Maria nodded lightly as she reach for the car keys, sitting on the table and looking at them for a moment before looking back to him, "You can drive though right? I don't...feel like driving." She said with a small sigh.

Michael reached out, taking the keys gently as he wrapped his arm around Maria waist. "Yeah, I'll drive." Leading them to the car, he opened her door, kissing her forehead before letting her go. After they had both buckled up, Michael sighed softly, starting the car, heading toward Alex's house.

Maria leaned back into her seat, closing her eyes as they drove in silence. The short car trip was almost enough to make her fall asleep, her body tired and stressed out from everything that had happened that day, days before. She opened her eyes as she felt the car come to a stop and turn off. She sighed, looking at Michael as she unbuckled, "Here goes nothing.." She whispered into the car before they both got out and walked up to the front door. She raised her fist to knock, but quickly grabbed Michael's hand with her free hand before knocking, hoping that he wouldn't pull away.

Michael squeezed Maria's hand softly, smiling to reassure her as they waited for someone to open the door. Leaning forward, he whispered in her ear, "After this is over, we'll head back to your place so you can get some sleep..."

Maria smiled softly, nodding a little when he pulled back, "So WE can get some sleep." She corrected him, then looked at the door as Alex's father opened it. She smiled slightly as her greeting and he returned the smile, although he looked hard at Michael. Alex's parents didn't like strangers, she knew that, she just hoped Michael wouldn't take it personally. They slowly made their way into the living room, she saw everyone sitting around, and faintly hear Alex asking where she and Michael had gone off to. It looked like everyone had noticed their disappearance. A part of her knew that they had been gone for over an hour, of course they would notice. She took a deep breath as she looked at Michael, then cleared her throat, "Hey..."

Right after Alex had asked if anyone knew where Michael and Maria could have gone, they appeared all of a sudden in the living room...together. Everyone had their eyes on them and looked at them in confusion. But Alex and Courtney weren't all that suprised. Alex walked into the room slowly as he gave Maria a 'what the hell are you doing?!' look. "Ummmm,
hey....guys!"

Courtney shifted in her seat to look at the two and weakly smiled at Michael. "Hey Michael, you said you'd be right back." She tried to keep her jealousy and rage of Maria down, instead keeping her innocent act up. This was NOT how it was supposed to go. Maria wasn't supposed to be wanting anything to do with Michael after she saw him and herself come in earlier holding hands...and now, Maria was the one holding his hand...she was pissed.

"Umm....that's sorta my fault, sorry.." Maria said with a small apologetic smile Courtney's way. She still felt threatened that Michael would...even if he wasn't really with her, would leave her to go with Courtney, someone who could give him answers when she held none. "I....we need to talk." She said with a frown and serious look.

Michael sighed softly, squeezing Maria's hand. "It's not your fault.." he whispered quietly. "I suggested we leave." He glanced around the room silently, taking note of the other four teens. Michael considered taking Max aside, telling him first, just so they could figure out a way to tell Alex without blabbing the whole alien story. After a moment of silence, he shrugged. He and Maria wouldn't be able to keep their secret long, not at the rate Gabriel was growing... and there was no way to convince Alex that Maria had been prenant for months before they had sex... Sighing, Michael glanced at Maria, trying to smile to reassure her. Leading her over to the free loveseat, he dropped into the cushions, pulling her down beside him.

"Yes, but I was the one that didn't want to tell anyone we were leaving in the first place." Maria argued softly, then sighed as she went silent again. Her eyes landed on Alex for a moment, watching the boy's eyes dart to her hand in Michael's then up to meet her gaze questionable. She shook her head gently and let Michael lead her over to the loveseat, allowing her body to drop down close to his, seeking out his warmth instinctively. "Um....I don't know how to start this." She said quietly, her eyes darting around before they landed on the floor for a moment, "We kinda have a problem....well..I mean, can it be called a problem?" She asked, her eyes going to Michael quizically. Usually problems were bad, were unwanted...and as much as she felt weird and nervouse about this, she wanted Gabriel...their son.

"No!" Michael's answer was quick, instinctive. He had almost said that himself, before he thought of the implications. Problems were things you didn't like... things you wanted to go away. His son.. their child definitely wasn't a problem. Turning away from Maria, he eyes caught Courtney's gaze.. than Max's. Locking there, he took a deep breath. "There's kind of a.. situation. Something you guys need to know about." Glancing over at Alex, he squeezed Maria's hand, adding pointedly, "All of you."

"Situation is not much better..." Maria started quietly with a small smirk, glancing at Michael nervously, squeezing his hand in return, "but it'll do." She took a deep breath as she looked around at the others. "Umm...well you see, there's this thing and.." She really did not want to beat around the bush and go into one of her ramblings, "So here it is, laying it flat on the line. I'm pregnant." She stated, her eyes going to the floor again as she waited for it all to explode.

Liz walked over and kneeled down next to Maria. She took Maria's hand and smiled, what she hoped was a comforting smile. "Maria, are you ok, I mean physically?" Liz knew this had to be emotionally trying for her, but she hoped that she was happy. Liz waited for a response from the others, but never left Maria's side, she wanted her to know that she was there for her.

Michael smiled softly at Liz. "Thanks.." he mouthed quietly, happy to see that at least one reaction would be relatively positive. Maybe Liz would be able to offer Maria the comfort and reassurance that he couldn't.

Liz nodded at Micheal and continued to hold Maria's hand.

Maria sighed quietly, her eyes closing for a moment before reopening them and looking at Liz. "It doesn't hurt or anything, if that's what your asking." She said quietly, afraid of what Alex might here. She knew Liz was probably more worried about the half alien thing....but she really had no clue if she was even suggesting if Michael was the father, which he was, not that she was had been sleeping around or anything, "There's a glow...a handprint, kinda like the one Max left on you, only smaller. It kinda comes and goes." She whispered quietly, "It's...the baby's a boy." As she informed Liz of the sex, she smiled lightly, her eyes stealing a
glance at Michael.

Liz's eye's lit up when Maria said it was a boy. "Really?" She realy was happy for her and Micheal. She looked at Maria and said softly in a serious, kinda scientist tone "I want to see the handprint later."

"Yes really...Michael and I...we connected with the baby a little while ago..." Maria smiled, nodding a little at Liz's small command to check out the handprint later. Her eyes grew serious as she glanced to Michael, then back at Liz, "The baby is growing double time, Liz...We could only have like..a few months, weeks even."

Liz's eye's grew wide. "Are you kidding? How the heck are we gonna explain that?" Liz quickly glanced at her friend, hoping she didn't sound to harsh. "I'm sorry Maria, it's just a little bit of a shock still."

"Yeah, well try being in my shoes. I loose my virginity in the 'heat of the moment' and then just days later find out I'm pregnant, it's not normal." Maria said quietly with a frown, taking her hands away from Liz's and leaning back against Micheal.

Michael unconciously wrapped his arms around Maria, holding her tight in an effort to comfort them both. Somewhat afraid to glance at the others' reactions, he focused on Liz. "Our first big problem is trying to explain away how far along the pregnancy is. Especially to your friend, Alex.." Michael reminded Maria gently. He didn't want to voice their next big problem.. worrying about whether a human being could even carry an alien child. Even assuming the baby was born healthy, and that Maria was safe, there were still the "normal"
concerns.. money, a crib, bottles, diapers, food... Michael sighed softly, leaning his head forward to rest on Maria's shoulder.

Maria held back her sigh when Michael wrapped his arms around her, one of her hands coming to rest on his arms as the other rest on his knee, giving him a small squeeze, almost as if her hands had a mind of their own and knew he needed to be comforted just as much as herself. "I talked to him earlier, Liz. He thinks I just started...having, which is true...but he needs to think I've been doing it for a while." She blushed a little, looking away as Michael rested his head on her shoulder.

Liz unwillingly felt hurt, as Maria pulled her hand away and turned to Michael. Liz and Maria had always shared everything and now she felt like she wasn't needed anymore. Liz listened to what Maria said and nodded "I'll try and talk to Alex, I'm not sure he will listent to me but I'll try anyway." Liz looked from Maria to Michael and back again to see if there would be any objections.

"Liz, Babe." Maria started when she saw hurt flash across her friends face. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be short with you...or push you away. I'm just really scared..." She admitted quietly as she left one hand on Michael's leg, but with the other reach for Liz's again. "You can try to talk to him, there would be no reason for him not to believe you..."

Liz nodded and took Maria's hand. "I'll try to talk to him I really will, but he's been suspicous of both of us lately since we have't been spending much time with him." She looked at Michael and Maria and felt the pangs of jealousy, but just smiled sadly "I"ll do what I can Maria."

Maria sighed quietly and slowly mirrored Liz's sad smile. "I know you will Liz." She felt so guilty that she had gone to Alex instead of Liz earlier, and even more guilty that she was keeping a huge secret from Alex and only adding lies to the pile that was already there. She closed her eyes for a moment as she got hit quickly with a little dizziness and then sick to her stomach. "I'll be right back." She said quickly as she jumped from her seat and raced to the bathroom, shutting the door quickly behind her and sliding to the floor, throwing up the remains of her earlier good into the toilet. Afterwards she flushed the toilet and got up to the sink, rinsing her mouth out with the water, but directly after that, she slid back to the floor, resting against the tub and buried her face into her knees, crying quietly.

Michael glanced around the room cautiously as Maria ran out. He wasn't really sure what to say... Liz was the only one who had spoken to them. And Max hadn't even looked at him. Sighing, Michael stood up, announcing awkwardly, "Uh.. I'm gonna go check on Maria." Without waiting for an answer, he stalked toward the hallway, happy to leave behind the tension-filled room.. even if only for a minute. Stopping outside the bathroom door, he listened for a moment. Hearing nothing from inside, Michael tapped on the door softly, "Maria.. are you okay?"

Maria sniffled quietly as she quickly wiped her tears away at hearing Michael's voice drifting through the door, "No.." She spoke quietly, but knew he could hear her. "The door doesn't have a lock, you already know this, Michael, you can come in." Everything was happening so quickly...almost too quickly for her. A week ago she had found out there were aliens, only a few days after that she became involved with one of them, and today she finds out she's pregnant. It was just so overwhelming.

Michael opened the door, stepping inside quietly. "I know.." he admitted. "But I didn't want to.. disturb you or anything." He sighed softly, seeing her seated against the wall. The position, the entire situation, inspired deja vu from their first encounter there. Walking across the small room, Michael kneeled in front of Maria quietly. Reaching one hand toward her, he captured her tiny hands in his, dropping their interlocked hands in her lap. "Is there.. are you okay?"

Maria gave him a small smile as he walked over to her and took her hand in his. She stared down at their clasped hands for a moment before looking up into his eyes. She shook her head softly, "No." She admitted quietly. "It's just moving to fast. It's not supposed to be like this. I don't think...I can handle this."

Michael sighed, sitting down on the floor infront of her. "I know, Maria." he agreed. "It's kind of overwhelming." Reaching up, he gently ran his hand through her soft curls. "But you can handle it.." he assured her, no doubt in his voice. "And even though it's going to be hard, you'll be a great mom."

Maria let her eyes close and she rested her head back against the wall, letting a small smile stay on her lips as he ran a hand through her curls. "I don't know how to be a mom...I've never even had one, I've had mom, yeah...but I don't want to be her."

"Yeah, I know what you mean." Michael answered, thinking about his so-called father. "It's hard to imagine you'll know what to do, when you've never really had anyone show you." He shrugged, trying to keep his voice casual. "Look at it this way... neither of us really know what parents are supposed to do, but at least we know some things NOT to do."

Maria opened her eyes to look at him. She let out a soft laugh and nodded slowly, "I guess you have a point." She admitted quietly, then sighed to herself, "I hate this, I hate that I'm becoming an hormonal headcase. And that I have you trying to calm me down and reasure me...it's weird, and I hate it." She told him in a whisper.

Michael laughed bitterly. "Well, trust me.. me trying to calm anyone down is pretty weird." Usually he was the hot head.. always in trouble for one thing or another. And when it came to emotional drama, he had never really known what to say to comfort someone.

Maria sighed quietly. "But you seem to do it so well.." She told him softly, giving a small smile. "I don't want to go back out there." She admitted with another sigh. "Liz was the only one talking to us, the others wouldn't even look at us..." She mumbled, some part of her knowing that Max and alex were probably just shocked....what really bothered her was Courtney's 'look of death' she had recieved, but it could have been her imagination because directly after that, Courtney hadn't been looking at them anymore.

Michael smiled quietly. "I know.." he replied, his voice strained. "I thought Max would yell at me... the whole impulsive screw-up that threatens our future lecture." Michael tried to grin, knowing he had had heard that lecture plenty of times. "But I never thought he would just.. not say anything." He shook his head slowly. "We don't have to go out there yet. Maybe if we give them some time to.. absorb the news, they'll be more accepting."

"I was atleast expecting something from Alex, maybe some disappointed, even Courtney making some snide remark..but nothing. It hurts." Maria said quietly, then sighed again and patted the floor next to her, indicating she wanted him next to her. "Can we just...lock ourselves up here, or in some room forever?"

Michael smiled, sitting down beside Maria quietly. "That would be nice.." he admitted letting his head fall backward against the wall. "It probably wouldn't work.." he added grinning. "You'd probably get sick of me.. but it would be easier to hide than to go
back out there."

Maria smiled a little, watching him before leaning her head against his shoulder. "I don't think I could ever get sick of you." She admitted. "I told you before Michael, your like this drug.."

"I know." Michael replied, remembering the conversation. He didn't bother to mention that he could hardly believe she felt the same way he did.. or maybe he was worried that she didn't. Michael certainly didn't want to have that said aloud... Sighing, he shrugged, not looking at her. "So what about your mom?" he asked. "She needs to know soon.."

Maria chuckled bitterly, "Mom...well I'll tell her as soon as she comes home, can't say when that will be though." She informed him. She usually hated talking about her mom and would stear clear of that subject. She didn't even talk to Alex or Liz about her mom, because they had these perfect little families, but she felt okay to talk about it with Michael, he understood...in some way.

Michael sighed, remembering that Maria's mother was out of town. "Some parental role models we have.." he joked, trying to keep his voice light. Glancing around the small bathroom, Michael shook his head, smiling slightly. "You never.. I don't think I've ever spent this much time hiding in someone else's bathroom."

Maria laughed softly, "Hmmm...interesting." She said simply in a quiet tone, then sighed. "Me neither." She admitted, "I'm actually...afraid, to go out there and face my own...our own
friends again." She tilted her head up to look at him, "I'm just....tired now. I think I want to go hide out in my own bathroom."

Michael laughed, standing up. "I'm not too sure about hiding in the bathroom.. but let's head to your house. It's not a big deal.." he tried to assure her. "We can talk to the guys tomorrow.. after they've had more time to accept the idea." Michael reached one hand down to Maria, intending to help her up.

Maria smiled lightly and let him help her up, but froze from walking and closed her eyes. "The baby's kicking again." She said quickly, pulling his hand to her stomach quickly, "Do you feel it?" She asked, her eyes opening and searching his. She was frightened beyond belief about this, but there was still this part of her that had joy and excitment.

Michael laughed, surprised at his own delight. His hand moved around Maria's stomach, carefully feeling for his son's movements. "Wow.." he answered quietly, not trusting his voice for much else. "Oh wow.."

Maria smiled, shaking her head lightly as her eyes went to his hand on her stomach, then back up to his face, "Big wow." She added quietly, her smile soft and somewhat awed. "I should be scared to death...but my...I'm happy." She admitted, a little afraid by his reaction to her confession.

Michael grinned, finally looking up to catch Maria's eyes. "Why shouldn't you be?" he asked. "I mean, it's scary as hell, don't get me wrong... but still.." He glanced down at her stomach, his hand splayed across her warm skin. "It's amazing." he finished quietly, not meeting Maria's eyes.

Maria smiled at his grin, then shook her head, "i don't know. I'm 16, I'm just thinking that maybe I'm weird, wrong for being happy at being pregnant at this age..." She admitted, not wanting to mention the alien part. She felt her heart do flip-flops at his 'amazing' statement. She set her hand over his on her stomach, "It is." She agreed softly, felling the warmth coming from her...their son, but also from Michael himself.

Michael shrugged, admitting, "I know it sounds crazy." He smiled softly, not looking away from his hand. "When I start thinking about how hard it's going to be, then I do.. panic, I guess. But if I forget about that.. it all seems unbelievable."

Maria smiled with a soft laugh, "Hmm...describes what I'm feeling exactly." She confessed. She slowly moved his hand off her stomach, locking their hands together. "Let's go..."

Michael grinned slightly. "It's not like we haven't disappeared before." he teased. "I guess the others will figure out where we went." Tugging Maria's hand gently, he opened the door, leading them into the hallway.

Maria laughed softly, "Yeah.." She agreed quietly, letting Michael tug her out into the hall and then back towards the door they had left through hours before. She quickly realized that this was the back way, her car was parked out front. "My car..." She pointed out.

"Leave it, we'll walk. Get the car tomorrow...it's nice our right now anyway." Michael told her with a small half-smile, glad to see her nod. He didn't want to face the others as they left.

"You'll stay with me tonight?" She asked quietly.

Michael shrugged, trying to appear 'less than eager'. "I don't have too many choices.." he pointed out. No decent ones, at least. He grinned, nodding. "Sure, I guess I can stay."

"Good." Maria nodded softly as she leaned against him, "I think I'm just going to take a long, nice hot bath when we get home and then curl up on my bed...with you and some ice cream and watch TV." She said quietly, somewhat tired after all the stuff she had done that day, or tried to do. "That sound good to you?"

Michael smiled, wrapping one arm around Maria's shoulders as they walked. "Sounds relaxing.." he agreed. A little R&R was probably something she could use after a day like this one, he realized. 'I guess we both could..' he added silently, thinking of all they had been through.. and trying not to think of all that they still had to deal with.

"You'll take that bath with me?" Maria asked as her arms went around his middle to keep slightly warm from the cool night air, "Or atleast sit in there with me?" She felt a pang of pain...hurt at just the thought of him leaving, even if it would be just for her to take a bath. She didn't know if it was her, or their baby's emotions.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world." Michael teased, knowing he was in trouble. The idea of Maria, naked, in a tub, should have him hot and horny. And though he felt faint stirrings of arousal, the dominant feeling was almost protective. He was suddenly swamped with the desire to take care of her.. to make her feel relaxed after her emotional experience. He tugged her against him, feeling her arms circle his waist. "Is your bath big enough for two?"

Maria shook her head against him with a soft laugh, "No...but I wasn't planning on using my bath, my mom...her tub if huge, which is weird considering she never uses it." She said with a little bitterness, then sighed quietly. She suddenly laughed and shook her head, not sure where the sudden image of Michael taking a bath in bubbles and playing with toy boats had flashed there for a moment.

Michael grinned, staring down at Maria as she laughed. The sound relaxed him, filled him with warmth inside. "What's so funny, cheesehead?" he teased, hugging Maria's body to his own.

Maria shook her head lightly, smiling up at him, "I don't know if it's my imagination working overtime, or maybe it was just...a implanted into me by our baby, but this..image just flashed through my mind. It was kinda funny. It was you and..you were taking a bath with bubbles and you were playing with toy boats and stuff...it was just funny....cute even."

Michael stared at her quietly. "Are you serious?" he answered softly. "Wow.. that's.. well I guess it was from me. I just thought about it, when you mentioned the bath tub." Grinning, he shrugged. "It was a long time ago. One of Hank's girlfriends, one he actually kept a month or so, tried to 'spruce things up' around the place." Looking down at her, he added, "She's the one who gave me the toys.. and the bubble bath too, actually." Of course, Hank had destroyed all three boats Michelle had given him.. sitting on one accidently, and throwing the other two in the fireplace during one of his rages.

Maria's eyes darkened for a moment when he mentioned Hank, the flashes she'd gotten from Michael about his foster father still very clear in her mind. She still wanted to get her hands on that man...but she knew that Michael would never let her that close to him, and she was pretty sure that Hank would do more to her than she could do to him if she tried to confront him alone, without Michael. "She's sounds nice Michael.." She said softly with a small smile, willing her eyes to get rid of the angry look and turn to a more happy look.

Michael grinned, feeling Maria's anger in palatable waves. He dropped his hand, rubbing her back softly. "Calm down.." he whispered. "You're never going to be near him, not if I can help it." As she began to relax, he smiled, his palm splaying across her lower back. "Yeah.." he answered. "She was pretty nice.. she left him, after about 2 months." Not that he could blame her really... after the third or forth beating, she had been strong enough, or maybe just angry enough, to leave him. Michael's only regret was the Michelle had left HIM as well as Hank. "But a guy like him didn't deserve someone like her anyway..."

"He doesn't deserve anyone at all." Maria muttered with a small sigh, once again urging herself to relax. "I still don't want you going back there...ever." She admitted quietly as her house came into view. "It just...makes me angry."

Michael shrugged, leading Maria up to the doorsteps. "He's not always that bad." he protested, not really knowing why he was defending Hank. Or maybe just not wanting to acknowledge why...."Sometimes we even get along." He added quietly, watching as Maria fumbled her key into the lock.

Maria sighed softly, "I don't want to arue about it Michael, and I don't want to talk about Hank and start to get angry." She admitted quietly as she finally got her door unlocked and opened it, starting inside. "I just want you to know that you always have a place to come if things get rough there, even though I hate the fact that you will eventually go back there to him."

Michael ducked his head, hiding his smile. "That's cool.." he admitted, secretly feeling her offer was far more than just 'cool'. He followed Maria inside quietly, glancing around the silent house. "I guess it would be okay to stay here, since your mom's gone." he rationalized. "Besides, I don't like the idea of you staying here alone all the time."

Maria looked around the silent and dark house, "Yeah...neither do I." She muttered to herself, "But when you've been alone for years...you get used to it." She told him quietly, somehow knowing he could relate. "And even when my mom's here Michael, you come knocking at my window and I'll let you in." She promised as she moved down the hall to her mom's room. "Bath."

Michael smiled inwardly at Maria's quiet promise. "Yeah.. a bath." he agreed, following her slowly. As they entered the bathroom, he paused, sitting on the edge of the huge ceramic tub. He started the water quietly, watching it flow. "After awhile.." he added, "the hard part is getting used to NOT being alone."

Maria studied him for a moment before she nodded quietly, "True." She agreed as she slipped off her shoes, "But it's got to be better than being alone." She told him simply. She could stand to be with him and not talk, it was comfortable, natural...yet if she were with anyone else and it was silent...she wouldn't be able to bare it, it would have felt empty...as always. She began to take off her clothes, her eyes watching the tub fill up.

Michael smiled softly, his eyes coming up to watch Maria undress. "There are worse things.." he mumbled quietly, knowing that the only thing worse than being alone all your life, was having someone to love.. and losing them. Shrugging, he reached out for Maria, pulling her down on his lap. "Let's forget the doom and gloom.." he suggested, burying his face against her hair. "And enjoy the bath."

Maria smiled, closing her eyes as he buried his face into her hair. "I can do that.." She agreed easily. She didn't understand how she had become so attached to him, but she did know that it had grown in the last few hours with the knowledge of the baby. "But you need to get undressed first." She finished with a quiet chuckle as her eyes fluttered open and she pulled herself off him. She didn't say anything as she moved around Michael and slowly slipped into the large tub, sighing quietly as the warm water hit her skin. She looked expectantly at Michael with a raised eyebrow.

Michael grinned, watching Maria savor the feeling of the warm water against her skin. Standing up, he undressed slowly, his eyes staying on her. As soon as he was finished, Michael stepped over the edge of the tub, sliding down into the water. "Hm.. it does feel nice.." he remarked, a slight note of surprise in his voice. Reaching for Maria, he pulled her body flush against his own. "So does this." he sighed, amazingly content with just holding her.

Maria chuckled lightly as he pulled her body against his, enjoying the feeling of being so close to him. She let one of her hands trace lazy patterns on his arm as the other rested on her stomach, over the tiny baby handprint. This was how it should have been all the time, just...right, not all confusing and distracting, frightening, just...right. "Mmmm, your not going to get any arguements from me." She teased quietly.

"Good.." Michael answered, chuckling softly. "Cause as much as I love fighting with you.. I'm not really sure I have the energy for it now." Grinning, he leaned his head back against the cool tiles, sighing as Maria's damp curls tickled his chest.

They stayed like that, in a comfortable silence as the tub filled up. Maria felt content with just being in his arms, not having to worry about anything for atleast a little while. She admitted to herself that she was tired, exhausted even. She was emotionally drained and wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed after this bath and curl up against Michael.

Michael's eyes opened a little while later and gently pushed maria forward some, silently and tenderly washed her back, then followed up with her hair and the rest of her body, enjoying this 'taking care of her' thing, although he wasn't sure he was going to admit that yet. He did the same to himself, then rinsed themselves off and got out.

Maria smiled as she dried herself off, then watched Michael do the same, never taking her eyes off him. Her gazed traveled over his back, watching the way the muscles on his back would flex as he moved the towel over his body. "Do you mind?" She asked quietly as she gestured to his shirt. It smelled like him...and she wanted to keep it, she'd even probably refuse to give it back to him tomorrow, and she had a feeling he wouldn't object too much, if any.

Michael looked up as he pulled on his boxers, then brought the towel to his hair. He smirked lightly and shrugged, "Go ahead." He answered easily. He watched as she, only clothed in her panties, picked up his back t-shirt and pulled it over her head. He had never truly understood why guys were always saying girls looked good in men's close...atleast not until now, with maria walking around in his shirt that hit about mid-thigh on her. He moved up to her after hanging up the towels, and gently caught her hand before pulling her towards her room. "I want you to sleep...to rest." He told her quietly as he pulled back the covers of her bed and gently pushed her towards it.

Maria was amused and touched by his actions as he told her to sleep...to rest. She was silent as she laid down with a sigh, a tiny smile touching her lips as she felt him move in behind her, his arms going around her waist and his face burrying into her quickly drying curls, his fingers stroking the skin of her stomach. "I love you.." She whispered with her eyes closed and her body relaxed.

Michael felt her body relax and heard her breathing even. He was almost positive she was asleep as he closed his own eyes and felt his own body relaxing against hers. "I love you too Maria..." He whispered and felt himself drifting off, not even noticing that Maria's eyes had snapped open and that her eyes had a new happiness sparkling in them, and that her tiny smile had turned into a beaming smile.

Everything would work out, Maria was sure of it. Despite all the hard stuff, despite the bad stuff in between, they were gonna be fine, they were gonna make it....and it only help that Michael Guerin loved her too.

The End
Part 16
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