[citation needed] Marston later returned to the series in a storyline in which Al's "spirit" helped Michael change his selfish ways and win Marcie's heart.

However, after John had Rex and Michael held overnight in a holding cell for questioning because he believed they were hiding something and wondered what the two could possibly be keeping secret between them, they talked it out and discovered that neither of them had killed Truman.

He skipped bail when he went to Paris, Texas with Charlie Banks in order to try to find Marcie (who had left town with Tommy after Todd had been awarded custody of his son, whom he called Sam).

Michael suspected that Todd would attempt to thwart the adoption and feared that Marcie could not survive losing another child.

When Starr gave birth on November 6, 2008, Todd had intended to kidnap the child and raise it in secret but changed his mind at the last minute.

Seven months later, the truth about the baby switch came out and Hope was returned on June 5, 2009;[6] Michael and Marcie finally assumed a few days later.

[8] Michael tells Marcie about an exciting job offer at Seattle Grace Hospital, and they decide to leave Llanview and start over.