This part is written by Roswellian Princess 2001

Part 9

Michael leaned back in his seat. His mind was reeling from everything going on. Sure he could handle aliens and anything extra-terrestrial, but witches and demons?

Maria could sense his hesitation. She looked over at him and took his hand. She squeezed it to show her support. "Come on, Spaceboy. We have dealt with stranger stuff than this. This is just new," she said smiling.

Michael returned her gaze, but could not bring himself to return her smile. He looked back to her sisters. "Do we know how to fight The Source?"

Prue shook her head. "We have been battling him for a while. Normally he sends his demons and we vanquish them. We have never taken on The Source himself. But when he finds out that Maria is the chosen one, you can be sure he will come himself."

Suddenly the front door flew open. Michael jumped up and stood in front of Maria, hand raised ready to blast anyone who came through. As soon as a man came around the corner Michael got himself ready to do some damage. Before he could fire, Phoebe jumped in front of him.

"No! Don't do anything. It's just my boyfriend, Cole."

Michael lowered his hand, but didn't step down from his fighting stance. Cole looked around the room at the stunned faces. "Hey everyone. Sorry about the entrance, wind caught the door."

He watched Michael with interest. He had never seen him before, but watched the way he stood over Maria. Cole had always thought of Maria as a little sister. He knew what is was like to be hunted by The Source, having been half demon himself. He had heard of the Chosen One before, but when he discovered that she was being protected by the Charmed Ones, he made sure he was around to help them.

Maria pulled on Michael's arm, trying to get him to sit. "Michael…" But he refused to respond. He kept watching Cole with intensity.

"Why do I get the feeling that if I were to step too close to Maria this guy would probably do me serious damage?" asked Cole, pointing at Michael.

"Because I would," Michael said menacingly. He didn't like the nonchalant attitude that Cole had adopted. He just found out that some all powerful being wanted his woman dead, and this guy was acting like scaring the daylights out of everyone was no big deal.

"Baby, it's ok. Cole would never hurt me," Maria said soothingly.

"Ah, so this must be the boyfriend I have heard so much about."

"Yeah, what of it?" Michael was getting angry. He wanted nothing more than to drag Maria upstairs and lock her in a closet somewhere where she would be safe.

Cole raised his hands in defeat. "Hey man, didn't mean anything by it. I have just heard a lot about you, that's all. Good to see you finally came to get her. I was starting to wonder if you truly cared, or if you were going to simply let her stay here forever."

The minute the words were out of Cole's mouth Maria winced. She stood and planted herself in front of Michael. "Michael, please. Sit. He didn't mean anything by it." She then turned her scowl on Cole. "And you! You come busting in here criticizing my boyfriend." She started towards him. When she reached him, she continued. "I know you care about me Cole. But you can't blame everything on him." She punctuated each word with a jab to his chest with her index finger.

If the situation were any different Michael would have laughed. Here was a girl who was a foot shorter than her adversary, and she had him backing away.

"Hey Little Bit, I'm sorry," said Cole, rubbing the sore spot on his chest. "I just want you to be happy."

Maria stopped jabbing and reached her arms around his neck. "I know, and I love you for it." But then she leaned in close to his ear. "Just don't piss off my alien boyfriend," she whispered.

Cole smiled, and Maria gave him a sisterly peck on the cheek. Stepping away, Cole kissed her on the forehead and went to stand behind Phoebe.

"Well now that the fireworks are over, how about we try and figure out how to keep Maria alive and destroy the source," said Prue, always the voice of reason.

Michael went and sat next to Maria again. "I think we should call the others," he said to her. "They will want to help, and I think we could use all the firepower we could get."

Maria nodded. She then looked to the rest of her family. She met their gazes, each showing the love they felt for her. "If they come, they will all have to be told the truth. But I would trust them with my life."

The sisters looked to Leo. He nodded. "We'll need all the help we can get. I am going to talk to the Elders and apprise them of the situation." Having said that, Leo orbed out in a flash of blue light.

Michael watched, unfazed by the vanishing act. At this point it would take a lot to shock him.

"Can you guys leave us alone for a couple of minutes? I will call everyone else and see if they can come out here," said Maria.

The sisters nodded, leaving quietly, dragging Cole behind them.

TBC

*********************

All my stories are posted on my site Roswell Sky

The address is: www.geocities.com/roswellskyindex

// Lino84