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Two separate groups were at two separate sides of the room, talking quietly. In the right hand corner there were the Sunnydaleians, or the 'Scoobies' as Xander loved to call them. In the left hand corner were the Roswellians, or as Maria often remarked, The Pod Squad.

"How can we be sure they're legit?" Michael hissed, trying to keep his voice down. "Vampires? Slayers? Witches? They're just a bunch of crazies looking to rope us in. I say we leave here and leave now."

Max stared thoughtfully at the opposite group. It was strange, he couldn't deny that, but if he could be an alien, he supposed there could be such things as vampires and werewolves… "Michael, I know it's a little...unorthodox. But Valenti seems to know that librarian well, and he's agreed with them. I believe him, I think this is okay."

"What a crock of shit Maxwell, but then again I should have known you'd side with anyone but me, as always." Frustrated, Michael sighed and ran his hand through his hair. With hope in his eyes, he glanced over at Isabel. "What about you?"

Isabel squeezed Alex's hand harder as she cleared her throat. "I don't know. No offence Kyle but your dad could still be working against us. It's too early to trust his judgement. I know he helped us with Pierce...but I don't know, this could call be a trap."

"If it were a trap, it's pretty elaborate. Maria knew Willow before Valenti knew about us being…"

- - - - - - -

"An alien? Oh come on Willow, you can't be serious? You can't seriously trust these loonies can you?" Xander snorted with laughter. "Actually maybe you're right, yeah, I mean look at the spiky-haired boy there - he's doing well to hide his space antennae. And that big eared guy…damn…definitely a Vulcan, I should have known! I wonder…do they come in peace…"

"Oh shut your bleedin' mouth you ponce, of course you wouldn' understand why we believe 'em. You're just a happy meal with legs, waitin' to be bitten into. We vamps can smell humans and those four aint any bloody normal humans I've ever smelt." Spike said, cutting off Xander's rant before he could do ET impressions or probe jokes.

"Thank you, Spike." Willow said, smiling a little at him. She understood how trying Xander could be sometimes, but his comedy was part of his charm…like…Chandler from Friends or something. "I trust Maria, and I trust what I have noticed about her and her life while we talked, sometimes she lies as badly as we seem to when we have our hellmouthy stuff happen. I trust Spike and Angels instincts. What about you Faith?"

Faith looked surprised to be included, but then just shrugged. "I dunno, G seems quite tight with the other guy, if G trusts them then I guess I'll hold back any judgement."

"Well they could always just prove they're aliens right?" Oz asked quietly. It seemed to make the most sense.

Willow beamed at her boyfriend; he always knew just how to solve things. Glancing at Angel she felt that familiar guilty pang, how could she have been drooling over him when she has someone like Oz in her life? Or when her best friend was god knows where. She was a bad friend, a bad, bad, bad friend. "Yeah that sounds like a better plan."

Cordelia rolled her eyes, she was bored. So there were aliens too? Big dealio, she was missing a damn manicure for this. "Can I say something please?"

"Can we stop you?" Xander quipped, causing him to have a slap upside the head from both Faith and Cordelia. "Ouch! Unfair. Slayer strength." Angel and Spike smirked at that, while Willow just rolled her eyes.

- - -- - - - -

"…oh yeah and he saved Max's life because really he just wanted to deliver him to death personally!" Kyle seethed; luckily Tess was there…she was such a calming influence on him. Which was strange considering she was one of them, an alien invader, he would have thought he'd be more afraid. Then again it could just be due to the fact she was a super hot alien invader. Yeah…that was probably it.

"Hey, back off, Kyle. Isabel was just voicing her fears." Alex said calmly. "I say trust them for now, or make them prove they are what they say they are. That would help the situation right?"

"Alex, well done, that's the smartest thing anyone has said all day." Maria smiled. Meeting Willow for the first time would not be ruined because of this, she wouldn't allow it to. She jabbed Michael little as he stood there scowling. "Michael? Do you agree?"

Glancing at Maria's narrowed eyes and feeling her insisting pokes, he knew he wouldn't be able to say no, she had that look on her face. A look that promised he wouldn't be getting any if he didn't agree. "Fine, yeah, whatever. Make them prove it." Damn. I've still got that bet goin' on, and I've just lost a lot of man-points for agreeing with her so easily. Think Mud. Mud. Maria and Mud. Maria rolling around in mud all dirty in her bikini…oh dammit.

"Tess what about you? What do you say?"

"Rude much!" Cordielia huffed. "Anyway what Iwas going to say is that I don't see what the big deal is, or how this has anything to do with me. So what if there's aliens? We deal with enough weirdness right?"

"Yeah you're bloody well right, so let's get on with it shall we luv?" Spike smirked, while his eyes bored into Faith, intently watching her stroke the sawdust off a newly sharpened stake.

"Look while we're standin' here yappin', we're wastin' time looking for B? It's not all five by five if we don't find her right? These guys will probably help. They scratch our back and maybe we can scratch theirs." Faith smiled to herself, she could feel Spikes eyes on her, as if they burnt her with every look. But wow, look at the spiky-haired boy, alien or not, he was mighty fine too. What is with all this eye-candy suddenly? I've definitely got an itch, and I wouldn't mind either of them boys scratching it.

Angel stood up, "You're right Faith. Willow you talk to them." He said shortly and walked around the stacks for as bit, he wished he didn't just have to sit there. He wanted to take some action and he wanted to take it now. With who though? His demon slyly whispered. Come on admit it to yourself, you want her, you want to touch her fire, you want to drown yourself in her innocence…in her purity. You want to have the redhead and that's why you haven't touched Buffy since you've been back from hell. It's why everytime that dog-boy touches her, you feel the strong urge to hit something…Angel growled quietly, wishing the demon would shut up. No. I am never going to destroy something that pure. Not if I can help it.

- - - - - - - - -

"Umm...well if Valenti knows them, then maybe we should just trust them for now. It doesn't matter anyway because we've already told them what and who we are." Tess fidgeted under the stare of everyone else and unconsciously moved closer to Kyle. He seemed nice; he was calming and also the outsider to the hostile group.

Liz opened her mouth ready to argue when Willow walked cautiously up to them. Maria met her in the middle and after a short whispered discussion that was watched by both groups; complete with hand gestures…they finally called them to convene together.

"Okay," Willow began, "it seems both groups distrust each other. We can't work together to find our friend if there's no trust. So we're going to have a little 'show' to our 'tell', hopefully this will make things easier for us."

Maria continued. "Nothing leaves this room, no telling your friends, no bragging, no offensive bloodsucking jokes, Kyle. Understood?" Kyle nodded, with a small frown; he did have this great vampire joke to tell.

"Okay cool. I'll go first -" Willow enthused. She just wanted everyone to get along. No better than to lead by example I guess. Shrugging, she focused her mind and energy on the pencil lying on the table close to them. With a small push she lifted it up 5 inches and spun it in the air. Then she slowly brought it towards her, letting it drop in her hand. "Was that okay?"

Dumbly, the pod squad nodded. "What about the supposed vampires of the group?" Michael asked, glaring specifically at Angel. Ugh, Angel? I mean seriously what kind of name is that for a dude? And I do not like the way the Billy-Idol wannabe looks at My Maria.

"Okay." Angel replied, and then let his face shift. Willow shivered. That face brought back many memories, some of them not as unpleasant as she thought. For instance, when he grabbed her in the school. Mmm…She smiled. Pressed up against his tight muscles, feeling his erm... happiness at me being there too… Willow blushed as she realised she had been completely spacing. Bad bad bad Willow. Focus.

"Okay." Michael nodded, he would accept things if they were proved to him. "And you Blondie?" He nodded at Spike, while Xander snickered. Who knows, he might actually like this Michael guy.

"All you gotta do is ask." Spike winked at Maria and then let his true face shine through. "Happy?" Spike smirked as he watched Michael stand slightly in front of Maria, and nodded at Spike. Spike knew what the gesture meant; Michael was marking the small hot blonde as his, subtle moves which were universal between all species of males. He didn't mind, as much as the blonde looked quite tasty, he definitely preferred Brunettes. Feisty brunettes.

Faith smiled menacingly at Maria, she saw the looks Spike was giving the short blonde and did not appreciate it. "So now you show us yours."

Max stepped forward, melted the table into a pile of metal and then restored it. He stepped back beside Liz without a word, but trying very hard to suppress a grin at Xander's gobsmacked expression.

Tess stepped forward. "Um…okay don't freak but I'm going to make you see something that's not there...okay…" She frowned and then concentrated. All of a sudden Xander, Willow, Cordelia, Oz and Faith could see hundreds and hundreds of balloons filling the room, all different colours, shape and sizes. After a few seconds, the image was gone and Tess opened her eyes.

"Wow that's pretty neat." Willow smiled.

"What? I didn't bloody see anything!" Spike complained.

"Yeah me neither." Angel admitted quietly.

"That's...interesting…it must be because of your…err…non-human status. You both died. I guess that with Oz…who also isn't human but is more human than you two and also is living, that it would have affected him." Giles spoke up, after quietly watching with Jim.

"Huh so I guess the mind trick won't work on vamps. But it will be real handy with civilians right?" Xander asked.

"Yes I expect so." Giles said.

"What about you, Michael?" Spike grinned nastily. "Don't you wanna show us your powers too?"

Michael grimaced and once again saw Pierce hitting the wall, feeling the rage and fire of his power burn through him, wanting him dead. Then his body, so cold, so lifeless just lying on the floor. His hand was being squeezed. Slightly dazed, he looked down and saw Maria worriedly watching him. With a slight smile, he nodded at her, letting her know silently that he was alright. "I don't think that's a good idea." He said quietly to the room.

"Really? Why not?" Spike pressed on. He wasn't going to let this twat be so hostile to them, when he can't even prove that he's an alien.

"Because I blow stuff up! I don't think Mr…Giles here wants the library trashed!" Michael yelled and stalked off through the doors.

"Wow, is he always so…" Cordelia huffed.

Maria grinned. "All of the time." Then followed him out of the doors.

- - - - - - - -

Michael was pacing the hallway; he couldn't believe he'd just lost his cool like that. He knew the vampire was trying to bait him and he had just risen up and fucking took it. Taking a deep breath, he leaned against one of the school lockers, when he heard footsteps behind him. "Look Max, beat it, I don't want to hear a lecture about keeping the peace."

"It's not Max." Maria said quietly, putting her hand on his arm. "Are you okay?"

Michael spun around. She came to see if I was alright, he realised. As he looked at the beauty before him, he felt his anger evaporate. "You shouldn't worry about me Maria." He mumbled.

"Don't tell me what I should and shouldn't do, Spaceboy. I will worry about you if I damn well please." She grinned, and hugged him.

Michael closed eyes, feeling the pinpricks of tears starting to build. Sighing, he breathed in her scent, it was something he could never place, something so uniquely Maria, something that felt like home. "Why do you?"

"Why do I what?" She stroked his back, trying hard to comfort the pain she felt radiating off him.

Michael felt his walls come crashing down at her touch. "Why do you worry? Why do you even bother with me Maria? I'm a killer. I'm just as bad as Pierce and I could hurt you too."

With a sharp gasp, she roughly pulled herself out of his embrace and grabbed his face with her two small hands. Making his eyes meet hers. While his whiskey-brown were filled with self-loathing and despair, her emerald green were filled with stubborn protective fire. "Don't ever say that Michael. Don't ever think it. You are a good person; you saved Valenti from that creep. I love you Michael and will not let you hurt yourself over this. Okay?"

Michael dumbly nodded unable to express his shock. She just said she loved me… She just said, to my face, that she loves me…Maria…Maria loves me…Maria Deluca, the beautiful vibrator, just said she loves ME…

Her eyes widened as she suddenly realised what she let slip. Clapping a hand over her mouth, she groaned and silently berated herself, oh my god, you're so stupid, so…so stupid. You just told him you love him idiot. You're scaring him away! Shit, wait…what if he didn't notice… With a hopeful glance, she looked at her unnaturally still, non-boyfriend. His eyes were wide and were staring right at her. Shit. He did notice. And he's not saying anything. Quick, quick cover up Maria! Think of something!

"I…I…I mean…"

Michael swooped in and crushed his lips against hers in desperation. He didn't want her to take it back. He didn't want to hear any excuses for what she had just said. Holding her face in his two hands, he desperately tried to convey every emotion he felt in the kiss. Maria gasped as she suddenly saw through his eyes.

Flash

Maria in the alien costume, standing by her car. Shining like an untouchable beacon. Full of fear as she looked at him and saw a disgusting alien.

Flash

Maria coming up to him, talking about some History report. All he could stare at was her lips, inviting and soft, moving as she spoke.

Flash

Maria in the car, covering for him, his gratitude, his surprise, his annoyance at her being the only one who understood, yet utterly untouchable. He couldn't get attached.

Flash

Kissing Maria in the Heat wave. His first kiss. His desire and wonder at feeling her body against his. His possessive nature coming through, suckling on her neck, claiming her as his.

Flash

Maria giving him comfort after Hanks last beating. Love. Adoration. Loyalty. Security. Reverence as she wiped away his tears without comment.

Maria moaned into his mouth as his tongue did unspeakable things to hers. She ran her hands through his hair and felt herself collapsing as she felt everything he had ever felt when he was around her. "Oh my god Michael…"

"Mmm Maria…Maria I…I…oh Shit!" Michael dove and tried to catch her before she hit her head on the floor. "Shit Maria, speak to me? Are you okay?" Frantic, he tried fanning her face as she laid on his lap half-conscious. "Maria!"

Blinking. Maria opened her eyes to see a very worried Michael above her. "Michael?" She questioned. Then frowning, "what happened?"

"Well I was hoping you would tell me. One minute we're kissing, the next minute you're collapsing onto the freakin' floor. Now I know I'm good, but I don't think I've made a girl faint before…" Michael smirked as relief flooded him. Maria hit him lightly, then struggled to get up.

"I saw…I saw…" Blushing, she couldn't say what exactly she had seen. "Thank you Spaceboy."

Michael froze. She saw what? What did she see? Did she get flashes? Shit. What if she saw Hank? No...she wouldn't be blushing like that if she saw those things. What could she see that would make her blush? Michael was puzzled when it suddenly hit him. Shit. Oh shit. I wanted her to know what I felt for her, without saying it, and now I've fucking did it. I bet she knows everything now. Shit. What if I scared her? Quickly, he looked up at Maria. His breath caught. She was standing there, her hair slightly mussed, her lips swollen – looking so hot that it should be illegal, and her eyes burning with love. Love for him.

"What…exactly…did you see?" He asked deliberately. He had to be sure. His heart was pounding so loud he was sure the vampires in the next room could hear it.

"I…um…I…" Maria stuttered. Taking a deep breath she looked him squarely in the face, "I saw me. I felt what you felt when you're with me. I saw how you see me…and I have never seen myself like that. I looked…beautiful. Thank you Michael" She said softly, tears pooling in her eyes.

Trembling slightly at the raw emotions he felt, he pulled her in for a hug and kissed her forehead. Maria smiled as she heard his heart beating twice as fast, knowing hers was doing the same.

"No problem. We better get inside though; I bet they're still yammering on about the situation rather doing anything about it." Michael said and walked towards the doors, her hand clutched in his.

tbc...