When Love & Hate Collide
      Chapter 1
 

 
Michelle anxiously stood at the gate waiting to board her flight. "Last call Flight 837 to Springfield," she heard a voice overhead say. Springfield she thought to herself. Why was she doing this again. Dredging up all those memories that she had successfully buried. But had she really? He fingers went instinctively to the chain around her neck. On that chain was her wedding ring. She knew that she should have tucked it away in that box with all things from her marriage to Danny but when the time came to do it. She couldn't bring herself to.
        "Miss," the flight attendant's voice startled her, "Miss, are you on this flight? We're just about to close the gate."
Michelle picked up her carry on and walked up the ramp. She had wished that Dylan had been able to come with her. They had just graduated NYU and in a few weeks would be starting their residency. She had begged him to come with her. She could see him smiling at her as she stood on her tip toes to make eye contact. 'Chelle, I can't. As much as I would love to meet your family and friends I haven't seen my family in over a year. This will the last time I get the chance to before all the craziness of our careers start again. Please try to understand." He then kissed the tip of her nose.
Michelle did understand but that hadn't made going home alone any easier. She settled into her seat for the two hour flight. In two short hours she would be back where it all began. Again her hand went to that ring.
She fingered the smooth gold band. It had been four years since their marriage had been annulled. Yet the way she felt right now it could have been just yesterday. Danny had walked out of the Bauer kitchen signed papers in hand. Michelle stood motionless yet every part of her body told her to run after him. Confess your love to him. Funny as it was they both knew they loved one another but it hadn't been enough. "But it should have been," Michelle whispered closing her eyes. She willed herself not to cry. Closing her eyes only served to conjure up the image of Danny's face. She could see his dark eyes and chocolates curls, the easy curve of his mouth when he smiled. She could hear his laugh, feel his touch. Stop it she scolded herself. You both have moved on the way it was supposed to be. "You have Dylan now. He's a good man and he loves you," she said aloud pushing Danny Santos to the remotest part of her mind.

Michelle ordered a drink and tried to relax. Flying had never been her favorite thing but driving from New York to Springfield had not been an option. She wanted to make it in time for Jesse and Drew's wedding.
Drew and Michelle had remained friends the distance had never been an obstacle for them. The computer age had seen to that. E-mails, faxes and cell phones had been a god sent for them.
Drew knew it was a lot to ask of her friend to return to Springfield but she couldn't imagine Michelle not being there to share in her joy. The joy of becoming Jesse's wife finally. Drew had even gone as far as planning their wedding around Michelle's schedule. She wanted her to be her maid of honor. Michelle had 3 weeks between graduation and her residency. So naturally the wedding would be then.
Three weeks in Springfield Michelle thought to herself. She didn't know if was really up for this. Had Dylan have come, she would have been forced to forget about Danny and form new memories of Springfield with him, but since he hadn't she was stuck looking back instead of forward.
Drew had told her that Danny had left Springfield shortly after she had. She wasn't sure of all the details but he had headed to Chicago to work on something for the family.
Drew assured Michelle that Danny Santos spent very little time in Springfield anymore. The likelihood of her having any contact with him was slim to none. Michelle had mixed feelings about that though. Her head told her it was for the best but her heart ached for him all the while. Still three weeks that was a long time though and anything was possible.
Michelle heard the captain call for all cigarettes to be extinguished and seat belts to be fastened. They were making their descent into Springfield. They should be on the ground shortly.
        "Well here goes nothing," Michelle smiled as she debarked the plane.
In four years Springfield had changed very little. She felt she could pick up right where she had left off. Like a book that had been set aside for awhile. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. Now there were two books rather then one and hers had a new hero by the of Dylan Pierce.
Summer had hit Springfield with vengeance. Michelle removed her blazer as she walked through the terminal to the baggage pick up area. She had thought that she would feel strange but she didn't. As a matter of fact she felt completely at ease. "Maybe this won't be as bad as I thought," she said to herself. She would delight in seeing Rick, Abby and her nephew that up until now she had only seen in the form of a picture. This was her home and she had every right to be there.
Michelle stood on the curb waiting for Drew to arrive. She had insisted on picking her up. Said they were in need of some serious girl time. Michelle relented knowing the Drew would not take no for an answer.
        "My purse," Michelle said searching through the bags beside her. "Damn!" She retraced her steps trying to find the missing object. She wasn't watching where she was headed and ran head on into someone rushing in the opposite direction.
        "Excuse me," she froze at the sound of the voice.
        "Danny.........Michelle........," they said in unison.