Two days later……..
It was a normal day and Michael had dropped Maria round Liz's apartment on his way to work as usual. But little did they all know that their new little member was going to choose today to have had enough and decide to pop out and meet their new family. Maria and Liz had just eaten their lunch when Maria was taken aback with a sharp pain in her stomach, ignoring it they carried on as usual until she was literally thrown off of her feet onto the floor in pain. Both women coming to the conclusion that she was going into labour, Liz quickly helped her into the bedroom and sat her on a bed of towels waiting for her waters to break.
MICHAEL! Where are you…ahh…MICHAEL! It's time…ahhhhhhhhh
"Maria…oh god, oh god…what do I do?!? Ok, ok ,um…Maria breath for me ok, calm down just breathe…in…out…in…out, keep doing that I am going to get some help, wait here…ohhh" Liz in a rush of excitement and panic was trying to keep calm for Maria and her self.
Liz ran to the phone and immediately dialled Michael's mobile number. The wait for him to answer was unbearable; all the while Liz could hear Maria screaming in the background.
"Ello…" Michael replied on the other end.
"Michael its Liz…you have to get over here quick…"
"Wait slow down what's wrong?" Michael said cutting Liz off short before she could explain what was happening.
"Michael its Maria she gone into labour and I don't know what to do…just get over here quick please she needs you!"
"Right I'm on my way!" Michael shot back immediately hanging up and speeding over to Liz's place.
After calling Michael, Liz gathered that she would need more help than just Michael, he wouldn't have a clue what to do…Isabel" Before wasting more time Liz quickly called Isabel informing her on the newest improvement of Maria's pregnancy, urging her to grab Max and Kyle and to make their way over.
As Michael came rushing up to the front door he didn't bother knocking he just used his powers and unlocked the door him self.
"MARIA! LIZ!" Michael shouted running mindlessly through the apartment looking for them.
"Michael in the bedroom" Liz called upon hearing his shouts.
"Maria…are you ok baby, it's ok now I'm here for you, we will get through this" Michael said kneeling down besides Maria and wiping strands of hair from her sticky forehead.
"Michael…ahh…I love you, but I will never forgive you for doing this to me…ahhhh" Maria said through gritted teeth trying to show a small smile on her tense face.
"I love you too, once we have our baby in our arms I am sure you will find a place in your heart to forgive me" Michael replied kissing her lightly clutching her hand in his.
With that Maria's waters broke and there was nothing ordinary about it. Her water was glowing and soon enough the bed was covered in a glowing liquid which had once been keeping their baby safe and allowing it to grow.
"Whoa, what is that?" Michael asked just as shocked as Liz.
"I don't know must be an alien thing" Liz said receiving a funny look from Michael, choosing to ignore it she turned to see Isabel and the others stood at the bedroom door looking in with amazed looks on their faces as they absorbed the scene.
"Guys don't just stand there come in and help me!" Liz cried waking them from their trance. She could immediately tell that Max and Kyle were very uncomfortable being in the room, feeling kind of sorry for them, but couldn't help but think how differently they would feel if it were her self or Isabel.
"Right sorry how can we help?" Isabel asked stepping over to the other side of Maria.
"Well first can you two move away from that end of the bed…ahhh…it's kind of uncomfortable you know?!?" Maria managed to gasp out in-between sharp breaths.
"Oh right yer sorry" Both men stuttered moving to the other side of the room.
An hour passed and still no baby. Maria's contractions were becoming more violent and closer together, Michael not once leaving her side, held her in his arms supporting her exhausted, delicate body; doing the only thing he could to help her through this.
"I love you" Those mere three words coming as a great comfort to her, with a lot of effort Maria managed to turn her head and look into Michaels eyes. Seeing his eyes glisten with unshed tears of joy and concern, she leant her head forwards meeting her lips with his.
"I love you too Michael" Maria slowly stretched out, gritting her teeth as a new wave of pain surged through her body.
Another half an hour passed and as the contractions began building even more momentum; Maria was becoming more and more agitated and unsettled. And it was Michael who was receiving the consequences; he could have sworn that he felt a bone crack in his hand from the pressure Maria was squeezing onto it.
All he kept thinking was how surprised he was that after all of the pain she had endured over the years through losing loved ones that it was labour that was actually taking its toll on her. He wished more than anything he could lend her some of his strength, she was looking so weak and he was scared that she would be able to see this through.
"AHHH…Get this thing outta me! It hurts so much…Ahhhh…Michael help me!" Maria screamed pulling him towards her face by the scruff of his shirt.
"I don't know what I can do…" Michael honestly answered stroking the side of Maria's face.
"I might have an idea guys" Max piped up, this being the first thing he said since entering the room.
"What is it Maxwell?" Michael hesitantly asked not allowing any sound of desperation to cloak his voice.
"I'm not sure yet…Michael, Isabel take my hands" Max said motioning them over to the side of the bed looking down upon Maria's exhausted body.
"Maria, I need you to trust me okay? I am going to try and take away some of the pain…Michael place your hand over her stomach…Isabel you place your hand over her head, right lets give it a go then shall we?" Max said closing his eyes as an intense look of concentration covered his face.
After a couple of minutes Max's whole body began to glow. Liz and Kyle watched on in amazement as they could see glowing energy pass from Max into Michael and Isabel's bodies, then eventually bathing Maria's entire being in a pure white glow.
As Max's healing power enhanced trying to take away some of her pain, he received many flashes form Maria as she opened up to him and the others.
Flash……
Maria wearing her new red sneakers as little girl playing outside of her house with young Liz.
Maria finding out about the three aliens living with them in Roswell, Liz trying to calm her down, the meeting in the ally, just how nervous Maria looked being in the same company as Michael, Isabel and himself Max. Who'd have thought that you would be here today giving birth to one of those aliens babies
Maria welcoming Michael into her home and heart, comforting him when he had just been abused by his carer Hank. Asking him no questions but giving him the love and acceptation that he so desperately needed.
Michael opening up to her on their last night on Earth before returning back to Antar their home planet. Michael taking her hands and showing her how much she truly means to him, revealing all of his self and his past to her, truly letting her see the real him.
Their first time, the love they felt for one another.
Alex's funeral, Liz finding out the truth about Tess and how she killed Alex. Tess leaving, the anger and most of all the tremendous pain she felt when she lost Alex, especially at the hands of the species she was most in love with. Max could feel that the fact an alien murdered Alex really cut Maria deep inside and he couldn't help feel responsible for what happened, he was the one who convinced them all to trust Tess and he would give anything to be able to change things and take away all of the hurt Maria had to endure because of his very existence.
All the times Michael toyed with Maria's heart and made her feel insignificant. Yet every time she would forgive him and take him back, the love she had for him for inspiring. Michael if only you knew how lucky you are to have found a woman who loves you so much and is willing to put up with your on occasion challenging personality.
Maria finding out she was pregnant, the joy she felt knowing that she was carrying the child of the man she loved.
The times she shared with us her family, the respect and loyalty she felt for us. She was unbelievable, all of the things our race had put her through and still she did not abandon us or give up on us. For that Maria I am forever grateful
…End flash
Max opened his eyes and silently thanked Maria for believing in them, for believing in Michael.
Michael then opened his eyes to see Maria looking like an Angel, you're so beautiful and strong you can do this Maria.
Not long after Isabel too opened her eyes and gazed upon a magnificent sight as Maria's entire body was suspended in mid air and glowing all over. Wow, we did that, I only hope it helps you Maria.
Max could feel himself becoming weaker but couldn't bring himself to stop, it felt like a drug and he was addicted to the phenomenal sensation he was feeling as he infused Maria with his strength, his power, his love and care for her and her child. He could sense that Maria was becoming stronger as her body slowly came back down and rested onto the bed. All I want is to keep you and your baby safe, I love you both Max thought to himself somehow knowing that Maria could hear him.
Max could no longer hold his own weight, collapsing the floor; he lost his grip on Michael and Isabel's hands breaking the flow. Maria's body suddenly stopped glowing and she had never looked so beautiful and radiant, everyone in the room thought to themselves.
Liz ran to Max helping him up and holding him in her arms momentarily distracted from the baby situation, but not for long as the sound of Maria voice brought her back to reality.
"Wow that was amazing! But guys I think the baby is coming…NOW!" Maria said to her surprise feeling no pain at all but a wash of certainty that her child was going to be ok and healthy, this in itself gave her the courage to see this through. "Michael…I can do this…Thank you, all of you" Maria emotionally said looking Michael, Isabel and then finally Max in the eye one at a time, feeling eternally grateful for the power and strength they had given her You truly are my family and I love you all.
"It's coming; I can see the head…" Liz shouted positioning herself to deliver the baby "Maria I need you to push okay…that's great it's almost there…I need to you to push once more hunny, one big push and…that's it" Liz said scooping the baby into her arms, cutting the umbilical cord.
Maria looked on anxiously waiting to hear her baby cry and to be sure that her baby was ok. After seconds of anxiously waiting, Michael and Maria were relieved to hear their new child crying, Maria collapsed into Michael chest closing her eyes, giving herself a couple of seconds to pull together some of her own strength.
"Congratulations guys you have a little baby girl" Liz said placing the new born into Maria's arms. Liz walked back and wrapped her arms around Max, giving the new parents time to marvel at the miracle of a child they were blessed with.
"You did great hunny, I am so proud of you" Max whispered to Liz, brushing his lips over hers.
"You did your part to, Mr super healer" Liz whispered back burying herself deeper into his chest taking in the scent that was Max Evans.
Max, Liz, Isabel and Kyle stood back and looked upon the picturesque scene of the new family before them. They had never seen Michael so truly happy. Max was surprised at how emotional Michael was, he had only ever seen him cry a couple of times, usually Michael tries to be a brick wall and not let any emotion show, he was afraid it would define him as weak.
The three aliens were adamant to keep their promise; they were going to keep both Maria and her baby safe, with any means necessary.
"We did it Michael, our baby is here and she is safe and loved by a family who will do anything for her" Maria said not only to Michael but to the rest of her family stood in the room with her.
"Yes we did and I am so proud of you Maria, you really are a strong woman. Thank you for giving a beautiful baby girl and I will keep the both of you safe with my life" Michael said kissing Maria then their baby.
"Do you know what you are going to call her?" Isabel asked from the foot of the bed, not once taking her eyes of the new little bundle of life sat calmly in her mother's arms.
"Actually we were kind of sure it was going to be a boy, so I guess the name Alex is out of the question" Maria said laughing.
"Alex would have been honoured that you would have named your child after him, but now we you have to come up with a girls name, what's it gunna be?" Liz asked her voice full of anguish and joy at the same time.
"Well…I have a suggestion, but I don't know if you will like Maria?" Michael piped up studying the perfect features of his new child.
"What is it Michael, I am sure I will love it if you do"
"How about Courtney?"
"Courtney huh? I like it…Courtney Guerin…Where did you pick that name from?" Maria asked testing the new name with her baby girl.
"It was the name of a care worker at the adoption agency…she was like a mother to me when I was first found. She looked after me and…She juts meant a lot to, helped me understand a lot about this planet and life, she helped see that there are some people on this planet that are truly good" Michael explained knowing full well that everyone was staring intensely at him now and hated all of the sympathy and attention.
"I think it's a beautiful name and I would love to call our child that Michael. I also have another suggestion…for a middle name I mean, I think our child should have a middle name, seen as I never had one"
"What did you have in mind?" Michael asked taking Courtney's hand into his.
"Elizabeth…Named after her fantastic superwoman of an aunt. Liz I don't know what I would have done if you had not been with me today and I won't you to know I am so grateful that you were the one to have delivered my baby. So I would like to use your name as Courtney's middle name"
"Maria…I don't know what to say, I am touched and honoured really. I would love for you to use my name. That little girl there is going to have a wonderful life and she is so grateful to have parents like you two. And Maria you are going to be a fantastic mother I know it" Liz replied filling up and walking over to Maria enveloping her into her arms.
"Thank you Liz, I love you" Maria whispered into her hair.
As Liz joined the rest of the group at the end of the bed, Maria looked Michael then at her new baby I had never felt more happy, she now felt she had a true meaning in life to raise her child and show her how amazing her life is going to be, show her all of the wonderful aspects of her father and his origins. She will never keep Courtney in the dark about her family and where they come from, for all Maria knows she may have an even more powerful child than she might think.
"Welcome to the world Courtney Elizabeth Guerin. You are going to love it here"