Liz walked up to Maria, where Alex still was standing. When Liz reached him he leaned in and embraced her in a warm hug.

"Would you stay with me up here when I talk?" Liz whispered in his ear.

"Of course I will" Alex told her.

Liz didn't feel like she could do this alone, and Alex could always calm her down.

She let go of his embrace, but took a hold of his hand instead.

She had prepared a speech, but realised that it would be easier to just talk right from her heart.

"Everybody who is here today, were the most important people in Maria´s life.

Friends and family meant everything to her."

Liz didn't care about the tears that kept running down her face. Alex did it instead. He reached down in his pocket and gave her a napkin.

She used it gave Alex a thankful smile before she continued.

"And who couldn't love Maria? She was kind, loyal, fun and just…just the best friend you could ever have."

Liz took a deep breath to regain some strength.

"We used to have this long talks when one of us needed it..."

Liz smiled when she remembered when they had wondered if Max and Michael had ruined it for them with other guys.

"…And Maria always listened with this intense look on her face. Like it was a matter of life or dea..." Liz stopped herself before saying death. Alex squeezed her hand.

"Death" Liz ended.

"She could listen for hours to me just babbling on and on about my problems.

And she really listened to every word I said. Because that's what kind of friend she was. The kind of friend who would walk trough fire for you. She would do that for every one of you who are standing here right now. I know she would.

I just wish that it didn't have to end like it did. That she would still be here."

Liz leaned down and took one of Maria´s hands in her.

Then she took a long look at her best friend in the world, and slowly walked away.

When she passed Michael, he gently grabbed a hold on her arm and looked her in the eye.

"That was well said" he told her.

"I just said what I felt. And Michael…?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For loving her…"

Michael knew that it was his turn now. That it was his time to try and express how he felt about what happened to Maria.

He had listened to all the others talk about how much they missed her and loved her. And Michael knew that they all meant every word of it. But still he couldn't help but feel like it was all just so false.

Non of it would bring Maria back. She was gone forever, except for in his heart.

She would always be there. Hell, she would always be his heart.

She was the one person who he had ever let all the way in to it…and to his soul.

God, I sound girlie, Michael thought.

I really have to spend some guy-time with the others soon.

If he ever could stop think about Maria that is.

Michael suddenly remembered where he was and walked up to the place where Maria was lying.

God, she is beautiful, Michael thought. She looks just like an angel.

He looked at his friends all paired up in two. Max and Liz, Isabel and Alex, Tess and Kyle. And Valenti and Mrs DeLuca of course.

Michael couldn't help but feel a little left out. Everybody had someone to lean on, except him. Well, he had all the others too, but it wasn't the same. He needed Maria.

He looked at her and smiled. Then he kissed her. A long passionate kiss…

Maria was dead. She knew that. But then why could she hear everything that her friends were saying?

She had heard every single word of what they said and for every word she felt stronger.

And now she could feel Michael's lips on her own.

She could feel the heat coming from him. And she knew that she would be ready to break free any moment now.

Just one second more and she would be back in Michael's arms.

And then Michael let go…

"No!" Maria screamed in her head. She wasn't ready yet. She wasn't strong enough.

She had been so close…

TBC…    Rewiew!!!