Disclaimer: None of this is mine. Kaelie's wonderful fic inspired this, and I'm just borrowing from L. Frank Baum and C. S. Lewis (radishes to anyone who can find my C. S. Lewis allusion *g*). Thanks for the wonderful works, all three of you. :)

There was warmth around her. And laughter. And smiling faces--smiles that touched not just the mouth, but the eyes too of the people she loved. And they were all there. All of them. The scarecrow, the cowardly lion, and her own spiky-haired tinman.

"Am I in Oz?"

And he smiled that old sardonic grin of his. "No, you cheesehead. Do you see any midgets running around, representing the Lollipop League?"

She reached out to touch him, but she couldn't quite bring herself to do it. Too many years of dreams never quite remembered, too many mornings laying awake, disappointed in a cold bed. Too many 3 ams, wondering what might've been, growing old together, watching the years pass together. She was tired of wondering what sounds children might've made in the garden behind her small house. But he looked so real, and he sounded...

"Maria!" And arms were flung about her, having every bit of their youthful strength. The dark head that rested on her shoulder had no hint of grey, and somehow, Time's touches had been erased from the still beautiful face. Dark silk hair, dark doe eyes, and that smile that had meant her best friend since they were small... Her arms tightened around Liz, squeezing every bit of life out of her body. Her Glenda the Good.

And the third musketeer, no longer careworn. His blue eyes sparkled, and the million-watt grin had returned to his face. Her faithful Toto and James Bond all rolled up into one, though she'd never tell him that. He gave her his dodgeball thumbs up and grin before swinging her around. Her best friends. Two that she loved the most in life.

And the other three were there...Isabel, who'd acquired a brain, who'd acquired a soul that allowed the lonely straw scarecrow girl to live. She was more beautiful than ever, her kiss feather-light on Maria's cheek. And Max, the cowardly Lion, who'd never had the true courage in life to live the way he wanted to. Max, who held Liz as close as he could, as if he'd never let her go again. Max, whose unearthly beautiful golden-brown eyes shone with a light that blinded--the light of love that beats time and space and all that lies between.

And her tinman, her spaceboy who hid behind a wall of stone... He stood there, blinking rapidly as he always did, one hand running itself through his wild hair as he tried to speak. But time hadn't taught Michael to talk. His lips just moved as they usually did. The look on his face was worth infinite words though...the infinite words she needed. Her tinman had finally found the heart he wanted. And maybe she'd be allowed to enjoy it now, in this place beyond time, where only love existed.

"Maria." His arms were open, waiting. "Cheesehead..."

Maybe neither of them had broken their promise after all. Maybe it was just that they weren't destined to be together on one side of life. Michael had come back to her in spirit, not in flesh, but they could still renew their love every day for the rest of eternity. Because, as another lion had once said, life was only the preface, and the greatest adventure was just beginning.

And Maria found herself in her love's arms, holding him tight. He smelled the same as he always had--the odd mix of Tabasco and slightly musty clothes that never saw a dryer. And his arms wrapped about her as tightly as every night they'd slept together. And he was warm...and real.

She held up her hand, taking one of the silver rings off her finger, and sliding it onto the ring finger on his left hand, where he'd always worn it. "I kept my promise, Michael."

He smiled that soft smile that no one ever really saw, and kissed her gently. "And I kept mine."

Ever after. That was the time that they had now, in a place beyond life where all promises were kept.

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