Everyone turned to stare at Megan. "I know that everyone here is going to
hate me," she started, "but it must be said. I don't think they should be
married,"
"And why not, Miss?" asked the preacher. Kathleen was shooting daggers out
of her eyes and Michael was shaking his head angrily. What the hell was she
doing?
"Because I love him," she said her voice cracking. "And I can't . . ." she
trailed off and the nurse sitting beside her stood up and pulled her down.
"She's done. Carry on," the nurse said, wrapping her arms around Megan.
"Very well. Well, if there are no other objections . . ." he said, gazing
around. No one said anything. "Well, then by the power vested in me, I now
pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," sappy music played
as he took her in his arms. He kissed her with tenderness and love. When
they broke apart, everyone stood and clapped. Well, everyone but Megan.
Everyone took their chairs and folded them up, making a dance space
available. People headed over to the newlyweds and began offering their
congratulations. "I have a toast," Durfee stood and raised his glass.
Everyone quieted. "I have watched the sparks fly between these two for the
past three years. May they find all the happiness they deserve," he said.
"Here, here," the crowd cheered. They raised their glasses and took a sip
of the champagne. Carla raised her glass next.
"To Bell One and Two," she laughed.
"Here, here!" everyone laughed. Michael wrapped his arms around the waist
of his new wife. This was without a doubt the best day of his life. If only
his father could have been there . . .
"Congrats, sis," Monica said, approaching her. "I honestly thought you'd be
alone your whole life," she teased.
"Monica. So nice to see you again. Without the blue hair and drunken
stupor," she joked.
"Oh, ha ha. You're a riot. Well, congratulations anyways,"
"Thanks," Monica joined her mom, who was avoiding her altogether.
"Attention! Attention!" Bridges yelled. The people quieted. "The bride and
groom will now share a dance!" he exclaimed. Everyone cleared the center of
the lawn and Carla pressed play on the CD player. A love song by 98° came on
and Michael held out his hand. She took it and they began to dance while
everyone looked on. {Author's Note: There is a transcript of the song
below}.
It felt so good to hold her in is arms. They whirled around, the pain in
her leg forgotten. She lost all sense of reason as she gazed into his eyes.
She didn't care about anything or anyone else. Just being there, holding
him, feeling him hold her . . . it was enough to push her over the edge of
sanity. The last chord ended, and he dipped her, kissing her softly as he
pulled her up.
The onlookers cheered and whistled. The song changed to an upbeat one, and
people rushed to the middle, eager to show off their dance moves. Michael
grabbed Kathleen's hand and pulled her over to the gazebo, grateful for a
moment alone with her.
"Well, it's official," he told her, taking her hands.
"Yeah. It sure is,"
"You're not . . . sorry . . . are you?" he asked when something passed
through her eyes.
"No, but she's gonna be," Megan said from behind them. Michael stood.
"Megan, I think you need to back off okay? Whatever we had, it was a
mistake, and its over now," he said.
"So that's all I am to you? A mistake?" she said angrily. Kathleen rose.
"Megan, he married ME. What do you think?" she said. She really didn't
anything to ruin her wedding day, but she was quickly getting annoyed.
"You bitch," Megan said. Before Kathleen knew what was happening, Megan
slapped her hard across the face. Reeling back Kathleen punched the girl as
hard as she possibly could, sending Megan flying backwards. Megan pulled
herself up and shoved Kathleen, who then in turn grabbed the nurse's hair.
Michael pulled Kathleen back and tried to restrain her.
"Megan!" he yelled. Durfee came running over and grabbed the nurse.
"Stop it!" he yelled at them. Glancing at the girls, he took note of the
blood trickling down Megan's face, and a red mark on Kathleen's face. He
tilted Megan's face up and noticed the blood was coming from a cut beneath
her eye. Probably from Ryan—uh—Bell 2's wedding ring. "You should have that
checked out," he told her. She grumbled and stalked off.
Durfee shook his head and walked off. Michael hugged Kathleen, playing the
scene over again in his mind. He hated to see her upset. He released her and
looked in her eyes.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"Don't be . . ." he said. He really had to do something about Megan. But
what?
§*§*§*§*§*§
I Do (Cherish You)
All I am, all I'll be
Everything in this world
All that I'll ever need
Is in your eyes
Shining at me
When you smile I can feel
All my passion unfolding
Your hand brushes mine
And a thousand sensations
Seduce me cause I
CHORUS
I do cherish you
For the rest of my life
You don't have to think twice
I will love you still
From the depths of my soul
It's beyond my control
I've waited so long to say this to you
If you're asking do I love you this much, I do
In my world, before you
I lived outside my emotions
Didn't know where I was going
‘Til that day I found you
How you opened my life
To a new paradise
In a world torn by change
Still with all of my heart
‘Til my dying day
CHORUS 2x
****
Things had changed so much since the wedding. Two years had passed, and
everything was completely different. She knew things would never be the
same. She knew that her life with Michael would be forever altered.
She had spent so many months trying to pick up the pieces. But then . . .
their little miracle. Little Wick had come into the world, reminding them of
all the love they had. He was their little angel.
When she first discovered she was pregnant, he didn't know what to think.
There was a possibility that there would be genetic mutation, or birth
defects. They fought and fought and for a change of pace they fought some
more. He didn't want to give it up, but he felt it might have been best for
the child. When he told her that, she became cold and detached from him. She
said she was having the baby, and she did.
//"Michael," she whispered one night as they lay in bed, "it's time," they
had gotten her to the hospital just in time to see their beautiful baby boy
being born. The doctor placed him in her arms. He was perfect in every way.
Staring up at her husband her eyes filled with tears. "Honey? You want to
hold our son?"\\
Now, sitting on the couch with Michael and Little Wick, now two years old,
she knew their marriage would never be the same. It would be better,
stronger. Wick Lobo had slipped back into a coma about three weeks after
learning about Kathleen's pregnancy. And he hadn't awakened. He wasn't
dead. Just laying there. "Don't let go, Wick. Don't let go," she had told
him. And he hadn't. He was still fighting death. She knew deep down that he
was waiting until Little Wick was older so he could see Kathleen's smile and
Michael's eyes develop a little more . . .
Shaking herself from such thoughts, she turned her attention back to her
family. "We're taking you on a little trip, Mr. Wick," she said. He smiled
and grabbed a fistful of her hair.
"Trip," he repeated. The word sounded funny to him. "Trip, trip, trip," he
laughed. He was still repeating it as Kathleen walked with him up the stairs
to get ready. Michael stayed on the couch, his mind drifting to Wick and the
last day of his consciousness.
//"So, you're havin' a kid," Wick laughed, despite the roaring pain in his
stomach.
"Yeah. We are. And you are going to be the first person he visits," Michael
laughed.
"Look, Bell," Wick said, "I have . . . got to talk . . . to you about . . .
some of the things . . . that went on after . . . the chemical plant
explosion," it was getting hard to breathe, and he could feel
unconsciousness creeping up on him. "I just have to say that I'm sorry. I'm
so sorry. I . . . I don't blame you . . . I was just . . . blowin' hot air .
. . can . . . you forgive me?" he asked.
"Of course I can, man. I understand. I understand,"\\
Ten minutes later, he was gone, he had slipped away into unconsciousness.
He hadn't got to see Little Wick. He wasn't getting the chance to see how
much of his mother was on his face. How he had her blond hair, and his deep
blue eyes. How he had his mother's smile, and his father's nose. He wanted
so badly for his friend to open his eyes and just say that he hadn't been in
a coma, just taking a nap.....
"Honey? Are you ready to go?" Kathleen asked. she had the diaper bag and
the car seat in one hand, and Little Wick was braced by the other. He rose
and took the bag and car seat. They walked out the door, and he noted once
again that she still had a slight limp from the accident . . .
Thankfully, the whole thing with Megan after the wedding had blown over. In
fact, Megan had moved to Florida with Dr. Don, to have a family of her own.
They drove to the hospital for a routine visit with Wick. Little Wick
recognized him and crawled up on the bed. "Hi," he said . . . frustrated
when there was no answer . . .
§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§
"Are you sure? You're absolutely positive?" she said into the phone. "Oh,
my God," was all she could manage. "Yeah. Yes, thank you," she hung up the
phone and stood shell-shocked against the wall. Just then the phone rang
again. "Hello?" she paused while the caller identified themselves. "Yes . .
." she listened. "Oh! Yes! Thank you! Thank you so much!" she hung up the
phone. "Michael! Michael! We have to go to the hospital!" she cried, running
up the stairs.
"Why? What's wrong he asked.
"Nothing! Everything's perfect!" she cried, hugging him. Slowing down a
little she sat down with him on their bed. "I have two absolutely wonderful
things to tell you!"
"Okay . . ." he said, a little dazed.
"Wick's awake," she told him. His face registered surprise and happiness.
"Oh, my God!" he cried happily. "What's the other thing?"
"That, my dear, I want to save for later," she teased, kissing him. "Come
on, grab Little Wick! He has to go meet his uncle!"
§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§
The reunion had gone great. Wick loved their child, and commented on how
much he looked like his parents. They were back at home, and Little Wick was
asleep in his little imitation crib. Kathleen and Michael had just made
love, and they were laying in each others arms.
"Now for my other news," she told him, laying her head on his bare chest,
listening to the sound of his heart beating. He buried his face in her
golden mane of hair and inhaled deeply. She lifted her head and met his
gaze. She sat up slowly and grabbed his hands. "Michael . . . I'm pregnant,"
she told him. He straightened up and a smile spread across his face as he
kissed her. They slid back down under the covers and replayed the conceiving
of child number two.
This time, he would make sure everything was perfect . . . . .
The end
