Isabel lay in the bed for what seemed hours unable to sleep. She could hear the quiet chatter down the stairs, which seemed to make it that much harder to concentrate on sleep. She hated being left out of the conversation and planning. Every time she attempted to get up though she was reminded of what happened to her that day. Gingerly she lifted her shirt and looked down at the silver handprint over her stomach and sucked in a deep breath. She knew it would be there but had never expected to see the mark grace her own body. It scared her.

"Hey. What are you doing?" asked Michael as he climbed the stairs to the loft.

"I never expected to see the mark on my own body. Makes it that more real."

"What more real."

"Mortality. My own."

"Yeah, I guess so. God Izzy, you scared the shit out of me," Michael said as he lowered himself down onto the bed.

"I scared myself," she said turning towards him.

Michael pulled Isabel into his arms and wrapped her into an embrace, kissing the top of her head and smelling her hair. Even after everything that had happened that day she still smelled as sweet as she had that morning.

"We've had on hell of a day, haven't we. Look, about this morning," Michael began, but was interrupted by Isabel.

"I don't want to talk about it. Don't go there."

"Izzy."

"I really don't have the energy Michael."

Michael pulled away from Isabel so he could look her in the eye. He tried to read her face, to see what she was thinking. All he could see and sense was stubbornness. She was not going to have this conversation now period. Michael knew the look well enough to drop the subject. At least for the time being.

"Goodnight Isabel," he said getting up to go. Before he could pull himself up off the bed she grabbed his hand. "Don't go yet." Relaxing back onto the bed he spooned her into his arms and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Okay."



It didn't take long for either one of them to fall asleep or for the dreams to begin again. The two of them were together on the cliffs. Soon they were hugging and kissing with child in between them.

Isabel and Michael both woke at the same time. As she began to say something Michael stopped her by pulling her in close and kissing her gently on the mouth.

"I don't want to fight," he said after the quick embrace.

"Michael. I…I'm not sure how I feel about all of this."

"I'm not either Iz. All I know is that I don't want to fight."

Isabel searched his eyes for any unspoken thoughts or feelings. While she didn't find any answers she could see that he was being truthful with her. She let out a deep breath and did something that surprised her. She reached for his face and welcomed another kiss.

The kiss started out just as gentle and innocent as the last, but quickly turned more urgent. Unlike the one that they had shared that morning though, they were both more relaxed. Which allowed for the flood of flashes to follow.

Stars and planets swirled through their minds at first. Then different experiences throughout their lives on earth began to play out. Images of Max and Isabel together in grade school, the time Isabel gave Michael her lunch, Michael watching the Evens' together, then Michael and Maria during the heat wave.

Abruptly Michael pulled away from Isabel. He looked at her with weary eyes before rolling off the bed and down the stairs before she could say anything or stop him. She watched him escape her as fast as he could and suppressed the urge to cry. She knew why he had to stop, but it didn't hurt any less. She was feeling just as guilty.

The rest of the night Isabel tossed and turned unable to sleep. She decided against better judgment and tested the waters at getting out of bed. While she was still a little weak she was pleasantly surprised at her ease of getting in a vertical position. Gone was the dizziness and body ache. Tenderly she reached for the railing and began her decent down the stairs. Before she reached the last step she misplaced her foot and tumbled the rest of the way down. "shit!" she muttered under her breath.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

"Excuse me?" asked Isabel, rather surprised by the brash outburst.



Kyle just looked at her sternly before walking over to her and helping her up. "You shouldn't even be attempting to get out of bed."

"Relax Kyle. I'm alright, just a little weak."

"Yeah. That would be the exact reason why you should be in bed still."

"Shut up and go outside with me for some fresh air."

Kyle raised his eye brow up at Isabel before taking her by the arm and delicately guiding her across the room to the balcony.

The cool air was welcome across her face and she let out a deep breath she wasn't aware that she had been holding. The night was dark and quiet with barely a sliver of a moon.

"this is a night for the hunted," Isabel said turning to Kyle.

"What do you mean?" he asked, confusion apparent on his face.

"Exactly what I said. When the moon is full it's a night for the hunter. When the moon in waning it a moon for the hunted. It's dark; easy for hiding."

"then I guess we are the hunted."

"I would give anything in the world for this to be different. How much pain could have been avoided if everything had been different?"