Starry Days, Dark Nights (MM, CC / Teen) (Complete)

[roswellianprincess16]

A/N: Just a quick transition chapter. I think I let this fic die for too long. Oh well... just you and me roswellluver.



THANKS Tasyfa! You're incredible!

Chapter 11:

Wedding Countdown: 3 days

“Ok, the dress?”

“Check.”

“The bridesmaids?”

“Check.”

“The cake.”

“Shoot.”

“Shoot?” Isabel looks up sharply and eyeballs Kyle.

“Just kidding. Check.” We all sigh loudly and resist the urge to throw things at him.

“Shoes?”

“Check.”

“Undergarments.”

“Check.” I say with an embarrassed whisper. I look around at the ridiculous assembly line of people and their little notepads. We look ready to go to war.

“Food and reception hall?.”

“Check.”

“Tuxedos.”

“Check.” Finally, she finishes the checking for today and hands me an updated list. Everyone begins to go their separate way, glad that the incessant questioning is over. I can see the exhaustion and frustration in their eyes. Isabel CAN be very exhausting.

“So far so good. We have just about everything we need. We have to go pick out the flowers. Then have bouquets and corsages made. Have you booked your honeymoon yet?” I listen to her fast words and begin to drown them out. Thankfully, Liz comes to my rescue.

“You know what Isabel? I could help you work on those. Maria has already told me what she has in mind. I think she’s kind of tired right now.” Liz grabs my shoulders and massages them gently.

“Ok.” Isabel smiles suddenly, and turns to find another victim.

“I’m going to strangle her while she’s sleeping.” I whisper as I look up at Liz thankfully.

“No worries. Everything will turn out perfect. You wait and see.” I sit on the couch hoping to God she’s right. I reach for the New York Daily News (which I have delivered by my manager from NYC if you can believe it) and see my face plastered on the cover with a huge sticky note.

“There’s trouble.” It reads. I look at the article title. Missing Margarita In Hiding After Being Exposed as Fraud- Wedding Details to Follow.

“Jesus Christ!” I yell and stand up feeling more pissed than I have in a very long time. “I can’t frickin believe this!” I watch as everyone suddenly tenses, not sure what to do or say.

“Maria, what’s wrong?” I see Michael get up, obviously trying to be cautious of my flying hands.

“They found out. Damn papers found out. I hate the paparazzi.” I throw the newspaper at him as he sees the cover and his eyes widen.

“Wow… you’re like the big time huh?” My shoulders drop as I look at him with unbelieving eyes.

“Are you serious? This is not a joke Michael!” He shrugs with a smile and doesn’t seem bothered at all by the fact that they’re basically calling me a liar and a fraud and then dishing all of my personal information. Kyle grabs the magazine and smiles.

“Hey Maria, this is a really great picture of you.”

“Shut up Kyle.” I snatch the paper out of his hands and walk around desperately behind the couch.

“You really should be focused on the wedding right now.” Isabel says between her agenda and schedule making.

“No kidding.” I bite back, feeling completely overwhelmed.

“Ok, ok. It’s no big deal. All we have to do is set up a press conference and you can explain everything. Then offer the Daily News exclusive pics from the wedding. You’ll be fine and everyone will be happy.” We all stop and there’s a dead silence as everyone just stares at Kyle.

“What?! I learned a few things while I was on the road as her manager.”

“Kyle… you were never my manager. But that was perhaps the most ingenious idea you’ve ever had.”

“Other than when I saved the world from the evil crystals?”

“Yes Kyle, other than when you saved the world from the evil crystals.” We all laugh and I head toward the phone knowing exactly what I have to do

[roswellianprincess16]

A/N: Hello! I know, I know... it's been a few weeks. My brother in law got married and my family moved to Puerto Rico. Please forgive me... it's been insanity. Now, a new chapter.

Chapter 12:

Wedding Countdown: 2 days

I walk into the building, my best outfit on, knowing that this will change everything. I focus on the clicking sound of my heels on the tiled floor and the steps behind me.

“This is going to be fine Maria. It’ll all work out perfect.”

“You’re going to make her nervous. She knows that already.”

“Well, you’re doing quite a job of helping her, she must be a nervous wreck.”

“Look, we’ve got it under control, why don’t you just go back home.”

“What? You’re kidding right? I mean… hello? I’m her manager.”

“You’re not her manager.”

“I am too!”

“No… you’re not.”

“Well, who are you?”

“Her fiancé.”

“Yea? Well… I’m her… Maria what am I?”

I finally stop, feeling my head spinning in aggravation.

“OK STOP! Both of you! I brought you for moral support. I need total silence from both of you. Do you understand? I have to focus. I have to make sure I say what is necessary to win my fans back over. I DON’T NEED TO BE WORRYING ABOUT THE BOTH OF YOU! Ok? So shut up or leave!” I turn back around and continue stomping down the hallway and for a moment hear no sound behind me. Then I hear the rushed steps of Kyle and Michael behind me. What was I thinking getting them to come with me.

Finally, I step into the room and see all of the people sitting patiently. Oh man… I hope I don’t screw this up. They all sit up straighter and some reach for cameras, notepads or recorders.

I leave Michael and Kyle in the back and head toward the desk in the front where my actual manager is sitting. He has a comforting smile on his face and I know that as long as I clear up the mess, things will be fine.

I sit down and tuck my chair in slightly and take a deep breath. Then, the silence is gone.

“Any questions?” I say and there is a sudden, frightening bustle of sounds and hands and paper rustling. I look up and see a small woman, short blonde hair and big blue eyes. Maybe she’d be easy on me.

“Yes, you please.”

“Margarita, is it true that you were suicidal and decided to kill yourself the night you stole the tourbus?”

Well, so much for being easy on me.

“I guess there’s something that I have to explain to all of you in order to make any sense of my actions.” I look toward the back and get the approving smile of Kyle and the intense glare of Michael. They’re here. With me… and I’m alright now. I take another deep breath and continue.

“My real name is Maria DeLuca. I lived in Roswell, New Mexico for my entire life, until I graduated high school. I moved out to New York to pursue my singing career and got a lucky break. I never intended to leave the business… my entire life has revolved around music. However, there was something that I needed to do, a family issue I needed to resolve right away. Now… things have calmed down. I’ve begun recording for my next album and I plan to finish the tour in the cities where I didn’t go. I’m also getting married and will be taking my husband with me on the road.”

I smile and look at all of the journalists writing furiously in their notebooks. They won’t all write a story of love and heartbreak, but those who understand will make that clear in their writing.

***

I sit back in the recliner and open my eyes groggily.

“Hey, you were knocked out. You feeling ok?” I look up and smile as I see Kyle standing there with a bowl of cereal.

“That press conference got the best of me. But… I think it went well. At least now I told them the truth. What they do with it is their business.” I smile and grab the bowl of cereal. I hadn’t realized I was so hungry.

“Listen, I wanted to talk to you…without everyone.” He sits across from me in the loveseat and I can tell by his eyes that something is up.

“Ok.” I continue to chomp on the Cinnamon Toast Crunch as I watch him carefully.

“We spent ten years together on the road. Ten long but fun years. Now we’re home again… things are different. You have Michael again and well… we’ve got Max and Liz and Isabel.”

“Right.” I say, and stop eating, now truly concerned about him.

“I just… I guess I just want to know that those ten years won’t suddenly disappear. That because you’re getting married and going on tour, that things won’t suddenly change. You’re like a sister to me Maria and I don’t want to lose that relationship. It’s the only solid relationship I’ve had in over ten years.”

I stare at his face, my heart swelling with love. I put down my bowl on the coffee table and reach for his hands.

“How dare you say that Kyle? I will never push you away! You were like my only friend! You kept me sane all these years! I could NEVER forget that.” I smile and hug him tightly confirming my statement. I feel his breath of air and his body loosens up under my embrace.

“Good. I just… I just wanted to make sure.” He smiles and I smile back, suddenly realizing the truth of it all. I’m going to be married and life is going to change.

And the truth is, I love the excitement of it all.

[roswellianprincess16]

A/N: I know it took practically two weeks... but I'm here! There's one more chapter... I might post it tomorrow. Then it's done. This story has been dragged long enough. Poor Maria needs to get her wish.

Chapter 13:

Wedding Countdown: 1 Day

I look into the mirror as I fix my hair. I look at the to-do list on the “post-it” note.

-Photo shoot for new album.
-Record new song at studio.
-Check with the Parkers about catering details for tomorrow.
-Talk to Liz about being my personal assistant tomorrow.
-Get a beer at the bar before I conk out.

I’m especially looking forward to the last one. It seems from the minute I woke up this morning that I’ve been floating on air. I’m getting married tomorrow and none of it feels real. It’s like I’m watching my life from a distance as things unravel. It’s exciting and nerve wrecking, or at least I know it should be, but I feel completely numb. Maybe it just hasn’t hit me yet.

I reach the studio and spend a few hours there as they poke and prod me, pull and comb my hair, and lather several layers of makeup on. I don’t think I’m going to like these photos very much. Unless they’re black and white. I LOVE black and white photos. Speaking of black and white photos… we need a photographer. I pull out my planner and write it in. Oh God… I’m turning into Isabel. Psychotic, wedding Nazi Isabel.

“Ms. DeLuca, we will call you when these are done. Thank you.” I smile and nod and head out to do my next chore. Photo shoot, check.

I hop into my car and head down the block, into another old factory looking building. First the photo center, then the music studio. They both look like old secret hideaways. Maybe it’s their way of keeping Roswell looking like a small town. God forbid they do something modern here. Everyone might die.

After a few hours at the studio, probably the only relaxing event of my whole day, I head out toward the bar, as I make several phone calls on my cell phone. I think of the music. I just finished recording the song I wrote on the stolen tour bus. It just seems so long ago. It’s almost impossible to believe how much my life has changed. I sigh loudly as I hear the voice on the other line.

“Liz?”

“Maria?”

“Hey, what are you doing there?”

“Working.”

“Geez woman, don’t you have a life or something?”

“You’d think so wouldn’t you?” I can hear the smirk in her face and I’m thankful that she was the one to pick up.

“I was just calling to verify the food tomorrow and actually I wanted to talk to you. Do you think we can get together tonight?”

“Are you kidding? I was planning on having you sleep over and I’m sending Max to Michael’s. This is your big night… you need the girls to dish.”

“Dish?”

“Yea, you know, talk about old times.”

“Have you been spending time with Isabel?”

I can hear her laugh and it basically answers my question. Yes, she’s been spending too much time with Isabel.

“Kyle’s gonna want to come.”

“Yea… he just wants to see us in our jimmies.”

“That’s not happening. Anyway, where are you?”

“I’ll be home soon. Taking a little while to myself.”

“Ok, don’t be too long.” I pull in and open the doors as the smell of smoke and liquor fills my nose. Thank goodness. It’s almost five o’clock which means the after work crowd will be coming in soon. I smile and ask for a beer. I take a cold sour sip and sigh. It’s almost time. I can’t even believe it. I’m so ready. I’ve loved this man my whole life and all I’ve ever wanted was for him to love me back this way. And in some way, even as we said goodbye, I knew he did. And now here we are, ready to give our lives to each other.

I take the last few sips and stand up ready to head off. That’s when I see him in the distance. I look toward the back of the room to focus but I’d know the shape of him anywhere. I walk over and notice two others sitting around him, one with a few turned over glasses before him, the other with a smile on his face and a basket of mozzarella sticks. I can’t help but snicker as I watch them.

The three stooges. Max, Michael and Kyle. The most unlikely group of people to hang out together and yet it looks right. Max is smiling and probably telling Michael how wonderful married life is going to be. Well, he obviously doesn’t understand the dynamic of a Michael and Maria relationship. It’s not right unless it’s not perfect. And Kyle, who so graciously stepped into the brother role, is probably making all sorts of jokes, from the fact that I used to hang my bras up to dry on the door knobs to the fact that now Michael will get to see me walking around naked too. It ONLY happened once and he wasn’t supposed to be in the room… and as we see, it didn’t change anything. Kyle will always be like my brother.

I debate interrupting their little party and decide against it as I turn to leave. I like that scene too much to break it. I like this new life we’re building. I head out toward the parking lot and into the cold night. I jump into my car and head down the street and park it in back of the CrashDown. Let the girls’ night begin.

***

“Wait, wait. Do you guys remember when Michael got that second job? He was just a mess! He never got any sleep and he walked around like a zombie.”

“And he smelled pretty awful too.” Isabel laughs as we take down another milkshake. The third one of the night.

“Yea he did.” I smile and for one odd moment, the room goes silent.

“I guess I’m the only one alone again.” I don’t even know what to say. After all, Isabel and I were never great friends but she was always nice to me and I grew to love and care about her. Like family. Practically a sister in law.

Liz reaches her hand over and puts it on her shoulder.

“Isabel, that’s not true and you know it.”

“Then why are both of you getting married and I’m alone?”

“Jesse was a jerk Isabel. When you needed him most he bailed. Ok? And Alex… well we know he loved you.”

“What about Kyle?” We all stop and I look at Liz to figure out if what she just said is some sort of joke. I mean, now is not the time to be joking about stuff like this.

“Kyle?” Isabel looks at her about as incredulously as I am.

“I see how the two of you get along. How you talk about everything. Maybe he’s someone you need. Someone who already understands you and what you’re like. Someone who’s right in front of you.”

Just as Alex had been. I wish he could be here. If only for tomorrow.

“You know… if you did get with Kyle… he’d have the sick pleasure of having seen us all naked.” I look at them with a gross expression on my face and Isabel’s face drops. Liz’s ears turn bright red as she hits me on the arm.

“He never saw me naked! I had a towel on and underwear!”

“Almost naked.”

“God… did you have to say that? That’s just way too much information.” Isabel’s eyes go around in her head as she shivers in disgust.

“He’s not too bad naked either.” I whisper and wink and we all break out into laughter. It’s like I have sisters for the first time in years. Like finally, I have a family. I won’t have to alone anymore.

[roswellianprincess16]

A/N: Thank you to those of you who have read this story. I got lost somewhere in the middle, between RL and other things... here it is. Finally, the end.

Chapter 14:

Wedding Countdown: 0 Days!

I lay in bed for a few seconds after having hit my alarm clock. There’s a sudden panic in my body that makes me want to throw the covers over my head and disappear. Oh that’s right… I’m getting married.

I blink my eyes a few times and watch as two female heads appear before me.

“Wake up, wake up.”

“You have to have a hearty breakfast.” Oh God… this is going to be an endless disaster. Especially if it starts with Isabel demanding I eat breakfast.

“I don’t know… I’m not feeling too….”

“UP!” I sit up without missing a beat and my head spins for a moment. This is going to be a long day.

I get pushed into the bathroom and as the door closes behind me there is a demand that I brush my teeth and shower. I have to be refreshed for the day.

I step in and turn the water on letting it run across my skin and hair. The feeling is so relaxing I’m tempted to just lie down and drown out the entire world. But….

“It’s been twenty minutes! Time to get out or your food will get cold!” That’s it. It’s official. I’m going to beat Isabel. I’m going to beat her with a stick. As if on cue I hear Liz in the background.

“You know what? We’ll give you a few minutes alone. We’ll be downstairs.” I hear the whispering argument as they both drag downstairs. I come out and put on my robe letting my hair drip as I make my way toward the closet. I look at my dress, hanging on the closet door and I smile at it. Maybe it won’t be so bad. As long as Isabel doesn’t completely freak out on me, I might be able to keep myself together. I dry my hair and slip on the panty hose and slip. I throw the robe back on over it and head downstairs in my slippers.

“Morning Ms. DeLuca.” I smile as I look at the table set up. My mom, Liz, Isabel, and Mrs. Parker all sitting at the table talking and laughing. Then there’s my seat with the food just waiting. It actually makes my stomach grumble. Maybe I am hungry.

We sit and eat and talk. That little bit of time is like a bit of calm before the storm. After breakfast is over, the next two hours are a blur.

Between the hair curlers, the makeup application, putting me in the dress, taking out the curlers, pinning up my bangs, getting on my jewelry, going to the bathroom (in between the madness I had a sudden urge to go several times), and finally slipping on my shoes. I look in the mirror and can barely recognize myself.

I look the way I did months ago. Full out celebrity. I could be walking the red carpet at an awards show. Probably even better looking than that.

I take a deep breath and try to regain my composure. There is something different in my eyes. I’m not the distant aloof celebrity I once was. I am now complete.

***

The next few hours were a total blur. All a magical mess of fun and laughter. But how it felt… I’m never going to forget that.

The complete attack of butterflies in my stomach as I walked slowly up to Michael, who stood in a beautiful gray suit and tie. The way his eyes just remained on mine until our kiss. The way it made me feel. I haven’t felt that way in so long.

I surprised him with a ring, a symbol of my love for him, just as he gave to me. As we sit now, at the CrashDown, I smile as it sparkles in the light. He’s mine. I’m not the possessive type, but it turns me on immensely.

I look around watching as everyone was dressed in their best, their faces full of smiles, their stomachs full of food. I never knew the Parkers to be ‘chef-like’ but after their baked salmon entrée and seasoned rice and the ridiculous vanilla cheesecake with strawberry and chocolate syrup, I knew they would be my eternal heroes. Thankfully, they made enough for everyone to take some home.

I glance over at my mother, her eyes glistening as she smiles and laughs with Jim, the man who is now my stepfather. Kyle is making some sort of comment to his father, something seemingly funny, because the three of them are sharing a great smile.

“You ok?” I look over and smile as Liz stands before me, her big brown eyes looking openly into mine as they always have. I smile and reach out to hug her. I can sense that she’s startled at first, but then she hugs me back, the type of hug that I remember always made me feel at home.

“I’m just a little overwhelmed.” I say into her hair, as I realize that I’m getting all emotional, my eyes are getting blurry from the tears and my voice is shaky and unstable.

“It’s an incredible feeling isn’t it?”

“What is?”

“To be loved.” She pulls away and looks into my eyes and I feel a tingle in my throat. This little woman before me has symbolized love and normalcy for so long, for as long as I can remember. And even as we went through a string of not exactly normal teenage stuff, it was with her that I grew and learned about life, taking chances, and love. Seeing her and Max taught me that real love is possible… even through a nightmare of future versions predicting end of the worlds and blonde murderesses claiming to be long lost wives.

I realize then and there that life has been this journey that I tried to skip through, to escape the pain and to escape the memories. But the truth is, the music itself kept bringing me back to this time, a time when nothing was simple, but the emotions were so clear that I never had to question them. I knew what I wanted and how I felt and who I wanted in my life. And the people in this room are still part of that group.

I have lived two lives that are perhaps the most opposite anyone can imagine. A small town girl with a big city heart and a superstar musician with the desire to disappear.

I look over and spot Michael, his eyes on mine and I smile and see him faintly smile back. That snicker on his face that’s partially lopsided and proves that he is truly happy. I love that man. For reasons I can’t explain I love him.

And I am ready. I am ready to leave behind those starry days of emptiness and flash bulbs and those dark nights of loneliness and heart break. I am ready to move back to Roswell and become Mrs. Michael Guerin.

Or at least Mrs. Maria DeLuca-Guerin. It’s going to take some time to settle. But I can’t wait. Finally, I’m looking forward to this new life. To my life.

THE END