Fifth Month
Revelations & Consequences
Bonnie walked carefully through the vast expanse that served as the Foundation's gardens. The sun was just rising in the east and cast a golden glow across the many colorful flowers, making the place seem just one step away from Heaven. Her slipper-clad feet brushed softly across the dew coated blades of grass, leaving a darkened trail in her wake.
She was searching for the one spot she liked the most, the spot where the main gardens branched off to lead to the guest houses. At that spot there was a bench, right near an archway that was always coated with white blossoms. It was a peaceful place to sit and think, and she had been coming out here every morning to do quite a bit of thinking.
She tightened her robe slightly, she never bothered to dress when she came out here, for what was the point? Who would care if they saw her in her bathrobe and nightgown? No one, that's who; she thought bitterly. Her hands brushed over the now visible bulge that was her 22 week along pregnancy. It was no longer a secret to anyone.
She found the bench and sat down on the slightly damp surface, feeling the moisture as a chilly wetness as she settled herself. She was very torn this morning, torn with conflicting feelings over the major decision she had been brooding over for the past few days.
She considered her recent past. Five months ago, she had been happy. Four months ago, her world had been torn out from under her when she discovered that she was pregnant. From that moment on she had lived in fear of discovery.
Four weeks ago, Kitt had discovered her condition and had promised not to tell Michael. It was a promise that the AI had a whole lot of trouble keeping, for Michael had been very diligent in trying to get Kitt to speak. Kitt had proven himself trustworthy and had kept the secret.
Ten days ago, Michael had figured it out on his own. Bonnie sat in the rising sun and thought back to that day when he had come back from that fateful mission.
He had pulled into Bay 3 where Bonnie was busy brewing coffee in preparation for Kitt's arrival back. She had cut back majorly on the caffeinated stuff due to her condition, but she still allowed herself a mug or two before starting any heavy work.
After being notified that they were on their way back, Bonnie had set up the basic components to test and realign any of Kitt's systems that might have been damaged during the mission. She had been unprepared for what had happened next.
Michael had pulled the car into the bay at a very fast rate of speed. The black car had slid to a stop, just inches from the wall. Michael had jumped from the car and immediately made a beeline for the area where Bonnie was standing, coffeepot in hand, looking surprised.
He disregarded the fact that Kitt had been speaking to him when he leapt from the car. Bonnie couldn't make out any of the words but she did notice that Kitt's scanner was swishing very rapidly, a sure sign of agitation in the AI.
Michael reached her and took the pot from her hand and put it down on the counter. He then grabbed her arm and instead of the welcome home hug she had been expecting, she ended up being hauled across the bay to an area where some chairs had been set up for taking breaks.
She took one look at his face and she knew at once that he KNEW. She suddenly felt as if she had swallowed a whole tray of ice cubes and they were sliding very slowly down her throat to congeal in her stomach. His normally warm blue eyes were frozen shards of the same ice she imagined she had swallowed. His face was set like stone.
He gave her a small shove and she sat into the plush chair that had seen many better days. She perched awkwardly on the edge of it and tried to reason with the man she saw standing there. "Michael…"
He halted her speech with a single look. Her voice withered away and died in her throat. He began to pace in front of her, taking most of his aggression out on the floor below. He took a few steps in either direction before turning and attempting to speak to her. This happened a few times before he finally found his voice. "Bonnie, how could you?" He stopped his pacing and took one of the folding chairs and turned it around so he could straddle it. "Why did you lie to me?" He waited only a brief moment, not long enough for her to answer before adding, "You could just have told me. Why didn't you trust me with the truth?"
Bonnie glanced once towards the spot where Kitt was parked.
He followed her eyes and shook his head. "Kitt didn't tell me a thing. I figured it out for myself. You might not think I can do it, but I can add one plus one. You left a trail that even Sherlock Holmes could easily track."
Bonnie let out a small sigh. She should have expected this. "I wanted to tell you, Michael. I was afraid of how you would react."
Michael slapped the top of the chair hard, which caused Bonnie to jump. "So what? Did you think you could hide this from me until the baby was born? Didn't you think I would notice? I am capable of handling important news, Bonnie."
"I know," she said quietly. Her heart was pounding a mile a minute and she felt like she just might pass out again. She forced her breathing to stay slow, if she fainted she figured Michael would just take it the wrong way and think she was using it as an excuse to avoid talking to him. "I just thought that with all the conversations we had about children that you wouldn't be happy with the news."
"What?!" He looked at her with a mixture of anger and disbelief. "Happy or not, I had a right not know from the start." He locked his eyes with hers and she could see none of the love she had previously found there. "At one point I just about came out and asked you and you lied to me."
She nodded and blinked back tears. She wasn't going to start crying now. "I'm sorry, Michael. I didn't want to but I didn't know how to tell you."
"Would the words 'Michael, I'm pregnant' have been to hard to use?" he asked her sarcastically. He could see that he was scaring her, but he was already fired up with his own frustration, and anger and he was hurt from her deception.
"It's not that easy," she said, hearing her voice rise as she tried to defend herself.
"Yes it was. And we could have sat down and discussed our options like adults."
"Options?" her voice cracked on the one word. "Options as in abortion?" Her eyes narrowed in barely contained anger.
"Now wait a minute," he stood quickly and the chair tumbled away from him. "Don't you put words in my mouth."
"There are no options, Michael, except adoption and if you think I'm giving my baby up then you're nuts." Her voice now was as cold as his eyes.
"Bonnie, be reasonable. We can't have a baby here! What kind of life is this for a child?" He knelt down in front of her and for a brief moment she saw a flash of warmth cross his face. "Wouldn't you like to see the baby in a loving home where it can grow up safe and happy?"
"Michael! I can't believe you would suggest such a thing!" Her face filled with her disappointment. Whatever dreams she had of them being a happy family were being dashed to pieces right in front of her eyes. "The baby will be fine with me."
"Don't you mean to say 'with us?'"
Bonnie shook her head, her dark hair brushing across her shoulders. "No, I meant exactly what I said, WITH ME. You obviously don't want children, so don't worry, I won't bother you with this one."
Michael stood now and the stone mask slid back into place. He turned his back on her and folded his arms across his chest. He wasn't about to let her see how much her words had just hurt him now. "I still should have been told."
He had to bite his cheek to keep his resolve set. He so wanted to turn around and comfort her, but his pride was wounded. All he wanted at this point was for her to admit she had been wrong. She was doing everything but that. "You had no right to keep this from me this long."
Bonnie on the other hand, needed and wanted his reassurance. "You know, you could be a bit more sympathetic. It's not easy from my side." She stood up from her chair, this conversation was not going anywhere.
"And you could be a bit more honest." He turned around to face her and the next words flew from his mouth before he even realized what he was saying. "How do I know the baby is even mine?"
He was rewarded with a very sharp gasp from Bonnie and a resounding slap to the side of his face. Bonnie burst into tears then and ran from the room.
She ran away from the garage and all the way across the courtyard to the mansion, tears flowing and dripping down her face. She ran right into Devon, who was just coming outside for a stroll.
"Whoa there. Bonnie, are you alright?" He reached into his pocket and withdrew a handkerchief which he pressed into one of her shaking hands. "There, there, now. Let's go inside and get you calmed down."
He led her into his office where he fixed her a cup of tea and let her pour her broken heart out through many sobs. She told him of her pregnancy, fully expecting him to be shocked or disgusted at her immorality. She was even expecting a lecture from the older and wiser man.
What she got instead surprised her. He walked over to her and held her, comforted her and reassured her that things would be okay. He rubbed her back gently as she cried on his shoulder and told of some of the horrible things Michael had said. In short, he did everything that Michael should have done, and more.
One he had gotten her to calm down, he even escorted her to her room to lie down. He promised that no one would disturb her. Then he had given her a fatherly hug and kiss on the forehead and told her that if she still needed to talk when she awoke, he would be there for her.
That had been ten days ago. Michael had not sought her out even once during that time. She had discovered later that he had left on a three week vacation without even saying goodbye to her.
Bonnie choked back a sob as the memory filled her. This was exactly what she had feared from the first moment she had realized that she was pregnant. She had been abandoned. Michael was gone and that was all the proof she needed of his 'love' for her. Actions did speak louder than words and he was shouting all over the place.
The sun was up now and she stood, her decision made. She would be unable to stay here, knowing that she would have to continue to work with someone who so obviously hated her.
She was going to have to leave.
She supposed that she could go back home to where her mother and sister were, and have the baby there. Anything would be better than staying here and living with her heartbreak.
It was going to hurt even more to leave Kitt again. She had left once before and had considered herself fortunate that Devon had taken her back. This time she expected that she would never see the car again. Michael had taken Kitt, so she didn't even have a chance to say goodbye to him.
She hoped that Devon would be able to get April Curtis back. The red-headed cybernetic technician had proven herself fully capable of handling Kitt on a daily basis. At least Kitt would be in good hands then.
Bonnie made her way through the gardens again and towards the main house, her mind made up and her resolve set. She would talk to Devon, and tell him she really needed to leave. She knew he would understand, possibly even make the arrangements for her, because she knew that he at least cared about what happened to her.
She was in for a rough time now. She touched the bulge that signified her new life. "Baby, I'll protect and love you no matter what," she whispered in the still morning air. "I'll never hurt you and I'll give you the best that I can."
With her eyes full of unshed tears, she reached for the mansion door, and for her date with her new future.
Revelations & Consequences
Bonnie walked carefully through the vast expanse that served as the Foundation's gardens. The sun was just rising in the east and cast a golden glow across the many colorful flowers, making the place seem just one step away from Heaven. Her slipper-clad feet brushed softly across the dew coated blades of grass, leaving a darkened trail in her wake.
She was searching for the one spot she liked the most, the spot where the main gardens branched off to lead to the guest houses. At that spot there was a bench, right near an archway that was always coated with white blossoms. It was a peaceful place to sit and think, and she had been coming out here every morning to do quite a bit of thinking.
She tightened her robe slightly, she never bothered to dress when she came out here, for what was the point? Who would care if they saw her in her bathrobe and nightgown? No one, that's who; she thought bitterly. Her hands brushed over the now visible bulge that was her 22 week along pregnancy. It was no longer a secret to anyone.
She found the bench and sat down on the slightly damp surface, feeling the moisture as a chilly wetness as she settled herself. She was very torn this morning, torn with conflicting feelings over the major decision she had been brooding over for the past few days.
She considered her recent past. Five months ago, she had been happy. Four months ago, her world had been torn out from under her when she discovered that she was pregnant. From that moment on she had lived in fear of discovery.
Four weeks ago, Kitt had discovered her condition and had promised not to tell Michael. It was a promise that the AI had a whole lot of trouble keeping, for Michael had been very diligent in trying to get Kitt to speak. Kitt had proven himself trustworthy and had kept the secret.
Ten days ago, Michael had figured it out on his own. Bonnie sat in the rising sun and thought back to that day when he had come back from that fateful mission.
He had pulled into Bay 3 where Bonnie was busy brewing coffee in preparation for Kitt's arrival back. She had cut back majorly on the caffeinated stuff due to her condition, but she still allowed herself a mug or two before starting any heavy work.
After being notified that they were on their way back, Bonnie had set up the basic components to test and realign any of Kitt's systems that might have been damaged during the mission. She had been unprepared for what had happened next.
Michael had pulled the car into the bay at a very fast rate of speed. The black car had slid to a stop, just inches from the wall. Michael had jumped from the car and immediately made a beeline for the area where Bonnie was standing, coffeepot in hand, looking surprised.
He disregarded the fact that Kitt had been speaking to him when he leapt from the car. Bonnie couldn't make out any of the words but she did notice that Kitt's scanner was swishing very rapidly, a sure sign of agitation in the AI.
Michael reached her and took the pot from her hand and put it down on the counter. He then grabbed her arm and instead of the welcome home hug she had been expecting, she ended up being hauled across the bay to an area where some chairs had been set up for taking breaks.
She took one look at his face and she knew at once that he KNEW. She suddenly felt as if she had swallowed a whole tray of ice cubes and they were sliding very slowly down her throat to congeal in her stomach. His normally warm blue eyes were frozen shards of the same ice she imagined she had swallowed. His face was set like stone.
He gave her a small shove and she sat into the plush chair that had seen many better days. She perched awkwardly on the edge of it and tried to reason with the man she saw standing there. "Michael…"
He halted her speech with a single look. Her voice withered away and died in her throat. He began to pace in front of her, taking most of his aggression out on the floor below. He took a few steps in either direction before turning and attempting to speak to her. This happened a few times before he finally found his voice. "Bonnie, how could you?" He stopped his pacing and took one of the folding chairs and turned it around so he could straddle it. "Why did you lie to me?" He waited only a brief moment, not long enough for her to answer before adding, "You could just have told me. Why didn't you trust me with the truth?"
Bonnie glanced once towards the spot where Kitt was parked.
He followed her eyes and shook his head. "Kitt didn't tell me a thing. I figured it out for myself. You might not think I can do it, but I can add one plus one. You left a trail that even Sherlock Holmes could easily track."
Bonnie let out a small sigh. She should have expected this. "I wanted to tell you, Michael. I was afraid of how you would react."
Michael slapped the top of the chair hard, which caused Bonnie to jump. "So what? Did you think you could hide this from me until the baby was born? Didn't you think I would notice? I am capable of handling important news, Bonnie."
"I know," she said quietly. Her heart was pounding a mile a minute and she felt like she just might pass out again. She forced her breathing to stay slow, if she fainted she figured Michael would just take it the wrong way and think she was using it as an excuse to avoid talking to him. "I just thought that with all the conversations we had about children that you wouldn't be happy with the news."
"What?!" He looked at her with a mixture of anger and disbelief. "Happy or not, I had a right not know from the start." He locked his eyes with hers and she could see none of the love she had previously found there. "At one point I just about came out and asked you and you lied to me."
She nodded and blinked back tears. She wasn't going to start crying now. "I'm sorry, Michael. I didn't want to but I didn't know how to tell you."
"Would the words 'Michael, I'm pregnant' have been to hard to use?" he asked her sarcastically. He could see that he was scaring her, but he was already fired up with his own frustration, and anger and he was hurt from her deception.
"It's not that easy," she said, hearing her voice rise as she tried to defend herself.
"Yes it was. And we could have sat down and discussed our options like adults."
"Options?" her voice cracked on the one word. "Options as in abortion?" Her eyes narrowed in barely contained anger.
"Now wait a minute," he stood quickly and the chair tumbled away from him. "Don't you put words in my mouth."
"There are no options, Michael, except adoption and if you think I'm giving my baby up then you're nuts." Her voice now was as cold as his eyes.
"Bonnie, be reasonable. We can't have a baby here! What kind of life is this for a child?" He knelt down in front of her and for a brief moment she saw a flash of warmth cross his face. "Wouldn't you like to see the baby in a loving home where it can grow up safe and happy?"
"Michael! I can't believe you would suggest such a thing!" Her face filled with her disappointment. Whatever dreams she had of them being a happy family were being dashed to pieces right in front of her eyes. "The baby will be fine with me."
"Don't you mean to say 'with us?'"
Bonnie shook her head, her dark hair brushing across her shoulders. "No, I meant exactly what I said, WITH ME. You obviously don't want children, so don't worry, I won't bother you with this one."
Michael stood now and the stone mask slid back into place. He turned his back on her and folded his arms across his chest. He wasn't about to let her see how much her words had just hurt him now. "I still should have been told."
He had to bite his cheek to keep his resolve set. He so wanted to turn around and comfort her, but his pride was wounded. All he wanted at this point was for her to admit she had been wrong. She was doing everything but that. "You had no right to keep this from me this long."
Bonnie on the other hand, needed and wanted his reassurance. "You know, you could be a bit more sympathetic. It's not easy from my side." She stood up from her chair, this conversation was not going anywhere.
"And you could be a bit more honest." He turned around to face her and the next words flew from his mouth before he even realized what he was saying. "How do I know the baby is even mine?"
He was rewarded with a very sharp gasp from Bonnie and a resounding slap to the side of his face. Bonnie burst into tears then and ran from the room.
She ran away from the garage and all the way across the courtyard to the mansion, tears flowing and dripping down her face. She ran right into Devon, who was just coming outside for a stroll.
"Whoa there. Bonnie, are you alright?" He reached into his pocket and withdrew a handkerchief which he pressed into one of her shaking hands. "There, there, now. Let's go inside and get you calmed down."
He led her into his office where he fixed her a cup of tea and let her pour her broken heart out through many sobs. She told him of her pregnancy, fully expecting him to be shocked or disgusted at her immorality. She was even expecting a lecture from the older and wiser man.
What she got instead surprised her. He walked over to her and held her, comforted her and reassured her that things would be okay. He rubbed her back gently as she cried on his shoulder and told of some of the horrible things Michael had said. In short, he did everything that Michael should have done, and more.
One he had gotten her to calm down, he even escorted her to her room to lie down. He promised that no one would disturb her. Then he had given her a fatherly hug and kiss on the forehead and told her that if she still needed to talk when she awoke, he would be there for her.
That had been ten days ago. Michael had not sought her out even once during that time. She had discovered later that he had left on a three week vacation without even saying goodbye to her.
Bonnie choked back a sob as the memory filled her. This was exactly what she had feared from the first moment she had realized that she was pregnant. She had been abandoned. Michael was gone and that was all the proof she needed of his 'love' for her. Actions did speak louder than words and he was shouting all over the place.
The sun was up now and she stood, her decision made. She would be unable to stay here, knowing that she would have to continue to work with someone who so obviously hated her.
She was going to have to leave.
She supposed that she could go back home to where her mother and sister were, and have the baby there. Anything would be better than staying here and living with her heartbreak.
It was going to hurt even more to leave Kitt again. She had left once before and had considered herself fortunate that Devon had taken her back. This time she expected that she would never see the car again. Michael had taken Kitt, so she didn't even have a chance to say goodbye to him.
She hoped that Devon would be able to get April Curtis back. The red-headed cybernetic technician had proven herself fully capable of handling Kitt on a daily basis. At least Kitt would be in good hands then.
Bonnie made her way through the gardens again and towards the main house, her mind made up and her resolve set. She would talk to Devon, and tell him she really needed to leave. She knew he would understand, possibly even make the arrangements for her, because she knew that he at least cared about what happened to her.
She was in for a rough time now. She touched the bulge that signified her new life. "Baby, I'll protect and love you no matter what," she whispered in the still morning air. "I'll never hurt you and I'll give you the best that I can."
With her eyes full of unshed tears, she reached for the mansion door, and for her date with her new future.