Reconcilliations & Affirmations

Eighth Month

Hey, It's good to be back home again, yes it is,

Sometimes this old farm feels like a long lost friend

Yes 'n hey it's good to be back home again

Oh the time that I can lay this tired old body down

And feel your fingers feather soft upon me

The kisses that I live for, the love that lights my way

The happiness that livin' with you brings me

It's the sweetest thing I know of, just spending time with you

It's the little things that make a house a home.

Like a fire softly burning, and supper on the stove

And the light in your eyes that makes me warm

Hey, It's good to be back home again,

Sometimes this old farm feels like a long lost friend

Yes 'n hey it's good to be back home again.

I said Hey it's good to be back home again.

Bonnie placed her suitcase on the bed of her room in the mansion as the last strains of the John Denver song drifted out of the radio on the dresser.

Yes, in some ways, that was how she felt. It was good to be back home again. This was where she felt she did the most good, this was where she felt accepted.

She began to unpack, placing the clothes back into her dresser drawers. Kitt and Michael would be arriving in a few hours for the much needed tune up. Bonnie groaned when she thought of the amount of work ahead of her. It was a bound to be a monumental task. She had advised Devon to have a team of mechanics down there, ready to assist her once the car showed up. She already knew that she was going to have trouble reaching around her almost 8 months pregnant belly to calibrate some of the components.

Devon had agreed, and had called together some of the finest people she had ever worked with.

Bonnie had slipped upstairs to refresh herself before her long afternoon. Seeing how none of her jumpsuits were going to fit her now, she quickly showered and dressed in a comfortable pair of maternity jeans, a loose fitting blouse and a light sweater to top off the outfit. She fixed her hair, added a touch of makeup and smiled at her reflection in the mirror. Not bad for a fat lady.

She could do this. She could put her personal feelings aside. She was going to do her job, and she was going to do it right. With that thought firmly planted in her mind, she left her room and headed for the garage.

"No, no. Not there. The toolbox goes on the other workbench." Bonnie stated while pointing towards a workbench on the right side of the bay.

Two of the mechanics quickly hoisted the box and moved it to the spot where Bonnie wanted it. Bonnie nodded her approval and looked down to the clipboard she carried. She had donned a white lab coat and hastily pulled a pen from one of the pockets to check off a box.

They were rushing now. The Knight 2000 was overdue, and the computer readouts were showing that it was running now at a meager 20 of normal. Somehow it had sustained a high impact collision that had put a strain on the already overtaxed resources. Kitt would be fortunate to make it back in one piece.

"You and you," Bonnie called to two young techs as they passed her. "Get the two ton trolley jack ready." She spun around to another tech, his arms full of equipment. "Is that the digital storage oscilloscope?" He nodded and she checked off another box.

"Who has the graphing mulitmeter? We need it up front stat!" Bonnie hollered and waited for the appropriate tool to show up and be presented for inspection. She felt like a doctor, calling out orders and readying the room much like an experienced surgeon did prior to a major operation.

A loud crash had her spinning around just in time to see a box of sockets go flying to land with a clatter of spilled parts. She rolled her eyes at the mechanics who were now scrambling on the ground to pick them up. Good thing she didn't need to sterilize.

She placed her clipboard down on the bench and picked up the socket wrench to hand to one of the mechanics who shrugged sheepishly. "Sorry about that."

"It's okay, just don't do it again." It was then that she heard the sound that had been missing from her life the past few months. The familiar turbine whine was right behind her and she could tell just from the sound that the car was straining.

Bonnie felt her blood grow cold and her breath catch in her chest. For a moment, she thought she might just go into premature labor right where she stood.

She closed her eyes and counted to 10 as the car pulled into the bay. The door opened and she heard his familiar boot steps ring out on the concrete. As she reached 10, she felt more in control. It was her choice to Devon to allow Michael into the bay. She didn't really think she would be able to keep him out anyway.

With a final breath in, she felt ready to start her job. She spun around and began barking orders, making techs and mechanics scatter like bowling pins. She turned back to grab her clipboard and found it pinned to the workbench by a masculine hand.

She steeled herself for what was going to come next. She had been expecting this and she was prepared. She slowly brought her eyes up to his face.

His face was ragged, unshaven and he looked like he hadn't had a wink of sleep for at least a week. She could overlook his stubbled chin and cheeks but too look into those eyes would be looking for trouble.

"Bonnie," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Michael." She greeted him neutrally. She pulled at the clipboard and he lifted his hand.

"Bonnie, we need to talk." He said as he chased her over to where two of the techs were hooking Kitt up to a diagnostic machine.

"Michael, this is neither the time nor the place for such a discussion," she said coolly. "I have a patient that needs my immediate attention. If you'll excuse me, I'm in a bit of a rush."

Michael jumped back as she pushed past him. He had been prewarned by Devon not to upset Bonnie, but he had been unprepared for the depth of emotion he would feel when he saw her.

Every muscle in his body ached to hold her. His heart pounded against his ribcage as he watched her expertly instruct the techs on which systems to test first and which ones could wait. He had to bite his lip not to call out her name again; it took all his resolve not to interrupt her.

He longed to kiss her and feel her breath on his neck. He longed to touch her and make sure she was okay and the baby was fine. His eyes watered as he stood there, watching his love ignore him.

She hadn't looked at him at all, and he found her attitude a bit disconcerting. Didn't she miss him even the tiniest bit? Here he was being ripped apart just looking at her and she was treating him like a stranger. An observer. An intruder.

Unable to take it any longer, he turned from the scene and walked out of the garage, his long legs making the stride to the mansion no more than a short stroll. Two tears fell from his eyes but he ignored them.

Upon reaching the mansion, he disappeared inside.

Devon had been watching from his office window and he nodded. It was going to take time for them to work out their problems. He resolved himself not to interfere this time. If Bonnie needed him she would come to him.

Bonnie had watched him go and had sagged into Kitt's seat where she had been checking some of the readings. That had been one of the hardest things she had ever had to do. She had almost gotten up to run after him, but her duty to Kitt had kept her in her place.

She would worry about him later. Right now she had someone depending on her, and she wasn't going to let this one down.

Eight hours later, she moaned as she straightened up from one of the diagnostic machines. Her back was killing her and her muscles felt like they had been locked into positions that were never meant for the human body to experience.

Kitt was recovering. He was going to be just fine. She placed one hand on her back to counterbalance the weight in the front and groaned again as her weight shifted from one leg to the other.

God, she needed a chair, or a bed. Or just something to fall down on. Better yet she needed something to lean on just to keep her upright. She had forgotten how grueling and tiring working on the car could be. She felt her body sway with her exhaustion, and wondered who would pick her up if she fell. She had dismissed the mechanics an hour ago to grab a bite to eat and some rest, telling them she would be following after she hooked up the last of the cables.

Now, alone in the bay, she wished that at least one of them had stayed. She felt tired, dizzy, and unable to bear her weight any longer. Didn't that floor look so inviting?

She started to crumple towards the concrete and was surprised to find herself caught by a set of strong arms before her body could touch the cold surface.

She looked up to see Michael's concerned face hovering over her. Gee, that's nice of him, her overtired mind advised her. At least he didn't let you whack your head. That was her last coherent thought as blackness swept her away.

Bonnie opened her eyes slowly, feeling like they had been weighted down with lead. She felt the cool cotton of her pillowcase under her cheek. Her head was clearing of the fatigue she had felt.

She was in her room. How did she get here? She closed her eyes and tried to remember the last thing she could. They flashed open again. Michael had caught her.

Slowly she sat up in her bed, and noticed that her balcony door was open. His tall figure was silhouetted in the moonlight, his hands in his front pockets of his jeans. He didn't know she was awake. She kept her movements quiet as she watched him. She could just barely make out his face as he turned slightly, the moonlight briefly lighting his face, and she could see the streaks his tears had made.

He was crying? Over her? The whole scene seemed surreal, like one of her fantasies that she had of him really missing her. She had to still be dreaming. She almost believed it until she heard him sniff slightly and wipe his nose on his shirt sleeve. People didn't sniff in fantasies; their noses didn't drip and run.

Reaching over she plucked two tissues out of the box next to her bed and got up. She tiptoed over to the balcony, keeping her every movement quieter than Kitt's Silent Mode. When she was right behind him, she stuck her hand out and said in a very clear voice, "These will be much more use to you than your shirt."

His reaction was priceless. His whole body jumped as he spun around and nearly fell. Bonnie had to bite back a sudden case of giggles as his long legs seemed to tangle up in each other.

It took him a moment to recover his balance, and he just stared at her.

"Go on," she said, shaking the tissues at him. "Take them, they won't bite you."

He gently reached one hand out and cupped her hand in his own. As their skin touched, she saw two fresh tears slide slowly down his freshly shaven cheeks.

Her breath caught at the sight of his loss of control. She disentangled her hand and reached up on her own with the tissues to wipe the tears away. As a result, now she was off balance and falling towards him. He caught her again and sweeped her off her feet.

Lifting her like she was no heavier than a feather, he carried her back into the room and placed her gently back on the bed. He removed his arms from underneath her and cupped her head between his palms. "You need to be careful," he said, his voice husky. "I couldn't stand to see you get hurt."

As she lay there staring into his red-rimmed blue eyes, she felt something inside of her melting. She licked her lips slightly and tried to say something, anything at all, but found her voice strangely mute. It was as if a spell was being woven at that very moment, and she was unable to break it.

Michael however was not struck speechless. He followed her lead and licked his own lips, and whispered, "Oh god, Bonnie, I've missed you so much." His eyes closed and she could see him fighting a fresh wave of tears. He lowered his head and rested his forehead against hers. She could now feel his breath, warm on her face as he struggled to get more words out. "I'm so sorry, so very sorry, Bonnie."

Running on instinct, as all her higher senses seemed to have taken leave of her, she reached out one hand and rested it on his wet cheek. "Michael," she whispered back at him.

He turned his head slightly to kiss her palm. "Oh, Angel, can you ever forgive me? I love you so much, and I love our baby. I want our baby, Bonnie."

Those words were Bonnie's undoing. Her heart was hammering away, and if she didn't say or do something soon it was going to break free and make a hell of a mess on her sheets. She pushed his face back towards hers and did the only thing she could think of.

She kissed him.

Long and slow, like a dehydrated person tasting water for the first time, she drank him. She kissed him past the point of breathlessness, right up to the point of near suffocation. When she finally released him they were both gasping for air.

She gazed up at him, her chest heaving. "I love you too, Michael."

They passed the next hour or so just holding each other, kissing and hugging, each taking their fill of contact that had been denied for so long. Words were forgotten as they just caressed each other, and expressed a love that had been otherwise forgotten.

The night grew later and later, and it wasn't long before the young lovers were fast asleep in each other's arms.

Michael was the first one to wake the next morning. It was the scent of something flowery that grabbed his attention and brought him around. He found his head buried in Bonnie's silky hair, and it was that smell that he had noticed.

Her body was spooned up against his, her back warm against his bare chest. He barely remembered removing his clothing last night. She was clad in only a silky nightgown. He definitely did not remember her getting up to change. After she had 'welcomed' him home, he had fallen right to sleep.

His mind was still reeling from the events of the previous night. If it wasn't for the fact that she was nestled here in his arms, he would certainly think he had hallucinated it.

One of his arms was tucked under his head, and the other one was wrapped around her belly, holding her to him. He took a moment to observe how completely heavenly this was. He was with the woman he loved, and his hand was lying on their child. A child he had inadvertently created, but it did spring forth from their love.

He was just enjoying the feeling of her in his arms when something poked at the arm lying on her. His forehead creased, and he gently spread his fingers trying to feel it again.

Bonnie was stirring now, mumbling something incoherent.

Michael swallowed and tried to moisten his mouth enough to talk. "What did you say?" he asked her.

Bonnie chuckled a bit and spoke a bit more clearly. "I said, the baby is awake." She opened her big brown eyes and laughed at his look of total confusion. "Here, let me show you."

She lifted the nightgown to place his hand on the spot of her abdomen where she had felt the baby kick. "Give it a minute," she told him.

It was less than thirty seconds before a tiny foot or fist punched at the spot and the hand covering it. Bonnie watched as Michael's face lit up with joy.

"It kicked me!" His face was animated, and he sat there, unwilling to move his hand at all. "Look, Bonnie, it's kicking me!"

She laughed. "The baby does that to ME all day long."

His eyes went from her stomach to her face. "Doesn't that hurt?"

"Nah, actually it's quite nice." She smiled at him. "Did you sleep well?"

He grinned and kissed her soundly. "Like a baby." He settled his body back next to her. "Have I told you just how much I love you, Bonnie?"

She sighed a contented sigh. "About a million times last night, in between moans and gasps of pleasure."

He blushed. "If I recall, you were pretty noisy yourself." He got a pillow in the face for his remark and then a very tight hug.

"Well that's what you get when you get me started." She rolled over a bit to face him. Her face suddenly turned serious. "Michael, even though last night was enjoyable, we still have a lot to talk about."

He traced her cheek with one finger. "Yes, Bonnie, we do."

She pulled his hand away from her face. "I'm serious, Michael. You hurt me badly and it is going to take a lot of effort for me to regain my trust in you."

He let that statement stand for a moment. His eyes searched her face and he said quietly, "I'll do whatever it takes, Angel. I never want to hurt you again. Without you, I'm empty. You fill a void in my life, you make me whole." He placed a kiss on her lips. "I am so sorry, Bonnie."

She scooted closer to him and allowed his body to entwine with hers. She laid her head on his chest and listened to his heart beat.

He stroked her hair, letting the silky strands slide through his fingers. Somehow, he would make this work. He was given a second chance to love, and he would do anything at all to prove his love to her.