(Author's Chapter Notes:)

(Sorry this took so long. I had a chapter written but I was unhappy with it so I had to re-write it. I just wanted to get it right.)

(Michael)

Michael had been pacing a hole in the floor for at least fifteen minutes when she came through the door, a light breeze accompanying her. He froze where he was and let his eyes drink in the sight of her.

And maybe it was because he thought she had left him, running off to God knows where, but even with her hair wind blown and messy, he still found her to be the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

Her hands were full of donuts and coffee and when he saw her struggling he broke his paralysis and rushed to take them from her before she dropped them.

He set them aside quickly and pulled her to him in a tight hug. Her arms now free went around him and held him close.

"I'm so sorry we fought, Michael. I never want to fight with you again. Promise me no matter what happens we won't ever fight?" Her words rushed out of her muffled against his neck sending shivers through him.

He pulled back only to find her lips, and kissed her in answer to her plea, the thought of losing her overshadowing everything. She returned his desperate kiss and then pulled away breathless to met his relieved eyes.

"I thought you left me," he spoke softly in the quiet room.

"Michael how could you think I would leave you? I could never leave you. I mean I know we had a fight... And I know I said I would go without you, but I wouldn't just leave without saying something; without saying goodbye. You have to know that…Wait, you didn't get my note?"

Michael shook his head. I didn't see a note, Sara."

Sara pulled away and went to the table, lifting first the box of donuts and then the coffee tray, not finding the note.

"I left it right here, I swear, Michael. Maybe the door shutting blew it away?" She said, and stooped down to look for it, but Michael reached and pulled her up to meet his eyes.

"It's okay, it doesn't matter, Sara. What matters is you're back."

"I am back." She smiled. "And guess what? I got you're favorite's."

She was moving to the table where the box of donuts sat when the doorbell rang.

Sara froze and looked at Michael who at first avoided her eyes. "Michael?"

"Sara, I'm so sorry. I thought it was for the best, And then when I woke up and you were gone…I don't think I can do this. I can't let you go..."

He knew he wasn't making a whole lot of sense, but it was true. When he called Aldo the night before it had seemed like the only way, but now he wasn't so sure. He wasn't sure about anything except that he couldn't bear to lose her.

"You called Aldo?" She was putting two and two together.
He nodded.

"I'm so sorry." He watched her eyes fill and wanted to go to her, but the knocking was getting louder.

He steeled himself and moved passed her to the front door to open it. He felt himself getting angry. Aldo had promised to give him until tomorrow to tell her she had to go home; to convince her it was for the best.

He pulled open the door and met his father's tired eyes with his own intense blue ones.

"Son, I know we said tomorrow, but Grace was adamant. I'm sorry."

Aldo stepped inside and the door closed behind him.

"It doesn't matter, you're not taking her, I won't let you." Michael cut him off.

"Michael you know this is for the best, we discussed this last night, son." Aldo was firm, but calm.

Michael felt Sara come up beside him.

"What if I refuse to come, will you drag me kicking and screaming to the airport? Is that the plan, Aldo?"

"This can't work. You two have to know that." He looked at them imploringly, but neither spoke.

"To answer your question, Sara… If you refuse to come, yes I will have to drag you home kicking and screaming. And not because I want to, but because I promised you're mother I would bring you home to her."

Michael's eyes moved to Sara. She was smiling bitterly. "Grace...right...you promised my mother, I should have known."

"Sara…don't make this harder than it has to be...please?" Aldo begged.

(Sara)

"Please just go get your things so this doesn't have to escalate."

Sara moved her eyes up to meet her stepfather's. "Escalate? What do mean escalate?"

But Sara had an idea she knew what his answer would be. Aldo's next words confirmed her suspicions.

"Your mother wanted to call the police, Sara. The only way I could convince her to hold off was by coming here today."

Sara reached her hand out and Michael clasped it, his warmth washing over her. She basked in the feel of him and then let go.

And then knowing she had no choice in the matter, she faced Aldo her words on trembling lips. "I'll go get my things."

She met Michael's eyes as she moved passed him, wanting nothing more than to feel his arms around her. She couldn't blame him for this, not when it was obvious how much he was hurting. She only wished he had had more faith that they could make it alone. Because she knew that together they would have been anything but alone.
Together they would have had everything they needed.

She made her way to the bedroom to get her things, but as soon as she closed the door it all hit her. This was it. She would probably never see Michael again.

Unable to keep her feet, she lay back on the bed and buried her face in the pillow hoping to deaden the sound of her sobs. But the night before rushed from the sheets with the scent of him, making her heart ache all the more; making her tears flow harder and with more force.

A few minutes later she heard the door open and looked up to see Michael standing above her.

"Sara.."

His one spoken word sent her in motion and she was in his arms in a breath. He held her tightly, his arms telling her the lie that he would never let go. But she knew this for what it was. It was goodbye.

"Oh, Michael! I can't do this! I can't!" Her words left her lips to crush the silence.

And then his mouth was on hers, his sweet lips saying with tenderness what he couldn't voice.

She felt his fingers stroking her face gently and then he was pulling back from her to meet her eyes with his own. She looked deeply into the tear filled eyes she loved so much and the only words she could bring forth fell from her lips.

"I will always love you, Michael. And somehow we will be together again. There has to be a way."

Michael nodded. "I know this can't be it for us, Sara. I love you so much!"

And then his mouth met hers again, this time more desperate more unwilling to settle for less than all she could give. She put everything, all of what she felt for him in that one kiss and hoped it would be enough to sustain them.

And then a knock sounded on the door shattering the moment, pulling them apart to look once more into the other's eyes.

Sara made herself let him go, her heart still holding on even as her fingers left his skin.

She made herself not look at him, she knew she couldn't if she were to actually do this.

And then grabbing her things from the floor where she had dropped them she went to open it and tell Aldo she was ready to leave.

(Chapter End Notes:)

(This isn't the end of the story, even though it might seem so.)