Michael put the last of their gear away and turned to look at the 7-foot tree tied down to the sled and then back at Maria. She was huddled up against Liz, just waiting for the guys to be finished so they could go. There was no way he was dragging that thing so much as another inch. His intention had been to get back, drop off the tree, and head down to their cabin for some time away from everyone else but Maria was really cold and the house was a shorter distance to walk.
He reached for her hand as he neared them, tugging her along with him as he pushed the garage door open. He winced at the high pitched squeal it gave as it rolled along the track and hurried to put himself between Maria and the worst of the blowing wind. He left it up to Max to handle securing the garage and started the walk up to the house. It didn't take long before he heard the other couple behind them and they hurried to the back door, stomping their feet as they crossed the porch.
His hand wrapped around the doorknob and gave it a turn. As he ushered Maria inside the warmth from the kitchen hit them along with the aroma of lasagna cooking and his stomach rumbled in response. He ignored it in favor of unzipping his coat, shoving his gloves in the pockets and turning to Maria. He brushed her hands aside, stopping her fumbling attempts to work the buttons on her coat and started to work on her outer gear. She was shaking from the cold, which worried him. Growing up in the desert he didn't know much about cold weather but he knew enough to know it could be dangerous.
Michael grabbed the lapels of her coat and pulled her away from the door as Max and Liz went about ridding themselves of their outerwear as well. As soon as he had her out of her gear and he had haphazardly hung it up he pulled her up against his body, wrapping his coat around her.
Eddie was watching them with undisguised interest and after a moment of staring at Maria he turned to look at his mom. "Hey, Mom…"
Julia turned away from the stove to glance at their guests and she motioned to Eddie. "Go."
Edward was following Julia around the kitchen as she worked, trying to be nosy and generally making a pest of himself. He and the boys had spent the afternoon plowing the driveways over at Mr. Tony's place and then snow blowing the ice rink on the lake. Now he was just waiting for his favorite dinner to be put on the table.
Eddie ran back into the kitchen carrying a blanket. "Mom's heating blanket," he said with a smile as he walked past Maria. "It'll warm you up."
Edward was paying little attention to his son as he walked up behind his wife to look over her shoulder. He smirked when she swatted his hip. "Snow plowing 18 inches of snow out of Mr. Tony's driveway and then snow blowing the lake has its price, woman."
"Why don't you go out and bring that tree up to the house so we can take a look at it," Julia suggested.
"Well, it's just in the garage. We can just go out there to…" he trailed off when she gave him that look. "Or I can just go and haul it up to the house."
Michael made quick work of getting out of his outerwear, ignoring the conversation around him as he hurried after Maria. She had wasted no time following her young admirer and he nearly rolled his eyes when he saw the boy shaking the blanket out and preparing to drape it over Maria where she was sitting in the recliner they had occupied earlier that day.
"I've got that, thanks," he said, intercepting before Eddie had the opportunity to tuck Maria in.
"M-M-Michael," Maria chattered in an attempt to chastise him.
He just took her hand and tugged her to her feet with his free hand as he dropped the blanket on the arm of the chair. He took a seat and pulled her down on his lap, kicking the footrest out and reaching for the blanket, flicking his wrist to shake it open and draping it over her.
Maria sighed contentedly as his arms came around her and the heat from the blanket began to warm her up. She snuggled deeper into his embrace, resting her head against his chest and letting the reassuring beat of his heart lull her to sleep. Michael rested his chin on her head and closed his eyes, listening to Isabel's voice as she and Dayna discussed something about decorations as they came into the kitchen.
He heard the back door open and shut several times before Isabel led the way into the living room, her attention now focused on the tree they had apparently just viewed. Her minions followed in her wake, Kyle wearing a look of shellshock and Max paying little attention to his sister as he picked the last of the bush particles out of his wife's hair.
"So we have a tree," Isabel was saying as she turned to look at her brother. "Did you use the diagram?"
Michael shifted slightly, his arms tightening just a bit around Maria as her shivering finally subsided. It felt good to hold her like this, to know that he had been able to take care of her and make sure she was warm. His eyes slid closed and he allowed himself to slip into a light slumber when the subject of the diagram came up because he wasn't going to be responsible for his actions if Max ratted him out and told her the diagram had been decimated prior to tree approval.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It was Maggie who came in to wake them up a while later, holding Miss Cindy and Cleopatra. "Mama says it's time for dinner," she said as she leaned on the arm of the chair.
Michael cracked one eye open to look at the trio and he nodded, watching the little girl as she scampered back to the kitchen at her mother's call. He glanced down at Maria, sleeping in his arms so trustingly and he felt the familiar feelings of protectiveness and love wash over him. He ran his fingertip across Maria's bottom lip, watching her as she made a face and burrowed her forehead against his shoulder.
"M'ria." He drew her name out, his voice low as he teased her awake. "Hey, Maggie says it's time for dinner," he continued when she started to stretch. "We don't have to stay though; I've got food for us back at the cabin."
"Ooooh, the smell in here's so wonderful though," she murmured. "It's Italian, Michael."
He gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Yeah, I kinda knew I'd lose out on this one."
As they walked into the kitchen they saw Isabel and Dayna coming up from the basement with Kyle following behind them like the dutiful and indentured servant… er, assistant, that he was. The two women were going back and forth as they debated the type of decorative birds to be used on the tree… red cardinals or white doves. Kyle looked like he was on the verge of a major case of whiplash as his head turned back and forth in an attempt to keep up with the tennis match of a conversation. He had that expression that anyone who spent much time with Isabel in planning mode eventually ended up wearing and it brought a smile to Michael's face.
"Dinner will be buffet style tonight," Julia said, her voice raised just enough to get everyone's attention. "Grab a plate and come an' get it. The drinks are in the fridge."
"Mom, did you make fresh iced tea?" Eddie asked.
She winked at her youngest son. "Yes, honey, it's on the bottom shelf in the fridge."
Eddie hurried to pour himself a glass of tea, putting it on the table and leaving it so he could get in line for dinner. He never noticed it when his older brother knocked it over, completely missing it when Brian snatched up a paper towel to mop up the spill.
Brian squeezed the tea from the paper towel back into the glass, keeping an eye on Eddie as his little brother watched Maria fill her plate. He paused for just a second when he saw Michael glance at him but when the guy went right back to what he was doing he grinned and sopped up more of the spilled tea.
Kyle got into line next to Maria, doing his best to blend in and hide from Isabel and Dayna. His to-do list was getting longer by the minute and he wasn't terribly thrilled to learn that his earlier agreement meant he would be up on a ladder the next day stringing lights on the barn and house. After a cursory tree inspection he had helped Edward load the tree into the bed of his pickup truck so it could be delivered over to Mr. Tony's house the next day. He was sure they would spend the first part of tomorrow counting needles or branches or something, making sure the diagram had been followed to the letter. He had lost the fight to not roll his eyes when Isabel had informed him that at least he wouldn't have to spray fake snow on everything like she had the year before.
"Dayna's helped put Christmas on the Lake on for years," Julia was saying as they began to take their seats around the table. She was so happy to have the crowd at the house for dinner. Things were looking up. Maggie was happy again and even her boys were more noticeably into Christmas. "She plans a Christmas parade, pancake breakfast with Santa, and the annual hockey shootout event."
Isabel was giddy as she and Dayna approached the table with their plates, joining the others waiting to start the meal. "So after we check out the tree we can take that off of our list."
Yep, he'd known there was more than that brief look earlier, Kyle thought. That was more like them having visual proof that a tree had been attained rather than the inspection that he knew it would be getting later.
"Tree's fine," Edward grunted. "And it's already loaded for delivery tomorrow."
Michael caught the older man's glance at him and couldn't help but give him a slight smile.
Way to go, Edward, Max thought.
Brian was watching his brother like a hawk as he munched on a piece of garlic bread. His eyes were alight with anticipation when Eddie reached for his glass. His brother was so dumb sometimes. He hadn't even noticed anything different about his tea. His eyebrows lifted and he leaned forward without even realizing it as Eddie lifted the glass to his lips and chugged it. He laughed like a hyena, drawing his younger brother's gaze, only getting louder when Eddie glanced at the glass in his hand and realized that Brian had done something to it.
Edward paused in the middle of cutting into his lasagna, clearing his throat just enough to get his boys' attention. He gave them a look that immediately had them settling down although he knew as soon as he looked away they would be elbowing each other and making silent threats for whatever had caused the ruckus in the first place.
Maggie rolled her eyes at her brothers, clueless about the exchange between them and not really interested in understanding it. "Mama, can I put Cleopatra on Miss Cindy's chair to eat her dinner?" Maggie paused a moment. "I mean… may I?"
"No, Maggie, she needs to have her bowl on the floor," Julia answered with a shake of her head. "But you can put it over by Miss Cindy's chair." She glanced around the table as they watched the little girl carry the cat across the room. "I just want to say thank you to all of you for making Christmas for all of us this year."
"Is this okay, Mama?" Maggie asked as she put Cleopatra down next to the bowl she had placed on the floor next to Miss Cindy's chair.
Dayna was watching the little girl, smiling as she listened to Julia's answer. She lowered her voice as she looked at the other woman. "So will Santa be bringing Maggie's wish this year for a present?" She smiled. "She's so good with Cleopatra."
"Well, it would seem that Michael knows Santa and a couple of his elves. She drew a picture and has given it to him to give to Santa."
Edward watched his Julia as she answered Dayna's question and he smiled. Finally, a buddy to go hunting with. And it didn't hurt that his Aunt Connie happened to breed Labradors, he mused.
Isabel smiled as her gaze settled on Maggie for a moment. "Yeah, the younger kids really make Christmas."
Julia thought it odd that Isabel seemed to feel so old. The girl couldn't be more than 18 or 19 years old.
The tall blonde watched the little girl as she fussed over the cat and her mind wandered to her best Christmases with her own family as a little girl. "Ya know what would be really fun?" she asked suddenly. "We should all share our favorite Christmas gift or memory." The suggestion came with her perfect smile and eyes that shone with happiness. "So, Maggie, what was your favorite Christmas present?" she asked when Maggie joined them at the table once more, sitting to Maria's left.
Maggie's features were animated as she launched into her story, sharing her memory of her last Christmas gift. "It's my book about a little polar bear who gets lost and helps Santa."
Edward laughed out loud, catching the attention of his guests. It was the first time they had heard him laugh so openly. "How about the bike Santa brought you?"
"Oh, and my bike too," she agreed with a nod. "It has a pink Hello Kitty basket on the front and a horn!"
Maria could feel Michael tensing up where he sat on her other side listening to Maggie share her story.
Dayna laughed. "Yes, I remember my little granddaughter Michelle got one just like it for Christmas last year too."
Maggie's face lit up with her excited grin. "Me an' Michelle are best friends and we have the same bike!"
Isabel looked around the table and said, "Who's next?" She made sure she looked at everyone and was just about to kick Kyle or Max under the table to get them to participate when Julia spoke up.
Michael glanced around the table, feeling his tension shoot up another notch when her gaze skimmed over him. She had to know that he had nothing to add to this funfest of holiday memories. He wondered where Kyle's mind was as he sat between Isabel and Dayna. The poor guy had tried to escape their clutches, but when he had tried to sit next to him the Christmas Nazi and her twin had insisted that as their assistant and the keeper of the almighty planner he should sit with them just in case they came up with another idea. Kyle had been remarkably silent, not even cracking so much as a single quick-witted response since the question of favorite gifts or memories had been asked. The guy was withdrawing, which was just unusual for Kyle.
His thoughts were interrupted when Julia spoke up and as he listened to her story he realized she was trying to break the ice and put everyone at ease.
"My favorite Christmas was just after high school. My family was here, Mom, Dad and my grandparents. A certain boy who was going to sign up for the armed services after our summer visit showed up at the front door." She shot a warm smile at her husband. "He had driven his truck from West Branch in a snowstorm and ended up in the ditch twice and had to dig himself out both times."
Michael's eyes followed Edward's arm as he placed it on the back of his wife's chair, the side of his thumb rubbing against her shoulder as she shared her favorite memory. His thoughts were a chaotic jumble; partly because he could relate to her story and partly because of his own thoughts it was bringing up, thoughts that he didn't want to deal with.
"It seems my dad had taught Edward enough about construction that he reconsidered leaving for the military."
Maria leaned into Michael and he lowered his head automatically as she whispered, "It's sweet that he stayed for her." As soon as the words were out of her mouth she felt a twinge of regret and she reached under the table to squeeze his thigh in reassurance.
Michael ignored her caress as his thoughts once more turned inward. Edward had stayed for Julia and she had stayed with him. He had stayed for Maria and she had left him. Yeah, he had forgiven her for all of that, but the forgetting part wasn't so easy. It had made him wary and even now he worried over her snap decision to come with him. Trust wasn't something he gave easily and it had been broken between them; rebuilding it would take time.
"Oh, I've got one," Brian spoke up, drawing Michael out of his thoughts. "Eddie has a thing for shaking Christmas presents and then telling everyone what's inside. So last year he was so sure he was getting a PS2…" he chuckled. "So the present was wrapped in a PS2 box but inside the box was another box and then another one until he finally got to the gift… and it was a Barbie house!" he howled with laughter. "It was hilarious! You shoulda seen the look on his face!"
"Santa got my present and Eddie's all mixed up," Maggie spoke up. "But me an' Eddie switched."
Michael smirked at the image of an 11-year-old Eddie staring at the box for a Barbie house with his name on it.
"Remember that princess outfit you got when you were like, I don't know, 7?" Max asked as he looked at his sister. He glanced around the table. "She wasn't just playin' dress up, she went around insisting she was a princess." He shook his head with a grin. "Thank goodness Santa didn't listen when you told him I wanted a Peter Pan costume."
"Never could quite figure that one out." She chewed a bite of lasagna and swallowed. "You certainly had the ears for it." She gave him a look of warning. "You're getting off topic… tell us what your favorite Christmas or memory is."
He grinned and laced his fingers through Liz'. "Ask me in another week or so." His gaze locked with his wife's, letting her know this year it was about her.
Ungh, gag me with a spoon, Isabel thought.
Maria wondered what she was going to say when the question inevitably came to her and she unconsciously reached up to brush her fingertips against her naked earlobe. She looked across the table at her best friend and noticed the look of discomfort on her face at being in the spotlight with her favorite Christmas. Well, considering the year before last Max had been haunted by a ghost and then last year he had been obsessed with someone else's child, it wasn't any wonder she wasn't that comfortable with this line of questioning.
Dayna unknowingly stepped in and rescued Liz when she turned the question around on Isabel. "What about your favorite Christmas, Isabel?"
The statuesque blonde froze for a moment. She hadn't been expecting the pointed question to come in her direction. She scanned her friend's faces, slightly annoyed at just how much pleasure they seemed to be taking from her moment in the spotlight. Even Michael had a downright evil smirk on his face. She turned to Kyle who was now lounging back in his chair, balanced on the two back legs, arms folded across his chest as he looked at her.
"Yeah, honey, tell them about your favorite Christmas."
Maggie spoke up before Isabel could say a word. "Mama told me she didn't want me to fall backwards in my chair and when I didn't listen I had a timeout."
Kyle dropped his chair back down on all fours and winked at the little girl, making her giggle.
Without warning Isabel's heart clenched tightly in her chest as her thoughts took her to a place she wasn't prepared to go. She had missed the chance to spend a single Christmas with Alex, had let it slip right through her fingers. She lifted her head, her gaze moving past her friends and for the space of a heartbeat she could see him standing there. His kind gray eyes meeting hers as he whispered a silent 'Don't.'
Kyle saw the look on her face and he reached over to cover her hand with his, wordlessly bringing her back to the moment. He shifted back and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, gently pulling her closer to him. "C'mon, honey, don't you remember? Our date at the bowling alley just a few days after Christmas when I proposed?"
Maria nearly choked on her garlic bread as she contemplated the growing list of unapproved lies. Across the table Max was having a silent fit as he tried to keep from bursting out laughing like a big donkey and further down the table even Michael managed the smallest hint of a smile.
"Yes, but technically that was after Christmas so that doesn't count." Her lips turned up at the corners. "I was thinking I might go with that Christmas in high school when we were putting on The Nutcracker and we were short a sugarplum fairy… and how you so graciously set your dignity aside and filled in." She smiled at his dumbfounded look. "Not every guy could pull off that outfit and still retain his masculinity." She reached over to squeeze his forearm as she gave him a warm smile.
He just gave in with a shrug and a smile. The things I do for her, he thought. Even in their imaginary past he put her first. Oh, well, there were worst things she could've picked out for their make-believe history. And at least it got him out of having to answer her question seriously. Now he had something to fall back on, something that would allow him to avoid the thoughts that led back to a part of his past that was just too raw at this time of the year.
Maria looked around the table, noticing that everyone had finished eating and now they were all just lingering over the conversation. She could feel the growing tension in Michael's stiff frame, every new lie causing his muscles to tighten. He had started to relax earlier, but now that web of lies was getting more tangled and all he could see was the possible negative outcome if one of them tripped over one of those lies.
Michael couldn't believe the conversation turn this dinner had taken. Fake bowling alley marriage proposals and Kyle in a pink tutu. He glanced at Edward when he shot a look at his wife and he could practically see the wheels turning in the man's mind as he considered just how many teenagers sitting at his dinner table were married. It was time to end this stupid memory lane farce before one of them tripped over their stories since no one seemed to be sticking to his rule of only telling pre-approved lies. Nowhere in his layout of the plan had he mentioned bowling alleys or sugarplum fairies. He was just about to say something when Maria spoke up beside him.
"It's been a really long day," she said as she put her hand over his where it lay on the table and stood up. "Thank you for yet another generous and wonderful meal, but we really need to get our rest if we're gonna be working on Christmas on the Lake tomorrow."
Michael's head snapped up, awed at her response. He gave an internal shake of his head as he stood up beside her, waiting for the others to say their goodbyes.
"Wait," Isabel said, stopping them before they could begin moving away from the table and over to the door. "We can't just leave you with the dishes."
Kyle could feel the muscles in his back knotting up as he watched the muscles along Michael's jawline tighten. He recognized the expression and knew it was only a matter of time before the tic started. Watching Michael overstressing was like standing on the track waiting for a train wreck. He drew in a cleansing breath and expelled it slowly along with a prayer for help that was answered rather expediently.
Edward spoke, his deep voice settling the matter of dish duty as he eyed his sons who had been misbehaving earlier. "Dishes are taken care of, right, boys? And Brian, you'll mop the kitchen floor afterwards… with a mop this time."
Brian shifted as he mumbled out a "Yes sir." Nothing ever got past his parents!
As soon as they were cleared of any kitchen duties Michael wasted no time getting Maria to the door and into their winter gear. Nothing she could say at that moment would calm him down. Everything they had managed to accomplish earlier had just gone right down the drain and he was ready to blow. She just tried to keep up their cover, letting him rush while doing her best to ease it along and not make it quite so obvious, but she knew the best thing to do at that moment was to get him out of the house. Nothing was going to stop him from losing it this time and honestly she was surprised he had made it this far without a major meltdown.
Max let Michael's heated glare bounce right off of him as he shrugged into his own coat before reaching for Liz's and holding it out for her. He was grateful that Maria had her hand on the doorknob as they walked out so the Stevens' didn't have to purchase a new door since Michael would've likely pulled it right off of the hinges.
Kyle bent down to pull on his boots as Max was helping Liz into hers. "El Presidente, I think it's past time for you to have a talk with El Capitan. He's seriously overstressing and we're past the point where it can be kept under wraps. Guy's got the key and he's ready to push the button, you know what I'm sayin'?"
Max glanced at him and nodded.
"Good. Why don't you head out and I'll make sure your queen and the princess are right behind you?"
Michael reached out to grab Maria's arm when she tripped in the snow trying to keep up with him. She wasn't used to walking slow in this stuff when there was plenty of light so walking fast after nightfall was like trying to traverse an unfamiliar obstacle course in the dark. They were nearing the first driveway that led to the cabins on the right when she heard footsteps coming up behind them at a fast clip.
"Michael, wait up," Max huffed.
"Go home, Max," he snapped, putting emphasis on the word 'home'.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means a couple days here and you're comfortable. You've already forgotten why we're even here in the first place."
Max shook his head hard and leveled his voice at Michael in the dark. "Hey, I know why we're here. I've been right here with you for the last six months. But if you don't calm down you're gonna blow it for all of us."
Light from the front porch of the house suddenly spilled out into the yard, breaking the darkness but still far enough away so that they weren't cast in its direct light. The pathway was illuminated as well as the three bundled figures making their way toward them.
The constant pressure of shouldering the responsibility for their safety, the unnecessary guilt over a ruined engine that was no one's fault, and the worry of discovery all boiled to the surface too fast to contain and Michael's face twisted as he responded. "That's great, I'm the one who's gonna screw it up, huh? Just where the fuck were you when Maria almost got ID'd by that cop who stopped her at that gas station?"
"I was there, Michael! We were all there! You've let that day build up and you've blown that incident way outta proportion! I understand that it scared the hell outta you but she was never in any danger beyond what you perceived to be a dangerous situation! You act like you're the only one with any concerns!"
Michael's mouth contorted, his lips thinning out as he spoke, enunciating each word in Max's direction. "You were there, huh? How were you there?" His arms jerked erratically as he gestured furiously. "You haven't been with us since you put the crown down in Roswell. Maybe if that cop had stopped your doe-eyed bride your perception of the danger at hand would've been different!"
Max and Michael were toe to toe, anger rolling off of each of them as they shouted into each other's face. Maria was getting their argument in stereo as she tried to get between them before it turned into a physical altercation. She finally managed to shove Max just enough to get in between them and she turned to face Michael.
"Look at me, Michael, nothing happened to me, I'm fine!"
His raging eyes fell on her. "Don't you ever get between me and someone else in the middle of a fight!" he yelled.
Kyle wrapped one hand around Maria's arm as he ran up to them, pulling her out of the middle and away from the guys.
"Kyle, let me go!" she demanded, only becoming more irritated with the situation when he released her arm to wrap his arm around her waist and physically pulled her away to safety. "He won't hurt me!"
"No, he'd never hurt you intentionally, but he's outta control and he and Max need to have this out." He had just barely gotten her out of the way when Isabel caught up and lunged to put herself between them like she had so many times in the past. "Isabel, don't," he said quietly, insistently. "He's beyond reason right now."
Liz stood back, silently watching and waiting, knowing better than to get between the two of them. She winced when Michael went off on Max again.
"Now we're boxed in like we were when the FBI had us surrounded that last day in Roswell only this time we don't have a working vehicle! Maybe you've forgotten what that felt like, but I haven't! I'm sittin' here tryin' to figure out how the hell to get us outta here and you and Isabel are busy skipping down Christmas memory lane! I didn't need the king, Max! I never needed the king! I needed my friend." His eyes bored into Max. "WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN?" He turned and stormed off, heading for the big frozen lake in the distance beyond the cabins.
Maria started to go after Michael but Kyle stopped her with four little words.
"He needs his space."
She stopped with a heavy heart, knowing the truth in his words, but hurting for Michael and wishing she could do something to help him.
