We're at the beginning of our story, where anything is possible. Where a man can love a woman and the world can go on. At the moment we're in a place where the sky is the limit, but soon, very soon that wouldn't be the case.

~

She was always sick. It didn't matter what time of year it was, she was sick; or at least according to Michael. Michael considered being sick once or twice a year always sick, or at least when it came to Maria. She was like his sister, and Amy was like his mother. They were the family he had never had. But when it came to Maria, things were different. There was something different about her, and he could place what it was. She was his sister..wasn't she? Whatever it was..big brother..unofficial boyfriend..a best friend..Maria was his, and he made sure she was protected, and made sure nothing happened to her.

It had always been just the two of them, or even the three of them when Amy was there. When Maria started to get noticed by boys at school on their first day of Junior high, it set things in motion that in later years they would be hard pressed to find any other way of life for them, and in some ways they were glad things worked out the way they did, and other things..well...they were alive to remember everything.

~

"'Ria, come on!! We don't want to be late for our first day! You know how much teachers hate me anyway. I don't want to give them the wrong impression without at least one spit ball!" Michael yelled to Maria through the door to the bedroom they secretly shared. Amy was running around the house and looking for her lost earring when she heard Michael's last comment.

"Michael, I hope you're not giving those teachers of yours a hard time! This is Junior High. Things are going to be different now. There's a such thing called a Permanent Record, and one stray spitball may just end up on that record, and you're ruined for High school, and if that happens.." Amy rambled. Michael had learned early on the Maria shared in Amy's habit of rambling and found the only way to end it before it got out of hand was to be quiet and wait until they weren't coherent even to themselves any more, and quickly reassured them, as he was about to do now.

"I know Amy. I promise I won't use any spit balls on any of the good teachers."

"Good, I'm glad you've finally..YES!! I found my missing earring!! LIFE IS GOOD!!" Amy could now be seen doing a happy dance around the living room, and Michael was slowly shaking his head; used to such antics.

The door had opened that was supporting Michael, and he fell to the floor with a thud. (Occasional whoops in the living room could still be heard.) Michael looked up and saw a goddess.

~

Maria looked down to see Michael staring up at her wide eyed. What? Had she put on way too much lip gloss? It was the first day of Junior High, and she had wanted to look good. She had gotten a tan over the summer and her hair was an even lighter shade of blond. Her bright green eyes stood out with even more contrast against her skin, and she had only noticed it the day before.

Michael had been staring at her strangely. She had caught him staring when she was doing something else. When she looked back he would quickly pretended he hadn't been staring. It had been like that all summer and she wasn't quite sure what was going on.

School was starting, and for the first time Maria was thinking about boys. It hadn't been like that for her before, and so she had made an effort that day to look good. Her hair was in a pony tail, but some strands of curls fell around her face. She was wearing some white cut-off shorts and a baby blue tank top. The words: What would Michael think? popped up in her mind and they didn't seem to leave.

~

His dark green eyes were looking up at me from the floor. I smiled and gave him hand to help him get up. He hadn't said anything, and I was wondering if I should've just gone and gotten his flannel shirt from the bed, but it was going to be hot. The heat wave was still going on and the thought of another layer of clothing was sickening.

"So, what do you think? You heard Mom; I don't want to look like a complete idiot on our first day," I asked. Michael didn't say anything. He looked like someone had struck him with the blunt end of a piece of wood. Well, that's exactly how he looked when I had hit him with a blunt piece of wood we were using to build the fort.

"Hello Earth to Michael!!" I snapped my fingers in his face, knowing that would get him mad. I ran out of the hallway and his unblinking stare and found mom still doing her happy dance even if it wasn't as enthusiastic as it probably was only a few minutes ago.

"Mum do we have any Cedar oil? Someone," I directed a pointed look to Michael "decided to pour all of my other ones down the toilet last night." If that didn't wake him up out of his stupor, nothing would. But he didn't say anything. He just stood there with his head lowered.

~

She was beautiful. How was he supposed to act around her now? He had known her since forever and they were best friends..right? Right. They shared the same room. Hello!! Michael!! If she even thought that way about him, there would be no way she would let him share her bed when he had those dreams.

They were dreams that scared the living day lights out of him. He woke late in the night to Maria hugging him close and whispering in- coherent things in his ear. He would always be shaking and crying, and she would always pretend not to remember in the morning. She would make him sleep with her for the rest of the night and he made her sleep close, "for body heat."

He had woken up in her bed once to find her in tears. He had questioned her in the morning and he found out that she usually woke that way. She always had such dreams and they often left her sobbing into her pillow.

"Why didn't you tell me, or Amy?" he had demanded.

"Because Michael, It's not a big deal. Everyone has bad dreams; some more than others. Come on, lets go get breakfast," she had reached for his hand, and held it for a moment. She looked down and rubbed it with her thumb, and than she looked back up at him and smiled. It was such a clear and happy smile. It was beautiful, and he had forgotten her dreams, or at least for the moment.

They could share things. She shared her house and mother, and he shared his knowledge on cars, and spitting. But there were some things that went beyond that. There were some things that they shared at a higher level, and at the moment he wasn't sure what that was exactly.

~

When they got on the bus, everyone stared as they walked down the crowded isle. It wasn't Michael they were looking at, and he was perfectly aware of it. Maria was babbling away about the fort they were still working on. It only needed a few finishing touches and they wanted to make sure everything was perfect. They took their seats and Doris, their bus driver, shook her head and wondered how long it would take them.

All of the boys, with exclusion of only a few were talking quietly to their friends about a certain De Luca girl. Michael on the other hand found his hands tied. He was trying to pay attention to Maria while giving any boy that glanced her way a death glare. She did eventually notice, and was curious as to what was going on.

"Why are you so edgy Michael? And what's with the death glares?" Michael was surprised by this, and cursed whatever it was that allowed her to be so in tuned with his feelings. He had been just about to hit the boy with the blond hair who was just out right staring at her.

"Nothing." Michael quickly lied. He looked down. She knew he was lying to her, she always knew when he lied to her. He knew it too, and when he did lie to her he had a good reason. So, she narrowed her eyes, and said nothing; a rarity as Michael put it. She looked around the bus, and noticed that most of the girls were whispering behind their hands and were giving her the look.

It was the look she had gotten from her teacher when she had just met Michael. She had asked her what her father did for a living, and Maria had replied that she didn't know what her father did for a living. The teacher snorted, and announced to the whole class that Maria didn't know what her father did for a living. The implication that she was stupid hurt Maria's feelings, and she had told her matter-of-factly she didn't know what her father did for a living because he had left Roswell before she was born, and had never heard from him. Since than, she knew what the look was, and hated it. It was the look she was getting now; only for different reasons. But Maria didn't know that, so she moved closer to Michael, and took his hand in hers.

~

Michael looked at her after looking out the window. She was clutching his hand. "What's wrong 'Ria?" he asked, feigning innocence.

"They're giving me that look Michael. The look they used to give me every father's day. I thought it was going to be different today. It's junior high. Mum says it always different when you start a new school, but look; all the girls are still giving me that look." She was right; as usual. He had only been paying attention to the boys, and his own thoughts and feelings of what was to come; he hadn't paid attention to her.

He hadn't realized that she may want to be friends with other people. Maybe she didn't want to be friends with him any more. Maybe she even wanted to hang out with those stuck up girls that wore pink and giggled behind their hands when he walked past. He never understood what that had been about, but maybe she wanted to be apart of that. Maybe she wanted to have friends that were normal. Than why was she clutching his hand? Why had she been talking to him the whole time on the bus ride while he had ignored her and shot rancid looks to any boy in a 10 mile radius? Perhaps he didn't understand, but she was his friend, no matter what they were friends, and he had to try and understand, or at least pretend to.

"Don't worry about it 'Ria, they're all stuck up snobs who probably haven't even heard of Ulysses," that made Maria giggle. She loved Ulysses and shared her passion with Michael. She sighed and looked out the window.

~

The bus pulled up to Roswell Junior High, and the two friends were assaulted with the building that loomed before them. She grabbed his hand and held it between her own. She had never done that before. She never held his hand. Sometimes she would hug him, or kiss him on the cheek but she never held his hand. Isabel never let anyone know she was scared, but he knew, and she knew it.

They were starting Junior High, and they both felt a sense of foreboding. Something felt a bit off, and when they found themselves outside of the awesome tower in front of them, the feeling deepened.

Alex wasn't one for theatrics or anything to do with predicting the future, but he knew it was possible to do anything. He had read in a book somewhere that there wasn't really that much known about the human brain, and there were portions of the brain that hadn't been discovered. Many scientists debated on the subject of witchcraft and the brain. Some said that all forms of magic could simply be an evolution, or even the awakening of certain parts of the brain, that most people don't use. If it was possible, Alex didn't share in any qualities that dealt with predicting the future, but there was something about today that was giving him a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Isabel felt the same way. Something was off, and she needed Alex's comfort. He was so strong when she needed him to be; and when she didn't. He never made her feel stupid, or even a need to fit in. He was her best friend, and despite his inquisitive nature he didn't ask questions to things she didn't talk about, and she loved him for it.

"We might as well go in."

"I guess so," Alex replied a bit reluctantly. Nonetheless he strode forward, and still holding her hand, they walked into the building that would witness the event that would forever change their lives.

~

"Did you see that De Luca girl?? She was lookin' Hot!! I swear, I'm gonna get some of that!!" claimed the blonde haired boy.

"Yeah right! Did you see that Guerin trash she hangs around with? He looked like he was going to tear you up in a million pieces." Brunettes really were smarter, or at least in this case. (AN: sorry, but that was for Jessica)

"Yeah, whatever. I could take him. Shoot, I could get the whole eighth grade on his sorry ass. That's one of the pleasures of being an upper classmen. You don't believe me? Fine, I'll bet you on it," said the cocky blonde.

"I don't know. I used to sit in back of them last year, and I do not want to be there if Maria De Luca ever found out someone made a bet about her like that; let alone be the person who did the betting. That's not even including Michael," replied the suddenly white brunette.

"Fine you big wuss, I'll do it without the bet, I'll do it for fun. We'll see who has the last laugh. What do you think Evans? You haven't said anything lately. You want a piece of ass too? Maybe it would make you a man," he looked a Max Evans and saw that the new seventh grader's nose was still bleeding. "Never mind, that wouldn't even help you. It wouldn't mean much if even you got some of that."

Max just looked at both of them coldly. "Are we done here?" he asked rather nonchalantly despite having just got the crap beat out of him.

"Yeah, but if you tell anyone, I might not be able to restrain myself next time," answered the idiot blonde.

"Whatever." With that Max walked out of the bathroom and headed toward the eraser room where his girlfriend was impatiently waiting for him.

~

"I knew they were going to do something. Do the words stay away from Tommy and Dave mean anything to you? God that hurt! It started to bleed! MY nose was bleeding. I stopped it of course, but still! You can't let anyone who says anything bad about me -"

"I didn't tell how the fight started," interrupted Max.

"What?" asked Liz.

"I didn't tell you why I got in a fight with them. I purposely did it because I didn't want you to get any more upset than you already were. How did you know what had happened? YOUR nose started to bleed?"

"Max, you know how I know. I've felt it all day. I saw it last week and I knew it was going to happen today. That's why I warned you. Yes, my nose started to bleed. Max, I think it's getting stronger. I saw another one today.." Liz trailed off.

~

"They are not staring!" I can't believe you! According to you, I'm naked and I don't realize it, and the whole god damned school is staring. You are so paranoid. I don't know why I even bother. All you do is blame me, and than start telling me all of these conspiracy theories you have about the whole lot of Junior High boys! No one even knows I'm alive except for you, and I don't even know about that sometimes," huffed Maria. Sometimes he was a pain in the ass, and unless you knew how to deal with him, or had some cedar oil, it was a frustratingly long day.

"Maria, look around you!! All day, every boy in school has been talking about you. Shoot, I heard a rumor that some jerk Tommy something or other is going to ask you out at lunch time. That's why I think you should just cover up some more. Put on some baggy jeans, let you hair go wild, forget the lip gloss, and wear my flannel shirt, and you'll be fine. "

"Michael, it feels like a thousand degrees in here, and that's with the A.C. on! There is no way I am going to put on more clothes than necessary. Where did you find about this little rumor? Who have you been talking to? Last time I checked you can't stand anyone in school."

"That's not true; there's you," answered Michael quietly. He wasn't sure what sort of relationship they had, but whatever it was, he wasn't going to define it. Better let her do it. That way, I won't look stupid.

But Maria hadn't heard him. Her head was spinning. She wasn't feeling good. "Would it be so bad? Would it really be so bad if someone did ask me out, and took an interest in me? What's wrong with my clothes anyway? I wear them around you all the time." Her vision was slightly fuzzy, but she was pissed. Who did he think he was? He was constantly confusing her, and she never got a straight answer from him whenever the question about them was brought up.

"'Ria, he doesn't want to go out with you because its you, he wants you to have sex with him. I found out by Max Evans who heard it straight from his mouth. We got to talking in wood shop and he's pretty cool...but that's off the subject. Maria, you can't go out with that guy, especially.."

"Well, if he plans to have sex with me and that's the only reason he wants to go out with me, than I'm not getting anywhere near him! My point was relationships. Michael, I've known you forever. We live together, and you're basically my brother, but sometimes it seems like so much more than that. Every time a conversation like this takes place you can't even give me a straight answer. Do you have feelings for me that are more than just friends? Is this just a one sided thing? Michael-"

"'Ria, it's not one sided," Michael interrupted.

"It's not?" Maria questioned.

"No, 'Ria I...'Ria..'RIA!!!" Maria was sliding to the floor. She fell to the floor, and in a moment Michael was at her side and was trying to shake her awake. "MOM, MOM, MARIA'S UNCONSCIENCE!!" Michael shouted to Amy De Luca who had been running around trying to find her other earring (again). Amy rushed in (with only one earring) and found Maria's eye lids fluttering, just barely.

"It's OK Michael, she's not unconscious she just fainted. Come on; help me get her to the bed." Together Michael and Amy managed to get Maria on the bed.

~

When Maria did wake it was to the peering faces of Michael and Amy. What happened? Why did she feel like a truck had just run over her? Oh, no. She must have blacked out, again. I guess I get to stay home. At least I won't have to worry about what I wear to school after all.

"Thank the goddess you're OK. Michael scared the hell out of me. Are you OK? I heard arguing in here. Were you two fighting again? How were you feeling? Why didn't you tell one of us? Maria these things are important. You have to tell someone. We can't prevent it if-"

"I know mum, sorry it just sort of sprung up on me. I didn't really get too much of a warning. I promise I won't do it again, and yes, I'm fine. Go on get to work, I'll be OK.

"Are you sure? This hasn't been happening lately has it?" asked Amy.

"No mum it hasn't been happening lately. Today was the first time in two months. But you have to go to work, and we need to save your sick days so we can go on that shopping trip." Maria knew she was never going to be able to go on that shopping trip with her mother. Amy was constantly taking days off of work, and wouldn't tell Maria where she went. She was never sick, but hey, that was her mother's business; don't ask, don't tell.

Amy smiled. "OK, but only if your sure your going to be fine. And Michael, if anything happens, you'll call right?"

"Yeah, I have the number," Michael answered.

"All right, but I have to go and find my earring, and then I'll be off." Amy rushed out of the room, and after a few minutes she found her earring, (on her bedside table) said her good byes, and took off.

The tension in Maria's room was so thick; you could use a knife to cut through it. Maria was reclining on her bed with her eyes closed and was waiting for Michael to start his bantering about her taking care of herself, and how she needed to stop and rest, because it wasn't good for health. But the banter never came, and she was left with silence.

~

He was shaking. She had looked dead, and when he first saw her on the floor, that was what he had first thought, but he rushed towards her and had felt her pulse. She was alive, but the image of her still like that had moved something inside of him. Something that he hadn't known was inside of him had surfaced, and he had seen something.

It was memory. It was a picture he had seen so many times before in his dreams. Every night he went to sleep and 9 times out of 10, the nightmares would come to him. When he woke he couldn't remember them anymore, but just now he had remembered. He had held Maria in his arms while she died. She had spoken her last words to him, and she had said how much she had loved him. She had tried to reassure him that it was worth dying for because it was him. She had always loved him, and she would never take any of it back. She looked down and rubbed it with her thumb, and than she looked back up at him and smiled. It was such a clear and happy smile. She than went on to say that she was proud of him. They were endearments he remembered. Not in his dreams, but in real life. She had made that gesture when he had first confronted her about her own dreams. She had told him of her being proud of him when she had first met him. Could these be things she saw in her dreams? Were they memories?

"I love you 'Ria." He had said it. He had never said that to any one before. He had never really felt that way about someone before.

"Are you sure you want me to hear that?" Maria asked.

"Depends if you feel the same way."

"Yeah , I guess I do," Maria admitted.

"Then yes, I want you to know I love you."

"We're in seventh grade Michael, and we're talking about love. Love! Something that takes years, months, weeks, hours to decide about, and we did it in seconds! People go through their whole lives without finding the One, and here we are, in seventh grade.." Maria ranted.

"But 'Ria, they didn't have the dreams."

Maria stopped there. So, he remembered. It was kind of hard to not remember your own death, but maybe he found a way to block it out. There had been so much pain, not physical exactly, but more like your soul was being ripped from you, and all she had wanted was to do was to stay there with the man she loved.

"What did your dreams show you?" Maria asked.

"I saw you die 'Ria. It was..it was..it was the most god awful thing I have ever had to live through, but than again I didn't, did I?"

"Michael, you know that we're different. You know that there's something about us that just doesn't seem normal. Michael we're not from here. We're from somewhere else, at a different time."

"Maria you're not making any sense, what are you talking about."

"Michael you were found when you were six right? Well, I don't have any memories before I was six. Michael, we're from another planet, we're aliens, who've been reincarnated."

"Maria, I think you've been reading a little too much.."

"Michael ordinary people don't have dreams about their girlfriends dying; especially when the two of them are having the dream at the same time. It's also why you and mum don't get sick. Yes, mum's one too, but she's something completely different. Michael, we were killed on our planet over fifty years ago. Scientists combined our DNA with that of humans, so we would look, think, and blend in with humans, but we're not Michael. We're not human. We were sent to Earth so we could have another chance to live, and here we are, but something's wrong Michael. Something's wrong this week. I've been in complete over load, and I don't know.." Tears were streaming down Maria's face. Her face had gone white, and she was now visibly shaking.

Michael felt the need to protect her. He climbed on the bed, and held her close. She clung to him, and her tears soaked his shirt. He didn't care. He wasn't crazy. The thoughts that were going through his head, had been along the lines of those Maria had been describing. He wasn't crazy, and if he was some one else was crazy with him too.

AN: OK, guys, I know I said that I would have had this posted sometime on the morning of 1/10/04 at the very latest, but I just started writing it this after noon, and it's taken me about 3 hours to type, and it's really cold in my house (feels like 30) and it's making my fingers stiff. I'm really sorry, but if it makes you feel better my first chapter was only seven pages, and this one was 11. I wanted to put so much more in this chapter, but it's getting late, and I still have a ton of homework I have to do.

PS I have one part fic about M&M coming up. I hope to post that tomorrow.

PSPS There are many starving artists, I'm a thirsty writer. Please review!! Thank you so much to the people who have reviewed previously, I feel so great, and I hope you liked this, by the way, the rating is changing already 'cause they're moving up in school, and that's when language, and topics become a little "coarser" any way it's going to move up even more by the end. Tell me what you think about that. Thanks so much!!

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