We Are Not Alone 1/?

Disclaimer: I do not own Roswell or the character. They belong OT the WB and whoever else.

Summary: I'm sorry I can't give it away. I want it to be a surprise.

Rating: PG Mild huh? Don't worry I will make my way to NC-17. But this is more then just a Michael/Maria fic.

Dedication: To Darly. (Handing you some flying cows.) Now it is your turn to write.

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Part 1

Maria groaned at the persistent noise. She refused to give into the evilness. But her battle with the demon was short lived as another demon from hell shook her. "I'm up!" she sat up quickly. A groan escaped her lips. "Shut up!" she yelled. The alarm clock silenced. "Thanks." she told her mom and slowly moved out of bed.

But her mother didn't respond. Instead she looked at powerless clock that somehow turned itself off. She turned to the direction her daughter had walked in. She felt her legs begin to give and she sat on the bed before she fell to the floor. It could have been her imagination sure. But past experiences told her otherwise.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Hey." Liz said as she got in Marias car. "What's up with you?" she asked.

Maria yawned. "I don't know. I sleepy last night. I just feel worn out." Maria said. She drove off down the street and they sat in silence until she finally spoke up again. "I don't know what is wrong with me." Maria nodded and let another yawn escape her lips.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hey." Max said as he approached the two girls by there lockers, soon followed by Michael.

"Hey." Liz responded and smiled.

"Hello." Maria said through another yawn. She shut her locker and leaned against it. She closed her eyes and laid her head back against the cold metal.

Max gave a confused look and pointed towards Maria.

Liz shrugged. "Tired I think."

"Come on Max." Michael urged. He didn't want to be at school and he most certainly didn't want to watch Liz and Michael flirt.

Max nodded. "I'll see you later okay?" he asked her just above a whisper.

Liz nodded happily and as he turned she turned back to Maria.

"Liz?" Maria asked with her eyes only half way open.

"Hm?" Liz asked her as she put another book away.

"I'm gonna fall." she told her softly then a moment later she laid in a hump on the ground passed out.

"Maria!" Liz yelled when her friend hit the floor.

Max and Michael both turned as Liz screamed the name of her best friend. Liz dropped to the floor and turned Maria to face her. But Marias eyes weren't closed. Instead they where half way opened and rolled up into the back of her head. "Oh God. Maria!" Liz screamed and began shaking her best friend. She wasn't aware of the small crowd that was being drawn. She wasn't even aware of the fact that Michael and Max had joined her side until she felt herself being pulled away by Max. "No!" she yelled and tried to pull herself out of Maxs arms but she couldn't move.

"Get her." Max said hurriedly as he tried to control Lizs struggling form.

Michael bent down and scooped Maria up in his arms. He paused only a moment as he saw the same thing that had frightened Liz. All he could see of Marias eye was white. He didn't wait long though before he rushed in the direction of the office followed by Max and a crying Liz.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The nurse walked out into the waiting area where the two students where waiting. "She woke up." the nurse said.

Liz jumped up. "Can we go see her?" Maria asked hurriedly.

"Yes but don't get her excited. Im unsure of what is wrong with her. So I called her mother and she will be here soon to pick her up." she told them. But she barely got the last part out as they hurried by her.

Maria looked up at the entering people. "Hey. Sorry bout passing out. At least I think I did." she said a little more awake then she had been earlier. "Wow. Everybody is here to see me." she said as she observed Liz, Max, Michael, and now Isabelle.

"Maria what happened?" Liz asked as she neared her best friend.

"I don't know. Ever since I got up this morning I have been feeling more tired and weaker. Until I got to the point where I passed out. Now I feel fine." she reassured them.

"Has this happened before?" Max asked a little suspicious.

"No. I don't know what it is. My mom is coming for me then taking me to the hospital." she said and frowned. "I hate hospitals." she said and zoned out for a moment before she turned her attention back to them. "But when I told her she was really worried. I mean yea she would be worried. I talked to her and she didn't even ask what was wrong or why I passed out. She just said 'Oh God.' and that she would be here soon." she explained. She was more distressed about her mother then herself.

"Maria your mother is here." the nurse announced as she walked in. Maria nodded threw her legs off of the uncomfortable bed. She pushed herself off the bed and stood up and found herself began to sway. Liz grabbed her arm and she found Michael rush from the corner of the room and grab her. But as soon as he did he jumped back. Everyone turned to look at him.

"What's wrong?" Isabelle asked as she noticed she confused look on Michaels face.

"I-I got shocked." he said confused.

"Shocked?" Maria asked.

"That's all Michael? You big baby." Isabelle teased.

"Not this was strong. It almost hurt." he explained.

But the conversation was brought to an end as Maria mother walked in. "Are you okay?" her mother asked worried.

"Yea. Im feeling better. But after I left this morning I was feeling really tired. And then when I got here I was weak." Maria explained her symptoms.

"Alright lets go home." her mother said kindly.

"Home? I thought we where going to the hospital?" Maria asked confused as her mother led her out of the room.

"We don't need to Maria. Come on we'll discuss this at home." her mother said and lead her out the room without paying attention to the others.

"Something weird is going on here." Isabelle observed.

~~~~~~~~~~

Maria remained in silence through the whole drive to her house. Her mom usually worried and worried to no end. If something was broken or misplaced she didn't get mad she worried. Now it was Marias turn to worry. Something had to be going on here and it couldn't be her imagination. When they came to a stop in front of her house Maria got out and silently followed her mother to the door. Maria almost felt like she had done something wrong. But her mother had seemed genuinely worried. Not mad. It just surprised Maria that she hadn't rushed her to the emergency room. Or even more request an ambulance.

"Go ahead and sit down Maria." her mother said softly.

Maria sat on the couch and let her eyes follow her mother. She walked to the back of the house and then she lost site of her. And without any reason Maria found herself feeling sorry for her mother. She looked like she just lost an conflict from the inside of herself.

Amy stopped in the hallway and leaned against the wall for support. She was hoping this time would never come. And here it was. Mocking her. Taking her daughter. Endangering her daughter. Up to a couple of years ago she had become hopeful that it wouldn't happen. That Maria wasn't-. She stopped the thoughts. She had obviously been wrong. And now she found herself losing hope. She would not be able to handle this on her own. She didn't know where to start. How could she protect Maria. Or even more help her. She couldn't do it before. And now she had found herself losing hope. Losing hope for herself and even more importantly her daughter. For the first time since that dreadful night she damned fate for taking away her husband.

Maria waited patiently for her mother to walk back out. She hadn't heard her go up the steps so she had to still be downstairs. After a few moments she heard a sound. Then a muffled noise. She stood up slowly and went in the direction her mother had went. When she entered the hall it didn't take her long to find her for she was slumped down on the floor against the wall crying. "Mom?" Maria asked worriedly and confused.

Her mother looked up and gave her a sad smile. "I'm okay Maria. Just thinking." she did her best to reassure her. For in a few minutes it would be Maria needing the reassuring. She stood up and walked back to the couch with Maria following. She sat down and waited for Maria to sit down next to her. She was unable to begin for she wasn't true where to begin. In the end she chose for Maria to find out on her own. "Maria give me your hand."

Maria held out her hand slowly and her mother clasped it in he own. "Mom what is going on?" Maria asked a little scared. Her mothers behavior was totally out of whack.

"Shhhhh. Now close your eyes." Amy said to her daughter. Maria gave her a confused look then followed her mothers orders. "Now just think. Don't worry about what is going on around you. Concentrate on just you and I. Now you want to know what is going on right?" Her daughter nodded slowly. "Ask me." she saw Maria began to open her mouth but she silenced her. "No not that way." she took Marias hand and put it up to her head. "This way."

Maria felt confused for a moment. But she did what her mother said. She thought and concentrated and just when she was about to open her mouth images and feelings flashed through her mind.

-A lost man wandering to her mothers house.

-A feeling of happiness from the man as he looked at the baby in her mothers arms.

-A feeling of pain and sorrow as she saw her mother alone with a baby that she realized was herself. Her mother cried. But Maria didn't feel loss as if her father had left. She felt loss from a father that died.

But the story was soon over. But before she could open her eyes new images bursted into her mind. Much more frightening then the first.

-Her father. A man she recognized only from pictures. She felt images coming from him, not her mother. They conveyed his love. His apology. And his death.

-Then familiar feelings. Things she had been aware of through others. And now from her father through her mothers mind. Healing, dreamwalking, visions, more and more flooded her mind making her understand.

But it was soon all over. And she wished she could do it all over again. She let her hand drop from her mothers forehead and her eyes opened slowly. "He's dead?" Maria said carefully.

Amy nodded sadly at her daughter. "Killed." she admitted.

Maria opened her mouth but closed it again. Her mind was on overdrive and as much as she hated to admit it the pieces fit together. "A-alien?" she asked unsurely.

Amy felt taken aback by the sudden realization of her daughter. She had thought she would have to explain the images. She nodded.

"Am I..." Maria trailed off finding it impossible to think of and certainly impossible to speak of.

Amy nodded. "Half. I didn't know if you would inherit any of it. But this morning something happened." she said.

"The clock." Maria said out loud as she realized what happened. She realized now her mother had never stopped it herself. She watched as her mother nodded. "And me passing out?" she asked unsure of what that had to do with it.

"You are only half Maria. And that was your first time. You were weak." she explained. She waited through Marias silence but fund it was unbearable. "I'm sorry Maria. I didn't want you to have to deal with this. I don't even know how to help you." her mother began to cry.

Maria shook herself away from her thoughts. "I had a good father?" Maria asked softly.

Her mother nodded. "You had a great father. He loved you. And before he left he left me those images for you to see if you ever did come into any powers. He wanted you to understand. " her mother told her. "But Maria I honestly don't know how to help you. We thought he would be around. But people where after him. So he ran. And got killed." her mother admitted.

"Was it the crash?" Maria asked suddenly.

"What?" her mother asked surprised. this was taking a lot less explaining then she thought there would be.

"You know THE crash." Maria said.

Amy nodded shakily. Now she was confused. Now it was Amys turn for the questions. "Maria what is going on here?"

Maria looked at her mother and was unsure of where to begin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Isabelle entered Max's room followed by Michael. "Max do you feel it?"

Max looked up at the two of them. He did feel it. But his reaction was different from Isabelle and Michaels. He was worried. "Yea I felt it." he admitted.

"What does it mean?" Isabelle asked excited.

"I don't know." he admitted. "But we won't go looking for it." he told them sternly.

"What?!?" Michael asked enraged. "This could be the key to everything we are looking for."

"And it could be the key to our death." Max shot back.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Part 2

Maria debated for only a few moments whether to tell her mother But she knew she deserved the truth. Maybe by knowing her mother would feel better. "Mom where there others?" Maria asked. Of course she knew. She wanted to know if her mother knew.

"I think. Your father said that at times he could feel them. But it was never long enough for him to ever find them. But he never tried to either. He thought it would only endanger there lives and ours. " her mother explained. But even as she did confusion could be heard in her voice.

Maria think she understood. The three of them where little at that point meaning no experience in there powers. So they most likely didn't use them.

"Maria, please tell me what is going on. You have me on the edge of having a fit." her mother said frantically.

Maria turned her attention back to her mother. "I wish I could show you like you showed me." Maria said softly. "Mom there are others. Other Aliens."

"Maria but how-." Amy stopped herself. Maria did know. "You did know didn't you. You understood the visions and you knew about the crash. Who Maria?" her mother said quickly.

"When you picked me up." Maria said.

"Those three kids?" her mother asked unbelievably.

Maria nodded. "When there was that shooting at the diner, remember everyone thought Liz was shot?" Her mother nodded. "She was. Max, the shorter boy saved her."

"So there are others? You're not alone?" her mother asked with hope in her voice.

Maria nodded. "But Mom you can't tell anyone. Please." Maria pleaded.

"Shhhhh." her mother said and took Marias hands in her own. "I wouldn't tell anyone if my life depended on it."

Maria nodded shakily. "So what now?" Maria asked softly. "Everything is different. I-I'm" Maria cut herself off as a sob escaped her mouth.

Amy pulled her daughter into her arms and let her cry.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maria walked into the school with a new outlook. Not necessarily a better one. She felt like everyone was looking at her. Suspecting her. Was this how they felt? Well, Michael did she knew. The thought brought a smile to her lips. He was the master of paranoia. But Max and Isabelle, they never seemed paranoid. Maybe they dealt with it better. This was new to her. She did her best to listen to the conversation Liz was trying to hold with her, but not a thing registered. She walked to her lockers as always. And the only reason she got there was out of habit. Or she most likely would have run into a wall. She turned the combination to her lock. Not really paying attention to the numbers. Then in a moment as she saw them coming down the hall it hit her. She wasn't human. She was-was odd, weird. She wasn't like them. She wasn't like Liz. She closed her locker and slid down the metal.

"Maria!" Liz exclaimed.

"Don't worry I'm okay." Maria reassured her. She let out a sigh and stood back up. Now she had to put up a facade of the old Maria. "I think I am going to class." she said softly and walked off.

"Is she okay?" Max asked Liz concerned.

"I-I don't know. I think something is still bothering her." Liz confided in him and the others.

Michael watched silently as Maria walked off down the hall. Something was defiantly wrong with her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael entered his 3 period class 10 minuets late. He ignored the daily lecture from his teacher about being late and took his seat. His eyes remained on Maria. Although he couldn't see her face, considering she had her head down he still knew something was wrong. And whether it affected him or not he would find out. So he waited patiently for her to fall asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maria knew in the back of her mind that she was supposed to stay awake. But at this point she didn't care. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. She had hoped to escape reality through her dreams. But they only haunted her. The images repeated. Over and over against. Stronger and stronger.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael closed his eyes and moments later found himself in a mess of images. He didn't see Maria anywhere. But he saw images. Over and over against. And he also felt things. Feelings. Not all from Maria but not from himself. It was a message being relayed over and over against. It was all a blur. He couldn't understand it. It didn't last long though and he soon found himself face to face with her.

Fear overcame Maria at the site of Michael and she found herself pushing him out with all her strength.

Maria felt her dream being invaded and she went out in search of the person. But instead of finding them she found herself being pulled. And there she saw Michael. And she knew at once that he knew. Her fear pushed him out with such strength, that as she did she felt herself being pulled out of the dream and soon was knocked out of her chair, and wide awake. Her eyes flew wildly around the room as everyone watched her. Her eyes flew to Michael. He woke with a start and looked at her. Maria found herself unable to control herself any longer. She grabbed her belongings and ran. Ran out the room and down the hall.

Michael surprise only lasted a second. He soon jumped out of his desk and ran out the room after her.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Maria ran as fast as she could without stopping. Her retreat was brought to a halt as her she felt her arm caught in a tight grip.

Michael grabbed Marias retreating form. He expected a resistance. But what he got was the total opposite. Maria ran into his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck and began sobbing. He slowly, unsurely wrapped his arms around her waste. After a moment he pulled away and held her at arms length. "Maria what is going on?"

"I-I." She didn't know where to start. So instead she did the same as her mother. She took his hand and placed it on her head.

Michael gave her a curious look but soon was overcome with images. All the same that Maria had felt and seen. When it was over he dropped his hand and backed up. "Your father was half...." he started but Maria soon nodded. "How do you know?"

"My mother. She knew. Yesterday morning. I yelled at the clock to shut up." Maria said and smiled despite herself. "It stopped beeping. She said when I passed out it was because of the lack of energy I had after that." she explained to him.

"I knew." he said to himself.

"What?" Maria asked confused.

"You shocked me. Liz didn't feel it because she isn't one of us. But I felt it. And yesterday Max, Isabelle and I, we knew, we felt someone else." he told her.

"He was with yall." Maria told him. "He crashed to. And he knew that there where others. But he didn't know who." she told him. For some reason she thought it would make him feel better that they hadn't been alone.

"Maria what happened to him?" Michael asked her cautiously knowing he was stepping n dangerous ground. He had felt it. Something had happened.

Maria slowly began to cry. "He ran. They where after him. He ran so they wouldn't get me. And they got him." she cried out. "And killed him." she sobbed.

Michael in one moment felt hope at not being alone anymore. Then in one instant knowing Marias new situation made him lose it. He took her back in his arms and let her cry.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Max eyes flew to Isabelle as he felt it. She obviously did to because she looked at him at the same time. Without paying attention to the class or the teacher they jumped up and ran for fear that Michael's life was in danger.

"Max what happened?" Isabelle yelled as a tear ran down her face. She felt power greater then Michael's alone. It was two people. And she felt sad.

"I don't know." he said. And as they rounded a corner they came to a halt. Only a few steps ahead they found Michael. Holding someone. "Michael!" Max yelled and ran up to him. As Michael turned to them he saw the other person to be Maria.

"Michael what happened?" Isabelle asked worried. "We felt something. And-and it hurt."

Michael turned to Maria. "Go ahead." he told her softly.

Maria shook her head quickly. "No. I can't. I don't want to see it again."

"Maria, we can help you." he told her. "Just take there hands and let go."

Maria paused for a moment then stepped forward and took Max and Isabelle's hands. She closed her eyes and did as Michael said. She let go. And as she let the images flow once against she found it easier. She didn't feel trapped by her own pain any longer. When it was over she dropped there hands and stepped back.

"Your-your." Isabelle stuttered.

"Half." Maria finished for her.

"No. That's impossible. We would have known." Isabelle said refusing to believe it.

"No. You felt it Isabelle." Max told Isabelle sternly. But his eyes still remained on Maria. "Her father was one of us. And he crashed with us. What happened to him Maria?" he asked. A look of sadness came across Marias face. Instead of persisting for an answer he reached out and touched her arm slowly then pulled away. "I'm sorry." he told her.

"What happened?" Isabelle asked.

"He was killed. He ran to save Maria and her mother and they got him." Max explained.

Maria shook her head slowly as she stared at the ground. Her eyes looked up and met the other three. "I don't know what to do." she said as a tear slid down her face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Liz blinked furiously for the next few seconds clearing her mind of the visions Maria had just relayed to her. "I don't understand." Liz said unbelievably.

"Yes, you do." Max said softly and took her hand in his.

"But Maria, your father, he left." Liz asked more then stated.

Maria shook her head. "That was a lie. It was all a lie." Maria told her. But from the tone of Marias it was obvious that she still wasn't understanding it all either.

"So he was a you know?" Liz asked unsurely. She watched as Maria nodded slowly. "And your half?" Maria nodded again. This time Liz nodded after. "So?"

"What?" Maria asked a little surprise at Lizs words.

"So what," Liz started, "your still Maria. I mean yea it creates problems. But hey we're already running from the bad guys so it really can't get to much worse." she said in a little happier tone.

Max smiled. Leave it to Liz to make a bad situation sound good.

"And your not just Maria!" Liz said excitedly. "Your super Maria." she pointed out.

Maria looked at her for a moment. She did have a point in a demented sense. They where already hiding, tricking, and running from people. And they'd be doing it now. And she found out that her father didn't desert her. He loved her and her mother and gave his life to save there's. Her only problem now would be coping with the new 'Super Maria' as Liz so wonderfully called it. "Yea I guess so." Maria said with a small smile. Although it was all still very disturbing.

"Did you tell your Mom, about us?" Max asked.

Maria nodded. "I had to. She was scared I would get hurt. And I wanted her to know there where others."

"I think we should talk to her." Michael spoke up. "I mean we could help her understand Marias new um position and she could maybe help us."

Maria nodded. "Your right. It would make her feel better. As for her knowing anything I'm not sure. She didn't tell me much. But she did say that my father had thought that there where others still around. But that he never sought them out. That he could never pin point them and that if he did it could maybe cause more danger then anything." she said. But she didn't see how it helped. It only seemed to make there situation more hopeless. Sure now she was one of them. Well, half. But this was still her home. She didn't need to know anything else.

"We where little. Not experienced enough for him to find us anyway." Max said more to himself then anyone.

Marias attention was drawn away from there group by the sound of the bell signaling the end of lunch. "Do you want to come over after school?" she asked unsurely.

"Mine as well." Isabelle said with a sigh. "We'll meet you and Liz there after school."

Maria nodded and walked off slowly clutching her purse to her chest as if it offered her some protection.

"I'm going to go with her." Liz said to Max.

Max nodded and watched as Liz ran to catch up with Mara.

"Max is this for real?" Isabelle asked still very unsure.

"You felt it Iz. And you saw it." he told her. He didn't turn to Isabelle until Liz and Maria where out of sight. When he did Isabelle and Michael where watching him.

"What do we do now then?" Michael asked for once unsure.

"We go along just as before. Except now there is more of us."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Mom!?" Maria yelled as she walked in.

"I'm in here!" her mother yelled back from the kitchen

Maria turned back to Liz. Liz motioned for her to go inside. Maria walked in to the kitchen as Liz shut the door. "Mom um Liz is here."

"Hi Liz." her Mom said cheerfully.

"Hi." Liz said a smiled back. She gave Maria a slight nudge.

"Mom Liz knows." Maria said bluntly.

Amy spun around at her daughters declaration. "You told her?"

"Yea." Maria nodded. "I told the other three to. I didn't mean to. But um Michael, one of them, saw something was wrong so he decided to um jump into my dream and he saw something. And I had to show him after. And I showed the other two. Max and Isabelle. But Mom I can trust them. They trusted me and Liz with there secret I know I can trust them."

Amy studied her daughters expression and knew it was true. She nodded. "I believe you."

"Mom, they are coming over." Maria said softy unable to meet her mothers eye.

"Now?" her mother asked a little caught off guard.

"Yea." Maria responded simply.

"There really nice though." Liz spoke up.

Amy nodded and smiled. "Okay well I'm going to the back to do some things. When they arrive let me know okay?"

"All right." Maria said softly. Once her mother had walked to the back she turned to Liz. "Do you think this was a good idea?"

"Well, I'm sure the timing is a little soon. But we have to know what is going on here. And the sooner the better." Liz told her truthfully

"Yea." Maria nodded reassuring herself. "Look I'm going to change real fast. If they get here just let them in."

Liz nodded and sat on the couch while Maria ran upstairs. As fate would have it a there was a knock on the door as soon as she sat down. She let out a groan and stood back up. She opened the door and found who she expected to be standing behind it. "Hey." she said and moved out the way.

"Where's Maria?" Isabelle asked nervously.

"She's-" Liz started.

"Hey." Maria said as she bounded down the stair. "I was um changing. I'll be back." she said and ran to the back.

"Okay is it just me or are yall nervous to?" Isabelle asked.

"Yea I think I'm feeling a little bit of that." Michael agreed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Mom?" Maria said softly as she walked int her mothers room. Her mother turned slowly from the poi\sition she was in n her bed.

"Hey. They here?" her mothers asked.

"Yea." Maria nodded. She walked over and sat next to her Mom. "They are nice. Kinda odd at first."

Amy nodded understandably. "I just wasn't really ready for this. I should have expected it I know. After all you told me yesterday. I just hadn't expected to see another one so soon."

"Mom there the same as us." she told her.

"I know. Believe me I know." she let out a sigh. "All right kid, lets go." Maria stood up and followed her mother out of her room and down the hall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You know Max, I-" Isabelle started but was cut off my Michael.

"Shhhhh." he said.

"Wha-" Isabelle said and turned to him but then she saw what he was talking about. A woman a couple of inches taller then Maria walked out. Her hair was shoulder length and almost the same shade as Marias except for a glint of silver in it. Her face was thinner then Marias and her frame was tinier. But look at them next to each other you could easily make the connection. Although it might be a little hard to judge if the relationship was mother daughter or sister and sister.

Max looked on at the women in awe. Although she was human for some reason she brought an image the demanded respect. She had gained the trust of one of his own. And it hadn't been a child like them but a man. Or at least she must have thought to be a man at first. And from the images Maria had relayed during the short time in which they had been together they had been happy.

Michael though for once felt confusion. He didn't understand why Marias father stayed why he didn't try to find a way home. And truthfully he had to wonder why this unknown man or whatever would willingly settle down and start a family.

"There kids." Amy said unbelievably.

"Well, they go to school with me Mom." Maria explained.

Amy nodded. She turned away and walked slowly to a chair. She took a seat and looked up at the five of them. "Do you know what happened?" The three of them shook there head. And she had to be the unfortunate one to break the news. "All right well you might want to sit down."

Max, Michael, and Isabelle sat on the sofa while Maria sat on the floor next to her Mom and Liz sat on the arm of the sofa next to Max.

"What do you remember?" Amy asked softly. "From the trip and why you're here?" she asked more precisely.

"Nothing." Max said first. "Mine and Isabelle's first memory is of walking down a deserted street. We where find by two people, the same people who adopted us."

"And you?" Amy asked the other boy who she now guessed was the one who invaded her daughters dream. This one struck her interest. He had remained silent. But yet he was the one that had been worried enough about her daughter to go into her mind.

"I remember as much as they do." he said flatly. Unlike Max he wasn't willing to speak of his homelike.

Amy nodded. They had only been children. And from what she knew they had been asleep for a long time. But her husband had explained the situation and imprinted it in her mind. Not only for Maria to know but because he felt at one point others would need to know. And as always 17 years later he was right. "I do no know where you came from. I remember Marias father pointing it out to me one night. To me it was a star. To him it was home." she said with a sad tone. She quickly shook herself away from the past and looked back to the present and the future. "But they left. Not just him others to. Families. He never told me the whole story. He said he didn't want to burden me with the pain and hurt his race had taken."

Her last sentence brought up feelings in the three aliens that had never been there before. They had always thought it was a random crash. That they should be back home. Where it was safe for them. But now....

Amy tried her best to ignore the disappointment on there faces and continue with the truth. "My husband, Neal was the name he had taken, said that on his world civil war had broken out between two classes. Those two classes pretty much where the whole civilization. Most destroyed them sevles." she said. Although she knew it must hurt she knew she could never comprehend the pain they must have felt at that moment. To know that there dreams of returning home would never come true. And to know that there home wasn't even the kind of home a person or an alien would want. "But others, the ones who wouldn't have part in it all, who wanted to be free, left. They went to other places. Families left on one ship and traveled to a different world, a new home, a new start. Your ship came here. It was supposed to be a quiet landing. It wasn't meant to attract attention. But there was a crash. Most of your kind died that night. Only a few got a way. You three, my husband, and from what I have heard there was another. But one that cause more problems then good."

Michael was the first to speak up. He refused to believe it. "No. No." he stood up and shook his head. "We have been searching out whole life and in only a few moments out hopes are destroyed by a human."

"Michael..." Isabelle pleaded and stood up.

"No. I will not believe it." he said stubbornly.

"Why?" Amy asked softly and stood up.

"What?" Michael asked surprised.

"Why can't you believe it. Why else would you be here? If that wasn't the case don't you think someone would have sought you out by now? My husband, Marias father, knew what happened, and he knew that it was safer here." Amy said sternly.

"Then why is he dead?" Michael shot back. He didn't mean to cause pain to either Maria or her mother with his words. But the information that had just been unloaded upon him left little room for any other thought or reason.

"Because others aren't excepting as some of us." she said simply as if it was an idea she had become used to. "Why is it that you insist on leaving?"

"Because we are alone here." Michael told her truthfully. More precisely he was alone.

"No, your not." Amy said with a soft voice and soft eyes. "You have them." she pointed to Max and Isabelle.

Michael felt as if the pent up frustration could not be contained any longer. "No, they have each other, they have a family."

"And you don't?" Amy asked.

"I have a drunken foster parent who lives in a trailer." Michael said bluntly. He never spared anyones feeling and he wasn't going to start now.

Amy frowned sadly. He did seem more alone. He obviously hadn't wondered to the right place that night. Amy turned to her daughter. Who at some point had gotten up and was standing off to the side between herself and the boy. And she saw it in Marias eyes. The pain she felt for Michael. "My daughter."

"What?" Michael asked surprised. With just these two words he felt like he was open to the whole world.

"You went into her dream didn't you?" she asked him.

Michael opened his mouth to deny it but knew it was to late.

"Why?" Amy asked him.

"Something was wrong." he admitted.

"And you where worried that something was wrong with her right?" Amy asked.

Michael nodded.

"Michael I..." Maria started but was unable to finish. She hadn't known he felt that way.

"You have my daughter, Liz, who I know would never let anyone down." she said and glanced at her daughters best friend.

Liz smiled.

"And you have them." she motioned towards Max and Liz. "And now me. For someone who is alone you sure have a lot of friends." she said and smiled.

Michael looked at her for a moment longer.......then walked out of her house slowly as if in a trance.

Isabelle turned to Marias mother. "How did you do that?"

"Do what?" Amy asked confused.

"Michael, I think he actually believed you."

Maria glanced at them for a moment and felt proud as her mother talked to them. But her happiness was short lived as she remembered Michael. She discreetly walked away from the others and out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael had always had a set goal. Find the answers and leave. But now he was so confused he wanted to scream. He spun around expecting to find Max and Isabelle walking out ready to leave. But instead stood Maria. He turned back around and stared out into the street.

Maria closed the door and slowly walked up and stood next to him.

"Sorry." he said.

"For what?" she asked confused.

"I got kind of upset in there for a minute. You don't know what it's like to be told that your whole life has been built on a lie." he said to her but still didn't meet her eye.

"I think I do." Maria told him. Not angrily but just agreeing with him.

Michael turned to her, "Yea I guess you do."

"So what do we do now then?" Maria asked.

"Same as we've always done. Even if what your mother is saying is true," he saw the look she began to give him,"and I'm not saying it's not, there are still question and still answers that need to be found. You know what happened to your father. I don't or my mother." he explained his situation.

Maria nodded. "What about me though? I mean, sure we've been running form the bad guys for a while, but now I may not just be a liability. I could become a target. You three are the aliens. Not I'm the weirdo. Half alien half human. Now there gonna be 'Oh look now we get ourselves three aliens and the mixed kid. Yee Ha experiments.'"

Michael turned to her seriously. As he often did. "You where never a liability."

Maria smiled. "Thanks."

"Now as for yee-ha experiments...." he started and smiled.

Maria laughed. "I did get a little carried away with that." she admitted.

"But your right." his tone became sullen once again. "You are more of a target now. I'm sure they would love to get there hands on you."

Marias mood slowly went downhill. Sure she knew it but hearing Michael say it out loud didn't help.

Michael noticed the depression that overcame her and he mentally kicked himself for telling her that. "But we aren't going to let that happen." he told her firmly.

Maria turned to him and smiled. "I know."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Part 3

"Liz what is my combination again?" Maria asked annoyed. Her locker refused  to open for the 3 time.

"Um, 24, 36, 18." Liz said as she shut her own locker. "Come on we're going  to be late."

"I'm trying." she grounded out. She said the numbers to herself and slowly  made sure each number hit the arrow. When she was through she gave it another pull. "Dammit!"

"What's going on?" Max asked as he joined them for there next class.

"Her locker won't open." Liz said and smiled.

Maria tried against more slowly and more carefully then the other four times. She pulled on it slowly but it didn't budge. "You piece of crap!" she yelled and yanked on it with all her might. "Ow shit." she screamed.

Liz's yes flew to Marias hand which she was now cradling to her chest then to her locker. "Where is your lock?" Liz asked confused.

"I burnt myself." Maria whimpered.

"What?" Max said surprised and left Lizs side. He took Marias hand in his own and surveyed the damage. The inside of her palm was burned.

"Max." Liz said softly and pointed at the other side of the hallway.

Max followed Lizs hand and soon found his eyes on Marias lock. Or what was left of it. It was now melted.

"I did that?" Maria asked confused and scared.

Max only looked at her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What?!?" Isabelle bursted out.

"Shhhhh." Max said harshly.

"It was melted?" Michael asked unbelievably.

Max nodded. "It didn't even look like her lock anymore."

"Is she okay?" Michael inquired.

"Her hand is pretty burnt and she needed some ice. I would have healed her but on her hand it would have brought to much atenttion. But that's not the only thing. I went and found her right before this class to check out her hand. It's healing fast." He told them.

"Fast. You mean fast like us?" Isabelle asked.

"No not like us. But to fast for a human." Max whispered. "That's not the point though. Someone could have gotten hurt. Maria can't control herself."

"So what do we do?" Michael asked. He was the last person that would know anything about controlling powers.

"I don't know. But we have to watch her. If you see her start getting upset in anyway you better interfere." he warned them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Liz I don't want to do this." Maria whined as they walked in her front door.

"You don't have a choice. Maria you know what happened earlier. We need to help you." Liz said firmly. She threw her books on the floor and waked into Maria's kitchen. "I'm just glad your mom isn't home. If she knew what happened today and was here for this she would freak."

"Yea I gotta agree with that." Maria said and grabbed two glasses out of the cabinet. "But Liz I'm not like them. I am half human. I can't be all that strong."

Liz groaned. "Maria so what. Just because your not exactly like them doesn't mean you can't do anything. And it doesn't mean people can't get hurt. And even if you could only do small stuff you need to be able to control it. Because if the wrong people see it..."

"Yea yea I get it." Maria mumbled. "You know I-. Ah hell." Maria cursed as there was a knock on the door.

"I'll get it." Liz said happily ignoring the glass that she had just poured.

"Oh okay!" Maria said with fake happiness then frowned. She took both there glasses and placed them in the sink but didn't turn away. Instead she stood there facing out the window above her sink. She heard Lizs perky voice. Then Max and then Isabelle. And for a moment Maria felt her heart sink when Michaels voice wasn't among them. But Liz soon greeted him to. Of course her spirits rose. But then they sunk against. Now everyone in the whole damn world was about to see her make a fool of herself. 'Oh look at the silly little half human girl trying to play aliens!' That's what if felt like. She felt like the human girl that was half alien. Not the alien that was half human. So pretty much it was a case of is the glass half full or half empty. In her case she was leaning towards the half empty.

"Hey what's wrong?" Liz asked walked up behind her.

"I'm half empty." Maria mumbled.

"What?" Liz asked confused.

Maria sighed. "Never mind. Lets get this over with." she said and turned away from the window. Actually she thought they would be staring at her. Instead Max and Isabelle where in a very heated discussion. "Did I miss something?"

"Yea. They are to put it in subtle terms debating on how to handle your current situation. Isabelle says to start with the simple things first. Like what she can do. Dreamwalking etc. Max says that you should start with the physical part. That way it will be safer for you and for others." Liz told. "I think someone should intervene though."

Maria sighed and walked forward. "Okay enough. Why don't we do it like this Max you show me how to do what you do best. And Isabelle you show me your stuff. And Michael you-. Michael what do you do?" Maria asked a little confused.

"I think you can already do what I do." he said.

"What?" she asked curiously.

"Use your powers wrong." he told he and gave he a small smile.

"Ah. Yea I think I got that covered." she said and turned to Max. "I think we should do your stuff first considering on what happened today."

Max nodded. He grabbed her hand and pulled her over to the door. He locked it and stepped away. "Unlock it."

Marias eyes widened. "Unlock it? But what if I break it?" she asked worried.

"Then I'll fix it." he said simply.

"Yea that would work I guess." she admitted. "Okay but how?"

"Your gonna have to concentrate. It's habit for me now. But not you. Just picture the lock. And in your mind tell yourself that you are unlocking. Don't just try to unlock it know you are going to unlock it."

"Do or do not. There is no try." Michael mimicked.

Maria looked at him and let a laugh escape her lips. She turned to Max. "All right Yoda. Here goes. Do I gotta touch it or something?" she asked.

Max took her wrist and held it over the lock. "Your power comes from you. Or more precisely in this case your hand."

Maria nodded. She winced for a moment then bit her lip. She had did it to her clock. And it shut up. And she didn't break it. So why not now? So she tried it. And exactly what she expected happened nothing. She shook her head and dropped her fists to her side clenching them tightly.

"All right it's okay." Max said calmly. "How did you do it before?" he asked.

"You mean the clock?" she asked him.

Max nodded.

"I told it to shut up. But it wasn't like I expected it to." she said.

"But you wanted it to. I know this sounds ridiculous but you really didn't want to get up. So when you told you clock to 'shut up' you really did want it to shut up. Not only do you have to know you are going to do it but know what you want." he explained the best he could.

Maria let out an angry sigh. But she tried again. She searched through her mind. Searched through ways to make it work. She tried to find what would make it go her way. What is was that she had to think and do until finally something clicked inside her and there was a noise. Then a crack. "It didn't unlock." she asked more then said.

Max leaned forward and studied it for a moment. It looked broken. "No. You did it right you just I think turned it the wrong way."

Maria groaned and threw her arms up in the air.

"It's okay." Max said and waved his hand over the lock. A second later it was as good as new.

"How do we know I can even do it if I wanted to. I'm not like you three. What if what I can do is minimal." she said and walked over throwing herself on the couch.

"What you can do is minimal. It may take more practice and more determination and more energy but you can do it." he told her.

"How do you know?" Maria shot back.

"Because, he can feel it." Isabelle said. "We can all feel it. We know how much you can do. You don't. You have to trust us Maria."

"I do." Maria said truthfully. "I just don't trust myself." she admitted sadly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What are you doing here?" Maria asked the new arrival.

"It's my turn to teach." Isabelle said happily.

"But I'm sleeping. I can't even rest in my sleep!" Maria said exasperated.

"Oh don't worry this is easy. When you dream walk you center yourself. Know where you want to go. And then your body falls asleep. All powers are the same. You saw visions and you had them. Because you knew what you wanted us to see. And you knew what you wanted to see. It's the same with the door. Just harder. It takes more concentration. But still the same. You have to know what you want. And for dreamwalking still the same. Only for this all you have to do is know who's dream you want to go into."

"And this is useful how?" Maria asked.

"Well, if someone is in trouble you can find them. Or if you want to know what they know you can find out. But you have to admit the thought of jumping into peoples dreams sounds exciting right?" Isabelle asked slyly.

Maria frowned. "Yea I guess. So what are you doing here then?"

"We're going dream hoping. Just don't tell Max. Or Michael. They tend to think I abuse the privilege. Which I do. But they don't have to know." Isabelle said with an evil smile.

"I don't know....." Maria trailed off.

"Oh come on. You never wanted to know what your friends dreamed about. What Michael dreamed about?" Isabelle pointed out. Knowing that she had won the battle.

Maria let out a groan. "Alright. So what do we do?"

Isabelle smiled triumphantly. "We'll go visit Michael then. Just think about him and close your eyes." She watched as Maria did so. And as she did she couldn't help the smile that overcame her. This was easier then she thought. All she'd do is give Maria a little push into Michaels dream. And if it was still the same one as earlier Maria would have fun. "Now just think and know that you want to see Michael."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Maria opened her eyes she found herself outside. And as she took in the surroundings warm fuzzy feelings came over her. The kind of memories you look back on as an adult and smile. She had loved elementary school. "Isabelle what-" she said and looked around. But she didn't see her. "Damn her." Maria cursed silently. She walked silently past the little children on the playground until she found the one she sought. "Damn I was cute." she said and smiled. There she stood. Maybe 6 or 7. Long blond hair, wearing one of her little trademark dresses. Maria always wore dresses. She liked to be cute and adorable. She walked closer and found that Liz was also with her. Except dressed down a little. Liz hated to play dress up. Maria remember that clearly.

She was soon drawn away from her past self as she recalled this was Michael's dream. She scanned the yard but unfortunately could not spot the little boy that was him until it was to late. She opened her mouth to warn herself but it did no good. The ball landed smack on the head of her younger self. That image triggered a memory from inside of her.

"Who did that!" little Maria yelled and picked up the ball.

"Give me my ball." the boy said and scowled.

"No!" Maria yelled and held the ball behind her back. "You have to say your sorry." she said haughtily.

"Maria give the boy back his ball." little Liz whispered.

"I will not."Maria said stubbornly.

"Give it back to me stupid." the boy said meanly.

Marias mouth dropped open at the harsh words. But she shut it again.

"Michael what are you doing?" a small brown headed boy asked walking up.

"This girl took my ball." he said angrily.

"I did not! You hit me with it!" Maria screamed.

"See Max! She is being a baby!" Michael said more to Maria then to Max.

Little Maria's eyes narrowed. "I am NOT a baby," she said angrily and threw his ball across the yard. "Let's go Liz." Maria said and dragged her friend off.

Then the dream stopped and everything went dark. She had forget about that. And even more to this day she hadn't remembered that being Michael. Why he would remember that she didn't know. It had to have been the first time she met him. But she wondered for a moment why the first time they met would be important to him. Could she mean something to him. And as she wondered that she quickly replayed there past meetings trying to fix on one moment that made it obvious. The only one that entered her mind was in the hotel. Then with a flash of light she found herself there, in the hotel, in the same clothes, standing face to face with Michael. She became alarmed and worried. But his features didn't change and his looked like he was oblivious to the fact that she was in his dream. Or even that he was dreaming. She was broken away from her thoughts when he asked her the familiar question about the sleeping arrangements. And why she will never know her response wasn't the same as the real night.

"I don't see why not." she said and mentally kicked herself. But she had to. She had always wondered what would have happened if she would have agreed to. She neared him just as she had done the real night. She stood there unwilling to force something to happen. This was Michaels dream. Here she would find out what he really wanted. And she didn't have to wait. Dream Michael closed the space between them. And for a moment she thought it was real. His lips claimed hers quickly. And even while she knew it wasn't real she responded to the touch. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. She was so lost in the kiss that she didn't even notice herself fading out of it till it was to late.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael groaned as he slowly wake up. "Damn." he cursed. That had been a good dream to.

Part 4

Two months later.

"Come Maria. Your turn." Michael whispered as they reached the window. He bent down and help Maria onto his shoulders. "Hurry up." he grunted out.

Maria frowned. Wasn't like she liked this. But she didn't respond. She waved her hand of the lock on the window and it clicked softly. She pulled it open and looked down at Michael. "Alright, push me up."

Michael pushed her up off his shoulder with all his strength and held her there while she pulled herself in he window.

Maria pulled herself in the window and ran strait for the desk. They had to be there. Or that's at lease what Isabelle had gotten from the dream. She yanked on the drawer that Isabelle had directed her to but it remained shut. She scowled, but quickly dismissed it and waved her hand over it. She pulled once more and to he relief it opened. She found the object she sought and pulled them out and quickly placed them in her jacket pocket. She pushed the drawer closed. Locked it, and ran towards the window. "Michael!" she whispered loudly, "Got them." he nodded up at her. Maria sat on the edge of the window and through her legs over. Her hands gripped the ledge and she slid down the wall until Michael grabbed her by her waste and brought her down. He grabbed her hand and turned to leave but she yanked him back. "We didn't close the window."

Michael frowned and kneeled down again. Maria jumped on his shoulder and he stood up. A few seconds later the window was closed and locked. He kneeled down and allowed her to jump off. "Lets go." he said.

Maria nodded. But that was all he grabbed her hand and pulled her in the direction of her car.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maria quickly unlocked her door and ran inside with Michael close behind. Her mothers worried face greeted them.

"Are you two okay?" Amy asked the two kids.

"Yea. We got them." Maria said quickly and threw herself on the sofa.

Isabelle soon appeared from the hallway. "Was I right?" she asked excitedly.

"Yea." Maria nodded.

"Have you heard from Max and Liz?" Michael inquired.

"Yea. They called about 30 minutes ago. There still being followed." Isabelle reassured them.

"You know," Maria said and took a deep breath, "it isn't that I want to be followed. But why do they always want to follow Max and Liz."

Michael turned and looked at her.

"Maria..." her mother warned.

"Alright I know." she reached in her jacket and pulled out the pictures."Isabelle are you sure there aren't anymore copies."

Isabelle gave her a look. "I'm sure." she said firmly.

"Do you think they would have believed the pictures anyway? I mean it's just from a bunch of crazy alien fanatics." Maria said as her mother and Isabelle looked through the revealing pictures.

"Well it's better to be sure Maria." her mother said.

"Yea I guess. We have to be careful now. More careful then before. I didn't even know that was possible." Maria said.

Michael didn't respond. But he agreed though. If they hadn't gotten those pictures they would've most likely been strapped to a bed in a white room in a couple of days."

~~~~~~~~~~

*Run* Maria heard the message in her head just seconds before she knew what was happening. They had been caught. They had escaped one to many times and this was it. But she ran. She wasn't sure who the message had come from. She didn't pay much attention. Her heart thumped hard and fast in her chest. And gun shots rang out in the air. And for a moment the thought one of the others had gotten hit entered her mind. But a split second later she realized no one had. She was the one hit. She was flung forward on her chest. She became well aware of the throbbing pain in her shoulder. "Oh god." she whispered painfully. She shut her eyes and forced herself back up. She took off as fast as she could. In the meantime she concentrated on the wound. She put all her power into healing it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael ran into the backdoor of the Crashdown. He saw shadows but no faces.

"Michael?" Max whispered.

"Yea." he said as he took in deep breaths.

"Michael, where's Maria?" Liz asked through tears.

"What she isn't here?" he asked quickly.

"No. I sent out the message to run and then she was gone. But there where shots." Isabelle said softly

Michael had heard them. He hadn't paid to much attention since he hadn't been hit. But now his imagination was getting away with itself. First he thought she could be dead. Then he though that they got her, and if they got her then she would become there ginny pig. He turned back to the door and yanked it open.

"Michael no!" Max whispered loudly and yanked him in as he shut the door.

"She's still out there!" Michael yelled.

"But you don't know where. And it won't do us any good to have you both out there in danger. She knows where to come. She'll be here." Max told him.

"And what if she can't get here?" Michael shot back.

Max didn't respond.

~~~~~~~~~~

Maria was trying her best not to cry. But she was weak, and hurting, and her legs where cramping up. She wasn't even sure if she was being followed anymore. But she still ran. And when she caught site of her destination she ran with all her might. Pushing all her human strength and alien strength into it. She reached the door in the back and yanked it open, she hurried in and closed it. She turned around. A light was quickly turned on and she found herself face to face with the others.

Michael flipped on the light not caring what dangers laid behind the door. When he did he wished he would have left it off. Her condition was terrible. She was bleeding, from her shoulder. And she was shaking as she gasped for breath. Tears ran down her face and a cry escaped her lips.

Maria didn't care anymore. She let her legs gave out from under her. Luckily Michael rushed forward and caught her. She had hoped in the moment she would pass out. But it didn't happen.

"Max, her shoulder, fix it." Michael said harshly.

Max nodded. He grabbed Marias bloody shirt and yanked it off her head. He placed his hand over the hole in her shoulder and let his power flow into her. Seconds later she was healed. But she still didn't look any better.

"Max, what's wrong with her?" Liz asked alarmed. Maria was sobbing hysterically. And it got even worse after Max healed her.

"She's weak. She was trying to heal herself and run. She probably can't even stand up. If she was human she'd be dead." he voiced the terrible truth.

Michael ignored them and pulled Maria shaking body closer to him. He found himself wrapped in her arms, but that only made him hold her tighter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The jeep pulled up to Marias house and Michael got out carrying Maria in his arms. Max and Isabelle followed.

Amy opened the door at the sound of the motor. She gasped as she saw her daughter being carried to the door. "What happened?!?"

Michael walked in quickly and headed to Marias room while Max explained. Maria had fortunately fallen asleep. He laid her gently down on her bed. He didn't want to let her go. He wanted to hold her and make sure she was fine. And to tell her she was going to be okay and that he would never let her get hurt again. But somehow he was never able to tell her that. He was soon pushed out of the way by Marias mother.

"She was shot?!?!" she screamed and jumped to her daughters side.

"I healed her. She will be fine. But she is very weak. She went past her own abilities. Now she is paying for it, mentally and physically." Max told her calmly.

"But she'll be okay right?" Amy asked him but not taking her eyes off her daughter.

"Yes." Max said. He paused only a moment then grabbed Michael by his arm and led him out.

Michael walked out unwilling. The thought of leaving her tore him apart. He knew her mother would take care of her. But he didn't feel okay unless he was there holding her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maria woke with a start. Her body was sore and weak and she could hardly move. And mentally she felt abused. Tears sprang to her eyes. She felt so alone right now. She though about calling for her mother. But she wouldn't understand. She needed something different. Something more. She forced all other thoughts out of her mind and she let herself slip off into a dream.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael found himself pulled into a plain white room and he immediately knew he was dreaming.

"Michael?"

Michael spun around at the weak voice. "Maria what's wrong?" he asked her fading form.

"I'm to weak to stay. Michael hurry please. I don't want to be alone." she said softly as she faded out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael was up quickly as he awoke. He threw on some clothes and shoes and was out the window a couple of minutes later. Maria needed him and he was going to be there for her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Part 5

Maria continued to cry silently. She wasn't really sure why. She felt drained she could tell. Her body was putting all its power into healing itself, but leaving her little emotional stability. Maybe that's why she needed someone. Or more specifically Michael. Someone stable. Even in her condition she realized how ironic that was. Michael, stable? Ha. He acted on instinct Maria knew and he rarely thought things through. But she knew that if she needed him he would be there. And she knew a part of the reasons why he would. And at the same time she didn't just want him because she knew he'd be there because of that. She wanted him because she felt the same and she couldn't stand to be away from him. Especially in this condition. So of course when she heard a notice from her window her spirits rose. "Michael?"

"I'm here," he said and hurriedly closed the window. He walked to her side quickly and leaned down. "Are you okay?"

"Yea." she said quickly reassuring him. "I just didn't want to be alone."

Michael winced at how desperate she sounded. "Maria you need to rest." his voice sounded cut off. He knew he was trying to hide his emotions.

"Michael." she sobbed. She reached out for him and he took her hand in both of his.

She looked so broken. And for a moment the idea that she would never heal entered his thoughts. But she would. Her powers had just been used beyond her ability. But it still hurt him to look at her like this.

Maria pulled him to her with all the strength she had.

"Maria what do you want from me?" he asked. He wanted to know. He didn't see how he could help her.

"I want you to hold me." she told him

Michael looked at her for a moment then kicked off his shoes and laid down next to her facing her. He wrapped his arms around her body gently, afraid that he would break her, and pulled her closer.

Maria snuggled into his arms. "Is it going to go away?" she asked him softly.

"What?" he asked her genuinely confused.

"How I feel." That was the best she could explain it. She didn't even know why she was feeling this way.

"You'll get better. You used up too much power getting to the Crashdown. You're worn out. You just need time to rest." he told her.

"Did this happen to you before?" She wasn't sure why she was asking him so many questions. She only supposed it was so that she could understand. And maybe if she understood she would feel better.

"No. You're only half of what we are. If it was one of us in that position we would have been fine.," he admitted to her.

Maria frowned. "I can't win in either situation."

Michael pulled away and looked at her. "Don't say that. If you where only human you would have died."

Maria studied his features and the tone of his words. They where urgent and his face demanding. She nodded then pulled herself closer to him. Neither of them spoke after that. But Maria was content to just lie there in his arms.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Maria?" Liz said as she walked behind her friend.

Maria gave her an odd look. "Why are you whispering?"

"I've been thinking. A lot since that night you got hurt." Liz admitted. She really did hate bringing it up in front of Maria but she had to confide in someone. And she didn't want to worry Max.

"What about it?" Maria asked as casually as she could while she went back to the task of restocking.

"Things have gotten more dangerous. We seem to be always hiding, running, or losing them. It's not going to get better." Liz told her softly.

Maria stopped and looked Liz. She couldn't figure out where this was going.

"What if they do finally get something? Or even worse catch one of y'all?" Liz asked.

"I don't know." Maria said softly.

"And that's not all. If they did find out something, and maybe there was a chance that we knew, y'all would have to leave." Liz voiced the remainder of her worries.

Maria remained silent. Ever since she had been told the truth her mind had always entertained the idea that one day they might get caught, or that one-day they would have to leave. Maria nodded. "I know. I think about it all the time."

"So what do we do if it does happen?" Liz asked.

Maria shook her head. "I don't know. Usually when I do start thinking about it I try pushing it out of my mind."

"Yea." Liz agreed. She did that often to. She let out a sigh and without anything left to say she left the room.

Maria stood there silent for a moment after Liz left. Sure she thought about it. But never really talked about it out loud. Before it had always been a possibility for Max, Isabelle, and Michael to leave. But not her. Now she was part of that. Part in the danger of getting caught or having to pick up and leave one day. As always, she pushed the though out of her mind and went back to her work.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Max walked into the diner with the others looking expectantly at him. He had thought about this moment but never actually planned on it. Now here it was. He walked slowly to the booth and sat down.

"Max what is going on?" Isabelle asked concerned.

"The sheriff." Max forced out.

"The sheriff? What about him?" Michael asked dangerously.

"He knows." Max told them. He looked down as the words came out unable to meet their eyes. He heard a gasp come from Liz and he winced.

"What is he going to do?" Isabelle asked with fear in her voice.

"Nothing. He isn't our problem. Out problem is the FBI. The sheriff warned me." Max said.

"Oh god." Isabelle gasped. In one moment her whole world disappeared. "What do we do?"

Max looked up at her but Michael was the one to answer.

"We leave." he said bluntly.

"No." Liz whispered.

"He's right Liz. We have to leave." Max said and looked around at his friends. Even in the dark he could make out their faces.

"Where's Maria?"

"She said she'd be late." Liz said. Then a thought occurred to her.

"Why?"

"She has to leave too." Max forced out.

Michael dropped his head. He had always been prepared for this moment. So had Max and Isabelle. Maybe not like him but they knew that it was a possibility and it had been discussed.  For Maria the idea of leaving had never been brought up.

"Hey." Maria said as she walked into the diner. She stopped when she reached the silent table. "What happened?"

~~~~~~~~~~~

"No." Maria said softly as the news was broken to her. "Are you sure?"

"Maria we have no choice. He wanted the truth that's all. The FBI wants more. And they know what they wanted to know. And now nothing is going to stop them from taking us." Max explained to her.

"I can't leave!" Maria yelled. "Everything is here. My mom, my friends, Liz is here. No!" she screamed and stood up.

Michael jumped up and grabbed her wrists and pulled them to his chest. "You have no choice. They will take you. They know about you. You cannot stop them either. Just because you're half human doesn't make you less interesting to them. If anything, more interesting. They will take you, strap you down do a little bed in a white room, and poke at you and prod at you. Because you are NOT one of them.," he said harshly. He ignored the tears coming down her face. He knew he was hurting her but she had to hear the truth out loud. "I don't care if you do want to stay. I am not leaving you here. And if I have to I will drag you out of this town."

Maria didn't respond she just cried. She found herself pulled against Michael and she hugged him to her.

Liz reached out and grabbed Max's hand in her own. She cried too. No one could see though. Her tears were silent.

"Tonight?" Isabelle forced out.

"Yes. We split up. All of us together are too dangerous. But I don't think it would be safe to go alone." he said and stated the beginning of his plan.

"Maria comes with me." Michael said decidedly.  

Max nodded. He knew that before Michael had sad it.  "Me and Isabelle leave in the jeep. You and Maria take her car."

Maria cried into Michael's shirt as they made plans for there escape. But when they got to the point of there actually leaving in cars she pulled away. "My mom."

"She'll be okay, Maria. The sheriff said he'll make sure." Max told her. He wasn't sure how much comfort it would give her but he did it anyway.

"I have to go to her." Maria said decidedly.

"Maria..." Max started.

"I'll leave. I'll do what you say. But I have to tell her good-bye." Maria told them firmly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Maria no." Amy said to her daughter on the verge of tears.

"Mom I have to." Maria said and let her tears start to flow again. "I don't want to go but they know about us."

Amy shook her head slowly. She knew it was true. By keeping her daughter here it would only endanger her. "When do you leave?"

"Tonight." Maria forced out. "We're meeting back at the diner. Then we leave."

"What is the plan?" Amy asked softly. She found that she could hardly voice her thoughts. She wanted to grab her daughter and tell her everything would be okay. But it wouldn't work. She couldn't protect her.  

"We split up. Max and Isabelle go one way and me and Michael go the other." Maria told her just told her just above a whisper.

"We won't know where we're going till we stop. I'm not sure how we'll get in touch with you and Liz. Chances are they'll be watching you all. So it could be a while before you hear from us."

Amy nodded and let out a sigh. She had to let her go.  "Then I guess we need to get you ready."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maria pulled up in the back of the Crashdown. She had taken special care to make sure that no one was following her. Max's jeep was already there and she could see they were loaded. She got out of her car silently. She walked towards her silent friend. "Hey."

"Hey." Liz responded.

"I don't know what to say Liz." Maria said softly.

"Me neither. Maybe we just shouldn't say anything. We'll save it for when we see each other again." Liz said decidedly.

Maria looked at her. She nodded through silent tears. "I'll tell you then." Maria agreed.

Liz smiled sadly then unable to control it any longer she threw her arms around Maria. "Please come back." she said through tears.

"I will." Maria promised.

"We need to go." Michael interrupted.

Maria pulled away and nodded. She stepped away from her long time Friend, and stood at Michael's side. Max and Isabelle soon joined them. Nothing was really said between the three of them. They must have said it earlier. Because they just stood there in silence.

"Keep low for a while. We won't be able to make contact with each other for sure. After your sure your not being followed or watched write to either Liz or Maria's Mom." Max said.

Michael nodded. There was silence once against and he found it unbearable. "Lets go." he said and grabbed Maria's hand and led her away.

Maria turned to the others as Michael drug her away. They seemed so far away now.

"Do you want me to drive?" Michael asked her.

"Yea." she said and handed him the keys. She walked to the passenger side and got in. As Michael got in and started the car, her eyes remained on the three figures. Soon the car started to back up and they got farther and farther away. They turned a corner and in a split second where out of site. She looked out the passenger side window and watched her home fly by her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Dammit!" Maria screamed as she threw her clothes into the familiar suitcase.

"Maria calm down!" Michael yelled at her as he threw more belongings in the suitcase.

"Michael shut up! Don't tell me to calm down." she screamed back and for emphasis she threw the book in her hand.

Michael launched himself at Maria and grabbed her upper arms.

"Stop it now! We've been here before, Maria. And you yelling and getting hysterical will not help us get out of here."

Maria grounded her jaw together and yanked herself away from Michael and continued to pack. She hated this. And she knew it wasn't his fault. He hated it as much as she did. But they were never safe. Once again, they had gotten in trouble. Sometimes she wondered if Max and Isabelle had this much trouble. Of course she didn't know. A few moments later they were packed and running out the motel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I'm taking a shower." Maria said as Michael closed the door. She opened the suitcase and pulled out her things. Or what she had left. She had lost a lot since the night they left. Depression came over her again at the thought and she quickly pushed that night out of her head. She went into the bathroom and readied the shower. She hadn't thought it would be like this. All the running, the fear. As if that wasn't bad enough her and Michael had the worst tension built up in-between them. Now her and Michael couldn't even old a normal conversation anymore. It was to strained. When she exited the bathroom, cleaned and fully clothed, Michael walked right past her into the bathroom shutting the door behind him. She winced. His attitude seemed so cold.

He was never really an open person before. But this was terrible. He was distant and blocked off. And she was depressed. She often cried, but when he wasn't around. He didn't want her to be weak. It wouldn't get them anywhere.

But she couldn't help it and this time she lost it. She curled up on the lumpy bed and cried.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael turned off the shower and stepped out. As he did he became slowly aware of a noise coming from behind the door. It was one he had become accustomed to. He often heard it at times like this, or when he walked in the door, or sometimes late at night when they both should have been asleep. He never confronted her about it. Which he knew he should. Not to scold her but comfort her. She needed it. But he could never bring himself to do it.

The first time it happened he was getting out the shower, and he remembered his heart breaking at the pitiful sound. But instead of going out there and holding her he remained in the bathroom till her cries halted. He stepped out of the bathroom in just his boxers. He was lacking more and more in the clothes area lately. So was Maria. So instead of him wearing more then boxers at night, she wound up wearing his clothes. As he opened the door she quickly ended her sobs. But he didn't care. He knew most likely, she was there, silently crying. And she would do that till she fell asleep. He walked over to the side she was laying on and sat down. He put both arms on either side of her and leaned down. "Maria, I'm sorry."

"For what?" she asked but still did not face him.  

"Everything. For being so far away from you lately. For yelling at you earlier. For not being there for you." he said softly.

"It isn't your fault." she said, her words strained. She was finding it hard to talk without crying now.

"But I'm all you have, and you're all I have and the last thing I should be doing is pushing you away. I'm sorry." he said and brought a hand up to her face and turned it to face him.

Maria's face crumbled as she saw the sincere look in his face. She jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck "I can't do this anymore."

"We have to, Maria, there's no other way." he told her. But deep down he felt the same way as her.

"Michael I can't stand myself anymore, I can't stand people, walking around happily with their perfect lives. Every breath I take I wish was the last," she admitted.

Michael knew he should tell her not to think it but he could hardly stand the thought of waking up the next day. So all he could do was agree. "I know, Maria."

Maria pulled away from him and looked at him. "I can't go on like this forever. You can't either."

"I know." It was all he could say.

Looking at him right there right now gave her a feeling of déjà vu. She gave him a small smile and pulled him up. "Come here." she said and led him over to the end of the bed. "Alright you stand here, and I'll stand here." she released him and backed up a step. "Remember this?"

"What?" for a minute he though she had actually cracked.

"Before, before all of this, before we left, before we knew the truth about me, when at the time we thought life was hard and it was actually simple. Another cheap motel from what seems like a long time ago, but actually a little less then a year." She told him with feeling in her voice.

"My vision." he realized. "I abducted you." he said and smiled.

Maria smiled excitedly and nodded. "Remember what you asked me?" Maria asked trying to trigger him memory. "About our sleeping arrangements?"

Michael let out a little laugh. "Yea. So?"

"Ask me again." She told him seriously.

"What?" he asked a little surprised.

"Ask me." she told him again.

"I don't suppose we could share?" he repeated.

"Yes." Maria answered.

Michael didn't respond to her. He wasn't sure how to respond.

Maria stepped forward, placed a hand on his neck and pulled his head down so that his lips met hers. She slid her tongue along his bottom lip and he quickly responded.

Michael wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him.

Maria opened her mouth to him and his tongue slipped in and swept the insides of her mouth. She found herself moaning into his mouth and holding onto him tighter, until they finally pulled away. But neither of them let go.

"Maria?" he asked breathlessly.

Maria looked up to him but was unable to speak.

"I want you. I've wanted you forever and-" his mouth was stopped as she placed her hand over it gently.

Maria nodded. "Okay."

Michael didn't waste a second. A second was too long to waste. He slid his hands under her legs and lifted her up, wrapping her legs around him. He quickly leaned in for a kiss as he carried her to the bed.

Maria wrapped her arms around his neck and as he leaned down to place her on the bed she pulled him down on top of her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Part 6

Maria snuggled closer to Michaels bare chest. His armed tightened around her and she guessed he was awake but she didn't speak. She was content to live like this forever. But she knew it wouldn't last. Maria sighed and broke the silence. "Michael?"

"Hmmm?"

"The suns coming up. We need to leave. Remember no money?" she reminded him. That's how they lived. Running from motel to motel. Sometimes sleeping in the car. A couple of times they had held up for a couple of weeks. One got a job and they got money. But then they had to move on.

Michael let out a defeated sigh. "Yea I know." he sat up and leaned over grabbing his discarded boxers. He slipped them on as he stood up.

The door open slowly and a familiar figure walked in. "Get dressed."

Maria jumped up with the sheet around her naked body.

"What do you want?" Michael snarled out. If it came down to it he would kill her. She would not take him nor Maria.

"It's over. You can go back." Topolsky said. Even being serious, she still had that same annoying, quite sweet tone to her voice.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Maria asked gaining her courage. Although she didn't have much of it standing there almost naked.

"The FBI is not after you anymore. I've taken care of it. It was easier to find Max and Isabelle. They are already home. If you don't believe me call Liz. She knows whats going on. I'm leaving now. You wont see me again. Ever. And do not mention me to anyone." she paused and looked at Michael. "If I was you I'd be content to remain where you are." she added. She quickly turned and walked out the door.

"Michael is she for real?" Maria asked confused.

"Call Liz." Michael said and turned to her.

"What?" Maria asked surprised. She would have thought that he would have been the last person to believe her. But his face was set and she nodded. She sat on the bed and picked up the phone. She felt her heart beat faster as she punched in the area code. When the phone started to ring she bit roughly on her lip.

"Hello?"

"Liz?" Maria asked unbelievably. But she knew it was her.

"Maria! You're coming back!" Liz screamed excited.

The tone of her voice surprised Maria. She sounded like she believed they where coming back. Like everything was right. "Topolsky was here. She told me and Michael to go back home. What happened?"

"Maria didn't she tell you?" Liz asked confused.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kathleen Topolsky started the engine to her car. She was going home now. Her real home. She hadn't been happy about her assignment to watch the three of them. But they had to be sure that they where safe. There was hardly any of her race left. All destroyed by war. Only a few ships escaped. So when it became known to the group she was with, that there where 3 survivors on Earth, they had to be sure they where okay. But they weren't. So she undertook the name Kathleen Topolsky, infiltrated the FBI, and deceived them. Now they where safe. And not only that there where more. Half human though. But from what she had seen only moments before soon there would be more, and they would more like her ad the others then human.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The End