A/N: italics denote flashbacks...usually. You'll be able to tell.

Maria had never been happier in her entire life. She had grown up in a house where her father had left, her mother dreamt of the days before making "the big mistake," and she had been forced to grow up too soon. But finally, here she was, twenty-two, a college graduate, and married to the only man she had ever let into her heart. She smiled up at him and slid her arms higher around his neck as they shared their first dance as husband and wife.

Michael was grinning, not smirking, but honestly grinning. He did that a lot now. His arms were wrapped possessively around her waist and he leaned his forehead against hers. He whispered, "I love you."

Yes, Maria Guerin was definitely happy. Maria Guerin. She liked the sound of that. Six years ago, when it had first crossed her mind, she had indulged in the fantasy for a week or so and then tossed it aside, deeming it unlikely and immature. She had been wrong.

There was still one thing that was nagging her in the back of her mind though. He had still never said anything about the possibility of ever leaving with Max and Isabel to find their home. So, knowing full well that his answer had the potential to ruin her good cheer, she approached the subject.

"Michael?"

"Yeah?"

"If you guys find your home…will you go?" She bit her lip nervously.

Michael seemed to think about it for a moment and then looked into her eyes. With a serious tone he replied, "Maria, I could never leave you. Not for anything in the universe. You are my home now."

If she had thought that she couldn't be happier before, she had been wrong then too.

Maria took another swallow of the scotch. It no longer burned on the way down. Alex had tried several times to take the bottle from her but if they had made any useful discoveries that day, it was that Maria made a bitter drunk. Not that she cared anymore.

She kept reliving that dance in her mind though. Perhaps that was why she was so crass right now. She heard him tell her that he would never leave her over and over to the point where she was ready to scream.

The bastard had lied to her. Just like her father. No one ever loved her for long. They always left. Her mom would have, but she had had nowhere to go.

So now here she was, twenty-four, married for almost two years, listening to her best friend weep over her vanished husband and her other friend deny the truth. They'd see things for how they truly were soon enough, she mused to herself.

All in all, the person she held the most blame to was herself. She had obviously not been enough to make him stay. Her job teaching theatre at West Roswell High kept her busy when she could have spent time at home with Michael. He worked on his art at home except when he would occasionally take a few pieces to a showing. Even then, he had always come home.

But not this time. This time he had left her for good. He wasn't even in the same solar system anymore.

A tear streaked down her cheek and into the glass as she remembered earlier that morning.

She had awaken to her Persian, Sassafras, flipping her tail in Maria's face.

"Mornin' Sass."

The cat mewed and jumped down onto the carpet heading towards the door.

Maria sighed and got out of bed, "Yeah, yeah, yeah…I'll feed you." She padded barefoot towards the kitchen.

Sass had jumped up onto the table and was twitching her tail and making a great deal of noise.

"You're not supposed to be up here-" she began, lifting the cat. That was when she had seen the note. It was Michael's handwriting. Her brow creased. He wasn't due home until that afternoon.

Maria,

We found a way to get home. I'm sorry. I have to go.

-Michael

Maria muttered to herself, "Sorry my ass." She glanced up and felt her heart wrench slightly at the sight of Liz in the chair. Liz didn't deserve this. Neither did Alex. But she did. It was the story of her life.