Maria DeLuca looked out of the window of her tour bus as they crossed the state line into New Mexico.

"Why did I ever agree to finish the tour in Roswell? How could I let them convince me it was a good idea?" she mused as the scenery flew by.

It had been a long time since she'd been back. So much had changed in her life over the past 5 years.

Leaving Roswell hadn't been easy. Leaving Michael had been even harder. She could remember that last night like it was yesterday…

Maria stood nervously outside Michael's apartment, her hand raised to knock on the door. They had said their official goodbyes earlier that day, but she had an uncontrollable urge to see him just once more before she left. Before her knuckles could make contact with the door, it opened, and she suddenly found herself staring into the surprised eyes of her lover.

"Hi…I was just coming to see you. I, well, I just knew I had to see you tonight"

Maria looked into his eyes and smiled as she stepped over the threshold, closing the door behind her.

"I thought I'd save you the trouble of climbing in my window," she whispered in his ear as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him. Michael drew her into his arms and kissed her lightly on the forehead. After tightening his arms around her to hold her against him, he pulled away slightly, and asked her if she wanted something to drink. As he retrieved a couple of sodas from his fridge, she sank onto his sofa. He handed her one of the cold drinks, dropping an unexpected kiss on her lips as he joined her.

"How's your mom taking it? She's gonna miss you nearly as much as me."

"Not as bad as I thought, but she might just be putting on a brave front."

"She doesn't want to lay a guilt trip on you. This is your dream. We both just want you to be happy. Even if that means you leaving."

"I know. It's just so hard, knowing I'm not gonna see you for at least a couple of months."

"Don't remind me. You nervous?"

"A little. It's a big thing. I'm leaving home. Leaving my mom. Leaving you." Michael leaned over and hugged her, kissing away the tears that had appeared on her cheeks.

"Shhh… It's not like we're never gonna see each other again. You'll be back for visits, and if I can save up enough I can come see you in LA. And I'll talk to you on the phone every night, I promise."

"I wish I didn't have to leave you"

"I know. I do too. But you've wanted to sing since you were a little girl. And now you're gonna have the chance you've always wished for. Follow your heart. Don't let anything stand in your way."

"Part of me can't wait to get out there, but the other part wishes this night would never end."

"I know the feeling. One part of me wants your dreams to come true, while the other wants to hold you close and never let you go. God I'm gonna miss you so much" Michael buried his head in Maria's shoulder. "Never forget that I love you. Promise me," he said, his words muffled as he nuzzled her neck.

"I won't, I promise. I'll love you forever too. No matter how far apart we are," Maria replied. "And I'll always be true to you."

"Ditto." Michael lifted his head and gently took her lips with his own. The kiss started out softly, but soon became passionate and desperate. Neither wanted it to end. Michael dragged his lips from hers and kissed his way down her neck and across her shoulder, nudging away the spaghetti strap of her top.

"Michael…." Maria murmured, as she reached up to start unbuttoning his shirt…

Maria woke very early the next morning, knowing she'd have to get home soon or her mum would find out that, yet again, she hadn't slept in her own bed. She found it difficult to leave her haven of Michael's embrace, but eventually she managed to get up and find her clothes. Michael sat up as she was pulling her top over her head. She looked at him, wishing she didn't have to leave right now. A few tears leaked out of the corners of her eyes. Michael stood, taking her in his arms one last time.

"I love you," he whispered into her hair, "I love you so much." Maria looked up into his beautiful eyes, so full of love.

"I love you too. I don't know how to say how much." He pulled her head against her shoulder for a second before she pulled away resolutely. "If I don't leave now my mum will be up before I get home and she'll kill you." Michael slipped his jeans on and walked with her to the door, kissing her softly as she opened the door.

"I'll call you as soon as I'm settled" she whispered, her hand against his cheek. She turned and walked down the street, tears streaming down her face.

Things had worked out great for the first few weeks. They had talked for hours on the phone every night. Often their conversations had little substance, but they were content just to hear the other's voice. Then things had all gone wrong when she'd been held up at a studio, and he had assumed the worst. They'd had a huge argument on the phone the following day, with him accusing her of cheating, and her yelling at him about trust. That was the last time they had spoken, both too stubborn to be the first one to break their silence. After a while Maria had started dating again, hooking up with several guys she'd met in the business. But none of them had ever entered her heart…or her bed.

She hoped she wouldn't need to see him during the time she was spending in Roswell. She had, however, come to the conclusion that a meeting was almost inevitable, considering that she did plan on spending time with her best friends from her childhood, Liz Parker and Alex Whitman. "Liz Evans now," she mentally corrected herself. She was glad Liz was finally happy. She'd had a tough time of it for a while. Her dad had sent her away to boarding school in Vermont to keep her away from the love of her life, Max Evans, who Mr Parker thought was a bad influence on his daughter. It had all worked out in the end, Liz had graduated valedictorian of her class, and promptly returned to Roswell. Just a short time later, she and Max had married. Surprisingly, Max and the Parkers were now really close, especially since they had found out about the tremendous stresses placed on Max as the king of a faraway planet. A young boy who was forced to take the lead in a war he didn't really understand. A child who'd had to hide his true identity from all those around him.

"Who'd have ever believed it," Maria thought, "Mr and Mrs Parker, part of the 'I-know-an-alien' club."

Alex was finally happy as well. Strangely enough, he had also found his happiness with an Evans. He and Max's sister Isabel would be getting married in barely a week's time. The last time she'd spoken to Alex he'd sounded a little harried, what with trying to help plan Isabel's dream wedding. Nevertheless, he was ecstatic to be marrying his dream girl.

As Max's second-in-command and childhood friend, Michael was practically a brother to Max and Isabel, so spending time with Alex and Liz almost automatically entailed also spending time with Michael. It would be good to see them again though. Despite regular phone calls nearly every week since she'd left, she hadn't seen either of them in nearly 5 years. She hadn't even been able to go to Max and Liz's wedding…although no one else had even known they were planning it until they'd arrived back from Vegas, where they'd eloped. She had missed her mum getting married though, which was a really sad thought. Her mum and the local sheriff Jim Valenti had been married for just under three years now. Maria shuddered. And Kyle Valenti was now her stepbrother. That was almost too weird to think about. They had talked about the possibility when their parents started dating the first time, but had dismissed it when they had broken up. Not long after Maria had arrived in LA, they had started dating again, and they now had a 9-month-old baby girl. A small half-sister for Maria, who couldn't wait to meet little Julie.

Maria was drawn out of her musings as she watched the 'Welcome to Roswell' sign flash past the window.