After the tears.

Isabel, Max and Liz sat in Liz's living room. They had put a video on but none were watching.

"I've never seen her that scared. Not in all the time I've known her." Liz told the pair.

"I've never seen Michael that scared either. Or that in love." Isabel told them.

Max nodded.

"She's changed him so much. I don't think he realises how much. It's like he's a new Michael. He's happy when he's with her. We can't really thank Maria enough for that." Max told Liz softly.

Isabel nodded in agreement.

"You two okay? You look wiped out." Liz asked them worriedly noticing for the first time how pale and tired they looked.

"We are." Was all Isabel could reply.

"Think we should go see if they're okay?" Liz asked.

"Let's give them a few minutes. . They've been through enough tonight." Max replied.

~*~*~

Michael lay in Liz's parent's bed, Maria asleep next to him with her head on his chest. He just lay there watching her sleep, putting a tender arm around her waist. She had blacked out as Isabel and Max began to heal her and hadn't come around yet. It was as if her body had just shut down.

Michael looked up at the ceiling.

"Look I've never asked you for anything...probably because I'm not from this planet but that's not the point. You're supposed to watch over everyone on this planet. You're supposed to guide them, and I'm asking you for your guidance and for a favour. I'm going to look after them. I'm going to do the best job I can because I love them. I love them both more than I ever thought I was capable of and I always will. My home is here with her, and with our child, a child that if nothing else was conceived in love.

I've done some bad things in the past. These things I'm so ashamed of now but that's where they are, the past. I want so much to be the best father I can be to our baby...and the best partner I can to Maria because they deserve it. I'm going to need your help. I'm going to need your guidance because I've never been a father before and I don't know what I'm doing. I've never asked for anything, so please...please hear this. She nearly lost our child tonight. She lay there crying in my arms because even though this was totally unexpected she wants this baby so much. She's scared and I am too, but I know she's going to be a wonderful mother. Please don't let her go through that again...please let our baby be okay and healthy...please? Don't let me lose the two things I love the most in the world." He pleaded beginning to cry, kissing Maria on her forehead through his tears.

Maria stirred in his arms and groggily opened her deep green eyes.

Michael lent down and kissed each of her eyelids.

"Hey sleepyhead." He told her smiling gently.

Maria smiled softly back as he leant down to kiss her, then tearfully rested a hand gently on her stomach.

"I'm so sorry. . I'm sorry I lost the baby. Michael I wanted it so much." She told him breaking down again, her tears falling on Michael's chest and leaving marks on his grey t-shirt.

"What are you talking about? Maria, Max and Izzy healed her. Our baby's fine." He reassured her.

"I didn't lose it?" Maria asked in a voice barely audible.

"No you didn't. Come here." He told her wrapping her in his arms and kissing her. "Everything's fine. She's fine. They healed her Maria...they communicated with our baby. It's more likely you'll have complications because the baby is half alien that's all. We've just gotta keep a close eye on you." He told her.

"You said she." Maria commented with a small smile, the light filling the room shining off her eyelashes, which were covered with teardrops.

"Yeah. We have a daughter. You're carrying our baby girl." Michael replied putting a hand over Maria's on her stomach.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before Michael. She must have been conceived that night when you told me you were going to leave."

"When did you think you might be?" Michael asked.

"I started having dreams. I could see our baby inside me. . Plus when you're sick every morning, as I have been for the past two months, a girl kind of knows something's going on."

"You should have said something. You didn't need to go through that on your own. I mean I can't believe I didn't realize."

"Michael I didn't let your realize. Our relationship hasn't exactly been rock solid and if I'm truthful you weren't the kinda guy I could picture being a father. I didn't want to tell you and then be wrong and lose you forever...I didn't want to tell you I was pregnant and then lose you forever." She told him burying her head in his chest.

Michael ran his fingers through her long, golden hair, brushing it away from her beautiful eyes.

"Hey listen to me you are not going to lose me. It was a shock yeah and I have to admit.... There was a point when I did feel like running. I mean I have this reputation as being Michael Guerin, the tough guy and rebel, and now I'm going to be Michael Guerin the father. Knowing that you're responsible for a life...Maria that is so scary."

"I do know that Michael." Maria told him.

"I know you do." He reassured her. "What I mean is...we've created a person and knowing that for the rest of my life it's my duty to protect her...and you is such a responsibility. That kinda thing can make a guy want to run Maria."

Maria looked at him, tears filling her eyes.

"You're going to leave." She stated, tears running down her soft cheeks.

"No I'm going to make you understand." He told her. "When I saw Liz's face after she found you...when I came upstairs and saw you laying there with all that blood and your hand over your stomach, I was so scared. I thought I was going to lose you Maria and that is something I don't think I could cope with because I love you so much. Then you said about the baby. I don't think I ever felt as scared as I did then, but I also don't think I've ever felt as much love. You have our child inside you, one that was created on a night I don't think I will ever forget because it was so beautiful. Knowing that you were going through so much pain and that you wanted our baby so much...Maria I felt so helpless." He told her beginning to cry, Maria then gently pulling his head down to rest on her chest as he sobbed.

"Michael if you only want me to have this child because it's what I want then I don't want you to feel like you have to stay and take care of us." Maria told him.

"When you told me. When you said you wanted Max and Izzy to save our baby and I knew for sure what was happening.... Damn it why is this so hard." He commented taking a deep breath.

"Michael you don't have to be scared of saying anything to me, I'm a big girl." Maria told him.

"It's not that.... Maria the night this child was conceived was the first time I let my walls down. It was the first time I let someone in and let someone see who I really am. It was the first time I felt ready to show you just how much I loved you and how you really are the centre of my world. It's not easy for me to do Maria."

"Michael I know." She told him stroking his face.

"What I'm trying to say is that when you were losing that child I was scared. I was scared because I realised how much I did want it and because there wasn't a thing I could do to help you. I want to be a father to our baby. I never even thought I was capable of feeling like this until I realised what we could lose. Maria I want this baby so much...I never realised how strongly I would feel about our child until there was the chance we might lose it. I want to be here for our baby. I want to be here for her and I want to be here for you because I love you. You never have any need to doubt that. I'm here okay, throughout all this I'm here and I get the feeling everyone here at the Crashdown tonight feels exactly the same."

"When I did the test and knew for sure all I wanted was for you to hold me and tell me it would be okay because I knew I could never give this baby up. I also realised that it was so much more complicated because of where you come from. I didn't know I was capable of maternal instinct but it's weird...all I could think about was protecting our baby. It feels so right knowing I'm going to be a mom."

Michael smiled and kissed Maria tenderly.

"You're going to be a great mom." Michael agreed. "And I swear I'm going to try and be the best father I can."

"I know you are. I can see it in your eyes." Maria told him.

"Maybe this kid will teach you some patience." Michael joked, Maria promptly hitting him with a pillow.

"I'm patient." Maria declared. "Okay...I am sometimes." She told him. "I can do this Michael. I'm going to be the

Best mother that I can and never let our baby want for anything."

"I know you can do it, but remember you're not doing it on your own. I'm here...always. I know it's going to be tough, we can't pretend it isn't. We don't know if this child is going to be born to the human term or whether the pregnancy will be shorter. All I know is we're all here to help. I promise."

"I love you Michael." Maria whispered sincerely.

"I love you too." He replied. "And you." He added leaning over, gently pulling up Maria's top and kissing her still flat belly.

Maria ruffled his hair.

"You are so cute." Maria told him.

"I know." He replied.

"Can we come in?" Came voices from outside belonging to Liz and Isabel.

"Sure." Maria called.

"I should probably go thank Maxwell." Michael commented as the girls entered, leaving them to it.