Suddenly, we waltz into Liz's dream, which at first glance seems just as calm as she was when she was awake. She was in the Pod Chamber. Sitting up against one of the broken pods, her knees pulled up to her chest level. She was writing in her journal.
"Dear Journal, I'm Liz Parker and yesterday something really terrible happened…"
"Do you always start every entry with an introduction?" came a voice that suddenly appeared out of nowhere. It made her jump and look towards the voice.
"Oh my God, Michael!" she said in a shriek. She jumped up, dropping her journal and pulled him in to an excited hug. He squeezed her tight, as if he didn't want to let go.
"God, I thought you were dead." Liz said, almost brought to tears. She hugged him like her own life depended on it. He was the only thing that mattered in the world to her at this point.
"I am." Michael said softly. He didn't want to upset her, but he knew it was inevitable. Liz pulled out of the hug, and looked at Michael with a mix of sadness and fear. They met each others eyes, and Michael felt like his heart would break…if it still could.
"What?" She hesitantly asked.
"I am dead, Liz." Michael said, more clearly. He had to make sure she understood him. "You're dreaming. I had to come back to you. I needed to see you." Michael said, as he reached for her hand.
"Me?" Liz asked, gesturing to herself with her free hand.
"Yes, you. There are some things I never told you which I think you have the right to know." Michael said. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. After the kiss, he held in tightly in his hand. Liz looked confused, but didn't pull her hand away. She waited for him to say something. Anything.
"I…I love you." Michael said in what barely registered above a whisper. He could feel himself trembling, but he couldn't stop. Liz was in shock. That was the last thing she was expecting to hear.
"You love me?" Michael nodded. Liz was at a loss for words. "What about Maria?" Liz asked after a few moments of letting her mind calm down.
"I like Maria. I do. But I only started dating her after I knew that having anything to do with you was completely out of the picture." Michael said, his eyes full of sadness and regret. "It's always been you, Liz." He lifted a shaking hand up to her hair and pushed a stray strand behind her ear. His fingers gently brushed against her skin and they both felt a jolt of electricity pass between them. She saw the flash of sadness pass across his face, as she took his hand back in hers.
"Michael, what's wrong?" Liz asked, she knew it was a stupid question. She squeezed his hand a bit, letting him know it was safe to open up to her.
"I just…regret not telling you when I was alive." Michael said, with tears bordering the edge of his eye-lids. Liz's heart broke for him. She knew what it was like to hold certain feelings in. The tight feeling in your chest, the constant hurting. She wished that she could really do something for him, but it was only a dream.
"I'm so sorry, Michael." Liz said as she pulled him in a hug. She felt like she might burst, he was hugging her so tight. She felt tears sting her eyes and sliding down her cheeks. She could hear his labored breathing in her ear. He was crying to. She hugged him as tight as she could possibly muster. When the hug ended, she didn't what she would never have thought to do. She kissed him.
At first it was slow, letting the feeling sink in. It started to steadily increase when neither of them broke the kiss. Then, the increase turned into a heated encounter. Hands roamed each others hair, necks, shoulders and backs. It seemed there was no stopping them.
After a few moments, more like a few minutes they broke the kiss. They stared into each others eyes as Michael leaned his forehead against hers.
"I can't believe this…us…I mean…I never would have thought…" Liz knew she was babbling, but she really couldn't believe it. I mean, this was Michael. Her soul-mates best friend. Her best friend's boyfriend that she was kissing. Granted, it was a dream. Although it also wasn't. It was Michael's goodbye, to her.
"I don't want to wake up." Liz said quietly as she let Michael put his arms around her. She leaned her head against his warm chest.
"I know. But you're gonna have to eventually. Max will be up soon." Michael said as he pulled away from her. Liz suddenly felt overwhelmed. She wasn't ready to wake up. "He'll be waiting for you." Michael added. What broke Liz's heart the most was that he was right. Max was everything that she needed, and he cares about her.
"Can I see you again?" Liz asked as Michael loosened is hold on her. She felt frantic, her heart was beating to fast, and her lungs couldn't keep up.
"Maybe." Michael whispered. Liz had tears spilling down her cheeks. She held onto Michael's shirt in a fist, not wanting to let go of him. A tear flowed down Michael's cheek as he stared into her eyes. He whipped it away with the back of his hand.
"I don't know if it's a good idea…" Michael said, after thinking her question through for a while. There was a frog in Michael's throat, making it hard for him to speak. Liz took a deep breath after he spoke, letting his answer sink in. She looked into his eyes and pulled him into a passionate kiss. His hands were in her long silky hair, hers were wrapped around his neck, pulling him towards her.
"Michael…don't go." Liz said between kisses. Michael pulled her body as close to his as he could possibly get her. Liz began to get an empty feeling in the pit of her stomach. The kissing slowed to gentle kisses. Soft, calm and delicate. He pulled away from her and looked into her eyes. Liz could feel that their time together was coming to an end.
"Don't go." She said again. He just smiled and kissed her quickly.
"It's too late for that." Michael said sadly. He reached up and touched her face gently. She was crying, he hated seeing her like that. Another quick kiss and he said that famous words once again.
"I love you, Liz." With a smile, he started to walk away from her. Leaving Liz alone in the Pod Chamber. Then, when he exited the Chamber, her dream world started to fade.