ForcedTogetherpart39

One year later�

�Maria honey are you alright.� Amy asked her daughter as she strolled into her bedroom.

With a sad smile Maria turned around. �I�m fine Mom, I was just thinking. Can you believe it has been a full year since we found everything out. So much has changed. We closed the inn, you and everybody else moved here from Roswell, Max and Kyle have adopted Timmy, we have four new babies and we have begun training the children to fulfill this destiny.�

�I know, it�s so strange. This family we have created, who ever would have believed it.� She said as she stood next to her.

�We�re missing someone, we�re missing Alex. He should be here with us.� She whispered softly. The one thing they would ever understand was why he had to die. Why didn�t The Elders do something to prevent this.

�I know sweetie, I know.� Amy said soothingly. �Alex was a good and loving man, he deserved better but Honey everything that has happened has happened for a purpose. Unfortunately Alex�s murder revealed the true evil that was hidden in the group. The Elders couldn�t control everything.�

Maria huffed. �But they did control everything. So didn�t Ruthie. She chose to make the deal with Nacedo to bring me and Michael here, to let Max and Isabel deal with all the other crap. Why, why were me and Michael speared and the other suffered.�

�No Honey that isn�t true. You heard Ruthie yourself, they sent them here in hopes of one outcome, but things happened they never counted on. The three of them separated from Tess for so long. Who knows what would have happened if the four of them grew up together instead of just the three of them. Maybe Michael and Isabel would have see each others as possible mates than as brother and sister.� She argue.

Amy raised her hand to signal Maria not to speak to let her finish. �Michael instead fell in love with you, and Max fell for Liz. Yes Nacedo used Max�s feeling for Liz, knowing that he would risk everything to save her. This was because of who Max is or I should say was, he was selfish just like he had been on Antar and they used it against him. This is nobody�s fault and Max was able to learn from his past mistakes. This is all The Elders ever wanted, for Max to grow and be able to make the right decision.�

Maria looked up at her mother as she continued. �They had to separate you and Michael from the others. Max had to suffer enough to grow, to mature. If you and Michael had tried to form a connection with the other around, it would never have happened. You had to be taken out of the circle so the two of you could be together. Would you two have managed to succeed as much as you did in those ten years if you had stayed in Roswell. No, you would have gotten pulled into everything else instead. Maybe you would have ended up together, but you wouldn�t have the family you have now.�

With tears in her eyes Amy went on. �You two were meant for each other. I know that is hard to understand but you two were meant to be together. I know you think that Max and Liz were used cruelly, that you think that it was all make believe but it wasn�t. Max was infatuation Liz, as she was with him. They were young and thought it meant that they were in love, but they realized that it wasn�t. This infatuation did bring more than just you and Michael together, it brought Liz to Sean and Max to Kyle together. So how can that be a bad thing, their love is pure and true.�

Amy wrapped her arms around her daughter. �Baby nobody has gotten out of this unscathed, you each carry your own battle scares. This is what makes you the people you are. Alex�s death taught them not to believe everything that is laid before you. That even people you think you can trust can turn around and betray you. This makes them all stronger. This knowledge has tightened the bond between Max, Isabel, Liz, Michael and you. The five of you are finally strong enough and ready to created the circle and the rest of us are inside this circle ready to give you what ever you need. May it be love, knowledge or understanding, what every it is we will always be there for you as you will be there for us.�

Maria cried softly. �It still hurts Momma, it still hurts.�

�That�s good Baby, when it stops hurting is when you should start to worry. The pain will always be there, gradually it fades but it�s always there. Under the surface. I know that this frightens you, that you fear for your children and the other�s children. Honey you need to let it out more, don�t try to bury it. That�s why we�re here, to help each other.� Amy told her as she rocked her gently in her arms.

�Your Mom right Maria.� Michael said from the doorway. Both women turned and saw that he was leaning against the doorframe. �Amy, would you mind giving me and Maria a few minutes alone?�

Amy kissed Maria�s cheek. �Of course not Sweetie, I�ll be with Liz and Carrie. Liz is doing a cell comparison between your and Isabel�s children to her�s, Carrie�s and Karen�s. She also taken samples from Tim and Julie. Now that she has been exposed since Emma healed her last week when she fell down that hill.�

�Sounds like fun. Let us know what you three find out.� Michael told her as he stepped aside to alloy her to leave.

�You know I really should go check on the twins.� Maria said as she began to head out of the room.

�They�re fine. Kyle is with them.� Michael replied as he shut the door.

�So what did you want to see me about.� Maria asked as she sat down on the bed.

Michael smiled and walked over and sat down next to her. �You, me everything.� He told her as he wrapped his arms around her. �Ever since the boys were born you have drifted away from me.� He whispered as he kissed her temple.

Maria sighed and settled into his embrace. �I don�t mean to.� She admitted, pulling back a bit she shyly looked into his eyes. �Do you miss it?� She asked.

Michael blinked his eyes a few times and shook his head. �I don�t understand. Miss what?�

Smiling she explained. �Miss being uninformed. You know, do you miss just being Michael and Maria, Mommy and Daddy?�

He nodded his head in understanding. �You wish that we never found anything out?� He stated more than asked.

�Does it make me a horrible person?� She questioned, her voice laden with uncertainty.

Michael smiled and bent down and kissed her lips. �No, it makes you human. I think about it, what our lives would be like if we never found out about The Legacy. I think about how Max and Isabel could have just lived normal lives and came back to us just because they missed us and not because they felt it was finally safe, only to be dragged into another alien crisis.�

�I know.� Maria said wistfully. �In my fantasy I see us with our families and I see Max and Liz together with a few kids and Isabel and Alex together as well with a few kids of their own.�

�That�s all it is Baby, it�s a fantasy. Maybe it didn�t come out the way you want but everyone is happy. Liz loves Sean and they have two great kids, same goes for Isabel and Jessie. Max and Kyle love each other and now they have Tim to share their love with.� He told her.

�I know, it�s just that its so much Michael. The Legacy, the idea of our babies leading armies into battle. It scares me, I hate it. I hate that our children have to do this, I hate that their lives have been foreseen and we can�t change a thing about it and I hate that it is just expected of us to just give them up to them.� She confessed finally as she began to sob as Michael pulled her even closer.

�Why didn�t you say this before?� He asked.

Sniffling she told him. �Because it doesn�t change anything. In six years we are still going to leave here, all of us are going to leave the one place we know as home and be dragged to another world were we will watch our children fight a faceless enemy.� She said as she pulled away from him complete and laid down, staring out the sky light. �You know what really kills me is that I know it�s for the right cause. Kivar is no better than Hitler or any other dictator and he must be stopped.�

Michael watched her for a second before he laid down next to her. �You just wished it wasn�t our kids who had to stop him.�

�Yeah.� Maria said in a husky breath. �I�m sorry I�ve been pushing you away. It�s just that so much has happened. First it was finding everything out, then being reunited with everyone, then them moving here and closing the inn. It�s just so overwhelming. I know I should have talked to you about it but you so busy between being the sheriff and training Josh and Emma that I didn�t want to be a bother and add to your worries.�

Michael reached down and took her hand in his. �You could never be a bother. You can always come to me or to anyone else in our family.� He declared. �Everybody is afraid Maria, we�re all going through the same stuff. You just started to pull away from everyone, you were there on the surface but Baby I knew you were never really there in spirit.�

Maria closed her eyes and took a deep breath. �Do you think the kids noticed?�

�What do you think.� He told her with a slight chuckle. �Honey, your talking about our kids. They�re not hurt, they�re worried about you.�

�I�m a horrible mother.� She cried as she turned and buried her face into Michael�s arm.

Michael raised his arm and pulled her close to his chest, kissing the top of her head. �You are not a horrible mother. Everyone gets their turn to be weak and the other pick up the slack, this was your turn.�

Maria smirked. �So who�s turn is it now?� She teased.

Laughing Michael reached out with his hand and gently tipped Maria�s face, tilting it so that she was looking at him. �Sean looks like he�s ready for a little R&R.� He joked before he leaned down and kissed her passionately.

Maria giggled as Michael tickled her. This is what she missed. She couldn't really put it into words but it was something she knew she would have to make sure never to loose sight of ever again as she and Michael slowly went from tickling and teasing to making love.

Later they would join the others and continue with the preparation. Michael, John and Jim would mentor Emma and Josh on how to command the armies. Isabel and Max would teach Sarah, Becky, Thomas, Dylan, Lexi, Miguel, Lauren and Martin how to focus their powers more. Kyle also joining them showing them techniques he had learned while studying Buddhism. Jessie and Peter explaining to Hannah, Zack and Julie the fundamental behind a democratic society. While Liz found kindred spirits with Carrie, Amy and Tim for the love of science. Leaving Sean and Marc with two very willing students with Karen and Maria, each eager to learn the art of architect and the love on building.

Yes at times each faltered and the others helped that person find their way back. It wasn�t easy. It was a journey on a long and hard road with many bumps and turns but they were able to complete the journey together as a family. All of them waiting for when the time came for them to cross over to the other world and take part in the destiny they were chosen for. To defeat a cruel dictator and to help rebuild a war torn society. This is what they were meant for, this was The Legacy.

The End