Only Human
Author: iacssi111
Disclaimer: I do not own any of The 4400 characters.
Note: Thank you sooo much to everyone who left me those wonderful reviews! They were greatly appreciated and made me more motivated to get this chapter done: )
I think that I may do one more chapter after this, so be on the look out. As always, feedback is appreciated, especially since this is my first fanfic!
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Chapter 2
Diana let out a sigh of relief as she flipped her phone shut. Well, that wasn't so bad, she thought to herself. She had finally gotten up the nerve to call Ben and be honest with him. He had taken it surprisingly well. She had told him that she had feelings for someone else, and that she believed that Maia may have been off on her precognition. She had explained to him that them seeing each other wasn't fair to April and how it made her feel like a horrible sister. She even suggested that Ben apologize to April and try to make things work with her once more. Ben had been more than a little surprised, but he had taken it in stride. He too felt that everything was happening too fast and that he had felt an unsettling loss of control over his life. Diana had agreed, saying that she just didn't feel right with him and that she was going to do what she felt in her heart. Before she hung up with Ben, he had muttered, "Maybe in another life…" She had just smiled and bid him good bye.
Diana placed her cell phone down on the table and looked up, noticing Maia approaching her. She had a mischievous grin on her face and was holding something behind her back. Diana smiled back at her suspiciously.
"What are you up to, Maia?"
Maia shrugged and produced one of Diana's tops, a plum-colored silk camisole, from behind her back. Diana laughed.
"What is this for?" She asked.
"It's his favorite, Mommy," Maia replied with a sly smile.
"You little sneak!" Diana exclaimed, pulling Maia into her arms. Maia giggled as she tickled her. "You knew the whole time, didn't you? Was I not getting it fast enough for you?" Maia shook her head.
"It was supposed to happen this way," Maia told her.
"Oh I see, so you just left out a few details," Diana said, laughing. "But what about your Aunt April?"
"He's not right for her Mommy. She'll be okay. She's going to meet someone soon anyway."
"Well that's good to hear. Hopefully I won't like him too much," Diana said sarcastically. "Okay, let's go get started on dinner!"
Since adopting her, Diana had discovered that Maia was incredibly fond of cooking. Cooking together was one of their favorite things to do, and they especially loved cooking for Marco. As Diana showed Maia how to marinate the steak tips, she took the opportunity to talk to her daughter about her abilities.
"Maia, you know that I appreciate anything you tell me and that I will always listen to you and that I love you no matter what, but sometimes, I don't always want to know what's going to happen to me in the future. Sometimes I like to be surprised. Of course, if it's anything more important than Mommy's love life, please tell me, but if not, you can let me figure out the rest. Deal?" She asked, holding out her hand. Maia smiled and shook her extended hand.
"Deal!" Maia exclaimed. "You better hurry and get dressed, Mommy. Marco will be here soon." Diana glanced at the clock and gasped.
"Oh, thanks sweetie!" She said, placing a kiss on the top of Maia's head. Taking of her apron, she hurried to her bedroom, Maia's choice of wardrobe in hand.
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As always, Marco arrived exactly on time. It never failed to amaze Diana how unbelievably punctual he was. What she didn't know was that Marco wasn't any more punctual than anyone else; he was just always punctual for her. When she opened the door to let him in, he had an uncertain smile on his face. Before she could say anything, Maia shouted his name and bounded up to him, grinning from ear to ear. Marco scooped her up in one swift motion and made his way into the apartment. When Marco set Maia down so that she could set the table, Diana noticed with some relief that he was carrying a bottle of merlot. She was definitely going to need it to say all the things she wanted to say to him.
"Thanks for coming Marco," She said, taking the bottle from him.
"Any time," He replied, smiling at her.
A little while later, they were sitting down to enjoy the dinner Diana and Maia had prepared. Diana was on her second glass of wine in what seemed like record time. Maia was eyeing her near empty glass.
"Can I have some wine, Mommy?" Marco laughed at Diana's shocked reaction.
"You're too young for wine, honey. At least wait until you're eighteen," She said sarcastically.
"Actually, these days, it's more like sixteen," Marco told her. Diana groaned.
"I do not need to know this," She said, laughing.
As they joked around, Diana was struck by how comfortable she felt. It just felt so right to have Marco sitting next to her, eating dinner and talking with her daughter. She couldn't help but feel stupid for what she had done. How could I have been so blind?
"Are you okay, Diana?" Marco asked. Diana blushed a little when she realized that she had been staring at him. She nodded her head.
"Yeah, I'm fine Marco. Hey, why don't we all get some ice cream and watch a movie?" She suggested, quickly changing the subject.
After taking care of the dishes and grabbing some ice cream to share, all three of them settled on Diana's couch and got ready to watch It's a Wonderful Life. Although Marco had seen it on almost a yearly basis every Christmas, he was excited for Maia to see it. Diana had explained to him that Maia had never gotten to see it, since it was released in the same year she was abducted. Marco silently thanked Maia for curling up on the couch and taking up nearly half of the room on it. It enabled him to sit closer to Diana. Her thigh against his made him want to lean over and kiss her, but he had to keep reminding himself that they weren't actually together. Her proximity and the way she had been acting all night was only further confusing him. As much as he wanted to touch her, he knew that the first move would have to be hers.
Some time during the movie, Maia had managed to drift off to sleep. Marco couldn't help but wonder if the movie reminded her of her parents and her life back then. Throughout the movie, Diana made no effort to move away from him and they chatted comfortably about work. Diana asked him if he ever had any desire to be a field agent. He had laughed quietly and looked down at her, replying: "Only if I had you as backup." She had smiled and then they were silent for a long moment, both only half listening to the movie in the background. They were at the part where George was telling Mary that he would lasso the moon for her when Diana spoke.
"I made a mistake, Marco," She told him quietly. Marco turned to look at her, but she was looking down at her knees. She looked embarrassed or ashamed. It made Marco want to take her in his arms, but he wasn't sure what to do.
"What do you mean?" He asked, his voice full of apprehension. Diana finally looked up at him and placed her hand on his knee. Marco's heart started to race.
"I don't know what I was thinking…I mean, I was following the advice of a hallucination! And of my ex-boyfriend nonetheless! I was so wrong. I didn't listen to myself. I know that that kid was supposed to show me how I truly feel, but it just didn't feel right to me." She stopped for a few seconds, as if she were contemplating something. "Sometimes I think that we give the 4400 too much credit. We never think that they can make mistakes. They are only human." Diana let out an exhausted sigh. "I'll be honest with you Marco: I saw someone a few times. Not a lot; not dating or anything like that. I thought that I might have something with this guy, but in the end, it just didn't feel right. I didn't feel a connection." Diana was quiet for a moment. Marco watched her nervously lick her lips. "I really miss you, Marco," She confessed. "I'm sorry if I have been confusing you or making things at work awkward, but I just had to tell you all of this. I understand completely if you don't feel the same way anymore. I've been a jerk." Marco swallowed nervously and took Diana's hand. Her confession about seeing another man after they had broken up had made him feel a little jealous, but he did his best to let it go. She wasn't with him; it hadn't worked out. He began tracing lazy circles on her hand with his thumb and they stared at one another.
"I'm in love with you," Marco told her bluntly. "You don't have to say anything back, I just wanted to…" He trailed off. "That's where I stand." Marco was surprised by his own confidence. It seemed to work for Diana as well, and Marco inhaled sharply when he felt her fingers in his hair. His hand was no longer and hers, and was working its way to her waist. Marco leaned towards her, and brushed her lips with his own. Her lips were warm and soft against his he continued to give her small, light kisses.
"Marco…" Diana breathed. Marco quickly pulled Diana into his arms, deepening their kiss. Marco was a bit surprised at how new all of this felt. It wasn't like the previous times they had kissed. There was more passion and a greater need between the two of them. One of Diana's hands moved from his hair to his back. His hands were on her back too, and he pressed her into him. Her tongue moved against his, hot and wet, and Marco thought he was going to lose it when she took his bottom lip in her mouth and sucked on it gently. Breaking away from the kiss, he began placing kisses right under her ear, making his way down her neck. Diana moaned quietly. Her hand made their way to his hair again, but he felt her pushing him away. "Hold on!" She whispered loudly. "Let me put Maia to bed." Marco turned around to look at Maia, who was sleeping soundly behind him. He had almost forgotten that she was there. He laughed quietly, shaking his head and Diana stood and scooped Maia up in her arms. Marco watched as she carried Maia into her bedroom. He smiled when she looked back and winked at him. She was driving him crazy, but in a very good way. He sat back on the couch, running his hands along his legs to his knees. He tried to be patient, but he was anxious for Diana to come back. She emerged about ten minutes later, pulling Maia's door shut behind her. As she approached the couch, Marco held out his hand to her, and she obliged, taking it and letting him pull her into his lap. They began kissing once again and Marco's hands were all over her. Before he knew it, Diana had slid off his lap and pulled him down on top of her. Marco didn't think that he had ever wanted anyone so much in his entire life. He broke their kiss to remove his glasses, placing them on the coffee table next to them. Diana used the opportunity to begin unbuttoning his shirt and running her hands down his chest and stomach. As she undid the final button, Marco turned his attention back to her neck. She moaned and muttered something about "bedroom." Marco didn't have to think twice before he pulled her up and led her there, making sure to lock the door behind them.
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Diana awoke the next morning to the rhythmic rise of fall of Marco's chest. She raised her head up off of it too look at him. She smiled when she saw his wild hair and how peaceful he looked in his sleep. Marco had been everything she thought he would be the night before. He was very much a giver, very attentive to her and a complete gentleman. She wouldn't have expected anything less from him. Diana stretched and scooted up towards him to lay a kiss on his cheek. He stirred slightly, but did not wake up. She took the opportunity to slip out of bed and throw on a hoodie and some sweats. When she emerged from her room she found Maia on the couch, watching the Saturday morning cartoons.
"Good morning, Maia," She greeted her.
"Morning, Mommy. Did Marco sleep over?" She asked, holding up his glasses that he had left on the table. Diana smiled.
"Yes he did, honey. Why don't we make breakfast for him before he wakes up?" Maia nodded enthusiastically and followed her mother into the kitchen.
The smell of bacon and coffee was enough to rouse Marco and he emerged from her bedroom, dressed in last night's clothes. She smiled at the thought of him doing the "walk of shame" (as it had been referred to in college) back to his car.
"Good morning, Marco," She and Maia said in unison.
"Good morning, ladies," He said, smiling. He came up behind Diana and put his hands on her hips. She put down the spatula she had been holding and turned around in his arms. Muttering a quiet "hi", she placed a gentle kiss on his lips. Marco returned the kiss and then pulled away from her, moving to the silverware drawer to gather forks and knives for them. Diana smiled and thought that this was something that she could get used to. The three of them together felt right; like it was supposed to be. She made a solemn vow to listen to herself from now on and what she felt. She was no longer going to let anything else dictate her fate.
