Tony hung up the phone and booked himself a flight leaving at 5am. Michelle didn't have to go in to work first thing in the morning so she could wait until he got there. She had mentioned she had to hand in a report she had finished by lunchtime but other than that there wasn't any major commitment she had at the office. He was going to arrange for them to both have a few days break from work to sort themselves out.
He began to pack and get himself ready, he would need to leave for the airport in a few hours. He was trying to think but his mind was racing faster than he could keep up. There was so much to take in, so much to work out and he needed to pull himself together. This was his chance with Michelle, for happiness, and he wasn't going to let this one pass him by. He hated that she was sitting in her hotel room alone. His phone rang..
"Almeida."
"Are you really coming?"
"Michelle....I've already booked a flight – I'll be there when you wake up."
"But you don't have too, you know that right? I'm not pressuring you....I want you to only do what you want to do. You don't need to worry about me, like don't feel like..."
She was talking so fast, Tony could tell she was panicking. "Hey hey hey....stop." She finally stopped but he could hear her trying to catch her breath. "I'm coming because I want to Chelle. I want to be with you."
"But, I don't...."
"Michelle...."
When he knew she was listening he started again. "Do you want me there with you?"
She was crying. She was nodding her head but couldn't talk. Tony's heart was pounding as he listened to her crying. "Yes."
"Then I'll be there. Please stop worrying, don't you realise that I need to be with you right now Michelle?"
Michelle was beginning to calm down but her voice was still jerky. "I don't know Tony, I don't know what to think. I know you are a good guy who will do the right thing but I don't want to confuse that for anything else..."
"What are you saying Michelle? You think I am just coming there because I think it is the right thing to do, not because it is what I really want?"
Michelle could tell she had offended Tony but she really hadn't meant to. She was just so emotional and all over the place she didn't know what was going on. Looking around the empty hotel room she felt so alone. "I'm sorry Tony, I don't want to upset you....ignore me, and I am just a little lost at the moment. I shouldn't have even called you back....I just feel lonely here."
Tony flopped himself down on his bed. The morning just wasn't coming fast enough. Guilt sat in his throat that because of him Michelle was sitting in a lonely hotel room by herself right now. They way he had acted over the last month certainly wouldn't be making anything easier for her either. She had a month of his crap and only one email showing his true feelings. How could he expect her to truly believe he would be there for her and because he wanted too? Although he had no idea how he was going to work it all out, it was very clear that this was what he wanted. He would have to show her exactly how he felt. For now he just wanted to calm her down so she would get through the next few hours until he could get to her.
"Michelle, what are you doing right now?"
"Just pacing the room, I don't know...talking to you."
He used a very soothing tone. "I want you to stay on the phone with me as you change into something to sleep in." She began to do as he had asked. "Chelle are you doing that?"
"Yeah."
"Ok good. Once you are ready for bed I want you to switch the light off so the room is completely dark and crawl into the bed.....stay on the line with me." Michelle almost felt relieved having someone else telling her what to do, it helped her relax and finally just concentrate on what was going on at that minute.
"Alright I'm in bed with the lights out."
"Good. Now I want you to close your eyes and get comfortable."
"My eyes are hard to keep closed I...."
"Chelle you have to really try and keep them shut. I want you to forget about everything else right now. I'll be there in the morning and we will go through everything together, ok? I'll stay with you on the line for as long as you need, just imagine I have you wrapped in my arms....you can talk to me when ever you want – or you don't have to talk at all."
He chatted quietly to her for a few moments, she listened and slowly felt herself calm down a little. The sound of his voice was very soothing. Just as she was about to drop off another thought came racing through her head.
"Oh my God Tony, imagine what your parents will think of me now...they must already think I am some 'easy' woman that had a one night stand..."
"Stop it Michelle. You are supposed to be calming down, not getting more worked up. My parents are going to love you. I've already told them about our history and how much I care for you. Now I want you to take a couple deep breaths."
He listened to her do as he asked. "Ok now I want you to think about how good it is going to be when we are together tomorrow. I'm going to hold you forever. Then I'm taking you out for a romantic dinner and we are going to have so much fun...."
He kept talking about all the things they could do, like going to a movie or walks – anything he could think of. He would repeat over and over to her that it was ok to fall asleep. When she was beginning to only respond in small moans he told her to turn her phone off and go straight to sleep. She did but not before telling him that he was the best person she knew.
Once he was off the phone Tony tried himself to get a few hours sleep. As he drifted off he pictured everything he had just told Michelle.
Michelle woke to the knocking on her door. Still half asleep she answered it in just her underwear and a long t-shirt. Tony stood on the other side, a few moments passed as it sunk in that they were finally seeing each other again. This was the first time since the morning at his house. Michelle's body pumped with excitement at seeing Tony. Tears of relief and happiness filled her eyes and she completely surprised him by jumping into his arms. She wrapped herself around his neck. He let his bags drop off his shoulders and then picked her up and half spun them both around. The warm special feeling he only ever had with Michelle returned and his body began to tingle again just being so close to her.
Minutes passed and they continued to hold each other tightly. Eventually they kissed very tenderly and sweetly on the lips. They both had to pull back before they got too carried away. Tony had bought a pregnancy test on his way. Before they took any more steps forward with this he wanted a second test to be done to make 100 sure. He had heard before that sometimes they could be wrong. He kept holding her hand as he fished the package out of his bag and handed it to her.
"I thought we should double check all this. I don't want us to get too excited and then find the first test wasn't right or something. Will you take another one Chelle?"
She nodded her head and took the box from his hand. Butterflies ripped through her stomach – she hadn't given any of this a thought before now. She wondered how she would feel if the test had been wrong....she wondered what Tony would feel.
"Tony....what do you hope it says?"
A little smile appeared on his face, he almost looked a little nervous. "Honestly?"
Michelle braced herself to hear him say 'negative'. She wished she hadn't asked him, for her own sake it was probably best if she didn't know. "Be honest Tony."
He kissed her on the forehead and then held her cheek in his hand and gently used his thumb to massage her. "Positive.....I hope it is positive Michelle."
Michelle found herself almost laughing in relief. She was still dumbstruck by his reaction to all this. She slipped into the bathroom.
Tony bought his bags in and shut the door. His nerves got the better of him and he paced the room rubbing his face. He tried to stand still but became so restless that he had to start moving around again. His eyes were peeled on the door. "How you going in there? What's taking so long?" He sat on the bed and stood straight back up again.
The door flung open and Michelle stood with a very neutral look on her face that Tony couldn't read. "Well?"
A smile began to spread across her face, "We are going to have a baby Tony."
"Holy shit...Oh my God Michelle.....I'm so happy." He grabbed her body and pressed himself against her. "I can't believe you are making me a father..." He kissed her passionately, exploring her mouth with his tongue. He would leave her lips only to kiss her neck, cheeks, ear, forehead and chin.
The loneliness had left Michelle and she couldn't have felt more complete. He was going crazy kissing her everywhere and so intensely – she could really tell how excited he was. She heard him groan deeply as he ran his tongue across her shoulders. It felt so nice to be so close to him again. She was surprised that they were every bit as heated and passionate as they had been when they were both drunk. There just seemed to a raw energy between them and each touch made them more and more desperate for one another.
Michelle was the one to finally break them apart. "Do you want to go out for breakfast.....and talk?"
"Sounds perfect. Do I get to take you in just that?" He made himself giggle.
"You wish buddy. Now turn around while I change!
"What? You're having my baby but I can't even watch you get changed?" He was amused with her shyness.
"That's right.....you need to earn that right!"
He laughed and turned his head away. "Did me making love to you get me a little closer?"
She had to laugh, she was loving seeing this side of Tony. He was so cheeky and playful, something she didn't see a lot of at work. "You know mister....we may have had sex but we managed to miss doing just about everything in between. There are many things that will always help you get closer and closer."
She could hear him chuckle. She didn't notice him slyly turn his head to look at her. He caught her in just underwear, no top, not even a bra. He gave himself away..."Oohh Michelle.....you are just so damn sexy. I'm telling you now, there is no way I 'll ever be able to handle missing out on any chance to see your gorgeous body." She stood shocked, still coming to grips with seeing this side of him. She loved how he spoke to her, how he looked at her and how he edged himself toward her. "HEY....you cheated!"
He ran his hands from her shoulders down across her chest. He spoke as he leaned in to kiss her bare skin. "I know.....feel free to punish me." He pressed her up against the wall and began to explore her body with his hands and mouth. She pulled his shirt off and began to nibble and use her tongue on his chest. They both were so lost in one another that Tony's phone had to ring out once and then start again before they snapped back into reality. Tony was going to ignore it but Michelle told him not worry and get it.
As he spoke to Chappelle who needed codes for some files, Michelle got herself completely dressed. She even managed to do her hair and makeup. A look of deep disappointment crossed his face when he hung up and turned back around to her.
"Hey – well that is not fair! What is up with that?!?"
Michelle looked at him seductively. She walked up to him and handed him his shirt. "You said I was free to punish you...."
"Talk about shooting myself in the foot!" He pulled his top back on over his head. Michelle headed for the door.
"Breakfast? I'm starving."
"Of course." As he followed her to the door she let him catch up and then kissed him sweetly on the lips.
"You are so handsome Tony. I've never felt more attracted to anyone in my life.....you are perfect for me."
She loved seeing the look this comment offered. His eyes glowed and for once he was at a loss for words. She grabbed his hand and led him out the door.