She was in her bed. Staring at the ceiling, tears in her eyes. He had heard about Liz's grandmother dying. While he knew Maria had known her, and liked her, he was unsure of how exactly she felt.

Now he was, and he didn't like it. Unlocking the window with his powers (that seemed to be working well lately) he climbed in. She barely even moved, but she spoke anyway.

"Michael."

"Hey." he responded, climbing onto the bed. His arms rested on either side of her hips, and he watched her carefully. Still unsure of how to react, he rested his head on her stomach, letting himself relax. Her fingers moved hesitantly to his forehead, and he sighed when she began stroking her hand through his hair. The sensation was wonderful.

"We weren't even related...I don't know why I'm so upset." her words filled the empty room, and he wondered if he should say something to help. But he couldn't think of anything...to SAY.

Hefting himself up, he was over her, and she looked up at him.

"Michael, what are we doing? What am I to you? Are you still testing me?" her voice was small, and she sounded insecure. Now that was a change.

He kissed her-- something he was getting more and more into --and tousled her hair. She gave him a small smile.

"I don't know." He didn't know. She was something more. He truthfully wasn't sure what she was to him. She was beautiful and quirky and intelligent, and everything about her tasted good to him. Was he testing her? He kissed her again, and when she responded, he was sure of it. She was testing HIM.

Her legs were tangled up with his, and he was having difficulty keeping himself grounded. He wasn't ready for completion. Not yet.

"Michael..." she sobbed his name, pulling away and burying her face in his neck. She was crying. And he was a jerk, because he knew she could feel his erection pressing into her thigh. He closed his eyes, trying to convince himself to stop thinking about her, and how she was clinging to him. If he could just detach himself, things would be great.

No such luck. The tears that were streaming down her face were sticking to his skin, and if he moved her head up just enough, he would be able to kiss her, tasting the salt. And if he shifted her just so, and they were naked...

He was grasping for straws. He sighed. It was now or never.

Pulling her away, he ignored the confused expression on her face, and he ripped at her shirt, eager to get it off. She let him undress her, keeping her eyes on his. He pulled his clothing away, frustrated that it was taking so long. Finally the offending garments were gone, and they watched each other, an appreciative look on their faces.

But Maria still had tears on her cheeks. Michael gritted his teeth, determined to see them gone.

- - - -

She watched as he pressed his hands to her stomach, and she felt a warmth, which spread throughout her whole body.

"What are you...doing?" the break in her voice made him look up at her.

"Trying something. Hold on, okay?" she didn't reply, instead letting him have control over her body. If only for that one night, which was so much like their previous trysts.

The feeling spreading through her felt really good. Like being in a whirlpool, minus the water. It cheered her up, and she let her breath out, deciding that maybe she really liked the aliens, especially the powers they had.

"Do you...feel better?" he asked, voice betraying the cool exterior he possessed. He was still Mr. Cool, even while naked. Speaking of naked...

She ran her hands up his chest, letting her nails scratch his skin lightly. He had well-defined muscles. He wasn't overbuilt, but the muscles he had were definately worthy of the way she was practically drooling. He seemed underfed, and that worried her, but Maria decided that she would ask later.

"I guess that's a yes..." Michael's voice trailed off. She nodded and pressed up into him, letting him know that she was no longer content with just touching. She needed to feel him.

He lowered himself, and their hands connected. Maria felt a sob build in her throat, but for completely different reasons. She had never imagined her first time like this...but if it didn't happen that night, she would kill him.

"Open up, Maria." she spread her legs, and he rubbed his hardness against her passage, causing her to squirm. Was it going to hurt? She had seen him, and could vividly remember how large he was...she felt foolish, but she had to ask. Maybe he knew...maybe he had experience...

"Is this going to hurt?"

"I have no idea." that one response lifted her worries instantly. Even their lack of prophylatics didn't bother her.

Her mother would kill her.

Of course, she wouldn't be too happy at what they were doing right then, but...she stopped her mental babble when he pushed into her suddenly.

The pain was nothing to the actual feeling and concept of what they were right then. They were connected.

He grabbed her hips and pulled them up to meet his. The feeling was miraculous.

"M-Michael...god, this feels...amazing." her voice came out deep, and that seemed to urge him on. No longer willing to be a passive participant, she moved her legs up, to his shoulders. Their lips met, and he moaned into her mouth.

- - - -

She was a goddess. Her legs-- god, her LEGS -- were wound up his back, and her hands were on his ass, pulling him into her even more. This would be short work if she did that anymore. And something told him she wouldn't get there with him.

With one arm still wrapped around her, and their lips and tongues fighting for dominance, he reached between them and twisted her clit between his thumb and forefinger. He pressed his mouth harder to hers, muffling her cries.

The only sound he could hear was her heartbeat. It filled his brain, and he couldn't imagine anything else he'd rather hear.

She pulled away long enough to rasp his name, and make a request.

"Fuck me Michael."

As you wish, Maria.

He pounded into her, taking out his frustrations on her. He had to search deep to find any worthy of her, but he did. If she wanted to be fucked, he would give that to her. And if she ever wanted to be made love to...

Well, that would come later.

Other things would come first. And he was pretty sure he was close. Judging from the way she gripped him and the way she was biting his tongue inside her mouth, she was too.

With one final tug of his fingers, she cried-- no, screamed --into him, the words 'Yes Michael' ringing in his head.

Had she even spoken?

He came right after her, filling her even more so than previous. He didn't even bother hiding it, but her name on his lips was raspy and low.

He was an expert at keeping quiet when he needed to.

- - - -

They lay like that for a few moments, reality crashing in on their party. He pulled out and off of her and sat up. He grabbed their clothes from off the ground and handed her PJs to her, shaking. Had that just happened?

"Michael, I understand."

He turned to her, watching her get dressed. Understood which part? The fact that he had to leave? Or did she understand him? He was afraid to find out.

He stroked her face and whispered "I'll see you later."

And he left, from the same window he had come through.

Maria curled up under her covers. She didn't know exactly what to feel.

She decided on pleased, and she fell asleep with a smile on her face.