Title: New Life
Author: Lori R 12/02
Email: Gussywussy55@y...
Rating: PG13
Category: Cliffhangers (Michael and Isabel)
Disclaimer: These characters are not owned by me. I use them for my 
own enjoyment. No infringement is intended.
Feedback: It would be nice. Good or bad.
Summary: Surprising circumstances bring Michael and Isabel together. 
And I might add that I am in no way a Dreamer. Far from it actually, 
but I needed them for this story.



**************

The alley was dark with the exception of a few small lights over the 
tops of doorways where deliveries were routinely made. Occasionally a 
drunk might find his way to the alley, but on this night the only 
occupant was a young man hurrying along and keeping to the shadows.
He opened a door and loud music came blaring out as he entered.
"I hate this job," he muttered to himself as he stood looking at the 
activity inside. Sighing he slowly made his way through the door and 
began to get ready for work.

**************

"Isabel, you have to come with us! Liz wants all of us there on her 
last night of freedom," said Maria as she sat across the booth from 
the girl the question was directed at.
"Liz is getting married, Maria. Her life is not over, so I doubt this 
is her last night of freedom," said Isabel as she rolled her eyes. 
Maria had planned this little 'bachlorette' for Liz so Isabel knew it 
would be something wild, she just wasn't sure she wanted to be a part 
of it.
"Are you two ready to go?" asked Liz as she approached the girls in 
the booth.
"Yes...well I am, but ...." Maria eyed Isabel. "Come on, Isabel. What 
else are you going to do?"
"I thought I might catch up on some studying," said Isabel glancing 
at the stack of books in front of her.
"Oh right, that's a lot of fun," said Maria mockingly. "Come on. You 
haven't done anything 'fun' since you found out Jesse divorced you." 
Isabel eyed Maria before looking away. Maria bringing up what was 
pretty much taboo amoung the group was gutsy. She had never figured 
Jesse would divorce her on the grounds of abandonment. She knew he 
needed a life of his own and she had told him to forget about her and 
find someone else, but when he had actually done it she was hurt. 
Not that she had strong feelings for him. He had come along when she 
was vulnerable and needed someone, and now she was alone again.
She was brought back from her thoughts by Liz. 
"You're not going to come?" Liz had a look of hurt mixed with relief, 
something that irked Isabel. She knew Maria and Liz thought of her as 
the aloof one and that hurt. They had been friends all of their lives 
and including Isabel in their special girl times was something they 
did mostly for Max and Michael, not because they really chose to do 
so. She made them uncomfortable. But if she was really honest with 
herself, they at least made an effort to include her. She just wasn't 
always receptive. 
Maria reached out and grabbed Isabel's hand. "Come on, you have to go 
with us! It's more fun when there are more where we are going." She 
suddenly clamped her mouth shut.
Liz looked at Maria suspicously. "Maria, what have you got planned? I 
thought this was girls night out with dinner and a movie. A last 
hurrah before I get married." 
Maria tried to look innocent, but she wasn't pulling it off under the 
gaze of the two waiting expectantly for a reply.
"Well I thought we needed some....you know...spice," shrugged Maria.
"Spice?" said Liz looking dubiously at Maria. "What kind of spice?"
"You'll see," said a grinning Maria as she slid out of the 
booth. "Well?" she asked looking at Isabel. 
It was a dare of sorts and Isabel and Liz both recognized it for what 
it was. 
Isabel bit her lip. They seemed sincere in wanting her to go with 
them, otherwise they would have left by now. Maybe she needed to 
spend more time with them. She was tired of being alone. The outsider.
Isabel closed her book and gathered it with the rest as she stood up.
"Okay, I'm game. Where are we going?"
Maria grinned again. "Follow me ladies. This is a night you'll never 
forget." Then she turned and walked out the door.
Liz looked at Isabel and shrugged before following Maria. 
Isabel picked up her books and started for the door. Suddenly she had 
an odd feeling wash over her. She stopped as a shiver came over her. 
She rubbed one of her arms with her free hand as the feeling left, 
but all the way to the car she had what she felt was a premonition 
that this was a night that was going to hold more than one surprise.

******************

"Mariaaaaa....oh my gawd! I can't believe this is where you brought 
us," said Liz wide eyed with a mixture of shock and anticipation. 
"I know! I can't believe it either, but you have to agree this is so 
great!" said Maria excitedly as she clutched at Liz's arm. 
Isabel looked around at the women sitting at little tables around a 
stage. All of them were eagerly awaiting the show that was about to 
start, and in the mean time they were oggling the waiters while 
barely holding back drool. 
Isabel held her comments while she cooly admired a well formed waiter 
as he leaned over to place more drinks on the table. Maria slipped 
him a tip as he stood up, which he graciously accepted. Then the dark 
haired man winked at Isabel before moving off to another table.
"I should have known when you had that bunch of ones and fives that 
this was what you had in mind," said Liz laughing as she sipped her 
drink.
"Liz, you know I couldn't let you get married without a blow out," 
said Maria sipping her own drink and looking around at the crowd and 
shirtless male waiters.
"I'm going to marry Max," said Liz still not quite believing it.
Maria hugged her. "Yes you are! After all we've been through and the 
running we've done you are finally going to have your dream and marry 
your alien boy toy."
Liz glowed and Isabel frowned at Maria's words. Max would cringe at 
being called anyones 'boy toy'. That Maria had used the word 'alien' 
as well meant she was throwing caution to the wind and Liz as well or 
they had had too many drinks. She would have to keep an eye on them. 
"Maria, you shouldn't use that word you know. Anyone could be 
listening," warned Isabel.
Liz and Maria looked at her and sobered up. 
"You're right...you are right. That was a careless slip. We have to 
be more careful," said Maria. Liz nodded. 

About then the lights dimmed and Liz, Maria, and Isabel looked 
towards the stage.
"Ladies....you are in for a treat! Tonight you will see men eager to 
fan your fantasies....men who will bear themselves...well almost all 
of themselves," chuckled the MC. " Ladies, for your pleasure.... I 
give you the men of 'The Pleasure Palace'!"
The ladies went wild then a hush fell over them as the lights went 
out and it was silent.
Then music started and lights began to flicker as strobe lights began 
to illuminate the room in various patterns and colors.
Six men appeared as if from no where and began a slow dance of 
seduction for the women to enjoy.
"Oh my gawd! Do you see the size of that guy's chest?" whispered Liz 
as she leaned forward to gape.
"I wasn't looking at his chest," said Maria with a wink. 
"Maria!" giggled Liz.
Isabel looked at Maria then at the guy she was oggling. He was the 
exact opposite of Michael, and quite frankly not of Isabel's taste. A 
look at Liz told her that Liz was in agreement with Maria. Isabel 
shook her head as she turned back to the stage.
"Well overly muscled men are not my cup of tea but they sure make 
interesting entertainment," she said to herself as she watched the 
dancers gyrate.

******************

"They are wild tonight! I'm tucking the money in hand over fist!" 
said a dancer as he exited the stage, his 'G-sting' over flowing with 
bills. He tossed a cowboy hat at a dressing table.
"Yeah, well are any of them lookers?" asked another as he oiled his 
chest.
"What do you care? You can't contact them," said another getting 
ready to go on stage.
"Let me tell you this, there are a room full of ladies that are 
lookers, but there is this one" He paused and used his hands to form 
an hour glass figure. 
"Boys, she is one fine looking woman!" He let out a whoop. "That girl 
could hog tie me to the rails and have her way with me anytime!"
"I hate when you use those cowboy terms," groaned the dancer sitting 
next to him.
The cowboy ignored him. "I'm telling you this girl...she's like fire 
and ice. You can tell she would be one hot woman in bed...but she has 
this icy look too."
"Oh, you can tell all of that from one dance? You don't even know 
her," said a guy wearing a tux as he adjusted his tie.
"She is with two other girls, but she is nothing like them. She's 
more mature looking and I don't mean old. She's reserved...more 
cautious like. I'm telling you this woman is ice...and I want to melt 
her down." Cowboy grinned as he changed his costume.

One man sat off from the others listening to the conversation. He 
hoped the women were throwing away money like Cowboy said. He just 
needed a bit more before he could quit this job and move on.

"Okay Space Men, you're up!" yelled the back stage manager.
The Space Man sighed and stood up. He grabbed his mask and headed 
slowly to the stage. He stood behind the other Space Men as he pulled 
on his mask.
He hated this stinking job.

****************

"Ladies, you've heard of other life forms that live amongst us. Well 
those life forms are here with us tonight and they are seeking out 
females subjects. They may be seeking you! I present for your 
thorough inspection....The Space Men of the Pleasure Palace!"
Isabel groaned. Aliens. Just what she wanted to see.
The music from 2001: A Space Odessy began to play as the lights 
flickered from black to deep green. Smoke filtered it's way across 
the stage and down towards the audience as The Space Men appeared. 
They had a quiet commanding presence on the stage, one that the women 
immediately took too. They turned their mask covered heads slowly one 
way and then the other....then they began to move as the music 
changed. 
Against her will Isabel began to watch the men on stage.
One of them wasn't the greatest dancer....but something about him 
attracted Isabel's attention.
He began to slowly peel one item of clothing after another off of his 
body, tossing pieces to the women and pieces to the side of the 
stage. He along with the others were left wearing nothing but 'G' 
strings and body make up.
The others undulated their bodies, but not this one. He moved as if 
he was waiting for someone to unmask him. Cautiously.
Isabel watched the men dancing, but her eyes were consistantly drawn 
to the one that seemed to be doing his own thing.
The men began to peel their masks off one at a time, but she could 
tell that this one 'alien' was not wanting to expose himself. Finally 
he peeled off his mask....and revealed a ponytailed, eerily painted 
face just like the others had. His chest was bare of hair , his body 
oiled and toned. He wasn't a hard body like the others, but he was 
well defined just the same. And Isabel couldn't take her eyes off of 
him. He seemed familiar to her.
That's when she saw it. The tattoo that the paint hadn't quite 
covered on his upper arm. 
She slowly sat up straight then leaned forward, her eyes searching 
out his face. The paint disorted his features, but when he moved 
closer...his eyes gave him away.
Her own eyes widened as her hand covered her mouth. "Oh my gawd," 
she whispered to herself in amazement as she leaned back. "Oh my 
gawd." She quickly looked at Liz and Maria and saw they were totally 
oblivious to who the dancer was before them. 
She turned her eyes to the dancer again as he placed his arms behind 
his head and rotated his hips near the groping women as if beckoning 
to them.
Isabel's eyes never left the dancer as she reached in her purse and 
withdrew a five. She ran her fingers over the bill and then curled 
her finger at the dancer. She leaned forward as he came near with 
what she interpreted as some reluctance. Raising up, she stuck the 
five in his 'G', her fingers unintentionally skimming his warm bared 
skin of his hip in the process. Their eyes briefly met before he 
quickly moved back.
The number ended and as The Space Men were headed off stage the one 
with the tattoo glanced back at the crowd before following the others 
out.
"That was great!" shouted Maria as she put her fingers in her mouth 
to whistle.
"Think Max would do that for me?" asked Liz sighing.
"He would before Michael would. That's just another of the many 
reasons we are no longer together," said Maria drily.
"Maria, please don't. Not tonight," begged Liz.
Maria downed her drink. "Don't worry Liz. I'm past him. Hey! Bring on 
some more dancers!" she yelled out giggling.
Isabel picked up her purse. "This has been fun, but I've got some 
research to do. Can you two make it home okay?"
Maria looked at Isabel. "You're leaving? But what about Liz's party?"
"I have to get this research done Maria. It's been fun, but I have 
got to leave," said Isabel.
"Fine, Liz and I will continue on our own. We can take care of 
ourselves, right babe? If not we'll get us a Space Man to beam us 
home!" She giggled at her own words with Liz joining in.
Isabel grinned slightly. "Okay then. Well I'll see you later."
"Bye, bye!" giggled Liz and Maria as the music began again.
Isabel made her way to the floor manager. "Excuse me. Do you see the 
two ladies at the front making spectles of themselves?"
The man nodded. "Yeah."
Isabel pulled out a wad of bills and instructed, "Don't sell them 
any more drinks. Put them in a cab with this address when they get 
ready to leave."
"I'm not a baby sitter honey. We're here to make money selling 
drinks," the man told her.
Isabel frowned before smiling and turning on her charm. "I know, but 
please? They aren't used to this. I'll pay more."
The man looked at Isabel. "How much more?"
Isabel plastered a false smile on her face as she said, "How's this?" 
She reached in her purse and changed a $5 to a $100. She handed the 
man the bill. 
The man looked around and then held out his hand. "You got it babe."
Isabel cringed at his names for her. "Thanks," she told him as she 
handed the man the money.
She looked back at Liz and Maria, then the stage before heading out 
the door.

******************

The Space Man strode purposefully towards his table in the dressing 
area, and threw his mask against the mirror in agitation. He grabbed 
his robe and put it on then dropped down in the chair.
"Damn!" he said as he yanked out his ponytail . "What the hell are 
they doing out there?"
He peered at himself in the mirror trying to see if he could see his 
own features. He'd made eye contact, but maybe he was safe. Maybe 
he'd gone unnoticed.
"Hey Space Man, you lucky dog! I saw the Ice Maiden keeping her eyes 
on you," said Cowboy as he combed his hair.
"What?" asked the Space Man frowning. 
"The Ice Maiden! The one we were talking about earlier....she only 
had eyes for you. In fact," the Cowboy stood up. "She left right 
after you left the stage. You sure she didn't stick her number down 
your 'G'?" He winked as he strolled off to wait his next time on 
stage.
The Space Man's frown deepened. He reached into his 'G' and began to 
pluck out the money there.
In tiny letters was a note on a $5 bill. His frowned deepened as he 
read it. "Damn," he sighed as he crumpled the money in his fist and 
closed his eyes.
Suddenly he reached for the face cream and began to clean the paint 
off of his face. 
"Hey what the hell are you doing? We have another number!" said one 
of the other Space Men.
Michael shook his head. "Not me. I quit."

*********************

The door of the apartment opened and closed letting light from the 
street lamp outside illuminate the room. 
"You came."
A lamp flickered on and revealed Isabel sitting in a chair looking at 
Michael. Their eyes met.
"Yeah, well you didn't really give me much of a choice," he told her 
as he tossed his helmut on the couch.
"What the hell were you doing there? Were any of you doing there?" 
Michael asked angrily.
"Liz's bachelorette party," Isabel explained.
"I bet I can guess who set it up," Michael replied as he flopped down 
beside his helmut sending it rolling to the floor.
Isabel nodded. "Yeah, Maria said it would be full of surprises. She 
wasn't kidding," said Isabel as she got up and moved to sit beside 
him on the couch.
"Do they know?" he asked as he looked down at his clasped hands.
"No. In fact, they're most likely still there."
"How did you know it was me?" Michael asked as his eyes moved to hers.
Isabel smiled to herself as she nodded her head towards his arm. "The 
tattoo. You missed some spots."
He closed his eyes as he inwardly beretted himself for not being more 
careful.
"Great. Okay, let's hear it. Go ahead and rag on me about wearing 
a 'G' string and trying to dance on stage for money when I can't 
even dance at all. Get it out of your system now because you'll never 
get another chance," he told her grittingly.
Isabel's look softened as she shook her head. "No. No hard time. I 
just want to know why?"
Michael stood up and blew out a breath. "It was the only job I could 
get and I needed the money."
"I thought you had money? And isn't your job at the motorcycle shop 
doing okay?" asked Isabel confused.
Michael glanced at her then looked away as he said, "I'm leaving. I 
needed more because I'm leaving."
Isabel's hand went to her chest as her heart seemed to stop and her 
stomach rolled. "L-leaving? Leaving for where? Why?" The panic was 
evident in her voice.
Michael shrugged as he leaned against the wall. "Max and Liz are 
getting married. They're going to be starting a family. Maria and 
me..." He shook his head. "Our relationship is off more than on. 
Kyle's spending more time with her anyway." He looked at 
Isabel. "And you... you're going to school again...moving on. Time 
for me to move on too." He tried to seem like it was no big deal, but 
Isabel knew it was. She could feel it in her soul. He was lost and 
hurting just like she was.
"No." She shook her head.
"Isabel..." He didn't want to get into this with her.
"NO!" Isabel stood up. "When we almost left for Antar you were going 
to stay here with Maria and I couldn't bear it. I don't want to feel 
like that again!" Isabel cried as she covered her mouth with her hand 
and turned her back to Michael. 
Michael's eyes widened. He had never expected this kind of reaction 
from her. He knew his leaving would upset her and Max, but he'd 
never expected her to be this upset.
Isabel swiped at her tears angry at herself for shedding them. "You 
and Max....you two are all I have. All I'll ever have now." She 
searched her pockets for a tissue. 
Michael grabbed some out of the box on the end table and handed them 
to her.
She gave him a look of gratitude before she blew her nose and wiped 
at her eyes.
"We can't ever see our parents again, and I can't ever tell another 
man about me being an alien. With Max marrying Liz.....if you 
leave....I'll be all alone." She felt stupid now. It sounded so 
selfish now that she'd said it, and she turned away in embarrassment. 
She felt Michael's hands on her shoulders. Whenever he touched her a 
sense of security fell over her. It had been this way for as long as 
she could remember. 
"Then come with me."
She couldn't have heard him right. She turned around to face 
him. "What?"
He moved back and looked embarrassed himself. "Forget it. It was 
stupid."
The invitation had popped out of his mouth without thought. 
She had never expected his invitation and judging by his reaction he 
hadn't meant to issue it. That he was going to go without telling her 
goodbye hurt her deeply.
"I couldn't tell you, Isabel. It would have been too hard on both of 
us," he told her as if reading her mind.
A single tear began to fall down her cheek and before she could wipe 
it away Michael caught it with his finger.
Her eyes closed as another tear fell.
"I'm leaving Isabel. I'm tired of this thing that Maria and I do. No 
matter what I do she's not happy and I'm not happy. I'm not busting 
my ass to try and please her anymore. Why I ever did, I don't know. 
And Max...he's got Liz. He doesn't need me around anymore," said 
Michael trying to act as if it didn't matter.
"What if I do?" asked Isabel quietly.
His look softened. "But you don't." 
Her eyes met his and he saw something he hadn't expected to see. 
Behind the love he knew she felt for him was something else she had 
been hiding. Loneliness. She was lonely.
He pulled her into his arms and felt her sag against his body. None 
of them had really given any thought to Isabel's love life or the 
fact that she had given up her husband to run with them from the 
Special Unit. Michael suddenly felt all of this love and 
protectiveness spring up from inside him the way it used to where 
Isabel was concerned.
"If you want to come....I'm leaving tomorrow night," he told her. 
Isabel pulled back surprised. "You don't really...." but she could 
see he did. He really meant it. But to leave with Michael meant 
leaving behind Max.
Michael could see Isabel was torn between leaving with him and 
staying with Max. She cared for them both.
"I'm not trying to twist your arm, Isabel. I'm leaving after the 
wedding. Come if you want. But I'd like you to. And I really meant 
that." 
Michael walked over to the door. "If you want to come along meet me 
here at midnight tomorrow." 
"Are you telling Max you're leaving?" Isabel asked in a small voice. 
"I think he knows." Michael said quietly as he opened the door.
"But you will tell him."
He heard the pleading in her voice to not disappear without saying 
good-bye.
"I'll think about it." Then he closed the door behind him.
Isabel stood staring at the door as her tears flowed. 

********************

The wedding of Max and Liz was short and sweet performed by the town 
Justice of the Peace with Maria and Michael standing up as witnesses. 
She ignored him and he didn't care.
"So you did it. You really tied the knot. You're spending the rest of 
your lives together like you always said you would," said Kyle 
smiling. 
"You made your dreams come true," said Maria whistfully.
Isabel looked at Michael. He had that envious look on his face again. 
He had envied Max, and even her a lot in their lives. What he envied 
now was Max's happiness. She did too.
Their eyes met. 
That's when she made her decision.


*******************


Max sat in the booth of the donut shop looking at Isabel in 
disbelief.
"You can't! I won't allow it!"
Isabel gripped her cup of coffee between her hands to still them.
"You have no say in this, Max. "We're going. It's hard to say that. 
But there's no reason for us to stay anymore."
"I just got married today! I'm supposed to be on my honeymoon! Liz 
is waiting for me right now! How can you throw this at me now?" he 
asked.
"I'm sorry. I know the timing is bad, but there just wasn't a good 
time to tell you."
"This is all Michael's idea isn't it? You always did support his 
crazy ideas!" said Max angrily.
"It's not a crazy idea! And yes, I support this because I want it 
too." At Max's wounded look Isabel explained. "Max, you got married 
today. You and Liz finally got what you have dreamed about. Michael 
and I want to have our dreams come true too. We want the happiness 
you have. Please...please try and understand," she pleaded with her 
words and eyes.
"You can do that here."
Isabel shook her head. "No, we can't. He needs a clean break from 
Maria....and you. And I...I need to feel alive again. You don't need 
us anymore Max. Liz is your family now."
Max's eyes widened slightly at her words. "No, you are and always 
will be my family! Have you been that unhappy, Iz? Has Michael?" He 
knew she missed Jesse and was hurt when he divorced her, but still he 
thought she was that unhappy. Michael needing a break from him stung.
"I want to share my life with someone Max. I want a family of my own. 
I want to live and not have anymore regrets," she told him softly. "I 
can't do that as part of a group anymore."
"Are you hoping to fulfull your destiny with Michael?" he asked 
shocked.
"Max, this isn't about that. It's about feeling needed and being 
happy. Having my dreams come true. Having my turn. Letting Michael 
have his," said Isabel.
"What if...what if an enemy finds you?" he asked as he took her hands 
in his. 
"Then we fight them," she told him softly. "Max, please."
Max nodded, his eyes full of tears. He wanted her as happy as he 
was. He had to let her and Michael go.
"Just promise you'll keep in touch."
Isabel stood up and she and Max hugged tightly. "I promise. I love 
you, Max," she cried into his neck.
"I love you too," he whispered in her ear.
They pulled back and looked at one another. Then Max slowly sat down 
as he watched Isabel hurry out the door.

*****************

Michael pulled his motorcycle in to the donut shop and killed the 
engine. He took out his thermos and went inside. At the counter he 
made his request for coffee then while he waited he looked around. He 
blew out a breath. 
Max.
He picked up his thermos and paid the waitress before slowly walking 
over to the booth Max sat at.
Max looked up and Michael sat. 
"Kind of a strange place to spend a honeymoon isn't it Max?"
"You're leaving."
Michael's eyes barely registered surprise at Max's words. He had told 
Isabel that Max would know he was leaving, but he had never really 
believed it.
"Yeah. How'd you know?" he asked.
"Isabel."
Michael sighed. He should have known. She would do anything to get 
him to stay. "Are you going to try and stop me?"
"Could I?" Max asked as he looked at Michael.
"No," Michael admitted.
"I've been sitting here since she told me, trying to understand." Max 
looked at Michael.
"Do you really think I don't want or need you around?" asked Max, 
with hurt in his voice.
Michael frowned as played with a spoon and looked out the 
window. "Isabel shouldn't have told you that."
"She cares about you. She said you wanted to move on to have a life 
of your own. That we didn't need each other like we did before. I 
disagreed."
Michael looked at the table.
"I don't want you two to go."
Michael knew Max loved him as if he were his own brother, but their 
relationship was not what it used to be. Max had Liz and Michael 
had....? Then he smiled to himself as he reached a realization. He 
had Isabel. He couldn't leave her behind. If she chose not to go, 
then he would stay...this time for her. And it would be alright.
"I want you to promise me you'll take care of her. Make sure she's 
safe....happy. She wants to be happy," said Max.
Michael looked up in startled surprise. "What?" Max's words began to 
penetrate.
"Please don't cut me out of your lives. I want to know where you 
are...what you're doing. Okay?"
Michael nodded dumbly. "Yeah...sure. You got it."
"Like I told Isabel. Liz is my wife, but you two are my family too. 
I will always need you," said Max, his voice catching.
Michael nodded, choked as well. He stood up. "I've got to go."
Max stood as well. He hugged Michael. "I love you."
"Yeah, I love you too," said Michael as he wrapped his arms around 
Max tightly. He was more brother than friend.
They parted. 
"Later," said Michael as he managed a small grin and saluted Max.
Max saluted back. "Later."

**********************

She waited.
Maybe he left without her.
She should have told him she was going with him.
Maybe he decided he didn't want her along.
Then she heard the motorcycle's roar.
She held her breath as the door opened and closed.
He stood looking at her as she sat on the bed plucking her jacket 
sleeve.
"He said you were coming, but..." Michael said still surprised by 
that fact. She was leaving Max and everything for him.
"You changed your mind?" she asked uncertainly. 
"No! I just...I'm glad you're coming along," he told her smiling.
"Really? I won't cramp your style?" she asked rolling her eyes.
He shook his head then grew serious. "I think maybe you and I need to 
get to know one another again. You know spend time together like we 
used to."
Isabel smiled up at him as her eyes shone with something he dared not 
read. "I think so too."
He looked at her bag. "Can you handle living out of a single bag for 
a while?"
Isabel looked at Michael. "I'll learn."
He picked up her bag. "Ready?"
Isabel gave him a small smile and nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready."
"Then lets hit the road," said Michael as he held the door open for 
her.
Isabel preceded him out and Michael followed.
Michael tied down their bags and they climbed on infront of Isabel.
"You can still change your mind," he told her over his shoulder.
He felt her arms go around his waist and her body pressing against 
his.
"No. I want to go with you," she told him, her breath warm against 
his ear.
He nodded and started the bike.
They looked up to see Max standing across the street. He waved. They 
raised their hands and waved back before Michael took them on down 
the road.
Max stood watching them until he could see them no more. Along with 
his tears of sadness was a smile of happiness and well wishes for 
Michael and Isabel.

End