We both know I shouldn't be here
This is wrong
And baby it's killing me, it's killing you
Both of us trying to be strong

"Michael, what are you doing here?" she asked, as she opened the window. His expression said nothing, but it never did.

"I need to talk to you," he replied, climbing in. He looked around the room, uncomfortable.

"Um, okay. What about?" she asked, sitting back on her bed. She patted the covers next to her. He chose to remain standing.

"Isabel's pregnant." Her eyes widened. Before she could say anything, he continued. "It's mine."

I've got somewhere else to be
Promises to keep
Someone else who loves me
And trusts me fast asleep
I've made up my mind
There's no turning back
She's been good to me
And she deserves better than this

"What?" she breathed. She couldn't have heard that right.

"We think it's from these dreams we've been having, you know?" he started to move around the room.

"Dreams? You think?" Maria replied. She was going to keep her cool. Let him explain first, then kill him.

"We've been having dreams about each other, and we think she got pregnant from it," he said.

"There's no chance it could be Alex's?" she asked.

"She never...you know," he replied, uncomfortably.

It's the hardest thing
I'll ever have to do
To look you in the eyes
And tell you I don't love you
It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to lie
To show no emotion
When you start to cry

"So where does this leave us?" she asked, quietly.

He shrugged. "Nowhere. I mean there wasn't anything between us but some make-out sessions, you know?" he said. He forced himself to look her in the eye as he said it. He saw the pain appear in her eyes as she processed his statement.

"That's all I was to you?" she asked.

He wanted to say no. That she represented everything he could never have. But he couldn't. To save both of them, he had to lie.

"I guess. I never really thought about it," he said, shrugging again. It was a good thing he had experience being a stonewall.

I can't let you see what you mean to me
When my hands are tied
And my heart's not free
We're not meant to be

"I mean, you're a different species than I am. It wasn't going to be anything." Oh, those words stung the most. He could see her reaction as they hit.

"D-does Alex know?" she asked. Keep it simple.

"Isabel's telling him now."

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do
To turn around and walk away
Pretending I don't love you

"Poor Alex," she mused. That's good. Think of Alex's suffering. Not yours.

"I don't even know why I'm here," he said.

She looked him in the eyes. "Don't you?" she asked, softly.

I know we'll meet again
Fate has a place and time
So you can get on with your life
I've got to be cruel to be kind

"No, I just--- I guess I figured that since Izzy was telling Alex, Max was telling Liz, someone should tell you."

"Michael, why are you here?"

"I told you--"

"No, you knew Liz or Alex would tell me. You would never go out of your way to tell me anything if I didn't mean something."

Like Dr. Zhivago
All my love I'll be sending
And you will never know
'Cause there can be no happy ending

"I just thought you'd like to hear it from me. Excuse me for being sensitive for once," he replied, defensively. Good, get angry.

"I would if I thought was it."

"Look, I've got to get going..."

"If this is it, why can't you just be honest with me?" her voice was small.

"Maria ... you don't need to hear the reasons, okay?"

"Maybe I do."

"Maybe I don't want to give them."

"Maybe you just did."

Maybe another time, another day
As much as I want to, I can't stay

"Maria..."

"I love you Michael."

"Don't say that."

"No, you need to hear that. Because I love you, I can let you go," she said softly. For a second she thought he'd stay...with her not, not Isabel. But the second was gone, and he was leaving. For good this time.

He wanted say it back. But he knew if he did, he'd never be able to let go of her. Of the dream that he had of the two of them together. So, he had to settle for just nodding and going to the window.

I've made up my mind
There is no turning back
She's been good to me
And she deserves better than that

"Bye, Maria," he said, ducking out to get back onto the street. He disappeared into the night.

"Goodbye, Michael," Maria said.

It's the hardest thing
I'll ever have to do
To look you in the eyes
And tell you I don't love you
It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to lie
To show no emotion
When you start to cry
I can't let you see what you mean to me
When my hands are tied
And my heart's not free
We're not meant to be
It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do
To turn around and walk away
Pretending I don't love you

She closed the window.

* * *