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 they be able to overcome the one thing that he can't change?

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: So this is it. The end of this fiction. I hope you all enjoyed it. I'm nominated at Roswell Desert Skies -- the BMFA, more specifically, I believe. Vote for me! You can do so at www.roswelldesertskies.com. And as always, give me feedback!

Unbroken

Chapter 16

Maria sat at a small park bench, her mind reeling in her thoughts about Michael. The past few days had been absolute torture for her. But how was she supposed to tell him she was sorry? Part of her understood perfectly just why he had been so hurt about her reaction, but the other part of her still defended it. How exactly did he expect her to feel? He was an alien. People just didn't get that kind of a bomb dropped on them every day. But Michael had trusted her. He had put complete faith in what they had and now she had made him doubt that.

"Can I sit down?" Maria stiffened at the recognition of his voice and nodded slowly, remaining silent. If she spoke now, she wouldn't be able to stop herself from telling him all that she has been thinking. And he had come to her. Michael wanted to talk to her.

Silence ensued shortly after he had made himself comfortable, and Maria hesitantly chanced a glance at him to find that he wasn't even looking at her. His gaze remained locked on the grass-covered space in front of him, his eyes not daring to blink even once. "Michael?" her voice was shaky and unsure, but neither of them had noticed. Maria continued to watch him carefully until finally, he blinked.

"I'm sorry." They both sputtered in urgency, a nervous laugh following soon after. Both waited for the other to speak up again, but neither took that initiative. "Go ahead." Michael finally said, chancing a glance back at Maria, who was already staring at him.

She nodded softly and shifted her body so that she was turned toward him, her left leg leaning again the bench backrest. When Michael nervously turned away from her gaze, she stopped him by taking his face in her hands, holding his view on her in place. She concentrated hard on his face, taking in all it, before opening her mouth to speak, "Michael, I'm sorry." she shrugged at her seemingly simple words, her hands falling from his face. She was shocked that he continued to look down at her, even without her hands on him holding his firm gaze still.

"I know you are, Maria." she leaned into his touch when he went to put stray tendrils of hair behind her ear, her downward glance locked on her knees. "I'm sorry too." Maria looked back up at him. "My reaction at the café was a little rushed and over exaggerated. I was hurt, but I shouldn't have walked away from you like I did." he paused. "But do you understand why I did, Maria?"

Maria nodded weakly. "You trusted me. You confided in me and I freaked out. You put faith in the fact that you thought you could tell me anything. My reaction to your news only proved that you couldn't."

Michael shook his head defiantly, his hands moving to cup her face. "No," his voice was firm. "I said that, Maria, but I didn't mean it. I was hurting. I was only striking back at you, but I didn't mean a word I said at the café, except that I do care for you." he retracted his hands, his voice softening. "I was scared, Maria. God, I was so scared." Michael stood to pace the ground in front of the bench. "Before you, I depended on no one. My life has been full of disappointments, Maria. I never really had a family to lean on, not like Max or Isabel. So I became this cold, shut off person and I grew accustomed to that." he paused, dropping to kneel in front of Maria, his hands resting on her knees for balance. "And then you came. You made me feel things I've never felt before, Maria. And it scared the shit out of me. I tried to fight it, but I couldn't. I couldn't fight you, Maria. The café was just my last desperate plea, but I couldn't even keep that up. I had to see you. I had to talk to you."

Tears sparkled in Maria's eyes, a smile pursing her lips. "You know, Spaceboy, we aren't so different, you and I." she stood, pulling him up with her. "I was scared too. You are the first boy that I've ever let myself get close to. When my dad left, it was my mother and me against the world. I kind of expected it to always be that way. I couldn't trust men. If my father had let me down then what did that say about all the other boys in the world? I thought they were all the same. And then I met you, Michael." her hands traced the contours of his face. "I could see right through you. You masked so much, but that was only because you were just like me. You were bruised. I was drawn to you in that way." she paused. "I wish I could take back my reaction. I wish I could have been as understanding as you wanted me to be."

"I don't." Michael argued. "That reaction was how you felt. It was insensitive of me to expect you to take it better. What I am is a big deal, Maria. You had ever right to freak out. Deep down, I knew that you would. But when you did, it was just another chance for me to protect myself from you. Now, I don't want to."

Maria blinked her tears away as she smiled. "Why?" she asked. "Michael, what made you want to let your guard down?"

He thought about his words carefully before speaking them. Maria's question was a good one. Michael wasn't so sure that he'd be able to pinpoint the exact reason, but he was going to try. He wanted Maria to know everything about him. She deserved that much. "I love you." his explanation was short, but those three words would mean so much. He chuckled. "That's the first time I've every said that to anyone. But I do, Maria. I. Love. You." he said again.

Maria stumbled back in shock, her hand coming to cover her racing heart. She was in shock, but it was a pleasant kind of shock. She hadn't expected her fling with Michael Guerin to turn in to anything more than that. But now Maria was certain she had found her soulmate. He truly was the only guy for her. He'd always be the only guy for her. Whether she ended up with Michael or not, no one would ever capture her heart like he had done so quickly. Whether she ended up with him or not, no one would ever stand a chance in comparison to him. And he'd always be compared the others. Always.

But something inside of her told her that she wouldn't have to worry about others measuring up to Michael Guerin. She wouldn't have to worry about having to go on without him because she'd always be with him. Michael Guerin was hers and she was his. They belonged to each other and it would always be that way. Maria was certain of that.

"I - I love you." she stuttered, but only because she was still getting over the shock. The way she felt was something that she had never been more sure about. Maria could see that her feelings for Michael were growing, but she hadn't been so sure that his were too. Now she knew. Maria smiled. Now she knew that he felt exactly the same way she did.

Their lips met slowly in what was a passionate but tender kiss. Michael pulled back ever so slowly and watched Maria, her eyes remaining closed for a few beats. He hadn't expected or even wanted these feelings that were now encircling him. In fact, he had tried his hardest to stay away from Maria. He had known what she was capable of doing to him even before he fully knew her. But now, as he looked down her innocent features, he was glad that he hadn't been able to stay away. He was grateful that, for once, his stubborn nature had caved in. Now he had someone. Max had Liz. Isabel hand Alex. He had Maria. And it would always be that way.

* This chapter was kind of short, but then again, most of mine are. I really hoped you enjoyed reading this. It has been blast for me in writing it. It's kinda sad that it's over, but also, I'm kinda glad. It's finished now! Yippee. No one will be left in suspense anymore. But then again, I guess I never left you in much anyway. But it's been fun! I've loved every minute of it. *