Michelle quickly disentangled herself from Danny's arms and headed for the door. "Bill, could you...um...could you give me just a few more minutes?"
"Sure." Bill answered from the other side of the door. "Is everything ok?"
Michelle looked over her shoulder at Danny with a pained look on her face."Yes." she finally said."Everything's fine. I just have a few more things to take care of."
"Alright. I'll be back in about ten minutes."
Michelle struggled to put a smile in her voice."Sounds great!"
"Good. And Michelle?"
"Yes?"
"I love you."
Tears stung her eyes as she hung her head, her forehead resting against the door."I love you too, Bill." she said softly.
Michelle waited until she heard Bill's footsteps fade away then crossed her room and sat down on her bed.
Danny sat beside her and put a consoling arm around her shoulders.
"How can I do this to him, Danny?" she sobbed. "He loves me so much...."
Danny slipped his hand inside Michelle's gown and continued to rub her back."I know, Michelle. I know." he whispered as she continued to cry.
Michelle leaned into Danny, her golden curls surrounding her face."He's the best friend I ever had.I can't hurt him like this. He doesn't deserve it."
Danny sighed and kissed her temple. "I'm so sorry. I...I never should have come back here.It would have been easier for you."
Michelle grabbed his shirt as he rose to get his jacket."No,Danny. I-I wanted you to come back.That's why I did this."
Her cheeks quickly pinkened as Danny looked at her in shock and she quickly averted her eyes.
"You were getting married to goad me into coming back to Springfield?"
Michelle nodded.
Danny sat back down on the bed and took her into his arms with a groaning laugh."Oh, God, Michelle, I don't know whether to kiss you or strangle you!"
"You never have." was Michelle's muffled reply.
Danny pulled back and looked into her eyes."True. But, baby, how could you do something like that? Didn't you think how much it would hurt Bill?"
Michelle shook her head frantically. "No, I didn't want you back!"
At the look Danny gave her, Michelle quickly amended,"Well, I mean, I didn't think you wanted me anymore. So, when Bill proposed, it seemed like the perfect solution. I could have this safe, calm life and hurt you all at the same time."
"A package deal, huh?" Danny asked wryly.
Michelle kept her eyes down."I guess so. But Danny, I had no idea that you still loved me.I thought you meant everything you said in the note."
Danny stroked her hair as he said, "So, you thought I'd hear about you getting married, come back to Springfield, beg you to come back to me, and then you could just spit in my face, is that it?"
When Danny said it, Michelle thought her plan did sound very stupid. Still, she nodded and said, "Yeah, basically. But instead, when you walked through that door....oh, Danny, you have no idea how much I missed you-"
"I think I might have a vague notion, Michelle." Danny said, all the months of pain in his eyes.
Michelle wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him to her."We have so much lost time to make up for, Danny." she murmured as their lips met. Danny kissed her back,thinking of all the nights he'd spent, miserable without her.
Michelle ran her fingers through his dark hair, wondering how she ever could have doubted his love for her. Slowly, she fell back against her bed, pulling him against her. Danny's hand began inching the white silk of her gown up her thigh and-
"Michelle?"
Danny and Michelle jumped apart at another loud banging on the door. This time, it was Drew.
Michelle pushed Danny off of her and hissed, "Hide!"
Danny looked at her with eyes that were still black with passion and Michelle tried to formulate a plan in her desire-addled brain. She settled on the most obvious idea and pushed him towards the closet. "Just a sec, Drew!" she called out. "In here." she whispered to Danny, who complied, but grabbed her by the waist and gave her a quick,hard kiss just before she shut the closet door.
Michelle shook her head as though to clear it as she walked to her door.She took a deep breath, put on a big smile, and opened the door.
Drew took one look at Michelle's wrinkled dress, tousled hair, swollen lips, and the look of utter joy in her eyes and said, "He's here, isn't he?"
Michelle's smile faltered."Who?"
Drew breezed past Michelle into the room and noted the dishevled bed."Yep, he's definitely here."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Drew." Michelle said, trying to sound casual, failing miserably.
"Danny. He showed up and chances are he's..."
Drew flung open the closet door before Michelle could stop her."Hiding in the closet." Drew finished."Not very original, Dannyboy."
"Not very dignified either." Danny said, stepping out into the room."But desperate times..."
"Yeah." Drew said, flopping down on Michelle's bed. "You got that right. These are definitely desperate times. You are aware that she's getting married in,like,ten minutes right?"
Drew swung around to face Michelle."You're aware of this too, right?"
"Drew-" Michelle began weakly.
"Save it,sweetie." Drew said with a wave of her hand."I can't beleive you're doing this to Bill, Michelle. The guy loves you, you know." Michelle hung her head guiltily. "And as for you-" Drew pointed angrily at Danny, "she's not your wife anymore, so why don't you back off?"
"Actually, it's funny you should mention that, Drew." Danny said walking over to Michelle and putting an arm around her."Technically, Michelle is still my wife."
"She is?"
"I am?"
Danny held Michelle's face in his hands, shutting out Drew, and said quietly,"I never signed those papers, Michelle. I just couldn't. So I...I told Ray to tell you I'd signed."
Michelle raised an eyebrow."You got a priest to lie to me?"
Danny grinned."Ray may be a priest, but he's also a Santos.And he's my friend. Plus, he made me promise to sign them immediately if it ever looked like you might remarry."
"Um...I was remarrying, Danny."Michelle reminded him.
Danny laughed and kissed her forehead."Ray's the priest, not me. I don't always have to keep my promises."
Michelle raised a hand to his cheek and said, "You better keep every single one of them you made to me, Daniel Santos."
Danny took her hand and brought it to his lips."You know I will."
Michelle's smile faded as she said,"This still doesn't solve anything. I still have to tell Bill, and I have no idea how to do that."
Danny sighed and ran a hand through his hair."I didn't even think about that when I came here. All I could think about was seeing you and stoping this wedding."
"How did you find out about the wedding anyway?" Drew inquired.
Danny turned to face her,a little surprised. He'd forgotten she was there."I got a newspaper clipping in the mail."
"Who sent it?"
Danny opened his mouth to reply, but before he could, a voice said "I did."
Drew, Danny, and Michelle all turned toward the doorway of Michelle's room. And all three's eyes widened in surprise as they saw who stood there.