Rating: PG

Disclaimer: Not mine do not sue

Feedback: Yeah

***

“What’s wrong?” Maria opened her arms to the red-eyed boy in front of her standing in thedoorway. His face illuminated by the blue glow of the television screen. He stepped forward cautiously before falling easily into her embrace.

Maria soothed his wild spiky brown hair and gazed into his sad, deep, rich brown eyes. “Come here.” She pulled him in closer to her and placed his head on her chest, running her hands over his back in slow loving circles.

He shuddered as his tears started and quickly soaked her thin white t-shirt. Maria’s heart broke with each warm tear that fell onto her own heaving chest.

Leaning back on the couch, Maria pulled him down with her to sooth the shaking body. Her own body curled protectively around his as he twisted his fingers into her shirt and tightened the embrace from his end.

“Shh, it’s okay. It’s okay. Was is it a nightmare? I won’t let them hurt you. I won’t.” Maria’s voice was soft and caring, allowing her complete love for him to be conveyed in the gentle, lulling words and shown in her delicate touch along the lines of his back, lingering in his soft brown hair that had grown slightly.

She let her fingers curl around the tendrils along his neck, her finger nails raking along his neck lightly. Maria loved him more than she thought her heart could take. But she knew that even though he belonged to Isabel, for tonight, he was here with her.

“I love you Michael.” Maria whispered into the top of his head so quietly that her words were lost in the soft spikes before they could of ever reached his ears.

Her lips brushed his temple in a chaste kiss as his tears subsided and his heavy eye lids closed, giving into his aching exhaustion for the night.

As the last vestiges of awareness passed through his being he smiled into her neck and placed a wet, sloppy kiss. Murmuring to himself almost as his arms tightened around her, “I love you Maria.”

Maria felt her tears fall faintly onto her cheeks and down her chin in the slow rolling waves. Sniffling Maria, allowed herself the love she felt as he twisted her hair around his fingers unconsciously in his sleep. Maria knew that he was Isabel’s but she knew that her place his in life was just as secure. It was different but still important and it was a role tha tshe would relish forever.

Maria leaned her head back onto the armrest of the couch and closed her eyes, falling into a peaceful slumber.

***

Michael stood in the doorway of the apartment, taking in the scene before him. Maria slept deeply with her mouth slung open and arms wrapped tightly around their godson, little Mikey Whitman.

Michael crossed the rom silently and pulled the afghan off of the back of the couch, placing it carefully over the two. Maria stirred as his lips kissed her forehead lovingly.

“Hi.” She whispered sleepily at him through heavy lidded eyes.

“Hi.” He gave her a rare smile that was reserved only for her, his love.

“Is Isabel...”

“Yeah, mother and baby are doing fine. Father is a nervous wreck though.” Michael grinned down at her as he remembered Alex’s nervous pacing during Isabel’s labor. “Another boy. Maxwell James Whitman. Seven pounds nine ounces.”

“Good.”

Maria kissed Mikey’s head again and breathed in the beautiful scent of the lovable four year old. He smelled of play-doh, Tabasco Sauce, and crayons. Maria loved the way he smelled of innocence and love.

Her eyes teared as she knew that she could never give this to Michael. They had tried for years to have children before a doctor finally broke the news that Maria never could have children.

But Michael stood by her throughout all of it and now they were the proud godparents of four year old Michael Philip Whitman, five year old Alexander Jeffrey Evans, five year old Isabelle Amy Valenti, and the latest, Maxwell James Whitman.

“Yeah. Very good.” Michael repeated and climbed onto the couch with her, wrapping his long,strong arms around the two and closing his eyes.

Knowing that his family was asc omplete as he ever needed it to be.

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