intrigued. She didn't know his entire past and she didn't know the future, but she wanted to. " Anything fun to do in Roswell? "
He drained his juice before answering, " The entire town thrives on the alien theme because of the 1947 crash. "
" Oh.. Does that ever bother you? "
" Sometimes. Most of the time I forget, though. " Yeah. You forget because most days you're too worn out from school and work to even think, Guerin. He guestured at her plate and at her nod, he placed it along with his in the sink to wash later. " Why'd you ask about fun things to do? "
" Wanted to know how to pass the time. "
Michael froze. He hadn't thought about her staying or leaving for a good hour now. Who knew how Max and Isabel were going to handle-- Max and Isabel. He was supposed to meet them for lunch. Dammit. He glanced at her. He couldn't leave her unprotected, and it wouldn't be wise to just show up with her either. " Maria.. "
She immediately looked up. Maria had fallen silent while he was lost in thought and now halted in massaging her right palm. " What? "
" I'm not the only.. real alien in Roswell. "
" I know. " She bit her lip, suddenly looking frightened and worried. " This is a major secret. I get that. But they don't know I get it, do they? I mean, they're thinkin' I could go blabbing to someone and endanger the three of you. " She met his eyes directly. " I wouldn't, Michael. I need you to know that. My whole life, I've had a rough time. I'm not pitying myself, I'm just telling it how it is. No one ever did what you did. Protected me like that. "
She took a deep breath and continued. " I owe you a lot. I know I'd be dead if not for you. He'd stabbed me.. he was going to do worse.. " Her words broke off, her eyes and hand landing on her stomach, where his hand print still lay, albeit now hidden. After a moment, her eyes returned to his, bright with unshed tears that she refused to free. " I promise you. I won't ever tell anybody. They might just be words to you, but I swear I mean it. "
He nodded, believing her. " Now we just need to convince Max and Isabel of that, " he replied, his mind made up to bring her.
" When? "
" In a few hours. You should rest again. I'll wake you up in time. "
Michael nodded and tossed the crumpled napkin that contained the rest of the broken dish into the garbage can. He snapped the oven dial to 'Off' and grabbed a pair of forks. " It's ready now, Maria. "
Maria DeLuca picked up her fork and pinned a piece of pancake. It was kind of odd to be around someone who suddenly knew random things about you, reflected Maria. But still, she wouldn't trade the experience for anything. She wasn't ashamed of her life. There was nothing she really had problems with Michael knowing. There were embarrassing events, true, but chances were he hadn't picked up on all of them. And although he had seen into her, she had gotten to see into him as well.
It had been like watching a movie in a few minutes. But it still left her intrigued. She didn't know his entire past and she didn't know the future, but she wanted to. " Anything fun to do in Roswell? "
He drained his juice before answering, " The entire town thrives on the alien theme because of the 1947 crash. "
" Oh.. Does that ever bother you? "
" Sometimes. Most of the time I forget, though. " Yeah. You forget because most days you're too worn out from school and work to even think, Guerin. He guestured at her plate and at her nod, he placed it along with his in the sink to wash later. " Why'd you ask about fun things to do? "
" Wanted to know how to pass the time. "
Michael froze. He hadn't thought about her staying or leaving for a good hour now. Who knew how Max and Isabel were going to handle-- Max and Isabel. He was supposed to meet them for lunch. Dammit. He glanced at her. He couldn't leave her unprotected, and it wouldn't be wise to just show up with her either. " Maria.. "
She immediately looked up. Maria had fallen silent while he was lost in thought and now halted in massaging her right palm. " What? "
" I'm not the only.. real alien in Roswell. "
" I know. " She bit her lip, suddenly looking frightened and worried. " This is a major secret. I get that. But they don't know I get it, do they? I mean, they're thinkin' I could go blabbing to someone and endanger the three of you. " She met his eyes directly. " I wouldn't, Michael. I need you to know that. My whole life, I've had a rough time. I'm not pitying myself, I'm just telling it how it is. No one ever did what you did. Protected me like that. "
She took a deep breath and continued. " I owe you a lot. I know I'd be dead if not for you. He'd stabbed me.. he was going to do worse.. " Her words broke off, her eyes and hand landing on her stomach, where his hand print still lay, albeit now hidden. After a moment, her eyes returned to his, bright with unshed tears that she refused to free. " I promise you. I won't ever tell anybody. They might just be words to you, but I swear I mean it. "
He nodded, believing her. " Now we just need to convince Max and Isabel of that, " he replied, his mind made up to bring her.
" When? "
" In a few hours. You should rest again. I'll wake you up in time. "