A/N: Ok, so uh, that slump took a bit longer than expected to get over, huh? Sorry 'bout that everybody. I didn't forget about this story though and I can happily report that there are only like 4 parts left after this and that includes the epilogue. In the meantime, this part . . . It's...strange, is all I will say besides that I guess it explains why Liz is exhausted all the time . . . Her life is an emotional rollercoaster even in her sleep . . . Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this part. :-)

So here we go . . .

Life is but a dream. ~ Lewis Carroll

Chapter 23: Rest for the Weary

Kids chased each other around the playroom when Liz opened her eyes. She smiled, delighted, when she spotted a younger version of Maria and Alex having a familiar argument.

"Al-ex, you have to stay within the lines!" Maria whined, trying to take the coloring book from him even as he frowned in concentration, tongue peeking out the side of his mouth as he hung onto it trying to finish his masterpiece.

"Nuh uh. I'm a rebel!" Alex declared as he finished and held the coloring book up in triumph. The cow in the picture had been colored in purple crayon, and it now somehow had wings and, yep, there it was, the cow even wore a cape.

Liz chuckled as Maria and Alex started wrestling over the book. Alex was shaking his head wildly and pulling for all he was worth, which, at his age, wasn't very much. He spotted Liz out of the corner of his eye and called out for assistance. "Lizzie, come help! Maria's trying to be the boss of me again!"

Liz grinned, feeling herself now in her little girl body as she ran over and tickled both of them till they let go. They collapsed in a heap, still giggling and pulled Liz down with them.

Liz turned over and stared at the ceiling full of glow in the dark stars and planets, chuckles still escaping as giggles subsided.

Her head tilted, puzzled, as the room realigned itself into one with red-spattered walls. Something about it was familiar, but-

She gasped and sat up, terror blossoming so quick it felt like ice in her veins.

From one blink to the next her limbs unlocked and her breathing slowed enough for her to hear Alex and Maria talking nearby.

"Maria, how can I finish if you're hoarding the supplies?"

"Hmm, maybe you can use that pack of crayons you stole from me in 3rd grade" Maria said haughtily.

Liz looked up tentatively and discovered she was in art class with Alex and Maria. Maria was angled so that she was curled protectively over the tubes of paint. She turned to Liz expectantly. "You remember right, Liz?"

Liz hid her grin. "Well it *was* the box with the 64 colors" she told Alex mock seriously.

"And it had it's own sharpener!" Maria said accusingly, as if that made the offense worse.

Alex crossed his arms over his chest and muttered about people bringing up old stuff.

Liz just chuckled. She really, *really* loved her friends.

"You destroyed my mind! How could you do this to me?"

She flinched and tripped into a backwards fall. She blinked and Alex stood over her, peering curiously.

She shook her head, confused. "Sorry, what?"

"You were dreaming."

For a second she'd swear Alex's voice had echoed.

He sat down on her bed, looking eager. Maria settled on her other side. "Was it the one with the crazy Bedazzler? Did it attack Maria's trapper keeper again? Did she yell?" he asked gleefully.

"Hey!" Maria said, reaching over Liz and pushing Alex sideways onto the floor.

"It was her jeans with the flowers this time and she did a little" Liz replied, propping herself up on one elbow and chuckling.

Alex didn't bother to sit up; he just lay there giggling as if he'd witnessed it firsthand.

Maria clutched her trapper keeper to her chest protectively. "Why's it always attack my stuff, huh? Possessed Bedazzlers should be attacking everyone!"

Liz ran her hands through her hair and shook her head. "Yeah, I have got to stop eating so close to bedtime. My dreams are insane."

"Nuh uh" Alex said as he sat up. "You have the best dreams, ever!"

Without warning she was on her knees, hand sunk into the wound in Maria's stomach, blood pulsing out around her fingers even as she tried to make it stop. So much blood . . . God, too much blood . . .

The memory burned white hot and felt like an electric shock. She curled into herself and covered her ears. It hurt. God, why did it hurt to be here?

She could hear her name being called, but she just pressed her hands harder against her ears. She was sick of dreaming.

The faint buzzing she had been hearing throughout her dream suddenly arranged itself into words. "...ax can't keep doing this Liz. You have to stop this."

Liz looked up at Evera, lowering her hands as she realized she was now seated on her balcony. Anguished, Liz met her eyes in wordless question.

Evera looked back sharply. "Don't you have somewhere you're supposed to be?"

A scene flashed in Liz's mind and she inhaled sharply. A moment later she nodded numbly.

Liz woke up on Michael's couch sheltered in Max's arms. She inhaled deeply and just absorbed the comfort, the warmth, listening to the deep breaths Max took as he slept. Then she gently untangled herself and left the apartment quietly.

---

Liz had made it here, yet now she found herself afraid.

She drew in a shaky breath and let it out slowly as she took her final steps forward onto the ledge...

~Fade~

Next chapter: How do you breathe?