The Sequel to You Human, Me Alien.

WARNING! May contain disturbing content. Read at your own risk!

Title: Damaged

Author: Andaluchia

Email: Sp1derbait@aol.com

Rating: R

Disclaimer: Max, Isabelle, Michael, Maria, Liz, Sheriff Valenti, Amy DeLuca, and Alex do not belong to me. They belong to the WB Network's Show Roswell and whoever else. Various other characters do belong to me.

Distribution: http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/specialagents (Michael/Maria shipper site.)

Summary: Sequel to You Human, Me Alien.

Chapter 1

Roswell, New Mexico

November 21, 2005

Riiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnggggggg!!

Rachel forced herself to turn over and hit the clock as hard as she could. She kept her eyes closed as she did so and afterwards she lay there breathing the refreshing air in her room. She smiled to herself when she realized it felt like a penny lay on each of her eyelids. At least that is what her daughter, Kate, always said.

Slowly, Rachel opened her eyes. She stared at the ceiling for a few moments before beginning to stretch. She felt a body shift next to her and looked over to see her husband smiling and staring down into her eyes. "Have I told you how beautiful you are?" He asked sweetly. She smiled at him. She looked at him with longing eyes that told him she loved him with all her hearts desire. He bent down and kissed her. She returned the kiss. After a few moments of passion she broke the kiss. He went to kiss her again, but she lay her finger gently on her lips and smiled.

"Baby, I'll never be able to get up if you keep kissing me." She said. He smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Just a few more minutes," he pleaded. She let out a soft chuckle before laying a short soft kiss on his lips.

"No," she said gently. "You know if I don't go wake Kate up she'll be so energized today, it'll drive us nuts," she said with a laugh. Her husband let out a sigh and lay back down. Rachel dragged herself out of bed and slipped her robe on. After she went into the bathroom she could here Daniel get up pulling clothes out of the drawer.

She quickly brushed her teeth and left the room. She was on a mission now; she had to wake up her 4 year-old daughter.

"SON OF A BITCH!" She yelled and looked down at her feet to see she had just stepped on gymnastics Barbie. She quickly picked it up and continued on with her destination.

Finally reaching her daughter's door, covered with posters of the latest craze Poochie, she gently turned the knob and slowly opened the door. She peaked into the room before quietly stepping in.

"Kate," she whispered with a playful tone. "Time to wake up, sweetie." She continued.

She walked deeper into the room and looked around at the mess her daughter created with Barbies, crayons, and various other toys. Then her eyes followed an invisible trail that led to her daughter's innocent laying form on the bed. When her eyes reached their goal she was shocked to find her daughter not in her bed. Quickly, her eyes scanned the room. Nothing. She took a step back before turning around and going out the door.

She steadily went down the stairs and strained her ears to hear cartoons on the TV, but she heard nothing. "Kate?" Her voice shaking. -You're going to go into the backyard and find her playing on the swings and you'll have to scold her for going out without telling mommy, --she told herself. She made her way through the kitchen and into the living room. -Where are you baby? -She pleaded. She frantically looked all around the room. -She's just playing hide 'n' go seek--, she told herself. But deep down, Rachel knew that wasn't true. A lump began to form in her throat.

Rachel froze when she saw the back door open. She ran towards it hoping, praying that Kate be outside playing. She stepped outside and screamed in pain. She looked down to see her foot bleeding.

She lifted her foot to examine it but her gaze fell elsewhere. To her horror, there was broken glass on the ground. She looked at the door and saw something there she had not seen before. It was broken. Someone had broken into her house and took her heart right from her chest.

She started to feel weak in the knees and her breathing became faster. "Oh, God." She whispered with a single tear rolling down her cheek. "Danny..." She whispered for her husband. "DANNY!" She yelled in a horrified scream. She heard footsteps pounding on the floor above her.

"Rachel?" He called. Rachel lay still in shock with tears streaming down her face. Danny put his arms around her. "Rachel, what's wrong?" He asked. She looked up towards the backyard door and he followed her gaze. His eyes widened. "Kate," he whispered.

"Ma'am, please calm down."

"Calm down? Is that what you want?" Rachel asked the cop in disbelief.

"You're just a rookie cop! You don't know what it feels like to have a child, let alone have one taken away from you! Until you do, I will NOT CALM DOWN!" She yelled. The cop jumped at the loudness in her voice. Rachel touched her forehead. She couldn't take it anymore. It had been a day and a half since her daughter was discovered missing and nothing! Not even one clue as to what happened to her. She sat down on the couch next to Danny. He put his arm around her and whispered in her ear.

"Everything is going to be OK. I can feel it," he said squeezing her shoulder slightly. Rachel lowered her head and began to cry again. Danny touched her head with his and tightened his grip around her.

"Mr. and Mrs. Norton." Rachel and Danny both looked up at Sheriff Whitman. They both got up quickly.

"Sheriff, please tell us you found her." Danny said with hope.

"We did find your daughter," he began. Danny and Rachel both let out a sigh of relief. Rachel looked up into the Sheriff's eyes.

"What is it?" She asked regretfully. Sheriff Whitman lowered his head and looked for words. He took a deep breathe and looked up at the some-what young couple.

"She's dead," he said trying to sound somewhat professional, but it didn't work. You could hear the hurt in his voice. This was one part of the job he hated.

Chapter 2

One year later

November 21, 2006

Michael wasn't sure where he was, although he felt an overwhelming feeling of déjà vu. He looked around and saw nothing but white. It was like he was stuck in a blank canvas. He stepped forward and that was when it started. With each step the picture began to form.

Crrch! He heard the sound under his feet. He looked down and noticed he was walking on gravel. Between the gravel were little specks of water and he looked up and saw that he was a few feet from a shoreline. The sky was a deathly black with gray clouds that looked like smoke.

He walked further and saw a bright, silvery moon forming in the sky. "Did she tell anyone?" The words echoed in the sky. Michael turned around at the sound of the question and remembered.

"Michael." Michael turned abruptly and came face to face with Maria. She wore black tied up boots with hip hugging jeans and a simple red shirt. Her hair was long and messy and her face was slightly covered in dirt. "Why'd you leave me, baby?" He asked the question a thousand times, but she stood so still that for a moment he thought she was a statue. "Please answer," he pleaded, a lump began forming in his throat. Maria gazed at him with her beautiful, pained emerald eyes.

She slowly moved her hand and placed it underneath her left breast. Michael closed his eyes for a brief moment and opened them to be a few inches from Maria's face. She breathed slowly. He reached out to touch her face, but he never could. "Michael," she said once more. He looked up at her and waited. He wanted to touch her so badly.

"Maria, is this really you? Did you come into my dream?" He asked. He had always asked the question even though he knew the answer. Maria smiled. Her expression was full of pain and hurt.

"Don't heal me." Michael was confused.

"What?" He whispered. Maria began to fade. "No, Maria wait!" She remained smiling at him.

"Don't heal me," she said once more.

"Maria, please don't leave!" He yelled. She faded away. "MARIA!"

Michael jerked up from his sleep sweating and breathing hard. He sat up and breathed deeply. He began to breathe normally, but his heart still raced.

He looked at the clock, 9:30 A.M.

Michael scanned the room and heard footsteps. The door opened and Julia walked in.

She observed him for a moment and then rolled her eyes.

"Another nightmare," she huffed. She walked into the room and turned the TV on. She sat on the bed next to Michael. Michael stared at his some-what girlfriend. He didn't expect her to put her arms around him and comfort him.

She never did. She never even asked what his nightmares were about. Not that he would tell her anyway. She didn't even know the truth about him. She was tired of his nightmares. Well, nightmare actually. Michael had had the same exact dream every night for the past 4 years since Maria left. They never stopped. Never let up. It's like they didn't care. He could be sleeping, day dreaming, or just closing his eyes. They never left him alone. They always came, without fail. He didn't want to think about it anymore. He turned his attention to the news on the TV.

"This is Roswell News," the lady began. "Always bringing you the news first."

Michael shook his head for a second as if he was shaking off leftover nightmares. Julia changed the channel and Michael looked up quickly. He grabbed the remote from her. She became pissed.

"God! Rude much?" She exclaimed. Michael ignored her. He changed it back to the news. Not even knowing why he had a feeling to watch the news today.

"We have more breaking news on the story of the body found two days ago. The body has been confirmed to be Emily Ledger. The young 5 year-old daughter of Keith and Dana Ledger was discovered missing a little over 6 months ago. Two days ago a body washed up at the shoreline and investigators wondered if it might be little Emily. DNA sadly confirms that it is. Autopsy reports claim that the girl was strangled and then drowned."

Michael groaned at the horrible news. -Why can't we ever have good news. --He continued to listen to the rest of the story.

"Emily Ledger is the 6th victim in the last year. Police have not confirmed them to be linked killings. We'll have more for you in the coming days." Michael turned the TV off and got up from bed. "Well, Alex sure has his hands full." Julia proclaimed. Michael closed his eyes and thought of how Alex must be dealing with this.

///Flashback///

"Michael, please help me."

"Alex, I want to. I really do. But I just can't do it." Michael looked into Alex's hurt eyes.

"Every time I find another body I can't help but think of my sister." Alex's sister had drowned at the young age of 5 years old when he was just 7 years old. Michael looked at his friend. "Please." He whispered. Michael nodded and Alex closed his eyes in relief. "Thank you," he breathed.

Alex led him into the hospital room and pulled back the sheet to reveal a 5 year-old girl.

"This is-" Michael stopped him. He didn't want to know the little girl's name. If he failed he would feel a personalized pain. But, if he didn't know her name he couldn't put his failure to a disappointed person. Alex looked at him and understood.

Michael slowly extended his hand. He knew he would regret this, regret seeing and feeling all the horror the girl went through. He hesitated for a moment but when he felt Alex about to urge him on he continued.

He grabbed a hold of the girl's hand and that's when it came.

~ He saw a tall man, 6'2, with a black mask on his face.

~ He saw the man's piercing gray eyes. Death was in his eyes.

~ He saw him grab the little girl.

~ She was scared. He could feel it most of all.

~ He saw the little girl frantically trying to run away from him.

~ He chased after her. He tripped and fell on top of her.

~ He was about 200 pounds.

~ He clapped his hands around the little girl's throat and began to choke her.

Michael took his hand away immediately touching his throat. He was breathing hard.

"Michael? What did you see?" Alex asked. Michael looked at him with a pained expression. He hated failing his friend.

"I can tell you that he is 6'2, 200 pounds with gray eyes. That is all I can tell you." He answered. Alex sighed. He had hoped for more, but he would take whatever he got.

"Thank you," he breathed. Michael began to walk off, but turned around once more.

"Don't ask me to do this again." He said and turned back around and walked off.

///End Flashback///

Chapter 3

New York City

November 21, 2006

Officer Maria DeLuca steadily walked on the sidewalk in a straight line, searching for any kind of evidence. She took her radio out and began to speak in.

"Portable 3378. Can't find anything, Central." She said into the radio. She was tired and with every movement she could feel her bones ache. "Nothing more on location 3378. Probably just more kids playing pranks."

The radio replied. Maria sighed. - I want to go home and sleep. - "Come on home, Copy."

Maria was relieved to hear those words. "I definitely copy," she answered back and turned towards her car. That's when she saw the body. "Son of bitch," she breathed. "Portable 3378 to Central. I've got an 11-39 behind the Water Creak Apartments, three four South Bend, Homicide, requesting detectives, CS, bus and tour doctor, copy?" Maria informed.

"Roger, 3378. Perp in custody?"

"No perp." She answered.

"Roger, three-three-seven-eight."

Maria stared down at the body. It was a young girl, probably around 16-18 years old. Her clothes were torn which meant she was most likely a rape victim. Maria closed her eyes. She wanted to clear her thoughts or else she break down and cry for this poor girl.

I'm 23 years old and I feel like I'm 40 - She thought to herself.

Maria lay down on her soft bed and closed her eyes. She was so tired from today.

"Good work, Officer," her boss had told her. But Maria hadn't felt like she did a good job. -- I was supposed to save her life, not find her when she is already dead. -

Maria rubbed her temples for a few minutes. She turned and stared at the phone. - Maybe I should call Liz. - She thought. Even though it was a phone call, Maria hated calling Roswell, New Mexico. Maybe it was because there was so much pain back there. -- Michael was there. - She decided not to call and drifted off to sleep.

"Tell us, Maria, and the pain will stop." Maria glared at the woman, known as Topolsky their estranged guidance counselor. "Don't you want me to untie you so you can go home and lay down in your nice warm bed."

"No," Maria lied.

"I know that your friends are all aliens." She said. "Now, just say yes and we'll let you go. We won't do anything to hurt them." She said. Maria was so disgusted by this woman that she wanted to throw up. She breathed in deeply.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she answered bravely. Topolsky circled Maria before stopping in front of her again. She brought her face close to Maria's.

"You know, I saw your boyfriend, Oh what's his name? Oh yeah, Michael, with another girl. Are you two having problems." She asked. Maria could barely contain her laughter.

"Topolsky, you'll have to do a lot better than that," Maria said laughing. The woman looked deeply into Maria's eyes and sighed.

"Maria, I don't want to do this too you. But, I can tell you that if you don't tell us what we want to know you will be forced to suffer major consequences."

"Like what?" Maria asked even though she knew she'd never give Topolsky what she wanted.

"Sorry, but we can't tell you." She answered. "Now, let's try this again. Are Michael Guerin, Isabelle Evans, and Max Evans aliens?"

"Like I said, I don't know what you're talking about." Maria answered. It was later on that she'd realize the phrase, 'what you don't know won't hurt you', was a complete lie.

Maria woke up in the dark. There was a faded sound getting louder and once it got loud enough she realized it was the phone. She stared at it before answering it.

"Hello?" Her voice was hoarse.

"Maria?"

"Hi, Jimmy." She answered.

"Hey, what do you say you get your butt out of bed and go clubbing with me tonight?" He asked.

"Are you sure you're a cop?" Maria asked him. Jimmy didn't act like a cop. He was always staying out late and partying. Hopefully not doing anything illegal.

"You're funny you know that. So, what do you say?" Maria thought for a long minute. "Maaarrriiiiiaaa?" Maria smiled.

"I'm in." She answered.

"SOLID!" He yelled into the receiver.

"I really hate your word usage." Maria replied.

Chapter 4

December 22, 2006

Roswell, New Mexico

Michael pulled open a book and began to read. The book was called "The Paranormal." It was for a class he was taking at Roswell University. - Who would have thought that I'd go to college? - Michael thought to himself. Of course it was because of Maria that he did so.

///flashback///

"Maria, I want to find out if there is more of us out there." Michael loved the way he could say 'us' now. He loved that Maria knew what it felt like to be an alien. Maria smiled at him.

"Michael, if you want to know if there is more of us out there than you should go to school for it." She replied. Michael gave a confused expression.

"School? What are you talking about?" He asked.

"You know, Parapsychology. If you study the field that'll give you a good excuse to be able to look at all the restricted files. I mean when something weird happens they'll be calling you first to come and look at it. It'll be like X-Files or something." She said. Michael looked up at this amazing woman before him. He couldn't believe this. He grabbed her into a hug and kissed her.

"God, I love you." He said.

///End Flashback///

Julia came into the room. "Michael, what are you doing?"

"What does it look like? I'm studying, Julia," he replied.

"Michael, we are on Thanksgiving break and you're studying?" She grabbed his arm and proceeded to pull him to stand up. "Let's go to a party." He took his arm away from her.

"Let's not." He replied. She huffed.

"You're no fun." She said. Michael rolled his eyes.

"You know, Julia. I've been thinking, maybe you and I should break up, cause I'm not feeling anything anymore." He said. - Did I ever feel something? -- Julia stood and starred at him for a long time. Then she threw her hands up.

"Great! Now I get to tell everyone that my boyfriend broke up with me during Thanksgiving! Wonderful!" She said as she grabbed her purse. "Doesn't matter! I was so freaking tired of you brooding all the time." She said and slammed the door behind her. Michael stood still and looked at the door for a moment. He shrugged then went back to his book to study. Yes, that's what Maria would want him to do.

-- Why do my thoughts always go back to Maria? It's been 4 years and I still can't get over her. -

Michael rubbed his forehead and sighed. He couldn't concentrate right now. He closed the book. He was so tired. He contemplated going to sleep, but that dream would come again. - I'll close my eyes for a few moments. - He said to himself. When he did his body betrayed him as he fell asleep. "Did she tell anyone?" The question sounded like it came from the sky. Michael remembered everything. He knew this dream; it was all too familiar for him. But, something was different. He sensed someone behind him. "Maria." He said and turned around to see Isabelle there instead.

"Isabelle?" He said unsure of what to expect. He stared at her for a few minutes.

"You don't look any different." Isabelle said with a smile. Michael smiled and he realized this was really Isabelle. "Is...It's been a long time." He said. Isabelle walked near him. Michael was a bit nervous. "Why did you come into my dream?" He asked.

"She's a wreck." Isabelle said. Michael was confused. "Wha-What? Who?" He said even though he knew the answer.

"The day she left you I could tell she was broken up. She tried to hide if from me, but I knew." Isabelle said as she walked around observing the whole environment.

"Why did she leave me?" Michael asked. Isabelle stopped and looked at him.

"It's not my place to tell you Michael. But, I can say she loves you. She always will no matter how hard she tries not to." She answered. "And believe me she tries," Isabelle added with a smirk. Michael lowered his head.

"Where is she, Isabelle?" Michael asked. Isabelle smiled. Michael thought back to the day Maria had left.

///Flashback///

"Maria, what happened? I don't understand," Michael said. A few weeks before, Topolsky's people had kidnapped Maria. She never told him what happened, but she had been so different, so distant. Michael used to be able to just look at Maria and she'd look back and they'd read each other like books, but it all changed. Maria no longer had any expression in her face and it was tearing him to shreds. Michael went over and laid a hand on Maria's shoulder, she jerked away. Michael was startled by her reaction. Maria lowered her head and closed her eyes for a moment.

"J-just don't touch me, please." She said in a whisper. Maria continued to pack her bags.

"Why are you doing this?" Michael asked. Maria didn't answer. "What do you want me to do to make you st-"

"You can't do or say anything, Michael. I'm leaving OK. Please except it." Maria answered. He looked at her in disbelief.

"Except it? You just want me to sit back here and except the fact that the only woman I ever loved and ever will love is walking out on me and not even telling me why." He said. Maria looked deep into his eyes.

"You know why I'm leaving. You're just to blind to see it right now." She answered. With that she grabbed her bags and started to go out the door. Michael ran and blocked her. "Michael, don't do this!" She yelled through tears.

"You don't want to leave, Maria. I know it. Talk to me! Talk to me like you used to talk to me. Tell me what's wrong." He said. She continued to leave but Michael stopped her. He held her by the shoulders. Maria froze.

"Michael, if you love me you'll let me go." She said those simple words that tore into Michael's soul. He knew she was right, but why should he let her go? Why? When she can't even tell him why she's leaving. He slowly let go of her taking in the feel of her skin and memorizing it. She opened the door.

"You'll always be my girl." He said. She stopped for a second but didn't turn around.

"Always." She said and walked away.

"Alex, where is she?" Michael asked.

"I can't tell you."

"Alex, I'm your friend. How can you do this to me?" Michael exclaimed.

"I can't tell you, because I don't know!" Alex yelled. Michael looked in his eyes and knew he was telling the truth. He left and ran to Liz's house.

"Michael, I can't tell you." She said.

"I seem to be hearing that a lot lately. Liz, please!" Liz rubbed her pregnant belly in sadness. She wanted to tell Michael, but she knew she couldn't.

"I'm so sorry." She said to him.

///End Flashback///

"Isabelle, please tell me where she is." Michael pleaded. Isabelle started to cry. He looked at her and her eyes glazed over.

"Don't heal her, Michael." Michael started to get scared.

"What the hell are you talking about?" He yelled.

"Don't heal her. You have to let things go as planned." She said.

"Isabelle, I have to see her once more, please!" He exclaimed.

"You will see her soon, I promise." She said and disappeared.

Chapter 5

New York City

November 22, 2006

Maria stood still under the shower letting the warm water relax her muscles. She didn't know how long she had been standing there, but not long enough. She couldn't relax. She could never relax. She heard a knock at the door.

"Maria? Are you all right?" Her boyfriend, Jimmy, called through the door. Maria looked towards the door. She turned the shower off and slowly stepped out of the shower stall. Her bones were still creaking from yesterday's fiasco. She grabbed the towel and dried herself off. "Maria?" He called again.

"I'm fine." She answered. She slipped her robe on and went to the kitchen to start making breakfast. Jimmy came into the kitchen and watched her for a moment. He was staring at her like she had grown a third head. "What?" She asked. He smiled at her.

"Can we talk?" He asked. Maria sighed. - Here it comes. - She thought to herself. "We've been together for a year now. Don't you think it's time to move to the next level?" He asked her. Maria rolled her eyes.

"Next level? Jimmy, I like you. I really do, but I don't see why things can't stay the same." She said. Jimmy stared at her in disbelief.

"The same? NOTHING'S THE SAME, MARIA!" Maria jumped at the sudden volume in his voice. "Nothing has been the same since your mom died. I'm here for you."

"I know." Maria said. He walked to be an inch from her face. "Let's get married." He said. Her eyes widened.

"Married?" Maria said the word aloud. Whenever she thought of marriage, she always thought of Michael. Maria had always saw her and Michael getting married someday. But, things had changed.

"Maria, I love you. Don't you love me?" He asked. Maria looked up slowly. She hated questions like that. Inside she was trembling and it threatened to show. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

"No," she whispered. Jimmy stepped back and looked at her.

"So, I guess this is it." He said. Maria nodded. Jimmy swallowed hard.

"Fine. I have to go out of town. I'll get my stuff out of here when I get back." Maria nodded an ok. Jimmy picked up his jacket and went out the door. Maria grabbed on to the counter. Her knees were so weak.

Riiinnnnnnggggg!!! Maria looked up and stared at the phone. She walked slowly to it and picked it up.

"Hello?" She whispered.

"Maria?" Maria let out a sigh of relief when she heard Liz's voice.

"Liz, hey!" She said in a happier tone.

"Maria, did I wake you, I'm sorry."

"No, you didn't wake me. How is...everything?" She asked.

"Everything is fine. Claire was driving me nuts. She kept begging me to call 'Aunt' Maria." She said with a laugh. Maria smiled. "Here she wants to talk to you."

"Hello?" A little voice said into the phone. Maria's smile grew bigger.

"Hi, sweetie!" Maria said happily.

"AUNT MARIA! GUESS WHAT!" She yelled.

"WHAT?" Maria said with a surprised voice.

"It was my birthday last week!" She said.

"I know! How old are you now?" She asked.

"I'm foe."

"Four? WOW!! You're a big girl!" Maria exclaimed.

"Aunt Maria, can you come visit for Christmas?" She asked. Maria heard Liz telling Claire that she wasn't supposed to ask yet. Maria sighed. Every year they tried to get her to come visit. But, she couldn't. She couldn't face Michael. Liz always said that she didn't have to see him. But, their town was small; she was bound to run into him some time or another.

"We'll see." Maria always said. Claire sighed.

"OK, here's mommy."

"Maria, I'm sorry." Liz said immediately.

"It's OK. Really. Liz, I have to go get ready for work."

"You're working during Thanksgiving break?" Liz asked.

"Well, crime happens on all the holidays." Maria replied. "I'm not working Thanksgiving Day though. Somehow Isabelle convinced me to come and have dinner with her and Adrian. She must have brainwashed me." Maria laughed.

"Well, have a good Thanksgiving, Maria."

"Thanks Liz. Oh yeah, say the hi to Max."

"I will." She answered.

"Bye."

"Bye."

Chapter 6

Roswell, New Mexico

November 23, 2006

Ding, dong! Liz heard the doorbell from the kitchen. She put down the bowl of cake mix, wiped her hands on a towel, and headed towards the door. She peeked through the hole and saw Michael standing there. Smiling, she opened the door.

"Hi, Michael." She said happily. He tried his best to smile at her, but it was hard. Every time Michael looked at Liz he would be reminded that she knew where Maria was and refused to tell him.

"Hi, Liz." He said flatly. He handed her an apple pie. She looked at the pie then back at him. "I know how much Claire loves apple pies so I brought her one." He said and shrugged.

"Thank you." She said. Michael stepped in the house and heard little tiny footsteps pounding down the stairs. He walked to the end of the stairs and extended his arms. Claire jumped from the 4th stair down and Michael caught her.

"Uncle Michael!!" She yelled.

"Hey! How's my favorite girl?" He asked. He let Claire down and she hopped around him like a bunny rabbit.

"I COULDN'T BE BETTER!" She yelled. Michael laughed. Liz stood back and observed the two.

"And why is that?" He asked.

"Because, Aunt Maria is coming for Christmas!!" She yelled. Liz's expression turned white. Michael froze for a split second but rebounded.

"That's great." He tried to sound genuinely happy but you could hear the crack in his voice.

"It's Shagadelic baby!" The 4 year-old continued. "And I finally get to meet her! YEAH BABY YEAH!" She said. Michael glanced at Liz.

"Max let her watch Austin Powers," was the only explanation Liz could give. Michael smiled at the thought of Max being a father. Even though he still had a lot to learn. Michael also envied him. He wouldn't have minded having a few little Michael's or Maria's running around the house.

"Guess what else!" Claire said happily.

"What?" Michael asked.

"Mommy bought me the Mulder and Scully Barbie dolls for my birthday! Will you come see them?" Michael was about to protest but when he saw the puppy face the little girl was giving him he couldn't refuse.

"OK, let's go see your Mulder and Scully dolls." He said. Claire grabbed his hand and led him to her room.

When they got to her room Michael sat down on her bed while she rummaged through her toy chest looking for her dolls. She pulled out a poster and unrolled it. She brought it to Michael. It was a poster of a little alien dressed as a hippie and at the bottom it said, 'We Come In Peace.' Michael smiled.

"Isn't it retro?!" She said happily. - Where is she learning this vocabulary? - Michael thought to himself. She handed him the poster so he could take a closer look. That's when the flashes came.

~ He saw Maria going into a store, looked like K-mart or maybe a Walmart.

~ He saw her go through the toy sections debating what to get little Claire.

~ She was about to walk out when she stopped to look at the posters. That was when she saw it. She looked for the number, took it out, and brought it to the cashier to pay for it.

~ He saw her walking towards her car with her bag in hand.

~ She got in her car and her cell phone rang.

~ "Hello?...Yes, this is Maria DeLuca......My mother?......WHAT?............Yes, I'll be right there."

Michael dropped the poster and stopped to catch his breath. Claire stood staring at him.

"Did you have visions?" She asked. Michael looked at her and nodded his head. "Don't you just hate it when that happens?" She said with a smirk.

Michael smiled at her. He looked at her dresser and noticed a picture of Liz and Maria. Everyday he would always contemplate going into Maria's dreams and asking her where she was or maybe just to see her again. But, he was afraid that he might yell at her for leaving him. He was afraid of the heartache it would give him. He let out a loud sigh and then realized that Claire had been standing there staring at him. When he looked at her she gave him the cutest little smile and handed him a doll.

"You're Scully." She proclaimed. He laughed.

"How come I have to be Scully?" He asked.

"Because, all the good stuff happens to Mulder," she said and sighed as if Michael had been left out of a secret. "Ok," she began. "We have to find this demon that's after Scully! And Mulder gets some ultra cool powers that make him superhuman!" She exclaimed happily. The door opened and Max walked in.

"Claire, leave poor Michael alone." He said as he scooped his little girl into his arms. "Hey Michael, how is everything? How's classes?" He asked.

"They're going great. Can you believe I aced a test last week." Michael said with a wide grin.

"Actually, that is sort of weird." Max said laughing.

"Yeah it is! It's a job for Scully and Mulder!" Claire proclaimed loudly.

Michael stood up and they started walking down the stairs with Claire hot on their trail.

"So, why did you come over today?" Max asked. Michael shrugged.

"It's just...nothing. It's just nothing."

"Michael, I know you better than you know yourself. Now, tell me what's wrong." Max encouraged.

"I've been having this dream everyday for the last four years. It's always been exact. But, lately it's been changing."

"How?" Max asked.

"Well, not really changing. But, just getting more real or distinct. I'm not sure which." Michael thought for a second. Max wished he could help his friend, but he honestly didn't know what to do. "I guess it's nothing to worry about." Michael said and shrugged it off. He didn't tell Max about Isabelle's message in the latest dream.

"You're coming over tomorrow for Thanksgiving dinner right?" Max asked.

"Yeah, Of course." Michael answered. They hugged briefly and Michael left.

Chapter 7

Roswell, New Mexico

November 24, 2006

Thanksgiving Day

Liz rummaged through the cupboard, she finally found the brownie mix she was looking for. She pulled it out and went to the fridge to get the rest of the needed ingredients. "Max!" She yelled. A minute later Max came into the kitchen.

"Yeah?" He asked.

"Do you think you could get the Turkey out of the oven for me?" She asked. He nodded and open the oven to take the Turkey out. The doorbell rang.

"I'll get it." Liz said and went to get the door. "Michael's here!" She yelled. Michael and Liz both walked into the kitchen and Michael went over to help Max with the turkey. Michael scanned the place quickly.

"Where's Claire? She's usually up and running by now." Michael said.

"I decided to let her sleep in today while we finish the cooking. She was up late last night watching The X-Files." Liz smiled to herself at the thought of how much Claire loved the X-Files. "I told her I'd wake her up in time to watch Football with you two. Which should start in a few minutes. So, do you think you could go wake her for me?" Liz asked. Michael nodded and went upstairs.

New York City

Maria walked into the kitchen and help Isabelle with the cooking.

"So how are the Calvin Klein ads going?" She asked.

"Actually, they are going great! They asked me to model in Milan this summer." Isabelle replied. Maria smiled.

"I'm happy for you." Riiiinnnnnnggggg! Maria looked at the phone. The ringing had startled her. Isabelle didn't seem in a hurry to pick up the phone.

"Do you want me to get it for you?" Maria asked.

"No, if it's important they'll call back." She said and continued on with the cooking. The phone continued to ring. Maria looked back at the phone. The ringing sounded weird to her. She got this overwhelming feeling that the call was important. It was sort of like when you have a dog and they bark at people near your house, but you ignore it because it's just your neighbors. Then one day your dog is barking again, but this time their bark is different in a way that you know something is wrong.

Maria stood there and stared at the phone. It had rung about 10 times already and Isabelle still didn't even flinch.

"Maria, what's wrong?" Isabelle asked when she noticed Maria staring at the phone.

"Nothing. Do you mind if I pick up the phone?" She asked. Isabelle looked at her and knew Maria was getting a weird feeling. She nodded an OK and Maria went over to pick up the phone. As soon as she touched it she knew who it was.

She picked it up. "Liz, what's wrong?" She asked immediately.

"Maria?" Her voice was shaking. Maria could sense that Liz had been crying and was trying not to cry anymore.

"Liz, I'm here. Tell me what's wrong?" Maria continued. Liz gently started to cry. She could hear Max in the background telling Liz to let him talk to her.

"He took Claire!" Liz yelled as she started to cry hysterically. Maria heart skipped a beat and she stopped breathing for a second. She looked at Isabelle and Isabelle could see the horror in Maria's eyes. Maria tried to stay calm. That's what they taught her at the police academy.

"Who, Liz? Who took Claire?" She asked calmly.

"I don't know." Liz sobbed. "I don't know." She whispered. Maria closed her eyes as if she had a migraine.

"Hello, Maria?"

"Max."

"Maria, somebody broke into the house last night and took Claire." He said. Although he was calm you could tell he was ready to break down any second.

"Did you try to-"

"Yes, I did." Max answered already knowing her question. "Michael tried to also. All we got was a man around 6' wearing a mask breaking into the house . . . Maria, we really need your help with this." Max said. Maria knew why they had called her. Her being a cop and an alien would be of great help to find Claire. Even though they had alien powers, they knew nothing about crime scenes or forensics.

"Max."

"Yeah?"

"Consider me on a flight home right now." She replied.

Chapter 8

Maria eased back in her chair on the airplane and closed her eyes.

Isabelle told her to try to get some sleep, but how can you sleep at a time like this? She looked at her clock, 9:30 P.M. They would be arriving in Roswell in 2 hours. Maria took her headphones out to try and listen to some relaxing music. She closed her eyes to Dido's "Here With Me."

///Flashback///

"Topolsky, when are you going to learn?!" Maria yelled. "There are no aliens!" Topolsky stared at Maria with a smirk on her face. "I mean, didn't you learn anything when they did those tests on Max. They found nothing but HUMAN DNA!" Maria yelled.

"No, see I think you and your little friends did something. Or maybe Max did something to himself. It was some kind of trick, I know it." Topolsky said almost trying to convince herself. Topolsky had always thought that Maria was the weak link in the group. If only she knew that she had in her custody an alien. Topolsky took a box out and opened it. She took a needle out and pinched it into a small container full of liquid.

"Well, Maria, since you refuse to tell me what I want. I'm afraid I will have to keep my promise . . . . It's time to begin with the consequences."

Topolsky came near Maria and Maria began to squirm around, trying desperately to get out of her bondage. But she couldn't. "Don't worry Maria, you won't feel a thing. Well, actually you're going to be feeling the pain later on. Just not the way you think." Topolsky smiled as she stuck Maria's arm with the needle. Maria flinched, but remained quiet. She continued to stare at Topolsky until out of nowhere she disappeared and everything became black.

///End Flashback///

Maria felt a tap on her shoulder and opened her eyes to see Isabelle. "We're here." She said softly. Maria took a deep breath. She was so nervous. She looked outside her window and looked at Roswell, New Mexico. No matter how much pain was here, it was still her home. She got up slowly and stretched. She looked at clock, 11:33 P.M. She bent over and grabbed her bag then followed Isabelle to get off the plane.

Liz sat on the couch holding Claire's Mulder and Scully dolls. She hadn't let them go since Claire was declared missing. Her eyes and cheeks were red from crying. Max paced the room. Liz could tell he was thinking hard. He also kept looking at his watch.

"They should be here soon." He said softly. Michael, who hadn't said a word in hours, walked around the house touching various things trying to get some sort of vision to tell him something, anything about Claire's whereabouts. But, Liz could tell nothing was working. She needed Maria. She was relieved to know her best friend was on her way over.

Michael touched anything and everything, desperately trying to get some information on Claire's whereabouts, but nothing was working. He looked at his watch, 11:50 P.M. Maria was going to be here soon. He thought back at his dream when Isabelle had said he would see her very soon. -But why do I have to see her in these type of circumstances? - He thought to himself. A soft knock was on the door and Michael tensed up. -She's here.-

Almost before the knock fell on their ears Max was walking to the door. He opened it knowing it would be Maria and Isabelle. He opened it up. Upon opening the door Isabelle grabbed her brother and embraced him in a loving hug.

Michael saw this and sighed. When he saw Maria walk in every thing turned to slow motion. She looked so different. She had longer hair and her face was so pale with dark circles under her eyes. She looked worn out.

Maria ran to Liz and as she grabbed Liz into a hug they both started to cry. Michael watched everyone. At that moment he felt lonely. He'd always known he missed Maria, but now that she was so close to him he felt like she was a million miles away.

At that moment Maria noticed him. Slowly her and Liz let go of each other. Maria and Michael looked at each other. Maria so badly wanted to run to him and hug him and kiss him like she used to. She wondered if he felt the same way. He did feel the same way. But, it felt like there was a barrier between them. A barrier that was too strong to break. -If only our love had been like that.- Both Maria and Michael thought at the same time.

"Maria," Michael breathed. Maria stood straight up careful to wipe all emotion from her face.

"Michael." She stated.

* * * * *

Chapter 9

After Max and Isabelle broke their hug he walked up to Maria and laid his hand on her shoulder. Michael never took his eyes off Maria. "Maria, thank you so much for coming." Max said.

"Max, Did you really think I was going to stay in New York while all this happened?" She asked. Max smiled at her and then hugged her.

"You were so important to Claire." Max chuckled in sadness. "Even though she had never met you, she still thought the world of you." Maria started to cry again. -Well, looks like I'm staying calm just like the police academy taught me.- She thought to herself. "She used to say that you and Scully kicked ass. Even though Liz and I tried to get her to rephrase that a little." Max laughed. Suddenly he stopped and it grew silent for a moment.

Maria grabbed Max into a hug and let him cry softly. "Max, I swear to you and Liz I will find her. I've never let Liz down once and I don't intend to start now." She said. She tightened her grip on Max.

"Thank you." He whispered.

Maria slipped her gloves on and slowly turned the knob to Claire's room. Liz and Max started to go with her, but she stopped them. "I think it would be best if you two didn't come in with me." She said softly. Max and Liz both nodded their heads in understanding. Max put his arms around Liz and they walked back downstairs.

Maria surveyed Claire's room. She saw tons of Posters of Scully and Mulder all over the little girls room. She smiled to herself. -What an eccentric little child.- She said to herself. She walked over to the dresser and picked up a framed photo Claire had of her. It was in an alien shaped frame. It was a picture of Maria on her graduation day. She was making a silly face while standing next to Michael who had his arm around her.

Michael walked in slowly and saw Maria staring at a picture Claire had of them. He quietly cleared his throat and she turned around abruptly. "Michael!" She said while placing her hand over her chest. "GOD! You scared the hell out of me." Michael stood staring at her for a minute.

"Sorry," he said quietly. He held up a case that said NYPD that Maria had brought with her. "I . . . thought you might need this." He said.

"Thank you." She said and as she advanced on him to grab it she dropped the picture she was holding. She bent over to pick it up and stopped. She used her alien vision and saw a footprint on the floor. "ohmigod," she whispered to herself. "Quick, Michael open the case and give me the white powder and the camera." She said. Michael did as he was told. Maria loaded the camera. She took a dollar out of her pocket and placed it next to the print then took a picture.

"What is that for?" Michael asked with curiosity.

"It's got something to do with finding the guys height and all that." She said absentmindedly.

"But, we already know he's 6'2." He said.

"Yeah, but when the police ask you how you knew that, what are you going to say?" She asked. She slightly touched the footprint and closed her eyes then opened them. "Where did you get he was 6'2?" She asked Michael. Maria looked up at Michael waiting for an answer.

"A few months ago I tried to help Alex with the case of another missing girl." He replied.

"There was another missing girl?"

"Yeah, throughout this whole year there have been little girls around the age of 4-6 years old being kidnapped. Claire would be the 7th victim." He said quietly. Maria got up and walked out of the room quickly. Michael followed after her. "Maria, what is it?" He asked.

"I need to call Alex." She said.

Maria stared at all 7 folders sitting on the table. Alex had brought them earlier for her. She opened the first one.

Kate Norton: 4 years old. Missing: November 20, 2005. Found strangled then drowned a day later.

Leelee Brody: 6 years old. Missing January 1rst, 2006. Found strangled then drowned a day later.

Veronica Stiles: 6 years old. Missing February 14th, 2006. Found strangled then drowned a day later.

Sadie Scott: 5 years old. Missing April 7th, 2006. Found strangled then drowned a day later.

Emily Ledger: 4 years old. Missing July 23rd, 2006. Found strangled then drowned 6 months later.

Claire Evans: 4 years old. Missing November 24, 2006. Still Missing.

Maria leaned back in the chair and rubbed her face. "Fuck," she breathed. She looked at her watch, 3:30 A.M. She rubbed her eyes and went to look at the files again in case she missed something. She turned around when she heard footsteps. It was Michael. He sat down next to her and handed her a cup of coffee.

"Thought you might need some." He said.

"Thanks." She said and sipped the coffee. Michael looked at the folders on the desk.

"Did you find anything?" He asked. She looked at him as if debating whether to discuss it or not.

"Well, all little girls between the ages of 4-6 years old found strangled and drowned the day after their disappearance except two. Claire Evans, who still remains to be missing and Emily Ledger who was found 6 months later."

She informed. "But, why? Why was she found 6 months later?" She asked herself out loud.

"Maybe, we just didn't find her body till then." Michael offered. Maria shook her head.

"No, she was alive all those months." She said.

"What?" He asked. Maria sat up and breathed deeply.

"When they found her body it wasn't decomposed or anything. She had been dead only a few hours."

"How do you know?" He asked.

"Because, I got a vision when I touched her file. Emily's case has nothing to do with the rest." Maria said rubbing her eyes again.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that the guy who kidnapped Emily is not the same guy who kidnapped the other 5 girls." She said.

"Don't you mean 6?" Michael asked.

"No. The man who kidnapped Emily is the same man who kidnapped Claire."

"So, that means th-"

"That someone was looking for Claire, they just fucked up the first time." Maria finished his sentence.

Chapter 10

Maria looked through Claire's room some more. Michael watched her. "What are you doing?" He asked. Maria shushed him. She then pulled out a picture of Claire. She took it and quietly went down stairs. Michael followed her. Maria went through the cupboard like a wild woman.

"Maria, what are you looking for?" Michael asked.

"Sleeping pills." She answered and then pulled out a small bottle. She opened it and took out two pills. Then went to the refrigerator and got a glass of water. She put the two pills in her mouth and drank some water to swallow them. Michael stopped her before she did.

"Don't you think two is to much?" He asked. She looked at the two pills and then at him. She put the two pills in her mouth and swallowed them. After Maria took the pills she went and laid down on the sofa with Claire's picture in her hand. Michael sat on the sofa nearby and watched her as she fell asleep.

Mara felt like she was awake, but she knew she wasn't. She wasn't in Claire's dream either. Instead she was in Claire's mind seeing through her eyes. Claire was awake. She had a blind fold on and Maria could only see at the bottom where there was a crack in the blindfold. She hesitated before she spoke fearing that the child would speak aloud and the perp would hurt her.

"Claire, don't speak aloud . . . It's your Aunt Maria. I am in your mind. All you need to do is think what you want to say to me and I will hear it just like you hear me." She said quickly.

"Aunt Maria?"

"Yes, it's me." Maria assured her.

"I KNEW YOU'D COME!" She said happily. "He's coming Maria. He's coming!" She said in a scared tone. "I don't know what he's gonna do to me." She yelled.

"Claire, what has he done to you so far. Has he hurt you?" Maria asked.

"Yes. He gave me a shot like at the Doctors. It stung a lot Aunt Maria." She said. Maria tried to contain her sobs.

"Have you seen him?"

"No, he put something over my eyes so I couldn't see him." She answered. Maria started to cry softly. "Don't cry Aunt Maria. I know you will save me. And you want to know why?"

"Why?"

"Because, you're just like Scully! And Scully kicks ass!" She said happily. "OUCH!" Claire yelled. Maria grabbed her arm as it stung in pain.

-What happened?- She wondered. Then she realized that if she could see what Claire sees that she can also feel what Claire feels. He had just given her another shot and as it flowed through her bones Maria knew what he was doing.

"Maria! Maria!" Maria sat up and gasped for air. She turned her head and looked into Michael's eyes.

"What happened? WHY DID YOU WAKE ME!" She yelled at him. Michael looked at her and wasn't sure of himself for a second.

"M-Maria, you . . . you were crying. Then you g-grabbed your arm and screamed. I got scared. I didn't know what happened. So I woke you up." He explained.

Maria calmed down a bit and tried to control her breathing. Michael sat and watched her.

"Maria, what happened?" He asked. As soon as Maria had her breathing under control she began to speak.

"He's giving her a medicine that's keeping her awake . . . Michael, I think he knows we can go into her dreams. But, he doesn't know that we can go into their minds. Also, he has her blindfolded." She said. Tears were still coming down Maria's cheeks. Michael gently took his thumb and wiped then away leaving his hand on her face. He breathed in deeply. It had been so long since he had touched her. Maria brought her hand up and put it on his.

"Michael, what if I don't find her." She asked. Michael always had the answers. "Michael, I'll die if I don't get her back." She said still crying. Michael wrapped his arms tightly around Maria. He closed his eyes and almost became disoriented in her scent.

"Maria, you are going to find her. I know you better than anyone and I know that you will find her." He assured her. They both laid down on the couch together while Michael kept his arms around her. "Get some rest. When you wake up you'll feel better and refreshed. You can start again then." He said. Maria closed her eyes and went to sleep. Michael stayed there with his arms around her feeling the need to protect her from anything and everything. But, he could never protect Maria from her own memories.

///Flashback///

Maria woke up, but kept her eyes closed. She felt like she weighed a ton and could not move a single muscle. She could barely open her eyes. She knew she was laying on something cold. Probably a table. She had on a light gown most likely a hospital type gown and she was naked underneath. Her lips felt so dry and chapped. She opened them to take in a breath, but it stung to open them. -Open your eyes- She told herself. But her body didn't listen.

She continued to just lay there. She didn't know if she was still asleep or awake. She was so confused. Then she remembered Topolsky shooting her up with something and falling asleep. -What did they do to me?- She thought to herself. She groaned. It even hurt to think. With all her might she began to open her eyes.

It was blurry at first, but she could tell she was in a room that looked like room in a clinic. There were all kinds of hospital tools next to her on a little table. They were all bloody. -Oh God.- She thought to herself. She looked up and saw a small TV-Type screen. The picture on it was paused or frozen. The picture looked like a tiny baby. When realization hit Maria tears started to fall.

"I'm pregnant?" She said aloud to herself. Suddenly movement in the room startled her.

"Correction, Maria. You *were* pregnant." Maria looked up and saw Topolsky wearing and evil smile. She motioned for Maria to look to her right. She did so and saw the bloody remains of an unborn child on a table.

"OH GOD!" Maria yelled and sobbed hysterically. "OH GOD! OH GOD! OH GOD!" She yelled over and over. "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!" She yelled at Topolsky. Maria didn't care that her voice was in pain from yelling. "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS! OH GOD, PLEASE HELP ME!" She yelled hysterically. Topolsky stood there amused at Maria's display of angst. Topolsky left the room and Maria continued to cry and yell hysterically. "MICHAEL!" She screamed. Even though she knew he couldn't hear her. "MICHAEL, PLEASE HELP ME!"

Maria didn't know how long she laid there screaming, but now she lay so still and stared at the ceiling in a daze. It must have been a few hours, but she wasn't sure.

The door opened and a tall man came in. He wore a perverted smile and Maria could tell he was pleased to see her naked form on the table. "Hello, Maria." He said with a perverted charm. He came over to the table and let his fingers linger of her stomach. "How are you feeling today?" He asked with a sardonic smile. Maria didn't speak. She was shivering. "Oh, you're shivering." He said. "I'll make it all better." He said as he began to move his hand down her stomach and between her legs. Maria started to cry.

"Please, don't do this." She said in a hoarse filled whispered. "Please." She cried. Maria desperately tried to move, but she had so much medicine in her that she couldn't. The man climbed on top of her.

"This'll be over in a few *hours*." He said. Maria started to cry hysterically again as he raped her.

"AAHHHHHHHHHHH!!" She screamed and cried.

///End Flashback.///

* * * * *

Chapter 11

"Maria! MARIA!" Michael yelled. Maria wouldn't stop thrashing and Michael tried to hold her down but she was very strong.

"MICHAEL, HELP ME! MICHAEL!" Michael grabbed Maria and pulled her into a tight hug. Maria started to cry. "Maria, I'm right here. I'll protect you. I swear." He said as she cried.

Michael knew she was having a memory. A memory that was still a mystery to him.

///Flashback///

"She's in here. I can feel it." Michael said. Max, Isabelle, and Liz looked at him and nodded. Michael placed his hand over the lock and unlocked it. They slowly walked in and found Maria lying on a table. She was wearing a hospital gown that had blood all over it. When they went near her she had an oxygen mask on. Michael went to take it off but Liz stopped him.

"No, what if she needs it to breathe?" She asked. Michael shook his head.

"It's not oxygen. It's a gas to poison her." He said and took the mask off. Max went to a cupboard and grabbed a blanket. He threw it to Michael and he wrapped it around Maria then picked her up.

"I think someone is coming!" Isabelle said. They all stayed quiet and waited. Isabelle looked out the window. She sighed in relief. "Close call."

She said and opened the door quietly. They all followed. Michael kept a close eye on Maria. He wasn't sure how long Maria had been breathing the poisonous gas so he wanted to make sure she was going to be OK. They kept running through the woods where they hid the car.

"We're almost there." Isabelle said.

"SHIT!" Michael said in a loud whisper.

"What?" Liz asked. Michael set Maria down.

"She stopped breathing." Michael said and started to do CPR. Max stopped him and told him to move over.

"Max, what are-"

"Michael, you could lose control over your powers and hurt her." He said. Michael nodded and Max performed CPR on Maria. Two Minutes later and she still wasn't responding. Max continued. And as Maria's life started to come back Max had a vision of everything that had just happened to her. He stepped back to let her breathe but he was still in shock.

"Oh my God." He said in a whisper.

///End Flashback///

Maria pulled away from Michael. She had stopped crying and Michael could tell she was deep in thought. "Maria, what is it?"

"Topolsky kidnapped Claire." Maria said. Michael shook his head.

"No, the person in the vision is a guy." Michael said. Maria shook her head, no.

"No, I mean that Topolsky is in on it. They kidnapped Claire because she is half alien."

-Of Course- Michael thought. It made perfect sense.

"I know where she is," Maria got up from the couch and went to her bag. She pulled her cell phone out and called Alex.

* * * * *

"Maria, no." Alex said. Maria rolled her eyes. "There is no way I'm sending you in there alone."

"Alex, I know where she is. OK, now it is better for me to go in alone then for me and a whole swat team to go in." She explained. Michael did not like the idea of Maria going at all. He'd rather have the whole swat team go in instead.

Alex shook his head in disagreement. "Maria, no. Now tell me where she is and we will send the team to go in and get her." He said. Maria stared him in the eye.

"Alex, I'm going in by myself. Now, you can let me do that and I'll tell you where she is. Or I don't tell you and go in alone anyway." She said. Alex thought long and hard.

"Maria, I don't think-" Maria shushed Michael.

"All right Maria. You can go by yourself. But, you need to wear the bullet proof vest and put the ear piece on so you can tell us where you are at all times." Alex said. Maria hugged him.

"Thank you, Alex." She said. She went over and hugged Max and Liz. "I told you I would find her." She whispered.

* * * * *

As Maria put her bullet proof on Alex put her earpiece on. "Now, listen. You need to tell me where you are at all times in case something happens." Alex informed her. Maria nodded an OK. He handed her a walkie-talkie. "Here. Just in case everything goes to disaster you should always have a back up." He said. Maria shook her head. She grabbed her flashlight and clipped her walkie-talkie to her pants. She grabbed her vest and put it on over her bulletproof vest and put her gun in the holder. The she put her jacket on.

"Are you ready?" Alex asked.

"Yes." She said. Max and Liz ran up to Maria.

"Here." Liz said handing Maria Claire's Scully doll. "Put it inside your jacket. It'll be good luck and you can give it to Claire when you get her." Liz said.

"Thank you." Maria said and hugged them both. Maria turned and walked out the door. Michael ran after her.

"Maria, wait a second." Maria turned around.

"What is it, Michael?" Maria asked softly.

"I . . . just . . . Everyone had some special goodbye to say to you and I felt a little left out." He said. Maria smiled at him. "Listen, Maria. I don't know what happened to us a long time ago. But all I know is I love you and I wanted you to know that." Maria smiled at him.

"Ditto."

Chapter 12

"OK, Maria can you hear me?" Maria heard Alex ask her through the earpiece.

"I can hear you loud and clear." She replied. Alex, Michael, Isabelle, Liz, and Max all sat in the room listening. Alex had told them that they should go that it might be too upsetting. But they all had insisted on staying.

Michael sat back in the chair and listened carefully. He wanted to make sure Maria wasn't going to get hurt. Nope not again. Not like whatever had happened to her with Topolsky four years ago. Max had known what happened. Michael had seen it in Max's face when he had given her CPR. Max gave Maria her life back, but in return he received the vision as to what exactly happened to Maria that night and he had refused to tell Michael. Even after Maria left Michael had begged him to tell him, but he wouldn't.

///Flashback///

"Max, you have to show me what happened that night to her." Michael said. Max shook his head. "Michael, it's just going to be to upsetting for you. It's better if you don't see." Max said softly.

///End Flashback///

Maria drove through the woods and placed her car in a hidden spot. She got out and pulled her gun and flashlight out. She began walking towards the old building. The old building where Topolsky had had Maria years before. She slowly walked to the backdoor and put her hand against the lock. To her surprise it was already unlocked. She opened the door and stepped in.

"Alex, can you hear me?" She asked.

"Yeah, where are you Maria?" He asked.

"I'm in that old building off of Veruca drive." She replied.

"All right. Gotcha." He replied.

Maria walked in the door and saw nothing but empty space. "SHIT!" She yelled.

"Maria, what is it?" Alex asked with worry in his voice.

"She's not here. It's empty." She replied. Alex hung his head in disappointment. Liz began to cry and Max put his arm around her.

Maria walked further into the building and noticed that there was no dust anywhere. She walked over to a single chair and saw Claire's bow on it. She grabbed it.

~ "Hurry up, that alien cop is on to us." "I warned you a long time ago she would be."

The first voice was Topolsky. Maria had known she was in on it. But, the second voice was all too familiar to her. It wasn't the Sheriff. But, it was somebody she knew. -Who is it? I know that voice- She tried to think but she couldn't think of who it was.

~ "Topolsky, you're a fucking moron. How the hell did you get in the FBI? You should have known bringing Claire where you brought Maria was a bad idea."

~ They walked over to Claire, who still had a blindfold on and picked her up. "Let's get out of here. She'll be here soon. Who knows what she'll do." That voice said again.

~ "Where the heck should we bring her?" "How about the cottage next to the shoreline?" "Good idea."

~ Maria saw Claire rub her head slightly on the shoulder of the person holding her so that her bow would fall off.

-Damn. If only they hadn't put a blindfold on her, I'd be able to see who they are.- Maria thought. Oh well, at least Claire had left her something. -Thank You Claire.-

"Maria?"

"Alex, I'm here. They were here. Claire left me her bow. I know where they are." She said.

"Maria, I don't thin-"

"Alex, I'm fine. I'm going in." She replied. Maria ran to her car and sped towards the cottage.

She got there and watched as Topolsky got in her car. Maria knew she'd leave someone to watch Claire. Maria crept towards the cottage and looked through the window. She saw Claire tied up in a chair with a man watching nearby. -How am I going to do this?- She asked herself.

Maria walked up and knocked on the door. As soon as the man opened the door Maria's gun went off and shot him in the head.

"MARIA! Are you all right?" Alex yelled.

"I'm fine." She said and walked in. Claire was crying. "Claire, it's OK. It's Maria." She said. Claire stopped crying and replaced her tears with a smile.

"I KNEW'D YOU COME!" She said happily. Maria took her blindfold off and untied Claire. Claire immediately hugged Maria. After they broke their hug Maria pulled Scully out of her pocket. "SCULLY!" Claire yelled and hugged the doll as if it was real.

"Come on, Claire. We have to get out of here." She said and picked Claire up.

Liz began to cry in happiness as she heard her daughter's voice. "Thank God." She said. She hugged Max tightly.

"I knew we'd get her back." Max whispered.

As Maria put Claire into the car she saw another car come up to the cottage. They were too far away and Maria couldn't tell who it was, but she knew it was the second voice. Suddenly the person looked up and saw Maria and Claire. The person jumped back into their car and sped towards Maria and Claire.

"Claire, hurry up. GET IN!" She yelled. Claire got in and Maria went in after. She started the car and sped off.

"MARIA, WHERE ARE YOU?" Alex yelled. She was so busy trying to get away that she hadn't heard Alex ask the question a million times.

"Alex, do you mind. We're kind of on the run here!" She said back. She looked in the mirror and saw the car still behind them. They started shooting at them. "GODDAMNIT!" Maria yelled. "CLAIRE GET DOWN!" She yelled. Claire got down on the floor of the car. Maria struggled to get her bulletproof vest off only to leave on a white shirt that would protect her from nothing. She finally got it off and handed it to Claire. "Put this on, NOW!" She said. Claire did as she was told. Maria tried to concentrate on the road and dodge the bullets at the same time, but it just wasn't working. Suddenly the car sped out of control and went off a hill. It crashed into a wall. Maria hit her head on the steering wheel. It was bleeding badly and she could barely focus.

"C-Claire, are you alright?" She asked. "Claire? . . . CLAIRE!" Claire finally got up.

"Aunt Maria, I hit my head." She replied. Maria struggled to open the door. She grabbed Claire and they began to run off. Maria could hear footsteps and knew that the person who was chasing them was still behind them. More shots went off. Maria pulled her gun out and turned briefly to shoot back. She got the person in the leg. Maria and Claire got to a building when Maria fell screaming in pain.

"MARIA! What happened?" Alex yelled. Maria looked down.

"I'm shot." She said. With those words Michael's heartbeat stopped.

"Where Maria?" Alex asked. Maria didn't answer and he could hear her start to cough. -Shit!- He thought to himself.

"Oh God." Liz said as she started to cry again. Isabelle put her head in her hands. This was just all too real.

"Maria?" Alex tried again. He continued to hear her cough and gasp for air. He knew it was bad.

Maria couldn't breathe but she had to get Claire out of there before they got them. She continued to run with Claire and finally found a building. She entered it. It was really old. When they stepped in the floorboard broke and they fell into the basement. Maria hit her head and went unconscious.

"Maria? MARIA!" Alex yelled. But, Maria couldn't hear him. Liz grabbed the earpiece and spoke into it.

"Claire, are you there?" She asked. Alex shook his head.

"If Maria's wearing the ear piece then Claire can't hear you." He replied. Michael came up and grabbed the Walkie-talkie.

"Claire, this is Uncle Michael. Remember those play walkie-talkie's I bought you last Christmas so you could be just like Scully and Mulder? Well, Maria has one of those. If you grab it and press the button on the side then talk we can hear you. Please, get it." He said. They waited for what seemed like forever. Then they heard the little voice.

"Uncle Michael?" She asked. They all breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yes, Claire. This is Uncle Michael. Now I need you to tell me something. Claire, is Maria awake?" He asked.

"No, she is not awake. She is bleeding a lot Uncle Michael." Michael closed his eyes.

"OK, Claire can you tell me where you two are?" He asked. Claire looked around her.

"I don't know." She said. "I don't know where we are, Uncle Michael."

* * * * *

Chapter 13

"Deputy Hanson, have you found them yet?" Alex said into the walkie-talkie.

"No sir." He answered. Alex huffed and rubbed his temples.

"GODDAMNIT! They have to be around there somewhere." He said into the walkie-talkie even though he knew it wasn't the deputy's fault they were missing. He looked over at Michael who was pacing around the room with a worried look on his face.

Michael walked into the room Maria was staying at in the Evan's house. He saw her bag on the bed and went to open it up. He pulled out her perfume and just smelled it. God he loved her smell. But, he wanted to touch her and smell her at the same time. He pulled out a shirt of hers and rubbed it on his cheek. A tear trickled down his cheek. Michael jumped when he felt the light tap on his shoulder.

"Max." He said startled. Max was worried about his friend. But, he knew it was time Michael knew the truth.

"Michael, I should have showed this too you years ago. I should have showed it to you that night. But, I was afraid you'd get hurt. I know that when Maria left you four years ago you were torn apart. Maybe . . . Maybe if I would have shown you this it could've prevented it." Michael stood there not understanding.

"Max, what are you talking about," He asked in a suspicious tone. Max extended his hand out waiting. Michael looked at him with an unsure expression then extended his hand out and grabbed Maxs hand. That's when he saw it all.

~ He saw Maria being taken by Topolsky and her cronies.

~ He saw them strapping her to a chair and beating her when she refused to tell them what they wanted to know.

~ He heard all the lies Topolsky said trying to trick Maria into telling them. But, his Maria was too smart for that.

~ He saw them drug her and take her body to a room.

~ She was now in a hospital gown and she was unconscious.

~ He saw them doing an ultrasound. He saw his child.

~ He saw them take it away from Maria.

~ He saw her wake up and realize the horrible truth. She screamed his name, called for him to come and help her even though she knew he wouldn't hear.

~ He saw the man come in and take advantage of Maria while she was unable to do anything about it.

~ He saw them poison her. He saw Topolsky get pleasure out of it.

~ He saw how Maria refused to give them what they wanted.

~ But most of all he saw her fear, her on the edge any second ready to crack, he saw her scream and cry and praying that he would come and save her.

~ He saw everything.

When the visions stopped Max looked up and saw Michael crying. Max looked at the floor then back at Michael. "I'm sorry I didn't show you sooner." He said. Michael sat down on the bed and tried to catch his breath. His eyes scanned the room then they fell upon the sleeping pills Maria had used to try and find Claire. He jumped up.

"OF COURSE! I'M SO STUPID! WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF IT BEFORE!" He yelled startling Max. He grabbed the pills and showed them to Max and he understood.

Chapter 14

Michael quickly fell asleep and was now in Maria's dream. Everything was black and like all the other dreams the picture didn't come until Michael moved. When he heard the crunch under his feet he looked down and saw he was stepping on gravel with specks of water in between them. He looked up and saw the shoreline. He knew this dream all too well. It was his dream. But, now he was in Maria's dream. He heard her voice.

"I know what you're thinking." She began. Michael spun around and saw nothing. He looked all around him for Maria, but she was nowhere to be found. He could feel her smile though. "You're thinking. . . " He turned and saw her. She was smiling and looking up towards the sky. Michael waited and as he waited he observed her appearance. It was just like in all his dreams, she wore black tied-up boots, hip-hugging jeans, a red shirt, her hair was messy, and her face was slightly covered in dirt. Maria looked at him. She continued to smile. "You're thinking . . . 'where is she?'" She said with a playful smile. She walked closer to Michael. "Do you want to know what I'm thinking?" She asked. Michael nodded his head. "I'm thinking if I should tell you just yet or not." She said.

"Why wouldn't you want to tell me?" Michael asked nonchalantly. Maria shrugged.

"There are a million reasons," she replied.

Still trying to hide the impatience in his voice Michael said, "Name a reason."

"Maybe I don't want to be found," Maria paused, "Or something."

"'Or something?'" Michael repeated the careless phrase. Maria turned and stared at him. His face was covered in hurt and anger. He tried to hide it, but Maria could tell. He avoided eye contact. When he looked back at her he saw her gaze was elsewhere. He followed her gaze and saw another pair of them. The other Maria was setting down a blanket and putting food on it while the other Michael played with a four year-old Child, their child.

"I know Max showed you," She began. She nodded towards the other pair. "That would have been us, you know." She said and for a moment Michael could have sworn he heard sadness in her voice. He hoped he was right. He wasn't used to the new Maria. The one that showed barely any emotion towards him. Michael continued to stare at her. "Oh well, I guess not everything is meant to be." She said. Michael squinted.

"Maria, what happened to you?" He asked. She looked at him.

"Whatever do you mean?" She asked.

"I mean you don't have any emotion. Why?" Maria looked towards the sky thoughtfully.

"Because when you don't show emotion you don't get hurt." She replied.

Michael still staring at her said, "Even if it hurts the ones you love?" He said. Maria jerked her head and looked at him.

"And who would I be hurting?" She said.

"Me." Everything went quiet and Maria looked away from him. "Maria, did I *ever* mean anything to you." He asked her. He moved closer to her face. He could see she was on the verge of tears. She looked him in the eyes.

In a whisper she said, "Michael, you meant everything to me." Michael reached up and touched her face. "You *still* mean everything to me." After she said that she back away from his touch.

"Maria, why did you leave me?" He asked her. She turned away from him.

"You know why." She replied.

"I don't know why." She turned around with a surprised look on her face.

She walked over to him and touched his hand.

///Flash back///

Max continued to perform CPR on Maria as Michael hovered over them. After 2 minutes there was still no response. When Max breathed life into her he was given the visions of everything that happened to her. He stepped away from her with a horrified look on his face. Michael looked at him. His face turned to shock.

"Did she tell anyone?" Michael asked. Max looked over at him questioningly.

"No."

//End Flashback///

"'Did she tell anyone?'" The question echoed. Maria looked over at Michael.

"Maria-" She shushed him.

"Michael, is that all you were worried about? You were worried that I would tell someone about your identity?" Maria asked trying to contain her tears at the memory. Michael stood quiet.

He looked at her with a confused expression. "Is that what you thought, Maria?" He asked. She nodded. "Maria, I love you more than my own life on this earth or any other universe. Those 2 days you were missing I almost killed myself. I was so relieved that we found you. But, when Max saw that vision and saw what happened to you I thought that you sacrificed your own identity to save us. That's what I meant when I asked 'Did she tell anyone?'"

He said. Maria started to cry. Michael grabbed her into a tight hug. "Maria, I would stay on this earth forever just to be with you." He said and Maria cried even more when she realized that she is so important to him. When they pulled away Maria started to fade a little.

"Maria, what's going on?" He asked her. He looked at his shirt and noticed that there was blood on it. That's when he finally realized that the clothes Maria was wearing were the clothes she wore to go find Claire. And the red shirt was actually her white shirt covered in blood. Maria looked at her hands.

"Oh God. Michael, I think I'm dying." She said.

"Maria, tell me where you are. PLEASE!" He pleaded.

"You know where I am." She said.

Michael woke up to see eight pairs of eyes staring at him. "Well?" Max was the first to speak.

Michael smiled. "I know where she is." He said and got up to save his love. -Thank you Maria. -

* * * * *

Chapter 15

Michael sped towards the shoreline with Alex, Isabelle, Max and Liz all in their cars behind them. As soon as they got there Michael jumped out of the car and ran towards an old building.

"Michael, where is she?" Max yelled. Michael didn't listen. Michael walked into the building and almost fell through into the basement. He clung on to the door. He turned his head and yelled.

"HERE! THEIR OVER HERE!" He yelled. He looked down and saw both Maria and Claire laying unconscious. He noticed that Claire had put her scully doll in Maria's hands. -Protection- He jumped down careful not to budge anything that would fall on them. It was dark down there and he could barely see. Alex showed up and shined the flashlight. Michael bent over Maria. "Maria?" He whispered into her. She didn't respond. He checked her pulse. It was slow but still there. He lifted her shirt to observe the wound. He heard Maria groan. "Maria?" He said once more. Her eyes opened half way and looked at him.

"Mi-" she began but he shushed her.

"Shhh . . . you are going to be fine." He answered. He went to place his hand on her wound but as soon as he did he felt her hand on his moving it away. "Maria?" He questioned. She shook her head slightly.

"D. . . d-don't heal . . . me," She said.

"Maria," he pleaded. He wanted to heal her right now on the spot. "I don't want to lose you." He said.

"Y- {cough} you won't." She whispered. She closed her eyes again.

"Maria?" He asked her shaking her lightly. No response. He checked her pulse again. She was still alive. Max jumped down and grabbed Claire while Michael picked Maria up and carefully climbed back up. The ambulance showed up and took both Claire and Maria to the hospital.

Michael waited patiently in the hospital waiting room. At least he tried to be patient. Finally, the doctor came and Michael jumped up for answers. "Well, Claire is going to be just fine." He said. Everyone was relieved except Michael. He already knew Claire was fine. He had originally thought she was unconscious but she had been asleep. He wanted to know if Maria was all right.

"What about Ms. DeLuca." He asked.

"You're with DeLuca also?" The Doctor asked. They all nodded their heads.

"Oh," was all he said.

"WELL? Is she all right or not?" Michael asked revealing his impatient tone.

"OH, she's going to be fine. She's awake. A little groggy, but awake. Only one can see her at a time." He answered. -Thank God- Michael thought to himself.

"You go and see her." Liz said to Michael. Michael nodded and followed the doctor.

He walked slowly and cautiously into Maria's room. He saw her laying down with her eyes half open.

"Maria?" He said quietly. She opened her eyes wider and looked at him. When she saw him she smiled. He walked over and grabbed her hand.

"God, I was so worried about you." She said.

"About me?" He asked. She smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, I'm always worried about you." She said hoarsely. Michael smiled at her.

"Maria . . . Why . . . why did you tell me not to heal you?" He asked. She smiled and thought for a moment. Then looked him in the eyes.

"Because, it was an answer to a question I had." She said.

"What was the question?" He asked curiously.

"Oh, it was a bunch of things huddled together. The important thing is the answer." She said with a smile.

"And what was the answer."

"That I'm no longer damaged." She said. Michael was confused.

"I don't think I understand." He said.

"Well, you see, that's the way I always felt, like I was damaged. I told you not to heal me because if you had you would have altered destiny. Had you done that than I'd feel like someone put me back together with bad glue. But since I healed on my own it was natural. I'm not damaged anymore because I have you." She said.

"You've always had me. You've had me since the day we met." He said to her. "Nothing will be the same. But, it will be better." He said to her. 'Nothing will be the same.' The phrase nagged at Maria for a moment. Michael noticed. She closed her eyes and thought carefully. She opened her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Maria, what is it?" He asked. She shook her head.

"Nothing, I just need to get back to New York." Michael's expression turned sad. She smiled at him. "I have to go back to get my stuff." She said while squeezing his hand. He smiled at her. Maria looked up at him and mouthed the phrase 'Olive Juice.' Michael bent over and kissed her on the forehead.

"I love you too."

New York City

Maria was carefully packing her things when she heard a knock at the door. She went over to open it and saw Jimmy. He stood there unsure.

"I came to get my things." He said. She nodded for him to come in. He did so and surveyed the room. "Are you moving?" He asked. Maria continued to pack her things.

"Yeah, I'm going home . . . to Roswell." She answered. Maria watched him out of the corner of her eye. He stood there staring at her.

"I heard about what happened . . . to your Niece." He said quietly. "Is everything all right? Are you all right?" He asked. She looked up at him. "Yeah, we're fine. We were able to get Topolsky in custody. She's going to jail for a long time." She said. "So, how was your trip?" She asked him.

"It was good. Los Angeles is a beautiful place." He answered. Maria hmphed to herself.

"Funny, Captain Palmer told me you went to Roswell." She said to him.

Jimmy stopped breathing for a second. "Uh . . . yeah, I did for a day . . . to see you. They told me what happened and I wanted to make sure you were all right. But, I got there and felt out of place so I left." He said. Maria stopped and looked at him for a second.

"Oh, OK." She said. Jimmy scratched his head.

"Well, at least they caught Kathleen Topolsky," Jimmy said. Maria squinted her eyes at him.

"I never told you her first name." She said.

"Well-" Maria shushed him.

"Cut the crap James *Topolsky*. I know all about you." She said. Jimmy put his head down then brought it back up wearing a sinister smile. He started to walk around the apartment. Maria knew what he was doing. He was looking for a way out or something to hit her with. But, it wasn't going to work. She was too good for him.

"You know what's funny," Jimmy started. "I gave you all those chances. All those little girls-" Maria stopped him as if already tired from his speech.

"Save me the bore, Jimmy. I know you took all the other girls to throw us off track. For a while we thought we had a copycat. But you copied yourself to trick us. Unfortunately, it didn't work." Maria said. Then she added.

"*You* failed." She said smiling to him. Jimmy became pissed. "Uh ah, never let someone control your emotions." Maria said in a sing song voice. "So, Jimmy what's it going to be? Cooperate with the handcuffs. Or resisting arrest?" She asked. Jimmy charged towards her. "Good, I was hoping for resisting arrest." She said as she pulled her gun out quickly and shot Jimmy in the chest. He fell to the floor. Maria walked over to him.

"Don't worry, Jimmy. You're going to be fine." She smiled. "You're going to be in perfect health when you feel the shocks of the electric chair." She said.

* * * * *

Prologue

5 years later

Michael ran down the hall and stopped at the desk. The nurse looked up at him. "Guerin." He said still catching his breath. The nurse scanned the papers.

"Room 213." She answered. Michael took off running full sped. He finally reached the room. Max, Liz, Isabelle, and Alex were already there. He ran through them and looked at Maria and their newborn baby son, Ezekial. He went to her side and kissed her then the baby on the forehead.

"Isn't he beautiful?" Maria said. Michael smiled.

"Just as beautiful as you are." He answered. He kissed her again and then looked at all his friends. It had been 5 years and everything had changed for the better.

Isabelle was a famous actress and married to Alex Whitman. Max and Liz were still together but they had 3 kids now. Claire, Katarina, and Jude. Him and Maria had been married 5 years already and now had one son.

Michael was a famous Parasychologist working with his Detective wife in the X-Files division of the FBI. Michael looked all around. Nothing was damaged, Life is good.

The End