Disclaimer: I don't own anything Roswell, except for a few episodes that I've taped from TV. Please don't sue!

Summary: When Maria DeLuca and Michael Guerin find each other, will they hit it off? And will she be able to change Michael Guerin for the better?

Includes: All Roswell characters are included in this story: Alex, Isabel, Max, Michael, Liz, and Maria. Maybe others too, but I'm not sure as of yet. It's mostly a M/M fiction, but it will contains others as well.

Authors Note: It's been a while but here's another update. Hope you like it!

In The Name of Love

Chapter 14

Maria leaned up against the bar counter, her mind preoccupied with the events of last night. She still hadn't told Liz that her boyfriend was an alien, but something inside of her told her that Liz already knew. She was dating Max, after all. Maria remembered Michael saying that he was one of them too.

As if on cue, the three entered the bar. Maria gasped as she noticed his intent stare out of the corner of her eye. She couldn't understand why he terrified her now. He had never tried to hurt her before. But before was different. Now, she knew he wasn't human.

"Cover for me." Maria spoke quickly and raced toward the backroom. Michael wasn't an employee. She knew he'd want to talk to her, but he couldn't do that if Maria hid out in the employee's lounge.

Liz watched her walk away, her curiosities getting the best of her. Maria was acting particularly strange today. Had something happened last night with Michael?

"I'm taking a break." Liz told Jennifer, an employee that had been hired only a week ago. "Can you get my tables?" When the girl nodded, Liz started for the back room. Something was bothering Maria and it was Liz's job, as a best friend, to find out what that was.

Entering the backroom, Liz spotted Maria's nervousness within seconds. She sat on the couch, biting her thumb nail as her legs shook. Liz sighed, taking a seat beside her and putting her hands on Maria's legs to stop her legs from fidgeting. "What's going on, Maria?" she asked, but Maria refused to answer. "We're best friends, right? You can tell me anything. You should know that." Liz really looked at Maria. "Did something happen last night? You know, between you and Michael?"

Maria's head snapped toward Liz and gazed wide-eyed at her. There was Liz' answer, but Maria chose to explain anyway. "Liz, he scared me last night. He told me something and it scared me. I love him. I do. But I don't know if I can cope with what he's said."

"What did he say?" Liz pressed.

"I don't think you'd believe me if I told you. It's too crazy." she stood and paced the room rapidly. Just when she had finally calmed down Michael had to come and turn her into this. She couldn't even think of a word for how paranoid she was beginning to act. Forcing herself to stop, Maria took in a deep breath to calm her nerves. "Liz," she hesitated about continuing. "Liz, I'm in love with an alien."

Maria was surprised to see that Liz wasn't even shocked about the entire thing. "You knew?" her question was rhetorical. She already knew the answer. "Why didn't you tell me, Liz?"

Liz walked to her friend and gave her a quick hug. She had reacted similarly when Max broke the news to her so Liz could understand how Maria felt. She was terrified and confused. Maria wanted to keep seeing Michael, but the fear of him was too great for her to even begin thinking about continuing a relationship. "I just thought it was Michael's job, Ria." her voice was soft and sympathetic. "It was his place to tell you something like that and in the long run, it will be so much better that he did tell you himself." she paused, sighing. "Besides if I had told you, your reaction would have been so much worse. You would have wanted Michael to tell you and you'd have been angry that he didn't."

Maria nodded. It was the truth. Had Michael kept this secret from her, she would have been furious. For the first time, she was actually thankful that it was Michael who had told her. "You're right, Liz." she stared passed her friend, toward the backroom door. "He's out there, you know. He probably wants to talk, but I don't think I can. Not right now. You should understand that, Liz. It couldn't have been easy for you to hear something like that about Max."

Liz took Maria by the hand and led her back to the couch. After she sat down, Liz watched as Maria followed. "Do you want to know how I reacted when Max told me?" When Maria nodded, she continued. "At first, I was just like you. I was so scared of him, afraid that he might flip and try to hurt me. But then I thought about him, about how my life would be like if I didn't have him. I hated that picture. They're not evil, Maria. They feel just like we do. The obvious difference is the only thing that sets them apart from us."

"So you are happy with Max now?"

"I wouldn't have it any other way, Maria." Liz smiled as his face filtered into his mind. "What about you? Are you willing to let Michael slip away? He's so great, Maria. And he's crazy about you."

Maria's face lit up and she shook her head firmly. "I can't loose him, Liz. This is a big deal, but I don't like the thought of not having him in my life."

Liz stood and pulled Maria off of the couch and pushed her toward the door. She laughed. "So I guess there is someone you need to talk to." Liz opened the swinging door to the back room and Michael came into the Maria's view. Instinctively, Maria smiled. She really didn't want to miss out on him. "What are standing here for, Ria? Look at him." Michael stared them, obviously hopeful that Liz was changing Maria's thinking. "Go." Liz gave Maria one final push before she began to walk on her own. Butterflies fluttered within her stomach. What would Michael say about her sudden change of heart?

* So that's it for now. The story is slowly winding down and I hope that you've all it enjoyed it. I'm pretty sure that the next chapter will be my last. *