Rating: PG

Category: M/M...could you be any more shocked?! also a little M/L action for fun! :)

Summary: How can things get better? A couple of songs and a lot of nerve.

Spoilers: Somewhat up to End of the World but nothing big

Disclaimer: I own it all - JUST KIDDING! Don't sue me...I'm totally broke and all you could possibly get is my pc (which has been acting up lately), my cat(who won't stop biting me) and some tapes of Roswell episodes. Okay, the characters and general idea don't actually belong to me. This particular story does!

Author's Note: I am in Courtney-denial...so lets pretend she never existed, shall we? I absolutely thrive on feedback so ANY is welcome! Also, if you want this fic for a site or whatever, take it with my blessing. Just be sure to email me and mention that you have it. These fics are my babies and I like to know where they go! :)

The songs are "Music of My Heart" by NSYNC and "If that's What It Takes" by Celine Dion.

***

Maria had been working for the past eight hours and her feet were killing her. She had covered the rush today and she decided that there must be a butt-munch convention in town this week. She had never had so many rude and annoying customers before. There had even been a small food fight earlier between two tables of vacationing families. The parents had just laughed at their children and Maria had gotten to clean up after them.

She sighed realizing she still had to clean before closing and the couple snuggled up in the far booth just wouldn't leave. She heard a loud crash coming from the kitchen and rolled her eyes. Michael had gotten really clumsy over the summer. His orders got messed up a lot too. She smiled with the idea that maybe, just maybe she was the reason.

"Keep telling yourself it's for the best, spaceboy! Let's see who cracks first." Maria said under her breath. It was only slightly ironic that she would say that, considering that she had pretty much already cracked. That was neither here nor there, she scolded herself. Tomorrow was a new day, and she was not going to beg anymore. She could ignore him and be just as infuriatingly indifferent as he could!

"Earth to Maria!" Max said, waving his hand in front of her face.

"Sorry Max! What's up?" She asked, blushing at getting caught up in her non-cracking thoughts of Michael

"Well actually I was hoping you would help me with something tonight." She didn't like that mischievous look he had in his eyes, but she nodded anyway.

"Okay." she said slowly. "What exactly am I helping you with?"

"You'll see. Meet me at my house when you're done here." His eyes were sparkling. To Maria, this meant only one thing. Whatever the help he needed was, it had something to do with Liz.

She loved her friend, but she had spent enough time with Max Evans this summer that she had begun to hate hearing her name. It was always followed by some long diatribe of shoulda, coulda, woulda's. Maria was beginning to think she might start having Max flashbacks! Kind of like old war vets had, except instead of hiding from the Viet-cong, she would be hiding from Max.

Finally, everyone had gone and she was blissfully alone. The sound of a plate shattering into a thousand pieces reverberated from the back. Well, not completely alone. She still had to clean up but that was fine as long as it was in peace, although she doubted that was possible.

It took another hour to get everything done and Michael was long gone. She was a little disappointed that he'd left without a word to her. No, she told herself. It doesn't matter! He can do as he pleases. I don't care.

I AM TEFLON!!!

***

At that very moment in the Evans household...

"I just don't see how this can work!" Alex said as he looked at the group in front of him.

"It has to work!" Isabel said quickly.

"Yeah, we're all tired of this!" Tess sighed.

"Don't you want everyone to be happy? Be a good friend?"

"That is soooo low, Max! You didn't have to play the good friend card!" Alex groaned.

"Well, are you in or out?" Tess asked evenly. The three of them were standing over Alex, who was sitting on Max's bed looking more and more like a cornered rabbit.

"I have three aliens standing in front of me - all of which could dream-walk me to death, make me THINK I'm dead and heal me to death...Wow, you know you guys aren't that scary once you think about it! Michael's the only one I would say has a COOL scary power." Alex began to babble.

"Glad to know I still have an effect on someone!" Michael said from the window.

"Michael!" Max exclaimed as he ran to the window. "Did you -,"

"Yes Max...I got it! Jeez, you look like you're gonna wet the carpet! Calm down dude!"

"Sorry, I'm just nervous!"

"Okay...I called! She's on her way." Alex said to Max.

Michael handed Alex a tape, "Here ya go, Music Man!" He walked out in the direction of Isabel's room.

"Max, you guys need to get it together! You have like, fifteen minutes!" Isabel warned and then followed Michael to her room. With her words, you would have thought a tornado was coming. Max was bouncing off the walls, almost literally, trying to get ready.

"Max, um, I really think that you need help!" Tess giggled as she saw him trying to put his suspenders on as a belt.

"Thanks, Tess." He said as she fixed his mistake.

"No problemo! Kyle has the same problem every time he has to wear a suit. I'm beginning to think that he just likes me to fuss over him. She blushed as she thought of her boyfriend.

"So, how am I supposed to do this?" He said fingering his tie that hung loosely around his neck.

"This is what I'm helping with?!" Maria burst into the room. "I'm supposed to watch you play Prince Charming?"

"Maria! Do you know how to tie this damned thing?"

"Luckily...yes! We learned it in Home-Ec two years ago. I can't believe that crap is actually coming in handy!" She smiled as she stood in front of him working at the tie with deft fingers. "So what is this for anyway?"

"Um...I'm going to serenade Liz."

"Didn't you, like already try that, um about 3 months ago? I would think you would remember something so embarrassing!" She giggled when he blushed straight to his ears.

"Well, this is different! Things have changed. I think this will work."

"Well, good luck!" She hugged him and turned to face the other two in the room. "What are we waiting for? Let's get downstairs and let this man practice before his big number!" She shooed them out. Turning back, she eyed Max for a moment then whispered, "She's a lucky girl, Max!"

"Thanks for everything, Maria." Max said sincerely. She smiled and slipped out the door.

As Maria reached the bottom step leading into the living room, the doorbell rang. She heard Tess run to get the door.

"Hi!" Tess said a bit too brightly.

"Hi...um, where is everyone? Alex called and -"

"Yeah, um Liz...come into the living room." Tess toned down her voice to make herself sound sad. Liz saw Maria as she entered the room.

"What's going on, guys?" She said, suddenly nervous.

"Liz, you should...sit down." Maria said, trying desperately not to show her smile. Liz sat down on the sofa and her friend move to sit beside her. Tess too the chair adjacent to them. Isabel picked that moment to come bounding down the stairs.

"It's time!" She giggled. Liz looked totally scared now. What the hell was going on around here? Then she knew. There was a soft swell of music from the next room. Suddenly a tuxedo-clad Max walked down the stairs.

"I don't get it - Alex said he was sick!" Liz said, keeping her eyes glued to the gorgeous man in front of her.

"You don't think this is sick?" Tess said, trying to hold in giggles.

Liz's breathing all but stopped as he began to sing.

"You'll never know what you've done for me
put your faith in me..."

Tears were already stinging her eyes. What a beautiful song he had picked.

"You'll never know the gift you've given me
I'll carry it with me
through the days ahead, I think of days before
you made me hope for something better
and made me reach for something more
you taught me to run, you taught me to fly
helped me to free the me inside
help me hear the music of my heart...
you opened my eyes you opened the door
to something I've never known before
and you're love is the music of my heart!"

Liz's mind was racing. Memories surfaced uncontrollably.

Max leaning over her that day in the Crashdown, trying to heal her.

Max leaning in for their first kiss, his eyes burning into hers.

Max telling her that he loved her.

Max chasing her out of the pod chamber, trying to stop her from leaving him.

Max telling her he was coming for her.

Max as he saw her in bed with Kyle.

Max as he forgave her and kissed her with such promise.

Max's elation and confusion as he found out that she hadn't slept with Kyle but she still couldn't be with him.

It was like a bad cable station. All Max all the time!

She blinked the tears from her eyes and ran to him. She couldn't do it anymore. She had to be with him. He was her soulmate - her one true love.

They embraced and after several moments of kissing and loving words of apology and such, he broke his hold on her. His eyes sparkling like a firecracker on the fourth of July.

"Thank you! It is about freaking time!" Maria stated jumping up, ready to leave. The love birds did better with no company. "Great vocals, Max!" She chuckled.

"Whoa! Maria, don't leave!"

"What? Why?" She asked him.

"Um...just sit down for a minute." He replied, falling into the only empty space on the couch. Liz was pulled down onto his lap.

Maria was suddenly uneasy. She looked around and didn't like what she saw. Three aliens...all smiling and snickering and sneaking glances at her! Three...that only left one unaccounted for..which meant-

On that thought another song began to play. This one was extremely slow.

Maria almost fell off her seat when she saw Michael strut down the staircase. He was wearing, not a tux, but a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. Well that WAS Michael. She actually smiled until she remembered that she was supposed to be Teflon!

He wouldn't let her smile go for long. He had picked the absolute perfect song, but he knew he couldn't sing a lick and decided to mouth the words. Maria giggled as Celine Dion filled the air and Michael just moved with the music.

"You're the bravest of hearts
you're the strongest of souls..."

Thoughts of him flooded her mind. She couldn't think of anything else even if she tried.

"You're my light in the dark
you're the place I call home..."

Michael in the eraser room.

Michael in the Crashdown during the big heatwave.

It bothered her that all she could think of was make out sessions.

"You can say it's alright
but I know that you're breaking up inside
I see it in your eyes..."

Their eyes met and she knew the reason he had picked this song. The deeper meaning meant everything.

"Even you face the night afraid and alone
that's why I'll be there
when the storm rises up
when the shadows descend
every beat of my heart
every day without end
every second I live
that's the promise I make
baby that's what I'll give
if that's what it takes...
You can sleep in my arms
you don't have to explain..."

Michael standing outside her window, getting soaked by the rain.

Waking up to see him lying next to her the next morning.

"When your heart's crying out
baby whisper my name
cause I've reached out for you
when the thunder is crashing up above
you've given me your love..."

Whistles and catcalls rang out from everyone, but Maria ignored them. She was too busy trying to be Teflon again. She was failing miserably. Don't break, girl...don't do it! Oh to hell with it, she thought.

"Michael!" She cried, interrupting his lip-synching. She ran to him and was crushed in his embrace. Their mouths came together in an explosive kiss. She was the first to pull away.

"Maria...No more running." He whispered fiercely. She nodded but still looked unsure. "Hey...when a man sings along with Celine Dion...what more proof do you need?" She began to giggle then. Once she started it was difficult to stop. He looked hurt but she knew it was just a front.

Soon everyone had erupted into laughter, including Alex who had relinquished his control over the music.

"That was beautiful, Celine! Encore!" Isabel yelled.

He broke away long enough to bow to his friends. He smiled brilliantly but Maria noticed a small blush forming.

"You know you're really sexy when you are embarrassed!" She whispered in his ear. His blush spread even further.

His face turned serious. "I want us to talk for a while."

"What?" She said confused.

"Talk...ya know I think we missed doing that the first time around. Not that the kissing and stuff wasn't great - BELIEVE ME...that isn't it. I just...I want to know all of you. I want the physical but also the mental and spiritual."

"What happened to the Soldier boy?" She asked willing herself not to cry.

"He realized that the war is not worth fighting if you don't have something to come home to." He smiled down to her sweetly and kissed her forehead.

Maria looked around. Tess and Isabel were laughing at something Alex was saying, Max and Liz were still on the couch holding one another and looking into each other's eyes and Michael was holding her once again.

This was happiness, she thought. Screw Teflon girl and Soldier boy...they couldn't exist in this world.

Whatever it takes...she would see that they stayed that way.

Back to Area 51 (Section III)