Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Ellie was very aware that Michael's parents had followed her to the hospital, but she was pretty sure she had lost them in the parking lot. Ellie bolted up the stairs and moved quickly to Michael's hospital room. She opened the door and quickly shut it. Ellie leaned against the door and caught her breath.
"Ellie?" She looked up at Starr and Michael, who looked confused. Ellie dropped the bag on the ground and slumped against the door.
"I'm really sorry about what may or may not occur," Ellie said, moving away from the door.
"What are you talking about?" Starr asked. Ellie sighed as she down in a chair that was leaning against the wall facing Michael's bed. Suddenly, the door flew open and Carly came running in with Sonny behind. She saw Michael and gasped.
"Michael," Carly said, her eyes tearing up. "Are you okay?" Carly moved towards her son and Starr quickly moved away. "What happened?"
"I'm fine," Michael said.
"When Ellie said you were in the hospital I got so worried," Carly said. Michael shot Ellie a look and she mouthed 'sorry'.
"What happened?" Sonny asked, noticing the bruises and black eye.
"Nothing," Michael said. "I'm fine."
"Tell them," Starr said. Sonny looked over at Starr, confused.
"And what is she doing here?" Sonny asked, pointing at Starr. Michael looked at Starr and sighed.
"She's here because she's my girlfriend," Michael said. Carly would have said something to her ex-husband about her being right, but she was too concerned over Michael.
"Since when?" Sonny asked.
"A couple of weeks," Michael responded. Sonny raised his eyebrows and looked over at Starr. Starr looked down at the floor.
"A couple of weeks?" Sonny asked. "And you never thought to tell me or your mother?"
"Sonny not now," Carly said.
"You were the one ranting and raving over this before," Sonny pointed out.
"That was before I found out what happened to Michael," Carly said. She turned to Michael and gently pressed her hand against his cheek. Michael winced and Carly pulled her hand away. "Honey, what happened?" Michael didn't say anything, just looked away from his parents.
"Michael, tell them," Starr said. Michael still didn't say anything and Starr frowned. "He got beat up."
"Starr," Michael said, looking at his girlfriend. Carly and Sonny both looked at Michael in shock.
"Who?" Sonny asked. Michael looked away from Sonny. "Michael, who did this to you?"
"It's not going to change anything," Michael said.
"No," Sonny said. "But you're my son. And when someone hurts my family, they have to answer to me." Michael shut his eyes and took a deep breath. He knew his father wouldn't let up until he told him.
"I didn't see them," Michael said. "But I think it was Starr's dad."
"Todd Manning?" Carly asked and Michael nodded. "That bastard is staying at my hotel."
"Mom," Michael said, but Carly ignored him and glared at Starr.
"This is all your fault," Carly said, stepping towards her.
"My fault?" Starr asked incredulously.
"Mom!" Michael shouted. He grabbed for Carly's arm and immediately regretted his decision. His ribs started burning from the movement and Michael hissed in pain. Starr ran over to him.
"You stay away from him," Carly said. "It's your fault he's in here."
"Okay hold up," Ellie said, stepping between Starr and Carly. "It is not Starr's fault that Michael is in the hospital. Her father did this and she cannot control his messed up and clearly crazy actions." She turned to Starr. "No offense."
"None taken," Starr said, looking away from Carly.
"Now all you are doing is making things worse," Ellie said. Then a realization hit her. She turned to Starr. "How did your dad even find out?"
"I have no clue," Starr said. "Someone must have told him." Ellie nodded and turned towards Carly.
"Very few people knew about their relationship," Ellie said. "And you certainly weren't pleased about it when you found out about them." Ellie shook her head. "And then you said that Starr's dad is staying at your hotel. So how did he find out?" The others in the room realized where Ellie was going with this.
"Oh my god," Starr said, quietly. She stepped away from Carly. Michael looked at Carly in disbelief.
"Mom, you didn't," Michael said. Carly, realizing what she had caused, nodded.
"You told Todd Manning about Michael and Starr?" Sonny asked. "The same man who pointed a gun at me and killed his own brother? What the hell were you thinking?"
"I was upset," Carly said. "I was mad that you kept the relationship a secret and that you were going to date someone who caused so many problems to the family."
"That didn't give you the right to tell him," Michael said. "You're standing there, blaming Starr for what happened, when it's really your fault!"
"Michael," Carly started but Michael cut her off.
"Get out," He said, glaring at her. "Now." Carly wiped some tears from her eyes.
"I'm so sorry," She said, before leaving the room. Sonny sighed and walked over to Michael.
"I'm fine," Michael mumbled. Sonny patted him on the shoulder.
"I'll check up on you tomorrow," Sonny said. "Feel better son." Michael nodded. Sonny looked at the two girls before leaving the room. Michael leaned his head back against his pillow. Starr sat down back in the seat she had been occupying.
"Michael?" Starr asked quietly. Michael shook his head, indicating that he didn't want to talk. Starr gently took his hand. Michael squeezed his eyes shut and Starr looked at Ellie. Ellie walked briskly over to the other side of Michael's bed. She sunk down into the seat and took Michael's other hand. Michael opened his eyes and looked at the two girls. Then he broke down. He just couldn't believe what his mom had caused. Neither Starr nor Ellie let go of his hands as he cried.
The next day, Michael was still in the hospital. He had recovered from what had happened after he found out what Carly had done, but he still didn't want to talk about it. Currently, he was in the hospital bed, reading. Starr was next to him, on the side of the bed by the window, writing a new song. Ellie was closest to the door, reading a magazine. There was a knock on the door and Ellie glanced at Michael.
"Can you?" Michael asked. It had been decided that Ellie was on family control duty. They were assuming by now that everyone knew about Michael and Starr. The door opened and Ellie stood up. Dante walked in, with Lulu behind him.
"Hey," Dante said, acknowledging Ellie. Ellie looked over at Michael who nodded. Ellie stepped aside and Dante walked over to his brother. "Hey Michael, how are you doing?"
"I've been better," Michael said.
"At least you've got people keeping you company," Dante said, looking over at Starr. She looked up at Dante. "Thank you for watching over my little brother." Starr nodded. "I don't know about anyone else, but I just want you two to know that if you're both happy, then I'm happy for you." Starr looked at Michael and smiled.
"Thanks Dante," Michael said, smiling at him. "That means a lot." Lulu, who was still by the door finally stepped towards Michael, clearly upset.
"Michael I'm so sorry," Lulu said. "When Sonny told us what happened and what your mom did, I felt horrible. If I hadn't told her, this would have never happened."
"It would have come out eventually," Michael said.
"I'm really sorry," Lulu said.
"It's alright," Michael said. "I forgive you." He looked at Starr who nodded. "We forgive you." Lulu smiled a little.
"We'll get going," Dante said. "But feel better, okay?" Michael nodded.
"Thanks for stopping by," Michael said. Then Lulu and Dante left.
"That was nice of them," Starr said. Michael smiled.
"Yeah," He said, as he gently rubbed his thumb across her hand. Maybe their families knowing about the relationship wouldn't be so bad.
A few hours later, Ellie had moved next to Starr. It was only because Starr wanted to paint her nails after Michael had fallen asleep.
"So are you worried that his dad is going to do something to your dad?" Ellie asked quietly. Starr glanced over at Michael.
"A little," Starr said. "But I think he realized how upset Michael was over what his mom did. I would hope Sonny would have the tact to at least wait until Michael is out of the hospital." Ellie smirked at the comment. Suddenly, the door flew open. The two girls looked up. Starr immediately recognized Alexis Davis, Sonny's lawyer from the trial, but she didn't recognize the other two girls.
"Oh he's asleep," The smaller girl said quietly.
"You can wake him up," Ellie said. "He's been asleep for a while, anyways." She nodded but looked at Ellie warily. "I'm Ellie, a friend of Michael's from PCU." She nodded again and walked over to Michael. She gently shook his shoulder and Michael's eyes slowly opened.
"Hey Molly," Michael said, smiling when he saw her.
"Michael I'm so glad you're okay," Molly said, hugging him.
"Yeah we were really worried when Dad told us," The other girl said stepping forward. Ellie looked at Starr who mouthed 'his sister' to her. Starr had never met Kristina, but Michael had shown her a bunch of pictures of her.
"Yeah I'm fine," Michael said. "Hopefully I'll be released from the hospital tonight or tomorrow."
"At least you have company," Molly said, looking over at Ellie and Starr. Kristina eyed Starr. Her mom had told her about the trial and how Starr had tried to kill Sonny.
"What is she doing here?" Kristina asked. Starr looked away, used to the disapproving look from anyone related to Sonny.
"Kristina stop it," Michael said gently, looking at his sister. "Starr is here because she's my girlfriend and I want her here." Alexis, who already had heard about Michael and Starr from Sonny, watched Kristina carefully.
"Wow," Molly said, looking back and forth between Michael and Starr. "That's beautiful. I mean overcoming such horrible family drama to be together? That's so romantic. Like Romeo and Juliet."
"Hold up kid," Ellie said. "Michael's already in the hospital, we don't need to go comparing his relationship to a tragic love story that ends in death." Molly looked a little embarrassed but Michael chuckled.
"Thanks Molly," Michael said. "And ignore Ellie, she's not very romantic." Ellie stuck her tongue out at Michael who rolled his eyes, but still smiled.
"Alright girls," Alexis said to her daughters. "Why don't we let Michael rest?"
"Okay," Molly said. She gave Michael another hug. "Feel better Michael." Michael nodded and smiled at Molly. Molly walked over to Alexis. Kristina stared at Michael, her arms crossed over her chest. Michael opened his arms a little, in a way that was asking if Kristina would give him a hug. She looked at Starr before sighing and walking over to Michael. She hugged him and ruffled his hair a little. Michael smiled at Kristina before she walked over to her mother. Molly waved at the other three before they left.
"That wasn't terrible," Ellie said. "Molly's kind of adorable." Michael chuckled.
"She's always been a hopeless romantic," Michael said. He looked at Starr. "Kristina will warm up, I promise." Starr nodded and leaned forward. She gently kissed Michael on the cheek.
"Everything's going to be fine," She promised him. And this time, more than anything, she wanted that to be true.
"Home sweet home," Starr said as she opened the door to Michael's apartment. Michael smiled at her as he walked into the apartment. He had been released from the hospital that day and was glad to be out of there. Starr shut the door and turned to Michael. "Alright come on."
"Where?" Michael asked.
"To bed," Starr said. "The doctor said you still have to rest."
"Starr I've been lying in a hospital bed for three days," Michael complained. "Please don't make me lie around and do nothing."
"Come on Mister," Starr said, taking hold of his arm. She walked towards the bedroom and Michael begrudgingly followed. Michael sighed and lay down on the bed. Starr put his bag down on the dresser and turned to him. "Is there anything you need? Food, water, a book?"
"No," Michael said. "But if I have to lie here, can you at least join me?" Starr smiled and walked to the other side of the bed. She lay down next to Michael and cuddled up to him. Michael wrapped his arm around her. "Thank you."
"Well you could use the company," Starr said. Michael smiled at her.
"I meant for everything," Michael said. Starr smiled and gently kissed him. She rested her head on Michael's chest and closed her eyes. Michael smiled again before closing his eyes and falling asleep.
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