ForcedTogetherpart19

�Michael, don�t forgot to grab the sun block on you way down.� Maria shouted upstairs as she headed into the kitchen. She went over to the counter and began to pile all the food Michael had prepared earlier into their picnic basket.

When she was done, she went over to the sink and got an ice cold glass of water. �You know Emma, I love you like crazy but it�s no fun being eight months pregnant in August.� Maria said to her daughter as she rubbed her tummy, smiling as she felt her baby kicking.

Eight months, had it really been that long. It was already the middle of August and soon it would be the one year anniversary of when the others were assassinated and her and Michael went on the run.

So much had happened since that awful event. Her and Michael ran all the way to Canada, falling in love along the way. They had assumed new identities, began a new life and were now going to have the first human and alien baby that they knew of in a few short weeks.

Maria smiled thinking back of the night Michael found out she was pregnant. First Emma decided to let him know in her own unique way and then Maria confirmed it when she whispered in his ear that he was going to be a daddy. She still blushed when she thought about how her and Michael celebrated their joy over becoming parents together that night.

Then the next morning over breakfast Michael told her about the sheriff�s offer. At first she didn't think he should do it, that they could manage between the two of them. But it was the look in his eyes when he said he was honor that both the sheriff, Peter and Tony thought so highly of him that she caved.

Her biggest concern was about figuring out a new place to live. Their little cottage had become a home to them. Maria had already thought about how she was going to turn the bedroom closest to them into a nursery for the baby, but with Michael quitting his job as caretaker they knew they would lose the cottage.

They waited a week and after Michael confirmed everything with the sheriff they finally approached Ruthie to let her know that Michael would becoming the new deputy starting in April and that they would begin to look for a new place as soon as possible.

Maria cried when Ruthie hugged both of them and said she wouldn�t hear of it. This was their home and they weren�t leaving, especially since Maria was going to have a baby that Ruthie was already bragging to everyone about.

Maria laughed as she watched Ruthie and Michael argue over them paying rent and had to smile when Ruthie finally gave in and agreed to let them pay her, but she was insistent that they only pay what was equaled to about $300.00 U.S. dollars and that Maria would continue to help at the inn.

Maria had been helping out since Courtney took off the day after St. Valentine�s Day with some trucker she met in a bar the night before. Ruthie had asked Maria to help Jeanie with the cleaning and soon had started to let her help run the front desk during the day as well.

As soon as Maria started to show; Ruthie, Jeanie and Michael all insisted that she stop with the physical work and Ruthie began to instruct her on running the front desk alone, on taking reservations, planning the menus for the inn�s dinning area and balancing the books. Eventually she had to quit the diner, much to her bosses chagrin.

Maria was seven months along had been so involved with learning everything that she hadn�t realized that Ruthie was gradually grooming her to take over running the inn. It finally dawned on her a few weeks ago and she confronted the older woman, who explain how she had been waiting for the right person for a long time and that Maria was that person.

Maria cried for over an hour in Michael arms later that night as she told him. He just smiled and said he wasn�t surprised, it was obvious that Ruthie thought of her as if she was her own granddaughter or something. Maria swore that she would do what ever it takes to make Ruthie proud of her, finally really understanding how Michael felt when the sheriff asked him to become a deputy.

A deputy, yup her man had joined the Baker�s Hollow Sheriff�s Department in April. She still laugh a little when he would come into the room dressed for work. Her sweet little delinquent looked so cute in his uniform.

She still couldn�t believe only a few short months ago they were breaking the law and passing fake money. Hell even his name; Deputy Gulliver, was technical on the illegal side considering that Michael tampered with government data basis and all but they both chose to ignore that.

Oh yeah, a lot had changed since they started to run, but it was all for the better. Even though Maria still had a hard time and would upset when she thought about her Mom. Ever since she had found out she was going to have a baby, she couldn�t stop thinking about a way to contact her. To let her know that she was ok, but Michael was always the voice of reason and Maria realized that she couldn�t take the chance of putting her Mom in danger.

Maria realized that as much as she missed her Mom and wanted her there to share in her joy, that it was for the best. She also realized that she was blessed with the friendships she had with Ruthie, Jeanie and Karen. Ruthie, who had become a surrogate mother to her. Jeanie, who had filled a void in her life that was placed there when she had to leave Alex behind and then there was Karen.

Karen had become her best friend, as loyal and devoted to Maria as Liz was. Her relationship with Karen was what she thought her relationship with Liz would have grown to, if she had lived and they had grown up together. Being in love and married to the men of their dreams, having babies.

Married, that was the one thing that nagged at her. Legally and emotionally her and Michael were married, but a part of her wanted to truly exchange the vows with him. She just need that declaration made between them in front of the people who had become their family.

Soon though that would no longer be a issue for her. Actually in ninety minutes it wasn�t going to be an issue period. Her sweet and loving �husband� had announced yesterday that they would be �renewing� their vows at the beach with all their friends and then they would have a big picnic after the ceremony as a sort of reception.

�Ok, I�ve got the sun�� Michael sucked in a breath when he saw Maria standing before him. He didn�t care how long they would be together, he knew she would always be able to take his breath away.

How was it possible that something so simple as a powder blow sundress with tiny white roses embroidered throughout could look so amazing on a woman was beyond him. He smiled as he watched her rubbing her swollen belly as she reach up with her free hand and tucked a stray piece of her hair behind her ear. He would always be happy that he convinced her to grow her hair out. He loved how it would shine in the moonlight when they would lay together in bed, watching the stars together.

�I take it you like the dress.� Maria teased as she reached up and kissed him gently on the lips.

�Un hun. God Maria your beautiful.� He said as he captured her lips for another kiss.

They parted when they heard a knock and Ruthie calling out an �YOO HOO� to make sure the coast was clear. The poor woman was always afraid of walking in on something intimate ever since that morning she had come in without knocking and found Maria on her knees bring Michael to orgasm with her mouth.

Maria giggled as she heard Michael groaned and headed for the back door. �Hi Ruthie, how are you feeling this morning?�

�I�m fine sweetie, but I should be the one asking you how you feel.� She said as she enveloped Maria in a hug.

�Fat, that�s how I feel.� She answered.

�You look amazing.� Michael argued. �Doesn�t she look beautiful?� He asked Ruthie as he kissed his former boss on her cheek before grabbing the picnic Maria packed and the blanket and radio and headed out to pack the car.

�Michael right, you look beautiful. Maria your are a stunning bride.� She said honestly as she rubbed Maria�s hand affectionately.

�Your sweet, just like Michael. I still can�t believe he set this up. Do you know he was up half the night preparing our picnic? I love that we�re going to renew our vow on the beach and finally have a celebration with our friends. I also can�t believe he came up with the picnic idea, Karen even said last night on the phone she was shock that he thought of something so quirky, romantic and sweet.� Maria ramble happily.

�I know, I spoke to Jeanie earlier and she said Peter did all the cooking for their picnic as well. I think those boys spoil you and Karen.� She tease Maria.

Both woman were laughing when Michael came back inside. �What�s so funny?� He asked.

�Nothing, Ruthie thinks you and Peter spoil me and Karen.� She explained as she brushed a piece of lint off of his button down powder blue oxford shirt. She still couldn�t believe he agreed to where the shirt or the tan khakis that she went out and bought him yesterday afternoon after he announced they were getting married today.
She had picked out his clothes while she was shopping for a dress to wear.

�She�s right you are spoiled, but you deserve it.� He said as he lifted her hand and kissed it. �Are you two ready, we�re suppose to meet the other down by Thompson Bluff in twenty minutes.�

�Are you kidding, I�ve been ready since yesterday morning.� Maria gushed, causing Michael and Ruthie to laugh at her enthusiasm as they headed out the door and got into the Jetta driving off to meet the others.

Ninety minutes later Maria and Karen were touching up their make up and getting ready for the ceremony to begin. Karen had gone with Maria and had also choose a sun dress for the occasion, a light pink dress with lavender swirls running along the hem of the dress.

�You know, you really have a nerve looking that good at this stage of your pregnancy. When I was eight months along my hair looked like crap and I had hemorrhoids the of golf balls.� Karen teased as she fixed Maria�s hair.

�Karen, you know there is such a thing as too much information.� Maria said as she giggled at the face her friend was making.

�Please, this from the woman who told me yesterday that her husband had gone down on her just that morning after he told her that they would renew their vows today.� She argued good naturely.

�Not my fault Peter doesn�t give you head. You want me to have Michael give him a little talk.� Maria offered.

�Oh yeah, I could just see it now.� Karen said. �Besides the way things have been between us I don�t think he would take it to nicely.�

Maria looked up from fixing her dress. �Sweetie, you know he loves you. You�re just going through some stuff is all. They say it happens a lot of times after you have a baby.�

Karen wiped away a few tears. �I hope your right. Last night after he was done preparing the food for our picnic I wanted to make love so bad and he wanted to watch some stupid baseball game on television. I mean he�s always complaining I�m never in the mood and when I am he blows me off.�

�Karen, I�m so sorry. I feel so guilty.� Maria said as she hugged her friend.

�Don�t be silly, you have nothing to feel guilty about. You and Michael went through a lot to get here. Granted sometimes I just want to grab that husband of yours and have my wicked way with him, but it passes pretty quickly when he so proudly belches the alphabet the way only he can.� She told her in an attempt to lighten an obviously dark moment.

Karen swore she wasn�t going to ruin this day for Maria and smiled happily when she the other woman laugh before saying. �Be thankful he only serene you with belches, I won�t even tell what he does in the privacy of our own home.�

Both woman were still laughing when they heard the groom ask. �If you two are done, the minister is ready to start the ceremony.� Michael told them as he and Peter walked over to where they were. Smiling as they stood in front of them with their hands hidden behind their backs.

�Whatcha got there sailor?� Maria asked, batting her eyelashes and winking at Michael, causing him to laugh.

�Just these.� He said as he pulled out a bouquet of white roses.

�And these.� Peter chimed as he pulled out a bouquet of pink roses.

�Oh Michael, they�re beautiful! Thank you.� Maria cried as she hugged him and gave him a loud smacking kiss on the cheek.

�Ditto Baby.� Karen whispered as she kissed Peter passionately on the lips. Blushing slightly when Michael separated them with a wolf whistle.

�Okay, time to get this show on the road you four.� The sheriff said as he came and stood next to Maria. �You two get down the path and wait for your ladies. Jeanie hit the play button on that radio box of yours. Karen get your keester in gear and get ready to walk down that path.� He ordered as everyone stared at him.

�What are you all waiting for. I�ve got a lady to give away here.� He looked around at everyone who was just smiling at him. �Do I look like I�m kidding. Lets go, lets go, lets go!!� He shouted making everyone jump and scurry off.

An hour later Michael and Maria were dancing their first official dance as a married couple to �Something� by George Harrison, while all their friends clapped and cheered them on.

The afternoon sailed by as they ate and danced the day away. The girls were pleasantly surprised that not only could Michael and Peter really cook, but they had actually remember to order a small wedding cake.

Everybody had a wonderful time as they partied throughout the day and into the early evening. Everyone was so wrapped up in the celebration that they never noticed a strange car parked across from the festivities for half the day or the man and woman in the car who watched the happy couple intensively.

They also didn�t notice as the man picked up a cell phone punching in numbers, waiting several seconds before speaking to the person on the other end. �It�s them, we�ve found them and that�s not all, they�re going to have a child too.� He told the person on the other end before hanging up and turning to his companion.

�We wait, we�re to meet up with the others in an hour. There�s no hurry, they�re not going anywhere.� The man said to the woman.

�Then we wait.� She answered as she watched the couple in question kissing. She turned her head away as the man started the car and drove to meet the others.

TBC