This part is written by Roswellian Princess 2001

Part 10

Maria turned to Michael, taking his face in her warm hands. She kissed his lips lightly, licking the bottom one before pulling back. "Are you sure you're ok with all of this? I….I mean I would understand if it was all too much. I mean….I know you have a lot of your own stuff to deal with…"

Michael interrupted her rant with a hard kiss. "There is no place I would rather be than right here. You stood by me when I needed it, and I intend to do the same. I refuse to let anything come between us again. Not aliens, or destinies, or witches, or demons. It's you and me."

Maria smiled through her tears. She counted herself lucky to have ever found such a wonderful person, even if he drove her crazy sometimes.

"Now, let's call Liz. I told her I would call when I found her, plus I want to talk to Max about coming out here."

Michael got up and crossed to the phone, not realizing Maria wasn't following. When he crossed to other side he turned and noticed Maria still sitting, clenching her hands together in her lap.

"Maria…"

"Do you think they will hate me?" Maria interrupted.

"Who?" Michael asked.

"Everyone back home. Liz, Kyle, Alex, everyone. I mean it was my idea to make you guys jealous, then I ran."

"Maria, come one. Everyone has been so worried about you, that none of them think about that stupid plan. They understand why you had to get away. They don't blame you for anything."

"That's now. What about when they all get here and we are all together again."
Michael shook his head. He saw that the logical approach wasn't going to work, so he needed another method. "They are happy that you came up with that crazy scheme. None of us realized how much we missed you and needed you, until we thought we lost you. Now, because of you, Liz and Max are drooling over each other again. Alex and Isabel have been inseparable. Kyle and Tess do nothing but make out all the time."

Maria giggled at the visions of her friends being happy. "So you see," Michael continued, "Without your wacky schemes, no one would be happy."

Maria considered everything he said. She understood that everyone was happy now, but she thought it was luck, not anything she did. But she was willing to put herself out there and call her friends. She wanted nothing more than for everyone to be a group again, and if it meant her making the first move, then that is what she would do.

Michael picked up the phone and dialed Max's house. While dialing he felt Maria come over and wrap her arms around his waist. He felt the small kiss she layed between his shoulder blades and smiled. He knew that this was the beginning. Beginning of what he wasn't sure. He just hoped it wasn't the beginning of the end.

After a few rings Max answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Hey, Maxwell. It's me."

"Michael? Where are you? Did you find her? Is everything alright?"

Michael could hear Liz in the background. She was yelling for Max to give her the phone. "Yeah Max, I found her, and she is fine. Tell Liz to calm down, and I will let her talk to Maria as soon as I am done with you."

Maria smiled. Even from where she was standing she could hear Liz yelling. Michael reached around and brought Maria to his side, wrapping one arm around her waist. He wanted her to hear as much of the conversation as possible. Although, from her place in her arms her hand had reached up and was playing with the hair at the base of his neck, making it somewhat difficult for him to concentrate.

"Michael? Hey man, you still there?"

"What? Oh yeah, sorry Max. How would you guys like to take a trip to sunny California?"

"What's going on?" asked Max.

"We will explain everything when you guys get here. Bring everyone. We are gonna need all the help we can get."

"Michael, tell me what's going on," Max demanded.

"Come on, fearless leader. Trust me. Just get your butts out here."

Max finally agreed and put Liz on the phone.

"Maria! Maria are you there?"

"Hey chica. How's life?" Maria said quietly.

"How's life? How's life? Is that all you can ask me?"

"Liz, please stop. I am sorry. I know you are mad at me, but when you guys get here I will explain everything."

"You better," she said.

The girls made arrangements to call when the flights had been arranged and hung up. Maria turned to Michael and buried her head in his chest. "Stay with me, please."

"I'm not going anywhere. But what about your sisters?"

"Her sisters are not happy about it, but they are willing to overlook the sleeping arrangements tonight. Tomorrow we will make other provisions," said Piper from the doorway.

"I understand," said Michael.

Michael and Maria made their way upstairs after saying goodnight to the rest of the family. When they got to her room, Michael turned to Maria and looked deeply into her eyes. "If you want me to I will sleep downstairs on the couch. I don't want to make you do anything you don't want to."

"I want you to stay with me. Just hold me. I am not sure I am ready for more than that right now. But I want you to be with me. I feel safe when you are with me."

Michael nodded and led Maria to the bed. She pulled down the covers and slipped between the sheets, pulling Michael in behind her. After Michael removed his boots and his shirt, he slipped in behind Maria, pulling her into his arms. Maria immediately rolled over and put her head on his chest. Michael held her tight until he could feel her even breathing, signaling that she had fallen asleep.

He looked down at the angel in his arms and wondered how he got so lucky. It was during this last thought that Michael closed his eyes and followed Maria into a deep slumber.

TBC

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// Lino84