Mike was standing there in the music store browsing CD's when when the song came on. He recognized her voice right away. She sounded good. At first he was only half listening to the lyrics, but he soon realized that she was singing to him. He was rooted to the floor. This was the Eleven he remembered. This sounded like his Pixie.

After a few minutes he noticed that everyone in the music store was standing still listening to the song. They had been captivated by her voice. That wasn't unusual, Mike knew, but everyone looked sad.

The song was an apology to him. Everyone knew it, he saw that one girl was looking at him a little strangely, probably because he had tears flowing down his cheeks. He couldn't help it. El wasn't just singing to him, she was pouring out her soul, and she was taking her time doing it. It felt like the song had gone on for an hour. The last words he heard were half whispered and half sung:

Your Pixie is back

Eleven Loves you.

Please come home

...please, Mike.

Not more than a second after that, like she'd been holding back through the entire song, the heart wrenching sobs started. Mike could only take so much of that. He had to leave the store. He found out much later that there was close to fifteen minutes of deep crying. It's no wonder he was seeing people crying in the streets. The song was getting heavy rotation.

He had to go see her, she was calling to him in the song. Maybe it wasn't over for them yet? It was coming up on a year since he'd last seen her. It seemed a lot longer without her. He was torn. What if nothing had changed? Clearly she was sincere while recording this song. There was no way she could have that kind of emotion and not have felt it.

Mike was more conflicted then he'd ever been in his life. He was already an empty husk. He hadn't seen any of his friends or family the entire time. He hadn't done anything. He didn't watch any TV. He had done absolutely nothing related to music. Not listening or playing. If El no longer loved him… he couldn't go there. Fear was the mind killer.

There was a chill in the air as he walked. He no longer had a car, and it was the quickest way he could think of. He didn't really feel like talking to anybody today. Nobody but El. If that was even going to happen. He was holding on to the promise of the song.

Mike was truly scared that it was all over between them. Something obviously affected the way she felt about him.

It was going to be a lonely walk back if nothing had changed.

But… that song, he held on to hope.

XXXXX

"Open the door El."

"Fuck off."

Max took out the keys Hopper had given her and manually unlocked every lock. She was pissed.

"Don't make me throw you out." El gave her an evil glare.

"I can't stop you. I came all the way from California to help you. Sounds like you don't want any help. Not from me. Not from Mike, for fuck's sake. What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"Nothing. I'm more clear headed than I've ever been."

"You're serious? You need help. You need to see a doctor."

"I need you to get the fuck out of my life."

Max held up her hands. "Done. You know what. Don't care either. Last thing I'm saying as a friend. You must have needed the guy you loved to get the fuck out of your life too." Max looked around. Cause I don't see him around. How you could do that to Mike? You will never find a guy who loves you like Mike does. Never. It's not just your face and neck that are scarred. It's your heart." Max shook her head.

"Are you leaving now?" El smirked.

"Fuck this shit. Yes I am. You can be a cunt all by yourself. Glad it's working out for you. I'm sure if Mike were the least bit interested in talking to you he said you aren't so pretty on the inside anymore. Good job fucking that one up. You and I are done until you get your shit together."

Max turned and walked out giving her the finger.

XXXXX

Mike used the knock on the door. All the locks unlatched simultaneously.

He walked in.

El was sitting on the sofa, she had just put her book down, and had her hands clasped in her lap. Her head was down. She didn't say anything.

Mike walked over and sat on the sofa sideways facing her. Her hair was in her trademark short Pixie cut. Mike thought it looked really cute on her. Even with the scar she was beautiful.

In a very small voice, she said, "I wasn't sure I'd ever see you again."

"I heard the song a few hours ago. How could I not come back?"

"It was the only way I knew to reach you."

She was quiet again. For a lot longer than Mike was comfortable with. She still wasn't herself.

"I'm sorry Mike. It's the medication I'm on."

"Medication. Are you ok?"

"I was diagnosed as being bipolar. They used to call it manic-depressive. The last time you saw me… was a bad day for me."

"Me too, El."

"What I did to you was unforgivable."

"No, El…"

She held up her hand, her head still down, "Let me get this out Mike, before I fall apart completely."

"What I did was unforgivable. It wasn't me Mike. You know that."

Mike could see the heavy tears dropping from her eyes onto her lap. She sniffed.

"I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to cut your losses and end our relationship. It's been almost a year, if you've found someone else..."

"Hold out your arm, El…"

El held out her arm with her tattoo. Mike pulled out the torn shirt, the same one she had thrown in his face. He tied it around her wrist.

He held her hand. "I wasn't unfaithful… If you still want to be my Pixie, then…" he slipped his ring back on her finger.

El was able to say, "I've wanted to hear you call me that for months…," then the awling started. She raised her arms to put around his neck and let go a years' worth of torment.

XXXXX

"Sounds like Max really let you have it.?"

"You should have seen her. I've never seen her that mad before.

"What finally got you to make an appointment with a doctor?"

El averted her eyes. "When she told me what you would say. That hurt a lot. I guess that got through to me."

"Do you think you could have been diagnosed earlier?"

"Yeah, you've seen what I'm like... will… will you be staying?"

"If you are asking if I'm sleeping with my Pixie tonight at home, then yes. I'm staying. I feel like the numbness is starting to wear off. I expect to have a crying jag, when it does."

"When it does Mike. It's hugs to sniffles. You don't have to worry about me… anymore. I just want to settle down again with you. That last album took a lot out of me and I knew I had to finish it if I ever hoped to see you again… even then… I wasn't sure at all. That's why I put everything I had into it."

XXXXX

RMTV: We are talking to El Wheeler again. Thankfully again. And as you can see she is here with Mike. Can we ask what happened?

EW: [looking shy and very subdued] My life fell apart. I suffer from a mental illness, and it finally hit its peak when I forced my soulmate out of my life. I didn't even know that was the worst day of my life until months later.

RMTV: But you've turned it around. And now you are the spokesperson for people with a mental illnesses?

EW: Yes. I think I'm becoming the poster girl for everything that can go wrong in a girl's life.

RMTV: What's next for you two?

EW: Alone time. This last album was the most draining of all I've done. I had to do everything on my own. Well, I guess I didn't have to, but I wanted to. I'm done with the music for a little bit. Not saying forever, but for now… at least until I miss it too much. [she smiles at Mike] I need to appreciate the people who love me, the friends I have. That's the most important thing. I need to let them back into my life.

RMTV: So you've not reconciled with everyone yet?

EW: Mike was the first. I had to know my foundation, my reason for being… still wanted me, still loved me. Without that… I'm nothing. [El lowers her head into her hands and starts to cry]

[Mike, of course, gathers her into his arms. You can hear him whispering, "It's ok Pixie."]