A/N- Well, this is it- the final chapter of Early Morning Sunset. I just want everyone to know how much I enjoyed writing this story. It's meant so much to me. Although it wasn't my most popular story of all time, I truly enjoyed writing every word of it. So, I hope you all enjoyed it as well and I hope you enjoy the final chapter. Thank you reviewers, I owe this all to you.

Chapter 6

"And I knew it from the start. Our arms are opened wide and your head is on my stomach, and we're trying so hard not to fall asleep. Here we are on this 18th floor balcony; we're both flying away..." -Blue October

The tour moved forward quickly. Each night a new town, a new room filled with smoke, melodies, devoted fans, and hope, and another night wrapped in the happiness and security that the tour brought to Maria. She knew that when the tour ended she would have to go back to Marshall and face Kyle. She didn't know what she would say to him- what words could explain such a strong shift in emotion? They'd both felt it, but each had been too afraid to verbalize what they knew the other understood. They'd once been so strong that even when they'd felt the fault of their foundation cracking, they'd held on with clenched, white knuckles, praying to regain the stability that had once been theirs.

Michael could feel the tension in her muscles when she slept beside him at night. He ran his hands over her hair, whispering promises into her ear as she drifted off into sleep. He understood the fear she held in ending the relationship that had composed her life, and he was patient with her. She was almost surprised at the amount of his understanding, but then at the same time she'd predicted it. While most looked at Michael as spontaneous, free, and almost angry, Maria looked at Michael and saw the softness in his spirit and his willingness to bend and catch her weight.

They spent their last night of the tour overnight in the small town where they'd played. They all went out to a local club and danced, laughed, drank, and enjoyed the freedom of the road that they could never feel at home. They smiled at each other in an understanding: it was their last night together on tour and their last night to feel the liberty of openness. They raised their glasses to an amazing sold out tour and to the permanent addition of Maria as their bass guitarist and back-up vocalist.

When the night ended they all hugged each other tightly, feeling the warmth of each other and the warmth of the connection they'd formed on the road. They all headed off to their respective rooms and Michael and Maria lay in bed through the wee hours of the morning facing each other and whispering words that got swept away with the passing minutes. They each recalled countless stories from their pasts and their enormous dreams for the future. At times they would lay in silence, staring at each others' silhouettes in the darkened room, the other's eyes glistening with hope as they spoke no words yet communicated novels to one another. Finally they fell asleep wrapped up in a delicate embrace, Maria's cheek falling onto the security of Michael's chest, his arms wrapped tightly around her.

The next morning Michael rolled over, feeling the warmth of the sunlight spilling through the window and onto his face. He reached his arm to his side and opened his eyes as he felt the emptiness where Maria had fallen asleep the night before. He sat up, blinking as he looked around the room. She sat in a chair by the window, her chin resting on her knees as she stared out at the world. Her eyes were glazed over as she sat looking out the window in front of her. He stood up and walked up behind her, placing his hand on her shoulder gently. She jumped slightly, turning away from the window and toward him. She smiled, looking up into his eyes.

"Good morning," he said, leaning down and brushing her lips.

She stood up and wrapped her arms around his neck, sighing. "Good morning."

"Are you OK?" Michael asked, looking down at her. "When I woke up you looked like you were lost in thought."

"Yeah, I'm OK. I was just thinking..." She trailed off, her eyes falling downward.

Michael took his finger and tilted her chin upward. Her eyes lifted and focused on him. "Thinking about what? What's wrong, Maria?"

Maria sighed. "The tour is over. We're going back to Roswell. That means... that means I have to go to Marshall too. I guess I'm just a little nervous. I don't know how it's all going to play out and that makes me anxious."

Michael nodded, still looking down at her. "I'll come with you, Maria. I mean, I don't have to go with you to see Kyle. I'll stay in a hotel or something and you can go to talk to him. I want to go with you; that way you'll know that I'm there for you."

A smile formed on her lips as she spoke. He smiled back down at her and she wrapped her arms tighter around his neck, her body leaning into his. "Thank you, Michael. Thank you so much."

The Next Day

The group slowly made their way back to Roswell, enjoying the few moments that were left of their tour. They talked and laughed, and when they entered the town the bus fell silent. They watched the town pass by as they slowly rolled down the main drag, a small smile forming on their lips as their home appeared in front of them, tangible and real.

They unpacked the bus, dragging the equipment through the store and back up into the musty attic. The dust sat thick on the surfaces of the attic; it had sat in silence for months, just waiting for their return and waiting to be filled with life again.

After they'd unloaded the things, they stood around in the store talking. Michael's eyes caught Maria's and she nodded. It was time to go back to Marshall.

Later That Day

The sun hung high in the clear blue sky as they drove into town, the buildings casting long shadows on the street. Maria smiled lightly as she looked around at the surrounding town as they drove down the street. "Marshall," she said quietly, her voice escaping as a sigh as she looked out the window.

"Are you OK?" Michael asked, looking over at her distant eyes as she stared out the buildings.

"Yeah," she nodded slowly, letting her head fall back on the seat. "It's just, being here. So much of me is wrapped up in this town.

Maria directed Michael to the one small motel in the center of town and they carried their bags into the small, stuffy room. Michael slowly got settled into the room. Maria sat on the bed silently, watching him move around. She watched him walk back and forth from the bathroom to his bag, his familiar form bringing an odd sense of ease to the uncomfortable feeling in her stomach. She didn't know how she could understand so much about Michael, someone she'd only met a few months earlier, while Kyle had become such a mystery to her.

Michael stopped, looking back at her and smiled. He walked over and sat on the bed next to her, his eyes fixed on her face. She leaned over and kissed him lightly. "I should go," she said quietly.

He looked at her for a moment before slowly nodding. She got up and he followed her to the door. She stopped in the doorway and looked back at him.

A small smile fell on his face as he looked at her standing in the doorway. "Come back to me, Maria." He said softly, and she nodded. She understood that a part of him still feared that she wasn't ready to let go of this town, these memories, and the pieces of her past scattered on the abandoned Marshall streets. She'd said it herself, so much of her is wrapped up in this town, and he'd understood that she meant Kyle.

Maria walked down the sidewalk, her feet leading her on the path she'd taken so many times before. She could get to Kyle's house with her eyes closed. She'd taken this road so many times, wearing down the path with her high expectations and dreams of the future. As she walked down the street, passing the houses with perfectly manicured lawns and perfectly manicured families, she thought about Kyle. In her mind she could see a picture of him sitting on the pier by the small river on those hot summer days when they were younger. He'd leaned into her with such protection, the sun reflecting off of his light hair as he smiled secretly at her. It was funny how things could change and how they continued to change, no matter how much she'd tried to pin them down. Life could stand still, but change would forever push them into motion.

She walked through the gate and up the steps, pausing for a breath before she rang the doorbell. He answered the door, a smile stretching across his face as he looked upon her. He wrapped his strong arms around her and for a moment she stopped, allowing herself to feel lost in him again. She felt the tension he could never hide, and pulled away looking up at him.

"Can we take a walk?" She asked and he nodded, the smile on his face beginning to show concern. They fall in step beside each other, walking silently as the birds chirped happily around them. He looked over at her many times as they walked, afraid to ask the questions burning in his mind. Finally she looked toward him, watching his arms swing silently as they walked.

"Kyle..." She said, stopping as the name escaped her lips. They stood looking at one another, both afraid to say the words sitting at tip of their tongues.

He smiled sadly, looking down at her. "It's over, isn't it?" He asked, knowing the answer. She looked up at him, nodding slowly, knowing that although there was a great divide between them, he could still read the sadness in her eyes.

He nodded as he looked at her. "Maria, I know. I've seen it coming probably as long as you have. Although I tried to act like life was the same, I know things have been different. I could feel you pulling away from me."

She felt the tears brim her eyes as she looked up at him. He reached down, running his thumb over her cheek. "Oh Kyle," she moved toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling the tears slide down her cheeks. "I have loved you for so long."

He sighed, resting his chin on the top of her head. He pulled away slightly and looked into her eyes. "I can't hold onto something that isn't there anymore, Ria. You've been drifting for a long time. It's selfish for me to hold onto you anymore." He paused. "There is someone else, isn't there?"

She looked away and nodded slowly.

He leaned in close to her ear and pushed her hair away, speaking softly. "Fly free, Ria, fly free." He leaned down, kissing her softly before pulling away and dropping his hands to his side.

She stepped back and wiped her tears. "Can we walk for a little more?" She asked, knowing where they needed to go. He nodded and began walking. They walked in silence again, both feeling the difference. The weight had been lifted off of them. They were no longer forced to believe in something that no longer existed, and could finally begin to mend their friendship.

They rounded the corner and the playground came into view. Kyle stopped, looking upon it, and then turned toward her with a question in his eyes. They'd loved this playground. They'd gone there for years, sitting side by side on the swings for hours, sometimes talking, sometimes sitting in silence just enjoying each other. Maria smiled at Kyle and nodded. Together, they walked.

They sat down on the swings, not saying a word. They slowly swayed back and forth, their feet dangling from the swings as they hadn't done in years. Kyle's eyes stayed on Maria, wondering why they'd come here, to this place they'd shared for so long- the nights when the summer heat and the heat of their love had wrapped so tightly around their hearts, encasing them in a happiness they hadn't felt since.

Maria looked at him and smiled, nodding her head slowly. She dug her feet into the sand and pushed off, feeling the wind blow through her hair as she swung. She laughed, feeling herself fly through the air. She was finally flying free. Kyle smiled as he looked at her, nodding in understanding as he watched her laugh. Together they sat as the day began to fade, swinging side by side as they hadn't done in years.

Later That Day

Darkness had fallen by the time Maria pushed the door open and entered the dark motel room. She closed it silently behind her and turned toward the room. There was a single light on by the bed, casting an eerie dim light on the entire room. Michael was sprawled on the bed, his long legs stretched out and his arm resting under his head. She stood for a moment, looking down at his sleeping form, a smile creeping on her face. She sat down next to him, still not moving to touch him, not wanting to disturb his slumber.

She felt his arm wrap around her waist before he pulled her toward him and she stretched out, resting her chin on his chest. His eyes opened and a smile crept up on his face as he looked down at her.

"You knew I was here," she whispered, looking up at him.

He nodded, a tender smile on his face. "I feel you always, Ria."

Maria felt a warm feeling begin to spread through her as she looked up at him. She slowly inched her way up and their lips connected in the soft light. She wrapped her arms around him, feeling the happiness begin to wrap around the room. She had found herself in him, and she knew that she and Michael would fly together forever- happy and free, the weight of the world lifting off of their shoulders.