Promises
          Chapter 18 
 

Danny woke with a start the next morning when he felt her get out of the bed. He had grown accustomed to sleeping lightly and he was aware of her every move.
"Baby, you okay?" he asked groggily.
"I'm just going to take a shower," she whispered as she gave him a quick kiss. "Go back to sleep."
He was happy to oblige. It seemed like it had been months since he had gotten a good night's sleep. And last night was no exception. Michelle had cried herself to sleep in his arms. She had a restless night, tossing and turning. He could only imagine with all the talk of her mother and seeing her father again after so long had stirred up memories for her. She had cried out a couple of times during the night and he responded by wrapping his arms around her to comfort her until she fell back to sleep.
Michelle turned on the water as hot as she could stand it. She couldn't help but replay her dreams from last night in her head again. The day her mother died had been the worst day of her life…a day she would never forget. Somehow though, after Danny had come in her life, she was able to remember more of the happy times with her mother. But after last night, the nightmares of that day were back. She loved her father with all her heart, and she was truly happy to see him again. But she couldn't make herself forget what he had done to her mother. If he and Lillian hadn't… No she couldn't think that way. Her mother was gone and nothing was going to change that. Danny had been so sweet last night, holding her every time she woke up from one of the nightmares. She thanked God again for bringing him into her life. It wasn't until she met him that she was able to move past the pain and hurt she felt over her mother's death. Loving Danny, she knew how her mother had felt about her father. She knew what it felt like to love someone so much it hurt. And if that someone hurt you, you could forgive them. She was sure her mother would have done that, if she had had the chance.
Danny opened one eye to peer at the clock. Michelle had been in the shower for over thirty minutes. He could hear the water still running, but he couldn't hear her moving around. He jumped out of bed and knocked on the door.
"Michelle, honey, are you okay?" he asked.
When he didn't hear an answer, he walked in. He moved the curtain back and found her standing there with the water beating against her face. Suddenly she began to turn around and when she opened her eyes she screamed.
"It's just me," he smiled.
"You scared me to death," she cried with her hand over her heart. "I thought I've told you about sneaking up on me."
"Sorry," he said. "I asked you if you were alright, but you didn't answer."
"I guess I didn't hear you over the water," she said. "Well, since you're getting all wet, you might as well join me."
"Thought you would never ask," he grinned, pulling his pajama bottoms off and stepping into the shower.
"Since when do you need an invitation?" she questioned playfully.
"I didn't know if you wanted company," he said seriously.
"I appreciate that," she said handing him the bar of soap. "I'm sorry about last night. I know you couldn't have gotten much sleep either with me tossing and turning all night."
"Don't worry about me," he rubbed the soap over her back. "I just wish you could have gotten more sleep. You need it more than me."
"I guess seeing my dad again and thinking more about my mom stirred up a lot of memories…some good, some not so good," she said sadly.
Danny turned her around to face him. "I want you to have only good memories from now on."
She smiled up at her husband, "You are so wonderful. What did I ever do to deserve you?"
"I'm definitely the lucky one," he smiled back as he lowered his lips to hers.
His lips traveled down her neck as his hands drifted from her back to her stomach. When he realized where his hand had landed, he pulled back to look at her. He swallowed hard realizing that their baby was right there beneath his hand. A baby…it was still so hard to believe. Michelle suddenly shivered and broke him away from his thoughts.
"Cold?" he whispered, wrapping his arms tighter around her. "Guess you've already used up the hot water."
"I think so," she said breathlessly as he began pressing kisses to her neck again.
"What do you say we go warm ourselves up?" he said as his lips found hers again.
Her only response was to open the shower door and push him out into their bedroom..

Later that morning, Danny went downstairs to his office while Michelle slept. He made the necessary phone calls to see if there was any new developments. Frank didn't have anything new. There were no fingerprints found in the house except for theirs. The toxicology reports didn't offer any clues either. Frustrated, Danny tried his family connections. None of his contacts had heard anything, but they warned him he was stirring up a hornet's nest by making accusations. The other families didn't take too kindly to be being threatened, so he better watch his back. Danny slammed the phone down on his desk. How can it be possible that no one knew anything? He had to find out the truth soon. Michelle would be showing before much longer and he didn't want anyone to find out about the baby just yet. The baby would just be another target and he would never let that happen.
He worried about Michelle starting back to school. She would be an easy target out in the open like that. But Carlos was the best and he trusted him when he promised nothing would happen to her. He couldn't ask Michelle to put her life on hold anymore than she already had. He would just have to trust her to stay close to Carlos.

Ed came over later that afternoon and spent the day with them. Danny cooked them dinner while Michelle spent time catching up with her father. She gave him a quick tour of the house and afterwards they sat down in the living room.
"So where's the wedding video you said I could see?" he asked.
"I'll put it in," Michelle said, getting up from the sofa.
She filtered through all the movies her and Danny had collected and finally found the tape from the wedding. She put the tape in and turned on the television. Grabbing the remote, she sat back down beside her father.
The tape began with Ray giving an opening introduction. "This is a blessed day for the Santos family as two souls who were destined for one another join together as man and wife. Danny, what can I say. We've grown up together. You're my best friend. It does my heart good to see you so happy. You've spent years looking for your soul mate and I'm so glad you finally found her. Michelle, I've only known you for a short while, but it doesn't take long to see the light in your eyes. You make my cousin so happy and I know he will do everything in his power to make you just as happy. I wish you both love, health, happiness and blessings for a wonderful marriage."
"That was Ray," Michelle explained. "He's a priest at St. Joseph's."
"A Santos as a priest," Ed raised his eyebrows. "I never would have thought that."
"Dad," Michelle groaned.
"I'm sorry," he frowned.
After Ray's speech came other varied family members and friends of Danny's. Drew and Rick didn't say much except to say they hoped Michelle would be happy. The next shot was of Danny and Ray entering and standing next to the priest. Danny's face was pale and he kept wiping his hands on his jacket.
"Danny seemed to be a little nervous," Ed commented.
"I think he was," Michelle smiled. "But what groom isn't nervous on his wedding day."
The camera panned around to see Rick walking Michelle down the aisle. As he gave Michelle's hand to Danny, the camera focused on Danny's face. At that moment, looking at the expression on Danny Santos' face, Ed Bauer had no doubt this man loved his little girl. And as they repeated their vows to one another, he also noticed the sparkle in Michelle's eyes. He knew this wedding wasn't the normal wedding, but it was obvious these two people were in love.
After the ceremony, there was some footage of the reception. Michelle let the tape finish before she said anything.
As she hit the rewind button, she looked at her dad, "So what did you think?"
"I'm sorry I wasn't there," he said.
"It wasn't your fault," Michelle explained. "I know if I had told you about it, you would have been there. But like I said things were different back then."
"You were in love with him then, weren't you?" he asked.
"I didn't know it, but I yes I was," she shook her head. "I loved him then and I love him now."
"All I've ever wanted was for you to be happy," he said.
"I know," she said. "But Dad, I am happy. Danny and I love each other as much as you and Mom loved each other."
"Just don't let anything come between you," he looked her in the eyes. "If there is ever a problem, don't just let it go. Talk it out. Don't ever lose the trust you share."
"I know you and Mom had your problems," Michelle began. "But she loved you. She never stopped loving you."
Ed leaned over to hug his daughter. "I loved her too. I still do."
"Dinner…" Danny started as he entered the room. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt."
"It's okay," Michelle said, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"I just wanted to let you know that dinner is ready," Danny finished.
"I think I'd like to wash up first," he said, patting Michelle's hand. "I'll be right back."
Danny watched him as he exited the room and then he sat down beside Michelle. He reached for her hand and placed a kiss on her knuckles. Then he leaned in to press a soft kiss on her lips. "How's my girl?"
"You do know how much I love you, don't you?" she whispered.
"I know," he smiled as he pulled her into his arms.