Michael let go of Maria and started walking away.

But something was telling him not to.

That he should stay with Maria just a little longer. But Michael couldn't stand to look at her anymore. He just missed her so much more when he saw her beautiful face.

And felt her lips against his.

He started thinking of a thing that Maria always pointed out to him. That he shouldn't deal with everything alone. That they were stronger together.

That gave him an idea.

He looked at the others that were standing spread out in the desert.

"I think we should try something" he said.

"Try what Michael?" Tess asked.

"We should all try to connect and maybe see if we can somehow help Maria."

"Michael I don't think that will work" Max said gently.

"Max, it's worth a try" Liz said.

"Maybe I should take Amy home" Jim said and sounded sceptical to the idea.

"Yeah. I would like to go home and just rest. It's been some weird couple of days " Amy agreed.

"Okay" Michael said.

"Try and get some sleep Mrs DeLuca" Alex said. "We will call you if anything happens."

"Thank you Alex. I will."

Michael looked at the car that drove away with Mrs DeLuca and the sheriff in it.

Then he went to Maria and the others followed.

When they all stood there Michael grabbed Isabel's hand in his left and Liz's in the other.

He saw Liz take Max's and Max take Tess's.

Then Isabel grabbed a hold of Alex's hand and the circle then became complete when Kyle and Tess's hands intertwined.

Maria was lying in the middle.

Michael closed his eyes and immediately he could feel the others.

They were all connected and it was really the most powerful thing Michael had ever experienced.

He sent out a picture of Maria to the others. Then Liz sent on of Maria in her waitress-uniform.

Alex sent one of Maria singing and Isabel one of Maria laughing.

Michael started to feel Maria with them. He sent a silent message to the others: "Keep going!" he encouraged them. "It's working!"

Then Max showed them a picture of Maria in school. Typical Max, Michael thought. Always thinking about school.

Then he saw a picture of Maria and Kyle looking at their parents making out on the couch.

And then Tess sent out a picture of all eight of them sitting at The Crashdown. Everybody smiling and talking.

Now Michael could feel that Maria was close. But nothing happened. He could only feel her. His hope sunk again. What had he been expecting? That Maria would just come back from the death?

He let go of Isabel and Liz's hands and opened his eyes.

And his eyes were staring in to Maria's.

"Finally!" Maria said and smiled at him. "I thought you were never going to make it."

She pulled Michael to her and gave him the most amazing kiss Michael had ever experienced.

Then she suddenly let go of him and formed a group-hug with all of them.

"I've missed you guys!" Maria said still holding on to them. "Even you Kyle" she joked.

"Oh, thanks for that one, sis!" Kyle answered, trying to sound hurt.

The gang finally let go of each other, but Michael didn't let go of Maria. And he didn't intend to ever let her go again.

"So…has it been a total disaster here without me?" Maria asked turned to Liz.

Liz looked around at everybody and smiled. "Well, let's just say we work better when there's eight of us…"

The next ten minutes were spent with hugging and kissing. Maria couldn't believe that she was back with her friends again.

She actually came back from the death. That's so cool, she thought to herself.

Then she smiled at her friends and snuggled closer to Michael.

This is the way it should always be, she thought. Then she remembered the baby.

The people who took Maria also took her and Michael's baby.

She would have to tell him. Because together maybe they could get it back.

Together they could do anything…

The end         

If you liked it please tell me cause I'm thinking about a sequel. Actually I have already started writing one.

So I hope you liked it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thanks for all the support!

/Linda