Story 3 – Fairytale Ending

Part 5

Maria wiped the sweat from her forehead and checked her watch for the 60th time in less than ten minutes. She was having a hard time with the long shifts she now had to take to help the Parkers. They were at least three waitresses short, and until they could find new ones she had to keep working whenever she had free time.

Her feet were killing her. She prepared what seemed like the 1000th Alien Blast that day, and serving it to a rather rude customer, she headed for the bathroom.

She sat on the toilet seat and her head fell to her hands in exhaustion. She wasn’t going to last long if this continued. She could feel a flue coming to top it all…

She was about to doze off when she felt herself being lifted. She grabbed the arms that was holding her in an instinct to not fall, and relaxed when she heard the familiar soothing voice. “Sssshh… I got you.”

She knew he would never let her fall.

“What are you doing?” she asked sleepily when she noticed him heading for the door.

“I'm taking you home.”

She shook her head. “No, you're not. Liz needs me here. And you know they're out there, so you can't just carry me around. Just give me a couple minutes, I’ll be okay.”

Michael gave her an angry look, but knew he wasn’t winning. She was right.

Walking back he sat on the toilet seat and placed her on his lap. She was so tired she couldn’t even support her head; it was resting on his chest. Michael watched her small frame in his arms, feeling desperate. There had to be something he could do…

It was his fault she was there. He could have been taking her home if he’d told the others about them. But he hadn't. “Not yet…” he'd kept telling her. Not yet. As if there ever was going to be a right time. He knew that, but she didn’t… So he kept stalling.

And that was how he'd gotten himself into this mess. Maria needed him and he wasn’t able to help because he'd been too chicken to tell people that he had a girlfriend. His girlfriend… He was getting used to the sound of that.

He held her close to his body and forced his brain to think… To find a solution… She was too pale, it couldn’t just be tiredness. He didn’t want to think about it, but it could be serious.

“Maria? Wake up baby…”

She stirred and mumbled something about being too sleepy. Michael bent his head down and placed a chaste kiss on her dry lips to tempt her away from sleep. It took her only a moment to respond and her eyes opened slowly, lazily. That worked every time…

“Do I have to go?” she whined. She was feeling all her body, and it was so not in a good way.

“Just go out there and tell them you're going home…”

“I can't… I… I have to help Liz close up.”

“Look, I saw Liz out there, and she definitely didn’t look like she was having a hard time standing. Now be a good girl and tell them you're leaving.” Michael reasoned, his hands caressing her back in a soothing rhythm. “Then come to my place.” He added softly.

“I can't come, you know that. Mom’s home, I have to go.”

He hated the fact that she had to explain everything to people. He wasn’t used to that. He'd never had anyone asking him where he'd been or what he'd been doing. He'd always been alone, on his own, free…

“Tell her you'll stay with Isabel.”

More lies. She was sick of lies. “Okay…”

Finding the last shred of strength she had left in her Maria stood up and walked out. To lie to her friends, her employer and her mother… Just to be with him…

- - -

Michael rushed home to get there and prepare the soup before Maria arrived. He wasn’t really good at cooking, but since she was sick he needed to learn how to make soup. Fast… Like in fifteen minutes.

How hard could it be?

He followed the instructions on the cover and decided to change the sheets while he was waiting. He was looking for her favourite t-shirt to sleep in when the doorbell rang.

He ran to the door to let her in, but stopped to catch his breath before he opened it. He noticed that he was actually panting from all the running around. How pathetic was that?

He calmed his features to appear nonchalant and opened the door. The sight that greeted him wasn’t a nice one. She was paler than she’d been before. All thoughts of keeping his cool left his mind.

He took her petite form that was resting on the wall next to his door in his arms, and carried her to his bedroom. Placing her on the bed, he remembered the soup. He left her there with a small kiss on the cheek and rushed to the kitchen.

She was sleeping where he'd left her when he came back. He thought about leaving her to sleep for a moment, but then remembered his main reason to not let her go home. He needed to take care of her. Help her when she didn’t have enough energy to help herself. For him that was the way a relationship was supposed to work.

Ignoring her protesting groans he stripped her from her clothes and carried her to the bathroom. While filling the tub with water he started taking off his own clothes. Well at least he tried. It was a hard task considering he was trying to support a naked Maria at the same time.

When he was done, he lifted her in his arms once more and placed her slowly in the tub on top of himself. She groaned and her eyes partially opened when her body came in contact with the hot water. “Michael…” she said breathlessly and he tried to ignore the pictures his mind connected to the sound. It so wasn’t a good time for this…

“I'm right here baby. Are you feeling okay?”

She softly nodded and her hair brushed his chin. There was something about the feeling of her body against his… It was addictive. He wasn’t feeling safe enough to sleep when she wasn’t there. When her hair wasn’t tickling him. When her small hands weren’t touching his skin. He had learned what it felt like to be lonely –really lonely- only after he'd met her. His nights without Maria were much more different than the ones he’d had in his room avoiding Hank. He had always been alone, but now, without her, he was feeling incomplete.

She fit him perfectly. Her body, her soul, her character… She was made for him. She belonged to him.

Michael softly massaged her body with soap and water, and enjoyed the moans he elicited from her. He shampooed her hair carefully, not letting water travel down to her face and make her uncomfortable. He tried to wash away her exhaustion, but it was clear now that this was deeper than water could ever remove.

Placing his hands on her chest he closed his eyes and reached with his mind to find the connection he knew that laid dormant there somewhere. It was easy as always. He wrapped his essence, his soul around hers as a protective shield, and left himself open to her, to share.

He could feel that she took instinctively what she needed from him. He was being robbed from his energy but he surprisingly didn’t mind. He wasn’t usually a one to share, being an only child. Not even that… Being an eternal loner was more like it. But as he felt her take his energy, he could feel her grow stronger and it was more than enough to pay him back.

Her feelings were overwhelming him as they always did when they connected. Her love, her awe, her gratitude… It warmed his heart like nothing else had before. He had been living for that sensation since their first time.

Something was different this time though and it worried him. There was something in her that his energy couldn’t reach. Even when he focused on it, it stayed the same. Sadness. That was all he could sense about it.

Coming back to the real world he felt her body arch in his arms. He soothed her with his hands till she rested on him again and her breathing returned to normal. “Thank you.” She said with a contented sigh and he noticed that her hands weren't resting limp around him anymore but were caressing his thighs.

“You're welcome…” he mumbled as he kissed down her neck to her shoulder.

She was fidgeting on top of him and he knew exactly why. For some reason she was feeling frustrated after every time they connected. He wasn’t any better himself… But it wasn’t a good time to give in to his urges. She still needed her rest. He had planned the whole evening and that wasn’t in the plan.

- - -

“I'm not really sure if I did it right… But just try it, I can go out and buy some if it’s too bad.”

Maria smiled at his babbling. How could someone not love him? He was so damn adorable, and he was trying so hard to make things right. She tasted the soup under his expectant gaze. It wasn’t bad. But she knew she would have liked it even if it tasted like boiled mud. He somehow had that effect on her.

“It’s great.” She said smiling at him and he let his muscles relax. He sat across from her and watched her mouth as she ate, trying not to get too sidetracked but of course failing miserably.

After she finished her soup, he scooped her up in his arms. “Stop carrying me around, I can walk!” she protested laughing. Then she looked in his eyes, dead serious. “I know it’s just an excuse to touch my butt buddy!”

He pinched her butt and winked at her. “You know me too well.”

He placed her on his bed and sat her up, leaning her back to his chest. He pulled the towel from her hair and inhaled deeply when the smell of shampoo assaulted his senses. Somehow it didn’t smell this good in the bottle.

He twined his fingers in her hair and pulled them down gently, giving just a little bit of heat to dry them. Maria didn’t believe in drying her hair. But it wasn’t good for her health, so he’d had to find a way to convince her do it. After a lot of bickering and banter they’d settled on him doing it for her. She seemed to not mind when he used his fingers instead of a hair drier.

She sighed happily when his fingers left her now dry hair and trailed down her back. He found the hem of her –well technically his- t-shirt and lifted it up her head. He lowered her body to rest on the bed and carefully climbed on top of her.

His body knew the exact places to touch to drive her wild. She felt his lips beneath her ear. It amazed her every time that he could find that perfect spot and could touch with his lips and tongue just so perfectly to make her feel like she had just died and went straight to heaven.

His hands travelled down her body, touching her skin ever so gently, almost like he was afraid to break her. But she was glad that his hesitation was now gone. His movements were gentle but firm. He was aware that it was only him on this planet who was allowed to touch her that intimately, and it was only him who knew how to do it best. Though it had taken time, she had finally taught him that he was special for her.

She felt his fingers graze her groin and could only moan her need. Words had left her long ago. She wanted desperately to touch him, feel his skin, pull him closer, but she didn’t have enough energy. She was lying motionless and it didn’t feel like that could change any time soon.

“Michael… Maybe we shouldn’t… I'm too tired…”

Michael placed a finger on her lips to silence her and kept kissing down her neck. The soft touches of his tongue set her skin on fire and incited the flame she could feel growing in her abdomen.

Every time. He could do it every time. He could make her squirm and crave for more with just one simple touch of his hand.

She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing.

All her body trembled with anticipation as his fingers caressed her centre and his mouth worshipped her breasts.

She had never liked her breasts. They were nothing like the girls’ on TV. And they were way too small. She knew she would have had a panic attack that first night as Michael unclasped her bra if her brain had been working properly.

But it hadn’t been working, and she was now glad that she’d been in a Michael induced trance that night. She didn’t regret a moment of it. Now, as Michael touched her, she felt no insecurities. She was plain old Maria, and for him it seemed more than enough. She was naked with him, vulnerable, and ready to risk anything…

Nuzzling her navel, Michael’s head travelled down. When his mouth found her dripping core, a breathless scream erupted from Maria’s throat. At that moment she couldn’t care less about the neighbours.

As her hips rocked involuntarily, her head thrashed on the pillow and her hand grabbed his hair in an attempt to pull him closer. He devoured her, letting her heady scent cloud his mind. He unconsciously followed her silent requests, guessing –or probably just knowing- the things she wanted him to do. It was all about her tonight, that was the only coherent thought he had left in his mind. That was the only thing keeping him from plunging deep inside her.

Her body contracted impossibly and for a moment she couldn’t breath. She didn’t need to. All she needed was to let out that scream that’s been building up in her throat. With one last touch of his tongue she felt herself shudder and let go. His name left her lips in a cry, and it was all she could think about. Michael. Michael. Michael.

His face was a breath away from hers when she opened her eyes. A lazy smile spread across her face at his worried expression, and not having enough energy to handle anything more, she brushed her face against his as a silent thank you.

He laid next to her without removing his arms from around her waist and pulled the comforter to cover her naked body. She was sick, she needed to stay warm. Kissing her neck, he buried his face in her hair and whispered to her softly. “Sleep.”

He watched her snuggle closer to him and mumble something unintelligible as she drifted off to sleep, and tried not to think about the reason of his unusual, uncharacteristic behavior towards her. He knew deep down there was no way he would treat anyone like that without a reason. It wasn’t like him to be caring. He hadn’t even known that he was capable of it. But apparently he was when it came down to it. When he needed to relieve himself from unwanted feelings such as guilt. And maybe love…

He tightened his arms around his lover. He didn’t like the fear that covered his body at the thought. He didn’t want to lie to her. He didn’t want to lie to his friends. He didn’t want to deal with the real world. He just wanted to freeze that moment in time and live in it forever.

- - -

Maria woke up the next morning feeling unusually refreshed and relaxed. She noticed she was alone in the bed right before she noticed the voices that woke her up. Michael. And another male voice. Max?

Maria wrapped the sheet around her naked form and walked to the half open door. She listened carefully before peeking through to make sure she wasn’t getting caught. They were talking about a girl… And Max sounded worried.

“Her mother’s really worried Michael.”

“I’m sure she is, but why should that be my problem Maxwell?” Michael asked sarcastically.

“Well she is our friend! I assumed she’d be here when I spotted the Jetta outside your apartment.”

Max’s tone wasn’t accusing but still Maria felt shivers run down her spine. She knew Michael wouldn’t tell him the truth, but couldn’t help the hope that crept up on her.

“Why would she be here?” Michael shrugged nonchalantly. “She just lent me the car for the night.”

Max’s eyebrow rose in question. “And why exactly did you need a car?”

“None of your damn business…”

Max just stared at his face like he was a puzzle to be solved. Getting up from his chair Michael opened the door for Max.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me I have a lady waiting for me…” he said in a tone that made Maria’s stomach queasy. That wasn’t him. Either that guy out there was some evil twin of her boyfriend or he was a really good actor. And which one was the act she wondered; Michael the boyfriend or Michael the a-sshole alien…

That was a question she didn’t want answered…

“What?” Max asked, his voice rising in surprise. “What lady?”

Michael rolled his eyes and sighed, looking exasperated. “You don’t know her.”

“You’re having sex?!” Max exclaimed trying to keep his voice down.

“So what?” Michael snapped.

“We don’t know what would…” Michael cut him off.

“Now we do!” he said forcefully. “Nothing happens.”

“How can you do this without telling us?”

“Look, Max, no offence but you’re not exactly the person I would want to talk about my sex life… Now please…” He gestured towards the door.

“Who is she?” Max asked, not moving, determined to get some answers.

Michael’s voice rose in irritation. “This is exactly why I didn’t want to tell you. She’s just some hooker, and this is a conversation I could live without. Now leave!”

Max looked at him with his eyes opened wide in surprise. When he talked his voice was laced with disgust. “I can’t believe you! You picked up a whore? In Maria’s car?” He shook his head to make the thoughts go away, but it didn’t work. So he stepped outside, not having anything better to do. “I sometimes think I don’t know you at all…”

- - -

Maria forced her legs to stand up from her crouched position next to the door. She calmly walked over to the chair where Michael had placed her clothes the night before, and ignoring the protests of her body and the shaking of her hands, she started to get dressed.

She brushed away the unconscious tears that had spilled down her cheeks, and grabbed everything in sight that belonged to her and put them in her bag. Her chest tightened as her fingers brushed his t-shirt that she always wore at night when she stayed with him. It never stayed on her all night though. He would always find a way to get it off her. He liked her naked, to feel her skin without constrictions. She willed the images of his sleeping face away, that was going to be hard enough as it was, no need to make it any more torturous.

Breathing deeply to calm herself down, she walked out to the living room.

- - -

Michael was preparing breakfast and heard her soft footsteps before he saw her face. “Good morning.” He said smiling, but it froze on his face as he noticed the bag on her shoulder.

“Going somewhere?”

She nodded, scared that her voice would crack if she talked.

“You don’t need to work today. Stay.” He said calmly. Too calmly in Michael standards, Maria noticed. So he knew something was wrong…

“I’m going.” She could see in his eyes that he knew what she meant.

“No.” he said shaking his head, like a stubborn little kid.

“Yes, Michael.” She smiled bitterly. “You’ll have to find another hooker.”

Michael looked like he was hit by a truck. “No. Maria, you know, I didn’t mean any of it. You know I would never…”

Maria silenced him with a gesture. “That’s not the point. It’s not about today. I was going to do this eventually. Not because I want to, but I have to. I… I… can’t lie anymore…” her eyes filled with tears again, and she cursed herself for being so weak, and breaking down in front of him. But she had to finish this now or she would never going to be able to.

“I can’t force you to do anything you’re not ready to do. And you know I l…” she stopped herself before she could say the “l” word. She had stopped saying it, cause she thought it would make him feel uncomfortable, and that moment was definitely not a good time to start again.

“You know I like being with you, but I can’t lie to them anymore. My mom, Liz, Alex… They don’t deserve this. God! It’s been months, Michael. It hurts every time I look at them and see that disbelieving look. It hurts, and I can’t do it anymore.”

She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes to prepare herself to walk out without collapsing in his arms. “I can risk anything I have to be with you. But their love and trust… That’s something I don’t have a right to break. I’m sorry…”

Michael, frozen in his spot, watched as Maria walked out of the apartment. Out of his life…

He felt numb, and at that moment all confusion left his mind and everything became clear. The answer to his questions from the night before was right in front of him. He knew which possibility was the worst to happen, which one would hurt more, which one would really matter.

But the answers had come too late, and he had already made the biggest mistake of his life.

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