Maria opened her eyes to her bedroom ceiling. Startled she looked around realizing it had all been a dream.

"Thank God," she whispered to herself.

"Maria?"

Maria shot up in her bed abruptly. Looking to the side, she saw Michael there dressed in his Crashdown shirt, black pants and black leather jacket. He was crouched down next to her bed. Clearly he was the one that woke her up from that crazy dream. His hand was still on her shoulder.

"Michael? What are you doing here?" she said surprised as she pulled away from his grasp.

She looked down and thankfully the comforter covered her waist down. She had slept in a semi scantily clad PJ outfit.

"Well…I don't know really," he said as he scratched his eyebrow trying not to stare at her low neckline.

Maria caught him staring and brought the comforter up to her chin.

"Ok…well then, could you leave I'm trying to sleep?" Maria asked softly.

"Yeah sorry. Look….I just wanted to say…I came here and you were talking in your sleep like you were in pain so I woke you up."

Maria was shocked he showed he cared. She always knew he did but he had refrained from showing it lately. It was a stonewall tactic he used. It was the tactic that hurt her most though she consistently tried to remain unfazed about it.

"And I guess," his voice trailed off as he took a second to look out the window and back at her. "I came here to say I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings back at the Crashdown."

Maria looked at him in disbelief.

"You came all the way here just to say that to me?"

"Well yeah, I mean you don't think I am a complete dick do you?"

Maria scoffed, "oh you have no idea what I think of your Michael Guerin," she said reminiscing back to that awful dream she had just encountered. She was happy to be back in her present life with her present Michael. Well, maybe he wasn't hers, but, at least, he wasn't like the out of whack persona she encountered in her dreams.

Michael cocked his eyebrow intrigued by Maria's statement.

"What do you think of me?" he asked in wonderment.

She waved her hand dismissively. "Never mind," she said chuckling and shaking her head.

"No, I want to know," he said taking a seat on the bed so that he was looking across from her.

She tucked a piece of her bang behind her ear. Shrugging her shoulders, "Friends?" She didn't know what else to say. What were they exactly anyway? Were they just friends? She knew in her heart of hearts that it was more than just friendship that tied them together. There was love, passion, care, and trust. But lately, that had all been questionable. Plus she was afraid that any answer she gave Michael would just make him avoid her more.

"You don't think I'm a jerk?"

"Oh no, I think that too," she said with a smirk. "But on a rare occasion, you can be a cute and friendly one too.

Michael laughed a bit at that. "I wanted to say, if it means that much to you, I'd like to come to your performance if I'm still invited that is."

Maria was surprised at that. She didn't how to respond at first as she took a gander down at the floral patterns on her comforter and started to fiddle with the edge of the comforter.

"I don't know…I mean. I'm glad you want to come but I think it's good we have our OWN things you know?"

"I don't understand. I thought you were mad because I said I had made plans on the night you were performing."

"Yeah but I guess I got to thinking a bit and I realized it's good we have our own things. You know my music your sports stuff. It's fine," she said. He knew what she was doing. She was putting a stonewall up around her heart. After all, he had taught her how to erect one.

"But I want to be there to support you and be there, it's just…." His voice trailed off as he picked a piece of lint off her comforter and threw it to the floor.

"It's just what? Have you a destiny to pursue? I know that Michael you've told me."

"Maria, you don't know how it's been for me. The last couple of months has been hard. You don't know the half of it."

"Of course, I know. I remember the summer. I called and never got an answer. I tried to reach out my best friend multiple times a day but I never got a call back from him in return. I know it was hard for you that's why I never stopped trying to talk to you and during the summer and all these months, but you never responded."

Michael looked at her in awe. Her voice never even cracked though he knew how pain-filled those words were. He didn't deserve her, that's what he felt. But every time he expressed that she counter argued it every time. How was he so lucky to get such a beautiful caring soul in his life?

"I think you underestimate how much I understand you, Michael. I think it's you that doesn't understand me maybe."

"Maybe," Michael nodded. "But I do care for you, Maria. And I do understand a lot about you. I just can't-"

"Michael I don't think we should be having this conversation. It just doesn't end well," Maria said placing her hand on his arm to stop him from continuing.

Michael nodded, "I'm going to head home."

Maria nodded. "Ok."

"Amy's out? I mean-"

"Yeah some other business convention or something, something or the other," Maria said.

"You're alone tonight?"

"Well yeah, Michael- Sometimes I'm alone for weeks at a time. Hello! Have you not met my mother?" Maria said.

"I didn't realize she was gone for weeks at a time."

Maria nodded. "Yeah in the summer I think she was gone for a whole month," Maria said looking down at the edge of the comforter in her hands.

Michael's heart clenched in his heart chest to hear that she had been alone. Liz was in Florida while her own mother attended conventions, and he had been avoiding her altogether. Maria was right, he truly was a jerk! There was a month where she had no one.

"I'm sorry I wasn't around to be there-"

"- I had Alex," Maria said shrugging her shoulders. "That is when he wasn't with Isabel."

Michael nodded. "Yeah but still. I-"

"It's fine," Maria said dismissing Michael. He wasn't good with words and she didn't want him to try for fear of screwing up a decent moment between the two.

"It's not fine," Michael said insistently as he sat back down on the bed.

When he called her name again, Maria stared steadfastly down to the blanket not wanting to look up. She would listen but she couldn't bear to look at him. Michael dared to cup her chin tilting her head slightly so she would look up at him. Her eyes were green and glistening and it made his heart weaken. He hated when she was sad, especially when it was him that caused the sadness.

"I miss you too."

Maria nodded and chuckled to herself out of nervousness. It wasn't often that Michael got intense and when he did it struck a chord inside her.

"I know. But you're still uninvited from my performance," Maria said jokingly hitting his arm.

"Really?" Michael asked. "After all, I did to come here and everything? Just like that?" He wasn't angry or frustrated just genuinely bewildered.

"Yeah just like that. You're Michael Guerin, and you like dirt bikes, hockey, and tabasco with chocolate cake. I wouldn't want to change you. I like that we are independent and relish in our hobbies. "

"I still want to see your performances, Maria."

"You will. When the time is right and you're free, you should totally come. But for now, you enjoy your hobbies and I'll indulge in mine. That's who you are and I wouldn't want you any other way," Maria said and Michael smiled back. Maria wanted Michael back, but she knew he had to let him find the path on his own in his own way. And when he did she would welcome him with open arms.

"I wouldn't want you any other way either, Ms. Maria DeLuca."

~The End~

A/N: Well there you go! My first Candy Fic completed...but certainly not the last. Dedicated to the talented actor Brendan Fehr who has always been very nice and responsive to his fans and Majandra Delfino who is one of the few actresses on earth who has brilliant comedic timing! I hope all you CandyFans enjoyed! It's nice to know there are still so many of us candy fans who still believe, love, and support the show! THANKS FOR READING!