Michelle paused at the foot of the stairs, wavering slightly where she stood. Alex offered a steadying hand but she pushed away and tottered to her parents, falling into their supportive arms. Dylan held her but Tallia was a river of questions and motherly demands. Alex laughed softly as Tallia asked Michelle when she had changed her clothes and when she had last brushed her hair, all the while smoothing the girl's knotted locks and placing kisses on her brow.

Only then did Alex see his parents, and he rushed to them with sudden longing for their touch. He went first to his mother and then his father, hugging and kissing both.

"You couldn't have come at a better time," sighed Alex. He lowered his voice and glanced towards Michelle. "Today is the first day she's been sociable in a week and a half. She wouldn't talk to anyone, not Tallia, not me. But today-" Alex paused and smiled to himself. "Today she finally released him.

"Tallia and Dylan asked me to try one more time to get through to her but when I went up there she had tear stains on her cheeks." He looked soberly at his parents. "That was the first outward sign of grieving she's shown."

Denise reached up to ruffle her son's hair and then walked to Michelle, offering the warmth of her hug. The girl accepted and soon was being held by four adults, all trying to give her whatever support they could.

Eventually, Tallia excused herself and her daughter, inviting the Rave's to make themselves comfortable. Alex could only guess at the intensive cleansing that Michelle was about to undertake - both physically and spiritually.

Eric followed Dylan into the kitchen to fix everyone something warm to eat while Denise drew Alex down onto the couch beside her.

"What happened to her, honey?" There was true concern in his mother's voice.

Alex hesitated only a second before explaining to his mom about Aaron's death and how Michelle had held him in her arms when he passed on. Denise grew increasingly upset as the tale was recounted.

"So she just didn't accept the fact that he was gone?"

Alex shook his head. "It was that and it was something else. She refused - flat out refused - to acknowledge what had happened. . . First she only withdrew from us but then she started neglecting herself." His brown eyes grew dark with concern. "I can't even tell you the last time she had a full meal in her."

"Poor dear," murmured the older woman. "All the turmoil that she must have been going through. . ." Denise glanced at her son. "How've you been holding up, honey? I know you liked Aaron too."

Shrugging, Alex tried to explain that with all of his worrying over Michelle, he'd not allowed himself to grieve. His mother only squeezed him against her ample bosom, kissing his hair. A smile slowly creased her face.

"One you are for secrets, Alex. How long have they known that we were moving out here?"

An embarrassed flush crept down his neck. "Since a few days after I arrived," he replied, his voice thick with chagrin. "We were all excited from getting Spirit that I just blurted it out."

"Who's Spirit? Did Dylan get a new horse?" Eric looked questioningly at his son.

The boy cast a desperate glance at his host but Dylan just grinned at him. "Tell them, son. They'll find out soon enough anyway."

"Well, see you have to understand that it was due to the circumstances and the fact that I couldn't let that little guy get eaten by those stinking coyotes. So I brought him home and have been training him." All of this was said in a rush, practically below his breath. Both of his parent's brows were pulled down in concentration, trying to puzzle out what their son had said. Eric was the first to decipher Alex's words and when he did, his eyes grew and his mouth dropped open.

"Are you telling us that you have a horse?"

Nodding, Alex went on to explain. "He's just a colt and when coyotes began to chase the band, he fell behind. The mongrels were closing on him so I rode down and scooped him up; I just couldn't let him die.

"So now I'm training him. Or, actually, Michelle is training me and Spirit." Alex grinned. "You've got to see him. He's beautiful. He's black and white with one blue eye-"

"And they're both very good pupils," interjected a voice from the stairs. Alex looked up and jumped to his feet, smiling broadly at his fiancée.

Michelle's long brown hair was freshly damp and her skin glowed as it hadn't since Aaron's death. Her blue eyes were alight with a dancing sparkle once more and the girl's laughter met hungry ears. Tallia stood behind her, a steadying hand beneath her daughter's elbow, and a motherly look full of pride on her face. Carefully, the still weak girl made her way down the remaining steps, her mother watching her every wobble.

Without incident, Michelle arrived in the living room and Alex vacated his spot on the couch just as Michelle lost her footing. With a small cry she fell onto the cushy sofa, smiling up at her beloved in thanks.

"Thank you, Alex," she murmured. Then she patted the space next to her, inviting him to sit down.

As he made himself comfortable, Michelle apologized for the scene she made before.

"I'm really sorry that I wasn't in better shape to greet you, Mr. and Mrs. Rave, but," she hesitated, "I've been less than myself lately."

Denise waved it away. "Under the circumstances, it's understandable, dear. Are you feeling better now?"

For a brief second, the girl's blue eyes darkened and her chin quivered. Then, with a deep breath, she smiled, albeit weakly. "I think I'm doing okay now. Thank you for asking," she accepted graciously. "It just hit me hard, I guess. I thought Aaron was this immortal presence that would always be there for me and I realized as I held his head in my arms that he was only human. Only human, just like me." Her voice trailed off and a single tear dropped from her chin to her lap.

A silence descended upon the room as the gift of life was contemplated by each person. No one ever thinks of himself dying. No one wants to think of his friends dying. Yet when such a situation is thrust beneath one's face, it can't help but change all those affected.

Aaron's death drove home to all those in the room that this would not last forever; nothing would last forever. Michelle was determined to make whatever she was given count. She fiercely clutched Alex's hand, squeezing his fingers to the point of numbness.

Curiously, he looked down at her and the love shining forth from her eyes took her breath away. The love and the determination that he saw in the very depths of the sky blue orbs.

Their love-induced reverie was disrupted by Tallia's voice.

"So, are you all set up in your new home or would you like to stay here until you're all settled in?" Her tone indicated that she would willingly open her home to them and with grateful nods, they accepted her offer.

Eric tapped his son on the shoulder as he passed, suggesting that he help in bringing the bags in the house. Reluctantly, Alex moved from beside his beloved, brushing his lips against her head as he left the room.

Dylan and Tallia watched their daughter, waiting for any signs that her strength was flagging.

"Have you and Alex decided when to tell his parents?" Dylan asked.

His daughter looked startled, but she knew exactly to what he was referring. She suddenly became uneasy with her new position as Alex's fiancée, faced with another explanation to unassuming adults. Her shoulders slumped and a sigh escaped her lips.

"I don't know. We haven't even talked about it yet," she said softly. "You wouldn't be willing-?" Her tone was hopeful, her eyebrows lifting with anxiety.

Almost unanimously, her parents cut down her chance for escape. "Absolutely not. You and Alex felt you were adult enough to get engaged so you must assume all the responsibilities that go along with that step up in life." Dylan looked firmly at Michelle. "We will not bail you out of this, Michelle. You shouldn't have even asked." Tallia nodded her emphatic assent.

Resignedly, the girl smiled. "I figured as much. I shouldn't have asked; you're right." Her words began to slur together from lack of sleep.

"Okay, up to bed," Tallia demanded. Michelle began to protest that the Raves had just arrived but after a few futile words her mother got that no nonsense look about her mouth and Michelle trudged meekly up the stairs.

A conspicuous rumbling issued forth from Michelle's stomach and she smiled sheepishly at her mother. "Will I be getting any of the delicious smelling spaghetti I smell cooking downstairs?" she inquired hopefully.

With a chuckle Tallia helped her daughter back into bed, tucking the covers up under her chin. "Now I know you're back to us. Always a fan of your daddy's spaghetti, weren't you?"

"Don't tell me that it wasn't one of the reasons you married him," teased Michelle.

Tallia snorted. "If I'd married your father for his cooking, it would have been a sorry day. He had other attributes that I admired." She gave a randy wink to her open-mouthed daughter. "Surprised?"

After a moment the girl smiled. "Not at all. So am I going to get some spaghetti?" she asked again.

"Yes. I'll send Alex up with it and give you two one more night together before he's a slave to his new home." Tallia grinned. "I was a young girl in love once too, Michelle," she reminded her eldest.

Smiling gently, Michelle replied, "Aren't you still?"

"My dear Michelle. I'm so glad you came back to us." Tallia hugged her daughter tightly and then exited the room, once more promising to bring up the desired pasta.

Michelle closed her eyes, listening to the sounds of people moving around down stairs. She heard the door open and close numerous times. They must be bringing in their baggage, she thought. A smile tweaked her mouth at the thought of them being so close now. Her smile grew broader as muffled thuds moved nearer up the stairs.

The door opened to find her adjusting the pillows behind her head, allowing her to look at the visitor without straining. Alex's somber face greeted her shining smile and he closed the door behind him, setting the food on the chair beside Michelle's bed.

"Thank you, Alex," she murmured, hungrily moving the food to her lap. The last full meal she could remember was the day of Aaron's- Her thoughts shied away from that memory, turning instead to the steaming plate before her. With a carefulness that belied Michelle's desire to hurriedly finish off the food, she began to eat. Every bite was monitored by Alex's watchful gaze, his brows pulling down threateningly when she paused to take a breath.

Finally, the sated girl wiped her lips clean of any residual crumbs from the garlic toast and removed the tray from her lap.

"Did my mother tell you to make sure that I ate everything?" Michelle teased.

The boy's cheeks flushed every so slightly but he grinned at her gentle jibe. "Yeah, she did. Her exact words were, 'I don't want a single crumb left on that plate.'" He eyed the once full tray. "You might want to clean off the plate; I don't want to get scolded."

Michelle feigned annoyance. "If you don't stop mother henning, you'll get worse than scolded."

His eyebrows lifted with faint surprise. "And what could you possibly do to me in your weakened state?"

Her thoughts whirled furiously. "I'll tell my mother that you ate my dinner for me so that you wouldn't get in trouble when I wasn't as hungry as she thought."

Alex only grinned. "Is that so?"

"It is," she replied archly.

"Hmmm," Alex rested his chin on his fist thoughtfully, "what ever will I do?"

"You could kiss me," Michelle suggested, arching her brow coyly.

"Now, that I can do." With a week's worth of passion their lips met and left the two breathless when they parted. Alex cupped Michelle's thin face in his hands, running his thumbs over her lips. "I'm so glad you're back," he whispered.