"Liz, do you know what's been bothering Maria lately? She's been real quiet lately and that can't be good." Alex asked.

"Yeah I know what's wrong. She has a few things on her mind right now. I'm sure she'll be her old self in a couple of days." Liz said, hoping that Maria was taking advantage of the long drive to talk with Michael.

"What's bothering her?" Isabel asked, "Maybe we can help."

"I'm sure we all can help but we have to be patient until she is ready to talk." Liz said. She hated that she had to keep secrets from her friends but she had promised Maria that she wouldn't say anything. "It won't be much longer and we'll all know what's going on. On both fronts."

Shortly after the conversation turned to mundane everyday topics they arrived at thier destination. They were the first ones there. They all climbed out of the jeep and found a cool spot where they laid out a blanket and sat down to wait for the others arrival. About ten minutes later Kyle and Tess parked next to the Jeep and joined the others on the blanket.

"Hey guys, how much longer are we going to be here?" Tess asked, "If it's going to be a while why don't we have a picnic?"

"That's a good idea, I am famished all of a sudden. Let's set up while we're waiting for Michael and Maria." Liz said heading for the Jeep and the cooler where lunch was stashed.

"Wait up Liz. I'll help you carry that. It's heavy." Max said running after his girlfriend.

They had just finished setting up their picnic when Kyle looked towards the horizon and asked "What's that? Is that Maria and Michael?"

"Oh my God I think it is them. What did Michael do to the Jetta this time?" Liz said, "Someone had better go pick them up or Maria will be ready to kill. Everyone knows she's not the outdoors type."

"Don't worry, I'm on it." Max said as he jumped back into the Jeep and sped off towards the two specks on the horizon that were their friends. When Max returned ten minutes later Maria looked wilted. Michael hovered over her worriedly as Max carried her to the picnic blanket and laid her down.

"What happened to the Jetta? Are you two okay?" Isabel asked sounding both concerned and amused. Concerned because Maria looked terribly sickly and amused because the Jetta had taken leave of its senses yet again. It had never been quite the same after Michael had 'fixed' it, and then being shot at hadn't helped it any while they were rescuing Max from Pierce and the Unit.

"The damn thing just died on us, all at once. We tried to call you but her batteries were dead and we knew we were behind you guys, so we just started walking. God was that a hot walk. I'm glad we had water with us or she'd be worse than she is. I think she just needs to rest a bit." Michael said sitting down next to Maria on the blanket.

"Maybe we should postpone searching the ship until Maria is feeling better." Max said.

"Yeah maybe we should." Isabel said, "We should get her out of this heat."

Everyone shook their heads in agreement, well everyone except for Maria.

"No. You all have waited long enough. I'm allright, just give me a few minutes." Maria said struggling to a sitting position.

"Maria are you sure? What about...well...you know." Liz asked worried that if Maria overexerted herself she would harm the baby.

"Liz it's okay, he knows. It's time everyone else knows too. Go ahead Michael tell everybody, I know you want to." Maria said rising to her feet smiling at all her friends.

"Okay everyone listen up." Michael said grinning wildly, "We are going to have a baby! I'm going to be a father. I'm going to have my own family, not just one I've been assigned to, but one I honestly belong to." With their announcement everyone began hugging and congratulating the expectant parents. This was something that had often been discussed between the couples with great excitement and curiosity but also with a bit of fear. Nobody knew how a human alien hybrid pregnancy would progress. But worries were cast aside for this was a happy moment and there would be plenty of time later to address these fears.

"I don't know about the rest of you but I want to check this out ship. What are we waiting for?" Maria said starting the trek up towards the pod chamber. "But since I have no idea where it is someone needs to lead the way. Oh Fearless Leader....Duty calls." Maria said laughing as Max looked around like he didn't know who she was talking to.