ForcedTogetherpart14

Michael woke up a few hours later and reached out for Maria only to be greeted with an empty bed. �Maria.� He called out softly.

�Over here.�

Michael turned and saw that she was wrapped up in a quilt sitting on the floor next to the tree. Michael pushed himself up and got out of the bed walking over and kneeling down next to her.

�Whacha doing over here?�

�Just thinking.� She said as she turned her head a little to look at Michael and couldn�t help giggling a little when she saw he didn�t bother putting anything on before he joined her. �Do me a favor, stay away from the fire. I�d hate to see your chestnuts roasting on an open flame. Especially since I didn�t even get a chance to nibble them yet.� She teased while snaking her hand out and lightly stroking his balls.

Michael smirked at her. �Well maybe you should come back to bed and give me a hand at keeping them safe and if your good maybe I�ll give you a taste.� He teased as he leaned in and captured her lips in a kiss.

Maria smiled and kissed him back before pulling back after a few seconds. �Baby your going freeze out there, get under this quilt with me.�

�No bed?� He asked as he slipped under the quilt gathering Maria in his arms and pulling her up to sit in his lap.

�Not yet, I just want to sit here a little longer.�

�So what are you thinking about?� Michael asked as he sucked her earlobe in his mouth while slipping his hand down to tease her c-lit while rubbing his thumb over it.

�OHHHHHH God! Michael pleassssse!!� Maria begged while gently pulling his hand away and entwining her fingers with his.

Maria turned and looked up into Michael face and reassured him that all was well with a tender kiss. �I�m sorry, it�s just I�ve been thinking about how lucky I am and how amazing this Christmas has been.�

�I know, it is amazing.� He agreed.

�You know what Ruthie said to me tonight. That Christmas Eve was a night of magical moments and that she knew we would have our moment tonight and as happy I am I can�t help feeling guilty about how good this feels, letting ourselves love each other.�

Michael nodded his head, he knew what she meant. �Because the other are dead and here we are.� Michael said before asking. �Are you regretting what happened tonight?�

Maria shook her head. �The only thing I regret about tonight is not spending all of it with you decoration our first tree together. No Michael I don�t regret tonight, because I don�t regret loving you What we have is rare and most people spend a lifetime looking for it. No I have no regrets about us, the thing I truly hate and regret are the circumstances that brought us together.�

�I know, me too. I�ve been thinking about Max�s and Isabel�s parents a lot tonight.� He confessed.

Maria sighed. �Yeah, I keep wondering how Mr. and Mrs. Parker are holding it together.�

Michael smiled. �You know we can talk about your Mom if you want?�

�I don�t think I can.� Maria said as all the hurt she was feeling from being away from her Mom was finally hitting her. She had been able to block her feelings most of the holiday season because she had been so busy trying to convince Michael her feeling were real but now her mind was reeling with thoughts and memories of her Mom.

�Okay, I can respect that. Just know I�m here for you.� He said knowing now that they were back on track that she will come to him when she is ready to talk about what she is going through.

�I know, that�s one of those million things I was talking about that I love about you.� She said while resting her head on his chest and yawning.

Michael rubbed Maria�s back prompting another yawn. �Come on baby, I�m putting you back in bed. You�ve had a long night.� He said as he stood up and carried Maria�s nude form back to bed before climbing in with her and wrapping his arms around her.

Maria sighed and snuggled into Michael embrace while mumbling. �And we�re going to have long day tomorrow too.� She said as she drifted off to sleep.

�Sweet dreams.� Michael said as he placed a light kiss on her forehead while holding the only person that could ever make him feel like he truly belong on this planet and made him feel like he finally had a life worth living for.
************************************************************************

The next time Michael awoke it was to the whiff of bacon drifting through the air. �Breakfast.� He said as he got out of bed and pulled on his boxers before heading downstairs.

�Maria, honey you better be cooking up enough to feed an army because you put me through one Hell of a workout last night.� He called out as he headed into the kitchen.
only to be bombarded with a chorus of �Merry Christmas� from a room full of holiday well wishers.

�Oh crap.� He shouted as he stood in the kitchen in front of his boss, Jeannie and her family and Mr. Lucas clad in nothing but a pair of smiley face boxers while Maria blushed furiously at the obvious implications of that statement.

�Ops, are we interrupting something here.� Karen said giving Maria a sly smile and wink only causing Maria to blush even more and burying her face in her hands.

�Yeah, but we'll forgive you.� Michael said deciding that considering all the woman and probable most of the men in the room knew that things had been rocky between him and Maria that it was time to show them that everything was just perfect now.

So taking a deep breath and mustering up as much dignity as pair of smiley faces could provide him, Michael purposely strolled over to Maria and lowered her hands before tilting her face up to look him in the eyes. �Morning baby.� Michael said as he pulled her in for a passionate kiss only to be broken by the thunderous applause that erupted from the other people in the room.

�Well I hope you all enjoyed the show, hope you don�t mind but I�m gonna go and put on some pants.� Michael joked as he gave Maria another quick kiss before heading back upstairs. Amazed at how much he was looking forward to not only spending Christmas with Maria but to spending it with the people who were slowly becoming true friends and family to them.

TBC