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Setting: Michelles' bedroom, Bauer house
Michelle was trying hard to concentrate on the book Bill has loaned her for their chemistry class. He had called earlier and said he would help her in a little while. He was going to see Pilar first and make sure she was alright.MIchelle told him that was fine and she would see him soon. Mentioning Pilar's name only brought about memories of last night and Michelle felt the tears threaten again. She had cried herself to sleep last night, woken up twice and cried herself back to sleep again. She was really amazed that there was anything left in her tear ducts. She fought the tears that seemed determined to fall and tried to read the page she had been attempting to read for 10 minutes. The words were a blur and she threw the book onto the floor.
"You have to get a hold of yourself" Michelle muttered. She could get through this, after all she was a Bauer (Santos her mind corrected) and she had been through a lot in her life and she could get through this. She needed to focus on college and her career. There would be no time for self pity and crying over her broken heart. She had to hold her head up and move on. Danny hadn't seemed to have any problem moving on.
Abby appeared in the doorway with a cup of coffee. Michelle perked up when she saw the coffee. Abby brougt it to her and sat down on the bed next to her. Michelle took the cup from Abby and was pleased to see that it was black. She had taken to drinking it black and it was only becuase she needed the caffeine, not becuase that was the way Danny took his. She sipped the hot, bitter brew and eyed her well meaning sister in law.
" Go ahead and say what you have to say Abby" Michelle said. "It's obvious you have something on your mind"
Abby took her time before she answered. This was a delicate matter and she had seen Michelle hurt so much in the last few days and she didn't want to hurt her anymore. She had been awakend last night by MIchelle's calling for Danny. She doubted Michelle even remembered her entering her room and pulling her blanket over her and cradling her until she fell asleep again.
"It's just that...well....Rick and I are worried about you sweetie and we want to help" she said.
"There's no need to be worried about me" Michelle answered. "I am going to be fine. My life is finally back where it should be and I am gong forward, right?"
Abby gave Michelle a sympathetic looked that showed her she wasnt fooling anyone but that she understood. SHe leaned over and kissed Michelle on the head and told her she was here if Michelle felt the need to talk. Abby went back into the kitchen and Michelle went back to her pitiful attempt at studying.
Page after page turned without MIchelle absorbing any of the words written on them. None of the words registered in her brain. She was already so far behind the class that she would never catch up at this rate. She had to focus on this, but her broken heart kept getting in the way. How was she ever going to get through this??? How did her dad ever get through losing her mother???? This wasnt a real death, she knew, becuase Danny was still alive and walking the earth somewhere in California (man, she was beginning to hate that word) but it was a death of their marraige, the one that never really got a chance. Could God have been so cruel to place them together only to tear them apart??
Why did she have to find out too late that Danny was her true soul mate. That they were two halves of the same people. Sure, they had their differences but they actually complimented each other if she really thought about. No matter how ruthless Danny had tried to make her belive he was, she knew he had a heart and that he was different. LIke Pilar was different. How did you go on without half of yourself??
She had only thought she had had a broken heart when she gave up Jesse, but nothing compared to this constant empty ache that came from inside her. She was glad she had these hard years of studying and work ahead of her. Maybe that could fill the void that not having Danny in her life left. SHe would dedicate her life to helping people and maybe one day, in another lifetime, the two halves could meet again.
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Setting: Pilar's room. Bill and Pilar are talking about Michelle and Danny.
Bill Lewis sat on the edge of the bed in Pilar's room and watched per pace around the room like a caged lion. She had been this way ever since she discovered her ploy to set Danny and Michelle up in the same room had failed. She had said some very strong Spanish words that Bill bet couldn't be repeated in polite company, when she had come back to find Michelle gone and Danny sitting on the bed with his head in his hands and Michelles ring on his little finger.
Bill had had to restrain her from telling her brother what a fool he was for letting Michelle get away. Bill could see on Danny's face that he knew exactly what kind of fool he was and Pilar reminding him of it wasn't going to help anything. He gently told her that they needed to give Danny some time and space and she had finally relented and left with him.
They had gone for a drive and Pilar had cried while Bill held her. She was crying for her brother leaving, he knew, but she was also crying for the sacrifice that he was willing to make to keep her and Michelle away from Carmen. He had given his life for her and she could never repay him. She had wanted so badly to give him his deserved life with the woman he loved, and she had foolishly believed that if she just put them in the same room one last time before he left, that everything would work out. Wasn't that the way it was supposed to happen. When two people were in love, wasn't that the only thing that mattered? She knew that Danny and Michelle had had more than their share of obstacles being thrown in their way by her witch of a mother, but she believed in the power of love and they should be together.
They had come back here to her room to find Danny gone. No note, no goodbye, just gone and that had started Pilar crying again. He didn't want to leave her while she was so upset, so he pulled up a chair and stayed with her so she could sleep.
SHe had awaken in a completely different frame of mind. SHe was determined to see that her brother and Michelle got their chance. He had not tried to dissuade her at this time, but he knew that they would have to have a talk about Danny and Michelle.
Danny and Michelle, Bill thought shaking his head. Who ever would have thought it?? He had been Michelles best friend since kindergarden and had once fancied himself in love with her himself, but he knew their friendship was too important to both of them to risk ruining it. He was glad now especially, because Michelle was supposed to be with Danny, He had hated Danny Santos at first sight and had tried his damndest to keep him away from Michelle. At the time, Michelle was with Jesse, but even Bill had always thought Jesse was not right for Michelle. Jesse would never be able to handle MIchelle. She was a very unique person and it took a very special man to tame Michelle Bauer and that man was not Jesse Blue, nor was it even Bill Lewis. That man was Daniel Santos.
He had begged Michelle not to marry Danny to save them, but she wouldn't listen. She was stubborn and determined to bring him down. He had not wanted to attend the farce of a wedding, but she begged him and when she had looked at him with those baby browns, he knew he couldn't refuse her. She had made a beautiful bride and he had felt a bit of jealousy that she would be marrying another and then he had seen Danny's face when he saw Michelle. The man had literally been blown away. He had never seen anything like that. HE was exposing his soul to the entire room at that minute by looking at Michelle like that. Bill still didn't like the fact that MIchelle was marrying this man when she didn't love him, but it became very obvious to him then, that Danny cared for Michelle and she would be safe.
He watched MIchelle alot that day, watched her face when she looked up at Danny for the first time at the altar, then later when they danced their first dance as man and wife and Bill had known that something had changed with Michelle. Michelle was entrusting her life to this virtual stranger and somehow Bill knew that he wouldn't let her get hurt.
Michelle had confided her plan to bring down their family to him shortly thereafter and he had been adamently against it becuase he feared for her safety. He had heard all the stories about the Santos's and what happened to you when you crossed them and he didn't want Michelle to end up on their bad side. He was ashamed to admit it now, but he had judged Danny because he was a Santos and not for who he was. He didn't exactly trust him now, but he knew in his heart that Danny worshipped Michelle and that he left to give her and Pilar the kind of life that he had thought they deserved.
He stared up at Pilar who was still pacing and mumbling to herself. She was so beautiful and he knew he was falling in love with her, probably already had fallen in love with her. She was a Santos but he wasn't about to let that get in the way of seing what could develop between them. Pilar was out from under Carman's thumb, Danny had made sure of that, and he and Pilar could have a real shot to be together, the kind of shot that Danny and Michelle had not gotten.
SHe stopped ranting and raving long enough to come and sit by Bill on the bed. "I'm sorry Bill" she said. "It's just not fair. They should be together and they can't be because of me"
Bill reached out and drew her to him. "Shhhh, now Pilar, it's not your fault. Danny and Michelle had lots of problems even before you came to Springfield" he said trying to reassure her. "If it's anyone's fault, it's your mothers" he added.
Pilar shook her head in agreement. "I know Bill and that's what makes this even worse. Danny gave up his happiness for me. How can I let him do that?? You saw him when we came back last night. He was shattered. When he lifted his eyes and looked at him, I saw complete devestation in them. How can I go on with my life here in Spring field when I know what he gave up for me????" she said.
"Pilar, you can't change Danny's decision. He made up his mind that he thought this was best for you and you have to accept that. I know you don't like it, but the fact remains that it was Danny's decision to make and he made it. I don't know what was going on in his head, but he did what he thought was right, so please honor his wishes even if you don't agree with them" Bill said.
"Okay, Bill I hear what you are saying, but what about MIchelle. She is still his wife. She never signed the papers. How is she supposed to get on with her life. She is still married to Danny. She is still a Santos and I know that while she still remains one that she will be in danger from my mother. I can't believe Danny doesn't know that" she said.
"Danny is not stupid Pilar. He wouldn't have left Michelle here if he wern't sure that Carmen would leave her alone. He gave up his entire world to keep her safe. He knows exactly what he is doing" Bill said trying to sound convincing.
The truth was, he wasn't sure Danny knew what he was doing at all but if there was one thing Bill Lewis did know, if anything happened to Michelle, then Carmen Santos had better make her peace with her maker because Danny would send her straight to him.
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