Title: Not Just A Fairytale Romance
Chapter: Two
Pairing: Sarah Jane/(older)Maria
Rating: General
Chapter Summary: revelations for Sarah Jane, boredom for Luke and Clyde

Chapter Two

"You once told me that I was the person you trusted most in the world." Maria pleaded with Sarah Jane.

"That's why I'm being so cautious, if you were an Alien infiltrator, you're just the person that could persuade me to do whatever you wanted."

"I know Sarah Jane, I just wish there was something I could do to prove it to you. Mr Smith has already confirmed I'm really me. I thought you would believe him."

"I know you're older than my Maria, but I've still been in this business a lot longer than you, facts are one thing, but for me it's instinct too." Sarah Jane walked around Maria in circles, sizing her up. They stood in silence for a few moments before Sarah Jane spoke and looked Maria square in the eye.

"What are you really doing here Maria? Say I believe you, it's more than just about preventing a mistake isn't it?" Maria shrugged herself out of her bulky biker's jacket and set it to one side. She grabbed Sarah Jane's hand and placed her own on top. Her eyes pleaded with the older woman to trust her. She then slipped their joined hands underneath her top, resting them on her stomach. Sarah Jane glanced down to where their hands were joined. Maria held their hands there for a couple of poignant moments before they both felt a faint fluttering beneath them. Sarah Jane suddenly looked up at Maria with wide eyes.

"You're pregnant?" Maria's watery smile hit Sarah Jane hard and she couldn't help but envelop her new-old friend in a tight hug.

"I believe you." she whispered into Maria's ear.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Luke sat on the settee in the living room flicking through the TV channels. Clyde was agitated, pacing the room as he spoke animatedly.

"How can you just sit there and watch TV?"

"Mum told us to stay out of her way."

"Luke, Maria has come from the future to see us and we're stuck down here! There's got to be something wrong with that."

"Mum needs time to make sure Maria is really who she says she is. She's probably got Mr Smith to do some scans." Luke gave up on the TV and turned his attention to Clyde.

"Of course it's Maria! She looks exactly like her; older, way cooler, but definitely Maria."

"You don't know that Clyde. Look at Slitheen, they skin the people they want to look like. You don't notice the difference straight away."

"Yeah, but Maria doesn't smell as bad as they did, although...she does look a bit podgy. Oh my god! She's a Slitheen! We've got to warn Sarah Jane!"

"Clyde, she's not a Slitheen, I was just giving you an example. Mum's being cautious for our own protection."

"If she's not a Slitheen, then do you believe that she's the real deal?"

"Actually Clyde, I think I do."

"Well if you think that she's the real Maria Jackson, surely Sarah Jane must know by now? I want to find out about the future."

"Wait Clyde! Mum and Maria probably have a lot to talk about."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you don't come all this way into your past just to say hello do you? Something bad must have happened." Clyde looked at Luke in shock and plonked himself down on the settee next to him. It hadn't occurred to him that there might be a reason why Maria was there.

"I wonder how bad it is?" Clyde asked quietly.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Having taken her motorbike leathers off, Sarah Jane could now easily see the gentle swell of Maria's stomach. She focused on it for a few moments as the younger woman made herself comfortable on the settee next to her.

"Is the pregnancy something you wanted?"

"Oh yes, very much so."

"Well that's just wonderful! Is the father pleased too?" Sarah Jane seemed genuinely pleased for her old friend and took hold of Maria's hand. It was something she had never got to experience in her own life, and she sometimes couldn't help but feel cheated by that lost opportunity.

"She doesn't know."

"Oh...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to presume." Sarah Jane mentally kicked herself. She hated making presumptions about people, especially as she'd been on the receiving end of wild rumour and gossip herself.

"It's alright. Although, you once told me...have yet to tell me...your Maria that is...that you had an inkling." Sarah Jane smiled gently, she'd had an inkling alright.

"So, what about me? Are we still close? Have you told me? Am I pleased about it too?" Maria looked pointedly at Sarah Jane.

"Like I said, the other parent doesn't know." The words hung in the air as Sarah Jane sat staring in shock at Maria.

"What?" she whispered with a shaky breath.