Part 8: New Developments

See Part 1 for disclaimers

Okay, so it's a cliffhanger ending! Heehee, I love it when I'm giving cliffhangers, but not when I'm getting them, lol. ;) I have to keep you in suspense for a little bit. I really love you guys, please review! Manda

Less than a month after Michael and Natalie's first kiss, things had already begun improving for her. She had gotten a temporary job at Carlotta's diner, and she went out regularly with Michael. On her bad days he was always there to comfort her, and on her good days he was always there too.

But there was one thing that had Natalie truly worried, and she was terrified to tell anyone, even Michael. She was late; really late, and she'd woken up for the last week throwing up. She was terrified to go to a doctor or even get one of those tests, because she was sure they would confirm what she knew was true: she was pregnant with her rapist's child.

Natalie knew she would have to find out for sure eventually, but for now she was intent on enjoying every moment she had with Michael. She knew that he wouldn't want to stay with a woman carrying another man's child, but she refused to even think about the alternative. That had always seemed to her to be the worst crime anyone could commit, and she could never understand how a woman could kill her own child, no matter what the circumstances of the baby's conception, and she still held onto that even now.

Finally, two weeks after she'd begun having morning sickness she went to her gynecologist, who did some tests and told her they'd call her with the results as soon as they came in. That night, she dressed as unflatteringly as she could, putting on her oldest pair of faded blue jeans and a hideous pink shirt that looked horrible with her hair. She knew the truth deep in her heart, and she knew that she couldn't let Michael feel obligated into staying with her.

When he arrived that night he said nothing about her attire. He just kissed her and said that she looked gorgeous. She smiled weakly and led him to the library, making sure to sit across from him. "Michael, I can't see you anymore." His happy grin slowly faded. "What?" She bit her lip and stared down at her hands as she repeated, "I can't see you anymore. I'm sorry, but I can't be with you."

He moved to her side and took her hands into his, lifting her chin so that she had to meet his gaze. "I know you don't mean that. What brought this on? You know you can tell me anything. I love you, Natalie. I thought you knew that." The tears she had been holding back began to fall freely as she pulled her hands back.

"Please, just go. I can't do this…" She stood and ran from the room, but he followed her, catching her in the foyer. He turned her around to face him and kissed her forehead. "Hey, something is wrong. I thought you trusted me enough to know that you never have to hold anything back." She looked up at the heavens for guidance, tears still streaming.

"I do trust you, Michael. God help me, I love you too." Michael's heart jumped, but plunged at her next words. "That's exactly why I have to let you go," she whispered, turning to walk away. He grabbed her arm and she jerked it away, screaming, "Just go!" Stunned, he dropped her arm and watched, disbelieving, as she ran up the stairs. He slowly walked out the front door, fighting back tears. He would cry those when he got back home.

Upstairs, Natalie sobbed harder than she ever had before in her life. She was lying on her back, hands held protectively on her stomach. "I'm so sorry, baby. He would have been a great daddy, but I couldn't do that to him. I would have always wondered if he felt 'trapped' into being with us…" Just then, her phone rang. She answered it, and got the shock of her life…

TO BE CONTINUED