Chapter 3

"Where were you today?" I shouted as I busted through Michael's apartment door finding him and Max at the breakfast table. Michael looked positively alarmed as if he were a deer in headlights and I was the car about run him over!

"Where was I supposed to be?" he asked with his mouth half full of tabasco ladened chicken.

"We were supposed to have lunch at school today!" I replied frantically.

"Today's Saturday!"

"No today's Friday. Hello! Where are you?"

"I'm here where the fuck is Saturday?" Michael stated as he wiped his fingers on his napkin.

I looked at Max and Michael, "What are you guys saving the world from alien invasion?" I asked bitterly knowing the answer.

"Would that keep you from kicking my ass?" Michael asked shortly. I instantly gave him a glare of death to that retort of his.

"I gotta' get going," Max said uncomfortably. I could tell he was cowering away from yet another Michael and Maria match. Honestly I loved Max but I felt like with him living on Michael's couch these days it was getting in the way of our own couple time. Michael would drop plans at the hat if Max told him to whether it was an Alien mission or something else altogether. The loyalty that Michael had for Max was admirable but I just wished that I could've been a bit higher up on his priority list. I guess that's what came with dating an Extra Terrestrial. Alien missions first, girlfriend problems- last!

I sighed feeling bad that I had scared Max away and to add even more insult Michael just went on eating his chicken as if it was no big deal that he forgot to have lunch with me. I began to drum my fingers on the table staring him down hoping to get his attention.

"Don't do that!" he warned.

" What am I doing? What am I doing besides wondering where my boyfriend went?" I said, tears stinging my eyes.

"I said I'm right here Maria," he replied softer this time as he took note of the panic in my face.

I sighed loudly as I cupped my face in my hands and finally straightened up a bit more as I combed my hands through my hair. Truthfully I wasn't upset if he had forgotten or something. Well that's not entirely true, it did upset me if he forgot me, but I honestly had gotten very worried. Ever since Alex passed away I was always on edge about the possibility of losing other people I loved. Already my mom was gone half the time, and I couldn't bear the thought of something happening to Michael. I don't think he knew how alone I was feeling these days. It was my fault I couldn't just assume he knew what was going on with me if I didn't explain anything to him about it. There was a lot he could tell about me without exchanging words, but we couldn't always rely on our 'vibrations'. I made a mental note that we had to literally communicate more often.

"I'm sorry I came barging in, but I called and when you didn't answer and I just…I don't know I thought the worse had happened."

I didn't look at him when I said that. I didn't want this to get too dramatic than I had already made it. Even though I knew Michael thought of me as more than the 'dramatic one' in the group unlike the rest did, I didn't want him to perceive me as anything but his number one partner in crime, reliable, available, and quick on their feet no matter the severity of the mission. Being too dramatic didn't live up to Michael's expectations when it came to sleuthing so I had to keep that in check.

Michael began to wipe the chicken juice off his fingers. "Come here," he said as one arm pulled around me on to his lap.

He kissed the back of my neck. "Nothing is going to happen to me Maria. We've been through this a hundred times."

I nodded, "I know, I know" I stated the second time assertively. "It's just I panicked Michael. I called-"

"I forgot to pay the phone bill Maria. That's all."

I turned around a bit in his arms to face him. "That's all? Michael you have been forgetting to pay the phone bill a lot now a days. Are you ok? Financially speaking."

"Financially Speaking, it hasn't been ok but it's coming along. My first paycheck from Meta-Chem is going to be in my bank account by 4pm today. So that and with the Crashdown money I'll make due this month.

I sighed as I combed my fingers through his hair. It was one of my favorite things to do. Michael's hair had it's own persona altogether. "Ever since you turned 18 it's been hard, huh?" I stated. Michael nodded as he rubbed my back trying to comfort me still. I was touched by his gesture, consistently trying to make me feel at ease even though I knew how much harder he had it in life.

Since Michael had been emancipated he was getting a consistent check from the government. It helped him with rent and food but now that he was 18, the checks stopped and the financial strain he was already living became worse.

"Michael we've been over this many times, why don't you join my cell phone plan with my mom and I. It's just 5 more dollars a month I'll even pay for it," I suggested encouragingly.

Michael shook his head. That bull-headed stubbornness will be the death of me!

"No I don't want to ask favors from you or anyone."

"like you never 'borrowed' my Jetta as a favor?" I scoffed making air quotes.

"Why you little-" He said as he grabbed me from off the chair throwing me over his shoulder. All of a sudden I felt his free hand go under the back of my shirt tickling me all the way up to my spine and the little crevices above my hips- those were my weak spots! We play fought a lot and this time I was losing bad!

"Ew get your fried chicken fingers off me you Metallica-worshipping E.T!" I said trying to grasp for breath as I felt him about to throw me on the couch.

"Is that really the best you can do?" he said in that husky voice that made all the atoms in me jump at once.

I felt his lips brush against mine as he pinned his body on mine. HIs weight came on to me all at once but I didn't mind. I loved feeling it on me. It felt secure and safe, like he'd always be there to protect me. All of a sudden I returned to reality. Me feeling safe reminded me that just seconds ago I thought Michael was not in fact safe when he didn't pick up the phone.

"Wait! Stop! I know what you are doing!" I cried pulling my lips away from his. His tongue that was once in my mouth was left sticking out, alarmed from my quick action of pulling away.

"What am I doing?" he exclaimed a little bent out of shape that I was cock blocking him.

"Don't do that!" I warned. He got the gist and began to mock me in the way I was mocking him right now.

"What am I doing? What am I doing besides trying to make love to my girlfriend for missing lunch!" he cried as he nuzzled my neck.

"Oh my god michael! So not funny" I chuckled even though it really was funny as hell! "You're being so sarcastic right now bucko! Nice try though you really got the Maria sassiness I'm so known for down to a pat there!"

"Yeah you got that Guerin like defenses too there," he acknowledges as he grinned shaking his head in wonderment. "Damn Maria. You're a lot of things, I didn't think resisting making love was one of them," he snickered.

I sighed, "I'm not resisting," I said reassuringly as I pulled him back on top of me. His weight always made it slightly hard to breathe but just felt so secure I couldn't resist. I combed my fingers in his hair.

"I'm trying to work on this anxiety, " I started as I looked away.

I could feel Michael trying to read my face probably a bit taken aback about me admitting that I was feeling anxious again. I didn't feel like this since Alex died. I don't know where it really stemmed from but my guess was the growing number of times my mom was away had taken a toll on me more than I thought it had. I could feel Michael's body getting tense trying to get up off me. He knew he was getting heavy on me but I wouldn't let him budge.

"No please. Don't get up," I pleaded softly as I looked up to find his brown eyes warmly looking back at me.

"You're too small to take on this weight Maria, I could break you staying like this too long. Why do you always prefer me in this way? I could crush you."

"No! I love this," I said as I hugged him into me.

"Here let me at least sit up next to you. Come on," he encouraged as he to my regret got up and out from my hold.

He sat up and helped me to sit up next to him as well.

"What's this anxiety and where is it stemming from?" he asked.

"I mean haven't you noticed? My mom is not exactly around these days MIchael. She's been gone for two straight weeks at a time to Las Cruces since my junior year. I'm home by myself- a lot. Liz, well Liz is always with Max, which I get. I have you after all, but now you're working all the time, so I'm not always feeling-"

"Safe?"

I nodded. "I just feel lonely." I shook my head, "I know I know, I'm being dramatic." I said trying to laugh it off.

"You're not being dramatic Maria," Michael said reassuringly. I looked up at him surprised. He pulled me closer to him and let me lie my head on his shoulder.

"I'm really sorry I missed lunch. I'll make it up to you tomorrow."

"You mean date night?" I asked smiling.

"Yeah date night. We'll have a blast!"

"You promise?"

"I promise promise," he replied as he pulled my chin up for a kiss.

"Well we both better get ready for work," I said as I patted his knee. As I started to get up, I felt Michael pulling my arm back down to sit with him.

"We have time," he insisted as he kissed my lips. I sighed giving in. I could never say no to Michael Guerin's kisses- and hands.

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"You guys are late, again!" Liz cried from the kitchen as she saw Michael and I hurrying in to stuff our belongings into our staff lockers.

"Hey!" I cried as Michael snuck passed in front of me to get to his locker first.

"Sore loser!" Michael grinned as he threw his helmet at jacket into the locker and gave me a peck on my cheek.

"Sorry Liz, we didn't mean to get this late it's just-"

"Save it Maria! Max told me you guys were together last time he left the apartment. And besides, it's fine" Liz said as she looked at Michael and me with a smile. I let out a sigh of relief in my mind as I proceeded to go to the bathroom to put my waitress uniform on.

Michael proceeded to take his position at the grill.

When I got out of the bathroom I saw Liz motioning me to go to the back.

"This is like the third time this week you guys have been late to a shift- together. Are you guys…you know?"

"Liz the phrase is, are we sexual active."

"Maria! "

"Not that it's any of your business but- Hey! Wait a minute! Answer me this first- what does Max think?"

Liz looked stunned, "what does Max have to do with this?"

"Oh come on Lizzie! I know you and Max talk and Max lives in Michael's apartment now- so what does he think ? And what has he seen?" I said elongating the last phrase.

"Oh my god! Did he catch you guys doing it?" Liz said bring her hands to her mouth.

"I mean not that I or Michael know of. Unless he was being a very quiet peeping tom last Wednesday!"

"Maria!" Liz laughed in wonderment as she went get some paper napkins from the back. I started to tie my apron around my waist.

"By the way what high school senior out there in America still says 'doing it' ?"

Liz came back and hit my butt with the package of napkins as if to scold me in her Lizzie-joking way.

"Hey Petunia, if you can't handle the possible answers don't asks the hard questions!" and with that I was off to tend to the evening rush leaving a laughing Liz Parker to deal with napkin holders.

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While I was on my first break I decided to go to my locker to check my phone for any miss calls or messages hoping to hear from my mom. I found 2 messages on my phone, both from her. I pressed play and put the message on speaker not noticing Michael had just entered the back room.

"Hi Maria honey it's mom. It looks like I am going to have to be here till Thursday. A large shipment got lost and now that it's delayed I have to wait here till it arrives to sort it I'm sorry honey. Call me back some time. I checked with Mr. Parker just now and he assured me you were there at work, but it would be nice to hear my baby's voice. Bye honey."

"Bye mom," I said out loud.

"Hey," Michael finally said from the corner.

"Hey back," I replied glumly.

"Mom ok?"

"Yeah, she's going to be delayed. Again."

Michael nodded as he sat next to me. "You ok?"

" I mean, yeah I guess, do I have a choice? I have one more message from her," I informed Michael as I pushed the button on my nokia to play it for Michael and I.

"Maria honey it's mom again. Please don't make any plans for Friday. I want to come and just have a mother daughter day. I talked to Liz's dad and he gave you the night off. We'll do something super special. Bye."

"Wow," I said as I clicked the phone off.

"What?" Michael asked puzzled.

"She and I haven't done like a mother daughter day thing in a while. And it's usually when she's met a new guy. Do you think she met someone in Las Cruces and that's why she ventures out there all the time?"

MIchael shrugged his shoulders. "Don't know. I guess you'll find out when she comes," he replied.

I nodded.

"So about tomorrow," Michael started.

"You mean about date night?" I asked.

"Yeah, do you like physical activities and stuff or sport…you know put-put, ice skating, maybe bowling?"

I looked at him puzzled as to why he would ask me that. We never did things like that together. The most activity we did was sex, running away from FBI agents, and the Skins. In fact I didn't even know Michael liked to do things like that.

"I'm just trying to you know, make things more exciting!"

"Exciting? Michael I'm surprised we've never actually done these things before. I never knew you'd like doing things like that!"

Michael beemed. "Good! Maybe we'll have some fun tomorrow doing something different."

I leaned in and hugged Michael as I placed a kiss on his cheek. "Thanks. This will really make me feel better."

He rubbed my shoulder as he wrapped himself more around me.

"You know your friends were really cool this morning. It's nice to know that when you leave the Crashdown tonight to go to work at Meta-CHem you'll have a group of cool friends to hangout with not just work with," I said looking up at Michael.

"Yeah they're really great. Hey I hope you didn't get upset when they all of a sudden walked in for breakfast."

I laughed a bit at that. "Well I was a little perturbed, but I mean it's fine. THey seem really great."

"THey knew you were opening up breakfast today. I insisted the best pancakes in all of roswell would be at the Crashdown this morning since you had prepared the batter."

"Really?"

" Yeah I told them you make the best pancake batter in the world," he replied.

Wow Michael actually talked about me again to his friends, this time with more added detail. She suddenly felt much for forgiving that the boys from MEta-Chem interrupted her and Michael's conversation that morning.

"So what did Isabel say that made you drop those plates," asked Michael with a slight smile.

"Oh god!" I said as I hid my face in my hands remembering how embarrassed I was at that accident. I think my face must have gotten beet red. Oh the benefits of being pale!

"Man they just made the loudest noise!" Michael added as he made hand motions and sound effects of an explosion going off, making me giggle.

"No it was nothing," I replied.

"Come on tell me, you always nag me when I don't elaborate."

"Michael you never elaborate."

"Still, come on tell me," he pressed.

"Well I guess it had to do with what Fly asked you the other day that's all," I replied.

"Which is?"

I turned to Michael and looked at him in the eye. I wanted to make sure I got his sincere reaction. "Isabel asked me, 'If Michael proposed would you say yes?' and then-"

" And your reaction was to drop the plates?" Michael seemed pretty bothered by my reaction. There was definitely a bit defensiveness in his tone.

"It just startled me that's all. I mean come on Michael don't' tell me that bothered you."

Michael straightened up and pulled his arm away from me.

"Michael!" I exclaimed in wonderment confused intrigued by his reaction.

"Wasn't it you just days ago that said to Fly, marriage wouldn't even be considered till down the road?" I reminded him.

A grunt was all he responded with, which made me roll my eyes.

"Ok well I need to call my mom really quick before my break is over," I stated as I got up to go outside to get better reception.

Michael didn't say anything he just got up and went to the direction of the bathroom. I shook my head. Typical Michael.

I thought this would be a more active forum considering Roswell is one of the best shows of all time. Please comment and review and let me know how you think this story is going. I hope you Candyshippers out there are liking it so far. Hope I'm giving Maria some more leverage than she got in Season 3 of Roswell. She truly is on of my favorite characters and definitely deserved better :)