Chapter Three

It was early the next morning when Maria heard laughing downstairs. She yawned and headed down the stairs. Her mind had been filled with dreams of her Soldier again. They were more intense this time. She really just didn't understand it. She walked into the kitchen and saw Alex standing over the stove. Isabel and Liz were laughing, and telling him he'd make a good cook at the Crashdown. Which Michael scowled at.

"Morning sleepy head!" Tess smiled brightly and jumped up from her seat at the table. She grabbed a mug and poured Maria a cup of coffee.

"Thanks..." She trailed off. "I swear you do crack or something." Maria shook her head, and everyone laughed.

"I'm not THAT perky." Tess huffed.

"Face it honey. You are always going a hundred miles an hour." Isabel smiled at her friend. "Oh, so Maria, that dance next Friday night, are you going?"

"Oh, no, I've got to work."

"Oh, that is too bad." Isabel frowned. "You should see if you can get out of it."

"I need the money." Maria just shrugged and sat down in one of the empty chairs. "Besides, I'm not a big 'dance' person."

"You going with anyone, Tess?" Liz asked.

"Michael is taking me."

"I am?" He looked up from his coffee mug, a look of confusion on his face. "When was that decided?"

"When no one asked me to go with them." Tess sighed and cast a glance towards Kyle. At least not the right person.

"And if I wasn't planning on going?"

"Too bad. You need to comfort your poor sad and depressed friend." Tess told him with an authoritative tone.

Tess was bored out of her mind. Michael wouldn't dance with her. His head had been someplace else all night, and he wouldn't really even talk. Isabel and Alex were off dancing, and so were Liz and Max. Kyle was here with some brunette bimbo. And Tess was stuck by herself. Suddenly they were shinning a light at someone in the front of the gym.

"Attention everyone. It is time to announce our Winter Formal King and Queen." The bubbly girl, their class president with short red hair said happily. "Drum roll please." She grinned. "And our King for tonight, is... Kyle Valenti!" The room erupted into cheers and Kyle made his way to the front of the room to stand beside her, where a plastic crown was placed on his head. "And as for his Queen, we have Tess Harding!"

Tess was in her own little world. She didn't hear her name until Isabel yelled at her. "What?" Then it occurred to her. She had won. Slowly she got up and headed for the front of the gym. She stared at the crowd that was cheering as the tiara was placed on her hair carefully.

"And now of course, it is time for our King and Queen dance." Kyle turned to Tess and grinned.

"Ready?" He asked and she nodded a little. Tess practically melted when he touched her. One of his hands rested on her waist while he grasped her hand with the other. He held her close and she could feel the warmth of his body radiating towards hers. She wanted more of it.

You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first, I loved you first
Beneath the sheets of paper lies my truth
I have to go, I have to go
Your hair was long when we first met

Tears stung her eyes as the song began. She knew that this would be their only moment like this together. Kyle would never notice her, not in the way that she wanted him to. She would have to just get over it. And in that moment she vowed that after tonight she would forget her silly obsession.

You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first, I loved you first
Beneath the stars came fallin' on our heads
But they're just old light, they're just old light
Your hair was long when we first met

Kyle's hands pulled her closer and Tess let herself melt against his chest. He was so warm. And strong. It wouldn't last and she knew that. But this moment, was the moment she had wanted for so long. One of his hands was resting on her lower back while the other reached up to gently rub the back of her neck.

As the song came to an end Tess stepped back and looked up at him. "Um... Thanks for the dance." She told him before taking another step back and spinning around. She rushed along the side of the gym and out the side door into an empty hallway. The tears began to fall and she clenched her eyes shut as she struggled to control them. To control herself.

She felt someone grab her wrist and spin her around. "Kyle!" She yelped, and brought her other hand up to quickly wipe away the tears. "What are you-" She didn't have a chance to finish her sentence, as his mouth came crashing down on hers she gasped softly and then curled her arms around his shoulders.

When Kyle broke the kiss they were both gasping for breath. "Tess... I have been in love with you... for as long as I can remember, ever since the first time I met you and you hit me with the bat." He smiled and Tess gasped.

"Oh my god! You weren't supposed to remember that! It was an accident I swear!" The tears continued to roll down her cheeks unchecked and her jaw trembled. "Kyle..." She whispered and kissed him with all the pent up passion she had had for him.

Alex and Isabel had long since sneaked out from the dance. They were sitting in the middle of the field, Alex's jacket wrapped around Isabel's shoulders as they stared up at the stars. "Alex?" She murmured glancing up at him.

"Yeah?" Alex glanced down at her.

"Nothing." She whispered. "Nevermind. I love you."

"I love you too Iz..." Alex said suddenly a little concerned. "Everything okay Isabel?"

"Yeah, everything is fine. I guess I'm just highly emotional tonight, so don't take anything I may say or do too seriously."

"Isabel, you're really worrying me." He said pulling back to get a better look at her face, and realized she had been crying. "Isabel?"

"You're going to leave me." She whispered.

"What? What are you talking about Isabel? I'm not going to leave you, I love you."

"You will... you're going away in the fall, and you're going to become some famous computer guy, and I'll never see you again."

"Oh Iz." Alex chuckled and pulled her against his chest. "That's what you're so worried about? That isn't going to happen. You'll see me plenty, I'll call you all the time, and email you. I love you. I have every intention of making you an honest woman in the future. Just after college." He rubbed her ring finger. "I will put a ring on this finger someday. Don't you dare think I won't." He cupped her cheek and kissed her softly. "I love you."

"Hey." Michael said as he sat down at one of the stools at the bar.

"What are you doing here?" Maria asked a little confused. "I thought you and Tess were going to the dance together."

"We were. Till she ditched me for Valenti."

"Oh." Maria smiled a little.

"It was going to happen sooner or later, Valenti would realize that he had a great girl lusting after him."

"Yeah." Maria nodded a little. "Thirsty?" She asked stepping back from the counter and grabbing a glass.

"Blood of alien smoothie?" He asked and she glared at him.

"You're not funny."

"Really? Hmm." She noticed the amused glint in her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him.

"You're an asshole." She laughed and watched as a smile turned up the corner of his lips. "And just for that, you're stuck with a cherry coke." Maria filled the glass and spun around and set it down in front of him. "So what are you doing here?" She asked leaning up against the counter.

"Figured it would be pretty dead around here, thought you could use some company." He told her taking a drink of his coke.

"Oh...thanks."

"Think you can sneak out of here early?"

"What?" Maria looked up quickly.

"Close early, Liz does it all the time. Come on, Jose would be thrilled to go home. It's so dead. Close the restaurant, you won't get into trouble. And come with me."

"With you? And just what do you plan to do when you've gotten me away from the Crashdown."

"Have my wicked way with you." Michael smirked, and then full out laughed when he saw the look on her face. "I was kidding. Come on, you know you want to."

"Not until you tell me what it is you really plan to do."

"We're going to have some fun. Because it looks like you could use it."

"Michael..." Maria chewed on her lip and glanced around the empty restaurant. "I..."

"Yes you can. Let's go." He grabbed her wrist and gave it a little tug. "Go change, I'll close up."

Still a little unsure Maria walked into the back room and changed back into her jeans and sweater. She grabbed her jacket and walked back up front. The lights were all turned off.

"Come on." Michael called from where he stood in the front doorway. She just looked at him for a moment. When had all of this happened? When had she become one of their friends? When did it become completely normal to go and hangout with one of them. A guy, that wasn't Alex.

"I'm coming." She called walking towards the light outside. Doing her best not to trip over any of the tables.

Maria sat beside him in the car, staring out the window, trying to figure out where they were going. But it was dark, and it was hard to tell with as fast as he was going. Michael pulled the car to a stop and Maria looked around. "Where are we?"

"Get out of the car, let's go." Michael got out and pocketed his keys. "Come on Maria."

Quickly Maria got out and hurried after him. "Will you tell me what we are doing?"

"We are..." He paused to jump over the short stone fence, then took Maria's hand and helped her climb over it. "Swinging."

"What?" Maria looked up and realized they were at Calhoun Park. "Swinging?" Michael pointed to the swing set about twenty feet away.

"Yup. Lets go." He didn't release her hand as they walked over to the swings. Maria sat down a little cautiously and pushed herself a little with her foot. "You call that swinging?" He moved behind her and grabbed the chain near the seat of the swing and pulled back a little, making her go a little higher.

"Michael!" She shrieked, then laughed. It took her a few moments but she got her rhythm going. And then she was completely absorbed in the act of swinging. It was dark and it was cold, but she didn't care. She was having fun, and she felt completely free. Nothing could touch her here. Nothing could hurt her.

Michael sat down on the swing next to her and just watched. He wasn't sure anyone had ever seen her like this. Carefree. After a few minutes she slowed down, her laughter calmed and she came to a stop and looked over at Michael, smiling. When she realized he was staring she blushed. "Thank you... for this." She gestured to the swings.

"Any time." He told her, and noticed she had begun to shiver. "Lets go get you warmed up." Unconsciously he reached out and grabbed a hold of her hand and walked with her back to the car. "Sorry, the heater is broken. But I was thinking hot chocolate?"

Maria's face lit up. "Yeah?"

"I think we may even have some of those little marshmallows." Michael started the car and headed towards his house. The lights were off when Michael pulled up. "My mom is out of town, some alien convention." He rolled his eyes. Together they walked inside the dark house.

Maria had her arms wrapped around herself, trying to warm herself up as they headed for the kitchen. The light over the stove was on and Michael went to work looking for the hot chocolate, and marshmallows. He glanced over at her and paused. "I'll be right back." He vanished and a few moments later came back with a sweatshirt in hand. "Put this on, you'll warm up faster." She nodded and quickly pulled it it over her head.

Michael chuckled softly. Her hair had gotten messed up when she pulled the sweatshirt on. He moved closer and smoothed it down a little. Then he realized their close proximity. He looked down and saw her staring up at him with wide eyes. He moved his hand down to gently cup her cheek and leaned forward slowly, inching closer and closer to her full lips.

The side door burst open and Michael and Maria jumped apart. "Jim!" Amy DeLuca laughed as Jim Valenti followed quickly after her. "Michael!" Amy gasped. "What are you doing home? You were supposed to be at the dance!"

"Mom. I thought you had a convention to go to?"

Suddenly she looked flustered. "Canceled last minute."

"Right." Michael shook his head a little.

"Maria." Jim nodded towards her.

"Sheriff." All four felt completely uncomfortable in that moment.

"Michael, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend? I thought you were at the dance with Tess."

"This is Maria. Tess bailed on me for Kyle." He paused and looked at the Sheriff for a moment before shaking his head again.

"It's so nice to meet you, Maria."

"Nice to meet you too." Maria glanced up at Michael.

"Come on Maria, I'll just give you a ride home."

"Okay." She nodded and followed him out of the kitchen.

"Drive safe honey!" Amy hollered.

"Well that was embarrassing." Michael muttered as they climbed into the car.

"Your mom, and Kyle's dad?"

"Sick isn't it?" Michael started the car and headed to the trailer park. "So, you and the Sheriff know each other?"

"He's the one that found me."

"Found you?" Michael glanced over at her.

"Yeah, wandering in the desert. Seven years old, naked and wandering around in the desert." Maria shrugged a little. "I guess they found a few other kids in the desert that month. Haven't you heard the stories? They thought maybe it was a cult thing... parents abandoning their kids in the desert. Well, I'm one of them."

Michael's eyes flashed to her and he nearly ran a stop sign. "Do you remember anything before Valenti found you?"

"I was cold... really cold. It was the middle of the summer, but it was so cold." Maria trailed off and looked out the window.

Michael came to a stop in front of the trailer park and reached over to gently grasp her hand. "Maria..."

"I've gotta go." She cut him off. "I'll give you your sweatshirt back tomorrow at work." She told him before climbing out of the car and jogging across the dirt road to the trailer. Hank wasn't home and for that she was thankful. She walked down to her room only bothering to kick off her shoes as she crawled into bed.

He continued to stare after her. They found her in the desert? He had heard they'd found another one, aside from him, Isabel and Max, but none of them were sure if it was anyone like them. Was Maria their fourth? Was Maria like them? He had to find out.

Maria hated taking out the trash. She loathed it. Going out behind the restaurant weirded her out, especially in the dark. But she welcomed the moments away from Michael. It had been two days since he nearly kissed her at his house. They hadn't spoken much at all. She wondered if he regretted trying? Or maybe he forgot, maybe it was just a momentary thing, and he didn't even remember doing it?

She threw the bag into the dumpster and turned around to head back inside when she came face to face with a man. "Oh god." She whispered. He was leering at her and she took a step back. She opened her mouth, to try and scream, but no sound came out.

"Money." He hissed at her and she shook her head.

"I don't have any."

"Wrong answer." Maria gasped softly and looked down and saw the knife sticking out of her stomach. She stared down at it and then looked back up at the man who turned and ran. She made her way to the back door and struggled to pull it open. This wasn't happening. This wasn't happening.

She slid down to her knees and gripped the knife and pulled it out, crying out softly at the pain. He really hadn't managed to hit anything vital, and it was more towards her side. But it still hurt like hell. She dropped the knife and held her hand against it. Would she be able to heal it? Was it too serious for her? Her powers had been out of whack lately, would she be able to do anything about this?

Michael was in the kitchen when he heard the back door. Then he thought he heard Maria cry out. He walked towards the back room. "Maria?" He called and then spotted her sitting on the floor, hunched over. "Maria?" Michael asked cautiously as he walked towards her.

She felt like she had electricity running through her veins. She was shaking, and on the verge of tears. She heard Michael's voice and the tears overflowed. This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening. No one was supposed to find out. "I'm fine." She tried to tell him, but her voice cracked.

Michael noticed the blood and rushed to her side. "What happened?" He asked pressing his hand against her side to slow the bleeding.

"Some guy... I was taking out the trash... he just... stabbed me." She shook her head and tried to push his hand away. "I'm fine."

"You're bleeding, you're not fine. Let me see."

"No!" Maria pushed herself up to her feet and struggled to walk to the bathroom. She had to get away from him so she could try and heal this. But her knees gave out halfway there, and Michael caught her and set her on the couch.

"Maria. Stop." He said in a calm voice and pushed her hand out of the way again. He covered the wound with his hand. He needed Max for this. But maybe he could help. "Look at me." He said raising his head to look into her eyes. A second later a connection formed and he saw things, so many things he didn't understand. But after a second the connection was stronger. He felt Maria's hand rest on top of his. After several seconds they both gasped softly. Slowly Michael pulled his hand away and the cut was gone along with the blood. All that was left was a small hole in her uniform. "It worked." He whispered.

"You..." Maria whispered still staring at him.

"And you." He whispered. "You're the fourth."

"Fourth? Four?"

"Wait till they hear..." Michael smiled a little and Maria shook her head.

"No. No Michael, no one can know."

"You're like us Maria... Max and Iz... Four were found in the desert... I knew there was a fourth."

"No, Michael, please, don't tell them. Please."

"Why not Maria?" He asked.

"I can't... it's too much. Please, don't tell them. Please, promise me Michael. Promise you won't tell them."

Michael stared at her, confused. "Why?"

"Just promise me Michael, please?" Slowly he nodded.

"Okay." He touched her side gently. "Is it healed all the way?"

"It's a little tender. But it's okay." She stared at him and chewed on her lip. He was like her? She wasn't alone. There were more like her. And that terrified her. "Why didn't you say something, the other night, in the car, when I was talking about being found in the desert."

"You didn't give me the chance, you jumped out of the car before I could say a word."

"Oh... I thought..." She bit her lip.

"You thought what?"

"That you were going to try and... try and kiss me again." Maria blushed and looked down. Silly me. She thought.

"I thought about that too." Michael told her. He reached up and cupped her cheek.

"We can't do this." She whispered.

"Why not?" He leaned towards her.

"Michael! Where are you? I've got orders that need made." Liz burst through the swinging door. "What are you doing?"

"Maria cut herself on a cardboard box when she took out the trash. I was just putting a bandaid on for her." He stood up and headed back for the kitchen. "You girls aren't allowed to take out the trash anymore. Leave it, and I'll take it out. When Jose is here, make him do it too." Without another word he walked into the kitchen and started cooking.

"Maria? Are you okay?" Liz asked. "You look a little pale."

"I just don't like blood." Maria told her and then grabbed her apron and tied it back around her waist, making sure that the tie covered the tear in her uniform.

"Well I was going to go ahead and send you home anyways, go ahead and clock out, maybe get Michael to fix you something to eat."

"Sure." Maria said and grabbed her clothes out of her locker. She glanced over and saw Michael watching her from the kitchen.

"I'll fix you something to eat. Just go sit down out front."

"Okay." Maria murmured and headed for the bathroom to change into her street clothes. She got a glass of soda and walked up front and sat in one of the corner booths. It wasn't long before Michael appeared with a plate.

"Eat." He told her slipping into the booth across from her.

"Thanks." She murmured glancing at him.

"Are you okay?" Michael asked quietly.

"I'm fine." She nodded. "I'll be fine." She gave him a small smile and he nodded.

"Okay...Don't leave, okay? I want to talk to you."

"Sure." Maria told him and watched as he walked back into the kitchen.

It wasn't long before the restaurant was closed and Michael was heading up front. "Come on, lets go." He said to Maria who was still sitting in the same booth. Together they walked out of the diner and to Michael's car. They sat in silence as Michael drove. Neither saying a word. Both wondering what was going through the other's head. Michael pulled the car to a stop a short while later and Maria glanced around. She had no idea where they were. She looked over at him and bit her lip.

Michael turned slightly in his seat to face her and reached over and rubbed his fingers along the back of her hand. "Maria." He said softly.

"Michael... we can't."

"Why not?"

She opened her mouth, then closed it before opening it again. "Because... I don't know." She whispered. She felt like she had never felt before. Her heart was pounding in her chest. All she could focus on was the feel of his hand on hers. Was it because they were both alien? Is that why she felt like this? "Michael." She murmured softly and watched as he leaned towards her. One of his hands came up to gently cup her cheek and she let her eyes slip shut. Letting herself get completely lost in the moment.

"My Queen." His voice was a whisper against her lips. He heard her gasp and then covered her mouth with his own.