A/N: Okay everybody. Here it is... School's being a pain in the ass at the moment+ i've been ill for some days. So I've not written as much and as regular as usual. This chapter isn't beta read by anyone, so i have to warn you for some spelling and grammar. I've tried to check it myself, but it's possible there still are grammar and spelling wrongs. Please enjoy Part 3 and don't forget that a review's always welcome.

Disclaimer: No, i do not own them, no matter how much i want to. CBS and Jerry Bruckheimer are the lucky ones.

And your friends are with you to talk away the night
Or until Mrs Wrong switches of the chippy light.
Then there's always the corner
And the street lamp's glare
An' another hour to spend with your friends, with her,
To share the last cigarette and your secret dream
At the midnight hour...
At seventeen.

Madison and Stephanie had known each other for so long now that a special friendship had grown. A friendship that had existed for so long that it could not be destroyed. It didn't matter how long it was since they met last time, their friendship was too strong to get destroyed for such thing. It could take months till' they met next time, but it didn't matter. Questions that hadn't been answered last time could be dusted of and be asked once again, in hope they would be answered this time. Discussions from last winter that were not finished could be ended in the spring. It didn't matter, because their friendship was too strong to get destroyed.

That Ray and the others couldn't blame one specific person for Olivia's death was hard to accept. But days past. And days became weeks that became months. It had taken months and again months for them to get over Olivia's death, but they recovered. It was a slowly progress, but still they felt better the longer time past.
Over a year had now passed, and they were as good as fully-recovered. Or at least as recovered they could be at the circumstances. Ray hadn't got a new girl-friend, and that was probably because of the scars that still existed after Olivia's death. They all suspected that the reason he didn't have a partner, was that he thought it would be an insult to Olivia's memory.
But except for that, they were all getting along pretty good. Ray's first year in his education to become a CSI had been great. He got full marks on the end-of-term exams, and all of them could see the pride in Horatio's eyes. Ray had now two and a half years left, and then he would join his uncle and friends in the CSI team.

---

"Where's Joachim?" Madison asked as she let Michael into the apartment.

"He's sick, it's the flu or something," Michael said as he took one of his shoes off with the other foot.

"Aw, poor Joachim. Promise me you'll tell him hi from me when you leave."

"Of course," Michael said and they went into the living room.
They sat down in the sofa.

"I rent a movie. Or well, I and Joachim had planned to watch it both of us, together with you, but now it's only us."

She smiled. "Poor Joachim."

Michael showed her the DVD he was holding in his hand.
'The dance of sisters.' Madison read on the front of the DVD.

"Many people say it's really good. And we thought of you and Stephanie when we first heard of it. It's about two sisters, who are trying to show the world how good they are at dancing, but no one really sees them. And, it is a reminder for you that we still want to see you dance."
She laughed.

"Thanks Michael. And I will tell you as soon as I know the date of the new show. But I still need to practice a bit more. I want it to be perfect," she said.

"After what I've heard you're amazing. Everyone said that the show you and Stephanie had just before she moved was amazing."

Madison blushed, and looked down at her knees.

"So shall we watch the movie then?" Michael asked, changing the subject so Madison would feel more comfortable.

They sat close together in the sofa, with a blanket round their shoulders, and watched the movie in silence. The movie was, just like Michael had said, very good. At the end, Madison cried. 'She wasn't supposed to die', Madison thought while tears were running don her cheeks. 'Not now, when they finally got the roles!'
But one of the sisters died, and Madison cried to Michaels shoulder. But the film was great, and when after Michael had pressed the 'stop' button, he turned and looked into Madison's wet face.

"I who hoped you'd like the movie," Michael said and smiled. He wiped the tears off from her face, and she laughed – though her eyes were still wet.

She watched how his face came closer. It couldn't be more than a few inches away... five... four... three... She could feel him breathing, and their lips wasn't more than two inches from each other now.
But when she first thought she would kiss him, she was wrong. A voice inside her was screaming one thing, and another voice was screaming another thing. She listened to the last voice, and turned her head.
When she turned back, the distance between them were big again, and she looked into his eyes.

"I... I'm sorry Michael... I can't..." She could see how hurt he was.

"It's uh... It's ok..." Even though his face was calm, and didn't show any emotions, his eyes still spoke for him.

"Michael, I-"

"I better leave," Michael said and rose and then took the film from the table. He left the room and she heard him take his shoes on in the hall. Realizing what she had done, she rushed after him.

"Michael!" She called. But it was too late – the door shut close before she had time finish saying his name.
Tears left her eyes, and she went back into the living room, and fell down into one of the sofas. She had ruined it. She had ruined all her chances to finally get together with Michael.

'But,' she thought and tried to see it from the bright side, 'it would've ruined my relationship with Joachim.'

Now you've ruined your relationship with Michael instead, a voice said inside her.

'No, we might be able to keep being friends... if I just talk to him...'

But the voice answered; you don't believe in what you're thinking, and you know it.

"No!" She cried out loud. 'I've not ruined it! It can't just end just like that...'

Fairy-tales always end well, but maybe your life isn't a fairy-tale, the voice said.

She cried, and she cried and she cried. She cried until there was no tears left, and her eyes were red and swollen.
After that, she just laid there on the sofa, watching the room become darker as the sun slowly left the sky. The long for Michael had been terrible, but feeling the big emptiness instead of the long for Michael was even worse.
She heard the door shut about one hour later, and knew her mother had come home. Usually she would've hurried into the bathroom, and not coming out until there was no signs of tears. But now she didn't care. She didn't move.

"Hey sweety," Suzie said, and bent down to kiss her daughter on her cheek.

"Darling, what is it? Have you been crying?" She asked when she noticed her daughter's face.

"It's nothing. Michael just left - the movie was so sad that I cried. It's nothing else."

"You sure?"

Madison nodded.

"Alright, honey. Wasn't Joachim here?"

"No, he has the flu or something."

"Oh, poor boy... you hungry?"

"A bit... Need any help?"

"No, it's okay. If you want to talk, I'm in the kitchen."

Madison knew that her mother didn't understand what had happened – she was just so 'over-protecting' and loving, that whenever Madison felt bad, she had to show her that she was there for her.
She went into her room, and lay down on her bed. She couldn't believe it had been so close, and then she'd just ruined it.
No matter how much she wanted to cry, she couldn't. Her eyes were empty of tears, but that didn't stop her heart from crying.
She had been in love with Michael for over a year now, and now, when the chance finally had been there – she hadn't taken it.
Her mother called that dinner was ready, and Madison went to eat. Complaining that she didn't feel alright, she was allowed to leave a bit sooner than she would've left usually and she went back into her room. The phone rang, but she didn't want to talk to anyone at the moment, so she didn't move, and let Suzie take the phone.
A knock at the door, and Suzie came in.

"Madison, it is Stephanie." And Suzie gave the phone to Madison.

"Hi," Madison answered without any enthusiasm.

"Hey Mad," Stephanie said, not noticing her friends sad voice. "Guess what!"

"I dunno, tell me," she said, still without enthusiasm.

"I've got a new boyfriend!! You know the guy I've mentioned a couple of times – Luke?"

"Yeah. Congrats hun, that's great."

"Yeah I know but-. Hang on... Are you alright, sweetie, it sounds like you're sad."

"I uh... No it's nothing, I'm just so tired. And I've got a big headache too."

"Aww... I'm sorry if you want me to hang up-"

"No of course not. So what's he like?"

"He's long, with pretty long and brown, curly hear. He is really cute. Mom
and Dad don't like him though... I don't know why – he's so nice and cute!"

"I believe you. Hey hun, I'm sorry, but I feel too bad to talk right now. I can't think at the mo'. I'm really glad for your sake. Tell him 'hello' from me."

"Okay, I hope you get better soon! Bye."

"Bye."

Madison had to go to school the next day, no matter how bad she felt. She was ignored by Michael all day – every time she tried to look him in his eyes, his head was turned in another direction. All night she had been laying awake, thinking of what to do and what options there was left. And finally she decided that she could choose between being ignored by Michael and still be friend with Joachim. Or trying to make Michael realize that she loved him and that the only reason she had turned her head was because of her fear of how Joachim would react. Then, if he thought she was telling him the truth, and forgave her – she would have to worry about Joachim. But whenever she tried to talk with him, or was even close to him, he was always talking with someone else, and hurried away – before she had chance to even open her mouth.
A couple of times, when Michael ignored her openly, she was so close to tears, she had to run into the girls' bathroom, and stay there until she had calmed down.
When they had ended the last class of the day, she waited outside the school building, determined to talk to Michael. After waiting a couple of minutes, Michael finally appeared in the door opening. He started to walk down the stairs – and Madison hurried forwards to talk to him. When he noticed who was coming closer – he turned to a friend not far away, and started to talk to him.
With tears in her eyes, Madison hurried back home, and as soon as she was back in the apartment she lay down on her bed and cried.
'I have to tell Stephanie... I need her...' But she knew her friend was in school, and there was no chance in the world she would answer her cell phone.
So she went to the kitchen and ate, and waited for the time to pass. A few hours later, she was sure her friend must've ended school, so she took the phone and called Stephanie.

"Hey Mad!"

"Hey Steph... I need to talk..."

"What's up sweetie?"

And Madison talked, and she didn't stop until she was finished, because she knew it would be easier if she said it all now when she had started.

"Oh, Madison... Was this why you didn't want to talk yesterday? Honey, you should've told me, I wouldn't have babbled about Luke if I knew what had happened! I'm so sorry hun..."

"I don't know what to do, Steph... I really tried to talk to Michael today – but he refused to even look at me!"

"He really likes you, and we both know it. You have to talk to him. If you wait, then it might be too late."

"But-"

"Mad, if you love him, you have to do it."

A/N 2: A little surprise in this one, huh? I hope you liked it, and feel free to send me a review.

Thank you.