Title: Out of the Past
Author: Lori R 3/02
Email: Gussywussy55@y...
Rating: PG-13/Cliffie (Michael and Isabel)
Disclaimer: Owned by UPN and not me. I write about
these charcters for my own enjoyment.
Feedback: Yes please. Good or bad.
Summary: Just read it...

******************

Michael sighed as he moved restlessly in the bed. He
hadn't slept since he had heard the news that she was
here.
Max said she had arrived the day before yesterday and
was staying with him and Liz, that it was no big deal.
Well maybe not to Max, but to him it was huge. 
Max said she was here to visit, but what was the real
reason? It had been almost two years since any of them
had seen or heard from her despite the fact that she
knew where they were. And now she just shows up out of
the blue like this? He didn't think so.
No, she wanted something and he was afraid to find out
what.

He heard a cry.
Michael sat up and looked at the woman next to him as
she pushed back the covers on the bed.
"I'll go," said Michael. He padded quietly down the
hall to his daughter's room and peeked in at the
little bundle crying in the baby bed.
"Hey kiddo, you hungry or what?" he said as he looked
tenderly down on one of the best things that had ever
happened to him.
He wiggled a finger in to the diaper and found it
soaking wet.
"So you drowned yourself in pee huh kiddo...well let's
do something about it," he said softly to the crying
baby.
He made short order of changing his daughter's diaper
and then picked her up, cuddling her to his chest as
he began to gently sway with his baby in his arms,
humming a Metallica tune to her quietly.

Isabel stood outside the door unobserved, and watched
Michael with their child. She smiled as he hummed. No
one else but Michael would use Metallica as a
lullabye.
But her smile soon turned into a worried frown.
Michael was at war with himself she knew. She could
sense he was troubled for he had not slept since
finding out Maria was staying with Max and Liz. What
he didn't know was that she hadn't slept either
wondering why he hadn't told her Maria was back. Liz
said Max had told Michael, Maria was staying at their
house. She wondered if Michael would leave her and
Alyssa for Maria. 
Isabel loved Michael, and she knew he loved her in his
own way, but now with Maria back in the picture, maybe
the love for her was not as strong as the one he had
for Maria. Maybe Isabel had been kidding herself into
thinking the love Michael felt for her was romantic.
Maybe he loved her only because Maria had turned her
back on him. Isabel was his only other option.
Wiping her eyes, she turned and went back to bed, a
ragged sigh escaping her lips as she covered her tired
body. The worrying about Michael and Maria was getting
to her and she didn't know how many more sleepless
nights she could take before it took its toll on her.

Michael caressed and kissed his baby's head. Her hair
color was his, but the thickness was all Isabel's
along with her features. And this tiny girl had him
wrapped around her little finger, and she seemed to
know it too, even if she was just six weeks old.
Alyssa snuggled in her father's arms as he slowed his
movements. He gently lay her back down and she
immeditately let out a cry. He picked her up again and
said, "Maybe food is what you want. Food always makes
me sleepy."
He walked back to his bedroom and to Isabel's side of
the bed. "I think she's hungry," he said as he layed
the baby next to her mother.
Isabel smiled down at her daughter as she undid her
gown, and offered her breast to her baby. The child
greedily attached herself, sucking hard and kneeding
the breast with it's tiny clinched fist.
Michael joined Isabel on the bed and looked at the two
females in his life. 
After Maria, he had never thought he would love anyone
in that way again, especially Isabel, but he did love
her and their child, and he had no desire for that to
change. So why was he so disturbed by Maria being
here?

Isabel lightly caressed her baby's cheek and hand as
she watched her child fall asleep at her breast. A
tear slipped down her own cheek and she casually wiped
it away.
She didn't think she would be able to stand it if
Michael left her. She loved him with all of her heart
and right now it was breaking. She bereted herself
because she knew Michael had really given her no
reason to worry. But still knowing how he had given up
other things in the past for Maria, she couldn't help
but have some doubts.

Michael rolled up next to Isabel and looked over her
shoulder at the baby. He loved to watch when Alyssa
nursed. The look of peace and love on Isabel's face
when she held their daughter always entranced him. But
this time he saw something else. 
He saw tears.
"Are you crying?" he asked her surprised.
Isabel shrugged and shook her head. 
Michael rolled her towards him and wiped her tears
away with the pad of his thumb.
"Don't shrug your shoulders at me Isabel, why are you
crying? What's wrong?" It always disturbed him to see
Isabel cry.
"It's nothing....I'm just...tired," Isabel answered as
she moved to burp Alyssa.
Michael didn't believe her, but he didn't know why.
"You sure? There's nothing else?" 
"I'm sure," said Isabel quickly as she stood up with a
sleeping Alyssa in her arms.
"I'm putting her back to bed."

Michael watched Isabel leave the room and then flopped
back on to the bed.
She was upset and he sensed he was the reason.
He didn't know how she knew, but he suspected that
Isabel knew Maria was here. He had asked Max not to
tell her yet, he wanted to do it himself, but somehow
she knew. That could be the only explanation for her
behavior.
Isabel walked back in the room, turned off the light, 
and sat on the bed, her back to Michael.
Though there were no lights on in the room the moon
illuminated it so that Michael could see Isabel's
shoulders shake with silent sobs.
Now he was alarmed and he was not going to be put off.
Touching her shoulder he said, "Something is wrong
Isabel or you wouldn't be crying. And don't tell me
you're just tired because I won't buy it. I want to
know what's upset you and I want to know now."
Isabel took a tissue from the box on her night stand
and dabbed at her eyes and nose.
"I told you I'm just tired! We have a new baby Michael
and I'm just worn out," she said as she lay down.
She had told the truth about being tired from taking
care of Alyssa all day, but she also had all kinds of
images of Michael and Maria running through her head,
and it was making her edgy.
Michael's head dropped down at her refuseal to talk to
him. She could be as stubborn as he was, which could
make carrying on a conversation with her so
frustrating.
Michael lay down and moved to pull her in to his arms,
but she pulled away saying, "I'm really tired
Michael... I don't want to..."
"I wasn't wanting that. I just wanted to hold you," he
said, his words showing his hurt at her rejection of
him. They had not made love since Alyssa was born, but
he wasn't pushing. He really did just want to hold
her.
He needed to hold her.
"I...I'm sorry," said Isabel quietly, moving stiffly
in to his arms.
"Don't do it because you feel obligated Isabel,"
Michael said bit ticked. He didn't want to hold her if
she didn't want him too.
Isabel immediately got out of bed and headed with a
pillow to the den.
"What are you doing?" demanded Michael following her.
"Shhhh! You'll wake up Alyssa!" hissed Isabel as she
placed her pillow on the couch.
"What are you doing?" repeated Michael in a lower, but
angry voice. She was being ridiculous and he didn't
like it.
"I'm sleeping out here," said Isabel lifting the light
blanket off the back of the couch.
Michael grabbed at the blanket. "No you're not! You're
coming back to bed where you belong!"
Isabel pulled the blanket back. "Don't tell me where
I'm going to sleep Michael Guerin!"
Michael grabbed the blanket again and said, "You
belong in our bed with me Isabel, now let's go!"
Isabel dropped the blanket end she still held and
asked, "Is that where I belong Michael? Am I who you
really want to share a bed with?"
Michael blanched, stunned by her question, his anger
gone.
"What are you talking about? Of course I want you
there," he said to her, some form of guilt finding its
way in to his voice and he didn't know why.
"Why didn't you tell me Maria was back? Why did I have
to find out from Liz?" asked Isabel, the hurt in her
voice evident.
He could ring Liz's neck.
Michael rubbed his head and face, his feeling of guilt
now identified.
"I was going to tell you, but I didn't know how. I
don't know what she's doing here, and I asked Max to
let me tell you, but I couldn't find a way to do it.
I'm sorry," he told her sincerely.
"You haven't seen her?" Isabel asked, her question
stated in a way that let Michael know she thought he
had.
"No, I haven't seen her! I don't want to, but I know
at some point I will! I want to know why she's here!
Why after all this time of not contacting any of us is
she showing up now?" asked Michael, his irritation
over the whole thing apparent.
Isabel regarded him silently. He seemed sincere, but 
where Michael and Maria were concerned she was never
sure. 
"You don't want to see her? But why? I mean you were
madly in love with her and were going to stay on Earth
for her, why are you not eager to see her now?" asked
Isabel needing to know the answers to her questions.
"Because I love you," he simply said.
Isabel's breath caught in her throat. 
"You loved her once too, Michael. How do I know that
when you see her you won't...that you won't..." She
couldn't go on or she would lose control.
"That I won't leave you? That's it isn't it? You think
when I see her that I'll forget about you and go with
her," stated Michael reading her mind. "I'm not going
to do that Isabel, I love you. Not Maria."
Isabel sank to the couch and covered her face.
Michael sat beside her and pulled her in to his arms.
Isabel clung to him. "I love you Michael, and I don't
like this feeling of doubting you, but I can't help
it. Where you and Maria are concerned I'm scared."
Michael held her tightly and kissed the top of her
head. "Don't be. I'm not going anywhere."
He had to talk to Maria and find out why she was here,
and then set Isabel's mind and his own at ease.

**********

The next day....

"You're looking good Isabel. Having a baby hasn't
changed your figure at all," Maria commented wryly as
she took a bite of her salad.
Isabel moved the fruit around on her plate as she
smiled slightly at Maria. She had called Maria first
thing this morning after Michael had left and asked
her to lunch. Part of Isabel wanted to know why Maria
was here while the other half was afraid to know. When
Michael found out she had called Maria he would be
furious.
"Thanks, but it like everything else has changed," she
replied tightly.
Maria could feel the underlying tension between them.
Isabel was forcing her smile and the conversation so
Maria jumped right in with both feet asking, "Why did
you invite me to lunch today Isabel? It's clear you
don't want to be here with me, so what's up?"
Isabel put down her fork and looking at the blond
said, "I want to know why you're here?"
Maria was slightly taken aback. "You still don't pull
any punches do you?"
Isabel shrugged and set her shoulders.
"You asked. You haven't contacted any of us in almost
two years Maria, but you must have gotten our letters
because they never came back. So I'm asking you again,
why are you here?"
Maria could sense the fear Isabel was trying to hide,
but knowing her as she did, Maria knew it was there.
"I missed my friends," she casually told Isabel,
taking a sip of her tea as she watched the beautiful
alien across from her.
"I'm not letting you take him from me Maria. I will
fight you with every breath I have if you try," said
Isabel with deadly calm.
Maria put the glass down and stared at Isabel.
"Did you just threaten me?"
Isabel looked her in the eye and said, "No, I never
threaten. It was a promise. I think you came back for
Michael and you can't have him."
At Maria's silence Isabel went on. "I will not let you
destroy him again, Maria. When you left for New York
that second time it almost killed him. He stayed on
Earth for you, changed his life for you, and you threw
it in his face. I won't let you do that to him again."
Maria smiled thoughtfully as she moved her fork
through her salad. "Liz was right, you do love him.
You always were so protective of him and of Max. The
three aliens against the world."
Isabel leaned forward, her hands in her lap shaking,
her voice almost a whisper.
"I'm in love with him Maria. We have a child together,
and I won't see my family torn apart just because
you've come back," said Isabel, lifting her glass to
her lips and taking a drink to soothe her parched
throat. 
"I see," said Maria dabbing her lips with her napkin
to hide her own shaking hands.
"I hope you do," said Isabel standing.
"It's been...enlightening Isabel," said Maria looking
up at her.
"Good-bye Maria," said Isabel pointedly before taking
her leave.
Maria watched the woman she had once called friend
leave. She then took out her cell phone and a piece of
paper before she punched in some numbers.
"Michael! Hi, it's me. I've missed you. Why don't we
get together tonight and talk about old times?"

***********

Michael sat in the booth drinking a coke at the club
Maria had chosen, and knew he had made a huge mistake.
Correction, another huge mistake. He was meeting
Maria, and had lied to Isabel about where he was
going.
"Hello Michael," came the voice from his past.
Michael looked up and watched as Maria sat down in the
seat across from him.
She looked beautiful, just like he remembered.
"Maria," he said as he cleared his throat.
"So how've you been?" she asked as she gave the
waitress her drink order.
"Fine...I've been fine," said Michael picking up a
coaster on the table and twirling it between his
fingers. "You? You're looking good," he said motioning
with his hand.
"Thanks! I've been good...really good," Maria told
him, as she watched his nervousness movements. He was
more handsome than ever and she didn't think that was
possible.
"That's good," said Michael looking around and then
back at her.
Maria leaned across the table and said, "Let's cut the
crap Michael and say what we want to say, okay?"
Michael dropped the coaster and nodded as he leaned
back.
"Okay, why did you come back and why did you call me
here tonight?" asked Michael, staring at her intently.
Maria leaned back with a slight laugh. 
"You and Isabel just get right to it don't you?"
"Isabel? What's she got to do with this?" asked
Michael.
"She called me and we had lunch today," said Maria,
dipping a finger in her drink, watching Michael's
reaction.
Michael's eyes widened. "What?" He couldn't believe
Isabel called Maria. Not after all that was said last
night. 
"What did she say?" asked Michael curiously.
"A lot actually," said Maria remembering Isabel's
words.
"What? What are you talking about?" said Michael
confused.
Maria shook her head. "You and Isabel. When Liz wrote
to me about you two, I was a bit surprised. I always
thought it would be us you know, but you married her."
"I thought it would be us too, never Isabel, but
things happen and it all changes," said Michael
thoughtfully.
"So what changed? Was she pregnant?" Maria asked. Liz
hadn't said, and Maria had to know.
Michael scowled. "No! No, she wasn't pregnant!" 
He finished his drink and sucked a piece of ice into
his mouth, crunching it before answering.
"You took off for New York and said you wanted your
own life away from all of the alien crap, and I was
left alone. I never seemed to be good enough for you
Maria no matter what I did." He wore a sad look at
remembering how hard he had tried to be what Maria had
wanted, and in the end he still wasn't good enough.
"Isabel, well she was alone after Jesse was gone and
it just happened. We would have dinner together, watch
movies and stuff, you know friends hanging out feeling
sorry for ourselves. But then things changed." His
features softened as he spoke about Isabel. "I started
seeing her differently. More than my friend. She
fusses at me like always, like you used to do too, but
with her it's different. She loves me no matter what I
do. One thing led to another, and I finally decided
why not get married. She makes me feel like I'm the
only one in the world that matters even when we're
pissing each other off."
Maria stared at Michael while he talked about Isabel
then shook her self mentally.
"Liz told me you had a daughter. Alyssa, I think her
name is," said Maria still not believing Michael was a
father.
Michael's face transformed with the huge grin he
displayed at the thought of his daughter. 
"Yeah, Alyssa! She's the most beautiful, smartest, and
greatest kid that ever lived! Do you know she's only
six weeks old, but already she knows Isabel and me?
She follows us with her eyes and seems to understand
everything we say to her! And she has a grip like you
wouldn't believe!" said Michael excitedly. "Want to
see her picture?" he asked pulling one out.
Maria looked at the picture of the baby. She was just
as cute as Liz and Michael said she was. 
"She's adorable Michael," she said as she handed the
picture back to him.
"Thanks!" said Michael smiling at the picture before
returning it to his wallet.
Maria couldn't believe how much Michael had changed in
the time she had been gone. It was clear by the way he
spoke of her that he was gaga over this new baby. 
And he was very much in love with Isabel.
"You seem to be really happy Michael," said Maria
thoughtfully. This was not going the way she had
planned.
Michael looked at her. "I am. What about you? You
never answered my letters Maria. Not Liz's, no ones.
How could you not answer them? I was worried, we all
were."
Maria rolled her eyes and scratched her head.
"I'm okay. I sing with a band, and we have a demo
we're working on."
"And?" said Michael waiting to hear more. "Why did you
not answer the letters or call just to let us know you
were alive?"
Maria sighed. "Because I was afraid you would convince
me to come back and I would lose my dream." 
"Michael's eyes narrowed. "So you didn't answer the
letters because of me?" Michael shook his head and
said, "Don't put that on me Maria. You did that, not
me."
"Silly huh? I mean here I was worried you would drag
me back, and you were making time with Isabel. Crazy
huh?" said Maria with a tinge of bitterness.
"You thought I would be here waiting like always?"
asked Michael. "I guess things didn't work out the way
you thought either did they?"
At her silence he asked, "You came back expecting to
start up with me again didn't you? Even though you
knew Isabel and I are together, that we have a baby."
"Yes...no...I don't know what I thought! I just never
thought you and Isabel would get together! Liz wrote
you and Isabel were getting serious, but I didn't
really believe it. Then she said you were married.
That letter just caught up with me a few days ago. I
was shocked, really shocked. I never saw it coming,"
she said shaking her head and giving a little laugh.
"I decided I better see what's going on, and I get 
here and find out you have a baby with her. A baby!"
She had been reminded of the dream scare they had had
years before and couldn't believe the irony of the
situation.
Michael looked off. He was pissed at her for showing
up like this, and expecting him to just take up with
her where they had left off.
When he looked back he said, "I'm not going to
apologize for loving her, Maria. I only thought I
could be this happy in my dreams, but Isabel makes me
happy all the time."
It hurt when he said it, but she knew it was true. He
was happier then she could ever remember seeing him.
"I'm not asking you to apologize." 
Maria looked down at the table and then said, "You
know what Isabel told me?"
At his silence she looked up and said, "She told me
that she was in love with you and that she would fight
me to keep her family. I think you must feel the same
way."
"Yeah I do. They mean everything to me Maria. You mean
something to me too. You were my first love, but I
just want you to understand that we can only be
friends and nothing more," said Michael, smiling
inside at what Maria had said about Isabel.
Maria nodded. "I can see that. I think that I will be
heading back tomorrow. The guys are waiting for me
back there to get back so we can finish the demo."
Michael was satisfied that Maria was not going to
cause trouble for him and Isabel. Not that she could,
he and Isabel loved each other too much for that to
happen.
"Are you coming back here?" Michael asked as they got
up.
"Maybe, now that I know the way."
They walked outside and Michael gave her a hug. 
"Good luck Maria."
"Thanks," said Maria closing her eyes. She inhaled
Michael's scent, and savored his closeness before
moving to her car.
"Hey! Can I see her?" she asked him turning back.
Michael grinned. "Yeah."
"Isabel won't like it," warned Maria.
"She won't mind," said Michael.

**********
"You what?" asked Isabel staring at Michael with
disbelief.
"She asked to see Alyssa and I said okay. I don't see
what the big deal is," he told her.
"I can't believe you did that! You can't see the big
deal? I don't want her here Michael! I don't want her
thinking that she can just waltze in here and take you
back!" said Isabel shaking. She had warned Maria, and
still she had sought Michael out. 
"She's leaving Isbael. She told me what you said and
she's leaving," Michael told her as he stood behind
her.
Isabel turned around hesitantly. "She told you?"
Michael nodded as he walked towards her. "She said you
love me, and would do anything to keep our family
together." He put his arms around her. 
"I don't love her Isabel, I love you. I told her that
and she knows it. I think she just wants to see Alyssa
for it to all sink in."
Isabel lay her head on his shoulder as she wrapped her
arms around his waist. "Okay." She hoped they didn't
regret this.

*********

Isabel and Michael stood back watching Maria with
Alyssa. The baby eyed Maria and then let out a cry
that wouldn't end until Michael took her.
"I guess she doesn't like me," laughed Maria
uncomfortabley.
"She has her Daddy wrapped around her little finger,"
said Isabel tensely. She rubbed her hands together the
action not unnoticed by Maria.
"She's cute," said Maria sincerely watching Michael
with his daughter. 
His daughter with Isabel.
Maria stood up.
"Thanks for letting me see her. I know you didn't
really want me to come," she said to Isabel. "Liz and
Max said she was cute, but they didn't say how
precious she was," said Maria. 
"Thanks," said Isabel warily. Maria seemed to be
sincere in the compliment.
Maria watched Michael smiling down at Alyssa. She had
never seen him look at anyone the way he did at Isabel
and Alyssa. Not even her when they had sworn to be
together forever.
"I need to start back," Maria said heading for the
door.
She paused when she caught sight of a picture sitting
on the end table. It was Isabel holding Alyssa with
Michael behind them, his arms around both of his
loves.
"That's a nice picture. You look so happy," said Maria
quietly.
Michael and Maria looked at one another. Maria was
accepting them together, and they sighed in relief.
They walked her outside.
"Don't forget to answer the letters," reminded
Michael.
"I'll try," said Maria. "The band keeps me kinda busy
though."
"You will answer them Maria," ordered Michael.
"Yeah, I will," agreed Maria realizing what she had
missed out on by staying away.
Alyssa started to cry and Isabel took her from
Michael. 
"She's hungry. Good-bye Maria," said Isabel heading
back inside the house. She stopped and turned back
adding, "And Maria, come back to visit."
Maria nodded.
She turned towards Michael and hugged him.
"You're lucky Michael. You always did want a family,
and now you have one. Seems like your dream has been
answered," said Maria.
"Yeah, who knew," agreed Michael. 
"Well got to go. I promised Billy I would be back.
He's been pressing me to marry him. Maybe now I will,"
said Maria getting in her rented car.
Michael waited for the feelings of jealousy to fall on
him, but they didn't. He just felt relief that Maria
saw he was happy, and he wanted the same for her.
"Don't do it unless you love him Maria. It's not worth
it unless you love him, and not fair to him."
She nodded, and he watched while she drove away.

**************

Isabel placed the sleeping baby in her crib, and
turned to find Michael watching her.
"How long have you been standing there?" she asked as
she joined him in the hall, her arms going around his
neck.
"A while. I like to watch," he told her as he kissed
her.
"So Maria's gone," Isabel said.
"Yeah, she's gone," said Michael, caressing Isabel's
back.
"I think she realized what she's missed out on," said
Isabel.
"I think she saw I love you," said Michael, kissing
Isabel again. 
Isabel slipped her arms from around his neck, and
taking his hand led him down the hall to their room.
She turned around and began to run her hands over
Michael's chest then under his shirt, her fingers
lingering over his sides.
"I love you, Michael," she said as she kissed him and
pulled him towards the bed.
"I love you too, Isabel," he told her as he hungrily
kissed her back, each secure in knowing it was true.

End