Sian shuddered as Michael gently slid his strong arms around her waist. He kissed her neck softly and whispered barely audibly, "I've missed you." It was almost involuntary as Sian ran her hand through his sandy hair and heard him sigh in response.

Michael pulled her into a tight embrace and kissed her forehead. Sian laid her head against his chest, hiding herself in his warmth, his smell and that moment. But she couldn't ignore the feeling in the pit of her stomach. She loved Michael. She would always love Michael. She had probably always loved Michael. But it was complicated.

It was Michael Byrne who was currently making her feel like she was floating and sinking all at the same time. And if it was Michael Byrne, it would always be complicated. Michael was smart, passionate, stubborn, driven, competitive and in some ways so incredibly fragile. It was what she loved about him and what she hated about him. Where in all that was Michael was there actually room for another person? He didn't let people in. He would have stepped in front of a bullet for her but tell her that he was hurting or scared, not for all the tea in China.

And she was married. She loved Jez. It wasn't the same as what she felt for Michael but she loved him. And loving Jez was so much easier. She knew that he worshiped her. She knew that he also had a healthy dose of love for himself but even that wasn't all bad, Jez was secure in the knowledge of who he was. He was sometimes mistaken in his actions but ultimately he meant well. And she didn't want to hurt him. He had put her back together when Michael had torn her apart.

Sian had been so lost in her thoughts that she wasn't even aware that Michael was staring down at her, his grey eyes full of worry. She smiled at him weakly. He returned the smile and leaned in to kiss her very softly on the lips. He cocked his head sideways and he questioned her with his eyes.

Sian watched him breathe deeply. She swallowed hard and then whispered hoarsely, "I married Jez."

Michael gave her the slightest nod.

Sian continued, "I married Jez because he wasn't you."

Michael glanced down and brought his eyes back to meet her deep chocolate ones with a renewed burning intensity. Sian could feel her anger rising.

"We don't work. You tore me apart. And it's not…I don't…Why is this so hard?" Sian stammered. She took a deep breath and stopped, "I can't do this Michael." Sian's shoulders dropped and she brought her hand up to slowly stroke his cheek. "I love you. I will probably always love you Michael. But it isn't enough. I need…It's not me you need Michael. It's not me." She stood on her toes to kiss him softly on the cheek and with tears in her eyes left his office.

Michael stood statue still as he watched her disappear. His heart sank as he balled his hands into fists.

Incredibly clever, stunningly beautiful on the inside and the out and passionate about her work, Sian had been his fairy tale surprise. She had made him happy. He had tried hard to make it right but he knew that she wanted more than he had been able to give her. She had needed him to trust her, to let her in and not then, he couldn't. It wasn't her. It was him. It had always been about him.