ForcedTogetherpart16

After Karen left Maria got up and called Ted at the diner. She was suppose to work tonight but she just didn�t feel up to it. When she got off the phone she decided that she need to get some fresh air and think, so grabbing her coat and keys she took off for a walk around the town.

She had been walking for about 45 minutes when she found herself in front of the small store that she had gone to buy Josh�s Christmas gift. She couldn�t help smiling as she looked at all the tiny baby clothes and booties in the display window.

She was tempted to go inside but knew it wasn�t a good idea. She wanted the first thing she bought for the baby to be something her and Michael picked out together. Maria sighed, Michael. How was she gonna tell him about the baby.

Would he freak? Would he be happy? Ever since they became lovers Michael had changed so much. Even Ruthie and Jeanie couldn�t believe how content he had become. Ruthie had even made it a point to say to Maria that it made her heart swell to see the changes in him. That he didn�t have that lost look in his eyes anymore. That he had found his home.

A few nights ago Maria had asked Michael if he still thought they should only stay in Baker�s Hollow until the spring and then take off. She couldn�t help doing a little happy dance when Michael told her that he thought they were safe there and unless something concrete happened that they had no reason to leave.

He confessed later that night after they had made love and were watching the stars together that he would be happy to live the rest of their lives there as long as they were together. That not only had he found love and understanding with Maria, he had also found true friends that made him feel like he belonged and he wasn�t going to give it up without a fight.

Maria smiled and headed home. She wasn�t sure how she was going to tell Michael that he was going to be a father, but she was sure that he would be happy about it. Nervous, but happy.

Maria had just finished getting dinner ready when Michael came in the back door, planting a smacking kiss on her cheek before he wrapped his arms around her and rocked her lightly against his body.

�Smells good. Have I�ve told you how great of a cook you are? I mean back when we were camping it was kinda hard to tell since it�s kinda hard to screw up pasta or rice, but since we�ve settle here you have really turned into an amazing cook. Not to mention how beautiful you always look or how amazing you always smell�� He stopped in mid compliment when he heard Maria laughing.

�I already know that you invited Peter, Karen and Josh for dinner and that you and Peter both forgot that you have a game tonight.� She teased.

Michael groaned. �For crying out loud. Just tell me, are you and Karen sharing a brain or something. I just left Peter less than a half an hour ago. How is it even possible that she let you know about tonight?�

Maria laughed. �Well since you asked, I�ll let you in on the secret. Now remember I could be kicked out of the sisterhood for telling you, but I love you so I�m willing to risk it. See we have this devise, it�s called�� Maria stopped for a dramatic pause before turning her head both ways as if checking for a spy hiding in the corner of something. ��a�you promise you won�t tell.� She asked, trying desperately to keep a straight face.

Michael smirked at her and raised his hand giving her the Boys Scout hand solute. �I promised Mata Hari.�

�Okay, it�s called a�a�a telephone.� She said finally, wiping her hand over forehead pretending to be wiping away perspiration before she started to laugh.

Michael chuckled. �You realize you are demented.� He said as he went and got a soda out of the fridge.

�Gee, two minutes ago I was an beautiful, amazing smelling and a terrific cook. Now I�m just demented. Boy talk about decline in the complement department.�

�So I take it your ok with dinner and the game?� He asked.

�Yeah, your just lucky I called into the diner. I was suppose to work tonight.� She said as she went and took out some lettuce and veggies to make a dinner salad.

Michael stopped looking at the mail and looked up at Maria. �You called in. What�s wrong, are you sick?� He said as he walked over to her and placed the back of his hand against her forehead as if check for a fever.

�No, I�m fine.� Maria answered as she swatted away Michael�s hand.

�But you never call in.� He insisted.

�I just didn�t feel like working. Of course that�s when I thought I would be spending an evening with you alone in front of a roaring fire.� She said in an attempt to distract him.

�Really.� Michael said as he started to kiss Maria�s neck while rubbing his hands up and down her arms before wrapping them around her waist. Maria moaned as she felt one of his hand slid up under her sweater and fondle her breast, teasing her nipple into a harden pebble, before sliding his other hand up to her other breast, treating it to the same loving caresses.

�Michael.� Maria hissed.

�Yeah.� He mumbled as he dipped his head and laved her earlobe with his tongue before he captured it with his teeth and pulled it gently.

�Oh God.� She moaned all thought forgotten. That is until the front door opened and Peter and Karen shouted hello.

�Damn.� Michael said as he slid his hand from underneath Maria sweater and turning her around to give her a kiss that was laced with a promise that they would be picking up later tonight where they were leaving off.

Maria smirked at Michael as she went out to greet their friends. �Hi guys, glad you could make it. Hope you like eggplant parmesan, pasta and garlic bread?�

Peter, busy trying to take his eight month old son out of his snowsuit looked up at Maria. �What would you say if I said I wasn�t too crazy about the food on the menu for the night?� He teased.

Maria smiled at him and patted him on his shoulder. �Pretty much that your s-hit out of like because I�m not offering anything else.�

�At least not to you, that�s for sure.� Karen said while laughing at her husband pretending he was mortally wounded by Maria and her remark.

�Come on Maria, let�s hit the kitchen. These two can watch Josh while we talk.� Karen said as she ushered Maria into the other room.

�So did you tell him?�

�No, not yet. I was going to tell him but we kinda got side tracked.�

Karen laughed. �Yeah, so I see. Hay Maria can you turn off you headlights your gonna blind me with them.� She teased.

Maria blushed and looked down her front. Oh yeah she had headlights. Okay, this was going in her �reasons to beat Michael up box.� First the movies and now this, Karen must think they�re sex fiends or something.

�Oh stop laughing!� Maria snapped as she went and grabbed an apron to put on over herself and to hide her erect nipples.

�Hey, I can�t help it. I�m jealous and I pretty much gave up on spontaneous sex seven months ago. I don�t have a choice, I have to live vicariously through you and Michael hot sex life.�

Maria laughed. �You poor ole married woman.� She teased. �If you need to spice up your marriage you could always try serving Peter dinner wearing nothing but a smile and a wink.�

�Oh you little witch. I can�t believe your throwing my advice back in my face.� Karen huff before she turned around and cornering Maria. �I will if you will. What do you say we give our husbands out there a night they�ll never forget?� She suggested while wiggling her eye brows at Maria.

Maria looked at her friend, mortified at her suggestion. She was ready to scream for Michael when she noticed that Karen was biting her inner cheek to keep from laughing. Giggling she wrapped her arms around the other woman�s neck and kissed her on the cheek.

�Poor delusion Karen. Do you really think that if we went outside strutting around in our birthday suits would actually change anything. Sorry to be the one to break it to you, but we�re in Canada. In the dead of winter. There�s a skating rink in the middle of the town and no matter what we do, our men will be at that skating rink tonight. Racing around on the ice with sticks, chasing a little black puck. For some reason our husbands find that more enticing than us. It doesn�t make a difference if we serve them dinner in the raw or not.� Maria said in her best Jack Webb �Dragnet� impersonation.

Karen laughed. �I so had you going for a second.� She teased as she went over and began to chop a green pepper for the salad.

Maria giggled. �Ok, I�ll admit I freaked there for a second. But when I noticed that you were biting your cheek the jig was up.�

�Haha. Seriously Maria have you decided when your going to tell him?�

�I don�t know. I can�t do it while you guys are here.�

�If you want I can tell Peter I�m not feeling well and we could leave.� She offered.

�No, that�s ok. I�m not sure I want to tell him before he is suppose to play hockey. Those guys are cut throat and I wouldn�t want him distracted by the news.� Maria said.

�Honey I think Michael would probable stay home with you if you told him.� Karen said as she got to work on the onion as Maria tended to her sauce.

�I know, I don�t know Karen. I just want to find the perfect way to tell him. I mean how did you tell Peter about Josh?� She asked.

�Oh well, did you ever see that movie with Molly Ringwall. You know the one where she�s pregnant?�

�Yeah.�

�Well you know the scene where there at Thanksgiving dinner and she says. �I�m pregnant, please pass the turnips.�?�

�Yeah.�

�Well that pretty much sums up the way I told Peter, just that I asked him to pass the ketchup, not the turnips.�

Maria laughed. �You didn�t?�

�Yup, I did. To this day Peter turns a little green when I ask him to pass me the ketchup. It�s like he always waiting for the other shoe to drop.� Karen said, laughing at the memory.

�Oh God, you are evil. E.V.I.L. I don�t know how Peter puts up with you.� Maria said in mock horror.

�What can I say, he doesn�t have a choice. He knows I would just track him down no matter where he went. Lets just say I take the Canadian Mounties Police slogan, �We always get our man� very seriously.� Karen explained rationally.

Maria couldn�t stop laughing. �Oh Karen, I love you. I don�t know what I would do with out you to be best friends with.� She said honestly.

Karen laughed and looked at Maria. �I love you too. Maria, I don�t know what it is about you but I feel like we�ve been best friends forever. I�m glad you and Michael moved here.�

�Me too.� Maria said.

�Hay you two, is dinner almost ready. We have to be at the rink in a little over an hour.� Michael called out from the living room.

Maria and Karen both huffed before Maria shouted back. �You could get up off your hairy ass and come in here and help if your in such a hurry.�

Both had to giggle when Michael called back. �But honey, Karen insisted we watch Josh.�

But both women went into fits of hysterics when Peter added as both men walked into the kitchen. �And Maria, I�ve seen Michael�s ass and I would hardly call that peach fuzz he has hairy. Also please refrain from using foul language in front of my son.�

�Peach fuzz.� Maria cried out while trying to pull herself together, failing hopelessly as she looked at Michael who was getting all huffy.

�Excuse me! I don�t see anything funny here! I have very manly ass hair!� Michael shouted in mock indignation.

The rest of dinner consisted of Michael trying to convince everyone that he did not have peach fuzz on his ass before him and Peter took off for the rink. Karen stayed and helped Maria with the dishes before she left. Leaving Maria alone to try and think of the perfect way to tell Michael she was going to have his baby.

TBC