ROSWELL on PLANET-SF

CHAPTER TEN

"I answered Michael's page." Maria rubbed her friend's back. "I hope you don't mind."

"Mind? No, of course I don't mind," Liz sniffled. "Thank you."

"What are you thanking me for, being a bitch?"

"For being my friend." Liz sat up straighter and wiped her red eyes. "I've missed you so much Maria. So much."

"I know, I've missed you too. Things have been screwy in my head." She looked to her stomach. "I think I'm pregnant Liz."

"Oh!" Liz smiled. "Congratulations!"

"Thanks," Maria tried to smile but couldn't. "It's different this time, something's not right." She shook her head. "But enough about that, so what's going on with Maxie?"

"Wait, wait do you mean something's not right? What's going on?"

"I don't know," she shrugged. "I just feel funny, I have for a long time. I think I'm like three or four months pregnant, but I don't even know for sure."

"Have you been to the doctor?" Liz raised her eyebrows when Maria shook her head.

"I took the home thing. It's not right, but I don't know what's wrong?"

"Did you tell Michael?"

"Yeah, but not everything." She looked at Liz. "I wanted to call and tell you how scared I was, how confused I was about everything, but I couldn't. Things were just so strange for me, I was having all these thoughts about you and Michael and then I was so jealous of you and I don't know why I was thinking any of that. I can't be jealous of you; you're my best friend in the entire world. I want you to be happy and successful and then the more time I spent dwelling on things, the angrier I got. It wasn't just you, I locked myself up from everything except Michael." She let out a deep breath. "See, this is more like me, rambling. For the last couple of months I was sounding like Max the Brooding."

Liz smiled and even managed a slight laugh. "Yeah, you were."

"So, I don't want to talk about this freaky pregnancy any more. I may not actually be pregnant, I haven't gained any weight and I don't feel like I did with Leia, so maybe it's all in my head." She shrugged.

"Or maybe-"

"It's a freaky alien thing," Maria finished her sentence for her. "You don't think I've thought of that?" She reflected briefly on Sloane and her crying when putting her hands on her stomach. "I don't know anything. Enough."

"Okay." Liz looked at her hands. "I'm still mad at you." She met Maria's knowing expression. "You really pissed me off. All of a sudden you think Michael and I are having an affair. Michael and me? Could you think of anything mroe ridiculous?"

"You and Michael are tight," Maria shrugged. "I mean, you're like real friends. You have been for a long time and you two seem to get closer all the time. You used to come to me with your secrets and now you go to Michael."

Liz swalled. It was all true. "I'm sorry. There's a lot of things I would never go to Michael with." As she said it she knew that wasn't true. "When you abandoned me, he kind of took your place."

"It was before that Liz. Ever since you told him about Max coming back from the future. The two of you clicked. I'm not mad, I think it's great, but I want to be returned to best friend status."

"You were still my best friend; but you deserted me. You deserted everyone."

"I know and I totally apologise over and over," Maria smiled. "I won't ever desert you again, ever. I promise."

Liz nodded. "I hope not." She wanted to believe her friend, she hoped she could. It seemed for Liz Evans it was getting harder and harder to trust the people she loved.

"So, back to you. Where's Max?"

"His parents. I kicked him out."

"Permanently?"

"I don't know yet," Liz sighed. She wasn't sure she could cry any more if she tried. "I want to believe him. I assume Michael has filled you in on everything." Maria nodded. "I honestly don't think Max could do that. But he did mess around with her."

"Seriously?"

"I don't know all the details yet, I don't know if I even want to know. He admitted they were intimate, though."

"She's a student!"

"I know. Can I forgive him? Probably. Do I think he's telling me the truth when he says there was just a little kissing and a little touching? No, I think there was more; but I don't think he actually slept with her."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I can't be, really. God, I've only been with one person, ever, and he's the man I married. It would crush me."

"Everything always turns out good for Liz and Max. Don't you know that by now?" Maria said it with compassion not jealousy.

Liz looked thoughtfully at her. Did it always turn out okay? She thought about the second time Max came back from the future. He had told her they were happy. Very happy, she thought his exact words were. A great marriage. Damn it, had there been a student seductress in that future? "We'll see, Maria. Time always tells."

* * *

Michael knocked on the bedroom door as he opened it. Max lay on the bed staring at the ceiling.

"Are you here as the Sheriff or my friend?" Max asked without looking at him.

"Friend." He stepped into the room.

"Good because that's what I need. Can we go for a ride?" Max sat up swinging his legs over the side of the mattress.

Michael nodded to the door and walked out with Max following. Max smiled to himself, for a leader he spends a lot of time following others. They got in the Tempo and Max looked to his friend. "Thank you for coming."

"You knew I would." Michael kept his eyes upon the road.

"Not this time," he took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. "I guess you've talked to Liz." Michael nodded. "She kicked me out. I think she might end it for good."

Michael shook his head. "Are you innocent Max? It won't leave the car, but I have to know; as your friend."

"Of course I am, do you think I could actually do that?" Max started out defensively, then calmed. "I am guilty of being stupid and screwing around with her, though."

"Yeah, I figured that." Michael tried not to smile. "She was the girl from the mall, right?" Max nodded. "I knew she looked familiar when she came into my office."

"Will I go to jail?"

"I don't know," he shook his head and thought about beating it against the steering wheel. "Do you want to tell me what happened?"

Max told his ill-fated story of the temptation of Lindy Franks. He didn't hold back anything with Michael, but Michael wasn't his wife. He told him every sordid detail he could think of.

"So that's why she knows every inch of the inside of the jeep? She could have been in there studying it for a while. The bruises on her arms are from you escorting her away. It's all circumstantial so far, I guess, there's not any physical evidence that I know of. However I'm not exactly hooked up with the DA's office yet, you know. I've barely been the Sheriff for a couple of weeks. Technically, I shouldn't even be here with you now." Michael drove straight out of town into the desert night.

"I made a mistake, but it wasn't one that should cost me my wife, my daughter, my job or my freedom."

"I know," he sighed. "We'll get you out of it Max. I promise."

* * *

When Michael arrived home after dropping Max back off at his parents, he was relieved to see Maria's car in the driveway. He let himself in to find Maria waiting for him on the couch.

"Leia asleep?" he asked, sitting next to her and kissing her.

"Oh yeah. Fun evening with Jim and Amy and the poor girl's actually wore out. You know, it really takes a lot to wear her out."

"I know." He lowered his head to her's and kissed her again, this time deeper.

"So," she backed away from him, "everything with Max go okay?"

"Yeah. You and Liz?"

"She's still a bit peeved with me, not that I can blame her, of course. I was crazy suspicious lady." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "They going to be okay?"

"I don't know," he shrugged and placed his hands on her wasit. He lifted her onto his lap, hands roaming underneath her shirt. "No bra?" He raised his eyebrows at her as she nodded. "I like." He lifted her shirt over her head, burying his face inbetween her breasts. One hand trailed to her stomach and paused. "Are you sure you're pregnant?"

"I don't know anything Michael," she sighed and pulled his hand away from her abdomen. She placed it on her breast and watched him smile. "Except I know I love you."

"And I love you," he whispered before placing his mouth over her breast. He sucked her nipple while she ran her hands along his unshaven cheeks. She unbuttoned his shirt and pushed it off, then pulled his T-shirt over his head and tossed it behind her. Bare chest to bare chest he grasped her around the waist and pulled her tight. "You'll always be the one in my heart. You alone."

Maria smiled and kissed the top of his head. She was warm inside and feeling like the luckiest woman in the world. How did she ever deserve someone like Michael Guerin? She grinned as she thought about the rough start they had years ago. That's why she deserved him. She tipped his chin up with her finger until their eyes met. She tilted her head towards the bedroom and raised her eyebrow. Michael stood as she wrapped her legs around his wasit. He walked quietly past Leia's door and into their bedroom. Without turning ont he lights he laid his Maria down on the bed and moved on top of her. She felt his face in the darkness already knowing every contour, every imperfection. Her fingers tracing his cheekbones, his eyes then his lips. He kissed her fingertips one by one. She kept her eyes open as they adjusted slightly to the dark.

Michael spread her legs apart and entered her without saying a word. Nothing needed to be said. A silent bond. She pulled him close to her not allowing him to thrust as deep inside of her; she needed him close tonight. Close to her heart and close to her soul.

* * *

Liz fought the urge to call Michael and talk things over with him. She knew he and Maria were probably both home by now and it wouldn't seem right. Not now, not after tonight. So her best friend had decided to come back into her life when she needed her most. That was good. Liz was still pissed about being put on the back burner for so long' time would heal that as well.

She reached for the phone and dialed a number she didn't think she would for a while. After five rings she almost hung up until a breathless Max answered.

"Hi," she said, barely audible.

"Liz?" The shock was overwhelming.

"Are you okay?"

"Not really," his voice was breaking. "I miss you and I want to be with you. I want a chance to explain everything and a chance at forgiveness."

"I still love you Max," she said and bit her lip. Damn it, she didn't want to say that. Not yet.

"Oh God, I love you Liz. Can I please come home, please? I want to see you and talk to you-"

"Not yet Max," she interrupted. "Not yet. You have to give me a little space."

"This has been the worst thirty-six hours of my life. I'm scared, confused, alone and innocent. I need you Liz. Please."

"Not tonight." She felt proud as she held her ground. "Give me some time to think about everything."

"Is it over for us, Liz?"

She heard his heart breaking in his words. Was it over for Max and Liz Evans? "I don't know Max, I'm sorry. Good night." She hung up before she heard him reply. Even hearing his voice was making her ache for him. She loved him, she always would. Could she get past this? She thought so. She prayed so would.

* * *

"Sloane's asleep." Morgan walked back into the living room. "Finally. I only had to read her like a thousand stories." She looked across the room to Isabel. "You sure you're going to be okay on the couch?"

"Of course. I can't sleep with Sloane because I'll end up kicking her off the bed in the middle of the night. Besides I just spent the last two nights in a five star hotel, I need a night of slumming." She grinned and then ducked as Kyle swatted a pillow at her. "Anyway, thanks for taking me in too. I don't want to go to my paretns because Max is there. I can't go stay with Liz because she needs time by herself. Michael and Maria's is out, so lucky you!"

"Lucky us," Kyle waved his finger in the air while smiling sarcasctically. "So, when do you think this Max thing will blow over?"

"Blow over?" Isabel looked at him. "He's going on trial for rape."

"He didn't do it, though," Kyle shook his head. "I don't think he really even knows the girl."

"Oh, he knows her all right," Isabel nodded.

"What are you saying?" Morgan sat next to her husband.

"Nothing." Way to go Iz, she thought, the big mouth just keeps on going and going.

"Was something going on between them?" Kyle leaned forward.

"No..."

"I'll fucking kill him!" Kyle nearly yelled.

Sloane listened to the angry words flying from Kyle's mouth. She knew he was talking about her daddy and it made her mad. No one could talk about her daddy that way. She opened her eyes and sat up. She focused on something only she could see.

"Who are you?" she whispered. "I don't know you...I don't have a brother."

* * *

It was hours later that the Valentis went to bed and Isabel made herself comfortable on the couch. Sloane got up from the bed in the guestroom and tiptoed out of the room, passing by Aunt Isabel sleeping on the couch and making her way down the hall to Kyle and Morgan's room. She stood next to the side of the bed where Kyle was and let her hand hover over his mouth. She watched as his breath was pulled away. She smiled as she removed her hand a few seconds later and he choked on the air filling up his lungs again.

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STORY OF LINES:
6 - THE BEAT GOES ON

CHAPTER TEN

WRITTEN BY BECKY W

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