Tammy

Michael slowly sipped from his warm coffee; on the cup it said World's Best Mommy in Christmas colours. As he glanced around he saw pictures of Isabel and Alex's wedding, in a group shot he could see Max and Liz there, Isabel's parents, Alex's parents…no Maria. No Maria? What would stop her from coming to the wedding? What happened to Hurricane Deluca, when nothing could stand in her way? He wondered.

There were also few school pictures of a pretty 5 year old girl with Isabel's blue eyes and Alex's brown hair. Scattered around were dolls, paintings of a world with green skies and purple grass…Okay shit so Isabel has a kid, Isabel is married…that's generally okay, I mean it's not like anyone has died right?

He knew Isabel and Alex were waiting for him to talk, but they sat there silently, without any pressure, just waiting until he was ready. He took another sip and glanced up at Isabel, her face was red and blotchy from crying earlier. When she had realised who he was, she had dragged him inside and called Alex down from upstairs. Then she proceeded to cry, yell, smile and hug him all at the same time.

He couldn't handle it. Why are women just so damn emotional? At least Alex had the decency just to stand and stare at me for a while, give me a "man pat" and comfort his hysterical wife. He despaired. He knew he should have come back sooner, but what was he meant to say? Sorry? Where was he supposed to begin?

Finally the silence broke when a young, sleepy voice rose from the stairs; "Mommy, Daddy, whos 'at?" Alex looked at Isabel and she nodded ever so slightly.

"Tammy, come here sweetie." He said with a smile on his face. "There's someone we want you to meet." Tammy smiled and waddled up to Isabel on the sofa. "Okay Tammy, this here is your Uncle Michael, he's known your mommy for as long as Uncle Max has." Tammy looked over at Isabel with disbelief in her eyes.

"No it's true honey." She reassured.

"Why haven't I ever met him before?" Tammy asked.

Well she's obviously got Alex's intelligence. I just hope she hasn't inherited Isabel's Nazi impressions. Michael thought to himself. He smiled slightly at the thought but tried to keep focused at the surreal wonder that was in front of him. Alex and Isabel merged into one.

"I think I can answer that." He said, as Isabel and Alex floundered at the question. "You see kid; I left Roswell before you were born. Before Isabel got married actually which is why I haven't met you, I could have visited or called but I didn't think it was for the best." Michael then whispered loudly to Tammy, "You see…I was a very naughty kid before I left, always creating trouble, never listening to your mommy..." He winked at her and she giggled. "But I'm back," He said, now addressing Isabel who had tears once more in her eyes. "for good."

"There we are Tammy, now that he's staying, that means you can go to bed missy. I'm sure you can spend more time with Uncle Michael in the morning." Tammy groaned but it was half-hearted as she obviously was very tried
"Night Mommy." She said and kissed Isabel on the cheek.

"Night precious." Isabel smiled. Then with no warning at all, Tammy threw herself at Michael for a hug.

"Night Uncle Michael, it was nice meeting you." Isabel started to cry softly again. Michael was touched…"Night kid." He said gruffly, trying to stop any waterworks. Damn kids; always bring out the mushy in people. Alex took Tammy up to bed, leaving him and Isabel alone.

"So Michael, where are you staying for the night?" Michael knew ot wasn't really a question, one look at her determined face told him he would be staying here tonight anyway.

"Uh…I was gunna get a motel room."

"What pay to sleep in a filthy disease pit like that? No, you're staying with us." Michael smiled, she hadn't changed. "Have you seen any of the others since you've been back?"

That's it, Maria, I was going to ask her about Maria. "Well I did see Maria for a while…" He said, carefully analysing Isabel's reaction. He wasn't disappointed.

Isabel immediately flinched at Maria's name, and didn't move her eyes from the floor as she spoke to him.

"So what did she tell you?"

"Not much. Just that she was married to an abusive husband!" He angrily said, but then dropped his voice as he remembered Tammy was sleeping. "She didn't tell me his name, or how it started, or why nobody tried to stop it. In fact I haven't heard any mention of her best friends, and why isn't she in your wedding photos? Please…please Isabel," He pleaded, letting his soft brown eyes stare up at her red-rimmed blue ones. "Please just tell me what happened to you all."

"Michael, a lot has happened to us in the past 8 years; wouldn't you prefer to sleep first? I bet you're exhausted."

"No Izzy, I can't, not with all of these unanswered questions. Just tell me what happened."

"Look, what Maria went through was immense; I'm surprised and impressed that she even came out resembling a whole person. But if she hasn't told you, then I can't. I lost her as a friend for a long time and I don't want to do it again."

Michael felt defeated. He knew Isabel and loyalty were inseparable; nothing would make her tell him if she had sworn not to. "Okay then… fill me in on you two. When did you get married? When did you have a baby?"

"Actually I'm having my second. I'm a month gone." Isabel smiled and rubbed her stomach proudly.

"Does that mean I have to beat up Alex twice for getting my sister pregnant?" Michael joked as he noticed Alex was on his way downstairs.

"Well we're not living in sin so I think its okay." Isabel laughed, and cuddled up to Alex as he sat down. "You left…8 years ago. The first year was rough, there were arguments and fights, I blame myself for the rift between Maria and myself, I said things to her that were uncalled for." Alex unconsciously stroked Isabel's hair to comfort her; Michael inwardly smiled and knew that Alex was the best choice for his stubborn sister. "Then during the second year I got pregnant from Alex, yes we weren't married, but we were pretty soon after that. We didn't marry because it was the "right thing to do" we married because we wanted to be together. Max wasn't too happy about it, after all Tammy would be the first hybrid baby, but eventually he came through for me."

Numb, Michael raked his hand through his hair and looked up at the obviously happy couple. "That's great, really, I'm happy for both you. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when I should've been Is, but if I'm staying for good, I can help you with this next one." He smiled at them but it felt slightly empty. I've missed so much…everyone else has moved on and done things. Suddenly he wanted to see Maria again. "Would it be okay if I go to bed now? I'm exhausted…"

"Oh yeah sure, Alex will show you to the guest room."

"Thanks."

Michael walked up the stairs, noticing the photos on the wall as they went. In one photo frame, the whole group was there, obviously before he had left. But there was something odd about the picture…scratching his eyebrow he figured he would look at it tomorrow.

"There you are: the guest room, or well…soon the new nursery. The bathroom is the room next door. Tammy really liked you; she didn't stop talking all about her new "Uncle Mikey" when I put her to bed. You have a very natural way with kids."

"Thanks man."

"Though I'm warning you Michael," Alex added darkly. "If you ever hurt Isabel, or Maria again by running away like that…if you've come here to get Isabel's hopes up only to dash them again….I will find you, and you will regret it." Shocked, Michael looked up at Alex, but there was no give in his expression, his eyes seemed to just be two glassy stones piercing into him.

"Alex, I swear I'm not going anywhere. I do need to sort a few things back…where I used to live. But I'm not leaving again. I promise, I won't hurt either Isabel or Maria again like that."

"Glad to hear it. Goodnight Michael, don't let the bed bugs bite." Alex smiled amiably and shut the door behind him.

Shit…well that was a barrel of laughs. Hate to imagine Max's reaction when he knows I'm home. Michael dropped his things on the well-made bed, it was a fairly bare room but it had the essentials; one bed, one dresser, one stereo. Without even bothering to unpack anything, he laid down on the bed and let his mind wander over the exhausting emotional rollercoaster it had been so far.

Meanwhile across the hall, Isabel and Alex were getting ready for bed.

"So do you really think he's staying now?" Isabel worriedly asked. She felt like she had been hit by a truck, crying so much had given her a headache. Nestling down against Alex's chest, he started rubbing her temples for her. It's amazing. She thought to herself. He always knows what I need…no questions asked. How could I deserve someone as loving as him?

"Yes I think he is." Alex replied thoughtfully. "How are you feeling about it all?" He glanced down at his angel, the perfect woman inside and out that somehow he had managed to steal from everyone else.

"I don't know, happy that he's here and alive, anxious over everything we have to tell him…he's missed so much." It finally sunk into Isabel just How much he had missed. "He doesn't know about Antar and the dupes, or Maria! He saw her before us but she didn't tell him anything that had happened." Isabel's voice was rising to a shriek as memories of the past 8 years hit her. "She briefly mentioned that she was married, and that now they were separated because of his abuse. She didn't even tell him who he is!"

"Wow…it's going to be a lot for him to take in. Maybe we should call a meeting, like old times, get everyone here – including the people he isn't aware of."

"Yeah that's a good idea" Isabel yawned. ""We'll do it in the morning…goodnight babe."

"Goodnight beautiful."