Maria

I always thought there was something better out there for me than Roswell, New Mexico. He thought so too. It was the first time we realised that despite all our differences we had similarities too.

Although I don’t think either of us imagined it like this.

The road is long and dusty and the end seems so far away. We still don’t know where we’re going or where we’ll end up. But there is one terrific thing in all of this.

I’m with him.

We left Roswell only last night not even stopping until we reached the Arizona border. Well in all truth we didn’t reach that until sometime late this morning and we took turns at driving so we could all get some rest.

I can’t believe we just left like that. I left my home, my mother, everything I’ve ever known. For Michael. I have no idea just how much my mother will freak when she finds out I ran off with Michael and the others. But I finally did it, I finally made my decision and I know I’ll never regret it. There is nothing I want more than to be part of the whole alien thing, to be a part of his life. I just needed some time away from it all to realise that. Now I know I can’t live without it.

We stopped to eat only a few hours ago and I was able to convince Max to let the two of us rent a car claiming we needed time alone and that we’d meet up with them again tomorrow. He grudgingly agreed, I think he realises that we need time alone to sort things out between us. And we do.

I’ve only loved three men in my life. My dad as a father, Alex as a best friend, and Michael as a lover and as a friend.

And two of those men left, although I know Alex’s leaving was certainly not by choice. He didn’t want to die.

One gave up everything and stayed for me and only me. And I left my home for him.

We’re driving in silence basically, with only the radio for noise. He wanted to talk but I refused. Not until we stop, not until we can have a conversation when one of us doesn’t need to focus our attention on the road. I know he’s confused as to where I’m leading us but he’s following my directions anyway. I know we’ll need to drive pretty fast tomorrow to catch up, but I don’t care right now. All that matters is sorting things out with my spaceboy.

These last few days have been… I don’t know how to describe them. To know that the man I love may be killed, to know that if not he may be leaving me forever without even letting me get a say in. Such typical Michael behaviour, but I was so worried that he may have been gone forever. And I honestly don’t know what I would do without him. I know he’s the only man I’ll ever love and I can’t imagine a life without him. Or without Liz, or Kyle, or the rest of them either.

It’s late afternoon when I see the vaguely familiar building loaming ahead. He gives me a curious look when I ask him to pull over and I know he doesn’t realise where we are, that he hasn’t noticed the neon sign.

Sultan’s Hideaway Motel.

It seemed fitting to come back here.

“So why are we stopping?”

I simply shrugged as I made my way over to the motel, hearing Michael’s footsteps behind me.

“You know this is all your idea so this time I better not hear you complaining about being stuck with me in a nookie motel…” He trailed off as he realised.

I booked us in aware that he was staring at me the whole time in what seemed to be both surprise and shock. He followed me to our room and I felt his breath on my ear as I opened the door. “Maria…” he said softly.

“It started here for me too,” I said, turning to look at him and squealing in surprise as he grabbed me, lifting me up and spinning me around. I laughed at his uncharacteristic behaviour.

“I love you,” he murmured as he lowered me to the ground, closing the gap between us. I pressed myself tightly against his body as our lips met, softly at first, before I opened my mouth to his and we kissed desperately, gripping at each other as if we can’t bare to be apart. I realised this was the last real kiss we’ve had in a long time. Too long.

“We need to talk,” I said as we pull apart, both breathing heavily. He simply nodded as he moved to close the door – we both forgot it in our haste. I moved to sit on the bed and he followed, sitting beside me, about as close as he can get without us actually touching. Right now the temptation for more is almost too much.

“You’ve been all I wanted ever since we came here the first time,” I confessed. “Even though you weren’t the last alien on earth. I knew then that you were the only guy I could possibly want, and I was never scared. Not until a few months ago, when you began making friends and a life that didn’t involve me.”

“My life would always involve you, no matter what.”

“I know,” I said, closing my eyes for a moment. “But Michael, before you every guy I have ever loved has left me. My father, Alex... And then with you it was the opposite. You stayed. No one’s ever done that before and I wasn’t really sure how to handle it.”

“Maria…” he said, grabbing my hand and clutching it in his. I squeezed it back.

“I know,” I said, sighing softly. “It’s stupid. You were scared at the beginning and then, when everything was going great, I got scared. But Michael, you’re the only guy in my life that I’ve loved that hasn’t left me and I didn’t know what to do with that. I’m not used to that.”

He shook his head. “It’s not your fault. I took you for granted. Cancelling on you, double booking…”

I shook my head. “I knew you weren’t perfect all along and I loved you for it. It wasn’t your fault. It was everything. I hadn’t dealt with Alex’s death and my music and everything all just came to a head when Billy arrived.” I stared into his eyes, trying to read the intense emotion conveyed in their depths. “You know Billy meant nothing, right?”

“You sang with him.”

I was shocked at the pain in his voice. “Michael,” I said, cupping his face in my hands. “Spaceboy, I never thought you wanted me to.”

“Of course I did. I do,” he replied, his voice scratchy.

I shut my eyes momentarily, leaning my forehead against his. I could feel his hand lightly stroking my cheek and opening my eyes I saw his deep brown eyes staring back.

“Billy was nothing to me but my childhood dreams,” I said softly, not moving my hands from where they framed his face. “I was scared that I’d lost them and that I had none, that I was nothing more than an extension of you. Going to New York and facing the reality of the music world showed me that all my dreams are now are you. And that wasn’t because they didn’t want to play my song, it was because I finally realised what it was that I wanted. But when I got back I was so scared that it was too late, that-“

“I know,” he murmured softly.

“I never meant to hurt you,” I said, biting my lip, trying to convey the truth of my words with my eyes.

He nodded. “I know. I never once meant to hurt you either. And maybe what happened between us this year was good, now I know how you felt every time I pushed you away and all through that summer.”

“Horrible.” I took a deep breath. “Courtney-“

“Was nothing,” he interrupted and I could see in his eyes that it was the truth.

“Extenuating circumstances?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“She was a Michael worshipper! And I only kissed her to get information, you know that. And come on, I did choose you over her even though she was a Michael worshipper, didn’t I?”

“Yes. And I was going to say that I knew that and shouldn’t have brought it up. I know we dealt with all that a while ago and my kissing Billy had nothing to do with that, or us. It was me and my confusion.”

“I know,” he replied as he ran a hand through my long, dark hair. “So is there any reason you brought me to a nookie motel?”

I kissed his lips lightly, pulling back before he could deepen it. “It’s where we started so I hoped it was where we could start all over again, this time forever.”

“Fine by me. Although we don’t need to start all over again,” he replied, pulling my face even closer so my lips are only a hairsbreadth away.

“I know.” I glanced around the room. “It’s still incredibly tacky though, even worse than I remembered.”

“The porno version of Aladdin,” he said smirking.

I gasped at him, pulling back slightly. “I can’t believe you remembered that!”

“Yeah, well,” he said, shrugging it off. I know he told me that he knew I was the girl for him ever since he stole my car, but I never expected that he would remember that comment. “I guess I can’t believe everything you say though,” he continued. “You did say ‘not if I was the last alien on earth’.”

“Only after you told me the same thing about you and your urges.”

“So I lied,” he replied, grinning at me. “I was in denial. I was scared.”

“I know how you felt,” I replied, kissing his forehead, his nose, and finally his mouth. He groaned as I moved my body over his, straddling his hips as I let my tongue search his mouth, familiarising myself with it again, not that I could ever forget.

He pulled back, placing his hands on my shoulders, moaning when I ground my body into his.

“Before we get too carried away,” he said, his voice husky. “I want you to know that I came back for you.”

I smile as I run my hands through his long silky hair. “Who said anything about getting carried away,” I said innocently, squirming slightly in his lap.

He growled, attacking my lips with his, and suddenly I was lying on my back with his body over mine. His hand was kneading my breast while he sucked furiously on my neck. I know there was going to be a mark there tomorrow. I know he wants there to be, to show that I’m his again, and that he’s mine.

“I left Roswell for you,” I gasped out between moans, groaning as he lightly bites my neck. “Only you,” I finally managed to hiss out.

“Maria…”

“Michael,” I moaned in reply, flipping us over so that I’m on top, quickly ridding myself of my top and bra before undoing his shirt, rubbing my bare body against his as my tongue and lips explore the planes of his perfect chest. His chest vibrates under my lips as he lets out a long moan.

“I missed you so much.”

I lightly nipped at his skin. “Ditto. And I love you so much.”

“That too,” he grunted out. We shifted position again as he took control, his body now back on top and pressing into mine. I wrapped my legs around his waist, trying to get closer to him. My hands reached for the fly on his pants and frantically undid them.

“Michael,” I groaned.

He quickly removed my pants and underwear and his lips found mine again as he drove into me. It was passionate, fast - or at least as fast as alien sex can be, and it was everything I’ve ever wanted. Its me and him, us, joined the way we were always meant to be. The way we always will be.

I lay on his chest, basking in the afterglow, my fingers lightly stroking over the bare skin of his chest. I heard him laugh lightly as I traced words on his chest with my tongue. “What are you writing?”

I turned my head to look at him with a smile. “Guess.”

“Hmm,” he pondered it for a few moments. “That I’m a sex god?”

I laughed, slapping his chest lightly. “No,” I exclaimed. I grinned wickedly. “Besides isn’t that a given?” He moved for me but I moved back. “Guess again.”

“How about,” he scratched his eyebrow as he thought. “Maria’s.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Impressive.”

“I know,” he replied with a smirk.

“Not at all self-centred either,” I added, settling back down on his chest. I heard him murmur his agreement as he began running a hand through my hair.

“I could get used to this,” I said softly after a sort while had passed.

“I was.”

I bit my lip. “I know. So was I. I mean… again.”

“Maria,” he said softly.

“Mmm-hmm?”

“Why did you sleep with me that day?”

I rolled over onto my stomach, propping my head up with my hands so I could look at him. “Honestly?” I sighed, biting my lip. “It wasn’t just because I felt good. I mean, sure that was one of the reasons, but I would never sleep with you with that being the only reason,” I said, shaking my head. “I just had to say something so you would let me go.” I reached a hand out to caress his cheek. “The only reason I slept with you, made love to you, that night, was because I loved you. Because even though we were apart, and even though I know it was my idea for us to be apart, in my heart I felt like we were still together. That’s why you were the first person I went to that day. It wasn’t just to top off a great day with sex, it was to share my joy and excitement with you. Making love to you just happened, I didn’t mean for it to happen but I am glad it did even though it did screw things up even more. To be with you again… Michael, I don’t think I could live without you.”

He took my hand, placing a kiss on it. “I understand… but don’t think that it didn’t hurt.”

“I know.” I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment. “But remember, our first time happened on a night you were about to leave me forever and I never knew.”

“I know,” he said softly. “But I stayed for you.”

“You didn’t know you were going to at the time,” I pointed out.

“My heart did.”

I smiled. “But you didn’t. Look, we’ve both screwed up in this relationship, but that’s not a bad thing. In fact I think that it just makes us stronger.”

“It does.” We smiled at each other.

“So spaceboy-“

“I love that you’re calling me that again.”

“I love it too. My spaceboy.” I added, grinning at him.

“You’re getting possessive,” he teased as he ran a hand down my bare back, pulling me closer.

“Figures that once we get back together again you’d complain about me becoming possessive.”

“I’m not complaining.”

“Good,” I murmured, running a hand down his body, smiling as I feel his breathing sped up at my touch. Moving in unison I ended up on top of him, our bodies joining together again. I buried my head in his neck, tasting his skin, as our bodies once again settled into the familiar rhythm. I moaned in pleasure as he flipped us over, his lips fusing with mine in a kiss full of so much passion, so much love. I could feel his emotions rushing over me, feel his love, his happiness, his knowledge that he’s finally found home, that we’ve both now found home, together. It was then that the flashes began…

Watching her leave him after returning from Marathon. Something had changed in that last day. He was actually identifying with a human, wanting to be around a human… something had definitely happened between them.

Staring after her as she walked away from him, cradling her head in her arms. Impulsively he walked over to her, surprised at the rush of emotions that flooded over him as he kissed her for the first time.

Entering the Crashdown that night during the heatwave, realising that she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. His unending passion as he wanted to get closer and closer to her.

Turning to her the night Hank’s abuse became too much. Finally feeling safe and loved as he slept in her arms. Knowing that he loved her back, that she was the one he could turn to without being judged or turned away.

Watching her dance with the others at the Crashdown. Hating the fact that he’d had to avoid her all summer because he was worried he couldn’t control himself and his powers around her.

Looking after her after Alex’s death. Feeling her pain as well as his own and knowing that he wanted to always be around her so that she felt protected, safe, loved…

Letting her see him the night that he thought he was going to leave. Knowing that wherever he went he would never love anyone like he loved her, wanting to let her into him completely before he had to leave, forever. Making love to her, the only girl he’d ever loved.

Staying for her. The certainty, even before they found out about Tess, that what he had done was right. That he’d found home on earth and never wanted to lose it.

Seeing her singing with Billy. Realising that there was a part of her that he didn’t know or understand. Knowing that Billy could reach that part of her. Jealousy. He loved her, he wanted to know her, all of her. Knowing that she would leave him because of Billy.

Staring at Maria as she stood in the doorway of the Crashdown’s kitchen, telling him that despite their making love that their lives were no longer linked. Pain and hurt washing over him as he realised that it was nothing, that she had slept with them because she was happy, nothing more. Realisation that he couldn’t go on with this any longer. Couldn’t go on pretending to be her friend when in fact he wanted so much more than that and she didn’t.

Turning back for her when he saw the black cars heading towards Roswell. Knowing that he should have given her a chance to reply to him when he said goodbye that day. Finally realising what the fortune teller had been trying to tell him. To believe in the love, his and Maria’s love.

Happiness coursing through him when she decided that she definitely was going to leave with him. The feeling of her in his arms again, after all of this time…

I lie in his arms afterward, thinking about the flashes I received from him. Many I had seen before, but some I hadn’t. I had never realised how much my singing with Billy had hurt him. His jealousy and out of control powers were because he thought I would leave him because of Billy, and he was right. Not to be with Billy of course, he was nothing but a friend, but because of what Billy symbolised. My dreams, my singing, and he knew that. And I had never realised how much he had hurt because he felt like he had nothing to do with that part of my life and that I would leave him because of that.

Of course I know now that I wouldn’t trade in my time with Michael for anything, not even to get back the idealistic dreams of my childhood. Knowing Michael has made me who I am today. He helped me get over Alex’s death and my father’s leaving - even though he wasn’t even around for it, his staying made me realise that not everyone abandons you. He made me feel important, the only one worthy of his love, and I felt like I belonged to a couple, and a group.

It’s because of the aliens that I’m the person I am today, someone who is not just Liz Parker’s sidekick or Alex’s wacky friend. Someone who people can depend on, trust, and even look to for advice and ideas. It’s because of them that I had the strength to follow my dreams, and the strength to accept that they weren’t what I wanted. It’s because of them that I finally found my place.

We may not know where we are going or what’s going to happen now, but we know one thing. That we’re together, and that’s all that matters.

I turn to look at Michael’s face. His eyes are closed, a peaceful and content expression on his face, and I wonder if he’s still awake. I wouldn’t be surprised if he wasn’t, even though it is early. None of us got much sleep last night. We were too excited, too scared, and just too emotional really. Also there was the fact that we were in a van all night long.

I felt my heart well up as I stared at Michael’s face. “I always knew there was something better out there for me than Roswell, New Mexico,” I said softly, running a hand over Michael’s chest. “I just never expected it would be you.”

“I always knew there was something better out there for me than Roswell, New Mexico,” she said softly, a hand trailing over my chest. “I just never expected it would be you.”

“Ditto,” I murmured, running my hand through her long hair. Opening my eyes I met her intense gaze. “I realised it when I was about to leave you. I knew then nothing out there, not even my ‘home’, could compare to you.”

“Michael,” she said, lifting her head to kiss me. I returned the kiss wholeheartedly, only pulling back when the need to breath became a necessity.

“Should we eat?” she asked, her hand stroking across my nipple. I could feel myself stirring again at her ministrations.

“Sure,” I replied, swallowing hard. “But only if you put something on.” I knew the temptation would be too much otherwise. I couldn’t get enough of her. Not now. Probably not ever. “Wait,” I asked, a thought coming to me. “Do we even have food?”

She grinned at me. “Yeah. I bought some when we stopped to rent the car.”

I raised my eyebrows, impressed. I would have never thought of that, even if I’d known we were stopping here, even though it was obvious we needed it. I pulled on my pants as she rummaged around to find the food, which turned out to be just some sandwiches and chocolate bars. Not that I’m complaining, it’s far better than no food at all.

“Have I ever told you how sexy you look in my shirts?” I asked as I applied a generous helping of tabasco sauce on my chocolate bar after we’d finished off all the sandwiches.

She grinned. “Oh yeah? Well have I ever told you how sexy you look shirtless?”

“How sexy?” I asked, wiggling my eyebrows at her.

She raised her eyebrows. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“You don’t regret it do you?” I asked after a few more minutes had passed.

She looked up at me, her eyes probing mine. “What? Us or leaving?”

“Both.”

“No,” she replied immediately, the truth of her answer shining amongst the love I saw in her eyes. “Although I think in a way our few months apart from each other was good for this. Now I know that I would never give you up. But maybe, if I hadn’t gone through all this, spent time away from you and realised how miserable I was without you, then I may have regretted leaving with you because it meant I would lose the chance of following my dreams. So maybe in a way our break up actually worked out better for us in the long run. Now I know for certain what I want.” She took a bite of her chocolate bar, finishing it off, and moved to straddle my lap. “But I could never regret our relationship,” she told me, tilting my face so that my eyes met hers dead on. “Everything was worth it. You said you didn’t regret a moment of it, well neither do I. Everything was worth it to end up here with you.”

I wrapped my arms around her waist. “I can’t believe how much I love you.”

She smiled a knowing smile. “Me either. If anyone had told me three years ago that I’d end up here I would have thought they were insane. Now I can’t imagine anything else.” I smiled as she dipped her head to my chest. I moaned as my body responded to her mouth and tongue as she licked and nipped at my skin.

I groaned as she pulled away, pulling her body even tighter against mine. She moaned when I buried my head in her neck, tilting her head back for better access. “What happens now?” I heard her gasp out.

I pulled back from her, staring her in the eyes. “Does it matter? Just as long as we’re together.”

She grinned in returned, her eyes dark with passion. “Yeah. You’re stuck with me forever spaceboy.”

“I won’t pretend I don’t love that,” I replied as I grabbed her by the waist and flipped us so that we were lying side by side on the bed, our bodies touching.

“Michael,” she murmured, her eyes fluttering shut for a moment. When they met mine again I could see all the love she felt for me in them. I grabbed her to me in a kiss, our tongues duelling as we fought for control, neither caring who won in the end. I ran my hands through her already extremely tousled hair, moaning into her mouth as she sucked on my bottom lip, drawing it into her mouth, before pulling away and making her way down my body.

Her legs straddled mine as she kissed her way down my front to my belly button. She traced patterns around it with her tongue as her hands drifted lower, unbuttoning my jeans. I groaned when she touched me, thrusting myself into her hand.

“I want you,” she murmured against my stomach, her lips sending shivers throughout my body. I moaned.

“Spaceboy,” she whispered as her lips travelled back up my body to attach to mine. She grinned against my lips. “I love saying that.”

I grinned. “You said that already.”

She shrugged, sitting up and pulling me with her so our fronts were mated as she sat in my lap, her body only inches away from where I needed her most. “So? I already told you I love you, but that doesn’t mean I won’t keep saying it.”

“Don’t.” Her eyes met mine again as I gripped her hips, lowering her body onto mine. Her head rolled back in pleasure and I leant forward, running my tongue over the mark I’d already left on her neck.

I moaned in surprise as flashes from Maria flooded into my mind, some the same as only a few hours ago and others that I hadn’t seen before. I hadn’t realised until tonight just how much I had missed receiving flashes from her. Of course I had already known how much I missed her, and not just the sex, but her company, her constant presence in my life, waking up next to her… but until then I hadn’t realised just how important receiving flashes from her was to me. It let me know that she trusted me enough to let me fully inside her, more than just the actual mating of our bodies. Of course, every time we make love we don’t actually see flashes, only sometimes, but never have I not felt her emotions, not even the time after we’d broken up, and these past few months without her, without feeling her, felt so empty.

I buried myself deeper into her as I let the flashes take over my thoughts.

Talking to Liz about him the day after they returned from Marathon, explaining just why they couldn’t be together, wondering why she would even want them to be.

Kissing him the night Max and Liz had left them alone together in the Crashdown. Thinking wryly that despite his words the kiss had certainly not calmed her down. Heated her up was more like it.

Unlocking the Crashdown door for him that night during the heatwave, returning his passionate kisses full force and realising, as they lay on the floor of the Crashdown, his hands and lips exploring her body, that she had never in her life felt like this before. Never wanted anyone as much as she wanted him.

Watching as he ignored her after she’d saved his life, without a single word of ‘thanks’ from him. And then her surprise when she found the napkin holder he’d made her, and her sadness when she realised that he was too scared to let anyone in, no matter what.

Letting him in the night he came to her, no questions asked. Happiness as she realised that it was her that he went to, her that he let into his life, no one else. Worry for him as he lay, crying, in her bed.

Watching him walk away from her after uttering the words she’d longed to hear. I love you too much. Knowing that he’d made his decision, he’d chosen destiny over her. Yet knowing, deep inside, that she wasn’t going to let him give up on her, on them, so easily.

Her happiness when he took her to the Granolith chamber, and then her sadness when she found him with Courtney. Yet knowing that somehow she hadn’t lost him for good, that their lives were too intertwined with each other’s for their relationship to have ended so soon, no matter what the fortune teller said.

Tending to his wounds after he’d been shot that night at the Dupree estate. Kissing him and telling him he was her brave, handsome, hero. Knowing that he was once again hers, and that, despite everything that had happened to them, he still loved her.

Relief at his constant presence after Alex’s death, his affirmation that he was going to give her now, knowing she couldn’t lose him after losing someone else so dear to her. His presence was the only thing that kept her sane during that time, knowing that she had someone to protect her, someone to love her…

Seeing what he truly thought of her, seeing into his life, his childhood, the night he thought he was leaving. Her despair that she may be losing him so soon… Her incredible happiness and relief when she found out that he had stayed. Stayed for her…

Watching as he laughed with his friends from work, realising that she had never heard him laugh like that before, that she was being selfish, wanting him all to herself.

Knowing that Billy was right, she needed to rediscover her dreams which had been buried with Alex’s death. Realising that she had to become a person separate of Michael to be able to do that, no matter how much it broke both of their heart’s to do so.

Coming back from New York and knowing that all she wanted was Michael. Finally realising what she had known deep down all along. That she wanted to be with him, wanted to be a part of his life. Only he didn’t seem to want her to be anymore…

Listening as he told her that he’d known she was the only girl for him way back at the beginning, just as she’d known he was the only guy for her. Her anger as he just drove off, not giving her a chance to reply, a chance to tell him that she felt exactly the same and couldn’t lose him now, not like this. Especially seeing he still loved her, just like she still loved him.

Relief when he came back and she was finally able to show him, just as he had shown her a year earlier, that she wanted nothing more than to be with him. That she would give up everything… for him.

I let out a shuddering breath as I found release, our bodies slowing to a stop. I cupped Maria’s face in my hands, brushing a few pieces of hair away from where they stuck to her forehead with sweat. “I’m so happy you never gave up on me,” I murmured.

“What?” she breathed, her hands gripping my biceps.

“I’m so glad you never gave up on us.”

She smiled. “Me too.” She stared at me seriously, her intense green eyes probing mine. “I’m glad that you gave up on pushing me away too.”

I nodded in reply, disentangling our bodies from each other’s as I lay back on the bed, pulling her down with me. I smiled in contentment as she settled down on my chest, one leg thrown across mine.

“We really should sleep,” she murmured after we had lain there together for a while. “Long day tomorrow.”

I stroked her hair out of her face as she moved her head so her eyes met mine. “Do you want to?”

“No,” she whispered. “I want to lie here awake all night with you.”

“Me too.” I smiled at her as I moved my hand to lightly stroke her back. “Although we could always…” I raised my eyebrows at her.

She shook her head in exasperation, her hair tickling my chest as she did so. “Let me rest a bit first. God, are you always this horny?”

“Only around you,” I replied, grinning. “Besides, I’ve had months without.”

She pouted playfully. “Oh, poor spaceboy, not getting laid. I had months without too,” she pointed out.

I smirked. “So what do you say?”

She raised an eyebrow, leaning down to quickly run her tongue over my chest. “Well…” she said, a smile on her face. “You know, I can never get enough of you. Although I’m thinking a shower would be good too.”

“Shower with me?” I asked hopefully.

She laughed. “Fine then. But just to get things clear, there’s no way I’m getting into that tub. I don’t even want to think about what hundreds of different couples have done in there.”

“The motel was your pick,” I reminded her.

“Not originally.”

“What? As in two and a half years ago? And actually, yes it was.”

Her eyes widened. “Only after you blew up my car!”

“Are we really going to get into this again?”

She sighed, smiling. “I guess not.” She paused for a moment, thinking. “I can’t believe that I’m never going to have to worry about you wrecking my mother’s car again. That’s so strange. Everything’s different now.”

I studied her carefully. “Not a bad thing though?”

She shook her head. “No, not a bad thing, just different. But I guess, with you, everything’s different.”

I grinned. “You got that right.”

She moaned as I nudged her, trying to wake her up. “Go ‘way.”

“Maria,” I said. “We have to get up now. It’s already late.”

“No.”

I sighed, I guess I’d have to think of another way to wake her. Not that I’m complaining. Smiling I leant over to her, kissing her gently, deepening the kiss when I felt her responding.

Our tongues duelled as we kissed for a few minutes, our bodies entangled together on the bed. I pulled away regretfully when I felt her hands start to wander downwards.

“We really have to go. It’s already later than we intended to leave.”

She pouted. “But I’m tired. We’ve barely slept.”

I shrugged. “Whose fault is that?”

“Yours!”

I quirked an eyebrow. “Excuse me, if I remember correctly it was you who was begging me to-“

“Okay, so maybe it was both of our faults.”

I nodded, that sounded about right. “But we really do have to go if we intend to meet back up with them again.”

“Do we have to? I’d rather spend another night with you than in that van.”

I nodded in agreement, I totally agreed with her there. But unfortunately we had to get as far away from Roswell as we could and because of our little detour we were already behind.

“So?” she said hopefully.

“You know we can’t.”

She rolled her eyes, pouting, but got out of bed and began searching for her clothes. “I know.”

She turned to me when we were fully dressed, pressing her body tightly against mine as she gave me a deep, searching kiss. “But you promise we’ll continue where we left off as soon as we arrive wherever we’re going?”

Was she crazy? “Of course!”

She grinned. “That’s my spaceboy.”

I drew her close for another kiss before we had to reluctantly pull away and make our way over to the door. We quickly checked out and made our way to our rented car, Maria tossing me the keys as we did. And now we’re on our way again, back to join up with the others, probably some time later tonight.

The road is long and dusty and it feels like it’s just another one of our infamous road trips. Only this time we don’t know where we’re going, where the road is taking us.

But that doesn’t matter, we could be going anywhere in the world and it wouldn’t matter to me.

All that matters is that I’m with her.

The End