Deep Down Inside of You

These where the kind of evenings you read about in stories that foreshadowed impending

evil. So why was she out in it? Because she couldn't stand to be bored. That's right, she

was driving quickly down the empty streets of Roswell, to go to the Crashdown. Why?

Because her best friend, and three stupid aliens, where being overly paranoid. Of course

they waited till they reached there, then Liz called her.

But her attention was pulled away from Liz and back towards the dark gray sky. Or

maybe it was the flash of lightening that flew across the sky. Of course that was soon

followed by a loud rumbling of thunder. She hoped no one was on the receiving end of

that angry lightening. Of course she was getting the brutal end of the gusts of wind. Well,

her car was. But she heard it. She could hear the howling sound, and every so often

something would get blown away from one of the shops. She came to an abrupt halt

outside the Crashdown, where she could see the four of them sitting inside. After the

engine had been silenced, and her keys deposited in her purse, she took a deep breath.

Maybe the wind wouldn't blow her away.

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

"What the hell is all of that about?!?!" Maria yelled as she yanked the door shut. She let

out a huff of breath and walked towards the back.

"Where are you going?" Liz inquired, with her eyes following Maria's irritated form.

"To the bathroom. I feel a mess." Maria hollered over her shoulder as she passed through

the doors. Once in the back, Maria released a relieved breath. For some reason she felt

better now. She was out of the impending death, and she was alone. Of course once she

went back through those doors she would have to deal with whatever problem they where

having.

Once she reached the mirror, she stared wide eyed at her reflection. She didn't know

weather could do that to a person. Hadn't she applied make-up before she left? Why she

didn't know. There was no use. Those thoughts caused her eyes to narrow in anger. Maria

grounded her teeth together and sighed. She would not dwell on that right now. She

quickly touched up what she could and attempted to tame the staring hairs. She stared

back on the image, almost satisfied. It would have to do. But why should she care. She

should have come over in what she was in. Her pajamas. But of course she probably

would have dressed that up to. She turned away from the silent reflection and walked

back out towards her impending doom. Because that's what it was right? Nothing ever

went right anymore. But hey, it's fun. As ridiculous as it may sound, once you lost the evil

FBI guys, or escaped a terrible situation, it was quite a rush. Because what was better

then saving the day, or tricking the bad guys.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Maria dropped into a booth next to Isabelle who was sitting next to Michael. "So what's

the impending doom this time? Shall we run down to the bat cave now and jump in the

batmobile? Or we can go grab out stakes and holy water. Wait no, we've got secret

powers, that is how we shall defeat the evil in this episode." Maria look around at the

staring faces. "Sorry, sarcasm is running high today."

"We discovered another sighting." Max revealed to her.

Maria sighed and leaned back against the back of the booth. Yay. Another reason for

them to go trampling into the freezing cold woods. "Where at?"

"Here in Roswell, some where in this area." Isabelle said in a fearful tone.

"Near the Crashdown?" Maria asked as her eyes widened with worry. Three aliens was

one thing. But more? And besides she knew these three.

"We're not sure, just somewhere in this general area. But here's the thing, it happened a

little over a year ago. There was a light scene by only a couple of people. So there hadn't

been to much fuss over it. But there where records of it at the museum." Max explained

for the third time.

Maria wasn't hearing the rest. Why over a year ago? It hadn't been something that they

would have noticed obviously. And it was just pure luck that they stumbled upon it now.

She racked her brain trying to remember any rumor going around about a sighting. This

was Roswell, people would remember. But then considering it was Roswell, you heard it

all the time. But if Max believed it was true, maybe...... For some reason she wanted to

remember something, be of some sort of help. Had she had a headache this bad when she

left the house? Maria was throws out of her thoughts by a cold wet feeling running down

her nose. She looked down at the table so that no one could see her. A dark red drop hit

the table and her eyes widened. Maria covered her face with her hand and ran to the

bathroom to avoid embarrassment.

"Maria?" Liz question as her head followed her running friend. She stood to get up but

was yanked back down by Max.

"What is that?" he asked cautiously.

Liz followed in the direction he was pointing. She grabbed a napkin and whipped it up.

When she looked, she frowned. "It's blood."

"Blood?" Michael asked quickly, in a tone meaning 'Are you sure?'

"Yea, she must have had a nose bleed." Liz said confused and shook her head. "But she

hadn't been having there for like a year. And it only lasted a month. I'm going to go check

on her." Liz said and stood up.

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

"Maria? Are you okay?" Liz asked softly as she entered the bathroom.

"Yea." Maria sighed and shut her eyes again. The light was killing her.

"Maria why is the light off?" Liz asked cautiously.

"I just got this major headache." Maria explained in a quiet voice. "Everything was to

loud to.

Once Liz's eyes adjusted to the light, she found Maria leaning against the bathroom wall,

with her eyes shut, and a Kleenex held up to her nose. "Has this happened recently?"

"No. This is the first time. Well, first time since last year. It was weird. My nose began

bleeding and then as I got up and left I felt like a rammed my head into a wall." Maria

sighed. "I'll be okay. You just go out there."

"You sure?" Liz asked. She wasn't sure. She really didn't want to leave Maria alone if she

was feeling as bad as she sounded.

"Yea. I'll probably go upstairs in your room." Maria assured her.

"Okay." Liz said and turned around. Once she reached the door she turned back around to

check on Maria. By that time Maria had slid down the wall and was resting against it.

She opened the door and left.

Maria let our a painful whimper. They hadn't been this bad before. Had they?

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

"Is she okay?" Max inquired gently as Liz took her seat.

"No. Not really. She said she had gotten a really bad headache to. She even had the light

off. She would get headaches before. But not that bad." Liz frowned.

"Well, wouldn't her reaction be go to the doctor?" Isabelle asked in her all knowing

manner.

"Not if it won't help," Maria said as she emerged from the doors. "Been there done that.

They didn't know what was wrong. He told me just to pop a few aspirins as long as I

wasn't sick." Maria finished as she seated herself at the table.

"I thought the light was hurting your eyes?" Liz asked confused.

"It was. But just a moment after you left it disappeared, and the blood stopped free

flowing," she said and stood up. "Look I'm taking the batmobile," she grabbed her keys,

"my stakes and holly water," she grabbed her purse, "and going home." Maria said and

smirked before she walked out.

"That didn't last to long." Isabelle said and frowned.

"Something isn't right," Or more precisely Michael felt that something wasn't right.

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

Maria stepped slowly into the steaming water. Her Mom was going to bitch when she got

home and all of the hot water was gone. But so what. She did her best not to disrupt the

snow white bubbles. She eased herself slowly down into the water and a relaxing scent

filled her lungs. Maria slid down until her ears where enveloped in water, and popped

causing a small giggle to escape her lips. Her eyes followed the flickering lights of the

candles in the darkened room. It was a soothing escape from the tense situation she had

been shoved back into.

The odd thing was, was that she felt fine. After a few moments the bleeding stopped and

still did the headache. Which could be easily compared to a migraine? But she felt

stressed. Her whole body shared in the worry of another month of headaches and nose

bleeds. Last year, when she went to the doctor, he hadn't come up with any direct

explanation as to what was going on with it. All he said is that is must be a seasonal

thing. And here she was in the same position a year later. It could be summed up to a

seasonal thing. But she knew the difference between allergies and something that was

very wrong.

But here she was fine. In the subtle darkness of the bathroom, the relaxing feeling of the

warm water enveloping her tired body, and the rich scents that surrounded her, she could

ignore the outside world, and the impending discomfort that laid ahead of her, and just

breathe.

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

Maria watched the man cautiously as he neared her. She could see it but her mind was

not allowing her to see the full picture. She knew that there was a man talking to her, and

she knew she was talking to him. It was almost as if she was in her own body in the

situation, but she had no control over what was going on. But this dream Maria was

scared and very cautious. Maria tried to push out of the confining situation but it did no

use. Her futile attempts ceased though when she realized something about what was

going on. The man advanced on her and placed both hands on the side of her head firmly.

Then everything went dark.

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

Maria took a deep breath and opened her eyes, only to have water fill her lungs and her

eyes to burn. She jumped up out of the water quickly and stood there breathing heavily.

Maria winced at the pain that shot through her head at the sudden movement. Her eyes

traveled downwards and she saw a swirling red substance in the now cold water. She

brought her hand up to her nose and pulled it away. She was bleeding again.

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

"Sunglasses." Maria mumbled from Liz's lap.

Liz rummaged through Maria's purse and retrieved a dark, black pair of sunglasses and

handed them to her. "Are you sure you don't want to go inside? It will be darker." Liz

asked.

"No. All those people irritate me. They make my headache worse." Maria responded.

Liz nodded and continued lightly playing with Maria's hair in a soothing manner. School

could stress you out. And it was nicer out here, sitting on the grass under a shady tree.

"We have guessed."

Maria opened her eyes slightly and found three aliens heading in there direction.

"Wonderful."

"As I recall we where supposed to meet up at a certain table." Isabelle said as they

reached the two girls.

"Maria wanted to come out here." Liz said and looked up at her.

Michael kneeled down and looked at her curiously. His eyes narrowed at her. "What

happened?" Although he could probably make his own conclusion from recent events.

Maria brought her hand up to her face and slid the glasses down her nose so that only her

eyes where revealed. She squinted at the harsh daylight and looked pointedly at him.

"What do you think?" Maria asked in a sharp tone then pushed her glasses back up.

"Last period Maria had another nose bleed." Liz started.

"And a headache." Maria mumbled.

"And a headache. So the teacher said she could go to the nurse and I went with her. But

we just came out here." Liz explained.

"This is the third time." Maria said painfully.

"Wait the third?" Liz asked and leaned over, looking Maria in the face.

Maria nodded. "Last night. I had taken a bathe. You know to ease the stress. But I fell

asleep. And I had the weirdest dream. There was this guy and-" Maria was cut short as a

loud whimper escaped her lips. She grabbed her head with her hands and winced. Maria

rolled over onto her arms and knees and curled up, putting pressure on her head with her

hands.

Michael couldn't stand it any longer. Something was definitely wrong here. And he was

going to fix it. Somehow. He reached out and laid his hand on top of her head gently. An

image flashed through his head. And he immediately realized that he was seeing it

through Maria eyes. He knew rather then saw, that a man had placed his hands on the

sides of her head, then everything went black. He snapped his hand away and he stared at

her with awe.

The pain in her head eased quickly and soon disappeared. But it only happened as the

images from her dream flashed through her head again. Maria eased off of the ground

and sat down. She looked around at the others and brought her hand up to her nose. She

recognized the familiar wetness and she bowed her head.

"Maria here." Liz said and held out a Kleenex.

Maria took it from her slowly and brought it up to her nose. She refused to look at the

others. She grabbed her purse and stood up, quickly walking away.

Liz jumped up and ran after Maria.

Michael stood up and faced Isabelle and Max. "I saw something." he declared.

Isabelle looked at him warily. "What did you see Michael?"

"When I touched Maria, an image flashed through my head. Look I know what I saw

Izzy." Michael said with a little anger in his voice.

"Michael calm down. No one is saying you didn't. Now what did you see?" Max asked

him calmly.

Michael watched them both for a moment before he spoke again. "I was seeing it through

Maria's eyes. A man, I don't know who, I couldn't see his face, he touched the sides of

Maria's head. Then everything went dark. Almost like she passed out." Michael told

them. He was confused himself. It made no sense. He wasn't even sure if it meant

something. But what he did know is he was worried.

"Michael, that doesn't mean anything." Isabelle told him trying to persuade him away

from his thoughts.

"You don't know that." he said angrily. He didn't want anything to be wrong with Maria.

He just wanted to help her.

"And you saw this by just touching Maria's head?" Max questioned him.

Michael looked away for a moment. "No. I was trying to take the pain away from her,

instead I saw those images."

"Wait back up. You tired to take the pain away from her? Meaning you used your

powers? As I recall Michael, you where all up in a rage over Max saving Liz's life."

Isabelle whispered angrily.

"Look she was in pain! What did you expect me to do?!?!" Michael yelled. They didn't

understand how he felt. They didn't want to think of how he felt.

"Leave her alone." Max said simply. "Look Michael, Maria was in no mortal danger. She

is going to be okay." Max tried to assure him. They just couldn't have Michael going

around helping Maria at the drop of the hat.

Michael's face gave was pure resentful. "Don't tell me what to do Max. You do what you

want to do with Liz, like we could stop you. And I'll do what I want to do with Maria."

Michael told him sternly. He glanced at both of them one more time then walked off.

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

Maria had been decent over the past few days. Only a couple of nose bleeds.

Of course she had taken special care to avoid anything stressful. Meaning she

kept her distance from three certain people bound to attract trouble. But of

course none of them showed any concern as to how she was doing. That would of

course show human emotions. And god forbid they should do that. Bastards.

"Maria."

"Huh?" Maria asked and spun around.

"You finished staring at the inside of your locker?" Liz asked and smirked.

"Yeah. Just making sure everything was in order." Maria grabbed a book out of

her locker and shut it. She held out her arm. "To English?"

Liz slid her arms through Maria's. "To English." she said and smiled. Liz

soon

because serious. "So how are you feeling?" she asked in a concerned voice.

Maria smiled. "Better. As long as I'm away from 'We're aliens, show us pity,

and risk your asses to save ours.' I seem to be okay."

"Little spiteful aren't we? Have a bad morning?" Liz asked.

"No. Just woke up with an 'Screw the world' attitude." Maria informed her as

they walked into English.

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

"Liiiiz." Maria whined.

"Maria, I'm sorry. But they need our help." Liz told her evenly as she untied

the alien faced apron.

"But remember what I said earlier?!?" Maria exclaimed and bounced on her feet.

"Yes, I do. But if we were in trouble they would help us." Liz said right

before she walked out the door.

"Don't count on it." Maria mumbled to the doors. But she would follow Liz.

Only for Liz. Not for anyone else. But if this was going to turn into a life

debt thing for Max saving Liz's life, then they better find home fast,

because if they didn't then they had another thing coming. Sure she'd help

them: with a swift kick in the ass off her planet.

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

"Both of the people who observed the sighting also stated that afterward they

lost consciousness. This couldn't have been some random light show. Something

happened." Max proclaimed to them. And he believed it deeply.

"Max are you sure? They could be lying. We've been down this road before. And

it's harder to get back." Isabelle warned him.

"And what if they aren't?" Michael challenged Isabelle.

Isabelle shot a look at Michael. "Look Max, all I am trying to say is that if

you get into deep searching for what happened, it could be our necks."

Isabelle told him. Why was it that Michael and Max always seemed to gang up

on her?

"But he can't just ignore it Isabelle, he has to try." Liz told her softly.

Although she would rather him not. But she wasn't going to let him give up

his

dream.

"Look, I don't need you goading him on, stay out of this." Isabelle shot at

her.

Maria's eyes narrowed. "She was just trying to help!"

"Well, we don't need her help. Or your help. Neither one of you are

involved." Isabelle told them. But the real reason was, they were involved

too much. She liked it when it was just her, Michael, and Max. They were

their own family. Then they adopted two more. And they weren't even the same

race.

"You know I am getting tired of this! We continually help all of you. Put our

lives in danger. I know our problems aren't as bad as yours, we have a

home. But I am sick of being stepped on just for the simple fact that we are

human and trying to be nice!" Maria didn't stop. Because the impression she

had made on them was Kodak. She had to go on. "You go on about how we are

scared of you, think you are different. But guess what! You don't trust us!

You show us the same prejudice that you accuse Liz and I of! If it isn't a

problem to the three of you then it isn't a problem. I have been having

migraines that make me feel like someone was pounding on my head. I passed

out in the tub, and awoke with my lungs full of water and the water around me

with blood in it coming from me! I have dreams almost every night for

practically

a year of someone grabbing my head, causing pains to shoot through me, and

then I

pass out." Of course she had never revealed any of that to anyone. Not even

Liz. So that could account for the shocked expression on her face. But it was

on all their faces, and then she saw pity. Maria grounded her teeth together

and brought her hand up to her nose. Of course when she held her hand away

she found blood. Why not? Could this get any worse?

Liz held out a napkin for Maria. What could she possibly say to her? It was

all true. With all the problems Michael, Max, and Isabelle had, they never

once paid attention to Liz or Maria.

Maria took the napkin from her. She wiped the blood from her nose and hoped

it stopped running. "And everytime this happens, I am around you three. How

are you possibly helping us?" Maria asked softly and sat in a chair. She

glanced up at them then stared at the floor. "I'm sorry. I just want this to

stop. I see it every night, and I can't figure out who he is or what he is

doing to me. All I want to know is what is going on." And for a moment she

searched deep for the answer. But her search was ended as a familiar pain

shot through her body and into her head. She released it all with a cry and

slumped over, falling to the floor.

Michael was the first to react, he had also been the farthest away. He hopped

over the table and landed on his feet, kneeling on his knees in front of her.

He turned her over to see if she was okay. But her eyes were shut and her

head just fell to the side. "Maria." he said trying to awaken her.

"Michael let me see." Max ordered him and tried to pry Maria from his arms.

"No!" Michael yelled and pulled Maria towards him. He turned away from Max

and looked back down at Maria. He was going to help her. Of course they

probably wouldn't approve of the way he was going to help her. But he didn't

care. His gaze on her softened and one of the arms around her began to travel

up her body until his hand was laying on her head. When he opened himself up

the images began again. But this time it was more.

A man was let himself into the Crashdown, by waving his hand over the lock.

He walked towards the back not stopping once. Once through the doors he

spotted Maria and approached her. But Michael could see Maria this time.

Confusion came over Maria as she talked to the man, then as he began to

advance on her she became scared. And then once again the man placed his

hands on the sides of Maria's head. Maria's eyes closed slowly and then her

knees gave out. The intruder caught her and laid her on the sofa. But he

wasn't through. He placed a hand on Maria's head. But before he did anything

else he looked up. And it almost seemed he was looking straight at Michael.

"You don't get to see this part, at least not yet." Michael felt himself

being pulled away and his eyes shot open.

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

Isabelle's eyes widened in fear as Michael seemed to almost go into a trance.

"Max stop him!"

"I can't Isabelle. And besides. He helped her before. Why couldn't he now?"

Max said honestly. He didn't want to break any of the contact that Michael

had on Maria. He wasn't even sure what it would do.

"Max, what do you mean he helped her before?" Liz asked him as she pulled her

eyes away from Maria's still form.

"That day at school. When he touched her." Max told her but didn't turn to

face her. He was watching Michael. Moments past, which were most likely

seconds, but seemed like hours. And as they did Michael face became tense, in

fact his whole body became tense. His teeth gritted together and his eyes

where squeezed shut. What was going on here?

Michael's eyes flew open and he jumped up away from Maria. He eyes flew

around

wildly at the others.

"Michael, what's wrong?" Max asked and walked towards him.

"Don't come near me Max." Michael growled out. His knuckles where turning

white from his tight fists, as he tried to control all the emotions flowing

through him. Michael finally couldn't hold in all the anger and pain he was

feeling at making the connection with Maria, and he yelled as he slammed his

fist into the stone wall of the Crashdown.

Maria winced when her eyes opened. She forced them open to the bright lights,

as she tried to figure out what all the commotion was about. "Michael?" Maria

whispered confused. But no one heard her. Liz stood there upset and in,

as Max tried to get Michael under control, and Isabelle pleaded with him to

stop as silent tears fell from her eyes. Maria watched in fear as Michael

continued to punch the wall. And every time his fist hit the wall, she

jumped. Her chin began to quiver, and her eyes water. She was confused and

unsure as to what happened in her dream. And as she wakes up, she finds

Michael hurting

himself. She couldn't open her mouth, because at this point she was scared he

would turn the anger one something alive. But as she saw blood began smear

the wall, she began to cry loudly.

Michael ignored the pleading cries of Isabelle, the yells coming from Max,

and

the crying coming from Maria. Maria? He stopped in mid-punch. His arm fell to

his side, and his eyes were trained on the blood that now smeared the wall.

His shoulders slumped and his head hung low. Michael shut his eyes, and tried

to block out the pain that shot through his right hand and into his arm.

Michael turned around slowly and looked at Maria, who was now standing up.

And then in a moment he had a feeling of deja vu, as Isabelle wrapped her

arms around him, and Max stood by his side. And there stood Maria, farther

away then he wanted her to be, obviously upset. Maria had been right. The

three of them did center on themselves. They had lived their whole lives

believing they only had each other. Then these two came along, willing to

help.

"Michael." Max said softly. Michael turned to look at him, but the look he

was getting halted him as soon as his mouth opened.

Michael turned away from Max and looked back at Maria. Then in one moment it

was all centered on the two of them. Not Michael, Max, or Isabelle. Or Max

and Liz. Everyone noticed and watched at the looks being shared between Maria

and Michael. Michael's unattached facade soon disappeared, and his face

softened. Michael took a couple of steps forward and was soon less then a

foot away from her. Her scared eyes stared up into his, and he knew she was

still feeling the fear and pain from whatever had happened to her. He slid

his left arm around her waist and pulled her up against him.

Maria wrapped her arms around his neck tightly. He responded back by wrapping

the right arm around her and pulling her up far enough that her feet were

barely touching the ground. Maria buried her face into his shoulder. If this

was

what feeling safe was, she never wanted to let go. Because here, in his arms,

she felt no pain. Maybe because he had taken it from her, taken it all upon

himself, to the point that he was physically hurting himself because of the

mental stress that was upon him.

"Maria, what did they do to you?" he whispered into her neck.

Maria cried at the sad tone in his voice. "I don't know." she cried.

Michael loosened his hold on Maria, so that her feet where once again planted

on the ground. Her arms slid from around his neck and dropped to her sides.

Michael brought his unharmed hand up to side of her face and titled her head

up to face him. "Maria what happened?"

"I-I don't know. I saw a man and he grabbed my head, then I passed out. And

then he put me on the couch and placed a hand on my head. Then he said-"

"You don't get to see this part, at least not yet." Michael repeated the

words the man had said.

"No." Maria shook her head, confused by his words. "He said, 'It will be over

soon, it wasn't supposed to be this way'." Maria didn't pay attention to the

look that came over Michael's face as she repeated the words the man had

said. She

grabbed Michael wrist and held it up. Maria winced when she saw the broken

skin on his knuckles and the blood covering his hand. "Why did you do that?"

"I was a little tense." he told her. Although he was a little more then tense.

"A little tense!" Maria exclaimed and threw his arm down.

Michael winced and a hiss of pain past his lips as she threw his hand roughly

down. "What the hell is your problem?!"

"You were beating the hell out of a wall!" Maria yelled back.

"Well, I'm so sorry. I didn't know you cared for the wall so much." Michael

said spitefully. How could she do this? Have him upset just because she

wasn't concerned about what had happened to him.

"Uhhhhhhh!" Maria growled out through her clenched teeth. "That not what I

mean! That isn't the truth! You were more then tense!" Maria yelled at him.

Isabelle shook her head. Only they could yell at each other when showing

concern for the other.

"Michael, what happened when you made the connection?" Max asked Michael

calmly, considering he seemed to be a little on edge right now.

Michael turned to Max. "You heard what Maria said. Only he said different

things to us."

"No, why did you do what you did after you broke the connection?" Max pushed.

Why was Michael avoiding the question?

Michael turned towards the wall he had been punching moments ago, looked

at Maria, and then at Max. "I tried taking the pain away from her. That's how

the

connection was made. But the fear and pain that she felt left her and came

into me. While that was happening I saw that man. Max he has to be like us,

he just touched her and she went out. He did this to her, and when I realized

it-." Michael stopped and tried to get under control. He was showing too much

emotion. "Max, when I woke up, it was too much to bare."

"Izzy, take care of the wall." Max said kindly. He reached down and pulled up

Michael's right hand. He touched it slightly and allowed his powers to flow

through to heal Michael's hand.

Isabelle paused for a moment to oversee the work Max was performing on

Michael. After seeing Michael's healed hand she walked over to the wall and

held her hand over the section that was covered with Michael's blood. A

moment later the blood disappeared. "All right here is the question."

Isabelle said as she turned to face the others. "Why is this man doing this

to Maria? And what is it that Michael can't know yet?" No one answered her

question. Silence. That's all she heard. That was worse then someone actually

stating that they didn't know. "That's what I thought." Isabelle whispered in

a defeated tone.

"Then how do we stop it?!" Maria asked franticly. "I can't go through this

again." Maria said to them as much as she said to herself.

"Maria stop it." Michael said through gritted teeth. The last thing he wanted

to deal with now was Maria's hysterics.

"I am not going to stop it. I can't deal with this. It hurts, and I have no

idea what will happen to me!" Maria cried out.

"I know how it feels. I felt it." Michael told her gravely.

"Then why are you of all people condemning me because I am scared, because I

might die!?!" Maria asked him with the pain evident in her voice.

"Because your not going to die." Michael said lowly.

"You don't-"

"Maria shut up! Don't even talk about it! You are not going to die!" Michael

yelled abruptly.

Maria looked up at him and her face softened. Of course she had been upset by

the thought of dying. But she hadn't thought that it would have upset him.

"I'm

sorry. I'm just scared." she admitted.

"I know." Michael told her softly.

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

Maria groaned out loud as her body began to awaken. With a glance towards her

window, it was revealed to still be dark out. She soon remembered what had

dragged

her out of her sound sleep. She had that dream again. Or whatever you wanted

to call it. It was the same as the last time, she still wasn't

seeing what Michael saw. Maria let out a soft sigh and rolled over on her

side. A cold wetness came in contact with her cheek. Maria screamed, threw

her pillow across the room and flipped on the lamp. Maria began to breath

heavily as anger took over her. What was wrong with her? The familiar ache

began to pound in her head. "No." Maria said softly as the pressure began to

build. She held her head with her hands as she tried to remember, while

trying to ignore the pain. But it continued to crush her. And this time

Michael wasn't there to take all of her pain away. "Michael." Maria whimpered

softly.

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

Michael was awakened in a quick moment. And images began to flash in front of

his eyes. He felt as if a door had been opened and millions of pictures

spilled out onto him. All he recognized of them was the Crashdown, Maria, and

that man. When they all stopped he heard his name coming from a familiar

voice. "Maria." he said as he expelled the breath that he had been holding.

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

When Michael stepped through her window he found her laying on her back with

her eyes shut. Her face was unusually pale which made the blood running

down her face stand out even more. Michael rushed forward and sat on the bed,

pulling Maria into his arms. He grabbed the small towel sitting on her

nightstand, most likely for this purpose, and wiped the blood from her

porcelain face. He would have thought her dead if it wasn't for the deep

breaths of air she was taking. "Maria, wake up." Of course she didn't move.

Michael sat Maria up only to have her head fall forward. He shook her

roughly. "Maria!" He screamed at her. Michael winced. "I'm sorry." he

whispered softly. Michael brought his hand back and let it connect with the

side of Maria's face. The slap was loud to his ears and made him cringe.

"Dammit!" he yelled as her head swung to the side but her eyes remained

closed. He only had one more idea. But it seemed more dangerous. He would try

to dreamwalk. Michael laid back on the bed on his side, holding Maria against

him, and made the connection. Then everything went dark.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael awoke to find himself in the dining part of the Crashdown. "What the-" But he was cut short as Maria walked out from the back. She was dressed in her uniform, minus the apron and antennas. She walked slowly through the empty diner towards the door, with a confused look on her face. One thing thing he did notice now, was that her hair was longer here. It hadn't been like that since last school year. "Maria." Michael called out. But she didn't acknowledge him. Instead she opened the door to reveal the same man that had continued to appear in Marias mind. "Maria!" Michael yelled to warn her. He ran forward and went to hit the man. But his fist went strait through him, not affecting the stranger in the least.

"Is Liz Parker here?" the man inquired as he looked past Maria.

"No. It's her day off." Maria told the man and gave him a strange, confused look.

The man sighed and walked past her.

"Sir, what do you need?" Maria asked as she tried to control her emotions.

"I need nothing. But some others do need something. Answers." he told her. He stopped as he reached the door behind the counter. "Lots of answers."

"Maria, no." Michael said as he tried to grab her. But his arms went through her as she followed the man who had just walked behind the doors.

The man turned to face Maria once he reached the break room. His eyes narrowed as he made the connection. "Are you Maria DeLuca?"

Michael felt felt a farmilar electricity spark throughout the room. But it wasn't coming from him. It was coming from that man. "God dammit!" Michael yelled as he swung uselessly at the man.

"Yes." Maria answered.

Michael saw the farmilar fear etched on her face that he had saw in the previous vision. But a reponse was forced past her lips anyway.

The man sighed and stepped forward. "I was hoping we wouldn't have trouble. But either way it shall be accomplished. The connection will just take longer to take place." He brought his hands up to Marias frightened face. A moment later her eyes slid shut and her knees gave out. He grabbed her and carried her over to the sofa.

Michael eyes burned with fury. But all he could do was follow them and find out what really happened.

He placed his hands on the girls small head and shut his eyes. He let the information that had been stored inside of him flow into her. He buried it deep. But he could feel the damage he caused as he did so. Humans where not built for this kind of mental stress. Hopefully it would soon be relieved from her. He pulled his hands away and opened his eyes. "Dammit." he cursed. This had been way to much for her. He wiped his hand right above her head and the redness coming from her nose disappeared. He stood up and backed away from the girl slowly.

Michael watched on in anger as the man made a hasty escape. Even after having a clear picture as to what had happened, Michael still was confused.

"Michael?"

Michael spun around at the farmilar voice calling his name. "Maria?" he responded to the girl standing in front of him. He turned his head towards the sofa and found her still laying their. He turned back to the other Maria. "What is going on?"

"I don't know. One minute I was in my room, and now here I am. Is that me?" Maria asked and walked towards the sleeping form on the couch.

"Yea. I just saw how it happened." he revealed to her as he followed her closely to the couch.

"You mean the weirdness going on with me?" Maria asked him, but continued to stare at the other her.

"Yea, Maria look at yourself. Your different hear. Your hair is long. This was last year. Didn't all this start last year?" Michael asked her softly.

Maria nodded. "Yea. But I don't remember what caused it. But when they nose bleeds and head aches started it was about this time." Maria turned to him and drew herself out of the awe she was stuck in. "Who was in my dream."

"I don't know." Michael revealed and shook his head. "I saw his face, but I don't know him. But I think he's like us. Maria you let him into the Crashdown, don't you remember any of that?"

"No." Maria grounded out. "I want to, but I can't, alright? I have no idea what is wrong with me or why that guy did it, and I don't know who he is. And as much as I would like to figure it out, and beat his ass, I can't. So give me a break." Maria said angrily.

Michael grabbed her shoulders gently. "Maria chill. I'm not expecting you to remember. It was just a question." Michael dropped his hands from her shoulders then walked towards the sleeping Maria. "You let him in, and he asked for Liz, then you told him she had the day off, then he walked back here." Michael kneeled in front of the slightly younger Maria. For some reason she amazed him. This Maria was blind to the odd things going on around her, and untouched by them. She also didn't know him either. She could have cared less about him. She would pass him in the halls without a single glance. Not that he gave her one either. But she wasn't untouched at this point. She had been pulled in before Liz.

Maria glared as Michael stared at her other self. And she mentally kicked herself for being jealous of her dreamself. He didn't even look at her like that now. "Ahem."

"What?" Michael said and looked up.

"What happened next?" Maria pushed.

Michael stood up. "He asked if if you where Maria. You told him yes. Then, the same things we saw happened. He brought his hand up to your head and knocked you out. Then he brought you over to the couch and placed his hand on you head. He did something to you then. A moment later your nose started to bleed and he wiped the blood away by waving his hand over your head. Then he left. And after that you showed up."

"Okay, question, this was about a year ago, before me and Liz got involved with you three. Why would he come looking for us, and why ask for Liz first?" Maria asked him.

Michael face was covered with confusion. He hadn't thought about that. "I-I don't know. He had to have known what would have happened before we did. I don't know why he asked for Liz."

"Well what the hell was the point of the whole thing?!" Maria yelled.

"I don't know." Michael said and shook his head.

"Well your just like him! You should know something!" Maria screamed.

"Maria I don't know! I didn't even know you then! What do you think I'm psychic to! You scream at me for asking you questions, and then you yell at me for not being able to answer yours! So stop bitching at me!" he yelled. He understood she was really stressed out at this point. But he wasn't dealing well with the whole thing either. "Maria, what happened?"

"I told you-" she began to yell back at him.

"Not this. I mean what happened in your room earlier that you called me." Michael explained.

Maria frowned. His voice sounded tired, and almost at the point of giving up. "I didn't call-. Oh, that. I was trying to remember and then it started hurting again, and it kept hurting. And I remeber wishing you where there to stop it like you did before. But you weren't. And I called out your name. I didn't think you would hear it."

"I heard it. When I got to your house you where passed out and had blood on your face. I couldn't wake you up so, I got into your dream." he told her.

"So your in my room with me?" Maria asked him.

Michael nodded.

"How do we wake up?" Maria asked him unsurely.

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

Maria eyes opened slowly. The first thing she spotted wher another pair of eyes staring back at her. She was well aware of the pair of arms wrapped tightly around her, but she didn't move. And to her surprise neither did he. He layed there watching her. She didn't dare move, out of fear that he would leave her. She breathed in a deep breath, making her well aware of how close they where, then expelled it slowly. She could feel the slight movement of his chest as he breathed, and the movement of his hand as it rubbed her back gently. Maria relaxed against him, and she slid her hand up his arm until it rested on his shoulder. She scooted a little closer, which was almost impossible since she was practically pressed against him.

Michael let out a soft, content sigh and tilted his head forward until his forehead was resting against hers. He pursed his lips together as Maria bit her lips and widened her eyes slightly. She was so vulnerable at this point, that he was scared to let her go. Michael kissed her softly on the lips and pulled away, only lingering for a moment.

Maria returned the kiss, but pulled her lips back a moment later. But the distance between them was smaller then it was only moments ago. And Michael soon closed it with a longer more passionate kiss. His hands slid to her waste and pressed her against him.

As the kiss seemed become harder and hungrier Maria found herself rolled over onto her back with Michael on top of her. She moaned softly into his mouth as they changed position. His long body laid half on top of her and his hand caressed the skin that was hidden under her shirt. Maria hands, that where once on his shoulders, had found themselves in his soft, spikey hair.

For the first few moments Michael had been scared. More like terrified. What if she decided to pull away from him, decide that she didn't want to have to deal with him again, and his constant hectic emotions. But she hadn't pulled away and hadn't released him for a moment. And they continued to move futher. Both of his hands had slid under her shirt and he was doing his best to feel every inch of her. He hadn't felt her hands as they traveled down his arms. When her hands slipped under his shirt and made contact with his shirt, he jumped. It was odd. If felt good. All their other make-out sessions had consisted of roaming hands, that rarely consisted of skin touching skin. Well that wasn't true. His hands had traveled up her shirt all to often in the eraser room. But she had never really touched him. And it felt good just to have someone touching him and holding him. He pulled away from her pouty lips and left a quick hungry trail of kisses down her jawline, and on her neck. Maria arched up into him and his arms tightened around her back.

"Michael?" Maria said breathlessly, as she tried to make a coherent sentence. It was kind of hard as he continued to suck and nibble a path along her neck.

"What?" Michael asked pulling far enough away from her that he could look at her face.

Maria pushed him up a little and rolled them over forcefully so that she was was sitting on top of him with both legs kneeling on either side of him. Maria grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it up and over his head. She leaned forward, place her small hands on his chest, and kissed him softly on the lips. "That's all."

Michael held her face in his hands and pulled her face closer to his. "Are you sure?"

"Sure of what?" Maria asked him softly, almost teasingly as her fingers danced in patterns over his chest.

"That that's all." he whispered and leaned into her sucking softly on her neck.

Maria hands squezzed on his bare shoulder and her eyes squeezed shut. "No, not really." Maria forced out.

Michael sat up on the bed and let his hands fall to the hem of his shirt. He leaned back from Maria and pulled her shirt over her head. His hands went to her waste and he pulled her closer to him. As his lips reached her he was well aware of of her skin against his. Even though she still had her bra on, he still reveled in the feeling of her warm skin against his.

Maria wrapped her arms around her neck and pressed her chest against his. Micahel once again sought a path down her neck. Maria arched her back into him and let her head hang back. His hands in the mean time had made their way up her sides and to her breasts cupping them firmly. A small moan escaped her lips and she dug her nail into his shoulders slightly. Maria was pulled out of the dream world she had been thrown into by the return of Michaels lips on her own. She pulled away from him only slightly allowing him better access to her body. His thumbs ran over the taught nipples only bringing to her atenttion more to the fact that her body was about to explode. "Michael." Maria half moaned and half whined. He was being cruely slow.

Michael smiled almost triumphantly at the impatientness in her voice. He considered teasing her a little longer, but then he might run into the danger of her taking him. Although that wouldn't be to bad either. Michael hands traveled away from her breasts, to the hook on her bra. He unsnapped it easily and slipped the straps down her small sholders. The bra slipped easily down her arms and off of her small breasts and threw it over the side of the bread. Maria didn't waste anytime, in moving farther. She leaned forwards and began kissing him. Michael pulled away from her and watched her with amusement.

"What?" Maria asked a little resentfully.

"In a rush?" Michael asked her.

"Maybe." she responded. She hadn't become fully aware of how naked she was until they all of a sudden started a conversation. Maria glared at him. Why did he seem so unaffected by the whole situation. She was ready to tear of his clothes. He seems reluctant to even go any further. Maria groaned and moved to get off of him.

"Oh no you don't." Michael said as Maria moved away from him. He grabbed her by her waste, picked her up, and dropped her on the bed on her back. He quickly moved on top of her before she could move. He placed his arms on either side of her and allowed some of his weight to rest on her, insuring that her small body wasn't going anywhere.

"Why are you being so mean?" Maria said like a pouty little kid.

"How am I being mean?" he asked her thoughtfully.

"Because you where making fun of me." Maria told him.

"I was just playing with you, Maria. Don't over react." Michael cringed. They hadn't been harsh words. They had said worse. But it wasn't exactly the best choice to make considering the situation they where in. And he knew it was the wrong thing to say when instead of throwing another choice of angry words back, or pushing him off, her eyes showed the hurt that she obviously felt. "Maria...." Michael started softly, but Maria began pushing him off of her. "Maria." Michael said as he tried to grab her hand. Once he had ahold of them he held her wrists above her head firmly, but she continued to struggle against him. "Maria, stop." he told her firmly. She halted her movements quickly and the lost innocent look returned to her face. "Maria, I'm sorry."

Maria heard the honesty in his voice and relaxed. "You always do that."

"What?" Michael asked her softly.

"Something starts to happen between us, then you do something, I don't know if you do it concsiously or not, but you do something, and it just seperates us." Maria explained to him.

Her explanation for there problems, struck him hard. It was like a look into what they had. And he knew he continued to push her away. Sometimes when he didn't even want to. Michael released her wrists and propped himself up his elbows. He dropped his head down. He didn't even want to look at her.

Maria expelled a breath at the sudden weight of his body. But she didn't complain. He couldn't support himself all the time. Maria wrapped her arms around him and held him close. "Michael, I'm sorry, I didn't mean-."

Michael pushed himself up only slightly so that he could look at her face, "Maria it's okay. You are right. Somehow I do manage to push you away."

"But it doesn't have to stay like that." she told him softly.

"I didn't want it to stay like that, but I manage to do it anyway." Michael said.

Maria winced at the lack of hope in his voice. Like he knew he was doomed to have a life full of stone walls. "Well then I'll just keep knocking down your stone walls, now matter how many you continue to to build up around yourself. I'm made of teflon babe, I can knock down anything." Maria said in an assured voice. She noticed the confused look that came from Michael and she smiled. "Don't worry about it." They paused for a moment and no one moved. No words where spoken, and the only thing heard was their breathing. But Maria noticed the look in Michaels eyes, and his face. Her whole body flooded with warm happiness. He looked at her so lovingly, and so softly, she wanted to cry. Because even in her wildest dreams, she had never imagined him to treat her like she was so special. She brought one of her hands to the back of his head, burying it in his hair, and pulling his head closer, until her lips touched his in a soft kiss. She was tired of waiting now. She let both hands travel down his back, until they reached his jeans, and she tried her best to concentrate on unbuttoning them as he continued to kiss her. It wasn't just a kiss anymore. It was something passionate, displaying how much they needed and wanted each other. And right now she needed and wanted him more then anything. Maria pulled away, which was a hard task since she was on the bottom, "Michael, the pants, take them off." she told him breathlessly.

Michael stared at her for a moment, trying his best to to decide if she really wanted this.

"You have to many thoughts Michael Guerin." Maria told him and smiled softly then flipped them over so that she was on top of him. She sat up on his stomach, then pushed herself up so that she was on her knees, then preceded to yank his pants off. When she discovered he still had boxers on underneath she let out an angry growl. Before she could even start to yank those off she was pulled up Michaels body and found herself staring into Michael face. "Yes, I'm in a rush."

Michael smirked and pulled her head down to his, but before they met in another kiss he rolled them back over so that he was on top of her again.

"You are teasing me." Maria told him evenly.

"But you like it." Michael said as his lips dropped to her neck.

"Maybe." Maria forced out as his hands traveled lightly over the sides of her breasts and down her sides, sending shivers through her body.

Michael continued to travel down her body slowly, touching as much of her skin as he could. He had only stopped when he reached her breasts. And when his mouth sucked one of the hard nipples into his mouth she arched up into him letting out something between a whimper and a moan. She gasped lightly as his hand gave atenttion to the other breasts. And when he heard her whimper his name, pleasure ripped through his body, only for the simple fact that it was his name that broke passed her lips. He began to move lower placing light kisses down her stomach. When he reached her pants he stopped and preceded to undo the button and then the zipper. He didn't stop there, he continued the removal of her pants as he slid them down her hips and down her legs until they where removed from her body. One thing that did strike him was the fact that her underwear where purple. And as he recalled the bra had been red. How Maria.

"Michael." Maria whimpered.

"Yes?" Michael asked as he hovered above her stomach.

Maria pushed herself up slightly and grabbed his arms, pulling him back towards her. "I miss you."

Michael smiled and kissed her softly. But even though there kiss remained soft and slow, he felt quite the oppisite. His hands moved down to her hips and and began to slide the purple underwear down hips. Maria lifted her lips slightly to allow for easier removal, and when he couldn't pull them down any farther, she began kicking them the rest of the way off. When her kicking halted he stare down at her wiht a smirk.

Maria smiled shyly. "They wouldn't come off." Maria brought her hand to his face and rubbed it softly. "Michael, now."

"Are you sure?" Michael asked her. Although he knew what she wanted. It was obvious.

Maria lifted her head up off her pillow and kissed him lightly on the lips then pulled away. "Yes." she whispered.

Michael only glanced at her for a moment, before he removed his boxers and laid himself back on top of her.

Maria wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close to her. His forehead rested against hers and she could feel his warm breath on her face.

"Ready?" Michael asked her softly.

Maria only nodded but held him against her tightly.

Michael position himself above her and began entering her slowly. A whimper escaped her lips and he stopped. "Are you okay?"

"Well it isn't like I'm used to this. Just you know, go." Maria said unsure if that was the best thing or not. But she trusted him.

Michael kissed her once more before he entered her with one sharp thrust. Marias body arched up into his and her head was throws back, as another inbetween whimper and moan eminated from her. He remained still and placed soft kisses on her neck, as she calmed down.

"Michael?" Maria whispered to him.

"Yea?" Michael asked as he looked back into her face.

"Don't stop now." Maria told him because something was starting to spread throughout her body and it felt good. And to get her point across she pushed up into him, making him sink deeper.

Michael let out a small laughe. He pulled out of her only slightly then lowered hismelf back into her. They started out like that, moving slowly, kissing here and there. And then Maria pulled away from him throwing her head back and whimpered, "Michael." He felt it become more rushed, and before he knew it, he was moving into her harder and faster and she was meeting him for each thrust. Her legs wrapped around his hips tightly, and her nails dug into his shoulder. Was he really doing that to her? When Maria yelled out his name, and he felt the walls inside of her began to clamp down on him, he knew he did. And he realized she had the same affect on him, as he felt his own wave of pleasue pass over him, and when it ended he dropped onto Maria's small body exausted. Moments later after there breathing began to slow down, Maria spoke.

"Michael?"

"Hmmm?" he asked but didn't lift up his head from its position on her chest. He was to tired to.

"You're heavy."

Michael let out a small laugh, and rolled onto his back, pulling her with him so that she was laying half on top of him. "Better?" he asked as he wraped his arms around her. All he got was a soft, "Uh huh." as she wrapped herself around his body. Michael let out a small sigh. This moment could only last so long. Because there was still something the matter with Maria, and they had to figure out what.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Liz, calm down, she's probably sleeping or something." Isabelle said as Max unlocked the front door to Marias house.

"Then why didn't she answer the phone?" Liz asked as she pushed passed Max and Isabelle. "She was over an hour late for work, and she didn't call in, something is wrong."

"Liz the car isn't here. Could she have gone somewhere?" Max questioned as he followed Liz through the house.

"No, her Mom was going out of town" Liz replied. Once she reached Marias door she let out a breath then opened it.

"Oh that's just great." Isabelle said as she placed her hands on her hips.

"What do we do?" Liz whispered anxiously. She knew they should be walking out right about now. But somehow none of them where able to budge.

"Get out."

All eyes widened in surprise, and a blush crept up Liz's face.

Liz nodded and began backing up, her back hit Maria's dresser and she turned to walk out the room quickly.

Isabelle watched him cautiously but walked out of the room, still not taking her eyes off of him.

Max watched for only a moment then spoke. "Get downstairs." Max said and turned towards the door. Before he closed it he turned back, "Now Michael."

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

Michael sighed as the door closed and he was left alone with a sleeping Maria. He had awakened as soon as they walked in. Maria on the other hand was a deep sleeper. He knew that from a few other occasions. But none like this. All fully clothed. Michael pushed himself up and away from Marias warm body and sat up slowly, not to wake her. He sat there for a moment and watched her. She let out a small sigh and curled up. Michael unwillingly let his hand caress the side of her face. He allowed himself that much before he would have to face the wrath of Max, Liz, and Isabelle. Michael pushed himself lazily off of the bed and began dressing himself quietly as not to wake Maria. He dressed himself slowly and he began to wonder if he was prolonging the inevitable downstairs, or prolonging the time he got to stay upstairs near Maria. After seeing what happened with Maria, he was unwilling to leave her alone. But waking her up would not do any good. Only mean more tension downstairs, and she most likely needed sleep with all she had been through lately. He let out a groan as he walked towards the door, and smirked as he heard a death march to play inside of his head.

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

"Liz breath." Isabelle said as she rubbed the brunettes back.

Liz took a deep breath. "Im breathing, I'm breathing, and their upstairs, together, lacking clothing." Liz's eyes widened and she turned to Isabelle then to Max. "Why?!?"

Isabelle cringed, and she noticed her brother not come forward to comfort Liz. He was scared of her. A mental image flew into Isabelle's head of Liz going on a rampage of both Max and Michael, and their inability's, maybe hurting them to. Liz seemed in a, hate all men, mode right now. Or at least all male aliens. "Liz we don't know, we are just as surprised as you are, that's why Michael," Isabelle emphasized his name with venom in her voice, "is coming down here to explain to us why he decided to be so bold as to foolishly have sex, with a human girl when he has no idea what could happen. But that's Michael for you, not thinking, no use of any brainpower whatsoever. Except THIS time he thought with what was below the belt, DIDN'T HE?" Isabelle said through gritted teeth. She turned to Liz who was watching her with wide eyes. "Lets breath." Isabelle said and she got a nod from Liz, and they breathed silently together.

Max sat silently. He had been fuming as he had made his way downstairs with an annoyed Isabelle and an astonished Liz. Yet somehow both of them had grown towards the point of being furious, and he had toned down to being tense and a little fearful. Luckily, or maybe not luckily, footsteps could be heard coming down the hall, and a fully clothed Michael emerged in the doorway, a little fearful himself.

Michael studied the three people in the room. Two sat next to each other and looked at him furiously. The other had a blank expression. The blank expression would be wisest. He continued looking at Max, waiting.

Max tried to form some kind of thought in his mind. Or at least one kind of rational thought that would make sense coming out of his mouth. But before one could someone spoke ahead. Well, more then one person.

Michael jumped back at the screams that began flooding the room.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!?!"

"Did you hurt her?!?!"

"I am going to kill you!!!!"

"What's wrong Michael forgot to think rationally!!!!!"

"Or did you just think about your friend in your pants!!!!!"

"Whoa! Whoa!" Max yelled and jumped in-between them. But the screams did not halt and Max noticed the angry look come over Michael's face. "Stop it!" Max yelled angrily. Silence filled the room, and for a moment Max was proud of himself. He was back in control. Sort of. If maybe they could cage Liz and Isabelle up and keep Michaels pants on. Max mentally hit himself. He was sounding as bad as Isabelle and Liz now. "Sit down. Everyone." Max said sternly. And surprisingly they listened. "Isabelle and Liz, be quiet, yelling at him is going to get us no where."

"You've got that right." Michael said angrily.

"You, shut up." Max said pointedly at Michael. "I would tell you not to speak at all if I didn't want to hear an explanation, but I do, so start explaining."

"There is nothing to explain. You saw what happened." Michael told him.

"Michael...." Max warned.

Michael debated on whether to leave or not. But the tone of Max's voice, and the angry death glares from Isabelle and Liz made his decision for him. He sighed and decided to tell the whole truth about what led up to what they saw. "I was at home-"

"And how did you get here, huh?" Isabelle asked.

"Izzy." Max warned. He hated being the adult. Usually Liz was there with him. But....

"Started feeling a little lonely at home?" Liz cross examined him.

.....she wasn't exactly thinking rationally.

"I don't need this." Michael said and stood up to leave.

"Michael, sit down." Max said as he blocked his path. "You owe us an explanation."

"I don't owe you anything." Michael shot back.

"Mr. I have to be alone just in case I have to pick up and leave? Yea I think you do need to explain why you all of a sudden decided to start something that neither me nor Max have done." Isabelle told him evenly, trying to keep her voice at one low level.

"I didn't plan it, it was an in the moment thing." Michael told them defensively.

"And what exactly was this 'moment'?" Isabelle prodded.

Michael expelled a loud breath and fell back into the chair he had been previously sitting in. "Like I said, I had been at home........

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

"What did he do to her?" Liz asked worriedly as Michael finished the tale of the dream.

"I don't know. But I think we are supposed to find out. Or someone is. Because each time she has seen more, and I was told that I would see it." Michael told them. That's the only, hope he had.

"And how did," Isabelle pointed upstairs, "you know, happen?"

"Oh. Well, we woke up, and we where on her bed, and I was still holding her from when I fell asleep. And it happened. Look I know it was stupid. And I know considering what little we know about ourselves, she could have been hurt."

"Then why did you do it?" Max asked him.

"Because I wasn't thinking. And no I was NOT thinking with THAT." Michael said pointedly to Isabelle and Liz. "Well, not wholly" he revealed. He wouldn't deny that it hadn't been good. He noticed the widening of eyes and the looks that came over there facing, digging up their anger. "I didn't just want that, I wanted her."

Isabelle rolled her eyes, but remained quiet. She found herself not liking the Michael intouch with his emotions.

"Look," Michael said as he stood up, but pain flooded through him and he gasped and fell to his knees. He heard his name called out by the others as they rushed to help him as he fell to the ground on his hands. But none of them mattered as a familiar call ripped his body, the same one he had gotten from Maria, but this one was stronger and more urgent. "Maria." Michael forced out as they helped him up. He pulled away from them and rushed towards her room.

Liz found herself breathing fast and her eyes widened as the realization hit her first. Her chest raised as she took in deep breath, and everything seemed to slow down for her. She turned to look at Isabelle and Max before she took off towards Marias room.

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

Michael was sure the blood drained form his face as he laid eyes on Maria pale, shivering form. As he suspected, her nose was once again bleeding. "No." Michael said as she rushed towards her. He quickly sat on the bed and placed his hand on her chest trying again what he had done previous times. But nothing happened. Just like last night.

"Oh no." Isabelle whispered as she discovered the same thing that Michael had. Liz just stood there in silence.

"Michael, you dreamwalked last time and it worked, we need to get in her head." Max told him trying to bring Michael out of the trance he was in.

"What do you mean we?" Michael asked.

"Michael, this man is like us, we need to find out who he is, and this," Max waved his hand over Maria dead looking form, "has got to stop."

Michael nodded and looked down at Maria. Something was really wrong this time.

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

"The Crashdown." Isabelle stated the obvious.

"This is where it happened." Michael said as he looked around the diner.

"Duh. But I don't see Maria, or the whacked out guy messing with her." Isabelle told him.

"Michael she's right." Max told his friend.

"Look we are in Marias head! I did not make this up, she did, so something is going on." Michael looked towards the doors that led to the back."Lets go."

The two of them followed him willingly through the doors and into the break room and almost ran into him as he cam to a quick halt.

"Hello, Michael."

"Where is she?" Michael said angrily as he advanced towards the man. Hopefully this time he could hit him.

"Right there, safe and asleep." he pointed down at the couch. "Looks like you brought your friends to. Good."

Michael rushed towards the couch, and found the same younger Maria. Michael brushed the longer hair from her face. "Maria."

"Michael?" Maria asked as she awoke she watched as a surprised look covered his face and then relief. She brought her hand up to the side of his face, she opened her mouth to question him, then she noticed the others. She dropped her hand from Michaels face, "What is going on?" Maria asked fearfully.

"You're passed out on your bed, with no clothes on, white as a ghost, and bleeding again." Isabelle emphasized the no clothes part. But it didn't seem to phase Maria.

"What? But I-. Nothing happened, I was just sleeping." Maria told them confused.

"Like I told you soon."

Maria stood up and walked over to the man. "Oh so you talk to us now? Well, Mr., why don't you tell us what the hell is going on here. Like why, a year ago, you knocked me out, and you gave me migraines, and nose bleeds." Maria turned around at the feeling something at her back. She gave Michael a weird look as he towered behind her but turned back to the other man.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Bisby. I come from the same planet as the three of you. You wanted to know the truth, I have it." Bisby told them.

"So why are you here now? Why not before?" Isabelle asked him.

"Technically I am not here. I am an echo of the man who was here a year ago. A message. One buried deep inside of that humans mind, waiting." he revealed to them.

"Is that why I keep feel like crap?" Maria asked.

"The first month you where adjusting to the intrusion. Your race is not meant for that kind of mental stress. But it started again, when you, Max, found out about our arrival here, a year ago." Bisby told them and landed his gaze on Max.

"That was you? Why wait a year, why didn't you tell us then?" Max asked. He was really confused at this point. None of what this man was saying made any sense.

"Because you where not ready. You hadn't understood enough yet to grasp the whole concept, over this past year, you discovered enough things on your own to understand." Bisby explained to them.

"Alright you know what, this is fine, and great, you can tell them what is up with there race why there here and all that crap, AFTER, you explain to me why you had to put me through so much pain!" Maria screamed.

"Because we came a year ago, and we had to store a message for them to discover, and it could not be planted in their minds, it would have been discovered to easily. But we hadn't planned it like this, you where our second choice." Bisby told them. It hadn't been planned like that. And that was the last choice. But unfortunately the only other.

Michael eyed Bisby up and realization hit him. "You asked for Liz."

Bisby nodded. "For the message to be discovered a connection would have had to be made. Max and Liz made the connection when he healed her. They where both open, and already felt something strong for the other, and the connection came automatically with such an intense act as saving her life. But she wasn't here for us to plant the message. Our other choice was Maria. We knew that a connection would be made between you and her. But it would take longer unfortunately. You both are more closed off, and you hadn't even had any feeling whatsoever for the other, meaning any sort of connection would take longer to form."

"How did you know that we would get involved with them?" Isabelle asked confused.

"We knew." Bisby said bluntly and left it at that.

"When did they make the connection?" Max inquired.

The connection is made through some sort of intense, or very emotional act." Bisby explained rather vaguely.

Isabelle caught it first and a snort escaped her. "Last night you idiots."

"Oh." Maria said and looked down at her feet.

"What you," Bisby motioned towards Max, "discovered about our arrival a year ago, cause Maria to begin to think, pulling at the message that had been buried deep within her. Each time she dwelled on it, she would have these migraines as you call them, and her nose would bleed. The message was not ready to be revealed."

"And now it is?" Michael asked a little unbelievably.

"Yes." Bisby responded.

"And you are the message?" Isabelle asked him.

"Yes I am." Bisby told her.

"Okay, message boy, give us your message." Isabelle responded.

"It is simple. You are to halt your attempts at finding your home." Bisby said simply to them.

"What! You come here practically killing her," Michael said as he moved in front of Maria, "and you tell us to just forgot about home and stay on this rock!"

"Our planet is a rock to." Bisby told him.

"Well, I wouldn't know that now would I!" Michael yelled.

"Look we have lived our whole life knowing nothing about ourselves, except that we are not from here, you at least owe us an explanation as to what happened, why you couldn't have told us in person, and why we cannot return home." Max told Bisby, because he was on the verge of becoming as angry as Michael.

"That is simple. Just as you thought, there was a crash, only four survived. You parents died in the crash."

"Died." Michael said softly. He had always had hope, hope that they where out there somewhere. But now.... Now he had nothing.

"The forth?" Isabelle asked.

"He is what you refer to as Nasejdo. That is my next explanation. Nasejdo was not remaining, unnoticed. He was killing these humans. We had to come here after him, while we where here, we decided it would be best to leave a message for you three, to discontinue your search for your home, and for Nasejdo. He is dead now."

The three of the did not dwell on the death of the fourth alien. One thing was still unanswered.

"And why can we not return home?" Max asked.

"Because as much as you want to return you would not be able to survive." Bisby told them as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Explain yourself." Isabelle told him evenly.

"You three have been raised on this plant. Our planets morals and ideas differ greatly. You would not be able to fit into out society. The powers that you have grown so used to do not exist on our planet. We all contain the same ability, but when you are surrounded by a whole society of being that contain the same ability they cancel out each other. And your powers are only useful in small groups or on your own. It is our belief, that you have become some accustomed to these abilities, it would become hard for you to survive without them." It was the truth, one they would not except, he knew, but it was the truth nonetheless.

"That isn't your choice to make! We have a right to return home!" Michael yelled.

Bisby shook his head. "It would be a brave new world. One that you would not be able to handle or survive in. Physically we are alike, mentally we are not. Mentally you are humans, and you survive as humans. And you can only work with humans." Bisby paused then spoke again. "I am of no use here anymore." Bisby turned to Maria. After I leave the message will be removed from inside of you, the pain will stop, and these nose bleeds." Bisby then looked back at the other three. "It would be my advice to halt all of your attempts to find out anything or return home. You will only cause pain for yourself and those around you. Good luck." Bisby told them all, the end clear in his voice. He body felt to the ground in small pieces of dust and disappeared.

All of them remained silent as the words form the past few minutes sunk into them. Then a loud yell was heard, and table was knocked over.

"Michael!" Isabelle exclaimed.

"We have wait all this time, and now to find out they won't even take us! We don't fit in anywhere!" Michael yelled.

"Michael maybe he knew what was best. Maybe it would have been harder there." Max tried to reason with Michael, but it seemed to be impossible.

"No! How could it be harder then this! You and Isabelle may fit in here, and like it here. And you know what thats fine. You could have stayed. But I wanted to go home. I can't even use my powers! Why would I miss them! I have nothing here, and I want nothing from here, all I have ever wanted was to go home. I hate this planet! I hate everything and everyone on it!" Michael yelled and took his anger out on another piece of furniture.

"Get out." Maria said gravely.

"What?" Isabelle asked confused while Michael continued to vent.

"I said get out!!!! Get out of my head!" Maria screamed at Isabelle and Max. She turned to Michael who had stopped his rampage and was now breathing heavily and watching her like prey. She stalked up to him and shoved him harshly. "You hate it here! You hate me! Then get out!" Maria screamed. He only stared at her, unable to form any words, although his mouth continued to open. "GET OUT!!!!!" Maria screamed and squeezed her eyes shut. She stood there breathing heavily with her eyes still shut, but there was silence. She opened her eyes and she remained in the room alone.

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

Michael jumped up and watched as Isabelle struggled to remain on the bed, and as Max fell off. Maria had pushed them out, quiet forcefully.

"What happened?" Liz asked alarmed as she helped Max up.

"In a nut shell this guy was sent from our home planet, but they don't want us back because we wouldn't fit in." Isabelle said in an annoyed tone.

"It's over then?" Liz asked.

"Yea. He's gone." Max told her solemnly.

"Then why is Maria still laying there?" Liz asked worriedly and looked to Max for answers.

"Oh god." Isabelle whispered and hurried to Marias side.

"Max, why isn't she awake? And her nose. It's still bleeding." Liz said in a quiet voice.

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

Maria let out a content sigh. Alone at last. Maybe she would stay in here for a while. Maria glanced at the reflection in the mirror. And besides, she liked her hair better at this length.

"Why are you still here?"

Maria jumped and spun around at the sound of the voice. At the site of who it was she rested her hand on her chest and sighed. "Whew you scared me." After recovering she looked pointedly at him. "I should ask you the same thing. This is my head, you said you where leaving."

"I will not be terminated until you leave this dream world." Bisby responded to the girl.

"Well then I guess you are going to have to wait, because I'm not ready to wake up again and face those selfish aliens, no offense." Maria told him.

"None taken. But whatever your reasons are for staying I would suggest you make your stay short." Bisby advised her.

"And why is that?" Maria questioned him curiously.

"Because your body is still being hurt from the message. The recovery of the message is more strain on you then any of the previous times." Bisby explained to Maria.

Maria nodded. "Well I feel just fine in here. So I guess my nose will have to bleed a little longer, because I'm not ready." Maria told him stubbornly.

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

Michael wiped the blood away from Maria's face, that was already turning red from the previous times Liz had used it when they had been dreamwalking. "I need to go back in."

"Michael something is wrong, what if you-." Isabelle was cut off though.

"I am going in. We are the reason she is in this mess. I have to get her out of it." Michael told them firmly. No one responded and he could only guess they would allow him to go through with this. Michael laid done on the bed, facing Maria. He reached out grabbing her arm and began the same process as the pervious times. And for a moment he felt himself being pulled into the dreamworld. But it took less time for him to be shoved out. He opened his eyes and found himself back in Maria room with three sets of eyes around him. "She won't let me back in." Michael said with the worry and hurt evident in his voice.

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

"What they hell was that." Maria said as she felt her dream wavered slightly.

"Someone is trying to enter your dream." Bisby supplied for her. He was getting bored. And that was rare for an echo of a person. But this girl refused to wake herself up, and stop the stress she was putting her body through.

"Well why didn't they just come in. Never seemed to stop them before, now did it?" Maria said snotily and looked pointedly at Bisby.

Bisby straitened. "I had no choice. And as for why they didn't come in, you kept them out. Whatever reason you don't want to go back out in the real world is pretty strong, because you are keeping everything out of your head."

"Good." Maria said and nodded satisfactorily. She walked over to the couch and sat down. Through the corner of her eye she watched Bisby as he stared at her. "What?!" she exclaimed and spun to face him.

"Wake up!" he yelled to her. "My job is done. And you are physically hurting yourself, and who knows what kind of mental damage you are causing yourself by keeping me here!"

"Well then go!" Maria yelled at him angrily.

Bisby grounded his teeth together. "I cannot go until you wake up."

"Well I don't wanna wake up." Maria told him and turned back around.

Bisby sighed. It seemed the only way to get out of here, and save this girls life was to help her get over whatever problem she had ran into. He walked over and took a seat, as far from her as he could, on the couch. "And why not?"

"Because your whole race is stupid. You heard me? Stupid." Maria told him drawing out the last time she said stupid.

"And why is that?" Bisby questioned.

"Because you only think of yourselves. You don't care who you hurt as long as you get it done. And don't try to deny it Mr. Im going to put your through a lot of pain because I can't give the message myself." Maria watching him and waited for an answer.

Bisby let out an annoyed sigh. Yea okay so that was true. But she was still making no sense. "Look why don't you be a little more specific here, I'm bored and your dying."

"Dying?" Maria asked surprised and worried.

"Yes, dying. I told you, this is more stress then you've been through before." Bisby told her a little more calmly.

"How do I wake up?" Maria asked. She was mad, but had no interest in dying.

"Close your eyes. You don't have to, but it helps. And just decide to wake up." Bisby explained to her in a soft voice, hopefully to ease her nerves.

Maria nodded and closed her eyes. She let out a soft sigh and began telling herself to wake up. She felt the dreamplane began to waver and she felt herself being separated, then in a sudden rush she felt herself pushed roughly. She opened her eyes and found Bisby's eyes staring right back at her. "I can't get out." Maria said alarmed.

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

"I can't get in either." Max revealed as his eyes opened up. He had been the last to try. And neither Michael nor Isabelle had been able to get in.

"Max, she doesn't look so good." Liz said. Her voice wasn't steady and it quivered and broke with almost each word.

Michael cringed and brought the toweled to her nose again. For some reason Maria looked paler to.

A loud intake of air filled the room and all eyes flew to Marias body which arched off of the bed. Her eyes widened but remained shut and her mouth opened and drew in a deep breath of air. And for a moment all breathing halted in the room and Maria began to move. But soon her body lowered back to the bed and her face once again took on a serene look and her head fell to the side.

"Max what was that?" Michael asked in fear as he reached for her wrist feeling for a pulse scared that she had just taken her last breath for life. But her pulse beat quickly. To quickly. "Her pulse is beating to fast."

"I think she tried to wake up." Isabelle said in a pained tone then began shaking her head. "She can't wake up."

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

"You did that on your own." Bisby said in an almost annoyed tone.

"What do you mean I did that on my own! I want to get out of here!" Maria yelled hysterically.

"You obviously don't if you are still here." Bisby said in a bored tone.

"What you think I want to die?!" Maria yelled at him as if he had just told her the world was going to end. And it was for her if she didn't wake up.

"No, but I don't think you want to go back out there and face them." Bisby responded calmly and pointed upwards with his thumb.

Maria grounded her teeth together and glared at him. "Then what do I need to do to really want to get out of here?"

"First you might want to explain why you didn't want to wake up in the first place."

Maria let out an angry sigh. "Fine. Because Michael is a selfish bastard."

"And why is that?" Bisby said in a bored tone. For the moment he would have to play psychiatrist.

"Because, he is so worried about going home, he doesn't care who he hurts. And when he decides he can't go home, it's 'screw the world and hate everyone, no matter how much they have cared for me, or put up with me'." Maria said and when she was through breathed deeply.

"Well I'm sure he was a little shocked. Maybe he didn't mean it." Bisby supplied. At this point he was feeling really stupid.

"Oh he always means the mean things." Maria assured him as if she knew best.

Bisby sighed. What did she want to be lonely and in a bad mood? "Look Ms. DeLuca right now, Michael, just found out he cannot go home because he is to different, while at the same time he is different from everything here. He is bound to be feeling like the world hates him."

"Well I never hated him! I never gave him the impression that I did!" Maria yelled in her defense.

"Maybe he doesn't get that. If he ever needed you before, he needs you now. He is bound to be feeling worthless right now, and as if no one wants him. And I think right now he needs you to reassure him that he is wanted." This was not in his job description. He was a captain of a ship sent on a mission to relay a message. Fixing relationships was not to be included in it. But they wouldn't be to happy back home if the message caused a human to die.

"I don't know if I can." Maria said solemnly.

"Why not! Just decide you will accept him for what he is!" Bisby explained. It was his nerves. She was killing them.

"Because it isn't that easy! He is always stepping all over me, throwing me to the side, insisting on being alone, and that he needs no one. I don't want to face it anymore!!!!" Maria yelled.

Bisby was hit by realization. "You're scared."

"Duh." Maria said to him and made a face.

"You're scared of going back out there and having him reject you. Look, he feels something for you, or else you would have not been able to make a connection with him. Not everyone can make a connection. Although you and him did not have any previous feeling, as Max and Liz had, you did form them. It just happened later, and there strong." Bisby for a moment, she was surprisingly listening to what he was saying. "Even if you do go out there and he does keep his distance, his feelings for you are strong, and he is going to need someone. And I know, as I knew that you two would make the connection, that when he needs someone he comes to you. So when he does finally break down, you will be the first to know about it. Am I right?"

Maria let out a defeated sigh. "Yea." Her surroundings began to blur together and form dripping colors and her mind began to become fuzzy. "What is happening!"

Bisby smiled. "Good-bye Ms. DeLuca."

Maria tried to scream back for him, but nothing escaped her mouth and soon he was gone. And then everything went black.

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

"What do you mean she can't wake up!?" Michael yelled at Isabelle.

"Exactly what I am saying. Her body tried, but something is not allowing her to come back to reality." Isabelle closed her eyes and sighed at the site that she saw before her. "Michael." Isabelle said and nodded her head towards Maria. Should could force no other words out.

Michael looked down at Maria confused, then noticed her blood once again leaving a trail down her face. He wiped it gently away with the towel.

"Isn't there anything we can do? Or at least that the three of you can do?" Liz asked them as she stared at her best friends still form.

"No." Isabelle said and shook her head. "Whatever is stopping Maria from waking up, she is going to have to overcome it on her own."

Max remained quiet throughout the whole ordeal, watching Maria sharply for any change. But all that moved was her chest. And after a while he noticed that somehow the breathes she was taking, where shorter and the rise and fall of her chest slower, and barely noticeable. He moved forward and placed to fingers on the pulse in her wrist. The other watched him, but he paid little attention. He closed his eyes, and felt for the thump. He continued to move his finger around till he finally felt it, and it was soft and slow. And he was barely able to detect it. He let go of her wrist and looked at the others. "She's dying."

"What?" Michael asked confused.

Max ignored the choked sob that came from Liz, and the gasp of breath from Isabelle. "Her pulse is slow and weak. And her face is pale. And her nose continues to bleed. If she doesn't wake up soon, she will die."

"She can't die!" Michael yelled at Max as if it was his fault. "She isn't supposed to be involved like this. This is our fault." Michael voice got softer as each word spoke, until he was barely audible. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if she died. First he finds out that he can't return home because he is to different, and now Maria dies. The only person who he really felt for and was able to be truthful with. She hadn't dwelled on his alien part, or tried to control him. She had been there for him. Not alien Michael. Just Michael. And whenever he had been hurting or mad she dealt with it the best way she could, and was still there for him when he needed her. He couldn't survive without that now. He needed that, and he needed her more then ever right now. Max and Isabelle had there family and friends. Which only made him angry at the raw deal he got. And jealous, he admitted it. But he did have something, he had Maria. Maybe not for long though. Michael was pulled out of his thoughts by the intake of a deep breath. He automatically knew it had been Maria.

"Maria." Liz gasped and jump forward and kneel at the side. "Come on Maria." Liz pushed.

Michael watched with worry and fear and excitement and Maria drew in another deep breath. Her body arched off of the bed once again, repeating the same act as earlier. But this time her eyes flew open, and she stared wildly up at the ceiling.

"Im awake." Maria revealed to herself. She looked around at the four people surrounding her. "I'm not dead." Maria said to herself and let out a relieved breath.

Liz jumped onto the side of the bed and leaned over Maria intently. "What happened? You where asleep for the longest time, and you where pale, and bleeding, and your pulse was getting slower, and they tried to get in, but kept getting knocked out. Then we think you tried to wake up, then you couldn't. Maria! What happened!?" Liz yelled at her friend frantically.

Maria smiled in relief that she was here to hear Liz fuss over her. "I couldn't wake up, because I really wasn't ready to leave. And the reason why I was dying was because Bisby's little message was still in my head, and didn't leave until I woke up. So I had a nice chat with him before I left."

"And do you feel fine?" Isabelle asked Maria.

"Yea. No painful headache." Maria glanced at Michael, who had moved next to Max at some point, she had been positive he had been next to her when she woke up. "But I need to be alone right now." Maria said solemnly.

"Maria I don't think-." Max started.

"Look I'm fine. He is gone, meaning these nose bleeds and headaches are over, everything is back to normal now. Kind of. Look I'll be fine. And I'll be even better if you would all leave." Maria told them firmly

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

Maria stared at the image in the mirror. She felt better now. More at piece. After only a couple of hours she felt relaxed and more at ease. Whatever had happened before didn't linger so strongly. Is seemed more like a dream now. But she knew it had happened. She drug the brush gently through her wet hair. Maybe she would grow it longer then it was now. It had looked nice in her so called dream. A slight tapping caused her to spin around, and she found something she had been dreading and hoping for to be standing outside of her house and in front of her window. She slowly stood up and made her way over to the window. Maria didn't meet her eyes with his, but she did lift up the window and stepped back allowing him to step into her room. She waited patiently as he closed the window and turned back to face her. He made no other moves towards her, and showed no inclination to. But she would not be the first to speak. She wanted him to at least try.

"Maria, I-" Michael stopped and closed him mouth. Why did the words refuse to escape his mouth. Michael set his resolve and opened his mouth to speak again. "Maria, I'm sorry."

Maria face softened, and her heart felt like it was being torn apart. His voice sounded so desperate, and hurt. She brought her hand up and cradled the side of his face.

Michael watched her intently in the dimly lit room, and opened his mouth to continue. But it didn't seem to work. She ALWAYS did this to him. Made him unable to speak. Whenever she made him emotional, whether he was feeling angry, confused, or happy about her he could never speak correctly. His mouth would open and shut, and his eyes looked around nervously.

"Shhhhh." Maria said softly, and slid her thumb gently over his lips. She stepped up to him slowly and placed her other hand on the back of his neck, then let both arms slide around his neck and she pulled herself against him. Two arms slid around her waste and held her tightly.

Michael expelled a content sigh and closed his eyes, reveling in the feeling of happiness the he felt right now. How could he not be happy? He didn't feel alone. She was the only constant thing in his life, the only thing he could trust himself with. And at this point, if he was going to remain on this rock, he wasn't going to let her go.

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

The End.

Okay here is a side note.I made a reference in the story, through Bisby, that they would not be able to handle there home planet, it would be a brave new world. I was referring to a very stupid piece of literature called A Brave New World. It's in the future, a very wacked out future and everyone is on drugs to stay happy, and they all have sex all the time. Yea that's literature for ya. But their are people who don't live like that and they are thought of as savages. They live on reservations and are thought of as dirty and stuff. Well two of the 'savages' are brought back, a mother and son. The mother had lived with all the sex a drugs, but had become fat, and when she returned she just kept getting pumped full of drugs to stay happy until she died. The son who had been raised with the 'savages' (The savages are more like us.), didn't like the new world that he had been brought to and he wasn't used to it, and in the end he killed himself. Get it now? If you even caught it before, or know what I am talking about now, let me know. I'd be glad to know that you do.