Chapter Twenty

Tess will be coming after the next chapter, be patient with me, k.

Maria walked in the crashdown wearing tight blue baby jeans and another clingy top. she knew that, her clothes would drive Michael crazy and maybe, who knows, later he could use his alien powers to get them off quickly. Things had been chaotic to say the least those past weeks. With Max looking for his son and all. Today, this day was suppose to be the day. When Max had planned to contact his mother again, before he got his senses back and decided against that plan of action. Michael had called earlier that morning to tell her the news, Maria had thought the plan was a bad idea from the beginning, seriously, look who come up with it. Not that Michael always had bad ideas, you know, breaking into sheriff Valenti's office to get that key for the warehouse, how about kidnapping her to go to the warehouse, how about seducing Courtney to find out if she is a skin, and after finding her gives her information about the Granlethi. No, Michael didn't always have bad ideas, seriously. The risks had been clear from the beginning, Liz, Maria and Kyle had seen that. But the Aliens had been so set on going through with it, that's why Maria was still surprised though glad by the change of heart, curious about what had made Max change his mind about contacting his mother. Michael claimed it was because Max had decided the risks where too high, but Maria had a feeling there was more to it than that.

Maria walked throught the double doors that led from the front of the restaurant to the back, turned left and run upstairs to Liz's room. To change into her uniform, slightly disappointed that Michael had not bee there early enough to see her but then again there was tonight. she wasn't surprise even though she hoped that Michael was missing in action, this was Michael and well Michael was never on time for anything so he couldn't be expected to be early for anything.

"hey hun" Maria greated her best friend with a smile

"Hey" Liz said tirely managing a smile back as well, putting the apron.

Liz was tired, tired and worried. That was the story of her life, she had lay awake the night before completely thinking about her life, her life with Max, the life that was full of misharps and pain. She wondered again and again, why? Why did she stay in painfilled relationship, when she knew that there was no happy ever after for her and Max. Why, oh, why? That question had only one answer. Liz loves Max, she loves him in that deep throbbing, can't sleep, can't eat world series kind of love. But she was worried, she probably shoulden't be but she was.

"So are you excited?" Liz asked putting on a cheerful facade after Maria had taken of her clothes.

Maria looked up while putting stocking, "About what?"

"About what?" Liz echoed, applaying some lipstick, looking at herself in the mirror before turning to Maria, "Don't tell me you forgot? About the contact, today is the day we are going to attempt asking help from someone who is millions of lightyears away. To, you know, find Max's son. I guess we have no choice in the matter, I mean, that's why Max is risking our lives, you know, because we can't leave a helpless innocent child in the hands of a monster which is exactly who Tess is. Isn't Max just sweet and honarable, thinking about his son like that."

Maria was silent as she watched Liz rumble on while she was tying up her apron. She had sudden;y figured, realized that Liz didn't know that plans had changed. Infact Maria has a distinct feeling that Liz was probably the last to know. The real question however, the one floating in the back of her mind was...why didn't Max call Liz and tell her? After all Michael had called Maria, what, now Michael was suddenly the perfect boyfriend who wanted his girlfriend in on every detail. Maria sighed as she put the finish touched on her job attire. She knew that she was the one who was going to have to tell Liz. This was going to be uncomfortable.

"Liz" Maria stood up and walked towards her friend while producing a small bottle of vanilla relaxing scent from her bag then handed the bottle to a very confused Liz. And Liz was confused but she could tell by Maria's expression that something was up so she sat down, clunching the bottle before looking up at Maria patiently.

"Well let's see, last night...today...someway after midnight, Max changed his mind about contacting his mother...I think because he actually stopped and listened to use and decided the risks where just to big. I don't know how the extraterrestial mind set works, but he called Michael who calledme and I already told Kyle but didn't tell you, until now, but I figured that Max would, you know, call you but obviously he didn't because I think that he figured I would tell you, because, you know, Michael probably told him that he had called me, which of course he did." Maria fell silent and stopped the pacing she had began at the beginning of her speach and turned to Liz who was just staring up at Maria, blinking immensely.

"So we are not going to the caves?" Liz asked slowly apparantly still trying to digest some of the word Maria had uttered while blubbling about, "Because Max..ah...had a change of heart and he called Michael who called you..."

"yeah, so Max probably thought I would tell you" Maria said interupting Liz, glad her friend was taking everything so calmly, "I mean, that's probably why he didn't, you know, call you...before"

"yeah" Liz said slowly while raising up from her bed, that was the only thing that made sense, who was she kidding, she wanted to yell, scream. Take out all her fastrautions at someone, she was going crazy, he thoughts all jumbled up and Maria's explanation was reasonable enough, and a reasonable person could see that it made sense. But Liz had been feeling secure enough as it is and she was afraid that it was happening again. That Max was distancing himself from her. The way he had after Tess left and then when he had decided to find his son.

God was she going around in circle or was it just her, was she seeing and putting to much emphasis on one small action. God, help her, she was going absolutely nuts.

"Besides, I am the one who should be worried" Maria said interupting Liz's thoughts as the two girls walked out of the room and on their way to the stairs.

"You, Why?" Liz asked knowing full well she was talking about her relationship with Michael.

"Because of the way Michael has been acting" Maria said as the two began descending down the steps, "Michael hasn't been acting like Michael, infact he had been acting like Max, all thoughtful, and romantic, last week, he sent me flowers, my favorite flowers, I didn't even think he knew my favorite flowers, he has been respect and gratious and I can't count how many times he has uttered the words I love you. He has been the perfect boyfriend of late..Ahha, I got it" Maria shouted suddenly grabbing Liz's wrists forcing the two girls to a stop, she had a twingle in her eyes as if everything was clear.

Liz grimaced from the pain while turning around, still on the stairs, to face Maria, "Hey, what the hell?"

Maria realized she was holding on to tightly and loosened her grip while muttering a small sorry before moving on, "I just figured something, stay with me here...What if Max and Michael switched personalities"

Liz raised her eyebrows and shook her head even though could not stop a small smile from escaping, "That would explain a lot" Liz said beturng back and making a finally desent down the stairs, struggling not to laugh. How so like Maria to think such a unrealistic thing.

Maria smiled as she followed Liz, glad the statement had done it's intented, making Liz smile. At least for a while, but Maria wasn't completely playing around.

Sure it was a crazy thought but hey so was life on other planets or Aliens from the actually Roswell crash. Maria reached the stairs and her smile grew wilder as the back door opened and who else but Michael. She frowned slightly at the grudge look that Michael went for, he didn't even look like he took a shower, she was overthinking things again. This was Michael, this was how he lived his life, and she didn't understand this herself but what could she say, she loved the guy.

"Hey Baby" Maria greated Michael, going to stand infront of him while he put on the apron, hands on her hips as she watched him then went on talking, "So I told Liz about the change of plans...She didn't even know anything about that...I think you should talk to Max, he should call her when he makes important decisions like this, tell him to be a good boyfriend soft of like the way you have been a good boyfriend, because, you know, Liz has been feeling left out of Max's life...you what, they should do something, maybe we could have a double date..."

"Oh, god, would you shut up" Michael suddenly burst, he really hadn't meant to say that and by the look on Maria's face, you could tell she hadn't been expecting that from her new romantic boyfriend.

But come on, as soon as Michael walked through those doors to work his eyes had been assulted by the blubblermouth and Michael had tried to be patiently, really he had, but she talked way too much. Way, way, way too much.

"Seriously" Michael contunued finally able to say things he had been holding in for weeks while trying to ease his guilt, "I have problems, Maria, Max has problems and the last thing he needs to be doing is wondering if he is hurting Liz Parker's delicate little feeling and going on dates to make her happy and you know what, neither do I"

"Michael" Maria finally said after a while, then she did something totally unexpected on both sides,she smiled before taking Michael by surprise as she threw her arms around his shoulders and gave him a tight hug.

Michael to say the least was confused and to be honest a little scared at this point. Maria drew back and gave Michael a kiss on the cheeks, "I am so glad you are back, Ah" She said before leaving him all by himself. Now were all women crazy or was he just one of the lucky ones. Michael shook his head, "Women" He muttered before going to fry burgers, going to make another buck.