The Song Challenge
At This Moment
By Carla
Preface: The song chosen for this challenge is by Billy Vera and the Beaters one of the one hit wonders of the 80's but this song has been my absolute favorite since I first heard it and I will attempt to do it justice through this fiction.
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What did you think I would do at this moment
When you're standing before me with tears in your eyes
Trying to tell me that you
Have found you another
And you just don't love me no more
Michelle placed her hand over her rapidly expanding stomach and felt their baby kick. It had been 7 awful months since their confrontation and his subsequent desertion. She will never forget the look on his face when he had accused her of still loving Jesse. Their marriage had been a sham from the start but her feelings were changing and she didn't know how to tell him.
She had however made love with him that one glorious night and she felt certain that he felt the same magic that she had that night. She had awakened the next morning to the news that he had left on a business trip and when he returned he had confronted her about her love for Jesse.
She had never understood where he had gotten the idea that she and Jesse were back together and he had been so angry that he would not even listen to her. He had just told her to leave and she hadn't had any choice but to go.
She had been packing her things to leave when he had surprised her by coming in the bedroom. She had thought he was going to help her pack but he had just stood there and watched her with a glare she found hard to turn away from. He looked like he wanted to say something. What?
What did you think I would say at this moment
When I'm faced with the knowledge
That you just dont love me
Did you think I would curse you
Or say things to hurt you
Cause you just dont love me no more
Danny hadn't said anything though and she had left the house that day still stinging from Danny's accusation and abandonment. She had run home to Rick but then decided to join her father in Europe. She transferred her credits to a local school and had started her new life unaware of the new life that had already begun to grow within her.
It was three months before she realized what the constant nausea and fatigue was attributed to. She was pregnant with Danny's child. Could she tell him? Would it make a difference? She had taken the cowards way out and not said anything.
She almost told him the day he she answered a knock on her door and he was on the other side. He had come for her signature. The divorce papers. Could she divorce him with the knowledge that she carried his child? Could she divorce him with the knowledge that she still loved him??
He had looked different. More sophisticated and more dangerous. He had always been a little dark to her but she had fallen in love with all of him, dark side included. She opened her mouth to speak but no words came. He looked like he was waiting for her to make the first move. Was he as nervous as she was? Did he want her to tell him she loved him? What did he want her to do?
Did you think I could hate you
Or raise my hands to you
Now c'mon you know me too well
How could I hurt you
When darling I love you
And you know
I'd never hurt you
She signed the papers and he had left. She hadn't told him how she felt and neither had he made any move to. She had gone on with her life and her studies and loved the baby that was nestled safely within her although she woke up each day to the knowledge that the day was soon approaching when she would have to tell Danny the truth.
Michelle snapped back to reality. Today was the day she would tell Danny. Her obstetrician had noticed an irregularity with the baby's placenta and had recommended that she go home to Springfield and get an opinion from Dr. Sedwick. If the placenta were detaching like she thought, she would have to go on complete bed-rest or risk losing the baby.
Michelle would do nothing to put this baby at risk. It was the only thing of Danny she would ever have. She still loved him so much and she prayed he wouldn't be angry at her for keeping this secret so long. She hoped he would understand why she had chosen to remain silent.
The airplane ride home was uneventful and she checked in with Dr. Sedwick the day she arrived. The second opinion concluded what her doctor had said and she hadn't even been allowed to go home and get a change of clothes. She had been admitted to the hospital right then.
She was going to ask Rick to find Danny for her and to tell him where she was but he had refused. This was her responsibility and he was going to make her own up to it.
She was laying on her back listening to the machine that was monitoring their baby's heartbeat. She was trying to find the right way to call Danny and tell him about the baby. She prayed she would have the strength to tell him she loved him too. Maybe there was still a chance. Maybe he would believe her this time.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Her eyes were still closed and she assumed it was Rick coming back to check on her before he left for the day. "Rick, I am sorry" she said without opening her eyes "I shouldn't have asked you to summon Danny for me. It wasn't fair" she said.
"Summon me for what" she heard Danny say and she sat up quickly. Danny was here. Did he know. She had not gotten very big and unless you really looked you might not be able to even tell that she was carrying a baby.
His eyes scrutinized her. He looked tired. Had he lost weight? He didn't look as sophisticated and dangerous anymore. Had he come to gloat? She had never received her divorce papers back yet. Had he come to hand deliver them in the hospital? Oh, this was too much. She began to cry.
He couldn't stand it anymore. He went to her bedside and fell on his knees. He took her hand and began to cry too. "What is it Michelle? Are you sick?" he said through his tears
"Why are you here?" she said.
"I was at a board meeting. I was elected to the board of Cedars last month. I am surprised Rick didn't tell you. I saw your name on the board outside. What is it baby?" he said with a genuinely concerned look on his face. "Please tell me"
What do you think
I would give at this moment
If you stay I'd subtract twenty years from my life
I'd fall down on my knees
Kiss the ground that you walked on
If I could just hold you again
Michelle looked at his eyes and checked them for sincerity. He appeared sincere. She was going to tell him the truth. He was still holding her hand and she placed it on her abdomen. He was still on his knees beside her bed with his head on the edge of the bed and he was still looking at the floor as if in prayer.
The baby chose that exact moment to kick. Danny's hand jumped. His head snapped up and met her gaze. They locked glances and Danny knew the truth. She was pregnant. Whose baby was it? Was it his? He had been given one wonderful night with Michelle and he would feed off those memories for the rest of this life. Had their magical night produced a baby. Oh God, please let it be so. He would give anything for it to be so.
I'd fall down on my knees
Kiss the ground that you walk on baby
If I could just hold you again.
Danny looked up at the woman he loved and asked a silent question with his eyes. The look in her eyes gave him his answer. He placed his head on her swollen belly and kissed it.
"I love you Michelle, God help me, I have always loved you. Is there still a chance? Will you forgive me?" he said.
"Yes, Danny, I forgive you and I ask you to forgive me for not telling you about the baby. I was so scared. I thought you didn't love me and thought I loved Jesse. I have loved you since our wedding day Danny. Please forgive me" she said and he smiled.
"I forgive you and can't wait until this little guy is born" he said and playfully rubbed her belly. He looked up at her beautiful face and saw that she was indeed glowing.
"Are you happy Michelle?" he asked.
"Yes Danny, I have never been more happy than I am at
this moment" she said and pulled him to her and kissed him.