Alex groaned as he was awoken from his sleep by the incessant banging at the front door. He was just glad that his parents weren't home to hear it. "Yeah, yeah, yeah I'm coming," he said as he approached the door. He swung it open. "Look buddy, it's 3 am and…" he trailed off when he recognised the person to be Michael. He then noticed the hard look in his eye and nodded in understanding as he let the broody alien into his living room. "She told you."
"You could say that," Michael said, taking a seat. Alex could hear the anger in his voice and wondered what exactly had happened between the two. Michael ran a hand through his hair and over his face as he sighed. "I hated you for the longest time after she left. I thought that you had taken her away from me, that you had taken what was mine and I hated you for it. I could see that she was happy when around you, something she rarely ever was when she was with me and I guess you could say that I was jealous. You took away the only person that ever meant anything to me and made her your own. Or so I thought."
Alex shook his head as he sat on the sofa across from him. "I didn't take her away and she wasn't yours. You threw her away remember? You discarded her like she was nothing after you slept with her. You made her feel like s-hit." He could feel himself starting to get angry with the alien and his confidence grew. "Even if I had taken her and made her my own, you couldn't do a damn thing about it. Stop blaming other people for your actions Michael. You threw her away and therefore gave up any rights you had in concern with her."
"I know I did," Michael said, nodding. "I did throw her away but that didn't mean that I loved her any less nor does it give her the right to keep the fact that she was pregnant with my child away from me."
Alex scoffed and sat back in his seat. "I can't believe that you said that," he said, shaking his head. "How can you honestly blame her for keeping that from you? Would you like me to remind you what you said to her the night she told everyone she was pregnant? First you blamed her for getting pregnant on purpose just to trap you into a relationship, then basically called her a s-lut then told her that you didn't love her and would never love the child she was carrying. Not to mention the fact that when they all thought the baby was alien, Liz, Isabel and Max wanted it aborted."
Mulling over what was being yelled at him, Michael then realised what an a-ss he had really been that night. How could he have said those things to her? Alex was right, he was to blame for everything, no wonder Maria didn't want to tell him. His eyes widened slightly when he thought back to what he had said to Maria earlier that night. He had said that he could never forgive her for keeping Brendan away from him. Would she forgive him for anything he had done to her? Could they ever repair the damage that had been done?
Alex wasn't finished and continued with his rant. "Now ask me why she kept it from you? Go on," he yelled, "ask me. She kept it from you to save herself from hurt and to keep her baby from going through the same thing." Alex sat back down and rubbed his temples. "She wanted to tell you but I was the one who convinced her not to. I could see what all of the things you and the others had said were doing to her and couldn't sit by and let her take it any more and you know what?" he asked. "I would do it all again in a second because you needed this time to realise how much Maria really meant to you. You have both done things that admittedly could have been dealt with better, but you've been given a second chance to make things right. Don't screw it up Michael."
Michael looked at the man in front of him with a newfound respect and realised that everything he had said was right, he had been given a second chance…but could they really ever get past what had happened? Could he let what she did to him go? He stood and stuck his hand out for Alex to shake, which he did. "Thank you for looking after my family."
Nodding, Alex walked him to the door and opened it but before letting Michael past, he had a few last things to say. "If you ever hurt her again, not only will I hurt you, but I will take both Maria and Brendan somewhere you will never find them. You will never see them and never speak to them again. Do you understand?"
Michael gave a curt nod in response and Alex let him past, happy with the reply. He looked on as Michael headed towards his bike and even though he had hated Michael before, he couldn't help but hope that the two would work things out. They belonged together. They were soul mates.
The next morning, Outside Michael's apartment
Maria stood outside and paused before she knocked. She was nervous about seeing him after what had happened between them the night before. True he had said things that were mean and hateful but she had also done her fair share of regretful things. She awoke this morning with one thought in mind, to explain to Michael why she kept Brendan's rightful father a secret.
InsideMichael raced around his apartment trying to get himself sorted before going to see Maria. After sleeping on what Alex had said to him he decided that they needed to talk, to work things through. He had to, for him, for Maria and most importantly, for Brendan. Once he was ready, he walked to the door and opened it, surprised when he was greeted with a fist almost hitting his face. The fist lowered and Michael was shocked to see Maria standing at his front door looking nervous and scared.
"Maria?"
She looked up and he moved out of the way so that she could enter. "Can we talk?" she asked, standing in the middle of the room.
"Where's Brendan?" Michael motioned for her to sit beside him on the couch and she did so timidly.
Maria sighed and knew that this was going to be hard. "I left him with Tess and Kyle. I thought that we needed to talk…alone. And before you ask me to leave please…please will you just hear me out?" she glanced at him and was a little shocked when she saw him nod but recovered quickly. "I know that I should have told you about Brendan when I first found out I was pregnant but I was scared. Scared of what you'd say or do. You were a 17-year-old teenager Michael, no teenager wants to be tied down to a family at that age. That was one of many reasons why I didn't tell you."
"Go on," he urged her as they sat back, getting comfortable.
She took a deep breath and continued with her reasons. "The day that I told you I was pregnant was only the second day I knew. I had done a test the night before and pretty much cried myself to sleep. After talking to my Mom and Alex, we had decided that while I was pregnant I would live in France with my Aunt then return home when he was born only I had fallen in love with France and knew that you wanted nothing to do with me. That's why I stayed in France but I'm getting off track," she said with a soft laugh.
"I had every intention of telling you that night but then when you yelled all those reasons at me I froze and Alex came to my defence claiming the child as his and after hearing what the others were proposing I do, I couldn't sit and listen to it anymore and it was just easier to let the lie continue. You didn't want my child or me and I didn't want to give him up. At the time, I thought that it was the best solution and still to this day do as well because you cannot tell me that if you thought it were yours all along that we would be here right now. That you would have come last night claiming that you still loved me and wanted me and Brendan in your life."
Maria stood and started to pace the room. "I did what I did for my son. I didn't want him brought up in an environment that had both of his parents at each other's throats and hating each other. I'm sorry for what happened last night. We should never have…done what we did because of all the baggage that is between us. Still, that didn't give you the right to yell at me the way you did. I know what I did was wrong but what did you expect me to do after that night in the Crashdown Michael? Honestly, if you were me would you have done anything differently?"
He scratched his eyebrow and cast his eyes downward. "Probably not. I was out of line last night, I'll admit that and after leaving your place, I went over to see Alex. He made me see some home truths and I realised that I had no right being as angry as I was. Yes I was hurt and still partly am that you kept him from me, but I understand why you did it and can't blame you." He stood and stepped in front of her, taking her hands in his. "We have both done things that we regret, but we were given a second chance and I for one don't want to lose it. I don't want to lose you or my son Maria."
He stopped and closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. "We still have a lot to work through and sort out, it's going to take time but if you feel the same way, then what I would like more than anything, is to have both you and Brendan back in my life. I love you Maria, I always have and want to be with you. I want to be with you, and I want to be a father for my son. I'm ready to be Dad. I want my family back."
Maria pursed her lips together as a tear crept down her cheek. He was right, they did have a lot to sort out but if being honest with herself, she too wanted her family back. She wanted him back. She nodded and smiled at him. "I would like that," she said softly. "But I want to take things slow, we need to work a lot of things out first and for this to work, we need to sort them out. I want to do this right."
Michael nodded and brought her body close to his for a tight hug. He breathed in her scent and he kissed the crown of her head. "Me too Maria, me too."
Epilogue, 1 year and 7 months later
Michael sat on the carpeted floor of his apartment with his back against the bottom of the couch and his now 3-year-old son sitting between his outstretched legs in the same fashion watching the television with interest. Michael heard a grunt then watched as his girlfriend of the past year and a half lug a heavy bag towards the front door. He couldn't believe that she was leaving them, leaving him.
"Do you have to leave?" Michael asked, looking towards her with pleading eyes.
Maria turned to face with, her face showing nothing but the obvious sadness she was feeling. "I have to Michael, you know I do. I just can't stay here anymore."
Rolling her eyes, Tess appeared from the bedroom door with another bag. "You act as if you're never going to see each other again. Geez, it's only one night," she said, placing the bag on the ground by Maria's feet.
Michael glared at the evil blue-eyed blond. "You're taking my fiancé away from me," he growled menacingly, however it didn't have his desired effect when Maria started to giggle.
"It's tradition Michael," she said, walking towards him and their son. After a year of working through all of their problems and finally finding complete happiness in their lives with one another, Michael had proposed to her one night during a candle lit dinner for just the two of them. Isabel and Jesse had looked after Brendan that night and Michael had made everything perfect. She was shocked and happy at the same time, not once suspecting that he was going to propose.
Michael smiled at her as she bent down to give him a kiss. "It's also tradition to have the baby after the wedding," he stated with a smug smile. Maybe she'd reconsider and stay.
Tess groaned, walked over and tugged on Maria's arm. She knew that if she let the two continue to kiss then she'd never have a hope in hell of getting her out of there. They were supposed to meet Liz and Isabel for lunch. Over the past year, the two had tried to restore their friendship with Maria and she was slowly learning to forgive them. Maria had even made them bridesmaids and Isabel, along with her mother, was her wedding co-ordinator. Michael and Alex too had started up a tentative friendship.
"You can't see the bride the day before the wedding Michael. I'm taking her with me so deal with it," she said, trying to pry the two apart.
Michael growled. He really didn't like this tradition. Maria giggled again and kissed him once more on the lips softly. "It's only for one night," she told him and smiled when he started to pout. "Michael, we'll have the rest of our lives to spend together."
He nodded and smiled along with her. "Yeah," he whispered as he tugged her head down to kiss him once more. "Because I'm never letting you go again."
"Good," she whispered back then kissed her son's forehead before stepping back. Tess started to drag her out of the room. "Take care of Brendan, Michael," she yelled just before Tess pushed her completely out of the apartment and Michael laughed. Just when he thought that they had gone he heard her yell out something else. "And Brendan, you take care of Daddy, make sure he stays out of trouble."
Michael rolled his eyes but laughed all the same. He turned his gaze back to the television as Brendan pointed to it with a huge half toothless grin. "Spidy-man," he said, clapping his hands.
Nodding his head, Michael watched his son take vivid interest in the show that had taken his fancy when he was much younger. He couldn't wait until tomorrow when he officially made them his family. Brendan turned toward his father with a frown as an ad came on the TV. "Do I have ta wear da suit?"
Michael laughed. "Yeah Bren you do." Maria wanted them both to look their best so had tailor made suits done for them. "It'll make Mommy happy," he added and looked on, as Brendan seemed to contemplate that last bit of information before finally nodding his head.
"Okay, for Mommy," he said, turning back towards the television. Michael chuckled and also turned his attention towards the television to watch the amazing adventures of Spiderman, all the while wondering how he had gotten so lucky. He had a son and a soon-to-be wife. Life couldn't have been better.
The End