Sorry for the lame chapter, please review and tell me what you think because it really motivates me, even if it is criticism! Just a quick reply to likeaginsu, I just wanted to tell you I am a fan of Tess, I'm not just some Tess hater who didn't want to include her, I just find it hard juggling so many characters therefore decided not to include her (and Kyle – who is one of my fave characters too) Glad you like the fic though:o)

Disclaimer: I do not own Roswell or any of the characters so don't sue me!

Perspective: Maria

"Michael. Water." Maria sat with her head leaning on the side of the bath, it was the third time that morning she had been sick so she had taken refuge in the bathroom. Michael filled a glass with water and pushed her hair back from her sweat ridden forehead. She gulped it down and groaned.

"Right. Must…go…to…work"

"Maria there is no way in hell you are working today, you're still not well."

He clutched her arm and helped her stand up; she grabbed her toothbrush and sat on the ledge of the bath.

"Isabel has done my shift all week Michael, I have to go in." she said squirting toothpaste on the brush.

"Fine. I'll work today then; I can keep an eye on you."

"Spaceboy I'll be fi-" she protested spraying toothpaste everywhere.

"So it's settled then" Michael interrupted and stooped down to kissed her head before she could say anything else.

"Honey! I'm home" Maria called as she and Michael entered the empty CrashDown.

"Wh-…Maria? What are you doing here?" Liz ran into the diner and flung herself into her best friend's arms.

"I'm here for work, that's generally what employee's do isn't it?"

She looked around the empty diner and scratched her head.

"Yeah but the CrashDown is closed for the day, the grill busted up last night, my mom and dad had to travel to Missouri to get a new one this morning. I told Isabel because I assumed you weren't coming in today."

"Jeez, road trip or what?"

"Well" Michael interrupted "You won't mind if I go to the café down the road for some grub then?" he rubbed his stomach and walked towards the door.

"I'm gonna catch up with Liz, can you pick me up after your done?"

He nodded, stooped down, kissed her forehead and then shuffled out into the sunshine yawning. Maria grabbed Liz's hand and led her towards the comfiest booth at the back.

"So chica, what's been going on while I was away? You and Max still not speaking I take it?"

Liz shook her head. "It's not like that Maria, I just think we need some space"

Maria rolled her eyes and raised her eyebrow, Liz laughed.

"Don't look at me like that Maria."

"Young love birds today, they just can't make up their minds can they?" Maria winked and tapped her fingers on the table.

"So…you and Michael?"

"Well, Guerin has been driving me crazy, he insisted I stay in bed all day last week, I nearly went insane with boredom"

"Awww, he's only looking out for you Maria"

Maria smiled and rolled her eyes

"You sound like my mom"

"I'll take that as a compliment" she laughed. "So are you feeling better? Michael said you must have had food poisoning or something?"

"I'm still not feeling too great actually" Maria clutched her mouth as the phone rang loudly from the back room "Speaking of not feeling too great. I'll…uh…be right back girlfriend" she got up quickly and dashed to the bathroom.

Maria tucked her hair behind her ears and prepared herself by the toilet. After a few minutes she stood up and splashed some cold water on her face. She looked at her pale reflection in the mirror, dark circles had formed beneath her eyes, she wasn't surprised, she hadn't been sleeping much lately.

Once the nausea had passed, Maria walked out of the bathroom, Liz was still on the phone so she wandered around the diner brushing her hand across the clean surfaces, she could hear Liz whispering on phone in the next room, she tiptoed curiously over to the door suspecting the worst scenario in Max's head. Another guy?

"Dr. Coulson, I am feeling ok right now, I can start the treatment as soon as you can get me an appointment."

Now Maria couldn't stop herself from listening

"Ok, I'll start with the chemotherapy then"

Maria staggered back and clutched her chest, she felt like she couldn't breath, surely she had heard wrong? She pushed open the door and saw Liz huddled in the corner with the phone which she quickly put down.

"Wrong number"

"Liz…you…"

"Maria!" Liz stood up and looked directly into her eyes.

"Oh God Liz, please. You can't. Please. Liz."

She sounded desperate, her voice cracked and tears spilled down her face as she backed out of the room. She had to get out. This wasn't real. It couldn't be real. She ran blindly to the door trying to catch her breath as she ran, she didn't know where to go. To the doctors, so they could tell Liz it was all some sick mix up? Or Max? Max could heal her. She felt confused and hysterical; Liz was having chemotherapy? She could just about make out the shape of the Jetta and fumbled in her pocket for the keys.

Without thinking she started up the engine and swerved down the road, in the direction of Max's house. Was that why Liz wasn't talking to Max? He wouldn't heal her? How dare he do that to her. How long had Liz known? She must be so scared. And her parents how were they coping?

It all happened in slow motion, Maria didn't see the other car coming, just a white shape. She heard the screeching of tires, her own scream as the car flipped over into complete darkness…