Chapter 4:
Maria followed Michael into their room, commenting that it was light years away from their first time alone together in the Sultan's Hideaway and all the better for it. They shared a soft look, sharing memories of that long- ago night on the run to Marathon, Texas when something happened between them.
They were still staring at each other a few moments later when Isobel knocked on the door and peered cautiously round it before entering.
"Michael, you're on guard first, so I'll change you and Maria back now, ok."
"Yeah, in a minute, Iz, but give me a second with Maria, can you? Go change Kyle before he has a hissy fit, then we'll be ready."
Left alone again, he looked nervously at Maria and cleared his throat.
"What? What's wrong, Michael?"
"Nothing at all, princess, it's just that. . .that I'd like it if Iz changed you back to the blonde you were before you went brunette, if that's ok with you. I mean, don't get me wrong, Maria," he said hurriedly, " I love your hair, any color you choose is fine with me, I just wanted my Blondie back if only for this one night. . ."
Her green eyes shone with love and happiness as she crossed the space between them and flung herself into his arms.
"Of course, Spaceboy, I'll be your Blondie for always if you want me to. Actually, I was bored with black anyway and was going to get Isobel to change it back after graduation."
She beamed up at him as Isobel returned, muttering to herself over Kyle.
"That guy is just a big kid, he's never serious even now when we're running for our lives."
She waved her hand over Michael and his hair turned dark as the beard vanished and his shirt faded down to deep green.
Turning to Maria, she noted the mischievous sparkle in the big, green eyes and was not surprised to be asked for a special request from the colour chart, as Maria put it.
Isobel left and was soon followed by Michael heading out on first watch.
Reluctant as she was to let him out of her arms, Maria was still pleased to have two hours to catch some sleep so she could appreciate her Spaceboy properly, rather than through a fog of exhaustion. She made a token appearance in the shower, singing softly to herself, before sliding blissfully into bed and oblivion.
Outside in the chilly darkness, her own, powerful, alien lover prowled the shadows, alert for any danger that threatened those he had sworn to protect.
Sometime later he nearly killed a harmless, Buddhist ex-football captain who had slipped out early for his turn on watch.
There was a furious, though muted, exchange of views before peace was restored and a whispered conversation ensued.
" Couldn't sleep, Valenti?"
"Yeah, something like that, Guerin." He had felt sad and helpless, listening to Isobel sob quietly to herself, and was secretly hurt that she wouldn't let even him hold her as a friend to comfort her in her loneliness.
"Good, 'cos I wanted to talk to you before the others. Have you had any thoughts about what happened back in Roswell?"
"To be honest, I've tried to avoid thinking about it as much as I can. It's still too painful."
"Well, I've been thinking a lot about it and something just feels wrong to me. I want to try out my theories on you and Maria before I share with the rest of us."
"Yeah, they're still in shock, and don't need any more problems. Maria seems ok, though."
"Yeah, I'm not too worried about her. She just needs some sleep."
"So, what do you mean by 'it feels wrong'? It WAS wrong, the whole damn business. 'Wrong' doesn't do it justice, it was evil, man, just evil -."
"Calm down, Valenti, that wasn't what I meant. Think about it, would the FBI really have killed us so publicly at a graduation ceremony in a high school gym? It's an insane idea! There are so many other ways they could have taken us out - drive-by shootings, kidnap us off the street, storm the Crashdown after hours, even wait for us to split up and go to college - much more discreet. There was no need to even kill us. We're much more valuable as lab specimens. Why choose that particular method, huh? Tell me that."
" . . . . . . . . ."
"At least say something, Valenti, even it's just to tell me I've lost it."
"Tempting, but no, I think you're right, it was an insane idea, even for the FBI. Who do you think is really behind it?"
"Khivar for one, I don't think that he would really give up as easily as he appeared to do. His Skins for another. Tess may not have killed them- she had made a deal with Khivar after all. Could have been another mind-warp. Still, I'm not totally convinced it was them, either. After all, where would Khivar have time to get all the Men in Black stuff organised? Just seems a bit too dramatic for a secret Government agency."
"So, you don't think it's the Feds, then?"
"Can't rule them out, just think there are other more likely suspects in the frame. All we can do is keep running for cover and hope we can shake our enemies, whoever they are."
Chapter 5:
The soft snores coming from beneath the blankets made Michael Guerin's lips part in the special smile that only his Maria ever saw. Moving silently as a cat, he crossed to the bathroom and closed the door as quietly as possible.
Most practical of the several powers he'd been practising secretly since his emancipation was one he'd seen Isobel use constantly on his apartment in the early days - and Tess had helped him with this as well - household chores the alien way. It saved him a fortune on cleaning products. His only problem had been remembering to do it when there were so many other distractions in his life.
In fact, he had taken it a logical step further and often gave himself an alien "scrub-down" to save time when he had been trying to study and hold down two jobs at once. He rather enjoyed the fizzy tingle on his skin and he considered it more thorough and hygienic than the human method, anyway. Maria hadn't noticed and he suspected that she wouldn't really approve if she knew. Her bath time ritual was her own private oasis and, indeed, he loved it too whenever she had let him join her.
He removed his clothes and gave them the once-over with his powers, ready for the morning, and did the same for Maria's flimsy lingerie dripping from the shower rail. Touching the lacy things, he grew hot and thoughts of his Maria waiting naked for him on the other side of the door began to torment him, so that he found it hard to concentrate on his own alien routine.
Finally ready, he hesitated before he turned the handle on the bathroom door. Another moment and he would be lost again in the arms of his one true love, finding his home as their hearts, souls and bodies merged into blazing ecstasy.
His thoughts reached out to hers in their strange new connection, only to find her dreaming mind drifting in blissful memories of him holding her, loving her, making her scream out his name in joy and fulfilment.
Michael found himself in bed beside Maria: skin sliding over satin skin, lips kissing, sucking, licking, leaving scorching trails of fire and ice, teeth grazing, biting, hands stroking, exploring, probing, steel plunging in fire to ignite secret infernos in hidden hollows, pounding mercilessly into each other until white hot suns exploded in vast galaxies, falling into the velvet darkness of deep space, melded minds finding endless love, floating together into the distant stars until sleep claimed them both.
In another room, Liz was lying in bed beside Max, staring bleakly into the darkness. She had emerged from the shower trembling with anticipation, ready to make love again with her soul mate, her addiction to him sparkling through her veins like a drug.
He was asleep on the bed, still half dressed and curled up into a ball. She lay down with him and gently touched his shoulder, calling his name softly. He turned towards her in his sleep, instinctively opening himself to her embrace. Liz had sighed in disappointment, but resigned herself to just being with him until it was his turn for guard duty.
She awoke to his hot mouth sucking hard on her right nipple, as one of his hands grasped and kneaded her left breast and the other roughly explored the wet heat between her thighs. Her own hand slid down to find his hard c*ock throbbing against her thigh, demanding entry to her electrified core. Surprised at the difference in his approach compared to the first time he had made love to her, she nonetheless willingly spread her legs, encouraging him to move into position above her. As he met her eyes he murmured her name in wonder and, regaining control of himself, began to push himself slowly and carefully into her. As she began to meet his thrusts, he suddenly stopped, withdrew and rolled them over until she was on top. As he slid into her once more, Liz suddenly felt the freedom this new position gave her and she rode him frantically, shouting his name, seeing images of stars and planets. Then blue eyes in a hated face stared down at her in exultant pleasure as Max's memories flashed through her mind. He grasped her slim hips, surged with brutal intensity deep inside her and found his own release. Blind with savage satisfaction he cried out "Tess, oh, God, Tess!" before pulling Liz down against him and falling back into sleep.
Dazed and bewildered, Liz waited to feel the familiar pain of her heart shattering once again. Instead, a cold rage began to form and she rolled off of him to lie staring into the darkness beside him.
Later, his watch began to beep from the nightstand and he stirred again, sitting up and moving carefully away to take his turn on guard. She breathed deeply and pretended to be asleep, hoping he would leave her undisturbed for the next few hours. Her mind and body seemed to be frozen into numbness again and she barely registered his gentle kiss on her lips before he left quietly.
Time passed and Max was due to hand over to Liz, but he never returned and she dimly realized that he must have taken double duty so she could sleep on. How could he be so sweet and thoughtful and yet call Tess's name instead of hers? She had been right when she told Maria that Max was only with her out of guilt. There was no other explanation.
She suddenly needed to talk to Maria and sat up, intending to get dressed and go find her. Liz needed her best friend right now, no matter if Michael objected or not.
Standing, reaching for her clothes, her gaze fell on Max's pillow and she gasped in shock. A single white rose bloomed there, a gift he must have created for her when he left their bed.
Biting her lip to stop the threatened tears, she finished dressing and headed out to find Maria.
Peering through the widow of the van, Max saw her leave their room, but he was in the grip of his own paranoia and merely resumed his suspicious watch on the movements of any early rising inhabitants of the small community who might display interest in guests at the Green Apple Motel.
Early morning light spilled through a chink in the curtains as Maria, held close in a sleeping Michael's arms, found that even the familiar irritation of lying on the wet patch while she waited for him to wake up and dry it out for her (one of their own private rituals) didn't diminish her feeling of total satisfaction. Spaceboy was back in her bed and their private world was back in balance again. Talking could wait, if they even still needed to talk after all that had gone on between them in the night. She looked up into his dark brown gaze and saw that he was now as open to her in every way as she was to him.
***Maria, everything's ok between us now, isn't it? I mean . . . you know I love you and I know you love me, right?***
Hmm, well maybe there were still a few words that needed to be said after all . . .
***Always, Michael. I'll never leave you again. You're stuck with me forever, now, Spaceboy***
***Thank God for that, princess. Now, we have a little time left before breakfast, so got any ideas on how to kill the boredom?***
***Are you saying sleeping with me is boring, Michael?***
***No way, come back over here and I'll prove it again***
***Oh, Michael, just one thing before I do . . .***
***What?***
***The wet patch . . .?***
***Oh, God, now I know we really are back together!***
Only Maria's ecstatically contorted face showed above the sheets as her alien boyfriend's talented tongue between her thighs made her moan aloud in pleasure, and she didn't hear the door open as Liz Parker walked in without knocking. Standing at the side of the bed, Liz narrowed tragic brown eyes on her oblivious best friend, coughing loudly several times to gain her attention.
Suddenly aware that they had company, Maria opened startled eyes as a tousled Michael Guerin erupted from the blankets and leapt out of bed. Unembarrassed by his nudity (although Liz's eyes widened and she didn't look away, noted Maria, smugly) he reached for his jeans.
"Liz, trouble on your watch? Tell me quick. Stay here with Maria, I'll go get the others . . ."
"No, Michael, it's nothing like that. Max took over my watch and I just need to speak to Maria about something . . ."
She quailed under his incredulous glare, backing off a step or two as he cursed aloud, then shooed her briskly out of the door and locked it behind her.
"Save it, Parker," he growled before it slammed shut in her face, "Maria's busy."
TBC . . .
Maria followed Michael into their room, commenting that it was light years away from their first time alone together in the Sultan's Hideaway and all the better for it. They shared a soft look, sharing memories of that long- ago night on the run to Marathon, Texas when something happened between them.
They were still staring at each other a few moments later when Isobel knocked on the door and peered cautiously round it before entering.
"Michael, you're on guard first, so I'll change you and Maria back now, ok."
"Yeah, in a minute, Iz, but give me a second with Maria, can you? Go change Kyle before he has a hissy fit, then we'll be ready."
Left alone again, he looked nervously at Maria and cleared his throat.
"What? What's wrong, Michael?"
"Nothing at all, princess, it's just that. . .that I'd like it if Iz changed you back to the blonde you were before you went brunette, if that's ok with you. I mean, don't get me wrong, Maria," he said hurriedly, " I love your hair, any color you choose is fine with me, I just wanted my Blondie back if only for this one night. . ."
Her green eyes shone with love and happiness as she crossed the space between them and flung herself into his arms.
"Of course, Spaceboy, I'll be your Blondie for always if you want me to. Actually, I was bored with black anyway and was going to get Isobel to change it back after graduation."
She beamed up at him as Isobel returned, muttering to herself over Kyle.
"That guy is just a big kid, he's never serious even now when we're running for our lives."
She waved her hand over Michael and his hair turned dark as the beard vanished and his shirt faded down to deep green.
Turning to Maria, she noted the mischievous sparkle in the big, green eyes and was not surprised to be asked for a special request from the colour chart, as Maria put it.
Isobel left and was soon followed by Michael heading out on first watch.
Reluctant as she was to let him out of her arms, Maria was still pleased to have two hours to catch some sleep so she could appreciate her Spaceboy properly, rather than through a fog of exhaustion. She made a token appearance in the shower, singing softly to herself, before sliding blissfully into bed and oblivion.
Outside in the chilly darkness, her own, powerful, alien lover prowled the shadows, alert for any danger that threatened those he had sworn to protect.
Sometime later he nearly killed a harmless, Buddhist ex-football captain who had slipped out early for his turn on watch.
There was a furious, though muted, exchange of views before peace was restored and a whispered conversation ensued.
" Couldn't sleep, Valenti?"
"Yeah, something like that, Guerin." He had felt sad and helpless, listening to Isobel sob quietly to herself, and was secretly hurt that she wouldn't let even him hold her as a friend to comfort her in her loneliness.
"Good, 'cos I wanted to talk to you before the others. Have you had any thoughts about what happened back in Roswell?"
"To be honest, I've tried to avoid thinking about it as much as I can. It's still too painful."
"Well, I've been thinking a lot about it and something just feels wrong to me. I want to try out my theories on you and Maria before I share with the rest of us."
"Yeah, they're still in shock, and don't need any more problems. Maria seems ok, though."
"Yeah, I'm not too worried about her. She just needs some sleep."
"So, what do you mean by 'it feels wrong'? It WAS wrong, the whole damn business. 'Wrong' doesn't do it justice, it was evil, man, just evil -."
"Calm down, Valenti, that wasn't what I meant. Think about it, would the FBI really have killed us so publicly at a graduation ceremony in a high school gym? It's an insane idea! There are so many other ways they could have taken us out - drive-by shootings, kidnap us off the street, storm the Crashdown after hours, even wait for us to split up and go to college - much more discreet. There was no need to even kill us. We're much more valuable as lab specimens. Why choose that particular method, huh? Tell me that."
" . . . . . . . . ."
"At least say something, Valenti, even it's just to tell me I've lost it."
"Tempting, but no, I think you're right, it was an insane idea, even for the FBI. Who do you think is really behind it?"
"Khivar for one, I don't think that he would really give up as easily as he appeared to do. His Skins for another. Tess may not have killed them- she had made a deal with Khivar after all. Could have been another mind-warp. Still, I'm not totally convinced it was them, either. After all, where would Khivar have time to get all the Men in Black stuff organised? Just seems a bit too dramatic for a secret Government agency."
"So, you don't think it's the Feds, then?"
"Can't rule them out, just think there are other more likely suspects in the frame. All we can do is keep running for cover and hope we can shake our enemies, whoever they are."
Chapter 5:
The soft snores coming from beneath the blankets made Michael Guerin's lips part in the special smile that only his Maria ever saw. Moving silently as a cat, he crossed to the bathroom and closed the door as quietly as possible.
Most practical of the several powers he'd been practising secretly since his emancipation was one he'd seen Isobel use constantly on his apartment in the early days - and Tess had helped him with this as well - household chores the alien way. It saved him a fortune on cleaning products. His only problem had been remembering to do it when there were so many other distractions in his life.
In fact, he had taken it a logical step further and often gave himself an alien "scrub-down" to save time when he had been trying to study and hold down two jobs at once. He rather enjoyed the fizzy tingle on his skin and he considered it more thorough and hygienic than the human method, anyway. Maria hadn't noticed and he suspected that she wouldn't really approve if she knew. Her bath time ritual was her own private oasis and, indeed, he loved it too whenever she had let him join her.
He removed his clothes and gave them the once-over with his powers, ready for the morning, and did the same for Maria's flimsy lingerie dripping from the shower rail. Touching the lacy things, he grew hot and thoughts of his Maria waiting naked for him on the other side of the door began to torment him, so that he found it hard to concentrate on his own alien routine.
Finally ready, he hesitated before he turned the handle on the bathroom door. Another moment and he would be lost again in the arms of his one true love, finding his home as their hearts, souls and bodies merged into blazing ecstasy.
His thoughts reached out to hers in their strange new connection, only to find her dreaming mind drifting in blissful memories of him holding her, loving her, making her scream out his name in joy and fulfilment.
Michael found himself in bed beside Maria: skin sliding over satin skin, lips kissing, sucking, licking, leaving scorching trails of fire and ice, teeth grazing, biting, hands stroking, exploring, probing, steel plunging in fire to ignite secret infernos in hidden hollows, pounding mercilessly into each other until white hot suns exploded in vast galaxies, falling into the velvet darkness of deep space, melded minds finding endless love, floating together into the distant stars until sleep claimed them both.
In another room, Liz was lying in bed beside Max, staring bleakly into the darkness. She had emerged from the shower trembling with anticipation, ready to make love again with her soul mate, her addiction to him sparkling through her veins like a drug.
He was asleep on the bed, still half dressed and curled up into a ball. She lay down with him and gently touched his shoulder, calling his name softly. He turned towards her in his sleep, instinctively opening himself to her embrace. Liz had sighed in disappointment, but resigned herself to just being with him until it was his turn for guard duty.
She awoke to his hot mouth sucking hard on her right nipple, as one of his hands grasped and kneaded her left breast and the other roughly explored the wet heat between her thighs. Her own hand slid down to find his hard c*ock throbbing against her thigh, demanding entry to her electrified core. Surprised at the difference in his approach compared to the first time he had made love to her, she nonetheless willingly spread her legs, encouraging him to move into position above her. As he met her eyes he murmured her name in wonder and, regaining control of himself, began to push himself slowly and carefully into her. As she began to meet his thrusts, he suddenly stopped, withdrew and rolled them over until she was on top. As he slid into her once more, Liz suddenly felt the freedom this new position gave her and she rode him frantically, shouting his name, seeing images of stars and planets. Then blue eyes in a hated face stared down at her in exultant pleasure as Max's memories flashed through her mind. He grasped her slim hips, surged with brutal intensity deep inside her and found his own release. Blind with savage satisfaction he cried out "Tess, oh, God, Tess!" before pulling Liz down against him and falling back into sleep.
Dazed and bewildered, Liz waited to feel the familiar pain of her heart shattering once again. Instead, a cold rage began to form and she rolled off of him to lie staring into the darkness beside him.
Later, his watch began to beep from the nightstand and he stirred again, sitting up and moving carefully away to take his turn on guard. She breathed deeply and pretended to be asleep, hoping he would leave her undisturbed for the next few hours. Her mind and body seemed to be frozen into numbness again and she barely registered his gentle kiss on her lips before he left quietly.
Time passed and Max was due to hand over to Liz, but he never returned and she dimly realized that he must have taken double duty so she could sleep on. How could he be so sweet and thoughtful and yet call Tess's name instead of hers? She had been right when she told Maria that Max was only with her out of guilt. There was no other explanation.
She suddenly needed to talk to Maria and sat up, intending to get dressed and go find her. Liz needed her best friend right now, no matter if Michael objected or not.
Standing, reaching for her clothes, her gaze fell on Max's pillow and she gasped in shock. A single white rose bloomed there, a gift he must have created for her when he left their bed.
Biting her lip to stop the threatened tears, she finished dressing and headed out to find Maria.
Peering through the widow of the van, Max saw her leave their room, but he was in the grip of his own paranoia and merely resumed his suspicious watch on the movements of any early rising inhabitants of the small community who might display interest in guests at the Green Apple Motel.
Early morning light spilled through a chink in the curtains as Maria, held close in a sleeping Michael's arms, found that even the familiar irritation of lying on the wet patch while she waited for him to wake up and dry it out for her (one of their own private rituals) didn't diminish her feeling of total satisfaction. Spaceboy was back in her bed and their private world was back in balance again. Talking could wait, if they even still needed to talk after all that had gone on between them in the night. She looked up into his dark brown gaze and saw that he was now as open to her in every way as she was to him.
***Maria, everything's ok between us now, isn't it? I mean . . . you know I love you and I know you love me, right?***
Hmm, well maybe there were still a few words that needed to be said after all . . .
***Always, Michael. I'll never leave you again. You're stuck with me forever, now, Spaceboy***
***Thank God for that, princess. Now, we have a little time left before breakfast, so got any ideas on how to kill the boredom?***
***Are you saying sleeping with me is boring, Michael?***
***No way, come back over here and I'll prove it again***
***Oh, Michael, just one thing before I do . . .***
***What?***
***The wet patch . . .?***
***Oh, God, now I know we really are back together!***
Only Maria's ecstatically contorted face showed above the sheets as her alien boyfriend's talented tongue between her thighs made her moan aloud in pleasure, and she didn't hear the door open as Liz Parker walked in without knocking. Standing at the side of the bed, Liz narrowed tragic brown eyes on her oblivious best friend, coughing loudly several times to gain her attention.
Suddenly aware that they had company, Maria opened startled eyes as a tousled Michael Guerin erupted from the blankets and leapt out of bed. Unembarrassed by his nudity (although Liz's eyes widened and she didn't look away, noted Maria, smugly) he reached for his jeans.
"Liz, trouble on your watch? Tell me quick. Stay here with Maria, I'll go get the others . . ."
"No, Michael, it's nothing like that. Max took over my watch and I just need to speak to Maria about something . . ."
She quailed under his incredulous glare, backing off a step or two as he cursed aloud, then shooed her briskly out of the door and locked it behind her.
"Save it, Parker," he growled before it slammed shut in her face, "Maria's busy."
TBC . . .
