Thanks to Pier and kBeth82 for the reviews. They inspired me too going. I decided I should probably outline the story more in full so it has a better direction and this is where the next chapter ended. I have the story outlined to take 10 chapters more and be done, but I tend to write too much even after my outlines so it maybe a bit longer. Anyway, hope you like this chapter and my weird back and forth in time as well as the return of Maria and Alex.

Past Fears

Maria's POV.

Alex and Isabel walk into the Crashdown and find a table. Maria approaches them.

"What can I get you?"

"A coke and a cherry coke," Alex answers.

"And some sugar packets, please," Isabel adds.

"Coming right up."

They seem friendly. The little traitor just can't resist.

She serves the cokes and brings them to the table. "Here you go"

"Is Michael in the back?" Alex asks.

She nods and Alex nods to Isabel. Isabel stands.

"Give me a little while, okay?"

"Okay," Alex answers. Maria looks at him suspiciously and then watches Isabel go to the back. She starts to speak but Alex interrupts. "Don't."

"Don't what? You have no idea what I was going to say." He stares at her for a second. "Fine. Why would you nod at her to go see Michael? What did she tell you? What's their game plan?"

"Maria, maybe they were telling the truth before and they don't have a plan and are just trying to figure things out. Maybe we should help them."

"Is that so? And why did she call you in the first place?"

"No," Michael states, leaving no room for discussion.

"Please."

"I said no."

"But why not?"

"Because..."

"Michael, it's perfectly safe. We bring him to the pod chamber and have him see Adam with his own eyes. I know once he sees him he'll understand."

"Right."

"So?"

"So, it's weird. Adam is not some freak we show to the world. He's a baby."

"People see babies all the time."

"Not in a pod they don't."

"Fine, but why not? It's just Alex. He would never harm Adam. He would never harm anyone."

"I know."

"Then?"

"I don't know, Iz."

"It was your idea to listen to Tess and ask for his help in the first place. I just spent half the morning trying to convince him to help us and talking about everything. I really think he wants to help but he doesn't want to get hurt again."

"How would decoding a book hurt him?"

"You know what I mean."

"Whatever."

"You realize she only said she'll be completely honest and show you everything to get your help."

"You said that already."

"And Michael won't agree."

"Noted."

"And you still think you should help them."

"Maria, I know Michael hurt you but Isabel has always done her best to be reasonable. That's one of the things we like about each other. We use logic. And my logic right now tells me that they're focused on the baby and that's it."

"You really believe that?"

"If they wanted to be together they would be by now. It's been almost a month."

"Fine! Then I'm coming with you."

"Maria, I-"

"Don't try to stop me. If you are going, I'll go with you and meet the baby and we'll decide if and how we can help."

"They want help decoding the book. Your inner mama bear doesn't need to come out to protect me. There's no danger."

"There's always danger when it comes to Czechs. Maybe not danger of bodily harm or FBI hunts but of the heart. Alex I know you put up a strong and reasonable front but you can't hide from me. She hurt you badly. So you're not going alone. I'm coming too."

"You know what? If Iz gets Michael agree to bring us then you can come."

Michael's POV

"Michael, I know Alex and I'm sure that it will help if he sees Adam. If he realizes that this is really about our little boys' innocent life, he would help unconditionally. He will understand why it means so much to us"

"That's it?"

"What else could there be?"

"You tell me."

"Do you trust me -"

"Of course I -"

"With Adam, Michael. Do you trust me with Adam? Do you trust that I would never do anything that would endanger him?"

"Yes."

"Then do this with me. Trust that this is the right idea."

Michael didn't like this. He didn't want to share his alien side anymore, Max and Isabel he had to let in, but that needed to be the end of it. He couldn't have a repeat of Maria, quirky great Maria. He wouldn't hurt anyone else like that. Yet the look Izzy was giving him disarmed him. I should follow her lead. If I don't she'll think I didn't mean what I said.

*Flashback*

Michael left Max in Isabel's room and hurried to find her. He heard the jeep turn on right as he stepped outside.

"Wait!"

Isabel stopped not too far from the house and waited for him to run and get in. Her eyes were shiny with unshed tears. She drove and he rode in the passenger seat in silence, deciding what to do. They didn't go that far when she stopped the car. They were by the park and she stepped out of the jeep, took a deep breath and walked away. He followed in silence and they sat on a bench. She looked up to the sky and he looked at her.

"Alex and I watched the stars together once. He said that I made him think that each star was full of possibilities. That watching the stars with me was wondrous." He stayed silent, waiting for her to let out whatever she needed to say. "No one has ever said something like that about me. Boys in school told me I was beautiful and it was obvious what they wanted. Girls told me I had it all and could be school queen. But Alex was the first person to make me feel special. Was it like that with Maria?"

"I guess. Yeah, it was something like that."

A tear fell down her cheek and Michael felt like a weight had fallen on his shoulders. He had seen her crying in a crisis before and dealt with that, but he had no idea what to do when she cried in this silent, trying to be strong yet almost resigned manner. He cradled her face with his hands and cleaned her few tears. "Izzy, I –"

"Please don't worry." He looked at her with even more concern. "You already said it will be okay, that we'll make it okay."

"I meant it."

She took a deep breath. "I know and I believe you. It's just… why is Max so intent on making us the enemy? We didn't ask for this any more than he did. Even Tess. She may have brought chaos into our lives but she didn't make it up. It was bound to happen. And it's hard enough leaving Alex and Maria behind. Why does Max have to make it even harder?"

"I don't know. But he'll back off and apologize."

"Or what? You'll make him?"

"Yeah."

Isabel smiled weakly at him and then put her head on his shoulder. He pulled her closer and held her with her head against his chest.

"What did you say to him?"

"The truth. That he's been so wrapped up in Liz that he stopped caring about us."

"Michael –"

"He did and now he knows it. Me, I don't care what Max does."

"Yes, you do."

"Maybe, but you're his sister. He should be taking care of you."

"No. I don't want that. I don't want Max or you to take care of me and try to run my life. I want to take care of myself and make decisions." Michael looked down to her confused.

"I love you," she said, looking up at him square in the eyes. He swallowed. There was something strange about hearing her say something like that in such close proximity after everything that had happened. Things seemed different and he couldn't figure out how. Had her eyes always been so… intense?

"And I love Max, but… since he told Liz, I feel like I'm just trying to keep up instead of living my own life. I'm constantly afraid of what will happen next and wondering how to make sure we're safe. You and Max are so... I don't know. He thinks it's okay to tell Liz so he does. He says we make our own destiny so he fights what our mother says with a passion. And you. You want to kiss Maria or go in a crazy search to Texas or contact Nasedo and you just do it. You both always do what you want no matter what I say."

He put a bit of distance between them. "Izzy, I'm sorry if–"

"I wasn't finished."

"Okay, finish."

"I want to be able to make decisions for us. It's silly. I'm bossy in every other aspect of my life, but when it matters I'm not forceful enough with either of you. But now, I'm supposed to become Adam's mom and do what I think is best for him. And I want to feel like I can say that something must be done and have you and Max listen to me and help me. Especially if it is about Adam."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah okay. You're right. About Max and about me. And you have been there for me, to contact Nasedo, to find Adam, to try to free him."

"So, you will listen to me and help me?"

"Yeah."

"Even if you don't like what I think?"

"Look, I might not always go with what you say, but I'll listen and do my best to help you."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Relax. I'm agreeing with you."

She smiled big and it was dazzling. Michael took a deep breath and nodded at his friend, assuring her that he really did agree with her.

"We will free Adam," she declared, filled with a conviction that he had never seen in her before. He believed her. She would do this and he would help her and they would find a way to free their son. They stayed in the park for a while longer simply sitting side by side. She began to tell him about the stars and he shared one of his rare smiles because he knew all about Draco and Hydrus and everything she was talking about. He had taken the time to learn all about it too, thinking one of those could be home. Yet listening to her was… comforting… and enjoyable and... easy.

After they left the park they talked to Max. It was a tense conversation, but he agreed to give both Isabel and Michael more of a say in their decisions and to try to stop moping and help them.

*End Flashback*

"Fine. We'll bring him."

Isabel smiles at him, "Thank you."

Michael answers with a grunt.

"I know you're not sure about this. But I think this is a good thing and we'll get the help we need."

"I already said I'll do it."

"I know."

"I don't have to like it."

"Okay. When are you done with work?"

"In an hour."

"We'll meet you out front when you're done," Isabel says with a smile as she leaves the kitchen.

"So?" Alex asks.

Isabel nods, "He'll meet us once his shift is done in an hour."

"He actually agreed to bring us?" Maria asks surprised.

Isabel looks at her confused, "What do you mean us? He agreed to bring Alex."

"He's not going without me," Maria asserts.

Isabel looks annoyed and is about to speak when Alex interrupts, "Please?"

"Alex, it was hard enough to get him to agree to bring one person. Plus, we never agreed to this."

"What's the harm?" Alex asks.

"Yes, I'm not going to hurt anyone, unlike some people."

"Maria," Alex admonishes.

"What do you want me say?" Isabel says with anger, looking at Maria. "You want me to say I'm sorry? Fine, I'm sorry Michael broke up with you and hurt you. And I'm sorry our "Czechoslovakian" lives have caused you pain. Is that what you want to hear?"

"I-"

"Look, I'm tired of you looking at me like I'm the enemy. I'm not. I think you are a good person and you've helped us. So, Maria, thank you. I never expected Liz or you or Alex to do half of the things you have done for us. You have gone above and beyond and risked so much. I don't want to cause you any harm. But don't expect me to apologize for finding Adam or helping Michael after Pierce. They are my family and I will be there for them, I have to be, especially for my son."

"Okay," Maria says. Isabel looks at her confused. "Look, Alex said some things and maybe he's right. Maybe I jumped to conclusions and painted you and Tess as the enemy when you are just trying to figure out what to do and how to keep everyone safe. And well I guess... I also think you're a good person, Czech… whatever. Queen Amidala but in a good way."

"Queen what?"

"You don't know Queen Amidala?" Isabel gives her a confused look. "Oh good god have you been living under a rock? "

Michael exits the crashdown and walks towards the jeep. He hops into the back and is ready to go.

"So?" he asks.

"Well, there's been a change in plans," Isabel says.

"What change? Alex is here, so let's go."

Alex moves to the backseat and sits next to Michael, who looks at the other boy puzzled. Before he raises any questions Maria runs out of the diner and quickly gets in the passenger seat.

"What are you doing here?"

"Hello to you too, Spaceboy."

Isabel starts driving. "What are you doing?" Michael asks angrily.

"See, Alex agreed to have Maria come and I-"

"Iz!" he interrupts angrily.

"Relax. Queen Ami and I have come to an understanding," Maria explains.

"Isabel?"

"I… what's the harm?" Isabel adds.

"You didn't need to trick me," he says sulking.

"I didn't, Michael. I didn't know," she says with deep regret in her voice.

"Don't make her feel guilty. There was no way I was letting Alex go by himself. And you know how persuasive I can be, so Izzy here really had no choice. She had to take us to meet baby Skywalker if she wanted our help."

"We're not Star Wars characters, Maria."

"Come on, it's kind of fun. You would be a great Chewie." Michael looks at her with annoyance. "I'm having Queen Amidala over for a marathon tomorrow. She can't have dated our Alex and not watched one of his favorite trilogies and then the newer movies." Michael answers with a grunt. "And you're invited."

"I'm busy."

"Fine. Act like a neanderthal and avoid the activities of the average teen. But remember you need our help," Maria says.

"Alex's help."

"We're a team, packaged deal, Spaceboy."

Isabel smiles. Maria is spunky and funny even in the face of Michael's moodiness. It's quite the sight to see his confusion at her non-reaction. No wonder he liked her.

Once they get into the pod chamber, Alex and Maria stare in awe.

"This is where you… where you were born?" Alex asks.

"Yeah," Isabel whispers.

"Wow," Maria exhales. "It… so..."

"Alien," Michael chips in brusquely.

"Always the one with words," Maria teases.

"This way," Isabel instructs, bringing them towards her pod. Michael comes next to her and they join their hands to open the passage to what they have begun calling Adam's chamber. Michael crawls in first. Isabel gets Alex and Maria to go next. As Isabel crawls into the chamber she feels the cave start to shake. Then rocks are flying at them and it's as if they are being attacked by the walls.

"What's happening?" Maria asks with fear.

"He's scared!" Michael answers, his hand on Adam's pod. "He's moving like crazy!"

"Adam, stop. It's us," Isabel says. Her voice carries a no nonsense tone that is somehow also filled with kindness. Suddenly, they see a little hand push against the membrane of the pod.

"Oh my God!" Maria says.

There is a symbol glowing on the tiny palm. "It's the upside down Y," Isabel says. There is no time for Michael or anyone else to comment. All four of them are suddenly immersed in intermittent flashes of strange scenery accompanied by voices that seem foreign and yet are clearly understood in their brains.

First, they hear Isabel and she speaks in a tone that is filled with certainty. "I belong to no one. I am a princess."

Then she's speaking again but with a softer tone, "Zan has agreed that the baby will be the next king."

"No, he won't," a male voice says with disdain. They can't see the owner of the voice but they feel incredibly scared. Somehow they know that it is the baby's fear and then they feel pain. It's like a thousand needles are going through them and sucking the life out of them. They realize that they are seeing and feeling through Adam. "If you don't belong to me then you belong to no one," they hear.

Then they see someone who looks like Max but his eyes are completely white as if they were clouds. He's glowing and silvery and has a symbol on his forehead, an etching of purple light. He's staring right at them, making them feel safe and comforted. Yet it is not enough to stop the pain. "Please, beloved sister. Don't leave us." Suddenly, Max's eyes lose their dreamlike quality and turn completely brown, no pupil, just endless beautiful brown. The silver glow of his body faints and his face shows a mix of shock and pain. They can see a sword running right through him. "And so ends the line of the Valyr kings," that awful voice whispers.

"No!" someone screams and they see a smaller figure with a sweet blue glow run towards them. The figure with the dark voice retreats and then the blue glowing form that resembles Tess arrives. "Hold on my love. Hold on. Zan! My king!"

They hear Isabel's voice. "Ava?"

"Sister, you live. Do not fret. Rath is coming. You and Zan will be alright."

Then they see someone who looks like Michael. He is different and yet the same. He has a halo of red surrounding him and is dressed in a blue uniform. He is crying as he looks down at them. "Please, don't go where I can't follow. I need you. I need you both. Please, stay with me." He looks at them again and screams, "No!"

Isabel runs to the pod and her and Michael's hand jointly meet the baby's palm through the membrane. Their palms glow red and gold and Maria and Alex feel relieved. Maria is openly crying, completely overwhelmed. Alex looks shocked and sad and feels like he needs to come up with ideas about what just happened. His mind begins to make up theories at what feels like lightning speed.

Michael tries to breathe and get a hold of himself by feeling the tiny life beneath his and Isabel's hands. He still feels the loss of those he loved along with Adam's physical pain. The pain of dying and an insurmountable fear of anyone who wasn't his family is echoing inside him and Michael's heart is still beating erratically. Only the warmth of Isabel's hand and the flutter of the life inside the pod provides comfort. His eyes are wet with unshed tears. Suddenly, he feels Isabel switch the hand she had on the pod and use the one closer to him to bring him into a hug.

"I'm sorry. This was a mistake. He was so scared. And you… I'm so sorry," she says holding onto Michael. She is also taking deep breaths and looking upset and in pain.

"This might have been a good thing," Alex says. Michael, Isabel and even Maria look at him like they want to hit him. "Hear me out!"

"This better be good Yoda. Poor little thing was terrified. I'm so sorry," Maria says, looking at Michael and Isabel. "I will help you… him. I swear."

"Me too," Alex says. "We'll decode the book and get him out of there."

"Thank you," Isabel whispers, like it means the world to her.

"Yeah," Michael adds, his voice choked up with emotion. Maria looks at him and feels her heart flutter. She always knew her Spaceboy was a softie. She knew that deep down, hiding behind the biting words and rude demeanor was a wonderful soul who could love fiercely but wouldn't let himself. Now, seeing him raw and tender and protective was… beautiful.

"You're in love," Maria says.

"What?" Michael and Isabel utter in confusion.

"With Adam. You're in love with your son," she answers, looking at Michael with sweetness.

They stay quiet for a few seconds. Michael looks at her and knows that Maria has once again seen right through him and as usual she is right. But he doesn't want to talk about this now, not with everyone here.

"You were saying?" Michael asks, looking at Alex with contempt and completely changing the subject. Anger, this he can do easily.

"Right. I… I didn't mean that it was good that the baby was afraid or that we saw how he… how he died."

"So, what did you mean?" Isabel asks.

"Well… we now know he can feel and remember, which is good. He's smart. And he can defend himself and is strong. He had the entire cave shaking and attacking us."

"You're right," Michael says, surprising everyone.

Isabel looks at him, "Michael, this was horrible and -"

"Iz," he says, looking at her eyes. They are still half hugging and very close. "This shows us he's as safe as he can be as long as he's here. No one can come in without us and even if they did, Adam can at least put up a fight until help comes."

"And get into their heads," Isabel whispers. "When he… when he showed us his fears he… he paralyzed us."

"Yeah. He did."

"It was like dream-walking."

"What?"

"When I dream walk people, it feels a bit like what being in his memories did. Except I'm in control. This… it was like he was making us dream-walk him."

"So, maybe this is a power he got from you. You just don't remember," Alex says.

"Maybe," she answers.

"And the cave and rocks attacking… Michael can do things like that, right?" Maria asks.

"Yeah, mostly explosions and fire" Isabel says.

"From me?" Michael asks.

"From you," Isabel says in a comforting tone. "Give yourself credit."

"So see, we learned a lot about him," Alex says.

"And about them," Maria whispers. "They can soothe him." Isabel and Michael look at her. "You can. He stopped and is calm now because of you."

"So you can control him," Alex adds.

"What?" Michael cuts in.

"Not in a bad way. More like… when Isabel told him to stop, he did. If he's afraid and acts out you could probably stop him, in case there's really no danger."

"Yeah," Isabel says.

"Right, yeah," Michael adds.

So, I realized I love Maria and her quirks and will probably include her more often and have her be as spunky as possible. Thought I'm still a Cliffie fan forever. I do not plan on making Maria or Liz the bad guys. Also, the fun star wars references were just my weird way to release the shock that not one but two of my friends have not watched any of the movies. Honestly, hahaha.