Manny Fiction Addiction | Annie

Diversions

D: (In the bedroom, anxiously waiting for his wife) Come on Michelle! We are going to be late!

M: (from the bathroom) Just a minute! I'll be out in a second!

Gosh but her husband was impatient.

M: And what is it exactly that we are going to be late for?

D: (giving a smarmy smile) Wouldn't you like to know. Nice try, baby, but I am not telling you just yet.

Michelle is mumbling under her breath while she puts her hair up as Danny enters the bathroom.

D: What was that, sweetie? (Still smiling in that devastatingly way).

M: (acting the innocent) Nothing,

D: Well, let me just help you finish in here.

M: Now that would definitely make us even more late for this mysterious outing you have planned.

She giggles as he approaches her, and wraps his arms around her waist from behind.

D: Somehow, it does not matter as much anymore. My thoughts have been diverted by a beautiful mystery woman in our bathroom.

He smiles and buries his face in Michelle's neck. She is enjoying the view from the mirror. She had never been so happy and content before in her life. This past month with her beloved husband had changed her life. She realized how much this man meant to her, and she also realized how close she came to losing all of this happiness. This last thought made her cringe, but she was pulled out of her pensive thoughts when her husband started to gently pull the strap of her dress down off of her shoulder.

M: (Softly) No, no, no! You are not getting away that easily! You have me intrigued in your secretive plans, Mr. Santos.

She whips around to face Danny, and presses her forehead against his, and starts to caress the dark curls at the nape of his neck.

D: Okay, okay. (Sighs)

He pulls her body in closer and holds her tightly against him. He whispers lightly into Michelle's ear in a clear and sultry voice:

D: Later.

Michelle sighs, closes her eyes and leans into his embrace.

D: (in a playful tone) Y'know--later would be a lot sooner if you would finish getting ready, sweetheart.

Michelle pulls her head back to look at her husband and mocks exasperation. She can't pull it off, however, and Danny just wipes the look off of her face with a passionate kiss.

Interior Danny's car. Danny is driving and Michelle is in the passengers seat. It is sunset, so Danny still has his sunglasses on to shield his eyes from the intense light. Robbie Williams' "Angels" is playing in the background.

M: What a gorgeous sunset!

D: Only because you are here sitting beside me.

M: (laughs) You can be so cheesy sometimes! (reaches her hand out to stroke his cheek) But you know I love it.

Danny takes her hand and kisses it.

M: You know..this trip would be a lot more pleasant if I knew where we were going...

D: Patience, my dear. We are almost there.

Michelle looks around at the scenery passing her by. Danny is humming along to the song. Glancing at Michelle every once in awhile.

M: Wow. I haven't been in this part of town for ages. I'm glad to see that they are finally starting to clean it up.

Danny turns to Michelle and smiles. Her anxiousness is clearly obvious. She is sitting at the edge of her seat by now. With all of the thoughts swimming in her head, she is completely oblivious to the fact that Danny has just turned into the parking lot of their destination.

D: Well, here we are , sweetheart.

Michelle breaks out of her solitary reverie and looks around.

M: (turns to Danny) You made all this fuss over taking me to an abandoned warehouse?

Danny gives a sly grin, and they both get out of the car and walk towards the building. Danny wraps his right arm around Michelle's waist and pulls her closer to him.

D: This isn't just any warehouse, sweetheart.

He pulls her even closer, and they come together in a passionate kiss. After a couple of seconds, she reluctantly breaks away from the kiss--her face betrays her confusion and curiosity.

D: (in a reverent tone) It's our warehouse

Danny still has his arm wrapped around Michelle's waist outside of the abandoned warehouse. She looks somewhat confused, and Danny is enjoying every second of it!

M: And just what are we going to do with a warehouse, Danny?

D: Well, I thought we could live in it. Y'know--renovate it--turn it into a home--just for us.

M: (incredulously) Danny- you do know that there are actual homes you can buy to live in...

D: Yeah, but where's the fun in that? Where's the adventure in that (sensing Michelle's frustration) Look, I know some people who have done this, and they love it.

Michelle gives him a discerning look.

M: Danny, I love the idea of getting our own place but..

D: I understand your reservations, but just come inside and look around. C'mon, humor me. I am sure you will see the potential. (smiles) You have a knack for that.

M: (giving in) Okay-- I'll give it a chance.

They enter the warehouse. The room is dark; the setting sun not allowing much light enter through the few windows. Michelle looks concerned, and Danny is grinning ear to ear. He looks around the room, visioning a future he has longed for, with his beautiful wife by his side. He spots a book on a table near by.

D: What is this?

He picks up the book, and reads the note attached.

D: (reading the note) "Couldn't stay longer, had pressing emergency. Here is the book you requested, Mr Santos. Ring me if you have any questions, or if you would like to reschedule. ~Joe Purvis"

M: Who is Joe Purvis?

D: The contractor. He's very skilled. All of the work in this book was done by him and his brother in London. He just recently moved here to the States. (smiles) I'm not too disappointed that he's not here. Now we can tour the place alone.

Danny grabs her hand and starts pulling her around the large building.

D: This can be the dining room...

He pulls her in another direction.

D: And this can be the living room..

Michelle is giddy at this point. She has not seen Danny this excited in a long time. She is overjoyed at her observation.

M: (through her laughter) Okay, okay! Not too many things at once!

D: And there is still the upstairs! (comes closer to Michelle) Where our bedroom will be..with room for a nursery..

M: (smiles into his cheek) Mmm..okay. Let's sit down and look at the book.

They sit down and page through the book of models. Danny is beaming, he has noticed how interested Michelle became after looking at a few finished models.

M: Danny, these are beautiful! It's hard to believe that these gorgeous homes (gesturing around them) once looked like this!

No, its not hard to believe, Danny thought. That's what you have done to my life. My life once looked like this abandoned warehouse..you've made it beautiful and livable.

D: And just think of the privacy..(starts nuzzling her neck)

M: Danny, you are distracting me!

D: Alright, alright. (pause--he watches Michelle continue to flip through the book) Well? What do you think?

M: I definitely see the potential..

She notices the anxious look in Danny's eyes. She knows she would be happy here ..with Danny at her side...

M: Let's do it!

Danny's mouth is instantly on hers; locked in a passionate kiss. They part and press their foreheads together.

M: Our own home....

"I sit and wait
Does an Angel contemplate my fate
And do they know
The places where we go
When we're grey and old
For I have been told
That salvation lets their wings unfold
So when I'm lying in my bed
And I feel that love is dead
I'm loving angels instead"

Michelle and Danny are dancing in the living room of their new home. It is evening, and the room is illuminated only by candles and a raging fire. Danny is in black slacks and a dark burgundy button down shirt-with the top few buttons undone. Michelle is in a sleeveless dark blue dress. Their arms are wrapped tightly around one another, swaying to the music.

M: (laying her head on Danny's shoulder) I love this--all of this. Our freedom (moves in to kiss him)...the privacy..

D: Mmmm, especially that. It's been a long ride, but we are finally where; together and inseparable.

Their kiss deepens and becomes more and more passionate by the second.

"And through it all she offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether I'm right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call she won't forsake me
I'm loving angels instead"

M: (In between kisses) I love this song.

D: I love you.

They continue to kiss/dance. Danny slowly moves his hands up and down Michelle's back. Michelle caresses the back of his neck, and the dark curls that reside there.

"When I'm feeling weak
And my pain walks down a one way street
I look above
And I know I'll always be blessed with love
And as the feeling grows
She breathes flesh to my bones
And when love is dead
I'm loving angels instead" *

Danny lifts Michelle into his arms, still kissing her, and heads toward their bedroom.

D: You're my angel.

The End