Michael paused, staring at the phone for a moment. He had hoped for Alex to answer the phone.. but really expected one of his parents. However, he certainly hadn't expected Maria Deluca... but the voice was unmistakable. For a brief moment he entertained the notion of hanging up. Instead, he spoke, "Maria.. what are you doing answering Alex's phone?"

Maria paused for a moment with a frown, that couldn't be Michael calling..just someone who sounded like him, it wasn't him, "Umm...I always answer.. Alex's phone when ever I'm over here." She looked over at Alex for a moment, "Who's calling? Are you a friend of Alex's, because he's right here.."

"Uh, no. Actually, I was calling for Max." Michael explained, not really expecting her to understand. "It's Michael, by the way. Uh, Mr. Parker said Max and Liz went there."

"Oh my god.." Maria said into the phone, her eyes going slightly wide, then quickly went on to cover her sudden surprise at finding out she was talkig to Michael, "Oh Umm...that is just so weird because Max was going to call you and Isabel to come over, we're kinda having this..well, Liz, Alex and I used to always get together and watch some movies and now we're just sorta...adding you too it." She babbled quickly, glaring a little Alex, although she knew it wasn't his fault, "Do you umm...I mean, Max is talking to Liz sooo..."

"Do I what?" Michael teased. He grinned at Courtney, shooting a thumbs-up. "Found them!" he whispered before turning back to the phone. "Was that little ramble of yours an invitation or what?"

Maria's eyes narrowed at the counter, how he could annoy her and get her angry just over the phone and one little comment was something else, "It's not my invitation, believe me.." She said as calmly as she could into the phone, then sighed, "Alex and Max wants you to come over with Isabel, I think Max already called her but couldn't get a hold of you, I'm not sure...so yes, it was an ivitation."

"There you go again.." Michael teased, laughing softly. "But it sounds good.. we'll be there in a bit." Looking at Courtney, he nodded. "I can bring a friend, right?"

"A friend?" Maria questioned with a frown, "You don't have friends Michael." She stated, her interest only slightly peaked, "Who's your friend?" She asked, smiling a little at Alex when he slid her the ice cream float.

"I do so!" Michael protested. "There's Max and Isabel.. and.. and.." his voice trailed off as he shrugged. "Okay, whatever.. it's Courtney. She works at the Crashdown, you know?"

Maria was quiet for a moment, "Courtney? From..." She cut herself off, shaking her head to herself. She did NOT care who Michael was friends with or who he was probably screwing, "Yeah, whatever...bring her along if you want, I don't care, it's not my house." She said moodily into the phone, "Bye." She hung up quickly, "If it was my house I wouldn't be this uncomfortable.." She mumbled to herself. "Seem's I wasn't the only waitress he was screwing." She said sarcastically to Alex and grabbed the chocolate suryp, pouring a bunch on her food, "Ugh! I hate him, I seriously just want to..." *Jump his bones by the mere thought of him* Her mind supplied quickly, "Whatever.." She smumbled to herself as she ate some of the food, making a small face. "It needs something else..." She mumbled to herself, searching a little through Alex's cabinents finally finding the tabasco sauce, and without knowing what she was doing she poured it on her food, then walked back into the living room, "Michael's on his way."

*******

"Okay.." Michael started to answer, but was interrupted by a sharp click. Pulling the phone away from his ear, he stared down at it confused. "She hung up on me.." he stated, his voice shocked. Looking up at Courtney, he clicked the phone off, and repeated. "She hung up on me..."

"Are you sure? Well you know, lets just head over there and you can figure it all out, okay?" Courtney reassured Michael as she reached for his arms and pulled him up on his feet. Still holding both of his hands, she walked backwards pulling him towards the door. "Wait. I think i need to change." She waved her hand, head to toe, and changed her outfit once again into some low slung black pants and a purple sleeveless top. "What do you think? Do i look good?" She stated with a big grin.

Michael laughed softly. "Yeah, you look good.." he assured her. "That is so neat.. I wish I could do that." Shaking his head at his incompetence, he shrugged, "Knowing me, I'd set myself on fire or something!"

"Why thank you! And you can! You just need some practice and you'll be able to do almost anything." Courtney grabbed a coat and some keys and walked outside with Michael behind her. "In the meantime, I'll know who to call if i need something blown up." She grinned and locked the door after once Michael was outside with her. "So where's this house we're going to?" Carefully walking down the front steps she folded her arms and started to casually walk with him. "Brrrr. When did it get so cold out!"

Michael shook his head, looking around. "It's a good thing I happen to know where Alex lives." he noted. "That little pipsqueak hung up on me before I could get the address." Actually, he knew where a lot of people lived.. wandering around town for hours on end could give a person that insight. "It's this way." he gestured, as he and Courtney began walking. Seeing her shiver, Michael laughed teasingly, dropping his arm over her shoulder. "Maybe you need a thicker coat, heh?"

"Yeah, maybe." Courtney shrugged and nestled herself into Michael, wrapping her arms around his waist. "But who need a thicker coat when they can have you?" She grinned as she looked up at him, innocently.

Michael laughed softly. "What are friends for?" he asked, shrugging slightly. "Lend some money, give a ride, become a human coat.... it's all part of the job description." His arm kept her locked in place as they walked, silent for a few moments. Then Michael, thinking about their earlier conversation, told her, "Max, Alex, Maria and Liz are all there. And Izzy may be coming.. so you get to chill with everyone at the same time."

Courtney laughed as he spoke. "Michael, you're so funny." When her quiet giggles died down she replied to his last words. "Yeah, that would be great. Chill with the gang... get to know them...you know." After another silent moment, she started to talk again. "You know, what do you think of me? Truthfully."

"Think of you?" Michael repeated, thinking the question was easier to answer than most. He normally hated those kind of questions.. people always claimed there were no 'right' answers, but he knew that wasn't true. They really wanted you to say what they thought of themselves... but he usually told the truth, and if someone got pissed.. well, so be it. Smiling down at Courtney, he answered, "Well.. I don't know you all that well yet, but you seem pretty cool. And it's definitely nice to have another alien around.... it gets kind of sad when you're entire species consists of 3 beings."

"Well believe me, there's way more than 3." Courtney paused and then continued. "Well Michael, It's probably obvious, but I totally like you. So that's why I asked. You know, trying to find out if you'd ever be interested in me."

Michael frowned slightly, hugging Courtney to his side. "Interested how?" he asked. "Like friends or like lovers?" Thinking for a few moments he shrugged. "Let me turn the table on you..." he teased, turning to grin at Courtney. "What do you think of ME? And be a little more specific than 'totally like'..."

"Michael,I want to be more than friends with you. I think you are strong minded, sexy, handsome and the list goes on. What else can I say? I think you're almost perfect." Courtney smiled as she held onto him.

Michael paused, looking down at her with a slight grin on his face. "You think I'm all that, heh?" he asked, feeling pretty good. "I don't know, really, about the 'more than friends' bit." he admitted, his grin fading. "I think maybe I have something going with Maria.. in some weird way. We haven't talked about it or anything.. but it just seems like there's something between us."

"Besides the obvious.." Michael muttered, thinking about the physical aspect of their relationship. "It's nothing to do with you!" he added quickly, pulling Courtney against his side tightly. "Really. Like I said, I think you're pretty cool in and of yourself." Looking down at Courtney, Michael grinned. "I'd think that even if you weren't an alien.." he teased.

"Hmmm. Well as long as you're happy." She forced a grin as she tried to hide her disappointment. "But Michael, whenever you want to, I'll be there for you." Courtney stopped and turned to face him. "I understand, but just let me have a moment." Her one hand stayed around his waist as her other one rested on his shoulder to support her as she reached up and kissed him softly. Pulling back she smiled at Michael with a small puppy dog look. "Well, if you do have something with Maria, she is one lucky girl to have you."

Michael returned the soft kiss, smiling down at her as she pulled away. "Thanks, Courtney... I just hope she feels that way." he teased. Silently, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, holdeing her against them as they continued walking. As the Whitman's residence came into view, Michael pointed, smiling. "There.. that's the place." Dropping his arm, he took Courtney's hand in his own, leading her up to the door. Grinning down at her, he rang the
doorbell. "Don't worry, they'll love ya.."

*******

Maria giggled lightly to herself as she watched Max and Liz making eyes at each other. It was rather annoying to watch them like that, but it was also just too cute. For a moment she felt funny then looked towards the door when the doorbell rang. She watched Alex's father begin to walk towards the door and she bolted from her seat on the couch, straight towards the bathroom, leaving her half-eaten ice cream float behind. She shut the door quietly behind her, still being able to hear the voices of the others in the living room, two more, female and male, joining in.

She took a deep breath as she looked into the mirror. She was freaking out, she was freaking out because she had to be the same room with Michael and his new...toy or whatever you wanted to call Courtney. She could just say she was sick and leave, which wasn't all a lie, she didn't feel too good, but then they would all know she left because of Michael...okay Michael and Alex would know she left because of him.

She ran some water and splashed it on her face then dried it. She paused when she was about to open the door, something making her lift her shirt up some. She gasped quietly to herself and squeezed her eyes closed, hoping her mind was playing tricks on her, then reopened them. "Nope...not a trick of the mind." She muttered to herself as she stared down at the tiny handprint that was glowing on her stomach.

She gulped as she dropped her shirt back down, this time not bothering to care what she looked like, or who was out there. She walked out and went back to her original seat on the couch, keeping close to herself and quiet, watching everyone else walk. It couldn't mean she was pregnant, they only did it...a couple of times, with out protection...

Michael nodded at the rather stern-faced man who opened the door. "Hi.. we're here to see Alex." he said, gently tugging Courtney into the room behind him. 'Talk about not much of a
socializer..' Michael thought dryly as Mr. Whitman shut the door and walked away from them, never saying a word.

Glancing around the room, he saw Max and Liz talking together on one couch, but no sign of Alex or Maria. "Uh, guys, you've probably met, but this is Courtney.... Courtney this is Max Evans and Liz Parker. Alex is around here somewhere, I'm sure. And.." Michael trailed off, turning as Maria walked into the room. She pretty much ignored them all, sitting down on the couch. Michael frowned.. it wasn't like Maria to be so quiet. Or still, for that matter, he thought as she pulled in close to herself, not even looking at them. "And this is Maria..." Michael finished, feeling confused. Looking at Courtney, he mouthed, "I'll be back..", squeezing her hand before he dropped it. Walking over toward the couch, Michael sat gingerly a few inches away from Maria. He was careful to keep a small distance, as she didn't look in the mood to jump up and hug him anytime soon. Reaching one hand out, he touched her shoulder gently. "You don't look too happy.. What's wrong?"

Maria looked to Michael, surprised for a moment as she pulled away from his touch. Her mother would kill her, she knew it, god, she was...she was pregnant, she just knew it. She was 16 years old, no boyfriend, the father some alien thing...would her baby be green with gills, "Good.." She whispered to herself with a frown, then shook her head quickly, clearing her throat a little, "I'm fine." She said shortly as she looked at from Michael. She was really trying to keep her cool, to calm down, to not look like something was majorly wrong with her. She looked around the room quickly, ignoring the jealousy and hurt she felt, the image of Michael holding Courtney's hand still stuck in her mind. "Where's Alex? Is he still in the kitchen, maybe I should go help him with the stuff..."

"Uh, yeah, I guess he's in the kitchen." Michael answered confused. "Are you sure? I mean, you look.. upset or something." Reaching out with one hand, Michael cupped her face, turning her head to his direction. "Come on 'Ria, look at me." he demanded softly.

"Don't Michael..." Maria whispered quietly, pushing his hand away harshly. It wasn't fair, that he could play the concerned guy when he wanted, but still not want to be attached at all, "You can't tell me that what we're doing is wrong, then ask what's going on with me...you can't." She shook her head and started to stand, glad that the others hadn't seen their little..'talk'. "I'm fine." She said hastly then started towards the kitchen, but stopped and headed back to the bathroom going in ad splashing her face with water again. "I can't do this..." She whispered to herself. She could not be a teenage mother with an alien baby and have no help...it...she just couldn't. She sighed as she looked around the room for a moment, then at the closed door, wishing it had a lock or she had those alien powers to lock it. She slowly sank to the floor, her back pressed against the wall opposite of the door, her knee's pulled up to her chest.

Michael stared after Maria in confusion. He could tell she wasn't 'fine' as she put it, but that didn't mean he could figure out what was wrong either. Maybe she was pissed off at him.. maybe it was something to do with Courtney. 'Or maybe it has nothing at all to do with me,' Michael thought glumly. Sighing he glanced over at the group beside him, actually thinking of sending Liz after Maria. At least she would be better at the 'comforting friend' role than he would. Michael shook his head, standing up. He didn't want to be Maria's friend, he realized angerily. He wanted.. he wanted more than he could have. Sighing, he shrugged, walking off in the direction Maria had disappeared in. He looked both ways of the hallway he was in. There were a few open doors, but only one closed one. On a hunch, Michael walked over to the closed one, tapping the wood softly. "Maria?"

Maria's eyes darted around the room for a moment as she heard Michael's voice on the side. She slowly stood and walked over to the door, not opening and instead leaning against it, "What Michael?" She asked tiredly through the door. Couldn't he give up...then again, who was she kidding, this was Michael, he was stubborn, wouldn't give up until he knew what was wrong, "I look like crap, I understand, you already told me that, not everyone is always perfect looking, I'm just a little under the weather.." She babbled quickly, closing her eyes and leaning her head back.

Hearing Maria's voice, Michael reached down trying the door knob. It turned easily, unlocked, but the door didn't budge. Growling in frustration, Michael leaned against the doorway, talking to her through the wood. "Maria.. I never said you looked like crap." he protested, trying to stay patient. "I said you looked upset! And you did. If something's bothering you, and you won't tell me, I can go get Liz." Sighing, he offered quietly, "Would you rather talk to her?"

"God no..." Maria said, quickly opening the door, her eyes darting down the hall towards the living room then back at Michael with a sigh. She could just hear Liz's lecture about how what she did, sleeping with Michael was stupid, especially when they didn't know what could happen. "Don't pull Liz into this." She said quietly, grabbing onto Michael's arm and pulling him into the bathroom, then going back to leaning against the door, "I found something out...a very bad something..."

Michael stared at her, the sudden chill of fear freezing him. Whatever problem she had was serious, he realized, his mind reeling with the possibilites. "Are you sick?" he demanded. "Did someone.. hurt you? Is it your mom?" Realizing that he was panicked, Michael took a few deep breaths, reaching out to hold her shoulders. "Maria, tell me what happened." Michael demanded, all trace of joking aside.

"Ya know, I just want this normal life, nothing to do with aliens or FBI agents or anything, but nooo I get sucked into your life and let you like...charm your way under my skin and and..." Maria shook her head and leaned her head against the door, closing her eyes, refusing to look at him, "Look.." She instructed and lifted her shirt a little, also pushing her pants down a little so he could see the little, baby hand print of her abdomen.

Michael stared down at the tiny handprint in confusion. It looked like the ones Max left behind when he healed people, only much smaller. Tiny, even.. almost like a little .. Michael froze, staring up at Maria numbly. "What's that?" he demanded, his hand reaching up to touch the small print. The connection was made as soon as his hand touched the small, silvery mark. A expression of shock crossed Michael's face as his mind was bombarded by sensations. Warmth.. sleepiness.. curiousity. And fear. It was Maria's fear and anger that he felt, but through someone else's mind, through the same connection that expressed such wonder at everything. Wonder, because it wasn't Maria he was connected to... and to that new, little, not-Maria person everything WAS new and amazing. Michael severed the connection, pulling away from her in shock. "You.. you can't be!" Michael stuttered. "It's not possible."

"Well obviously it is possible..." Maria said as her eyes looked at anything but him, "Otherwise someone gave me some freaky tattoo while I was sleeping that seems to come and go as it pleases." She said sarcastically as she pulled her shirt back down. She finally looked at Michael's shocked look, suddenly feeling embarrassed and frightened that she had just sorta put this on him, it wasn't his problem, "I shouldn't have told you..showed you anything." She said in a rush, turning around to open the door.

"Wait!" Michael demanded, reaching out to grab Maria's arm. He closed the door back, wishing the stupid thing had a lock. "What do you mean, you shouldn't have told me?" he hissed. "Yes, you should have.. I mean, god, if you are pregnant.. since you are pregnant, it kinda stands to reason I should know about it!" Sighing, Michael leaned back against the door, running both hands through his hair. He didn't know which upset him more.. the fact that Maria was pregnant with his child.. or the fact that she found the idea so horrible. "It comes and goes, you mean? When did you first see it?"

"Why? You don't need any ties...attachments to this rock we call earth and a baby is a tie, not that I expect anything from you." Maria hissed with a glare as she plopped herself down on the toilet, fuming to herself. "You were only a sperm donor." She mumbled more to herself. She didn't even want to go to that place where she had been maybe a little excited about this until she realized that she was 16 years old with a half alien baby growing in her, and it seemed to be growing fast. "A little while ago...I thought my mind was playing tricks on me, but it's not." She said quietly with a sigh, closing her eyes lightly. "I don't expect anything from you Michael." She said again.

With a sigh, Michael knelt down by the toilet, leaning his back against the wall of the bath tub. That 'sperm donor' comment had hurt him more than it should have, especially considering she was right. He wasn't supposed to form any attachments, not serious ones. Somehow he thought Max and Isabel would see this as exactly that....

"A sperm donor, heh?" he spat, more angry at himself than at her. "Is that what you plan to tell this.. this baby? That his father was a sperm donor?" Michael leaned his head backward against the tub's glass door, closing his eyes. "And what about your mom? And Liz? If you don't want me to be a part of this, how do you intend to explain it to everyone?" he asked quietly.

Maria flinched a little at his angry tone, then sighed, biting back her emotions at his quiet tone, "I never said I didn't want you apart of...'this', I just said that I don't expect anything from you. I don't want you to be apart of...to have anything to do with this baby if it's just because you feel obligated." She told him, her throat closing up for a moment. She chuckled a little, "My mother is going to kill me, Liz wont' help any either, getting lectures about how you should wait until your married or something like that. Do you know that my mom was this age when she got pregnant with me, and look how well that turned out...my father left because of being so young and tied down...And I think he only stayed around because he felt obligated being the one to put my mom in that position. And now my mom is never around...not like she was ever there in the first place, and I'm just this screwed up, emotional basket case...yeah, I can see this baby turning out the same way.."

Michael looked up in surprise, shaking his head vehemently. "No way, Maria!" he protested. "You'll be a great mom.. even though you're young." Michael shifted over, so that he was sitting directly in front of the toilet, in front of her. Looking up, he smiled, knowing that on THIS point at least, he was completely right. "You'll be wonderful.." he promised. "You already love the baby, even though you're scared." Seeing that she was surprised, he tried to explain, "I felt you. When I connected to the baby, I could feel him, then you through him."

Maria smile a little, although she didn't believe that. How could someone that was so young be a great mom, her mom was this age when she had her and she was probably the worst mother ever. "I'm too young to be a mother...I'm just...and this baby..god, it's half human half...half you." She with a small sigh, surprised when he told her that he could connect with the baby and feel her through him...wait a minute him? "A boy?" She asked quietly, a small smile crossing her lips, but it quickly faded. She looked at him then threw her arms around his neck, burying her face into his shirt, not caring that he had hurt her before and could hurt her again. "What are we going to do? What am I going to do?"

Michael's breath hissed out in a relieved sigh as Maria touched him. Wrapping his arms around, he gently pulled her down into his lap, pulling her tightly against him. Strange how things seemed more bearable when he held her, he reflected. "I don't know.." he admitted honestly. "I really don't know what to do either." Gently his hands began stroking her back, his breath caressing her neck as he whispered, "A boy, Maria... a son." The implications of the baby's half human/half alien status hit him suddenly, and he tightened his arms around Maria's waist.

"A son..." Maria repeated quietly, hardly noticing his arms wrapping tightly around her. "Do we tell the others?" She asked quietly, her eyes closing as she reveled in his warmth. "They don't even know that we...that we were together for that little time, not unless you told them." She whispered with a small sigh, knowing that the safety she felt in his arms would probably be broke when...if he pushed her away again, "Alex knows...not about the alien status, but that we slept together, I had to talk to someone who wasn't going to judge, and he didn't." She blurted out quickly, her mind drifted to who exactly Michael was here with and she began to pull away from him.

"I guess we have to.." Michael muttered, surprised as Maria began pulling away from him. He loosened his hold on her, but didn't let go. "What's wrong? It's not like it's something we can keep secret forever.." he pointed out. Looking down at her, confused at the anger he saw in her eyes, Michael suggested, "Maybe we should start with Alex then, since he already knows we were.. together." He broke off, realizing what she had said before. "Wait Maria.. does that mean we're not, together or whatever, now?" Michael asked, his voice sounding as bewildered as he felt.

"What do you think Michael?" Maria asked with a pointed look as she tried to get out of his grasp, then sighed when he refused to let her go, "You ended it, remember...the whole speech you gave me about not being able to get attached to anyone, you have to be able to leave at any minute and then you walked away...you just...walked away." She with a defeated tone, "What am I supposed to think? Now that I'm pregnant that we're together? You came in here with Courtney, holding her hand no less.."

Michael sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know what I said.." he whispered. "I left because I didn't know what else to say. I mean, you were hurt.. and I.. I still don't know what to say." Michael mumbled, his voice trailed off. He leaned backward against the tub, shaking his head. "And I'm NOT with Courtney.. in any way." Michael protested.

"Then why did you bring her here? If your not with her...I mean, your not so trustworthy to strangers and last time I checked, she was under that catagory." Maria said, only slightly glad that he had let her go, giving her a chance to back away from and lean against the wall. She pulled her knee's to her chest, resting her chin on them as she stared at him, "It's none of my business anyway, who your with, that is." She shrugged lightly as she looked away from him and played with her shoe laces.

Michael sighed as Maria scurried away from him. "Maria.. I'm not with her. I'm not interested in her... hell I even told HER that. Go out there and ask Courtney who I'm interested in.." he demanded. "And it is your business.." Michael grumbled, not explaining why.

"I brought her here to meet you guys." he continued. "Look, Maria, I can't explain everything yet... I kind of promised her I wouldn't. But it has nothing to do with us, with this."

Maria looked at him questionably for a moment, but didn't press the issue, not really. "It's my business? How so?" She questioned in a tone that surely stated 'unbelievable'. "I mean we're not together, your doing let me point out, so anything you do, or anyone you do during your spare time has nothing to do with me, I shouldn't even be asking any questions. So your not with her, or interested in her, good for you." She said the last part a little sarcastically, then sighed, feeling the raw emotions coarsing through her body. She let her head roll back against the wall as she closed her eyes. "Sorry..."

"Fine.. don't worry about it." Michael shrugged her sarcasm off automatically. Leaning his head back against the glass, Michael sighed. He cursed his human body, feeling the sharp prick of tears behind his eyelids.. mostly from sheer frustration and confusion. And the pain he could hear in Maria's voice... the pain he had caused.

Maria sighed as she tried to brush off all the emotions that were stirring with in. She let her legs drop into an indian style and her eyes opened to look at him, soundly getting for being so short with him, "I'm sorry.." She whispered quietly as her hand absently dropped over her stomach protectively. "What do we do Michael?" She asked, not just talking about the baby...but about the situation between the two of them, "I want...I want my baby to have a father."

Michael shook his head, not bothering to open his eyes. "I don't know, Maria." he admitted quietly. "I've always told myself that we--Max, Isabel, and I-- we don't belong here. And that we had to be ready to leave, whenever the opportunity came. So, no attachments.. no real connections, nothing you couldn't leave behind at a moment's notice.. those were the rules."

He paused for a bit, silently thinking about the others. Isabel loved her parents, especially her mom. She had even wanted to tell them the truth, but Max and Michael always talked her out of it. And Max... not even asking before he spilled the beans, not even caring really. He had loved Elizabeth Parker for years... no attachments there, right? Now this.. Michael, supposedly the strongest, hardest of the three..

Michael sighed, admitting quietly, "I'm not sure any of us actually followed the rules."

"Right..." Maria said quietly to herself when he told her about the 'no attachment' rule. She looked around the small room, really not in the mood to listen to this speech again. She sighed to herself as she settled her eyes on the wall just above Michael's head, shooting daggers at it with her eyes. Her eyes slowly darted back down to him with confusion, "How did you *not* follow the rules?"

"Well think about it.." Michael muttered. "Izzy and Maxwell love their parents. And then there's Liz.. hell, even if Max would leave his folks, he would never leave her. And Isabel wouldn't go without Max." Michael shook his head silently. "It's just that, if we had the opportunity to leave right now... I don't think they would go. I don't think Max, at least, would even consider it."

"Oh..." Maria listened to him for a moment, letting his words settle in. "And you would go? With out a second thought?" She asked quietly, "Knowing about...everything, you would go?" She asked, 'everything' being the baby.

Michael shook his head, keeping his eyes closed to avoid looking at her. "I want to say yes.." he answered, his voice quiet. "I know I'm supposed too, and I should." He sighed softly, not knowing how to explain his feelings to himself, much less to her. His dream of going home.. of finding HIS home, where he belonged.. that was all he had had for years. There was no way he could give that up.. was there?

Michael pulled his knees up, crossing his arms over them. "Maria.." he tried to explain, "I have never had any reason to stay here. I've never wanted any reason to stay here. And now I'm not so sure.." Shaking his head, he shrugged. "I'm sorry.. I don't know how to explain it."

Maria was confused by his words. She sighed, shaking her head to herself, "Don't apologize to me Michael, that's no what I want." She whispered quietly. All she had really heard was that he never had a reason to stay...so he obviously didn't care about her any...or this baby. She sighed again, confused at the sudden wash of protectiveness and some soothing that came over her body. She slowly pushed herself up to her feet, "We should go back out there.." She told him, turning around to go out the door, "They'll wonder what we're doing and I don't want them getting the wrong idea."

Michael sighed, standing up. "Maria, I'm not trying to apologize." he protested. "I'm just trying.. trying to say.. " His voice trailed off as he stared down at her, then shook his head. "Forget it." he snapped, harsher than he had intended. "You're right.. we'd hate to have them think we're having sex or something." Reaching around her, he grabbed the doorknob.

Maria stared at the door for a moment as his harsh words hit her and he reached around her, grabbing the doorknob. She moved out of the way as he opened the door, then gestured for him to go out first, "Why don't you go back to the living room, I'll be out in a little while." She told him quietly, her voice emotionless.

Michael stared at her for a moment, opening his mouth to protest. Then closing his mouth, Michael shrugged. "Whatever.." he muttered, walking out, slamming the door behind him. He didn't make it far, only half-way down the hall, before he turned around, walking back toward the bathroom. Sighing harshly, Michael slid down the wall opposite the bathroom door, running both hands through his hair.

Maria jumped when he slammed the door, then sighed as she looked at her reflection, looking paler than usual, and with tears in her eyes no-less. "Great.." She mumbled to herself, her eyes locking on her stomach through the mirror. "Guess it's just going to be you and me kid.." She whispered into the already quiet room. She glanced around, her eyes falling on the window to her side. Why was she suddenly wanting to run away from this all, that wasn't her style, she didn't run, she confronted things head on, but this time...this time she was scared out of her mind and wanted to run.

She ran a hand through her curls and took a deep breath as she opened the door, composing herself as she walked out of the room. She stopped in mid-step, surprised to find Michael sitting against the opposite wall. She was silent, not sure what to make of this...He was supposed to be going back to the living room, not sitting outside the room.

TBC
Part 13
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