- I can't lose you too, Flower.
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November 2015.

It was eight at night when Michael Langdon showed up at Mae's house unannounced.

Earlier today, his grandmother made it perfectly clear that she finally had enough of his actions by calling a priest over to help rid the evil that resided in him. At first, Michael went along with the meeting to make Constance happy, but as soon as the head of her church brought out a crucifix, he gave into his urges after a wave of excruciating pain traveled through him. Without hesitation, he snatched the symbolic item from the priests hand, before swiftly slitting his throat with the sharp edge of the cross.

Michael had watched with fascination as the man's blood stained the pearly white carpet. He wasn't sure why he took that certain course of action, but there was something about the way he executed the murder that thrilled him. A part of him found it humorous that he used such a sacred item to commit the deadliest sin, and on a priest no less.

It was then, his caregiver had enough. His grandmother had been so horrified at his actions, she asked him to leave while she took care of their new problem.

Michael knew he done something terrible by the way Constance smiled at him. Although it was normally a gesture one would associated with happiness, her smile screamed heartbreak. The blonde knew that she was angry, and that he should probably give her some time to herself before coming back home.

Even when it began to pour, he decided to stay out. He wandered the streets for hours, his blonde curls stuck onto his forehead and his pastel clothing soaked up every drop that met his body. As the sky began to turn dark, the little boy in Michael felt scared. He didn't want to be alone, and cold. So, he started to make his way to a familiar house. One he knew he would always feel accepted in.

When Mae first heard the knock, Michael had been the last person she would have guessed to be at her door in the middle of the night.

Thinking it was probably one of her brother's friends, Mae made her way to the front door with a scowl on her face.

"What?" She growled out, prying the door open and glaring the person before her. Her eyes soften when they landed on Michael's shivering form. "Mikey. Hey, what are you doing out in the rain?" She then quickly grabbed onto the boy's hand and brought him in without hesitation.

As Mae closed the door behind them, she heard a sneeze escape from Michael, causing her to pull the boy up to her room.

"Try not to get my room wet." Mae ordered as she ushered Michael in her room, locking the door behind them. She then turned on her heels, facing the blonde she grew to call a friend over the past few months.

"I'm not allowed to have boys in my room. So, consider yourself very special." Mae sent Michael a smile, as she nervously played her fingers, bashfully looking onto the ground when their eyes met.

When hearing her say that, Michael looked up with twinkling eyes. "I'm special?" His voice came out in a surprised tone, a grin soon spread onto his face as he looked at his only friend in awe.

"Duh." Mae giggled. The sound alone left Michael feeling ecstatic, and made his day less dreary. Michael was about to note that she was special as well, when a sneeze escaped him. His blue eyes widen, before another sneeze erupted through him.

Mae took in Michael's wet clothing before approaching him, concern filling her golden eyes. When she reached him, she stood on the top of her toes and pressed the back of her hand on his wet forehead.

"Shit. We should get you out of these wet clothes. You'll get sick and- Mikey? Where the fuck are your shoes?" Mae gasped when seeing his bare feet.

Michael shrugged, his eyes leaving hers as he looked at the poster covered walls of her room. He's never actually seen the inside before. Not only was this his first time in Mae's room, but in her house. Whenever the two were together, they would wander around town or when Mae was grounded, he would walkie her from Ms. Little's backyard, staring at her through her bedroom window.

He knew Mae wanted to know why he showed up to her house in the middle of the night, with no shoes and all wet from the rain. But he couldn't tell her the real reason. He wasn't sure what Mae's response would be if he told her his grandmother kicked him out because he killed a priest without flinching.

When seeing that Michael was ignoring her question, Mae bit the inside of her cheek, and nodded. "Okay, you don't have to tell me, but we have to warm you up. I don't want you getting sick." She walked towards her bathroom.

After running a bath for Michael, and getting him a change of clothes, Mae found herself sitting on her bedroom floor with Michael across from her, and a plate of cookies sitting between them.

The two spent the next two hours talking about random topics, varying from tv shows to books.

When seeing the time, Mae became glum knowing that her dad would be back from his date with Shannon soon, and would not like seeing a boy in her room. A frown found its way onto her face, something that Michael noticed right away.

"You okay, Mae?" Michael asked, leaning forward in his seat.

Mae chewed on her bottom lip while she gestured towards the clock. "My dad will be home soon, and like I said before, I'm not allowed to have boys in my room."

"Then I'll be quiet. Super, quiet. I just don't feel like going home. Not now." Michael practically begged. His voice dejected, and his face morphed into an expression often worn by the child who was just told they weren't getting anything for Christmas. It was times like these, Mae could have sworn Michael was a little boy in a teen's body.

But alas, the second she caught a glimpse of his tearful eyes, she caved. Michael was her friend, and it was clear that he needed her.

"Okay. You can stay, but we have to be quiet." She said. Her mood escalating when seeing the bright smile Michael wore. "But I have school tomorrow, Mikey. This means I have to go to bed now." She added, standing up.

Michael copied her action of standing up, and took it upon himself to place the plate of cookies onto the bedside counter as Mae moved around the throw pillows on her bed.

Soon, with only a feet of space between them, the two teens found their rightful spot on the queen size bed. Both laid on their sides, one in a deep slumber, while the other was just lost in their own mind. 

No matter how hard he tried to, he couldn't sleep. All he could think about was Mae. How she was the only person to truly care about his well-being, and for him.

He watched the gentle rise and fall of her chest. His heart thumped in sync with the shallow breaths that escaped from Mae's mouth. Her shoulder length hair covered most of her face, and scattered around her pillow. The purple dye was something that took some time to get used to, but now that he's grown accustomed to it, he wanted nothing more to run his fingers through the soft locks. As he lightly combed his fingers through her pastel mane, Mae let out a small whine, before closing the gap between the two. Her head managed to find its place on his chest, causing Michael's heart to flutter.

He looked down at the sleeping beauty, and it was like he was truly seeing Mae for the first time. He hesitantly brought the girl closer to his heavily beating chest, and smiled when scent of her lavender-vanilla shampoo infiltrated his nose.

In that moment, something changed in the way Michael viewed his relationship with Mae. Whenever she talked, he clung on to every word. When she was near his heart pace quickened, and when she wasn't all Michael could think about was how long before he could see her again. He never understood why he felt that way. The change freaked him out at first. He found himself scared to see Mae while at the same time, excited. The feeling he would get when talking to her, or holding her hand was something he craved. Soon, he wanted to do more than hold her hand. It wasn't just his thoughts plagued by her, but his dreams. All started off innocent but as he grew older, those dreams turned into something more sinful making him wake up all hot and bothered.

It wouldn't be until Michael met Ben Harmon, who took it upon himself to tell the young man the reasons behind all of the small shivers and tingles.

It wasn't until he stepped foot in Murder House was when Micheal found out he is in love with his best friend.

~

Finding comfort in the grip tightening around her, Mae felt herself relax in Michael's arms. She spent a few more minutes playing with the buttons of his black dress shirt. Her eyes would leave the silk material every couple of seconds to check their surroundings. Though she wasn't able to see anything, Mae could sill feel the other presence in the basement.

Growing up, the brunette heard of the rumors about the house, and was rather fascinated with the history. Her interest peaked when all members of the Harmon family died in different incidents. She knew all about the ghost stories, and supposed deaths that took place in the Victorian manor. Of course, she never was one to believe the ghoulish tales. But now, after dying at the hands of one of the many wicked spirits that resided in her home, Mae was a believer.

Her heart bashed against her chest at the thought of being in this house a moment longer.

Michael was able to feel the harsh thumps within her chest, as it was pressed up against his. This made him raise an eyebrow at Mae's sudden demeanor change.

"I have to go." She whispered.

When the words slipped from Mae's mouth, Michael's grip tightened as he had just vowed to never leave her again. "No."

But this didn't stop Mae from trying to wiggle out of his grasp. "Xavier is up there. So, is Eric and Amy. They could be hurt. This house- this house isn't normal, Mikey." She looked up at him with scared eyes.

Michael rolled his eyes at the mention of other people, but helped Mae onto her feet nonetheless. His hands grasped onto her forearms as he steadied the brunette when she wobbled. 

"Look, Eric's mother is here. So, is Cordelia Goode. She's the Queen of witches. Your brother and friends are safe." Michael assured her. When hearing this, Mae felt herself relax once more.

She looked up at Micheal, and gnawed on her bottom lip. Her nerves were starting to come back while she continued to latch onto the blonde.

"Well, we should probably go." Mae said as she pulled away from Micheal. "They're probably wondering where we are." She added. She looked up to meet Michael's gaze, and felt her eyebrows raise when she saw the nervous look flash across his icy eyes. 

"You, yes. Me, not so much." Michael sighed. Not only was this the first time he's seeing Mae since that unfaithful night, but when he arrived he found her dead. He had just brought her back to life moments ago, and was now finding out that he didn't want to lose anymore contact with her. But he had to if he'd want her to be safe. "Look, I can't go up with you. As far as they know, I'm back at Hawthorne with my professors."

"Wait, what?" Mae furrowed her brows. She wasn't sure if her brain wasn't working because she had her head slammed by a shovel, or because she was just excited to see Michael after all of these months. She sent a small smile and shrug to match as she said, "Not really following...I feel a little lost."

Micheal chuckled at her small tone. It was nothing like Mae, yet he found it adorable how even she could be vulnerable at times. It really stroked his ego knowing that she leans on him for support and protection.

"Which makes sense. So, let me explain it. After you guys freed the demon from the ouija, Eric came looking for his mother, who at the time was meeting with me and my professors with her fellow sister witches-" He explained, but didn't get far as Mae soon interrupted.

"Why were you meeting with them? A-are you like Eric too? You said Hawthorne and that's the same school he goes to." Mae asked, not missing a beat as she felt her aching brain starting to connect the dots.

Michael held back a snort when being compared to the redhead. He tilted his head, and nodded. "Yes. I am a warlock, and a very powerful one at that. That's why the witches were meeting with us, but I'll go into that later. I heard Eric mention you, and how you were in danger and I just acted. My professors think I retired up to my room. I just had to come here and make sure you were safe. But no one else can know that I was here." He added the last part with a gentle yet forceful tone. The brunette furrowed her eyebrows together when hearing Michael using the word, 'retired'.

"Why can't no one kno-" Mae started to ask, but didn't get a chance to finish her question as Michael placed his warm hand on to her cheek.

"I can't say much. All I can say, is that I'm on the verge of achieving something great, and people can't know that we're friends because they'll use you against me." His eyes locked onto hers. A sigh fell from his lips when seeing the look of confusion clouding in her golden hues.

"I-I don't understand..." She softly shook her head as she stared up at the sad smile he had. "Something great? Michael, what on earth-"

"Please." Michael interrupted. His voice had come out in a small whine.

Mae remained silent, watching as his gaze fell onto her dark hair. A smile spread onto his face as he took in the familiar color. "I see you're back to your old hair color." When seeing Mae break into a similar smile, Michael felt his heart tug at the sight before adding. "You're the only person I truly trust, next to my foster mother. I can't lose you too, Flower."

Mae nodded before she craned her head back to get a better look at Michael. He so look different. More, mature. Even the way he talked had changed. No more did Michael speak in the child-like tone, as now every word he spoke was smooth as velvet.

But Mae saw past it.

His eyes gave it away.

"Just whatever you plan on doing...be careful. Please, Mikey." Mae sighed, her beautiful eyes shined with worry. Mae then brought her hand to his cheek, and gently rubbed away at his dried up tear stains. The simple gesture sent shivers down Michael's spine. The feeling of the her soft fingers on the apples of his cheeks sent him into overdrive. He wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around her waist and transport her to his home, with Ms. Mead. Knowing that she will be safe there until he completed his task. Though, Michael knew better. Cordelia is planning on taking Mae as the power she holds is becoming far to great to go unmanaged.

However, it didn't stop Michael from scooping her up into her arms. Mae didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around his broad shoulders. Her face pressed softly against his chest, as his chin laid perfectly on top of her silky-dark waves that was slightly crusted with her dried up blood.

"I never did apologize." Michael breathed out. "For what happened..."

"You don't need too." Mae's words were muffled due to her position against Micheal, but the blonde was able to hear her loud and clear.

The two friends stayed in each other's arms for awhile. It felt as if they were making up for lost time. The moment quickly came to an end when the concerned voices of Shannon met their ears, before others joined.

Suddenly, Mae felt goosebumps erupt through her arms and legs as she was exposed to the cold air of the basement. Her eyes fluttered open, and saw that she was alone. She wrapped her arms around herself as she felt exposed. Her golden eyes fell onto the puddle before her, and drew in a quick intake. The dark-haired teen wasted no time in running up the stairs, to where she could clearly hear her name being called.

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We got a glimpse at some fetus- Mae and Michael moments!!! More to come.
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!
❤️❤️❤️
Also, Sorry for not updating for the last two weeks. I've been up to my neck in exams and final projects, but my semester is over! I'm now on break, so I'll be updating a lot.
   I also have a mini announcement. I have another Michael Langdon fanfic out, so you guys can go check that out if you'd like.