Stunned, he stood there in silence.  It was over.  Khivar was finally dead, gone, ashes, dust-

"-Michael".  It was Max, they were all coming to.  Michael rushed to help them up.

"What happened?" asked Isabel.

"He's dead that's what happened," said Michael elated as he helped her up.

"and so did the force field," Max added.

"Maria!".

 Liz's screamed brought Michael back to reality, Khivar was dead but Maria wasn't moving.  Michael rushed down to her, her head resting on his lap he felt for her pulse.  It was slow, weak, fading.

Desperation flooded his skin, his heart , "Max-"

"I'm here," he replied in a soft voice as he knelt down beside them.  Michael watched tense as Max laid his hands on her chest and closed his eyes to concentrate.   He desperately searched Maria's face for a breath, an eyelid flutter, anything, but she still wasn't moving.

Michael's heart sank when Max opened his eyes.  It was like Alex again, were they too late?

"What's wrong?" asked Liz, "why isn't see waking up?"

"The damage," said Max, he looked everywhere but at Michael.  Finally his eyes, powerless and sad, met Michael's hopeful yet fearful, "it's too much, I've repaired what I can, but I don't have enough power now to…save her."

"So what you're saying is she could still die?" asked Isabel

Max nodded ,"yes".

"No" he heard Liz whisper.

"I'm sorry," he whispered to Michael.

The air was replaced by helplessness.  Maria was still not moving, neither were Max, Isabel , Liz and Michael.

She can't die, he thought.  You hear me Maria, you can't die, you have to wake up and kick my ass for walking away from you.

 

Liz's voice broke through the silence.

"So let me get this straight, you need to recharge?".  Michael suddenly looked up at her.  That tone in her voice, it was excited, hopeful.

She had an idea.

"Why don't you all combine your energy, like what we did when Michael got sick with the healing stones…would that- could that work?"

All eyes were on Max.

"Max?" asked Isabel.

"It might" he nodded.  Michael sighed with relief.  This wasn't over, this was going to work, it had to work.

"Come on Maria," he whispered to her as he put his palm on her heart, "wake up so you can finish lecturing me."

"We ready" said Max.  Michael and Isabel nodded.

"Let's do this," he whispered.  Eyes closed, they focused their minds on their energy flowing through them and into Max.  Michael could feel his power growing stronger and feel it's warmth coursing through Maria, healing her.

 

Wham! The image came out of nowhere straight into Michael's mind, it was Maria.  The seventeen year old Maria he left in Roswell!  She was crying in Liz's arms, upset…that they couldn't stop them from leaving.  Maria looking out into the night at the star Max had told Liz was Antar, wondering if he was okay, if he was alive.  Maria clutching her stomach in pain, Michael winced.  He could feel it, it was like her organs were squeezing each other.  Maria finding out she was pregnant, the fear and joy she felt at having a piece of Michael with her.  Maria and Liz telling her mother about their alien origins.  Maria being discovered, going to New York, making music which in her heart she dedicated to him.  He felt it all, her fear, her sadness, her pain and most of love her everlasting love for him even after he'd ripped her heart to shreds.

This was his fault, he realised.  What a waste of seven years! He missed out on loving Maria, helping raise their daughter.  When the connection ended Michael felt empty, cold and disappointed. 

"Michael!"

He looked up to find the others staring at him with concern.

"What?"
"Are you okay, it was like you were in a trance" said Isabel.

"I'm fine," he mumbled turning back to Maria.

"Is she okay?" asked Liz

"I- wow!"

Maria's eyes flew open as living breath escaped her lips.

"She's alive!" he heard Liz cry with joy.

Yes she is, thought Michael as her confused eyes stared into him.

 

"I don't need to go to the hospital," Maria protested, "you guys healed me, I'm fine".

"We just want to make sure," said Liz squeezing her shoulders, "besides how will it look if we don't?"

"Right, remind of our story again?" she asked

The reply came from Michael in front of the car, with his back to her he said, "we say some crazed fans kidnapped you and held you at ransom for your first guitar.  We got the call, gave them the guitar for their obsessed collection and drove you straight to the hospital.  No police otherwise they were unhinged enough to have killed you."

"Right" she nodded, "and I didn't see them because I was blind folded and when I did; they were wearing masks, no torture, just talk about me; they just wanted my guitar, if not they may have gone Mike Myers on me, " she feigned confusion, "I'm not sure", she finished smiling.

"Right." He confirmed.

"Are you okay, really?" Liz asked.

"Given the givens, I'm okay" Maria assured her.

 

"I'm not okay!" said Maria as she shoved her clothes into the overnight bag Liz had brought for her.

"Maria what are you doing?"

"Leaving before Michael gets here", she said as if it was obvious, "I can't be here, I can't see him Liz not yet."

"Why?"

"He knows everything!" she said desperately

"which is what you wanted"

"Well yeah," she slumped onto the bed, "that was before I found out that didn't love me."

Liz sat down beside her, "He was upset, he probably didn’t mean to say half the things he said, he didn't know"

"It's not just that bulldozing conversation Liz…seven years, he was on earth for seven years and he didn't tell me"

"Neither did Max-"

"-not to mention that he's been living every guys' fantasy.  I did a little research on him, turns out he and his black suit buddies are the like Hugh Hefners of the body guard industry.  Dates everyday of the week and not relationship seeking types, no Liz, just good fun good looking trophy girls," she sighed sadly.  Then remembering Liz's point added, "besides, that's different, Max looked for you and after he found you happy because he loved you so much he stayed away from you.  Michael came back, climbed the corporate ladder and landed himself a playboy life style."

"Maria-"

" It's weird you know, not knowing where he was seems better because at least I still thought about what we had in a good light"

"You don't think he loves you but you still love him", Liz summarised.

"How sad is that!"

"What about Michelle?"

"I won't deprive her of her father, that is if he wants to…"

"of course he wants to"

"while I'll just stand by the side lines."

"don't give up till you've talked to him," said Liz.

" Fine.  I'll meet you at the airport at six, I can't stay here. He knows where to find me" said Maria.

 

Ray picked up his cell on the first ring.

"Hello?"

"What's up Ray Man".

Tears of relief almost descended down his cheeks, "Maria.  You're okay"

He turned to face an anxious Amy, "she's okay,"

"she is oh thank God," grabbing the phone from him she said, "Maria honey it's me Mum, are you okay?"

"Yes Mum, I'm fine," he heard her say, "I'm catching the flight back to L.A. at six, I'll see you in a few hours.  How's Michelle?"

Ray smiled as Michelle virtually lit up with joy as her mother's voice came through the phone.  She was back, she was okay.  Of everything else that was all that mattered.

 

Michael walked towards Maria's room more nervous than he'd been in a long time.  Clutching the red tulips he'd bought, he leaned through her door expecting to see her on her bed at least.  But the bed was neatly made, vacant, empty.  In the corner chair sat Liz with Max comforting her.

No, it can't be. Not after all we've been through.

Liz's tear stained eyes met his, "Michael,"

"Where is she?" he demanded.

"Gone"

Gone.  Not here.  Dead.  The words rang in his ears somehow not finding the correct association in his brain.

"When?"

"Early this morning" she replied sadly.

Michael leant against the wall for support, "Why didn't anybody call me?"

"Because she didn't want us to"

"She… What-"

Seeing the confusion on his face, Liz grinned and said, "oh, no Maria's not dead,".

Michael's strength returned.

"She just left,"

And then dissolved.

"Oh".

"I'm sorry Michael," she said.

"Don't be, it's not your fault".

He turned and left throwing the tulips in the trash basket.

"Michael wait!"
"Not now Maxwell!"

He just wanted to go to his apartment, play loud music and pretend he didn't exist.

"Wait!" Max shouted, his echo circulating along the corridor.

Michael stopped and turned, "what, are you going to lecture me now?"

"Michael, do you love her?"

"What?"

What kind of question was that?

"Maria do you love her."
"How can you ask me that?"

"I am. Do you?"

"Yes" he replied exasperated.

"She loves you too"

"Only I screwed it up."

"Michael seven years, you've missed out on seven years to be with her, don't make it longer.  You love her, she loves you…she said you know where to find her."

"So…"

Michael could see light at the end of the tunnel, maybe, just maybe if he followed the rainbow even through the darkness and the rain, he could still find his pot of gold.

"So go" smiled Max.

"I'll go," smiled Michael.  Dashing down the hallway and into his car with renewed hope.  Michael promised himself that of all things, this, this last chance was the one thing he would not ruin or run away from.