"Bill!" Michelle gasped as her would-be groom walked into the room.
Drew's mouth moved, but no words came out and even Danny, who was normally so unflappable, sounded shocked as he said, "You sent me that clipping?"
Bill nodded and walked over to Michelle. Taking both her hands in his he said, "Michelle Bauer, I meant it when I said I loved you. I've loved you my whole life."
"I know, Bill and-"
Bill held up his hand and laughed."Does anyone ever get to finish what they're saying around you?"
"No." Danny and Drew said in unison.
Bill smiled at the three, all of whom were growing more confused by the minute.
"I do love you." Bill continued."But I'm not in love with you. I once thought I was, but I realize now that you were just an...infatuation, I guess. A passing fancy."
"Gee, Bill, you sure know how to make your bride feel special." Drew muttered.
Michelle shook her head slowly. "I still don't understand, Bill."
"I asked you to marry me because I knew you'd say yes and I knew why. To get back at Danny."
Michelle lowered her eyes."It really wasn't like that." she murmured.
Bill placed a hand under her chin and raised her face to him. "Come on, Michelle. Don't pull that with me. I spent so much time with you after Danny left. I saw how miserable you were. And I knew how furious you were."
Bill swung his eyes to Danny."And I was furious with you,too, Santos. That's why I went to your house to find out where you were hiding."
Michelle's cry brought Bill's eyes back to her."You went to the Santos house alone? Bill, are you crazy? How could you walk into that vipers' nest and-"
Michelle caught her husband's eye."Sorry, honey, but you know-"
Danny gave another wry smile."Yeah, yeah, I know. Go on, Bill."
"Anyway," Bill continued, "I went to see Carmen to demand to know Danny's whereabouts."
Danny snorted. "I would've liked to have seen that."
Bill smiled."Actually, I didn't find Carmen. I found Pilar."
Michelle could tell by the way Bill said her name that Pilar was much more to him than a casual acquaintance.
"Pilar was the only one who knew the truth about why I left." Danny said softly, keeping a careful eye on Bill."I could never lie convincingly to that brat."
Bill's smile widened."She is pretty tough to fool." he agreed. "She told me about what your mother threatened."
Bill turned back to Michelle."So I knew the truth. I knew Danny still loved you. Remember, that night at the docks, when I proposed, I was trying to tell you that."
That whole night was a blur to Michelle, but she nodded anyway."You said you didn't care why Danny left. You hated him anyway. That's when I thought up my plan."
"Plan?" Michelle asked, eyebrow raised.
"Yeah. I proposed to you, Michelle. I let you think you were using me. And I knew if I sent Danny that newspaper clipping about the wedding,he'd come for you. And I knew what you'd do."
For the first time, Bill took in Michelle's appearance and the rumpled bed."What, by the looks of it, you've already done.", he laughed and even Danny seemed to redden a little.
Drew finally regained her voice and said,"So this whole wedding was a sham?"
"Pretty much." Bill replied.
Michelle looked at her best friend, dazed."You did all of this to get me and Danny back together?"
Bill leaned forward and kissed her forehead."That's what friends are for,babe. Plus, I had Pilar's help. She is a determined little lady when it comes to her brother's happiness!"
Michelle laughed shakily. "I don't believe this! Bill Lewis, you are so-so...sneaky! What if Danny hadn't come, huh? What if you'd gotten stuck as 'Mr. Michelle Bauer'?" she asked, punching him lightly on the arm.
Bill rubbed his arm in mock pain as he said, "I wouldn't have been stuck. I knew your annulment didn't go through. Our marriage never would have been valid."
Drew stood up, pronouncing,"This is entirely too weird!"
Michelle laughed again as the reality of the situation seeped in.
Somehow, this had worked out. She was back with the man she loved and Bill hadn't been hurt. "You were born under a lucky star, Michelle Bauer-Santos" she told herself as she stepped into her husband's arms.
Bill took Drew's arm. "Come on, Drew, these two have things to work out."
They turned to go.
"Bill-" Danny said. Bill turned back to face him, "Yeah?"
"Thanks. For all of this. I don't know how you did it, but-"
Bill stepped forward and shook Danny's hand."Just make her happy, Danny."
Danny looked down into his wife's shining eyes. "I will." He looked back at Bill. "And you take good care of my sister!"
He could see how loved Pilar was in Bill's eyes and felt his brotherly instinct to protect recede a little.
Drew and Bill slipped out of the room and as soon as the door clicked shut, Michelle and Danny embraced.
"We did it." Michelle breathed happily."We're together."
Danny kissed her temple and said,"We always will be, if I have my way."
Michelle pulled back and stroked his cheek."Danny, you know that before we begin any kind of life together, I have to know the truth about what happened when you left."
There was no hesitation in Danny's voice as he quietly told her the whole story, of his mother's threat, of his heartbreak and self-imposed exile. When he was through, Michelle sat silent, tears coursing down her face.
Danny gently wiped her tears away. "Are these for me?" he asked with a smile.
Michelle took his hand and kissed his palm."They're for us. We almost lost each other,Danny. And it could happen again so easily...."
"No." Danny said fiercely, pulling him against her."Not this time, Michelle."
"But how, Danny?" Michelle asked."Your mother won't just disappear!"
After a long while, Danny finally said, "I have a plan. I don't know if it will work, but you're going to have to trust me."
Michelle smiled."I think I've heard that before." she said as his lips descended towards hers.