Title: Providence
Disclaimer: I don't own anything
Author's note: Usually I give a little bit more warning when the end of a story approaches, so sorry about the abruptness of everything. There will be one more chapter after this, and then it's over. Hope you've all enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it.
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Gravity
"So… Michael and Isabel seem to be dating, Alex and Liz are constantly making moon-eyes at each other, and Max is staring at Tess like a little lost puppy," Kyle muttered under his breath as he approached Maria at her locker. "Can this day get anymore awkward?"
"You know what I realized?" Maria offered, closing her locker as she turned to face Kyle. "You and I are the only truly unattached two in the group. No boyfriends or girlfriends or significant others."
Kyle smirked slightly and said suggestively, "Care to change that?"
Maria wrinkled her nose and shot back, "That is so wrong on so many levels, Valenti."
Kyle grinned and retorted, "It was just a joke, Maria. You really think I would stoop so low to actually date you?"
"I am a great catch," Maria retorted.
"Yeah, if you like abrasive, annoying, motor-mouths," Kyle answered easily, his eyes filling with mirth as he saw Maria's face darken in mock anger. "Personally, you're not my type."
"Of course," Maria said seriously. "You're type is the bleached-blonde cheerleader with heavy makeup and an IQ of 7."
"Hey! That's not true," Kyle protested.
Maria raised an eyebrow challengingly. "Name one girl you dated, other than Liz, who doesn't fit that description?"
Kyle placed his hands on his hips and said defiantly, "I'll have you know that the girls I date always have an IQ more than 7." He grinned impishly and added, "It's at least 15."
Maria laughed outright at his comment.
"Besides, who cares if the girls are intelligent? It's only the looks that matter. Everyone knows that," Kyle pointed out. "Girls are supposed to be seen, not heard."
"You're a chauvinistic pig," Maria commented dryly.
"And proud of it," Kyle agreed with a curt nod. Maria struggled not to laugh, and Kyle sobered and said seriously, "How are you doing? I mean, with this whole Michael and Isabel thing? Are you… okay?"
"No," Maria said honestly, and as if to reiterate her statement, Michael and Isabel appeared suddenly at the end of the hallway, walking close to each other. They weren't holding hands, but Isabel was looking at Michael with a look of such tenderness that Maria forced herself to look away.
Kyle glanced over at the two hybrids and growled, "Do you want me to beat him up for you?"
"No," Maria said quickly. "You can't help who you fall in love with, and Michael and I… we just drifted apart." She shrugged, somewhat sorrowfully, and added, "I'll be okay. It's just going to take some time."
"Healing always does," Kyle said sagely, and Maria nodded.
"A lot has happened to us… all of us," Maria explained. "But the Czechoslovakians… it must be so hard for them, you know? If Isabel makes Michael happy… shouldn't I be glad? If I really cared about Michael…"
"You do really care about Michael," Kyle said firmly. "It's just never easy to see the guy you love seek comfort from a different girl." He wracked his brain, trying to come up with the right thing to say, and settled at last for promising, "The right guy is out there somewhere, Maria. And I'm sure you're going to find him."
"Hm… that's a very girly thing to say," Maria remarked casually. "Let me guess… that's the sort of thing that Tess would have instructed you to say?"
"One of the good things about having a sister," Kyle admitted, "you've got someone to tell you all the right things to say so that you don't end up sounding like an idiot all the time."
"You'd sound like an idiot no matter what," Maria shot back.
"Thanks," Kyle muttered sarcastically.
"How is Tess?" Maria asked tentatively, and Kyle winced.
"She tried to run away from home," he said wearily. "Wanted to live with Michael. I guess she thought it would keep my Dad and I safer…" He trailed off and shrugged. "She's dealing, I guess. It's hard."
"And how are you?" Maria pressed. "I know you and Matt were friends."
Kyle looked away, slightly ashamed of the tears that pooled in his eyes. He blinked, preventing them from calling, and forced himself to reply in a steady voice, "I'm dealing also."
"I'm sorry," Maria said, laying a hand on his arm. "It's so hard, being here… and thinking that he's not going to…" She didn't finish the sentence right away, struggling for the appropriate words. "It's hard for me, and I barely knew Matt. I can't imagine what you're going through."
"I wish I could have saved him," Kyle said quietly, knowing how trite his words sounded, knowing they couldn't possible encompass all the sorrow and grief he felt.
"Don't we all," Maria muttered.
Michael and Isabel had disappeared from view, and Maria let out the breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. It still hurt more than she wanted to admit, seeing Michael with Isabel. But at the same time, Matt was dead, the Seeker was dead, Khivar was probably planning a counter attack on all of Earth, and the fate of at least two worlds rested on the shoulders of four teenagers with limited knowledge of their past or their powers. There were more important things to worry about than the pain of her broken relationship with Michael. There was always a bigger picture out there, and it hurt that it had taken the death of an innocent human being to show her that. But now that she saw the truth for what it was, she wasn't going to keep making the same mistakes. It was time to let go, to move on.
"I have to get to the Crashdown," Maria said finally. "My shift starts soon." She looked down at her backpack, full of books, and grumbled, "And then I get to spend the evening alone, in my room, with only my textbooks for company."
"Well, if you're looking for something to distract you…" Kyle leered at her. He couldn't imagine himself actually pursuing any relationship with her, but it was still fun to joke about it. In some ways, she was like Tess, like the sister he had never had before. And if his father and Amy DeLuca had any say in it, they might actually end up as siblings…
He shuddered at the thought, but forced himself to focus on the present conversation.
"Ask Liz. I'm pretty good at showing girls a good time…" he added with a smirk.
Maria laughed and shook her head. "No chance in hell, Valenti."
"Your loss, DeLuca," he retorted. "Your loss."
"So… how are you doing?" Liz asked awkwardly as she shifted from one foot to the other, watching Alex with apprehensive eyes.
"Relax, Liz," Alex said in an attempt at humor, "I'm not going to explode. You don't need to check in on me every second."
Liz smiled slightly at his words, recognizing his attempt to keep the conversation light. "You exaggerate. I don't check on you every second." She slanted him a look. "Just every minute."
"Touché," Alex murmured. He ran a hand through his hair, then said, "I saw Max today, during lunch. He seemed… I don't know. Different. More… in charge. Like…"
"A king?" Liz suggested. "Yeah, he's been changing a lot." She said the words with some sorrow, regret for what she had lost. But it didn't hurt as uncontrollably as it might have in the past. She looked into Alex's blue eyes, and smiled more widely. "He's maturing."
"Ah… little Maxie all grown up," Alex agreed. He refrained from mentioning what else he had seen at lunch today; namely Max staring at Tess with an incredible intensity while she remained completely oblivious to him. He wasn't sure how Liz would react.
"Are you okay?" Liz asked, seeing the faraway look that came into Alex's eyes.
Alex tilted his head to the side and said pointedly, "Now, that was definitely not a full minute from the last time you asked."
"You looked…" Liz blushed and pulled at a few strands of hair. "You looked like you were thinking about something troublesome."
"It's hard, but I'm working on it," Alex said vaguely. He didn't give any specifics, and he knew Liz wouldn't ask. Unlike Maria, she didn't feel the need to pound him for details in an effort to make him work through his problems out loud and start the healing process. She would just let him talk when he wanted to and remain silent when he didn't.
"I heard Tess tried to move out of the Valentis' house and Jim wouldn't let her," Liz said at last.
"Really?" Alex questioned.
Liz nodded. "Kyle told Maria. She told me."
"Interesting," Alex mused. Then he said, "Maybe she realized that Amy DeLuca and Jim Valenti were getting closer and wanted to jump ship before anything serious started happening between them?"
"Do you really think something is going to happen?" Liz asked curiously.
"Maria says they're all over each other. She's walked in on them kissing several times," Alex confided.
"Maria DeLuca and Kyle Valenti as brother and sister," Liz mused. "Now that is something I'd pay to see. God… they'd kill each other within a week."
"A week?" Alex questioned. "That's generous. I'd give them two days. Three days at the very most." It felt good to talk about something like this, something that wasn't earth-shattering or mind-blowing or future-changing. Something that was light and casual and didn't involve aliens and possession and death and war.
Liz nodded, squeezing Alex's hand unconsciously. Once she realized that she was actually holding his hand, however, she dropped it quickly, as though she had been burnt. Her face flushed, and she looked at the ground, suddenly ill at ease.
Alex stared at his hand uncomprehendingly, as though he couldn't quite understand what had happened, as though hand-holding was a foreign concept to him.
"Uh…" Liz couldn't think of anything to say, so she blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "Do you have a lot of homework?" She knew it was stupid, but she couldn't stop the cringe-worthy words from coming out of her mouth.
"Homework?" Alex echoed, staring at Liz as though he'd never seen her before. "Uh… I guess."
For an awkward moment, Liz wondered if they'd ever be able to talk normally again. Did Alex know how she felt? Could he see any of her feelings in her expression, in her eyes? Probably not. After all, she barely understood what she felt. It was different from the tidal wave of emotions that threatened to consume her when she was with Max. It was quiet and gentle and…
She blinked. She was creating poetry in her head. It was a sign. She was officially going insane.
Alex, for his part, wondered what he was supposed to say now. Did Liz know that he had been so terrified when Khivar had threatened to kill her? Did she realize that it was that terrible possibility that had worried him more than anything else? Did she know that his dreams were no longer haunted by Isabel's face, but by hers?
It had been a subtle change. First he had fallen out of love with Isabel, realizing that what he felt for her was simply a hormonal crush, and that she didn't love him the same way he loved her. After that understanding, he had come to view Liz as more than just a best friend, but that change had been so minute that he didn't recognize it for what it was. And yet, now, as the brunette jumped around him, uneasy and scared, he couldn't help but feel the strange desire to offer her comfort and reassure her, although he had no idea how.
"So…"
"Yeah…"
"I guess I should get home," Alex said finally, not really knowing what else to say. "I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah…" Liz replied. But when Alex had left, she slapped herself on the forehead for being an idiot and wondered how on Earth she was going to get through the next several weeks without making herself appear absolutely insane.
Isabel dropped into the booth, taking the seat across from Michael. They had decided to grab a quick bite at the Crashdown, but now she was feeling slightly guilty about that as she saw that Maria was working a shift this afternoon. But the blonde human was studiously avoiding the two aliens, and it would be all to obvious if they got up and left without ordering.
She could tell by the way that Michael kept glancing over at Maria that he felt uneasy about hanging out with Isabel in front of his ex-girlfriend. Clearly, he did not want to do anything to cause Maria any more pain, and it was a very gallant side of Michael that she found she really liked. He could be so sweet, when he actually deigned to try it…
More to break the silence then anything else, Isabel said, "I ran into Alex on my way over here. He had been hanging out with Liz. Apparently, Tess tried to leave Kyle's house."
"Oh?" Michael asked, torn between intrigue at this strange turn of events and jealousy that Isabel had seen Alex.
"Yeah. I guess she's terrified that her continued association with them might put them in danger," Isabel explained. After what had happened to Matt, she could see why Tess would be worried about something like that, but she also wanted what was best for her friend, and what was best for Tess was certainly not moving away from her human family.
"Makes sense that she would feel that way," Michael consented. "But I take it she didn't end up going through with the plan?"
"Valenti talked her out of it," Isabel confided.
"Good for him," Michael said with an approving nod. He hesitated, then asked, "Do you know how she is doing?"
Isabel shrugged. "Not really. I've tried talking to her about everything, but…" She drifted off, glancing around the diner. "She's strong, she'll make it through," she said with conviction. "As long as she knows we're here for her."
"And… how's Alex?" Michael ventured, not sure he actually wanted an answer.
"Same as Tess, I think," Isabel replied, oblivious to Michael's inner envy. "Liz and Maria have really helped, I guess."
"That's good," Michael muttered. "So…"
Isabel looked at him expectantly, and he felt the words die in his throat. Funny how he was able to fight the Seeker and Khivar with all the strength in his body and yet one look from Isabel and he couldn't even remember how to form coherent sentences.
"Yes?" Isabel prompted.
"Do you want to… go out?" Michael said at last.
Isabel blinked, startled. "Like, on a date?" she questioned. Michael nodded, and a smile started to spread slowly across her face.
It was replaced a moment later with a look or horror as she noticed that Maria was standing right behind Michael, and had overheard everything.
"Uh… Maria…"
Michael turned at Isabel's stammered statement and the color drained from his face.
Maria swallowed and said, "I was just going to see if you guys were ready to order. Should I… should I come back later?" She looked like she might cry, but was struggling to put up a brave front.
Michael nodded wordlessly.
Once Maria left, Isabel took a shaky breath and said, "Michael, I'm sorry, I should have seen that she was there earlier…"
"Not your fault," Michael said automatically. Isabel seemed unconvinced, but he took her hand in his and repeated in a firmer tone, "Not your fault."
Isabel said quietly, "I would love to." Michael gave her a blank look, and she elaborated, "Go out with you. I would love to."
Michael smiled, his face shining with radiant happiness she so rarely saw. It made Isabel beam, and from the other side of the room, Maria saw the glow emanating from the two of them and turned away.
"I'll be right back," Michael said abruptly, jerking his head towards Maria. He needed to talk to her, to apologize. He needed to make sure that they were still okay because he still wanted her friendship.
Isabel nodded understandingly, gesturing for him to go.
As Michael approached her, Maria took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, forcing herself to remain calm. He stopped in front of her, and before he had a chance to say anything, she was already speaking. She didn't want his apologies or explanations, she just wanted everything to be alright, and she knew if she talked now, she could prevent anything from going wrong.
She could save them both a lot of pain.
"Purple roses."
"What?" Michael asked, completely thrown by her seemingly random comment.
"You buy a girl flowers when you first start going out with them," Maria explained patiently, adopting the tone of someone explaining basic arithmetic to a second-grader. "And Isabel's favorite flowers are purple roses."
"How do you know that?" Michael demanded.
Maria rolled her eyes. "That's the sort of thing that we girls just know," she answered. "Purple roses are pretty rare, you won't find them in any grocery stores. But there is that florist on Main Street. You might be able to find them there."
"Why are you telling me this?" Michael asked suspiciously, not quite sure he believed that Maria was just trying to help him.
Instead of getting offended by the question, however, Maria just chuckled. "Because it isn't something you would have figured out on your own. From my own personal experience, you tend to be oblivious to that sort of thing." She gave him one last smile, then turned and walked back into the backroom of the Crashdown.
Michael stared as the door shut behind his ex-girlfriend. He knew that she wasn't okay with this, that she was simply putting on a brave face. He knew her well enough to see the tiny lines of hurt around her eyes. But she was trying, and in some way, she'd just given him her acceptance to do this.
Maybe things would turn out alright after all.
He walked back to Isabel, who questioned him silently with her eyes, and gave a tiny nod. She smiled in response, and he slipped his hand over hers.
"Do you think everything's going to be okay?" Isabel questioned, and Michael knew she was asking about more than just the two of them. She was asking about Khivar and Antar and Earth and everyone whose lives would be affected by this.
"We have Max and Tess," Michael replied, "and I've got you. We'll be able to survive this."
"Yes," Isabel agreed. "You've got me."
Tess looked up as Max appeared in the doorway of her room. She was a little surprised to see him, but she beckoned for him to enter.
"I had to wait until Kyle wasn't here," Max explained as he sat down on the edge of her bed. "He's still not letting me into the house."
"He's trying to protect me," Tess replied.
"I know," Max agreed. "He's a good older brother."
"I'm lucky to have him," Tess answered.
"And he's lucky to have you," Max said firmly. "Which is why I'm glad you didn't end up leaving them."
Tess looked confused, and Max elaborated, "You wanted to leave, didn't you? Move out? So that you wouldn't put them in any danger?" Tess didn't deny his comment, so he shrugged and said, "I don't think Kyle and Valenti would have survived that. They need you. You're part of their family. I see it… when I look at the three of you. I see how close you all are, and I know that it is pretty much because of you."
Tess tensed at his words, wishing that she could truly believe them. But it was hard, when people she had cared about had died in the past.
"How did you know I was thinking of leaving?" she asked to keep her mind of other, darker, subjects.
Max laughed and said, "Kyle told Maria who told Liz who told Alex who told Isabel who told Michael who told me." Tess looked almost enraged about that, so Max hurried to say, "They're just concerned. We all want what is best for you."
Part of Tess was furious that her private life was apparently fair game for any conversation, and the other part of her was almost screaming in joy that everyone actually cared about her enough to pay so much attention to the details of her life.
"People are going to talk about you," Max said, correctly interpreting Tess' silence. "You can't change that. It's part of being a family."
A family. Tess felt her eyes burn with unshed tears.
"So… why are you here, Max?" the hybrid Queen asked, forcing her voice to remain calm and neutral.
Max looked decidedly uncomfortable, then said, "I wanted to talk about us."
"Max, I'm not…" Tess started, but Max held up a hand to forestall her.
"I know," he said quickly. "You aren't ready for that conversation, and it isn't the one I wanted to have with you right now. I know it's too early and I know Matt was…" He shrugged and looked away. "Just hear me out? Please?"
Tess nodded.
"I love you," Max said. "And I don't know if you love me. Honestly, I'd be a little surprised if you still did, given the way I've treated you in the past. But I… I know that you aren't ready to even consider me as a potential boyfriend. I know that you loved Matt, and that you're still grieving him, and I… I don't want to take away from that. I just… I just wanted you to know that I'm here for you. As a friend… just a friend. There's no pressure, no anything… Just… if you need me, I can be here for you. No strings attached."
Tess looked on the verge of tears, and Max pushed ahead quickly, wanting to say everything all at once, hoping that she would understand what he was trying to convey.
"I'll be your friend, your brother, anything you need…" Max drew a breath. "I wish I had been better to you in the past. I wish…"
"You weren't horrible," Tess said, tears now spilling out of her eyes and coursing down her cheeks. "I came with all my talk of destiny and you had never even met me before and I… I understand why you didn't trust me, why you didn't like me. You loved Liz and I…" She didn't finish the sentence, just broke down into more tears.
"You're too forgiving," Max reprimanded gently. He didn't know exactly what to do, but giving her a hug seemed like a good idea, and the next thing he knew she was wrapped in his arms, sobbing onto his chest.
"It hurts," she said, her voice muffled by Max's clothes. "I love him and now he's… it just hurts so much."
"I know," Max replied, pulling her closer. "I know."
After several moments, Tess straightened slightly, tears still pouring from her half-closed eyes. She rested her head on his shoulder. "I miss him."
"I know," Max repeated.
Tess looked at him. Here Max was, comforting her for the loss of her boyfriend. He claimed he loved her, and yet he showed no signs of anger of jealousy that she was this distraught over another boy. It took a moment for her to realize it, but she said with dawning comprehension, "You really love me."
Max smiled at the confused tone of her voice and said, "I do."
"Max, I…"
"Shh…" Max whispered. "It's okay. You don't have to say anything."
"Yes," Tess said, struggling to speak through her tears, "I do. You have to understand. I… I can't think about anything besides Matt right now, and I don't know when… if… that is going to change. I can't promise that I'll be…"
"Is there any chance that you might decide you love me back? Some day?" Max asked, staring Tess straight in the eye.
Tess nodded slowly. "Maybe. I think… But I just… I don't know, Max. I don't know how long grieving takes. I just…"
"I'll wait," Max said firmly. "If there's a chance... You waited for me, I can wait for you."
Tess opted not to argue to the point, but simply fell back against Max's shoulder, staring blankly into space. "I love him," she said again, but now she wasn't sure who she was speaking about anymore.
Max tightened his grip around her shoulders. "We're here for you, Tess. You know that, right?"
"I know," Tess said softly. "I know."
Destiny is like gravity. You can't see it, you can't measure it, and most of the time you can't understand it. But it is still there, still controlling everything around you. And no matter how much you want it to change, it's never going to bend to your whims. You can scream until you lose your voice, you can jump up and down until your legs collapse from exhaustion, you can beg and plead and threaten. But the world still turns, and the sun and moon still rise and fall, unconcerned by your ardent defiance.