Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.
�Leaving?� he said, stuttering over the words, a look of disbelief on his face.
"Tell me another way, Danny. Tell me another way to ensure that our child isn�t dragged into this,� she said.
�I don�t know, Michelle.�
�You know I�m right, Danny.�
He could not argue with her. She was right. He put aside his emotions, as much as he possibly could. The selfish part of him wanted her to stay, wanted their child with him. But the realistic part of him knew that what Michelle was saying was true. This was their child. He didn�t want his son or daughter growing up the way he had. He wanted more for his child.
He swallowed hard and said, �You�re right, Michelle. You�re right.�
Michelle sank on the bed and exploded into a torrent of sobs. This should be a happy day for the two of them, but instead it was the saddest she had ever felt in her life.
Danny was pacing the floor, silent tears streaming down his cheeks. She was right. He knew it. He had to protect his child, no matter what it cost him. Carmen and the rest of the Santos clan could not know about this baby. A million questions were running through his head.
�When will you leave?� he asked.
�Not immediately. I�ll have to make some plans.�
�Where will you go?�
�I�m not sure yet.�
�Will you tell me where you are?�
�Of course. I was thinking about going to Louisville, Kentucky. I have some friends who are in medical school at the University there, so I wouldn�t be totally alone.�
�That�s not too far from here.�
�I know.�
�Could I come see you?�
�That would be up to you, Danny.�
He sat down on the bed next to her, his shoulders rising and falling with every breath, heavy from his crying.
�Will you let me be there, in the delivery room?� he asked. Michelle�s heart shattered.
�Of course, if that�s what you want.�
�I want to be there.�
�That would make me very happy,� she said, imagining him coaching her through labor. She could at at least share that experience with him.
�Michelle,� Danny began, �it�s not just about the baby. I love this child, already, and I�d give anything for things to be better, so that we�d feel right bringing up our baby here. But, Michelle, I can�t even imagine you being gone.� His tears were flowing again, and he was crying audibly now. �What will I do without you? How will I get out of bed in the morning if you�re not there next to me? How am I going to sleep at night without you?�
Michelle laid her head in his lap, and his hands went immediately to her hair. Danny always loved playing with her hair. �God, this is awful,� she prayed out loud. �If there�s any other way��
She looked up at her husband, and saw a truly broken man. Without him she was incomplete, lost, wandering. She touched his face, and instinctively began kissing his tears away.
His lips kissed back, wiping the tears from her face. In a second their mouths were locked together, their hands finding all their secret places. They needed each other more at this moment than they ever had.
�Don�t go yet,� Danny pleaded, as he laid her back onto the mattress, unbuttoning her blouse. �Please, not yet.�
�Not yet,� she whispered back, breathless as she slid his pants to the foot of the bed.
They made love with such passion, such fire. It was like the first time, the last time, and the best time all rolled into one. Their love for each other was stronger than it had ever been.
As they held each other afterwards, each refusing to think about the inevitable, Danny made a promise to Michelle.
�Before this baby is born, I�ll be with you, wherever you are. If I can�t force Mama to legitimize this business by then, I�ll leave. I�ll disappear from this town, from this family. Whatever I have to do, Michelle, I�ll find my way to you, and our baby.�