Isabel tried to hold it together, she tried not to cry, but it was too hard.

And why shouldn't she cry? One of her closest friends had just died.

But ice queens doesn't cry, she reminded herself.

Well, I'm not really like that anymore, Isabel thought.

She looked at Maria´s lifeless body and let a tear fall. Maria was worth it. She was actually worth a whole lot more, but right now this was all Isabel could offer.

She looked over at Alex and hoped that he would be able to stay with them a little bit longer. That he wouldn't have to go back to wherever it was that he came from.

She really needed him, and the others too.

Isabel saw Alex whisper something in Liz's ear and she seemed to calm down a little. Alex comes to the rescue once again, she thought.

She suddenly remembered where she was, got herself together and started talking:

"Even though there's so much to say about Maria, I'm going to keep it short. Because I know that Maria wouldn't want us to mope around over her. She never wanted any of us to mope around over anything."

Isabel saw some smiles when they all thought about the truth of her words.

"When Maria first came in to my life, I didn't like it at all" Isabel continued.

"I thought that she and Liz was going to take Max and Michael away from me... my brothers. But then I realised that it really was the opposite. They were the best thing that could ever happen in all of our lives."

Isabel looked at Liz to let her know that she really meant what she said.

"And when I got to know Maria, I realised that she was a million times better than all of my shallow friend put together."

Isabel dried another tear away.

"So Maria if you can hear this…Thank You."

Isabel then bent down and left a note in Maria´s empty grave. Soon they would lay Maria there and it would be filled with love. Lucky grave, Isabel thought. She turned her gaze to Maria.

"That is for you only to read" she told her and referred to the note.

Then she brushed a lock of hair away from Maria´s face and went back...

Alex gently squeezed Isabel´s shoulder when she reached them. She looked terrible. And that wasn't usual for Queen Isabel to do.

But Alex was glad that she wasn't like that anymore. He was glad that she could let herself show what she was feeling.

He looked at his other side and found a face that looked at least as terrible as Isabel´s. Liz.

He sent her a silent question by giving her a questionable look.

She nodded for him to go next.

Alex did this and slowly approached Maria´s grave.

He sadly looked down at his best friend's body.

He couldn't remember a time when he had ever seen Maria this quiet and still.

She was always doing something. She was always so full of life.

And that was the worst thing about all of it, Alex thought.

Maria loved life more than anybody else Alex had ever met. She was the last person that ever deserved to end her life like this. So abruptly. Leaving so many friends behind her. Friends that loved her so much. And Michael.

Alex had been really sceptical of Maria together with him, but he was glad that he had been wrong.

He had realised that Michael really did care for Maria.

You could easily see that now too, Alex thought.

Even though Michael didn't cry his eyes out, you could defiantly see that this was eating him up inside.

Alex took the guitar he had laid next to Maria, and started talking:

"Maria loved music. She didn't share my style in it, but she sure loved it."

Alex thought back at the whole blind date-thing when the Whits were playing.

Maria had really owned the stage that night. It had been like she had been borned to do just that…sing.

"That's why I choose to play a song that I know she liked. I'm going to sing too, but I'm warning you. It will not sound as good as when Maria sang this song for me."

He sat down next to Maria and started playing and singing:

The earth shall soon

Dissolve like snow

The sun forbear to shine

But god who called me here below

Will be forever mine

Yes when this flesh and heart shall fail

And mortal life shall cease

I shall possess

Within the vail

A life of joy and peace

Amazing grace

How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost

But now I'm found

Was blind but now I see



When Alex ended the song his eyes were filled with tears.

He looked at Maria and then said:

"I know it's not as good as when you sang it for me. I heard that you know.

But it's the thought that counts, huh?"

Alex kissed Maria´s forehead and then gave Liz a reassuring look to go ahead…

TBC...    Rewiew!!

Authors notes: Next part up soon! Hope you like it.