Destination Unknown (CC All, Teen) 1/1 - 11/17/08

[einah26]

Title: Destination Unknown
Rating: TEEN
Pairing: Michael and Maria, little bit of Liz and Max too.
Disclaimer: Don't own them. Belong to Katims and Metz.
Summary: After Destiny, Maria and Liz leave Roswell to clear their minds only to be confronted with all their problems miles and miles away.


“Marry me, marry me for all the wrong reasons. Leave with me tonight, we’ll get far away from here.” The television flickered black and white on Liz and Maria’s faces. They had spent the past 8 hours holed up in Liz’s room with the shades pulled- wallowing in their mutual sadness. “Why can’t life be like the movies?” Maria asked shoving more popcorn into her mouth. “Because they can’t.” Liz said, still staring forward at the TV. “They are written by people, so somewhere in time something like this must have happened. Can you imagine a man so in love with a woman that he would do anything to have her? Ugh, life sucks.” Maria rambled on. Liz nodded her head in agreement.

Two days before they had learned about the destiny of four strangers that came into their lives in a whirlwind. And as it turns out, might leave in the exact same way. Liz had walked away from Max, not truly understanding the depth of what she had done. Would this be it for their little love story? Would the man that saved her life also be the first man to break her heart?

Maria and Michael were already in a state of confusion before the destiny bomb dropped. Just the thought of Michael and Isabel made her sick to her stomach. Isabel was everything she was not, a non-Maria.

Unable to function in normal society the girls went straight home from the desert and closed the door to Liz’s room and proceeded to watch every romantic or tragic movie in the house. They hadn’t slept much, their tears had dried up hours ago and were now stuck in a sort of cocoon of depressed shock.

“Maria?” Liz asked. Maria rolled over to face Liz. “Yeah?” Liz sat up, flipped the television off. “I think we should leave.” Liz had that determined sound in her voice. Maria didn’t dare argue or ask any questions, and she didn’t want to. Maria simply stood up, nodded her head and walked into the bathroom.

Showered and packed, the girls told their parents they were going on a short trip and would be back soon. Liz’s parents obliged knowing that she had been going through something and Maria’s mom recognized the heartbreakingly sad look on her daughter’s face and agreed to let her go.

Maria started up the Jetta and drove them out of Roswell, it was Monday morning but it didn’t feel like it. They ignored the map in the glove box. They drove west heading for nowhere.

They had been driving for 4 hours in silence when Maria finally said, “Lloyd Dobler.” Liz looked over at her. “What?” She asked. “Lloyd Dobler, you know John Cusack’s character from Say Anything.” Liz nodded understanding.

“Anyway, I always pictured that my first love, my first real relationship would be with someone like Lloyd Dobler. Someone worthy.” Liz’s lip quivered. Max was worthy, he was more than she ever expected for herself. “Yeah?” Liz said to Maria, asking her to go on. “Instead I have an alien from another planet, who is emotionally retarded and destined to be with a supermodel in training.” Liz let out a little laugh. “Doesn’t seem fair. I mean, at least you had Kyle to break you into the whole dating thing. Liz shrugged her shoulders.

“Maria?” Liz said. Maria looked over to Liz sitting with her legs pulled up to her chest in the passenger seat. “Nothing prepares you for this, especially not Kyle Valenti” Liz said. They kept driving. The road in front of them seemed like a yellow brick road of sorts, they followed it until it ended and they took up with the next road.

They had driven all day by the time they spoke again. “I’m starving.” Maria said. Liz nodded. “Me too.” Maria pulled off the road at the next diner. The almost empty diner looked about as pathetic as they felt. A booth by the window seemed to call their names.

“Pancakes? Liz suggested. Maria nodded and she ordered two stacks of pancakes and extra syrup. Half way through their pancakes Maria started in. “I don’t want to cry and I don’t want you to cry, but I feel like crap. My whole insides just feel like the inside of a pumpkin. All squished, goopy and hanging on by a thread.” Liz swallowed a bite. “I know. I just can’t believe it still. How did this happen? Where did we go wrong?”

Maria stuck her fork out at Liz. “Right? What did we do in the short time that we have been alive to deserve this? I know you got a second chance and all but does that mean we are stuck in some horrible cosmic toilet bowl that keeps flushing and flushing but we don’t go anywhere?” Maria stuck her fork back into her pancakes.

The silence was broken.

Back in the Jetta, Liz started up the car and Maria turned on the radio, nothing but static.
They pulled off the road around 2am to sleep, Liz’s eyes were getting tired and Maria had been ranting for an hour and a half. They both agreed she shouldn’t be driving. They took out their sleeping bags and leaned the seats in the Jetta back all the way. Just before she drifted off to sleep Liz said, “I still love him.” Maria pulled her tears back in.

In the morning they drove to the nearest gas station and freshened. They reached the Welcome to California sign half way through the day. Maria had an epiphany. “Let’s drive the ocean and jump in and leave as much of this feeling in there as we can.” They were going to wash away as much of Max and Michael as they could.

And just like that they had a plan.

Back in Roswell Michael hadn’t been in school since they had learned about their destiny. He hadn’t been able to process any of it. He was supposed to help save a planet and be with Isabel? He couldn’t get his head around it. He knew he was destined for things greater than Roswell, New Mexico but not this. And Maria… God Maria. His little pixie.

That night at the Evans Max was locked in his room. Liz and Maria hadn’t been in school for three days. Michael was nowhere to be found and Isabel had given up on trying to get him to talk. She sat on her bed opened her yearbook to Liz’s picture. She shook her head. “Max would kill me.”

Maria and Liz were close to the ocean, they could smell it in the air. Their spirits lightened when they turned into a state park and saw the Pacific. The air was light and sweet smelling. Maria put the car in park, she turned to Liz. “Are you ready?” She asked. Liz smiled in agreement.

They jumped out of the car slammed the doors and ran as fast as they could stripping off their clothes and shoes. The sand between their feet felt so much different than the desert sand back home. Stripped down to their undies and tank tops the girls paused for a moment. “Liz, maybe we should wait.” Liz looked at Maria. “Why?” Maria moved her eyes to an old man and his wife sitting on the beach. “Oh” Liz said.

They slept on the beach that night, they had encountered only one other old man through the whole day at the beach and he seemed more interested in finding coins with his metal detector than anything else.

Isabel flipped back a few pages in her yearbook and placed her hand over the picture of Maria Deluca and lay down to fall asleep. Isabel was in Maria’s dream. Maria was underwater, she was struggling. The water was all around her and she couldn’t see Liz anywhere. The feeling she got from the dream awoke her suddenly, sweating and scared she bolted into Max’s room. “I think they’re in trouble.”

Max and Isabel started up the Jeep. “We need to find Michael.” Max said backing out of their driveway. Neither one of them had seen Michael since they left the pod chamber. He wasn’t at home, and he wasn’t at the pod chamber. They only had one place left to check before they left without him. Max turned the lights of the Jeep off and hopped out. There was Michael, laying down with his hands behind his head, feet crossed looking at the stars next to the reservoir. “What do I owe the pleasure?” he said looking up at Max.

“It’s Liz and Maria.” Max said. Michael jumped to his feet and hopped into the back of the Jeep. “Do we know where they are?” He asked. Isabel shook her head. “I dreamwalked Maria and she was drowning, I know it’s the ocean but I don’t know where.” Michael shook his head and leaned back. Max started up the Jeep and they took off.

Maria and Liz woke up to the sound of a seagull overhead. The warm sun beat across their bodies. Liz rolled over. “Morning.” Maria lifted her eyebrows. “Ditto.” They sat up and their it was, the glorious ocean in front of them. “Today is the day chica.” Maria said sitting up.

Max had driven all night when Michael took over, they were making excellent time being as efficient as possible. Max couldn’t get the thought out of his head that something was going to happen to Liz, something that he could have prevented. Isabel was in the back trying to fall asleep, trying to find out where they were.

She slowly drifted off to sleep. Once in Maria’s dream she walked behind Maria who was in the woods searching. Michael appeared and then Isabel herself appeared. In Maria’s dream, Isabel and Michael were holding hands while Maria stodd behind a tree watching them. Michael leaned in to kiss Isabel and Maria ran off crying, right past a sign for Matson Park. Isabel woke up in the back of the Jeep. “I think they are in a park, Matson Park. In California.” Isabel said and leaned back to try and catch her breath.

Max pulled out a map from the glove box and started to look for it. Michael was looking over his shoulder. “Find it Maxwell?” He asked hurriedly. “Got it” Max said pointing to a destination on the map. Michael looked down and hit the gas. They could be there in half a day, maybe less if they were lucky.

Maria and Liz had just gotten back to the park from eating breakfast and buying supplies for the day. Food, drinks, sun tan lotion. All the necessities for a teenage girl with a broken heart. They grabbed a sleeping back and laid down on it. “This is a solid plan.” Liz said. “Most definitely.” Maria said rubbing the lotion on her legs. “No, I mean this whole cleansing thing.” Liz explained hitting Maria playfully. “Oh sure, that too.” Maria said nodding.

Isabel woke up a couple of hours later, she had been exhausted from trying to get into Maria’s dream. “Hey.” She said to Max and Michael who seemed to not be speaking to each other. “Hey” They said in unison. “So Is, let me ask you something.” Isabel nodded. “Why were you dreamwalking Maria in the first place? He asked looking at her in the rear view mirror. “Um, I just wanted to know where they were or what they were doing and I knew Max would get mad if I did it to Liz.” Michael nodded his head.

“I see, and what was Maria doing in her dream besides drowning?” He asked trying not to show the concern. “She wasn’t doing anything else in the first one.” Isabel said and then sat back. “And what about the second one Is?” Michael asked more urgently. Isabel sat forward. “I think that’s private Michael.” Michael pulled over. “You need to drive Max.” Michael jumped out of the Jeep and into the passenger seat. Max slid over and kept driving.

Isabel sat in the back getting ready to argue with Michael, which by no means was a new thing for her. “Okay Is, let me see here. You dreamwalk Maria and won’t tell me what she dreamt about because it’s private? You saw it, now tell me.” He insisted. Isabel shook her head no. “Isabel, come on!” Michael yelled so loud back at her that it made her jump just a little. “Fine Michael, you want to know so badly! She was walking in the woods and you and I were there kissing and she ran away crying. That is what she dreamt about, okay!” Isabel fired back at him. Michael turned around in his seat and closed his eyes.

The three of them sat in silence for over an hour before Isabel sat forward between the two boys. “We need to talk about this before it divides us forever.” She said calmly and continued on. “We have a destiny, and it’s not what any of us expected. But we need to figure out what we are going to do.” Max cleared his throat. “We need to get to Liz and Maria right now and make sure they are okay.” Max said. “And then what?” Isabel asked. “I don’t know Isabel. I want everything to be able to go back to normal with our human lives and continue to look for answers with our past but I don’t think that’s possible. I don’t even think Liz would talk to me right now. And she has absolutely no reason to.” Max exhaled.

“I know that Maria wouldn’t.” Michael said trying to lighten the mood. They all laughed a little, the ongoing saga of Maria and Michael was something no one had expected from him. He loved her, he wouldn’t say it but he loved her and needed her to be okay.

The girls decided they would jump into the ocean at dusk, just to be a little poetic. They lay on the sleeping blanket talking over what could have been. “We could have gone to prom together, we could have looked for colleges together, we could have stayed the night at each other’s houses, we could have you know…” Maria ran on. “I think that’s the thing that hurts the most, is all those things that we could have done or been. I really love him Maria and I know that he loves me but he is supposed to be with Tess. How can I mess with that?” Liz said.

“What if there destiny changes though, what if this path that they are supposed to go down wasn’t supposed to include us? Do you think your destiny changes based on the choices you make? Maria posed the question already knowing what she believed. “I think it has to, scientifically you can’t change something or add or subtract and not expect an outcome.” Liz said in her best brown noser voice. “Then maybe this is all part of it.” Maria said. “Maybe all of this needs to happen in order for us to be together, for them to change their destiny.” Liz said. For the first time they were hopeful, hopeful that the future would bring them something good, maybe even love.

Max was speeding towards the park, the minutes passing by in the blink of an eye. “What if something is really wrong?” Isabel asked. “Then we try to fix it. Whatever it is that we find is our fault, they never would be where they are if it wasn’t for us.” Max said. They turned into the park. “That’s the sign I saw.” Isabel pointed. They were definitely in the right place.

Maria and Liz stood on the beach in their undies waiting for it to be time. “Maria?” Liz asked. “I know, what if it doesn’t work and we still feel the same way.” Maria answered what she was thinking. “It’s not like this is magic or anything.” Liz said, the logic in her brain kicking in. “No, no it’s not Lizzie but won’t it feel great?” Maria said with a sly smile on her face. Liz smiled back. “Hell yes.” Liz said with all the confidence she could muster. Maria raised her eyebrows and yelled “Go!”

Max weaved through the park as fast as he could go until they saw the ocean and one lone car parked in the lot. A red Jetta. Michael had never been so happy to see that stupid car.

The girls ran as fast as they could into the ocean, the water hitting them like a million little pins. They hadn’t expected it to be so cold. Maria yelped when the water hit her face, she dove in with no fear. She was going to feel something, something besides heartache. The water surrounded them, the water washed over their bodies, the fading sun kissed their smiling faces.

Michael, Max, and Isabel ran onto the beach saw the sleeping back and a pile of clothes. Max looked to the water and saw Liz’s head. “Where is Maria?” Michael yelled over the roar of the waves. He took his jacket off and kicked his boots off and started to run towards the water. He grabbed his belt and flung it off, Maria wasn’t going to die if he had anything to do with it. Max and Isabel went running after him. Michael ran into the oblivious to the cold.

He swam out to where he could see Liz in between the waves. He took a deep breath and dove under, and there she was, his Maria. His beautiful, vibrant Maria. The Maria that he ran away from, the Maria that was supposed to die today. He reached out his hands and touched her waist. She quickly opened her eyes and for the briefest of moments she looked happy to see him. Her happiness faded and confusion crossed her face. She swam to the surface, with Michael shortly behind.




“What are you doing here?” She asked him bobbing in the waves. The annoyance in her voice stung Michael. He shot back in defense. “You were going to drown.” She rolled her eyes. “No, I wasn’t.” She said back to him with attitude. “Yes, you were.” Michael raised his voice. She shot him a look of death and dove under the water towards Liz.

“Hey” Liz said to Maria facing out towards the ocean. “They’re here.” Maria said with little to no emotion. “What?” Liz said turning around to see Max and Isabel standing on the beach. “Why?” was all that Liz could muster. “I know, so much for feeling better.” Maria deadpanned and kicked her feet up to float on her back. “Maybe they will just leave?” Liz said naively. “Doubt it, but I tell you what chica, I am not getting out of this water until they are gone.” Maria closed her eyes and concentrated on the sound of the water beneath her.

Michael slowly waded out of the water onto the sand to meet Max and Isabel. “What did she say?” Isabel asked. “Nothing” Michael said taking his shirt off and walking past them to his jacket. The sand beneath his feet felt like needles, her words running over and over in his head.

The daylight was fading fast and Maria and Liz were still in the water. “Maybe we should go?” Max suggested trying hard to make eye contact with Liz. “No, what if something happens Max. I could never forgive myself.” Isabel pleaded. “We need to stay.” Was all that Michael said before he walked off.

The minutes were passing by rapidly for Maria and Liz, the water was getting colder and colder. Isabel started a fire on the beach and walked to the edge of the ocean. “Come on, please get out of there.” Isabel yelled at Maria and Liz. She had been trying to get them out of the ocean for what seemed like forever.

Isabel walked back to the fire and sat down. “They have to be freezing out there.” Isabel said. Michael nodded his head. He hadn’t made eye contact with anyone since he spoke with Maria. “This is stupid.” Max said standing up taking off his jacket and shoes. He stripped down to his boxers and walked to the ocean.

“What is he doing?” Liz asked. “Well, he’s either coming in here to talk or trying to impersonate Marky Mark.” Maria said, her body shivering. Max swam out to them in no time, his planted his feet down into the squishy sand. “I’m sorry…I’m sorry.” He said slowly. “But you walked away.” He stated before looking Liz deep in her eyes and swimming back to shore.

“What?!?” Liz yelled with fury. She grabbed Maria’s hand. “Come on.” They swam to shore, the little clothes they had on clinging to them in the wind. Liz walked with purpose behind Max. She grabbed his shoulder from the bank to turn him around. Both half naked and dripping wet anyone could feel the anger between them. Both feeling betrayed, both helpless, and both completely lovesick for one another.

“I did not walk away from you.” Liz said pushing his chest away from her. “Yes, you did. I didn’t tell you to leave, I didn’t say anything.” Max yelled, losing control. “What am I supposed to do Max? Hang around and wait for you to fall in love with Tess? I can’t do that to myself, I can’t keep you from your destiny. It’s not fair to me or to you. And you didn’t say anything Max. That’s the point.” She yelled poking his chest with her point she made.

Michael still focused his attention down on the ground, trying with all his might not too look up at Maria. He could feel her eyes burning a whole through him. Isabel sat watching the fire, wishing that Alex were there. Even if he was mad, even if he hated her, at least she would be near him.

Max and Liz stood staring at each other, neither one of them wanting to blink, wanting to move, wanting anything but to stand their ground. Maria turned her back the fire and walked away. She didn’t need to be there for this, Max and Liz loved each other. They would get through this, they have a connection that can’t be broken by destiny. But Michael and her? That’s another story.

Isabel stood up and ran in Maria’s direction. She caught up with her a few hundred yards away. “Maria, wait up.” Isabel said. Maria stopped in her tracks not turning around. Isabel stood next to Maria. “Can I walk with you?” Isabel asked. Maria nodded in agreement.

Down the beach a ways Isabel started to speak. “I dreamwalked you, I know, I know, I’m sorry but I had to know that you and Liz were okay. No one had seen or heard from you. This whole destiny thing is not easy for us either. I don’t want to be with Michael. Not like that anyway.” Isabel stopped speaking fearing she was not getting through to Maria.

Maria cleared her throat. “What did you see in my dream?” Maria asked. Isabel smiled slightly that she was even talking to her. “I saw you in the forest looking for something, Michael and I appeared and we were together. You cried and ran away, and just kept running.” Isabel said solemnly. “Isabel, can I be honest with you?” Isabel nodded her head. Maria stopped and sat down in the sand, Isabel did the same.

“You intimidate me, and you are beautiful and I have never had anyone make me feel so small. I mean never. I usually have this irrational amount of self confidence. So for you to be the one destined for Michael or whatever is just…just…”Maria didn’t need to finish. Isabel knew all too well what she was feeling.

“Maria, I am going to tell you something that you probably already know.” Isabel paused and kept talking. “Michael is a complicated guy. He goes after what he wants without care, but then you came along and he is so scared. Scared that he will need someone else. I know that he doesn’t show it or say it, but he feels it.” Isabel ended. “That’s the problem Is, I feel it, I show it and he turned me away. Do you know what that feels like?” Maria confessed. “It makes me the fool…” Maria finished.

Max and Liz were still standing next to the fire facing each other, the moon barely shining in the night sky. Michael had gotten up and walked to wet his feet in the ocean. Isabel and Maria were walking back to their makeshift camp, both were just a little less tense and a little more comfortable together.

Isabel walked to the Jeep and sat down in the back looking up at the stars. Maria grabbed a bottle of water and walked to Michael. His feet were most likely cold but he couldn’t feel them. The water washed over them, and then retreated and then came again. Maria stood next to him and reached the water bottle out to him. He took it and had a drink and handed it back to her.

Maria moved her foot over the wet sand and messed up the smooth surface and then let the ocean come and back it smooth again. They didn’t say anything to each other, instead the small movements meant so much. Michael looked up the sky and pointed at a constellation, Maria followed his arm up to the sky and nodded when she saw the star formation.

Max broke eye contact with Liz and walked over to grab his jacket. He handed it to her and she wrapped it around her shoulders. He sat down in front of the fire, grabbed his shirt and put it on. Liz sat down next to him. “I needed to get out of Roswell Max, I needed to get away from you.” She said quietly. “I know.” He answered.

Michael walked backwards towards the sand and plopped down. Maria turned and went to sit next to him. She looked at the side of his face, he seemed so deep in thought. She didn’t want to speak first, she didn’t know if she could even speak. She was so afraid that she was nothing to him, afraid that she was just a girl that could potentially expose his identity.


Just when the silence between the two of them had become painful for Maria, he spoke. “Why here?” He asked. Maria cleared her throat. “We were just driving and then decided to come swim in the ocean..” Michael nodded his head. “Isabel thought you were drowning in your dream. I mean, that’s why we came here.” Maria nodded her head. Cautiously she asked, “Did she tell you about my dream?” Michael turned for the first time and looked Maria right in her eye. “No.” He lied to her.

The tears in Liz’s eyes had just about dried up, they had been rolling down her cheeks since she sat down. The past few days had sent her into emotional overdrive. Max was looking into the flames of the fire; she hoped that he would say all the right things to her in that moment but he was silent.

Maria had no idea what time it was but she could feel her eyelids getting heavy. “Michael. I’m tired.” She said. “Me too.” He paused like he was going to say something else. The unheard words hanging in the air. “I made her tell me your dream.” Michael blurted out. Maria stood up ranting. “Oh God, that is so…so…so embarrassing.” Michael jumped to his feet. “No it’s not Maria.” But Maria was already running away. “Come on Maria, stop please!” He yelled after her. Michael wasn’t the type of guy to ask nicely, much less say please. Maria stopped in her tracks, her cheeks red with embarrassment.

Maria turned around to face him. “Say it, say it right now or I am walking away for good.” She hated ultimatums but the words came out of her mouth without a filter. He stood in front of her speechless. She blinked the tears out of her eyes. “Thanks, Michael.” The sarcasm ringing in her voice.

She got twenty feet away from him when he said, “You already know I love you.” Her heart stopped. She walked back to him. “Do I?” She asked with tears coming down her face. “I can’t even breath sometimes when I look at you, and I know I am not good at this whole thing but you have to trust me. Trust that I love you.” His voice was softer than she ever heard it before. “What does that mean though Michael?” Maria asked not wanting to know the answer.

Liz sat staring at Max. He looked from the fire to her and she smiled at him like only she could. He muttered, “Dammit.” Before she could blink he was kissing her, and she kissed him back the smile never leaving her face. They didn’t care about destiny, they didn’t care about the world or Tess, in that moment it was only the two of them. Max pulled away. “I don’t care about all that stuff Liz. No matter what we’ll be together.” Liz repeated “No matter what.” With a smile the size of Texas on her face.

Maria was still waiting for an answer. Michael cleared his throat. “I am going to have to leave and I can’t have you here waiting for me. I just can’t.” He finally said. Maria nodded her head. “So that’s it? You love me but you can’t? God Michael, I love you alright. And I have never loved anyone like this and you just keep breaking my heart.” He didn’t know what he could say to make her feel better, or to make himself feel better. He could only muster this. “We can’t stop loving each other, but we can stop hurting each other.” He grabbed Maria and hugged her and let her cry into his chest. A single tear fell from Michael’s eye.

Maria left the next morning, leaving Liz to get back home with Max, Michael and Isabel. She left a note for Liz simply stating, “Sorry chica, I need to be alone.” She had no happy ending and only a town full of memories to get back to. She stopped more than once to curse the sky for letting this happen to her, letting her open up only to get hurt. She would never be the same after him.

Max and Liz made googly eyes at each other the whole way home, which left Michael and Isabel in the backseat. They kept to themselves, staring mostly at the scenery and thinking. They had only one conversation about Maria. “Did you tell her?” Isabel asked. Michael nodded his head. “That’s good. Why did she leave?” Isabel asked. Michael shrugged his shoulders and pointed up the sky. “It’s my destiny.”


The End