Isabel rang the doorbell and wondered what this was about. Kyle had just said that he and Maria needed her help with something.
Soon the door opened and Kyle greeted her with a serious look on his face.
"Hi Isabel. Thanks for coming," he said. Then his gaze moved and he saw Max standing behind her.
"I hope you didn't mind Max tagging along," Isabel said, suddenly realizing maybe she should have come alone. "He was just moping around the house cause Liz had to work, so I asked him to come with."
"Well," Kyle started. "I don't know if…"
"It's okay Kyle," Maria's voice said and Isabel turned to see her entering the room. She looked exhausted and like she'd been crying.
"Are you okay?" Max asked before Isabel had the chance.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Maria answered. "Don't just stand there. Come on in," she told them.
Isabel went past Kyle and Max followed her and closed the door behind them.
"So what's the emergency?" Isabel asked, getting a little worried by the looks on Kyle and Maria's faces. She saw Kyle give Maria an encouraging look and Maria took a deep breath.
"I think I'm pregnant," she blurted out, almost to fast for Isabel to register.
"What?" Max said, clearly as surprised as Isabel.
"At least I am 99% sure," Maria said. "But I can't go to a doctor since I don't know if the baby is, you know…human." She looked almost a little bit guilty when she said that last thing.
"And I'm guessing you haven't told Michael?" Isabel asked.
"Exactly. And I'd appreciate if you didn't tell him either," Maria said. "I want to do it myself. I'm just not ready yet."
"Of course," Isabel promised.
Maria looked a little relieved. She still doesn't trust us completely, Isabel realized. But she understood. After all, she, Max and Michael told each other almost everything.
"Does Liz know?" Max asked.
"No," Maria said quickly. "No one except us four knows about it."
Isabel was a little surprised that Maria had told Kyle and not Liz, her best friend. But then again, she had sensed some tension between Maria and Liz. They were still tight but they didn't spend so much time together anymore. And yesterday Maria had been hurt when Liz dumped her to go out with Max.
"Do you think you can connect and see if everything's okay?" Kyle said, ripping Isabel out of her thoughts..
"I can give it a try," she answered and looked over at her brother. He looked at her skeptically. "Maria, maybe you'd like to lay down somewhere comfortable," she continued and turned her gaze to Maria.
"I could just lay down in the sofa," Maria said not really meeting Isabel's eyes. She looked a little embarrassed and Isabel suddenly felt a wave of compassion wash over her. Maria must be so terrified over this whole thing. She was actually pregnant and she couldn't see a doctor because the baby might not be human.
Isabel followed Maria into the living room with Kyle and Max tailing behind them.
Maria laid down in the sofa and Max sat down in a chair next to the sofa while Kyle stood hovering over it.
Isabel sat down on the floor and gently took one of Maria's hands and gently held onto it.
"Are you ready?" she asked and looked up at her friend.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Maria answered and smiled at Isabel who placed her free hand on Maria's stomach.
She concentrated hard and soon flashes of Maria's life passed her by.
When Isabel felt that she was really in, she forced her power to Maria's stomach and soon she saw the baby. It was so small, but you could see it clearly so Maria must have been pregnant for a while. Isabel tried to see if anything looked different but she couldn't find anything. Although what had she expected? Green skin or antennas?
Isabel was happy that she didn't find anything wrong and she broke the connection.
"Well?" Maria said and Isabel looked up to see three worried faces looking down at her on the floor.
"The baby is fine," she reassured them and they all let out a breath as if they had been holding it.
"Is it human?" Kyle asked.
"I couldn't tell from just looking at it, but everything looks normal," Isabel said and then looked at Max. "But then again, the appearance isn't the thing that separates us."
"No it isn't," Max agreed. "We can't be sure until the baby is born. That is if you and Michael are planning on keeping the baby."
Isabel flashed a look at Maria. "I don't know what Michael wants, but I would never kill my own baby," she said.
"Don't worry," Isabel told her. "We will all help you and Michael will too when you tell him."
"I'm not so sure," Maria said. "I mean Michael has been better to me than ever, but a baby? I'm not sure he can take that."
"Well, he has to," Max said firmly. "It's his responsibility and he has to face the consequences of his actions."
Isabel knew this must be hard on Max. His own son was off somewhere with Tess on another planet and this whole thing was probably a reminder for him. But also he probably was mad at Michael. As far as Isabel knew he hadn't told Max that he had slept with Maria. They weren't as close as before. Just like with Maria and Liz.
Isabel just hoped that this baby could bring them all together again, because she didn't want a baby to be brought up with a shattered group…
The next day was another bad one for Maria. She had spent the morning throwing up in the bathroom and the rest working her ass of at the Crashdown. The place had been crowded all day long and when it was time to close Maria had never felt so exausted.
"Busy day, huh?" Liz said as she passed Maria on her way to lock the door.
"My feet are killing me," Maria said. "And my head is filled with junk from all the tourists talking about the crash and all the aliens living in Roswell."
"I know what you mean," Liz agreed and sat down next to Maria at the counter. "Anyway, is there something else bothering you?"
Maria just wanted to scream out that everything right now seemed to bother her, but she couldn't.
"Why?" she asked.
"Max told me you might need to talk," Liz said looking worriedly at her friend.
"Oh, he did, did he?" Maria stated more then asked. Max knew about her pregnancy and he thought Maria should tell Liz. And a year ago, Liz had been the first Maria would have told, but somehow everything was different now.
Liz didn't even know that Maria had slept with Michael yet. She had been too busy with Max too even bother asking about Maria and Michael.
"So is anything wrong?" Liz asked, ripping Maria away from her thoughts.
"Yes, something is very wrong," Maria answered.
"Maria, I'm your best friend. You can tell me anything, don't you know that?"
Maria started to feel bad. Maybe she had just exaggerated about Liz not being there anymore. She should just tell her about everything. About the baby.
"I know I can tell you everything Liz. So first of all…" Maria took a break to get herself together. "…I've slept with Michael."
She peeked at Liz and waited for her reaction. At first there was just silence and then Liz jumped up from the stool and hugged Maria.
"Oh my god! This is so cool, I mean when did this happen?" Liz asked and before Maria could answer she continued. "Was it good? I mean was it different because of…you know? And wait a minute, why is this something very wrong?"
"Liz, Liz…slow down chica," Maria said and gestured for her friend to sit down again. Liz obeyed but didn't stop talking.
"Did it happen last night when you were over there?"
"Actually…" Maria hesistated. "It happened the night they were leaving and after that it has continued."
"When they were leaving?" Liz asked. "Maria, that was almost two months ago. I can't believe you haven't told me before."
"I know, I'm sorry," Maria said and she started to feel really guilty.
"I seem to remember a time ago when you thought I'd slept with Kyle and that I hadn't told you about it," Liz said and looked hurt at Maria.
"Do you remember your reaction Maria? You felt betrayed and hurt. And you didn't want to talk to me. And Kyle didn't even happen. You knew deep down that I wouldn't sleep with him. But you and Michael, that's a whole other thing."
"I feel terrible Liz, but it's just that you've been spending so much time with Max and I feel left out sometimes."
"Don't make this about me," Liz screamed and stood up again. She moved away a little bit, before continuing. "You're the one that is keeping secrets. At least now I know what was very wrong with you. You don't trust your best friend anymore."
With those words, Liz stormed out of the room and soon Maria could hear her run up the stairs, leaving Maria behind. She hadn't even had the time to tell her about the baby…
TBC…Please let me know what you think! I'm very grateful when you rewiew cause it helps me write better!!! Thanks to everyone so far!!!
The next part will deal more with the Liz/Maria thing and also... Michael finds out!