Michelle sat in the driveway steeling herself for the enviable fight she knew was to come. Both her head and heart spoke of how out of line she had been with her father. Yet at the time there had been no other way of handling the fury that consumed her. The disappointment that she felt for her father was getting harder and harder to hide.

Gently opening the front door, Michelle saw the thin strip of light filtering from under the door to Ed Bauer's study. Shutting the door behind her, Michelle loudly placed her keys on the foyer table. This was to ensure that he knew that she had returned home. Yet there wasn't even so much as a stir from the other side of the door. Michelle was filled with relief and frustration that her father hadn't found it necessary to finish their earlier confrontation. She climbed the long staircase to her room knowing that things in the house were to never be the same.

On the other side of the study door Ed Bauer sat crying as he gazed into the one and only photo that he had kept of his wife. Maureen had been a beautiful bride. He knew what a lucky man he had been in finding her. Maureen hadn't been the bride that his family would have chosen, but to Ed that had made no difference.

She was wonderful lighting up every room that she ever walked into. Ed had met her when he was just a junior partner. They were an unlikely pair. She was an activist while Ed was a conformist at heart. Maureen had been demonstrating against a project that the firm he worked for was doing their best to push through the Clayton City Council. A senior partner and himself were doing their best to stress all the positive features that the project would bring to that part of town, the main being many needed jobs. Maureen however saw it as but another way for Clayton to be taken advantage of. Over the years she had watched company upon company, the sewage plant, the coke works and the landfills that littered the area do the very same thing all in the name of hopes of something better. Maureen had finally had enough and organized a group against this particular endeavor.

She hit Ed where he lived and breathed from their first encounter. She wasn't about to let him use any of his political legal-ezz to put one over on her community. She fought the good fight and to everyone's amazement won. She and her little group had been successful in stopping a multi-million dollar project dead in its tracks. Ed was more then angered at first, yet the more time he spent listening to her the move he found himself secretly willing her to win. Maureen had thought she had seen the last of Ed Bauer upon the projects defeat but a month or so later he found his way back to her.

In the time they had spent apart, Ed hadn't been able to remove Maureen from his mind. He asked her on a date and she accepted much to his surprise. He was sure of what her opinion of him had once been, or at least he thought he knew.

Maureen was quick to correct him by saying that they needn't see eye to eye on everything to enjoy one another's company. Their romance was one that was quick. Ed knew the different backgrounds that they came from but the pull to have her in his life was a strong one, so strong in fact he couldn't let her go.

Maureen kept Ed grounded in reality. They were soon married and had a child. He had taken his fair share of ribbing regarding his choice of a wife but none of that mattered. He knew in his heart that he could never have done any better then Maureen.

She had stayed true to her activist ways all throughout their marriage. She was a strong willed woman with convictions on just about every subject. In the beginning that hadn't presented too much problem for Ed, but as he climbed the corporate ladder his wife's out spoken nature was a thorn in his side. He made every attempt to overlook it but when she ventured into the juvenile sector, that's where Ed thought he needed to draw the line. He knew she put herself in danger every time she walked out the door and went to work.

Ed should have known better then to dissuade his wife. It hadn't worked all those years before and it hadn't worked not even on the day she died. They had had a huge fight that morning him leaving for work on a very sour note. Ed had said some terrible things to Maureen, things that he would never get the chance to apologize for. That day at work he had picked up the phone on numerous occasions to call her and say he was sorry, but each time something pressing came across his desk and he hadn't been able to do so. Ed thought off handedly that they would talk that evening and things would eventually be resolved. To his horror she never came home that night. Maureen Bauer died in the trauma unit of the ER before he was even able to say good-bye.

His last words to his wife haunted him to this very day. He had removed all things reminded him of his wife in the days following her funeral. He couldn't bare to look at her collectibles, her books and certainly not her pictures. It ate away at him everyday that the last thing Maureen heard from his mouth was that he was sorry her had ever married her. The thought of it again sent a new tide of tears falling down his cheeks.

Ed most certainly knew he was losing his daughter to the same world that he had lost his wife without a clue of what to do next.

Michelle was shocked that the next morning nothing was mentioned of their argument or the fact she hadn't come home until well past midnight. It was almost like it hadn't even happened only serving to reinforce her opinion of her father. And how he was more concerned with how they appeared to the outside world rather then how the functioned inside the wall of their own home.

Each day was a struggle for Michelle to function. Finally turning a corner with Danny she was now facing the formidable hurdle of her father. Absently she wondered if she was ever going to catch a break.

Michelle sat in study hall making a worthless attempt at committing the requires lines of the play to memory knowing the Miss James was expecting them to be doing run throughs without holding the script.

"Hey," Parker said positioning himself in the seat along side of her.

"Hi," his presence startled her.

"You think you might have time to go over lines with me before practice?"

"I don't know," she sighed, "I'm not having much luck at it myself. I doubt I would be that big of a help to you."

"Come on, you're a whiz at everything you do." Even for Parker Michelle knew this was laying it on a bit thick. "I talked to Miss James and she said that any of us could use the theater during study halls to get some extra practice in. I thought since we both have one now we could take advantage of it."

"I don't know," Michelle hesitated uneasy about being alone with Parker. She couldn't shake the nagging feeling that there was more here then met the eye.

"I promise you…NO FUNNY STUFF. Just working on the play, that's it." Parker held his arms up in the air as if he were surrendering to the enemy.

"I guess I could use the extra practice," she relented not wanting to be the laughing stock of practice that afternoon.

"Great! I'll let coach know that we are leaving."

Michelle and Parker spent the next few days of study halls practicing in the theater. Much to Michelle's surprise they were accomplishing a great deal on their scenes. She actually was starting to lose that firmiliar sense of dread she had every time she saw Parker. Michelle's heart belonged totally to Danny Santos, but it was nice to feel less afraid of Parker Simms.

He watched Michelle make her way out of the theater. His plan was working perfectly. Slowly he was gaining her trust. It galled him to be giving her the upper hand at the moment, yet he reminded himself that the was a purpose for everything. Soon Michelle Bauer would regret the day she ever thought she could make a fool of him.

"Hey Hunter, wait up a minute," Michelle called.

"Hello," Hunter returned coolly. She and Michelle had barely spoken since the day that she had given her portion of their project to Michelle.

"I am on my own for dinner tonight," Michelle offered.

"And?"

"I was thinking that maybe you would like to come over and we could cook together. You know the way we used to."

"Why?"

"Just thinking we could spend sometime together." Hunter's less then enthusiastic response had Michelle rethinking her offer.

"What nothing better to do?" Hunter retorted.

"Listen if you don't want to just say so. Spare me the sarcasm okay?"

Hunter mulled over the idea in her mind deciding that spending evening with her once friend was better then being alone. Thad had to be at Springfield University that night to finalize his early admittance.

"I guess," she relented.

Michelle bit her tongue as not to let the words don't do me any favors fall from her lips.

"Then what do you say about meeting me at my house around five o'clock?"

"Sure."

"Bring a recipe with you. I will find one of Meta's specialties."

"Sure whatever. I have to go." Hunter countered seeing Thad emerge from the science labs.

Michelle leaned against the row of lockers torn between being glad Hunter accepted her invitation and worrying about it. Her need for a little girl talk won out. She wasn't able to deny the history that she and Hunter shared. Michelle rationalized that it was normal for people to go off in different directions while remaining friends.

She had some time before her and Hunter would be cooking the evening away so Michelle set off in the direction of CONNECTION VILLAGE. With the busy schedule the play was forcing her to keep, Michelle hadn't seen Danny in days and she missed him terribly.

"Hello Stacey," Michelle said leaning over the front counter, "Have you seen Danny?"

"Yeah he's out back.'

"Thanks," Michelle walked away.

"Hey wait a sec. I think you should talk to Malcolm first."

"Why?" Michelle said suddenly recalling the disastrous events that Liza had been witness to a few days ago.

"Shall we say that Liza's on her broom again?" Stacey tried not to smile.

"GREAT!"

"What the hell happened between the two of you the other day?" Stacey asked cautiously.

"To make a long story short," Michelle sighed, "She was less then thrilled that Danny preferred talking to me rather then her."

"I'd say you put that mildly. She's been reading Malcolm the riot act for days now."

"SHIT!" Michelle said softly, "Is Malcolm mad then I guess."

"I don't think so. I know that he and Danny have already talked. Apparently he must be pretty much over whatever it is that happened. It's Liza who's the one having a hard time with it."

"Thanks for the heads up. If you see Danny before me could you let him know I am here?"

"Sure. By the way how'd the date go?" she asked. Michelle's face instantly was filled with a happy grin. "That's the same response I got out of Danny too. I can assume that all went well?"

"Yeah, I think it's safe to say that."

"Come in," Malcolm answered Michelle's knocking.

"Hi, Stacey said you wanted to see me," Michelle said hesitantly.

"Yes," she wasn't able to read his expression. If he was happy or unhappy with her she was unable to tell. "Here read this." He pushed Danny's file across his desk to her.

Before her was the account of what had taken place between her, Danny and Liza the other night. Apparently Danny had come to Malcolm and told him everything. She was shocked to even see that he had made mention of his and Michelle's deal of talking before his running off half cocked.

"Did I do something wrong?" Michelle questioned. "I thought that's what you wanted me to do….to be his friend."

"No Michelle, you did an excellent job." Michelle felt the breath she had been holding slowly escape from her chest. "I just really wanted to thank you. It's obvious that you and Danny have a strong bond forming. That's exactly what he needs."

"I am sorry that we offended Liza. I didn't mean for that to happen. I was scared. I didn't want to screw up again and she was the only one here."

"Don't be worried about Liza. I can handle her. It's you that I am rather impressed with. You're mom would be proud as well."

"Thank you." Michelle gushed at the compliment. "So what did Danny say when you told him that I was helping you with his case?" she asked determined to be certain that she and Danny encountered the least amount of bumps along their way.

"He was cool," Malcolm said without ever looking directly at Michelle. He didn't like the fact that he was being less then honest with her and Danny for that matter but he couldn't risk telling Danny his plan and losing him through the cracks. He knew Danny well enough to be sure the had he had any inkling that Michelle was even remotely tied to his efforts he would shut down all over again. He knew that if that happened again his hand would be forced and turning Danny over to the juvenile authorities would no longer be his decision to make. He had no intention of letting that happen.

"Great. Well speaking of Danny I should go find him before I have to head home."

"You should find him out back. I have him making some repairs to a few bookshelves."

"Thanks. Talk to you later."

"Guess who?" she asked covering Danny's eyes from behind with her hands.

"Stop that!" again there was a coolness to his tone that Michelle didn't pick up on.

"Come on guess," she continued to play.

"ENOUGH MICHELLE!!" he barked shoving her hands away from his face.

"Danny???" she was shocked by his abruptness, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing!?!?!" she echoed, "It seems like a hell of a lot more then nothing to me. A few days ago we were closer then any two people I know and suddenly today you are acting like I'm the enemy."

"You said it, a few days ago."

"Huh???"

"I haven't heard from you in days."

Michelle was taken aback. This wasn't at all what she expected.

"Okay let's back up here. First let my just point out that you have a phone and you could just as well have called me. I didn't hear my phone ringing off the hook in your attempt to get in touch with me," Michelle said her anger growing like a wild fire out of control, "Do you see me jumping down your throat? Secondly, I got the damn lead in our production of WEST SIDE STORY so forgive me if my afternoons are suddenly consumed with one practice or another. I didn't really get a chance to even tell you yet. Lastly I didn't' think that I needed to report my every move to you. I am sorry if you thought differently!" she seethed mad with herself for falling into her same old trap when it came to men. There she was apologizing yet again for something that she hadn't even done. For this relationship to work, she had to take a different approach all together.

"I was worried," Danny's voice much softer this time, "You were so freaked about having to go home and face your dad. I just thought……" his words trailed off.

"Thought what?" she asked.

"I thought that maybe he had hurt you. You said he was pretty angry when you ran out. I know what would have happened to me. Then when I never heard from you again I started thinking the worst." Danny did his best to hide the tears forming in his eyes.

"Why didn't you call me then?" she questioned feeling horrible for the things she had just said. The baggage that both of them carried was going to make this relationship a hard one to pull off.

"I figured I'd only make things worse if I called."

"Danny," Michelle reached for his hand, "I know what you thought but really my homelife, even though right now it sucks, well it's nothing like yours. I know that I pushed my dad into a corner and that's why he hit me. I played all the angles just right with him. It was completely my fault. And you were right he didn't even bother to come out of his study, as a matter of fact he hasn't spoken to me. You don't have to worry about me, really," she stressed, "You think we might be able to start this over again?" she meekly smiled.

"I think so," he offered relieved in the fact that Michelle was safe and in his arms again, "So what are your up tonight?"

"Well I am making an attempt at dinner. That is my friend Hunter and I are," Michelle giggled, "You want to join us.?" Michelle asked before even realizing what she said.

"I don't think so……" he laughed, "You don't sound so sure about your cooking skills."

"I know I can cook it's Hunter that I'm not so sure about."

"Thanks but Malcolm has me booked swamped with things to get done around here. I'll have to take a rain check."

"You have to eat," Michelle said powerless to stop herself.

"I'll get something later."

"I could bring you some of what we make. That is if it's edible," Michelle laughed.

"If you want," he said looking forward to the chance of seeing her again that day.

"It's a date then. I'll swing by later with everything."

"So the lead in the play huh?" Danny grinned with pride.

"I came as a surprise to me too."

"Not to me. You'll make a perfect Maria."

"I hope so. I'll be back late with your dinner."

"Bye Michelle."

Danny watched as she disappeared into the building knowing fully that his heart completely belonged to Michelle Bauer.

Michelle heard a knock on the back door as she settled the pan of lasagna into the oven.

"Hi Hunter. So where is your recipe?" Michelle asked wiping her hands on a dishtowel.

"It's this Chinese dish. It's really good but I think we might need to go to the store. I doubt that even your Aunt Meta has some of this stuff lying around."

"Let me take a look at that recipe. I think you might be right," Michelle laughed, "Let me set the timer on the oven and we can go to the store."

"What did you make?" Hunter asked peeking through the glass in the oven door.

"Lasagna."

"Ohhhh my favorite."

"I know." Michelle purposely prepared a dish that she knew would be well received. "I'm glad that you decided to come over. It's been a long time since we had a girl's night. I have missed this." Michelle leaned in hugging her friend.

It took the pair a little over a half hour to collect all the ingredients needed for Hunter's recipe.

"How long does this take to make?" Michelle asked putting the grocery bags on the counter.

"Ah let me look," Hunter eyed the small card before her, "Says fifteen minutes."

"You are kidding me right? It took twice that long just to find what we are looking for."

"Fifteen minutes, that's it," Hunter repeated.

"I'll set the table while you get started," Michelle added opening the cupboard where the dishes were stored.

"Michelle, you and I both know that I am NOT the cook here. How about I set the table and you make this Chinese thing?" Hunter smiled slyly.

"I thought we were going to do this together," Michelle laughed.

"You want to be able to eat this dish right?"

"Yes."

"Well then let me suggest again that I set the table and you do the cooking."

"Oh all right," Michelle said taking the recipe card from her hand, "At least you could do was come and watch me."

Once the preparations for dinner were complete and table set Michelle and Hunter sat down to their meal. In the sudden quiet the air was strained at best neither girl knowing what to say to the other.

"You were right," Michelle said taking a sip from her glass, "This Chinese dish is excellent. You will have to let me copy it for Aunt Meta. She'd love this."

"Yeah no problem."

"So how are things going with you and Thad?"

Hunter looked at her friend leery of her question. The last thing she wanted was another one of Michelle's lectures on the evils of Thad Weston and Parker Simms. Yet Hunter had taken notice that lately Michelle had had a change of heart regarding Parker. Secretly Hunter hoped that they would be double dating again soon.

"Things are good," she said noncommittal at best.

"I asked him to go to the cast party when the production is over."

"Is he coming?"

"Yeah. He said that he wouldn't miss it for anything. Then he asked me to go to the prom with him." Hunter's face radiated with a smile.

"So are you going?" Michelle asked.

"What do you think?" she joked.

"I would say that you gave him a definite maybe," Michelle chuckled. Hunter's napkin glided across the table hitting Michelle in the face. "I take it that means you said yes."

"Of course! We have a really good time when we're together. I know you told me to watch out for him but he's really great. Michelle he kisses like a dream."

Hunter continued while Michelle thought about Danny and what his kisses were like. They were soft and sweet never demanding as Parker's had been. Danny was so gentle in every way when it came to Michelle. Michelle knew that when it came to dealing with his life and what was going on in it, Danny was the complete opposite. Deep down she was sure that the bad boy image he wanted all to believe wasn't truly the person he was.

"Hey Michelle, are you listening to me?"

"Yeah, sorry I was lost in thought."

"About?" Hunter questioned.

"Nothing important really." Michelle thought better of going forward with this avenue of conversation.

"Where have you been keeping yourself lately? I hardly ever see you at school and you're never out on the weekend. What's going on with you? I have seen you hanging out with Parker again. Tell me you two are back together? Is that where you have been spending all of your time lately?" Hunter's excitement was self evident.

"NO!" Michelle said feeling like she was back on the same old merry go round, "Parker and I aren't back together. We have just been running lines for the play. I am thankful to think that he's finally got it through his head that there isn't a relationship there anymore. I am glad too since his obsession with me only complicates things all the more." Michelle's thoughts were drawn to her bedding relationship with Danny. She was busting at the seams to tell someone anyone about the feelings she had for Danny Santos. Even though Hunter Wolffe was the last person she would entrust with this information, Michelle was afraid if she didn't tell someone soon it would evaporate into a dream like haze.

"So then if it's not Parker what is it?"

"Nothing special," Michelle's smile slowly crept across her features.

"What gives?" Hunter questioned knowing that her friend was never able to keep a secret.

"Nothing."

"Come on, I know you better then that. There's most definitely something going on. I can just tell. What is it, a guy what?"

Michelle hesitated. Opening up to Hunter about Danny was like stirring the calm waters just before a tidal wave. The reaction that the name Danny Santos would bring about surely would take the wind out of Michelle's sails but she moved forward with the information none the less.

"Yeah you could say that it has something to do with a guy."

"Enough with the games already. What gives!?!?!"

"I met the greatest guy. He is so damn hot, the darkest brown hair eyes to match, a build that could stop a train. He's so good to me Hunter. It's such a change from what I have been used to." Michelle rattled off so fast Hunter was barely able to keep up.

"Well….when do I get to meet MR. WONDEFUL?"

"What do you think that I am crazy. If I let him within ten feet of you you'd want him for yourself," Michelle laughed.

There was no mistaking the angry look that clouded Hunter's eyes. "MICHELLE BAUER, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU THINK THAT LITTLE OF ME!' she raged, "I'm perfectly happy with Thad. I know that you and I have been less then friendly lately but I thought you knew me better then that. What's happening to you?!?!"

"Jesus would you calm down? I was only teasing for heaven sakes."

"It was less then funny," Hunter countered.

"I'm sorry. I thought you could take a joke."

"So what's this guys name anyway?" Hunter continued with her quest.

"Danny," Michelle said praying that Hunter wouldn't make the connection.

"Danny? Danny what? There are a few Danny's in our class you know."

"He doesn't go to Springfield High. He's a senior at Clayton." The look on Hunter's face showed Michelle already that her friend disapproved.

"Okay well then what's his name?" Hunter asked again.

"I said Danny."

"Danny what?" Hunter's patience was wearing thin.

"Danny Santos," Michelle finally said sighing heavily preparing for the other shoe to now drop.

"Why does that name sound so firmiliar? Hunter paused for but a moment, "Wait, Michelle, that isn't the same guy you met down at that awful place you forced me to go to? OH MY GOD MICHELLE IT IS ISN'T IT!?!?!" Hunter's voice dripped with disgust. "He's an addict for god sakes."

"You seemed pretty into him when we were working on our project," Michelle returned through her jaw clenched in anger.

"That was different and you know it. To read about him and hell even talk to him isn't anywhere near the same as being seen in public with him. I can't believe that you have sunk so low."

"Why did I even bother? I knew that you would react just like this. I forgot that I was dealing with a pack of rich snobs. I have never once before found anyone that treats me as good as Danny has."

"I doubt that Parker would see it that way."

"Hey Hunter!" Michelle seethed, "Need I remind you of the other day when you witnessed first hand Parker's hands around my throat? Or did you conveniently forget about that fact?" Michelle began to softly cry.

"Michelle, Parker explained about the other day. It really wasn't what it looked like at all. Thad and I just jumped to the wrong conclusion."

"What other conclusion could you have come to?" Michelle shouted in total disbelief.

"He said you two were practicing one of the scenes from the play and things got carried away."

"AND YOU BELIEVED HIM?!?! I didn't think that even you were that stupid!"

Hunter fumed at Michelle's words, "You yourself just said how things between you and Parker were getting better. So what the hell was I supposed to think? Besides you never told me a damn thing about that day in the park!"

Michelle's tears were now rolling down her face. Revealing Danny's true identity had been a mistaken from the very beginning. Hunter's reaction was clear proof of that.

"What am I supposed to do let Parker man handle me because he's acceptable?"

"Michelle, you are talking about dating some hood…….."

"GET OUT…..HUNTER JUST LEAVE….JUST LEAVE NOW! I just wanted to share this. I wanted you to be as happy for me as I am for you. Since it appears that you aren't capable of doing that please just go!"

"Need I remind you that not so long ago you were less then happy for me. As I recall you did your damnedest to get me to walk away from Thad. So why should I be any different when it comes to Danny?"

"GET OUT!!!"

"Michelle……"

"GO!!! Just go."

Michelle picked up the glass on the table and in anger hurled it into the sink with such force it shattered. Crumpling to the ground she was over come with so many emotions that there was nothing to be done to stop the onslaught of tears. She was angry at herself for even making an attempt she had known better of all along but the elation that Danny Santos had brought into her life had given way to a momentary lapse of reason.

Gingerly she cleared away the broken pieces of glass, cleared the table and loaded the dishwasher. Michelle made up a plate as promised for Danny. She had every intention of going to him immediately. Yet seeing her reflection in the mirror she thought better of the idea. She needed to give some time until her foul mood had passed.

Michelle's hand rested on the speaker as her room was flooded with the low tones of music that she hoped would bring her some comfort. The original intention of the evening played out nothing like the actual event. Somewhere deep within herself, Michelle had wanted to rebuild her friendship with Hunter. Perhaps she had been a bit naive in her thinking that Hunter had the capabilities of being anyone other then who Michelle knew her to be.

The hurt of knowing that she was truly alone in the world brought a stabbing pain radiating in her chest. The emptiness she felt at the moment was overpowering. She was a lost soul out of place.

The hours had passed without much thought to Michelle. She had been lost in her own barren world. It wasn't until she noticed the shades of pink and orange adorning her walls that she realized that it was almost dusk. Pulling a brush through her hair, Michelle set off to see Danny.

"I was beginning to think you were going to let me starve," he joked as Michelle made her way through the front door.

"Sorry," she returned with a lifeless voice.

"Baby," Danny said as he drew closer to her, "Hey what's the matter?"

"Nothing." Michelle was physically in the room with him but he knew for sure her mind was in some far off place.

"You seem pretty out of it for it to be nothing."

"FINE…I'M NOT FINE OKAY!!!" the booming sound of her voice startled Danny.

"Michelle?"

Looking into his confused face, Michelle snapped back to reality, "Oh Danny, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to…..it's just that my friends well then never cease to amaze me."

"What do you mean?" he asked never acknowledging that Michelle had even raised her voice.

"I think I just lost my best friend today. Hell, maybe she was never my friend to begin with."

"What makes you think that?"

"I really don't want to rehash it again okay?"

"Sure," Danny said, "Just remember that I promised to be there for you too," he stroked her cheek.

Michelle swallowed hard around the lump in her throat. How was she supposed to explain her fight to him? How was she supposed to make him understand that she and Hunter were nothing alike? She couldn't take the chance of his not understanding. She wasn't about to jeopardize what she had with Danny. Certainly not for Hunter's opinion of him.

"I better put your dinner in the microwave."

Michelle sat along side of Danny upon reentering the main room. Danny sat quietly watching her. Doing his best to understand what was going on with her. The pain in her eyes was so vivid. He didn't want to push her but he couldn't stop wondering if maybe there was more to this then just some girlfriend squabble.

"Michelle," he gently took her hands in his own, "Baby, please tell me what's really going on," he pleaded.

Michelle looked deeply into his eyes the last thing she wanted to do was torment him with Hunter's warped perception of the world yet both her head and heart were screaming for her to be honest with him. Both their lives were complicated enough without adding half truths to the mix.

Michelle took a deep breath and began her tale of the evening she had spent with her friend. She was careful in choosing the words she used to describe the things that Hunter had said. As well as all of her counter remarks and feelings for him.

"Is that what you think about me too?' he questioned hoarsely.

"NO!!!" she cried, "Haven't you heard anything that I just said? What Hunter or what anyone else thinks for that matter doesn't make a damn bit of difference to me. Danny, I want to be exactly where I am. I want to find out where this is going to take me….take the both of us." Michelle watched as Danny turned away in an attempt to clear his thoughts. "Danny," she whispered, "Look at me," she forced his eyes to meet hers, "I have never met a person who has treated me better then the way you treat me. You are too important to me to let you slip through me fingers. Do you understand? I don't care what anyone says or does. I want to be with you and to hell with the rest!"

Danny struggled to believe her words. He knew what the masses thought of him. Hell he made sure his attitude most of the time contributed to that perception. But knowing that Michelle's friends were forcing her to chose between him and them the walls that once had encased him were doing so again.

"Danny?"

"I just don't want to make things worse for you," he whispered turning away as a tear spilled from his lashes.

"You won't," she offered, "You have done just the opposite."

"I want to believe that."

"Then believe it!" she forced bringing her mouth to his.

"I thought you were gonna tell me to get out of your life," he choked on his private thoughts.

"NEVER!!"

"I can't believe that you want me. That after all that you know about me you still want me in your life." Danny pulled Michelle in close to his chest. With their lips inches apart Danny held back in kissing her savoring the intense moment between them. Michelle drew in a slow deep breath waiting for what she wanted to come next. On cue Danny placed his hands on her smooth soft cheeks stroking them gently. Suddenly he brought his mouth down on hers with such force that the experience left Michelle breathless.

"You are the best thing to happen to me in a long time, Michelle Bauer."

"You too," she returned.