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Maria DeLuca's hands were shaking. Her whole body was trembling. Her head hurt. She had one hand holding the ice pack against the back of her head that had already been bandaged. Her small apartment was full of police.
"Maria." A familiar voice cut through the monotonous sound of the police officers as they searched her apartment for any possible clues.
"Jim!" Maria jumped up from where she sat, wavered slightly before collapsing against his chest.
Jim wrapped his arms around his step-daughter's shoulders and held her tightly. "I'm here Maria." He told her softly. "Have they found anything yet?"
Maria shook her head and a quiet sob escaped her lips. "Jim. What if they don't find her?"
"They'll find her. I'll make sure of it."
"Thank you Jim." She whispered stepping back from him a little.
"Do you think that maybe it could have been the father?"
"No. He wouldn't. He... he wouldn't do that. He doesn't even know where I am."
"Have you called Michael?"
"No."
"You need to."
"I know... but I just..." Maria sighed softly and Jim handed her his cell phone.
"Go outside and call him." Maria nodded and took the phone. She handed him the ice pack and then took a deep breath and walked outside.
Maria stared at the phone for a long time as she sat on the front step. She had long since entered the number, but hitting that little green button. She took a deep breath and pressed send before lifting the phone to her ear. It rang. It kept ringing. The feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach was just getting worse.
"Leave a message." His voice came through the phone. His answering machine. It beeped and she clenched her eyes shut.
"Michael. It's me. If you're there... pick up please." On the other side of the country Michael stared at the phone. He could hear the fear in her voice. "Please pick up." Her voice cracked. "It's about Mia."
Michael was flying across the room in seconds. He grabbed the phone. "Is she okay? What happened?"
Maria sobbed softly when Michael answered. "Someone took her Michael. Someone took our baby." She whispered across the line.
"What do you mean someone took her." He demanded. "How did that happen Maria."
"Someone broke in... they broke into the apartment and they took her!"
"Where the hell where you!?" Michael could hear her sobbing on the other end of the line. "Answer me! How the hell did it happen Maria."
There was a long silence before Maria could dare to speak. "I heard a sound. It was the middle of the night. I thought she got up. For a glass of water, or to go to the bathroom... I went to check on her. She was in her bed, screaming. And whoever was in the house hit me over the back of the head. I don't remember anything else. When I woke up she was gone. I called the police, but they haven't found anything yet."
"Where are you?"
"Albuquerque."
"I'll be there tonight." And then the line was dead. Maria sobbed quietly and buried her face in her hands. She was a terrible mother. She let someone just take her baby, and she did nothing to stop them. And no one would ever be able to convince her otherwise.
Jim appeared a few moments later with a photo album in hand. "You should pick a picture of Mia, for the posters." He paused for a moment. "I can if you'd like."
"No. I'll do it." She handed him back his phone and took the album and began flipping through the pages. The first photos were of Mia right after she was born. She was beautiful even then. She had thick golden brown hair when she was born. Her father's eyes, her mother's nose. Her hair color was definitely her father's. But the locks themselves were much more tame than her father's and Maria was thankful for that.
Maria closed her eyes and sighed, thinking back to the day she'd found out she was pregnant. She had been excited, thrilled, a little scared, but mostly just happy. Even though they'd been on the run from the FBI, she and Michael had been good. Everything had been good.
Michael had been excited about the baby also. He'd wanted his own family for a long time, and even though he was terrified he might screw up their baby, Maria had never seen him so happy.
Then they gave the news to Max, Liz, Isabel and Kyle. They were not happy. Mostly Max, and even Liz. They kept telling them what a risk it was. Having a child that was part alien was a mistake they said. The tension in the small van was nearly unbearable. Kyle mostly kept quiet. Isabel wasn't very supportive either, but she was never negative about the situation.
Maria's belly had started to grow. Four and a half months pregnant and everything was getting worse. Michael didn't seem as happy. He fought with Max constantly. Maria found herself crying a lot in the very back corner of the van. Michael never comforted her.
He had connected with the baby when she hit five months. A baby girl. "What should we name her?" Maria asked as they sat on a bench in front of a small local dinner in the middle of some random small town in the middle of some random state. They all seemed to run together after a while. She never knew where they were.
"Mia." Michael said simply before pulling his hand away from her stomach.
"Why are you letting them do this?"
"Do what?" He asked staring out at the interstate that passed right in front of the dinner.
"This. Max doesn't approve, so you're sulking and letting him screw with our lives. This is [i]our[/i] child Michael. [i]Ours[/i]. Not his."
"Because maybe he is right. Maybe having a kid is a mistake."
"She isn't a mistake!" Maria held her belly protectively. "How can you even think that?!" Tears welled up in her eyes and she'd quickly left the bench and headed for the van.
"I have about ten thousand dollars saved up right now...I'll go on TV, offer the reward. I just want my baby back." Maria pleaded with the head detective on the case. She thrust a picture of Mia at him. "Just bring her back."
The detective took the picture, the smiling little girl was gorgeous. And her mother was determined. He didn't have the heart to tell her that the likely hood of them finding the girl alive was slim already. Almost twenty-four hours had passed, and there were no calls from anyone demanding ransom. There was absolutely no trace of the little girl. The dogs had turned up with nothing. As heart breaking as it was, the little girl was probably dead. "I'll do my best ma'am." He tipped his cowboy hat slightly before exiting her small apartment.
Michael walked up to the apartment. He didn't want to talk to Maria again, so he'd simply looked her up in the phone book and found her address easily. He watched a man, that reminded him of Jim Valenti, back when he was the sheriff of Roswell, mirrored sunglasses, cowboy hat, but instead of cowboy boots, jeans and a vest, the man wore a suit.
The man in the suit seemed to inspect him as he passed Michael. He shuddered, not liking the attention of someone who was obviously in law enforcement. He reached the door and knocked softly. He could hear voices inside. A few moments later the door opened, and there stood Jim Valenti.
"Michael." He nodded his head and stepped back to let him in. Michael walked inside and the first thing he saw was Maria sitting on the couch. She was clutching a small stuff animal to her chest, and then he noticed the bandage on the back of her head. She hadn't seemed to notice he had arrived.
"Anything been found out yet?" He asked Jim who shook his head somberly.
Maria jerked her head up and her eyes went wide. "Michael..." She flinched towards him. All she wanted to do was run to him and throw her arms around him and have him hold her. To once again feel the calm of being in his arms.
"Is there anyone else here?" Jim and Maria both shook their head no. "Good. I've had this nagging feeling the whole way here. It could be the FBI. You're an easy target." His eyes darted towards Maria for a moment before shifting away from her. "Not hard to find. They would have no trouble finding you. And considering you've been associated with us before. They could know of Mia's origin."
"Do you really think...?"
"This was done clean. No traces at all of someone breaking in." Michael shook his head. "Where is her room."
"Second door on the right." Maria told him and pointed down the hall.
Michael made his way down the hall. He hoped that maybe he would get flashes and find out where she was. His daughter. He'd only seen her in pictures after she was born. Maria had sent some from Roswell about three years earlier. She had sent a letter too but he didn't respond. He couldn't. He didn't hear from her again until earlier that day.
He picked up a framed picture of Mia and Maria. It must have been Mia's first birthday, both were wearing colorful party hats. He recognized the place, some little restaurant in Roswell.
He'd missed everything so far. First steps, first words. Was it worth it? Was Mia any better off living with Maria, where he'd hoped she'd be away from the alien drama. He put the picture down and walked over to the bed. He touched the unmade bed and closed his eyes.
[i]Mia sat up in her bed screaming, a faceless man struck the back of Maria's head and Mia's screams grew louder.[/i]
Maria chewed on her lip as she stared down the empty hallway. "It's so quiet." She whispered. The apartment had never been quiet before. Mia was always loud and happy. "Oh god Jim, I miss her so much."
"I know Maria. I know." He touched her shoulder and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "I need to go give Amy a call and get a motel room. You have my cell number. Call me if you need [i]anything[/i]."
Maria nodded and stood up to hug him tightly before stepping back and sinking back down to the couch.
Michael walked back down the hall and looked at Maria, looking completely distraught. "Did she... have any powers?"
Maria shook her head a little. "No.Completely normal. Why would they want her? Could they? I'm so sorry." Tears filled up her eyes. "This is my fault. This is all my fault. I should have been able to protect her, and I couldn't. I need to find her. I have to." She stood up quickly and headed for the door.
Michael grabbed onto her arm. "What the hell are you doing? Do you really think that you're going to just walk out the door and find her? I don't even know where to look Maria, and I have powers!" He pointed to the couch and glared at her. "Sit. Down."
She looked up at him in shock before doing as he said. "Look, I got a flash, but it told me jack shit." Angrily he ran his hands through his hair and Maria chewed on her lip. "You look like shit."
"Thanks." She scoffed and shook her head.
"You haven't slept have you?"
"I can't."
"You need to sleep."
"I can't!" She yelled up at him. "I am too scared."
"Have you eaten anything?"
"Yesterday... Mia and I went out to dinner."
"You need to eat." Michael told her.
"I'm not hungry."
"You need to eat." He repeated. Maria needed to eat, or she would just fade away into nothing, unless Mia was found in the next ten minutes, he knew Maria would not eat. Michael walked into the kitchen and took a few moments figuring out her kitchen before he began cooking. He glanced into the living room and saw Maria curling up on her side on the couch.
He couldn't help sighing quietly. This was not how he had pictured ever meeting Maria again. Years ago, after Maria had left, he'd often wished, and even dreamed of finding her again. But at the same time, he believed that Maria would be safer having left. His child would never have to worry about the FBI, or aliens coming after her. She would just be safe. Even if he had to suffer with never getting to be a part of her life. He just wanted her safe.
But even with him gone, she wasn't safe. Someone had taken her away, and he didn't know where to begin looking. Michael could feel the anger building up inside of him. What if someone was hurting her? What if they never found her again alive?
Michael couldn't allow himself to think like that though. He'd get Mia back, and he would make sure that no one would ever harm her, ever. His baby girl that didn't even know who he was.
Chapter Two: Lost Little Girl
Mia was scared. She was in a strange place she didn't know. With a strange man. Her mommy had been hurt. She knew that. The man had hit her mommy. She had her thumb stuck in her mouth, sucking furiously on it. She always did that when she was scared. She did it when she had nightmares too.
At first Mia had hoped this was just a nightmare. But she knew that she was awake. The man was talking, but not to her. Someone else that she couldn't see. Quietly as she could she plucked her thumb from her mouth and crawled along the floor, staying close to the wall, as she tried to get near the door.
She knew that she could do things. Her mommy didn't know. She was afraid that they would make her mommy mad. Mia paused to push a lock of hair out of her face before she started crawling again. She came to a stop by the door and just knelt there, listening to the voices.
"He'll come for her."
"What if he doesn't? He hasn't been seen since before the girl was born."
"He'll come for her. We'll make sure of it." The voices went silent and Mia leapt up from the floor and rushed back to where she had been curled up with her blanket in the far corner of the room. She yanked it over her head and curled up into a ball and shoved her thumb back in her mouth. Tears filled her eyes and she cried softly. "I want my mommy." She mumbled around her thumb. She didn't know what to do without her mommy.
Michael padded through the motel room, half naked on his way to take a shower. He hoped it would wake him up, and maybe today they would be lucky and find [i]something[/i] out about Mia. Three long torturous days had already passed. He turned on the cold water and stripped off his boxers before climbing under the freezing cold water. He couldn't deny the fact that just being around Maria reminded him of all the times they'd spent together. Especially when she'd look up at him, while she was laying on the couch, she looked so lost, he wanted to take her into his arms and make her forget all of their fears.
But then he'd remember himself. They weren't together anymore, and their daughter was gone. No leads. The police were looking for a body, not a vibrant little girl.
The cold water stung his skin but he welcomed the pain. He distracted him from his aching heart. God he just wanted to hug his daughter one time. Hold her in his arms. Touch her beautiful brown hair, kiss her cute button nose. Tell her he loved her.
The phone rang and Michael almost slipped on the porcelain tub. "Fuck." He growled shutting off the water, but hoped filled his chest. Maybe they found something.
He grabbed his towel and started to dry off with one hand while he picked up his cell phone with the other. "Yeah?"
"Michael, where are you? And why haven't you been answering your phone?" Max's voice cut through Michael's brain. Part of him wanted to just hang up the phone, another part wanted to drop it in the toilet and flush.
"I'm in Albuquerque."
"What? Do you realize what a risk that is Michael? What were you thinking? What is in Albuquerque that you're willing to risk all of our lives for?"
"Mia."
"Who?" Max's voice was laced with confusion. "Please don't tell me she is some girl you hooked up with."
"She's my daughter you fucking idiot. If you'd pay attention to anything [i]other[/i] than your self you'd know that." Annoyed and angry Michael hung up the phone and slammed it down on the counter, effectively breaking it into at least twenty pieces. "Fuck!" He roared and stormed out of the bathroom. His powers still got the best of him sometimes.
Michael let himself into Maria's apartment, where he'd spent most of his time in the last few days as they waited for news, and he tried to figure out where the FBI base might be. Because that was the only answer. It had to be FBI related.
"Michael!" Maria screamed and ran across the living room. He was unprepared to feel her throw her arms around him and begin sobbing in his shoulder. But he still wrapped his arms around her waist and held onto her before looking at Jim who looked even more somber than before.
"Tell me." Michael said simply, fearing the worst.
"They found a girl... matching Mia's description. In the creek by the park down on East Main." Maria shook in his arms and he felt his heart sink to the pit of his stomach.
"She's..." He couldn't say it. She couldn't be.
"They want you to go down and identify the body." Michael felt Maria stop breathing for a minute before the sobs became more forceful. Tears sprang to his own eyes.
"Can you give us a ride?" Michael asked softly and Jim nodded. Together they walked out to Jim's rented SUV, Michael supporting Maria the entire way.
"I can't do this Michael. I can't go in there." Maria whispered staring at the door labeled 'Morgue.'
"Maria, you have to. I don't know Mia. The most recent picture is a few months old. I don't see her every day. I don't know her. But I will be with you. And so will Jim. We're here."
Maria looked up at Michael and just stared into his eyes. Suddenly, all the fights they'd ever had didn't matter anymore. Just that there was a little girl, dead on a cold metal slab, and it was very likely their daughter. "I'm so sorry for everything Michael. I'm so sorry, I never should have left you like that."
Michael cupped her face and kissed her forehead before taking a hold of her hand. He didn't want to talk about it. He just wanted to get this over with.
And then the three entered the morgue. There was an older man standing there waiting. He looked up at the trio and frowned inwardly. These things were always so hard, especially when it was such a young child. He pulled the sheet back and looked at the little girls face.
Maria started to sob again and Michael looked closely at the girl. "It's not her. It isn't Mia!" Maria cried. "Oh my god." She sobbed. "Ana-Lise. ... It's Ana-Lise, she was in Mia's day care." She covered her face with her free hand that wasn't clutching Michael's. "Ana-Lise Richards." Maria felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her chest. But at the same time there was so much more dread. Ana-Lise had been a friend of Mia's. They played together often. "Oh god Ana." Maria touched the little girls cold cheek and then quickly ran from the room.
Michael watched her go before smoothing a piece of hair back from the girls forehead. He jerked his hand back quickly. The same man. He saw the same man that had taken Mia. He stormed out of the morgue and angrily walked down the corridor.
Outside he found Maria sitting on her knees in a grassy area sobbing into her hands.
"He's fucking with us. The guy that took Mia. He's fucking with us."
Maria looked up at Michael and shook her head. "Why?"
"I don't know. But I am going to find out." Without another word Michael walked off down the sidewalk leading away from the hospital.
Maria got up from the grass when Jim appeared and walked with him to the SUV. "People always thought that Ana and Mia were sisters. They do look a lot alike don't they?" Mia asked looking over at Jim who nodded silently. "I'm really scared right now Jim, some comforting words would be nice."
"Maria, no matter what I say, it won't make you feel better. It has been over seventy-two hours since Mia went missing. The likely hood of finding her alive, is very low."
She looked out the window before closing her eyes tightly. "Like I said Jim, [i]comforting[/i] words would be nice." The trip back to the apartment was silent. Once Maria was inside, Jim left again, and Maria walked down to Mia's room.
She hadn't been in it since she'd put Mia to bed the night she disappeared. "Mia, baby. Where are you?" Maria moved over to the bed and curled up on the small bed there, a pink bed, with high sides that gave the look of a carriage, because Mia always liked to pretend she was a princess.
Maria pulled the blankets up around her, inhaling the scent of her daughter's cherry shampoo and Johnson and Johnson's baby soap. The lavender and chamomile had always been Mia's favorite. Within seconds the scents had enveloped her and she quickly drifted off to sleep.
Though her dreams were anything but peaceful. She found herself standing in a room. Large, and empty except for a small mattress and a few blankets in one corner. The blankets moved and Maria gasped. Mia sat up on the bed, thumb in mouth, hair a mess. "Mommy!" She shrieked and leapt up from the mattress and her little legs carried her as quickly as they could across the room.
Maria held onto Mia as tightly as she could. It wasn't real, and she knew that. But she had something to actually hold onto. Her daughter. "Oh Mia baby." Maria rained kisses all over the girl's face and smoothed her hair down before picking her up again and spinning her in circles. "My baby girl!"
"Mommy. They say he'll come for me." Maria frowned and shook her head.
"Mia, what are you talking about?"
"Daddy, they say he's going to come for me. That he'll find me. They'll let me go if daddy comes." The little girl told her mom.
"But..."
"Mommy, why wouldn't you sleep?" Mia cupped Maria's face in her hands and looked into her eyes. "Ana... they hurt her. It was them mommy. The mean men that have me."
"Have they hurt you baby?"
"No. They won't hut me mommy, I'm a princess." The girl giggled and kissed her mother's forehead before her eyes went wide. "Bye mommy!"
"Mia!" Maria woke up screaming. "Mia!" It had been so real. Frantically she looked around the room and saw Michael standing in the doorway. "I had a dream... Mia... god it was so real. She said the men that had hurt are the ones that hurt Ana-Lise."
"I know." Michael nodded.
"What? Why? How do you..."
"I went to where they found Ana-Lise's body. There was a not so subtle hint as to who took her."
"Who was it Michael?"
Michael opened his mouth and then frowned. "Wait, you had a dream about Mia? And she told you that? What else did she tell you?"
She shook her head and sat up slowly. "It's stupid Michael, it was just a dream."
"Tell me." She looked up at him with red eyes.
"Tell me why you didn't ever write back."
"Maria, this really is not the time to discuss our ill-fated relationship. Tell me what Mia told you."
"She said that the men told her you would come for her. That they wouldn't hurt her, as long as you came for her." She scoffed and shook her head. "Because she is a princess." Maria shook her head again. "She's always said she was a princess, ever since she started talking."
"It's because she's right Maria. It wasn't just a dream, she dream-walked you. And she is a princess."
"What? But no, she doesn't have powers Michael. She's never done [i]anything[/i] out of the ordinary."
"Aside from dream-walking you."
"No." Maria insisted.
"I have to go find her." Michael turned and walked back down the hallway.
Maria jumped to her feet and rushed after him. "Michael, don't do this. Wait, tell me who took her."
"It was Kivar." Maria paled and shook her head.
"How do you know?"
"I told you, he left a hint at the creek., and attached to Ana-Lise." He paused and looked down at Maria. "I'll bring Mia back." Michael told Maria and cupped her face and kissed her firmly on the lips for a long moment before pulling back. "I promise." And with that he was out the door.
Maria swallowed hard and touched her lips before sinking down to the couch. Why was this happening? Mia was actually a princess? And why did Kivar want with Michael?
Michael borrowed Maria's car, the same crappy Jetta, and drove for the next hour, outside of Albuquerque, to the no longer abandoned building. As soon as he climbed out of the car he was confronted with Nicholas. The stupid little punk, he knew he could just squash like a bug, but he didn't want to risk anything happening to Mia. So he followed the punk kid into the building, down several long hallways to a room that contained a long dinning table.
Kivar smirked as he came out of the shadows. "Well, if it isn't Rath."
"Michael." He growled.
"Right, right. So [i]human[/i] now." He said the word as if it were utterly foul to even speak.
"What do you want?"
"Simply." A charming smile appeared on his face. "My bride, and her brother. Public execution for him, a beautiful wedding for her."
"You've got to be kidding me."
"I think not. It was disappointed in our little Ava. Turns out she was too human also now. But my Vilandra. Now, she is still the Vilandra I slept with on a nightly basis behind your back. Beautiful woman, even now. You bring her and the sniveling little king to me, and your little princess will be given back to you, no harm, no foul."
"Like I'll trust you?"
"If you don't she will die."
"Lay a hand on her and I will kill you." Michael roared. "How do I know you haven't killed her already? Just like that little girl in the park?"
"It did get your attention now didn't it? Humans are expendable. And your little princess is very human, but at least she does have a hint of alien in her. She'll be a powerful woman when she grows up. Even more powerful than her father." Kivar walked around the end of the table. "Bring her out." He said to Nicholas. "Let's prove to daddy that his little girl is safe and sound."
"Do you really think that I will give them up to you?"
"Yes, I do. Anything for your own child." Kivar got a distant look in his eyes for a split second before Nicholas reappeared with Mia.
Michael's breath caught in his throat. That was his child, his baby. "Oh Mia."
The little girl tilted her head to the side before sprinting across the room and launching herself into his arms. "They said you'd come for me." She smiled and held onto him tightly.
"You know who I am?"
"You're my daddy. Mommy showed me pictures." She rubbed her palm across his scruffy chin. "You're hairy." She frowned before smiling. "Can we go see Mommy now?" The little girl laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, snuggling closer to his chest.
"Let me take her home." Michael's eyes focused on Kivar's.
"Do you believe I am stupid? I let you take her home you all disappear."
"I give you my word." Kivar laughed out loud.
"Bring them to me, and you'll have your daughter back." Nicholas stepped forward and yanked the girl away from Michael. She kicked and screamed and even tried to bite the pre-teen boy who was taking her away.
"Daddy!" Mia screamed and Michael was tempted to slam his fist into Nicholas' face.
"You have five days. Best get to work." Three guards came and grabbed Michael's arms and forced him out of the building and to his car.
Chapter Three: Betrayal
Michael let himself into Maria's apartment again. He found her dozing off on the couch. "Maria." He said softly and she sat up quickly and looked at him.
"Mia?" She whimpered.
"She's fine. I saw her. She's alive. She's fine, just... she misses you."
"You... you saw her? Where is she?! Michael!" She cried softly. "I want my baby back."
"Kivar has her. I'll bring her back to you Maria, I promise."
"But... how? What does he want?" Maria looked up at him pleading.
Michael sighed and sat down on the couch. "He wants Isabel and Max."
"What?" Maria sat down beside him and shook her head a little. "I don't understand."
"He wants to execute Max, and marry Isabel." Maria looked down at her hands and just sat there silently.
"You can't do that Michael. They are your family."
"Well, Mia is my daughter. I am leaving in a minute. I'll bring Mia home. I promise." Michael stood up and scratched his eyebrow.
"Michael, wait." Maria jumped up quickly and grabbed his arm. "Why didn't you write back?" She asked him softly. She wanted to know. She figured that once Mia was home safe, he'd be gone again. "Please tell me." This was her only chance to ask any questions.
"I couldn't." He touched a lock of her hair and kissed her forehead.
Maria started to sob softly. "I'm so sorry Michael. I'm so sorry for everything mean I've ever said. I love you so much." She threw her arms around his shoulders and held onto him as tightly as she could.
Michael desperately wanted to hold onto her. To kiss her, to love her like he did years ago, but so many things changed. So much time had passed. He just couldn't. Not really, not anymore. He rubbed the back of her head softly for a moment and kissed her temple before stepping back. "Mia will come home to you." He looked at her and then turned around and walked out of the apartment.
It was late the next evening when Michael arrived in the small no name town in Maine that Isabel had been living for the past several months. He went to her door and knocked. There was a shuffling inside and then the door opened a crack. "Michael!" Isabel shrieked and threw open the door before throwing her arms around him. "I've missed you!"
"Isabel." Michael said softly and wrapped his arms around her. "You need to run. Run as far as you can, as fast as you can. Leave the country. Something. I don't know what, but you've got to hide."
"What? Why? Oh god Michael, what did you do?" He stared at her for a moment, taken aback by her assumption that it was his fault.
"Kivar wants you. And he wants Max."
"How do you know this? What is going on?" She asked, pulling him inside her apartment.
"Kivar took Mia."
"Your daughter? Why?"
"Would you let me explain?" Michael asked exasperated. They sat down together on the couch and Michael began to explain everything that had happened since he got the call from Maria. Tears had filled Isabel's eyes by the time he finished. "So that is why you have to run."
"Michael, I won't. We'll get Max, and we'll get Mia back." Isabel insisted and stood up, she had a mission. Save that poor little girl, from that man. She remembered so many things about Kivar, as time passed she remembered more and more, and she hated her past-self for ever loving him.
"Isabel, you don't understand. That won't work. Kivar... he's smarter than that. If we do that... he'll kill her. I'll simply tell him that... I couldn't find you."
"Like that will work Michael? No..." Isabel shook her head frantically. "He won't hurt me. I'll go... I'll be able to get away from him, [i]after[/i] you get Mia away from him."
"No. Isabel, I won't do that. You are going to go out there, get in your damn car, and you're going to drive, and you aren't going to stop."
"Michael-"
"For once in your damn life, listen to me Isabel." Michael yelled. Tears welled up in her eyes and she just stared at him. "Now."
Startled by his forcefulness she walked out to her car and pulled away from the apartment quickly. A moment later Michael emerged and climbed into his car, and headed for Washington where Max was living with Liz.
--
Less than two days later he arrived at their small house. He walked up to the door and knocked. A red-headed Liz opened the door and looked up at Michael in shock. "Michael, what... what are you doing here?"
"Where's Max?" He asked simply.
"He's... " She opened her mouth, then closed it, then called to him over her shoulder. "Max."
A moment later Max walked up to the door and frowned at Michael. "What are you doing here?"
"I need to talk to you." Liz looked at Michael. "Alone." She pouted a little before walking back into the house, and Max stepped outside.
"Kivar is back." Michael told him in a hushed voice.
"What?"
"He said... that if we don't meet up with him, in Albuquerque, he's going to find Liz... and kill her." Michael told him, surprised at how easily the lie rolled off his tongue.
"Why?"
"He's still hung up on the Granilith. And Isabel."
"I won't go." Max growled.
"Don't you get it Max? If you don't... the most important person to you is going to be brutally murdered. Do you really want that?" Michael's eyes darkened in anger. He knew how selfish Maxwell was, and the risk of anything happening to Liz would drive him to do anything. And that was the only way to get anything from him.
"Then she's coming with us."
"You can't do that Maxwell. Just you." Michael insisted.
--
The next day they were back in New Mexico. Michael was leading Max into the building. "Kivar." He yelled.
"Daddy!" Mia screamed and started to run towards him before Nicholas grabbed onto her. Kivar appeared out of nowhere, and smirked slightly.
"Where is she?"
"I couldn't find her." Michael glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw several man moving in on Max, who was unaware of them. In an instant Max was on his knees, and Michael closed his eyes for a moment.
"I believe that you are lying to me." Kivar smiled and evil smile.
"Look, I brought him to you. You can probably find her yourself. Just give me my daughter."
"Michael." Max growled, astonished. "You set me up... for her?"
"She's my family."
"I thought that I was."
Michael shook his head. "Maxwell... you never had any faith in me, ever. That little girl there... feels nothing but love for me, and she doesn't even know me... I abandoned my daughter because of you. So now... I'm putting her first, not you."
"Daddy, I wanna go home." Mia whined and kicked Nicholas in the shin, trying to work herself free from his grip. That did the trick and she was running again, across the expanse of room, and leaping into her father's arms.
"Let me take her home. Please."
"Deals off." Kivar growled. "The deal was... you bring me them both... and you can take her. You didn't bring my Vilandra. You don't get to take her anywhere."
"Please." Michael whispered. "Let her go. You can have me. Just let her go."
"Why would I let someone as powerful as her leave?" Kivar smirked. "Zan... it's been so long... your death will be more brutal and painful than the last time, I promise you that." He watched as Max tried to struggle against the guards holding onto him. Kivar shifted his eyes back up to focus on Michael. "But... I might have a better idea. My dear Rath... we may be able to reach an agreement... as much as I would love to do it myself... I think I'd get more pleasure watching you do it. Kill the king... and you get to live."
"Why should I believe anything you say? We had a deal before-"
"And you broke that deal by not bringing me my bride."
"You asshole. If I kill him, you let her go."
"I don't think so. But, I might let you go." Kivar smirked.
"I won't leave her here."
"Then you could just kill him, wouldn't that be enjoyable?" Kivar taunted him. "After all, he never did have faith in your abilities, in this life or the one before. Maybe that is because you went behind his back, to try to defeat me. Failed, of course. But still, disobeyed your king."
"Michael!" Max yelled an anger. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Oh fuck off Maxwell. For once in my life, I put what mattered to me, ahead of what you wanted."
"So you turned me over for a worthless human chi-" Max never got to finish his sentence. Michael raised his hand and a split second Max was gasping and falling to his side as he struggled to breathe. A moment later he stilled.
"Hm. I'd hoped for something a little more bloody. But I suppose you wouldn't want to influence such a young girl like that." Michael shifted his eyes to Kivar, then back to Mia who had her face buried in his shoulder.
"Kivar, let her go. I'm begging you. She doesn't have any powers. She is just a human. You don't want her." Michael pleaded. He had promised Maria that he would bring Mia home. He couldn't break that promise to her.
"All that you missed out on your daughter's life... had you been around, you would have realized she really is much more than a human. And I have no use for you. She can be trained. I can make her my new queen."
"Over my dead body." Michael growled and held Mia tighter.
"That will be arranged then." Kivar smirked and waved his hand towards them.
Michael honestly didn't know what hit him. He couldn't move. Everything had gone black. He heard Mia screaming. And then nothing.
Chapter Four: Broken Promises
Michael woke up much later, hours must have passed. He sat up slowly, the warehouse was empty. A pile of dust where Max's body had been. Michael groaned and sat up. His head was pounding. "Mia." He whispered, but she was gone. They were all gone. "Oh god Mia... What have I done?" He whispered and then began to cry. Hot burning tears that scorched his skin. He failed as a father. He'd always known he would, but he hadn't expected it to be something so big.
--
It was early the next morning when Michael arrived back in Albuquerque, at Maria's apartment. He didn't want to go in there, he didn't want to face her. To tell her that despite her belief in him, he was the failure that he had always known he'd be. Slowly he climbed out of the beat up Jetta and walked up to the door.
Michael just stood there, he couldn't bring himself to go inside. He rested his forehead against the door. Tears burned his eyes again. He'd spent nearly the entire trip back to Albuquerque crying. His daughter was paying for his mistakes in life. She was paying for what he was. So was Maria. The one person he'd ever truly loved more than his own life. And he'd ruined her because of what he was.
The door flew open and he stumbled. Maria looked up at him, her eyes red and puffy, mirroring his own. "I am so sorry Maria. I'm so sorry." He sunk down to his knees at her feet and buried his face in his hands. "I am so sorry." He repeated. "I tried... but I couldn't give Isabel up to that bastard and I ruined it all. I didn't mean to loose her Maria." Michael tipped his head back and looked up at her, expecting harsh words, violence even. He would have welcomed it. But it never came.
Maria slowly slid down to the floor in front of him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders and sobbed into his shoulder. "You did what you could Michael... You did what you could. You tried..." Her tears we hot against his chest, seeping through his shirt.
He had completely failed her, and she still had some sort of faith in him. He broke a promise he made to her, and she took him back into her arms, where he was crying like a baby. "I'm so sorry Maria." Michael continued to cry, his arms wrapped around her waist and he held her as tightly as he could. "I promised you I'd bring her back and... and..." His voice cracked and he dropped his head to her shoulder.
Maria gently brushed her fingers through his hair, tears silently rolled down her cheeks. She could practically feel the pain rolling off of him. "You tried baby, you did what you could." But that didn't change the fact that she wanted her baby back. And most likely, she never would now. How could she be angry at him? She had left him, and he came as soon as she called, willing to do anything, including give up his own family, for one he didn't even know.
She was angry at herself. She hadn't been able to protect Mia. Her own daughter. "It's okay." She whispered against his ear and held onto him tighter. She never should have left Michael, they probably could have worked things out, and none of this would have happened. This was all her fault and she knew it. She was a bad mother. "I'm so sorry Michael. It's my fault." Maria whispered and abruptly pulled herself out of his embrace. She didn't deserve his comfort. She didn't deserve him.
"What?" He barely registered what she said. "What?" He said again shaking his head. "Maria... this is not your fault. You had nothing to do with this."
"I never should have gone back to Roswell... or even in New Mexico. I never should have left you." She shook her head. "I should have been more careful not to get pregnant."
That did it. Now Michael was pissed. He stood up and grabbed her arm. "What? You're blaming yourself for this shit Maria? It wasn't your fault. Kivar didn't come after Mia because she was human. He came after her because she's part alien. You left because I let you. Because I was a prick, and because I was scared. I knew I'd be a fuck up. And I was right. Don't you dare, ever, regret Mia."
Maria's jaw was trembling. They lost their daughter, and they were blaming themselves. "What are we supposed to do Michael? How can we fix this? Mia...my baby girl..." Her knees went weak and Michael caught her in his arms.
"He won't hurt her." Michael offered as he pet the back of her head. "Mia has powers... he says she's really powerful. He won't dare hurt her. I'll figure something out. We'll get her back. Maria, I swear to you, I will bring Mia back, or die trying."
A sob tore past her throat. "Please don't die." She begged and held onto him tighter. Michael buried his face in her hair and closed his eyes, breathing in her hair.
"I'm sorry I never wrote you back." He murmured. "I thought it was better this way... that you'd be safer." Michael scoffed. "So much for that." Carefully he lifted her into his arms. "You should rest." Too much stress. Mia was as safe as she could be, and not be at home in their arms. But he knew that Kivar would never dare to hurt her.
--
Isabel had no trouble tracking Kivar down. From the abandoned warehouse in Albuquerque to a fancy office in downtown Las Vegas. She walked into the building. A receptionist sat at the front desk of the nondescript office. "Can I help you ma'am?" She asked with fake sincerity.
"Actually you can, I'd like to speak with Kivar."
"I'm sorry ma'am, there is no one here by [i]that[/i] name." The receptionist replied snootily.
"Tell him, that Vilandra is here." Isabel glared at the woman and crossed her arms over her chest. The woman at the desk paled and scrambled for the phone.
"She's here." She hissed into the phone. A moment later the door behind her opened and Isabel rolled her eyes at the receptionist as she passed her.
When Isabel walked into the room, Kivar was seated at a large desk in the back of the room. She could see the desire in his eyes. The little brunette girl sat on the floor, as a red headed woman stood in front of her, a ball in her hand. "Lift it." Mia frowned at the woman.
"I don't want to."
"Little brat." The red head snapped and threw the ball to the ground.
"Kilsey." Kivar yelled, and the red head looked up in terror. "Leave. Now."
Isabel crossed the distance of the room and stood in front of the desk. "You were looking for me?" She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Yes, as a matter of fact. I was. I happen to be in need of a bride."
"I hear that the price was the little girl. Fair enough trade I suppose."
"You and your brother's head actually." Kivar smirked. "Rath did a decent enough job of murdering him. Though, a public execution would have been a little more fun."
Isabel didn't falter. Her brother was dead. Deep down, she had known that already. "Now you have me. Let her go."
"Not a chance my love. That little girl is a very powerful child."
"Wouldn't a child that is fully alien be more powerful?" Isabel asked leaning forward slightly across the desk. "After all, she is part human. You have me, and you can have all the children you want."
"I'm not letting her go."
"Why the hell not?" Isabel growled and turned around. She sat back on the desk and looked at Mia. A moment later she felt his hot breath against the back of her neck. He pushed her hair over her shoulder and pressed his lips to her skin.
"She is more powerful than you."
"Is she more powerful than you?" Isabel asked tilting her head to the side a little to allow him more access to her throat. She closed her eyes, and tried to get into his head. But she wasn't nearly as good at such things like Tess had been. Oh how she missed Tess. [i]Run Mia, please, just run![/i] Isabel looked at the little girl again, who was now looking at her with rapt fascination. [i]You have to run Mia.[/i] Kivar seemed distracted by Isabel's throat, and now had a hand massaging her breast.
The door between the front room and the office was still open and Isabel watched Mia's eyes shift to it for a split second before they were back on Isabel's eyes.
[i]But he won't hurt me. He'll hurt my mommy and daddy.[/i] Isabel nearly jumped in surprise, hearing Mia's voice in her head.
[i]I won't let him. Run Mia. You have to get out of here, now.[/i] "Kivar..." Isabel breathed. "Isn't there someplace more... private?" She asked turning her head to look into his eyes. He swiftly picked her up and shoved open the door near his desk to another room and then pinned her to the wall.
Seconds later there was screaming. "Kivar! Kivar!" Kivar pressed his hand to the door, making it solid. No way for anyone to enter the room.
"I always dreamed of you carrying my child." He told her softly before claiming her lips in a passionate kiss.
Isabel was sinking quickly into the feeling of him. It was familiar. She remembered how much she loved it before. How he touched her and made her melt. How he touched her and made her betray her entire family. "Kivar." She breathed, slipping her hand between them and dipping it into his pants. One little betrayal, to save Mia's life.
They yelling on the other side of the wall grew more and more distant as Kivar laid her out on the floor, and stripped her of her clothes. She was still beautiful in this life. Even more so than Lonnie, tattoos had never turned him on. Pristine, porcelain skin, that is what got him. Isabel moaned and writhed against him as he entered her. She was beautiful.
The afterglow was like something Isabel had never felt. Actually, she had. So long ago. She never wanted that feeling to go away. Pure euphoria. Bliss in it's purest form. "Kivar." She whispered. Would he take her home to Antar if she asked? Could she convince him to change things there? Save the dying planet?
"Yes love?"
"Take me home, please." He was a cold blooded killer. But what did she have here on Earth? She was in love with him. She always had been. "I want to go home." She told him, looking up into his eyes.
The yelling finally broke through their reverie. "Kivar! She's gone!" Anger crossed his face as he jumped up quickly. His clothes were on in and instant and he was looking down at Isabel. His conniving little Vilandra.
"You tricked me." Isabel sat up quickly and shook her head.
"No! Kivar, I wasn't trying to trick you!" She yelped. The back of his hand hit the side of her face with violent force. "I loved you... I knew it was wrong, but I still loved you." She murmured, pulling her clothes on slowly.
Kivar didn't have the chance to recreate the door. His guard was down, Isabel knew this was her only chance. She raised her hand and she stopped his heart. His eyes went wide. He fell to his knees and she slowly stood up. "All I did was love you... and you always broke my heart. Now, I'm just returning the favor." He reached out towards her and she pressed her hand to his chest. "But even now... I still love you." She whispered and kissed him softly. He kissed her back for an instant before falling limply to the floor. His eyes rolled back into his head. She killed him. The man she loved. But now she had to focus on Mia. And getting her back to Michael and Maria.
Isabel turned and pressed her hand to the wall where the door had been and stepped back into the office. Nicholas was standing there, wide eyed. "Kivar is dead." Isabel told him. "I'm in charge now. You'll let the girl go. Do not follow her. You will wait here, I'm leaving. When I return, we're going back to Antar." Nicholas nodded dumbly, just as Isabel knew he would. Always eager for anyone to follow.
Chapter Five: Home Again
Isabel pulled her car up in front of Maria's apartment, Mia was laying across the back seat, sleeping soundly. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. They'd be a family again. "Wake up Mia, you're home." Isabel got out of the car and scooped the little girl into her arms. Isabel carried her up to the front door, waved her hand over the lock and pushed open the door quietly. The room living room was empty. "Go on sweetheart. You're home."
Mia's whole face lit up. "Mommy and daddy?"
"They're here and they're safe." She told her. Isabel kissed the Mia's forehead before ushering her inside. Mia ran down the hallway screaming.
"Mommy! Daddy! Mommy!" Isabel paused for a moment, a second later, she heard Michael and Maria's voices yelling out their daughter's name. She smiled and walked back to her car and headed back towards Las Vegas.
Michael and Maria were laying in Maria's bed, just holding each other. Their little girl was gone. Michael's heart was broken over it, as was Maria's, but they were able to find some comfort in each other's presence. Michael had thought he'd heard the front door, but chalked it up to his imagination, but when a few moments later he heard Mia's voice. Maria was off the bed and running down the hallway before Michael had even registered what was going on. He followed her quickly and saw Mia leap into Maria's arms.
"Mommy!" The little girl cried and held onto her with all her might. Mia held a hand out towards Michael. "Daddy! You're here too! Aunt Izzy was right!" Mia tightened her arms around Maria's neck.
"Isabel?" Michael looked behind Mia. "Where is she?"
"She left again, said it's our secret." Mia smiled. "But she saved me daddy! And she made sure that mean nasty man wouldn't hurt you or mommy ever again!" Mia giggled as Maria rained kisses all over her face.
"My baby girl, oh my baby, you're safe. Oh god you're home, you're safe." And then she was crying again. This time because of the overwhelming happiness. Michael moved up behind her and held them both. He kissed Mia's forehead, and then Maria's.
"You're both safe." He'd never felt so relieved. His daughter, by some miracle was safe and in her mother's arms again.
--
Months had passed, Isabel sat on the throne in the palace that she had once called her home. And it was again. "One day, this will all be yours Alexander." She whispered softly to the baby boy in her arms. His eyes opened and focused on her face before closing again. Isabel kissed his forehead and smiled faintly. Slowly things were going back to the way they should be on the planet. She had formed alliances with the other planets, all with Larek's help. Though he had been a little apprehensive at first. She had tried to kill him before.
But they had worked through that, and he helped her gain the peoples trust. She was home. And she had a child, and she was happy. "I'll make sure that you don't make the same mistakes that I made before. That we all made."
Maria laid on the floor with Mia at her side, staring out the small window in the living room of their apartment. It was raining outside, again. She hated the rain. It was so depressing. She heard the front door open and smiled faintly.
"How are my girls?" Michael paused momentarily before coming around the couch and seeing them both laid out on the floor staring out at the darkened sky.
"I hate the rain." She murmured. "So does Mena." Maria sighed and looked up at Michael as he knelt down beside them.
"I know baby." He leaned down and kissed her forehead and touched her swollen belly lightly. "It's only a few more months, and then we'll move to Nevada." Mia got up off the floor and ran around Maria to fling herself at her father.
"Daddy! I talked to Aunt Izzy!" She exclaimed quietly.
"You did? How is Aunt Izzy?"
"She's happy. Baby Alex started crawling." Mia smiled and snuggled herself into Michael's arms. "She said she sends her love."
Michael hugged Mia and kissed the top of her head. "You shouldn't be laying on the floor." Michael said looking back at Maria.
"It's the only place I could get comfortable." She told him and lightly touched his hand.
"Then I'll get you a blanket. It's cold down here."
"I'm fine." Maria told him and slowly sat up. She rested her hands on her stomach. Mia moved out of Michael's lap and into Maria's to rest her cheek against her belly.
"Mena wants the rain to stop." Mia said quietly.
"Me too baby." Maria told her daughter and lightly tucked some hair behind her ear.
"Are you hungry?" Michael asked getting up from the floor and holding a hand out to Maria. She took it and let him help pull her too her feet.
"Yeah, I think I could eat something." Maria smiled as his arms wrapped around her expanded waist and held her close as he could.
"I love you, you know that?" He smirked and kissed her softly.
"Yeah, I love you too baby." She rested her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes. Suddenly sunlight filled the room. Maria opened her eyes quickly and glanced towards the window. The rain had stopped. Mia stood in front of the window, it was open just barely, enough for her tiny hand to stick out the window. She pulled her hand back and closed the window before turning around and smiling at her parents.
"Now Mena is happy." Mia giggled and skipped down the hallway to her room.
"Oh Michael... what are we going to do with her? She can't go changing the weather every time Mena doesn't like it."
"She knows not to use her powers in public, stopping the rain for a while isn't that big of a deal. Now if she makes it snow when we're in Nevada, that might be bad, but stopping the rain in Seattle, it'll only last for a while. It'll be okay."
"You spoil that girl." Maria smiled slightly and gave him a soft kiss.
"I know." Michael chuckled and kissed her back.