ForcedTogetherpart33

Later that afternoon after the whole family went to the children�s Christmas mass all the families were at the inn getting ready to have dinner together. Maria and Karen were in the kitchen checking the food and everyone else was out either in the den or the living room. The youngest ones were in the rumpus room that Maria and Michael had converted while they were renovating the inn a few years back.

�That was such a cute service. Pastor Plum always does something special for the kids.� Karen said as she began to mash the potatoes.

�Yeah it was cute. Gee can you believe we haven�t gone to midnight mass since Hannah and Zach were born.� She said thoughtfully as she took the roast beef out of the oven, searching for the garlic cloves

�Well, we can�t make a night of it anymore, the kids have to be home for you know who.� Karen said with a laugh as she poured some cream and butter into the potatoes.

�I know.� Maria said with a smile. �Hey did I tell you Emma doesn�t believe anymore.�

�Blame that on Josh, he probable told her. He is under strict orders he�s not to tell the little ones.� Her friend explained.

�Emma too.� Maria said with a shake of her head. She smiled when she saw Carrie come into the kitchen.

�What can I do?� She asked the other two woman.

�Actually, could you take the carrots out of the oven, they�re all done. Then we can bring everything into the living room.� Maria asked as she popped her head out of the kitchen and called out to everyone that dinner was ready.

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A couple of hours later, after the men had cleaned the kitchen and washed all the dishes the adults were sitting in the den of the inn and the kids were watching a video in the rumpus room.

The others watched as Michael and Maria exchanged nervous glances and finally Karen couldn�t take it anymore. �Alright you two. What�s going on. You�ve been acting like scared little kids all evening.�

�Maria, I think we should tell them.� Michael said as he looked at the others.

�Tell us what.� Peter asked.

�Something weird happened this morning with Hannah.� Maria explained as she and Michael began to tell them what Hannah said and their own thoughts on the matter. When they were done they were surprised to see the look of amusement on the other�s faces.

�Son, your just noticing this.� John said with a chuckle as he stood and got himself and his wife a cup of eggnog.

�Gee, for a more advance alien your not to swift on the uptake.� Marc teased as he and Carrie smiled and reached out for each other.

�I mean come on guys, didn�t Karen and Carrie getting pregnant at the same time clue you in at all.� Peter asked, awed that they really never noticed before today and that their five year old daughter had to tell them.

Maria was in shock and she opened and closed her mouth a few times before she was able to complete a sentence. �How long have you known?�

Karen smiled at her and told her. �When Zach was born. Peter and I never told anyone, but after Dylan was born we decided we weren�t going to have anymore children. Peter had a vasectomy.�

�Yeah but that doesn�t mean anything. Those operations don�t always work.� Michael argued.

�No, but there something else.� Peter explained. �The night Zach was conceived we felt a pull, like we had to make love that night or our bodies would explode. We knew right away that Karen was pregnant. A few weeks later Maria got pregnant with Hannah. Don�t you remember. You didn�t even tell us, we just knew the same way you knew Karen was.�

�We figured that Michael had formed a connection with Karen and Carrie when he checked them to let us know what sex Thomas and Dylan were.� Marc told them.

�Wait you�ve known about this and never discussed it with us. How come?� Maria asked in awe.

�Oh honey, we didn�t really discuss it. It was just a given. We never realized that you didn�t know.� Karen said as she joined Maria on the couch.

The both looked up when Carrie joined them. �It�s not like we feel betrayed or anything. If anything we feel honored. I remember when you and Michael told me the truth after you came back from your honeymoon and I remember thinking how special you two were and your family and how honored I felt to be included in it.�

�Oh Carrie, that is so sweet.� Maria said as she started to cry and hug the other woman.

�What about me.� Karen said as she started to cry like the other two women.

�KAREN.� Both Maria and Carrie shouted as the enveloped her in a giant group hugs, there swollen bellies bumping into each other.

�HORMONES!� All the husbands said at the same time as they shook their heads at their wives.

Jeanie went over and slapped each of her sons upside the head. �Could you three be anymore insensitive. Now Michael why were you and Maria so taken aback by this?�

Michael smiled at his step mom. Jeanie always made it a point to treat him the same way she treated Peter and Marc. �I don�t know Jeanie, it just like someone removed our blinders and we finally saw the what has been in front of us the whole time.�

�It�s even more than that. Michael and I had never planned to stay in Bakers Hollow when we first got here. We figured we get some jobs, earn some money and move on. After we got here, all that changed. It was almost like a magnet was pulling us towards you all.� Maria explained

�Maria�s right. When we first got here, I kept to myself but Maria became friends with Karen, Ruthie and you immediately. After Maria and I finally found each other and declared our love I stopped being so hesitant and was pulled in too.� He added.

�I mean, here we were running from the feds and we settle down at the first town we stop at. That isn�t what was suppose to happen.� Maria said as she went over and sat next to Michael. �It was almost like we forgot everyone and everything before we came here but at the same time remembered everything.�

�It wasn�t just that we forgot, we were willing to make ourselve forget about them to a point. All this time we had convinced ourselves that we were doing the right thing for our family but now that I think about it, it was like we couldn�t choice the other life.� He told them as the other sat down.

�Do you think it�s something to do with you being an alien. Like that somebody was controlling you or something.� John asked.

Michael winced at how hurt his father�s voice sounded. �No Dad, I don�t think it was like that at all. Everything we�ve felt has been genuine, I can�t explain it.�

�I can, it�s like a guardian angel has been watching and guiding us since we escaped the cabin. Michael could suddenly use his powers, we worked together and came up with our plan of coming to Canada, we made it and met Ruthie who brought us all together. Somebody wanted Michael and I together, here with all of you and our children were meant to be together.� Maria said.

�But who Maria. Who watched over you and Michael and got you to us.� Karen asked as what Maria said sunk in. How on earth did they accomplish what they had. �The feds, do you think it was some kind of trap that went wrong.�

�No, not the feds, I think Dad was right. Whatever has controlled our moves, has been controlling them for an awful long time. That night at the cabin, Michael and I hurt each other so much that he ended up spending the night outside and I ended up getting up before dawn and walked away from the cabin with Michael following me. Hell even the fact that we ended up on Prince Edwards Island stemmed from another moment from our past.� Maria said as she closed her eyes, trying to remember.

�Fourth grade, we had a fight and Ms. Connors sent us to the library to help Mrs. Hampton. She was the one who told me about �Anna of Green Gables�. I fell in love with that book and I remember thinking I would live there someday.� Maria said with a smile.

�Were you and Michael always attracted to each other.� Marc asked. He couldn�t believe that it was the first time anyone of them actually talked about their past like this. It was always about the secrets, never about them.

�Yes.� Michael confessed. �Always, but Max, Isabel and I had a pack that we would never get close to humans.�

�Even though they had parents that they were close to.� Maria said bitterly, remembering their youth. So many times she tried to reach out to Michael, she couldn�t understand the reason why she yearned his company only he wouldn�t accept her. He had the other two. She had stopped reaching out after the rape.

�Then maybe the two of you were meant to be destined together.� Karen offered.

�But I never approached Maria. If Max hadn�t saved Liz�s life we would never have come here. There wouldn�t have been a need. We would have continued living our life in Roswell together yet apart.� He explained.

�Well if someone was watching the two of you and wanted you together maybe they used Max and Liz to get through to you. It sounds as if Michael was closed off because of his pack with his brother and sister, maybe the watcher realized they had to do something drastic to bring you together.� Jeanie said as she softly rubbed Maria�s back.

�Max and Liz were the ones in love with each other at the time, not me and Michael. We were the background players. There wasn�t even a guarantee that Liz would tell me the truth.� Maria argued logically.

�Maybe that was what you were suppose to see. I mean, think about it, what were the chances that Max and Michael would both fall in love with two girls who were best friends. Maybe it was them who were manipulated to bring you two together.� Carrie said as she watched her friends closely.

�But who, who wanted me and Michael together. Why were we sent here.� Maria asked, tears streaming down her face.

�The Elders Mommy.� Hannah said as she rushed over to Maria and wrapped her tiny arms around Maria neck.

Michael sat down next to Maria and Hannah, gently pulling Hannah onto his lap. �Who are The Elders?�

�The ones who sent you and the others here Daddy. You were sent here because your world was losing a war with another world. They send you and the other seven to continue The Legacy.� She told him as she curled her body to her fathers.

�The other seven. Piglet there was only Daddy and two others.� Maria said gently.

Hannah shook her head at her mother. �No Mommy there were eight sent down and two watchers for each group. Daddy and the other boy and girl left their other girl by herself. The other group stayed together but were mean and hurt each other. They hurt their watchers too.�

�Honey, I never had a watcher. Are you making this up, it�s ok, just tell Daddy the truth.� Michael said softly.

�No Daddy, I�m not lying. Honest. You did have a watcher and you knew her too.� Hannah said. �One of your watchers wasn�t nice, even though he helped the other when those mean people took them. The people who were hurting the people on your planet made him go away later on.�

�Nacedo, the one Amy told us about.� Michael said to a nodding Maria. They had never told the children about what happened to the others. Just that they had family they would meet some day.

�Un hun and then the other one who took care of you and made sure you were with The Chosen Ones.� The youngest daughter said.

�The Chosen Ones, do you mean the people in this room.� Maria asked.

�Yup, Auntie Ruthie chose them to be the ones for you and Daddy to build The Legacy with.� Hannah explained to everyone�s shocked and surprised.

�Wait a minute, Hannah what do you mean. Are you saying Auntie Ruthie was Daddy�s watcher?� Maria asked, clearly doubting what her daughter was telling them.

�Un hun, after the mean one brought you together she got you away from the others so that you could begin The Legacy. The others weren�t strong like Daddy was. That�s why she wanted him away from them. They�re weakness hurt Daddy, kept him from performing his duty.� She said as she snuggled closer to her father.

�Like being able to control his powers.� Maria guessed.

�But Max and Isabel could control their powers, how were they weak?� Michael asked.

�Because they were selfish. The mean watcher knew you wouldn�t go to Mommy but that the other boy would go to Mommy�s friend. He brought them together to let you and Mommy be together. It was the deal he made with Auntie Ruthie. He was the one who sent your friends to those mean people. He tricked them by saving them later. He didn�t want you with them Daddy.� She explained as she started to yawn. �Daddy, I�m sleepy. Is Santa coming soon?� She asked.

Maria smiled at her daughter. �Yes Piglet, Santa will be here soon. Michael lets finish asking her about this tomorrow.�

�Wait a minute, what about Ruthie. Hannah how could Ruthie had been your Daddy�s watcher, she was a human. Besides I knew her my whole life.� John asked his granddaughter.

�No Grandpa, she made you think you knew her. She only came to the island a little while before Mommy and Daddy did. She gave you all the memories of knowing her.� She told the clearly surprised people.

�But Hannah, if she was a watcher and an alien then why didn�t she heal herself?� Jeanie questioned the young girl.

�Because her mission was completed after Hannah was born.� Emma said as she came into the room with the other children trailing behind. �After Hannah and Zach were conceived she knew she wasn�t needed any longer. She chose a normal human death to leave once she was sure we were safe.�

�You all knew this?� Karen asked amazed at the story being told.

�She told Josh and me before she became ill. She told us what she was doing and that she would leave once Zach and Hannah were born. The others were still too little, it was our duty to tell them what they were destined for.� Emma explained as Josh stood by her side, sliding his hand over hers for a brief second.

�What else did she tell you?� Michael asked, hurt that his children kept this to themselves.

�That the other watcher, Nacedo had raised the forth one and had instructed her in evil ways. You and other two, Max and Isabel were important on your world and he was using them. He didn�t believe in The Legacy and he was afraid of you Daddy. He agreed to bring you and Mom together in exchange for the other two, he was going to use them to get back to your home planet. His alliance was with the enemy. He let Ruthie have you to follow through with The Legacy.� She told her parents.

�Did she ever tell you want happened to the other four?� He asked.

�No Dad, I don�t think she knew. I don�t know how Hannah knew about them.� She confessed.

�I saw them in my dreams Em.� Hannah said before adding. �Daddy, you can ask the others when they arrive. They met them�

�WHAT!� Everyone shouted at once, however Hannah had decided that was enough and fell asleep for the night. Dreaming about Santa and Christmas morning.

TBC