Serenity never backed down, it took Michael back as she came at him, hands curled into fists.  Tensing as each struck she only hit muscle, the concentration on her face, the furrowed line across her brow gave her a serious edge that made him step back.  He moved in a tight circle on the path, each of Serenity's fists felt more than heard above the trees and birds in the bucolic scene around them.  Shadows and light played over Serenity giving the hair a bright lustre, the bright blue eyes inside the dark make up were flaring.<br/><br/>Finding it almost comical, he kept from laughing, knowing that would piss her off even more.<br/><br/>"I sent out a letter to Callie and to you," stepping back with each word that drew her on, giving a warning glance to the others who passed by and avoided them.  "Callie's came back unopened, and I never got a reply from you.  I waited, then it just seemed too long to try again," shrugging as he stopped and let her beat on him.  It probably hurt her worse than it did him.<br/><br/>"After awhile I never thought I'd come back so it just seemed easier to put it all in the past," Michael wanted to be angry at her.  At the whole situation, but it seemed ridiculous.  Two of the people he cared for most at one time were back, and it was like they had all drifted so far apart they were not the same anymore.  He had always cared about Serenity, keeping others from bothering her, though she never knew it.  He had liked her, they were close when he needed someone close.<br/><br/>"I don't want to dredge up the past," the words come out as he stood.  With Serenity it had always been different, she had taught him to not take shit.  To let it all slide, and he used all of that now.  Looking down at her, wanting to find some connection, taking her hands in his as she swung at him, held her hands close.  "I don't know why I came back, I didn't have to, it was probably a stupid idea to try and recall all those summers."  He held her a moment, letting the anger wash away, replaced by a sadness of many lost years.<br/><br/>The words came out slowly, like a breath, "just one, last time."