In the week that followed Rath and Maria made their way towards Roswell. After the day Rath had met Maria in the desert he had grown healthy once more. He was relieved to have a traveling companion but knew that she would not be of great help to them in the struggle that was coming. As the sun began to fade into the darkness on the 7th day Rath and Maria sat together against a rock trying to get comfortable for another cold desert night. Sitting there across from her with the sun setting Rath allowed himself to study her in detail. She was indeed a desert beauty. Her hair was long and sun bleached blonde. It hung down her back in long curls. Spending so much time in the hot desert sun browned her skin. She wore only a small slip of a dress, brown and torn from so much time wandering through the desert. She was a beauty even more so then his betrothed. He hoped he would be able to survive long enough to learn more about her and her family and what had happened to everyone. He had been sure that more people had disappeared into the desert after Roswell had been captured. How could she survive out her all by herself? She looked so weak, but he realized that she was probably stronger willed than anyone he had ever met.
***
Maria noticed his scrutiny but tried to ignore it. She had many times in the past week taken a few minutes to examine him in detail as well. She knew that she should be afraid, that every day they grew closer and closer to Roswell and what could very well be her untimely death, but she trusted him. She trusted that this alien would not let anyone of his race harm her. She smiled to herself. They had spent 7 days walking together not making much conversation but mostly just walking in silence. It was not an awkward silence though as would be thought, but a very comfortable silence as though they had known each other for years and just being together was enough for them.
***
"I can't believe we haven't found them yet. Not only have we searched ourselves but we have sent a number of search parties as well. She could be dead by now for all we know," Kyle said consulting with Liz and Alex about his sister's disappearance.
"She's strong Kyle, I'm sure she's fine. We can't risk ourselves though. By now they're probably to Roswell. We have to send a spy. It's safer that way. We can't just give ourselves up. She did this to save us. Let's not make her efforts all in vein. She's fine Kyle, don't worry," Alex said. He had not realized how much he loved and needed Maria until she was gone. He feared without her they would all perish. He didn't think he would be able to survive without her.
***
Rath considered a question for a few minutes and finally his curiosity overcame him and he had to ask. "Maria, what do you think of me? Of my race?"
Startled by the question Maria turned to him. She considered lying and saying that she really had nothing against him and his people but she thought better of it and decided to speak how she truly felt. "You came out of nowhere and took everything in life I had. You took my home, you took my parents, you took everything! Since you captured Roswell I have had to walk the desert, practically starve to death, I am all but dead and sometimes I wish I were! I have feared you, I have hated you, but I have none of that left. I am sick of hating and being afraid and…I just want it to all be a bad dream, I want to see my mother and father again, I want to have my life back."
Rath looked at her shocked. He hadn't expected her outburst. Looking at the tears gleaming in her big green eyes he hated himself and his people and what they had done. "I'm sorry," he whispered, "I'm sorry for everything that has happened in your life that is my fault, and everything that isn't. It is unimaginable to me what it must be like to lose everything you have and have ever known. You lost your home, your family, your people. I have lost, but I have not lost nearly as much as you. For every pain that my people have ever inflicted upon you I apologize profusely."
Maria looked at him as silent tears began to roll down her cheeks. She gave him a halfhearted smile. "Thank you," she whispered and threw her arms around his neck needing to hold onto something solid until she could calm herself down.
Unsure of what to do never having been in such an intimate situation Rath wrapped his arms around Maria's shaking body and stroked her long blonde curls.