A/N: Ok guys.. we are at the end.. this is it ::whew::... its the last chapter.. and then the epilogue.. I was going to post them seperate but I really want to know what you guys think.
Thanks so so so much to everyone for reading and taking the time to let me know what you think.. it's meant alot.. So thanks again.. hope you enjoy..
Gretita- thank you so much for all the feedback you have left me for this fic... I really appreciate it.
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Fehr'sBear-Thanks for reading hope you like the ending.
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lizard_queen- Your feed back always cracks me up.. you should be like a crime scene investagator or something...love ya!
flyawayraven- lets see if you got it and hopefully that you like it! lol
Aura Guerin- lets see who is in on what..shall we
Lady_vixen- I think you finally saw it! YAY (inside joke)
icequeen- Thanks for always being there to help, bounce ideas off of.. or tell me that it sucks **** and I need to re-word something... lol...and thanks again
SarahWhitman-Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy the ending.
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AusCat-I'm glad that you liking it so far... now if you like the ending I'm set! lol
~~candy~~- sorry about the hanging part... but is a gotta sometimes..
TBG15
“Ok tell me again why they have to stay here?” Michael asked as Maria as he sat down on the arm of the sofa.
“Well they are my friends and when you leave tomorrow I’m going away.... so basically I don’t know when Ill be seeing them again.” Maria said as she popped a pretzel into her mouth.
“When are you leaving?” Michael asked nonchalantly as he cracked his knuckles.
“I was thinking that I’d leave tomorrow but now I don’t know when for sure.” Maria said as she continued munching.
Michael scratched his eyebrow with his index finger before saying “I want to stay until you leave, I’d feel better about the whole thing.”
Maria began to nod her head no when Michael said….
“Look what’s the big deal a day or two more?” Michael got up from his position on the sofa and sat down next to her.
“Your flight leaves tomorrow; I made the reservation for you.” Maria said softly as she looked away from him.
Michael nodded his head slowly as he leaned back into the sofa.
The thought did cross her mind to tell Michael of her suspicions about the locket but the moment passed when Tess walked into the room.
“Good morning.” She said as she came into the living room.
“Maria since you were nice enough to let us stay here I wanted to cook us brunch.. You know as a way of saying thank you.” Tess said.
“Oh no….you don’t have to do that and besides I haven’t even done any grocery shopping...” Maria said before Kyle came into the room.
“I’ll go… I saw a little market not far from here.” Kyle said as he came into the room and grabbed Tess from behind giving her a kiss on her temple.
“Do you want me to go with you babe?” Tess asked as she looked over her shoulder.
“No that’s ok, just make me a list of whatever you need while I call a Taxi” Kyle said as he picked up the cordless phone and dialed 411 for a local cab company.
“Great let me see what I need from the kitchen.” Tess said as she got up and walked out of the room.
Once again Michael and Maria were alone in uncomfortable silence.
“I’m going to catch up on some hockey.” He picked up the TV control turned on the T.V. and began flipping channels.
“Ok, I’ll be upstairs packing.” Maria said as she turned around and walked out of the room.
As Michael watched her go he remembered the first time they had met. A small smile played on his face as he thought how about how stubborn she had been and how she had flat out refused to do what he told her to do.
“Some things never change; too bad she doesn’t know that there’s no way in hell I’m getting on that plane tomorrow.” At least that made him feel some what better.
A little while later Michael heard a car honking out front…. he got up and parted the living room curtains and saw a taxi parked on the other side of the locked gate, moments later he saw Kyle jump in.
~*~*~
Michael was watching TV when Tess came into the room and sat down across from him.
“Yes?” Michael asked as Tess sat back and made herself comfortable.
“You love her don’t you?” she asked.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Michael asked annoyed.
“You and Maria of course.” Tess said.
“Do you always go around and ask people you don’t know personal questions like this?” Michael asked as he leaned forward placing his hands on his knees.
“She doesn’t love you, she’s leaving she told me so.” Tess said as she crossed her legs.
“Lady this is none of your business and ...” was all Michael was able to say before Tess pulled out a bottle of mace from her pocket and sprayed it directly into his face.
Michael felt as is his eyes and lungs were on fire he couldn’t breathe……
he couldn’t see all he could think was he needed to protect Maria.
He got up but was so disoriented that he fell on the coffee table smashing it into pieces.
“Maria run...” Michael tried to shout but he couldn’t take a deep enough breathe to make his scream louder then a whisper.
Tess then brought the handle of her knife on the back of Michael’s head sending him into immediate blackness.
~*~*~
Maria was in her room and had just finished packing when she remembered that her favorite sweater was in the dryer out in the garage.
She turned off her I-Pod and left it on her bed as she made her way downstairs.
She was on the last step of the stairs when Tess walked out of the living room holding a knife in her hand.
Maria’s hear began to race.
“Tess what are you doing with the knife and where’s Michael?”
“Actually Michael is indisposed at the moment and as for the knife I assumed you were smart enough to know that you can’t run forever.” Tess said as she played with the knife in her hand.
“What are you talking about Tess?” Maria asked a look of confusion on her face.
“Think about it for a second you stupid bitch, you can’t run from the letters or the gifts or the person that has been sending everything to you all along.” Tess said as she used the tip of the knife to clean under her nails.
Suddenly it all made sense, the letters the personal photos the ability to get in and get out and not arise suspicions.
It was Tess that was behind everything all along but why?
“What have you done to Michael?” Maria asked as she then shouted out for him.
“He cant answer you, come here.” Tess said as she motioned for her to come closer with the knife.
Maria looked from Tess to the door, “Maybe I could run for help.” She thought.
“Don’t even think about it, I’ll cut your boyfriend into mince meat if you try to run.” Tess said as she looked at Maria with such an intense look of hate on her face, it was as if she wasn’t even herself.
“I need to keep her talking; Kyle will be back soon maybe if I can get her to talk…that can buy me some time. Maria then thought what if Kyle was in on this too.
“Why Tess you’re supposed to be my friend.” Maria said.
Tess laughed then…. a laugh so deep that it made tears stream down her face.
“It’s always been about you Maria, you were the star in junior high school, you always were the shining star…… and then it wasn’t bad enough that you were always better then me and the most popular you went and became famous traveling the world why I was left in shitty Roswell, I deserve to be where you are.” Tess said as she repeatedly squeezed the handle of the knife.
“Tess please think of what you are doing it doesn’t have to be this way put the knife down and let’s talk.” Maria said as she took a step towards Tess.
“No it does have to be this way.” Tess said as she lunged forward and slit Maria’s forearm.
Maria screamed as she felt as if her skin were on fire, she fell to her knees at the blood began to drip down into her lap.
Tess smiled as she watched Maria holding her bleeding arm she leaned forward tucking a strand of hair behind Maria’s ear before she whispered.
“Get into the living room its time for you to join your boyfriend.” She grabbed a handful of Maria’s hair into her fist and dragged her up.
As Tess dragged Maria to the living room she was able to see that Michael was face down on the floor on the remains of the coffee table, his hands were tied behind his back with duct tape as were his feet.
A sob escaped Maria as she saw the pool of blood next to him.
“No it can’t be, I didn’t tell him what I felt, he can’t be dead….. I didn’t get the chance too tell him what he means to me….. that I love him.” Maria thought as the sobs began to tear through her chest and her vision blurred.
Tess threw her down onto the sofa as she began to pace and talk to her self wildly.
“See once your dead I don’t have to hear your voice or see your new videos… I mean sure they will do a tribute to you but then that’s it…. you’ll be gone and I’ll be free from you… it’s always been about you.” Tess said as she ran a hand through her blond curly hair making it stand on end.
Maria looked down at her arm and saw that the blood was still dripping freely…. her head was beginning to feel light at the loss of blood.
“Maybe if I can knock her down and then run.” Maria thought as she realized that now would be the perfect moment since she had her back turned to her.
As she got up Tess turned toward her and held the knife in the air over her head.
Tess screamed as she began to run towards her, she fell on top of Maria.
They both struggled on top of the couch, Maria trying to stop the knife from stabbing her and Tess trying with all her might to kill her.
Maria felt her arms burning as she fought Tess.
Maria pushed at Tess’s arms as she thought “that’s it I can’t fight anymore.” As she was about to stop the struggle she felt the weight of Tess’s body fly off of her.
“Tess what the fuck are you doing?!” Kyle screamed as he grabbed both of Tess’s wrists making her drop the knife in the process.
“Kyle let me go; I have to kill her it’s the only way… let me gooooo!!” Tess screamed into Kyle’s face as she kicked him in efforts of getting away.
“Tess what are you talking about she is our friend how could you?” Kyle asked as his face crumbled and his lower lip began to tremble.
“Kyle please let me go, I wont ever mention her again …we can be happy and she wont be in my head anymore let me do this.” Tess pleaded as she brought her hand up to Kyle’s face.
Maria saw that Kyle had Tess restrained when she crawled over to Michael. She used all the strength she had left to turn him over onto his back.
Thank god he has a pulse.’ Maria thought as she laid her face on his chest and cried tears of happiness.
“Maria what the hell is going on?” Michael asked as he fought to open his swollen eyes.
Maria then heard Kyle calling 911 as he fought to restrain Tess.
“Michael are you all right?” Maria asked as she crawled behind him and began fighting with the duct tape that had his hands tied together.
“I’m fine are you ok, I’m sorry Maria she just came in and started talking to me, it’s my fault I let my guard down and look what happened.” Michael said as he rubbed his freed wrist.
“Holy shit Maria look at your arm, your hurt.” Michael said as he slowly got up and grabbed a sofa cushion ripping it to shreds as he then went and tied a piece around Maria’s wound.
As Michael worked on her wound the sounds of sirens could be heard in the distance, Maria let out a sigh of relief as the room went swimming around her.
A few hours later…..
Maria’s nose twitched at the smell of alcohol. As she opened her eyes she realized that she was in a hospital room…. she went to lift her arm that had been cut and realized that it was now bandaged up all the way to her shoulder.
She turned her head the other direction and smiled at what she saw.
Michael was in the room with her; he had brought a chair up to the side of the bed and had laid his head down and fallen asleep.
I reached over and softly ran my fingers through his hair.
He lifted his head immediately looking at me through one eye as the other eye was still lightly swollen.
“Hi.” Maria said.
“Hi back….. are you ok?” Michael asked as he sat up and grabbed my hand.
“I’m ok what happened to your eyes?” Maria asked as she laced her fingers through his.
“That’s not important Maria I want to talk about…..” Michael said before they heard someone knocking on the door.
Michael got up and opened the door, Maria heard him whisper something but couldn’t make out who was there.
“I just need to talk to her for a minute man, she’s my friend.” She heard before she registered that it was Kyle’s voice.
“Michael let him in.” Maria said as she sat up in bed.
Kyle walked in slowly as a small sad smile appeared on his face.
“I’m sorry Maria for everything… I had no idea that she-she...” Kyle said before he took a deep breathe in and brought both hands to his face.
“Kyle don’t please……. it’s not your fault.” Maria said as she motioned for him to come closer, Michael immediately came to stand beside her bed.
Kyle sighed before he said.” I just wanted to let you both know that they took Tess to a mental institution... Umm she wasn’t coherent enough to give the police a statement. I just wanted you to know that your safe and you don’t have to worry anymore.” Kyle said as he turned around and reached for the door handle.
“Kyle for what its worth I’m really sorry and thank you for what you did.” Maria said to Kyle’s back before he left the room without a look back.
The room was silent before Maria grabbed Michael’s hand and said “There’s something I want to tell you Michael, actually I should have said this a long time ago I’m sorry that I’ve been such an ass for all these months, when I thought that I had lost you...” Maria said as her voice broke and tears began to fill her eyes.
“You haven’t been an ass I have though….. But it’s only because I was scared of you, I was scared of the things that you made me feel.” He said as brought his free hand to her cheek and wiped away the tears.
“Oh Michael, I was scared too… I didn’t want something to happen to you on accountant of me and I thought that if I sent you away then I could keep you safe.” Maria said as Michael got up and brought his face closer to hers.
“Lady I wasn’t going to leave no matter what you said.” Michael said as he laughed.
“I’ve never felt this way before and I want you to know that I love you, I have tried to fight myself because I worked for you because I thought that you wouldn’t feel the same way back but I don’t have anything to loose anymore.” Michael said as he looked into Maria’s eyes.
“I feel the same way Michael I love you and I want to be with you…. I didn’t mean it when I said I didn’t feel the same way back.” Maria said as Michael lowered his forehead down to hers.
“Maria one more thing…. I quit.” Michael said with a small smirk on his face before he grabbed her face in between both of his palms and kissed her passionately.
2 years later:
“I hate you, I’m dieing here and you don’t care!” Maria cried as she pressed her palm to her forehead.
“Babe you don’t hate me…. take a deep breathe...” Michael managed to say before Maria interrupted.
“You take a deep breathe I’m the one that’s about to have a baby!” Maria cried.
“Michael I can’t do this anymore, this baby needs to come out, get a doctor please I cant….. This is the one and only child…. you hear me Michael.” Maria said as she panted.
“Sure one kid thats fine with me, I'm going to get a doctor.” he was about to turn around when she grabbed onto the collar of his shirt and dragged his face to within inches of hers.
“No don’t leave I’m sorry that I’m being so….ahhh.” Maria couldn’t finish her sentence as the next contraction hit her full force and left her gasping for air.
Michael looked over at the machine that was monitoring the contractions and saw on the sheeted print that the last contraction she had was bigger then all of the ones she had had in the last 4 hours.
Michael then called out to Isabel who was nervously sitting in the corner of the room biting her nails.
“We need a doctor in here now.” Michael said.
“Ok I’ll find someone.” Isabel said as she rushed out of the room.
Alex who had been sitting in the family waiting room jumped up and asked “Did she have it yet?”
“Umm no actually I need a nurse, where’s a nurse when you need one?” Isabel shouted.
“We’ll find one, don’t worry.” Alex said as he began searching for anyone wearing scrubs.
~*~*~*~*~
Maria was in between contractions and slightly dozing while Michael brushed a cold wet cloth across her face and neck.
“Maria your doing great I’m so proud of you.” Michael said as he continued cooling off Maria’s clammy skin.
Just then Maria began to stir as she opened her eyes a frown appeared on her brow “Michael where’s the doctor?"
“Isabel went to find someone let me go see what’s taking so long, I’ll be right back.” Michael said as he practically ran out of the room.
Maria looked around the empty room before placing her palms on her belly.
“Ok baby cakes this is getting really hard on Mommy so I was hoping that you could come out and let us meet you.” Maria began to feel her stomach muscles tighten then a sudden gush of warm water run down her leg.
Her eyes opened wide as she realized that her water had just broken, finally.
“Thanks for listening babe.” Maria said as she felt a sudden rush of energy.
Michael and Isabel came rushing in the room with a nurse in tow.
“Mrs. Guerin your husband seemed to insist that you’re ready.” The elderly nurse stated as she checked Maria’s vitals and looked into her chart.
“Nurse my water just broke.”
“What I was gone for like 10 seconds!” Michael shouted a surprised expression on his face.
“Ok let’s see how you have progressed.” The nurse said.
A few minutes later she smiled as she looked at both Maria and Michael and said “It looks like we are having a baby.”
20 minutes later:
“Ok one more push Maria.” Dr Johnson said.
“It hurts; I can’t anymore please…..” Maria cried as she threw her head back against the pillow.
“You can do this; I know you can… come on baby it’s almost over.” Michael coached as he caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers.
Maria then took a deep breathe and brought her chin to her chest and pushed with all her might.
Michael laughed while tears were swimming in his eyes “I see the head babe your almost there!”
A loud lusty cry filled the room as the doctor delivered a beautiful baby boy.
Maria laughed at the look on Michaels face as the doctor offered him the scissor to cut the umbilical cord, tears of happiness streaming down her face.
The doctor then placed the baby on Maria’s stomach.
As she looked at her baby a feeling of intense love and amazement began to settle in.
Michael kissed Maria’s forehead as he said “Thank you.”
The baby had light brown hair and piercing green eyes like his mother.
“What are we going to name him?” Maria asked as she counted the babies 10 toes and 10 fingers.
“Well I really like the name Gavin and you like the name Jacob so how does Gavin Jacob Guerin sound to you?” Michael said with a huge crooked grin on his face.
“I think it’s perfect.” Maria said as she kissed Gavin’s forehead she then looked at Michael and said “I love you.”
Michael leaned down and kissed her back with all the feelings that were running through his heart. As they broke apart from there steamy kiss a twinkle lit Maria’s eyes.
“You know babe, the next time around is going to go a lot smoother.” Maria said as she winked at him.
Michael smacked his forehead and let out a loud groan as Maria’s laughter filled the room.
EPILOGUE:
20 years later:
“Ok is this thing on? ahhh yes in 4…3….2… Hi to everyone watching….my name is Mackenzie Bailey Guerin and tonight is my parents’ 20th wedding anniversary party.” The beautiful 15 year old girl said into the video camera that was set up in the corner of her bedroom on a tri-pod.
“So I have to do a documentary for my drama class at school and I thought what better topic then family…. god knows that my family is nuts.” She said as her face lit up with a smile and a tiny dimple appeared on her right cheek as she laughed.
“Let’s start with my immediate family….my mother Maria Deluca-Guerin was a singer….. she was really famous back in her day but now she mostly sticks to writing songs and other people sing them, a lot of people tell me I look like her except that I have my dads really mean glare that let me tell ya intimidates a lot of guys that have attempted to take me out on a date. She’s also super cool and we have the best time shopping since we are both into the hippy-sheek kind of look…. like I said she’s cool.”
She stood up and grabbed the camera in one hand doing an extreme close up of her face.
She had hazel eyes like her fathers ,wide pouty lips like her mothers and beautiful wavy long caramel colored hair.
“Ok so extreme close up her so that you guys can judge on who looks like who in this family later….anyways let me tell you about my dad Michael Guerin he’s awesome I can talk to him about anything most people think that he’s really tough and mean cause he used to be a professional body guard but…”
Mackenzie tucked a long strand of hair behind her ear and looked around the room as if to make sure that no one was watching or listening “He’s totally a care bear and I don’t mean the grumpy one he’s like hugs bear he’s the best dad ever.” She said as she winked into the camera.
“Let me put the camera back on the stand so that I can finish describing the immediate family and get out into the party so that you can meet everyone else.” Mackenzie said as she got up and set the camera up and sat back down on her bed crossing her legs Indian style before she began speaking again.
“Now on to my older brother….. Gavin Jacob Guerin he’s 18 years old and he works with my Dad in the family business of… you guessed it people…… a protection agency he wants to be like my dad …. He’s a dork and it’s really gross that like every friend that I have is half in love with him, disgusting I tell you but he does look a lot like my dad so I can’t blame my friends for thinking he’s super cute.” She said as she rolled her eyes.
“We get along well except when he and my dad tag team any potential boyfriend that I might have, let me tell you its not funny when a boy comes over and is sitting in the living room with my dad that mind you has his aviator glasses on the entire time while interrogating him.. It’s really embarrassing but that’s family you know.” Mackenzie said as she shrugged her shoulders and smirked.
“So basically that’s the run down on the family… I am a lot like my mom but I can be as stubborn as a mule, my mom says I get that from my dad.” She said as she grabbed a microphone off her desk and plugged it into the camcorder.
“We are getting into the party area as you can tell by the noise and the festive decorations.” She spoke loudly as walked down the hall, the camera panned from one side of the living room to the next.
White balloons were set in all corners and a huge buffet table had been set up for the guests that would soon be piling in.
“A-ha here we are everyone… this is my Uncle Alex and Aunt Isabel.” She said as she did a close up of the older couple sitting down on the sofa talking.
“Hey Mackenzie so lovely to see you again.” Alex said as he smiled into the camera lens and crossed his eyes.
Mackenzie laughed as she then panned over to her aunt Isabel.
“Aunt Isabel I’m doing a project for school on family so I thought what better night then tonight when everyone is here.”
“That’s wonderful honey.” Isabel said as she patted her short slightly graying hair into place.
As Alex watched her he knew that was a habit she had when she was nervous.
“Where is my know it all cousin Kat at?” Mackenzie asked as she looked around the room.
“Do I hear someone speaking my name in vain?” Someone said right behind Mackenzie’s ear.
She turned around and focused her camera on the face of her raven haired brown eyed cousin Katelyn Samantha Whitman.
Katelyn’s brown eyes light up as Mackenzie explained what she was doing with the camera.
It didn’t escape Alex again that both mother and daughter had the same nervous habit to pat down there hair as he watched his daughter do it.
“Ok I got work to do here people we shall catch up later.” Mackenzie said as she threw up a piece sign with her free hand and continued on her way looking for her parents.
“Allrighty then so you met my Uncle, Aunt and cousin. The way that they got together is pretty cool actually, see Aunt Isabel is my mom’s best friend and Uncle Alex is my dad’s best friend and they been married for like ever too.” Mackenzie said as she walked over to her brother’s room and opened the door without knocking.
“Now here we have Gavin getting pretty.” Mackenzie said as she recorded her brother putting the finishing touches to his light brown spiky hair.
“Gavin would you mind buttoning your shirt there this is going to be G-rated film.” Mackenzie said as she did a close up of his face. His eyes were the same colors as there mother, a startling green but his were accented with flecks of gold like Michael’s. He looked like a younger version of his father with different colored eyes.
“Ha ha I wouldn’t have to if you would have knocked worm.” Gavin said as he made a grab for her camera which sent her running out of the room laughing.
“That didn’t go as planned but you met him now we are going to find my parents and its going to be really embarrassing if I find them making out somewhere.” Mackenzie turned the camera to face her and said “Which has happened a few times... very very gross but my mom insists that it’s healthy for there relationship.” She said as she stuck her tongue out at the camera and walked into the kitchen.
As she saw her parents sitting down at the kitchen table, her father’s hand cradling her mothers hand on top of the table she smiled and thought again how lucky she was that she had parents that loved each other so much. She did a close up of there joined hands before panning back out to get both of her parents faces in the shot.
“Hey Mack what are you doing?” Michael asked as he motioned for her to sit down with them.
“Oh nothing just something for school.” Mackenzie said as she continued recording.
“Mom is there anything that you would like to say to the camera regarding family or how do you stay married for 20 years anything like that?” she asked.
“Oh well let me see,” Maria said as she tapped her lower lip with the tip of her index finger.
“Never deny yourself of true love no matter how much you think that you are doing the other person a favor.” Maria said as she turned to Michael and winked.
“Dad what do you think about that?” Mackenzie asked.
“I think that your mother is absolutely right and Maria you have me on camera saying that.” Michael said as he reached forward and placed a soft kiss on Maria’s lips, he then got up and grabbed the camera out of Mackenzie’s hand.
“Ok miss movie maker do you have any finishing thoughts on this matter?” Michael asked as he looked at his beautiful daughters face through the lens.
She smiled and said “Only that I’m really happy that my mother needed a bodyguard.”
The End
