Here is Chapter 2, hope you enjoy. I'm still really upset that the show had her chose Zeke over Jared. I know that we will likely see her get back together with Jared in part 2 of season 4 but i would have like to see her get together with him because she chose him over Zeke and not because Zeke died and therefore she has no choice but to give in to her feelings for Jared. I really miss having good scenes between the 2 of them.
Chapter 2 - We Should Talk
Zeke put his arm behind Michaela's back and guided her towards his car. As she's walking with him, her mind is reeling from her conversation with Jared. In her brain she knew that for right now she had to be with Zeke, she knew that for now, they were meant to be together but, in her heart, she still loved Jared more than life itself and right now it was her heart that was breaking. How she hated hurting Jared like this, but she knew she had no other choice. She couldn't be with him, she just couldn't and there was nothing anyone could do or say to change that fact. She and Jared were over, history, a thing of the past and for right now Zeke was her present. She was sure of it, she just had to get Zeke on the same page as her but she knew that after witnessing the conversation between herself and Jared that it was going to take a lot to convince Zeke not to run out on her and push her closer to Jared.
Michaela was more frustrated than ever as Zeke opened the door with a very hurt and sad smile on his face.
Michaela: Thank you
Zeke: Anything for the love of my life
Michaela felt like she couldn't breathe, she felt like she was suffocating. How was she supposed to respond to that? In less than 5 minutes, 2 different men had both told her that she was the love of his life. How she wished that she could love them both back the way they loved her. To be with Jared forever and always while at the same time staying together with Zeke, her husband the man she loved and promised to love through the good and bad. But love doesn't work that way and she knew that. She wished that she really had the ability to choose as she would obviously choose Jared. But that couldn't happen. Not now and not ever. So she knew that she was going to have to do whatever it took to convince Zeke to stay with her while at the same time telling Jared she loved Zeke more than him even if it was all a lie.
Zeke sat down in the driver's seat, took a deep breath and held his hand out towards Michaela. She took his hand and lovingly stroked it, and he brought both hands up too his mouth and kissed her hand lovingly. How he wished they could stay like this forever. Just him and Michaela. No one else in the picture. But he knew that loving Michaela came with a price as she would always love Jared more than anyone else and he wasn't sure he was okay too continue living like that. His heart wanted to stay with her but her head was telling him that he deserved more, he deserved better. Deserved to be with a girl who could love him and only him.
Michaela: I'm so sorry. I really am
Zeke: I know you are. and I know that we really do need to talk but if it's okay with you I'd rather do it after dinner.
Michaela: Why?
Zeke: Well before all of this happened, and before your very emotionally intense conversation with Jared I had wanted for us to have a date night. So, after you left this morning, I started to prepare a romantic dinner for just the two of us. I don't know what will be after this conversation so I would still like to have that dinner with you, enjoy just being us for a little and then we can talk about what just happened between you and Jared.
Michaela: Zeke, I
Zeke: Please? Can you at least do that for me? Have dinner with me and then we'll talk I promise.
Michaela: For you? Of course. I'll do anything to make you happy
Zeke: You mean that?
Michaela: Of course, I do. I love you; regardless of everything else you have to know that.
Zeke: I do Mick, Of course I do. I love you too.
Michaela: Great than, romantic dinner it is and afterwards we will have this feelings talk.
Zeke: I'm so happy you're willing to eat with me, I made all of your favorites.
Michaela smiled to herself for the first time that day and deep in her heart she knew that whatever happened next, it was going to be okay. Well as okay as things can be when you're in love with two guys and the one guy you truly want to be with is currently off limits. As hard as it was Michaela knew she was doing the right thing even if Jared couldn't understand it right now. They drove the rest of the way home in a calm silence, each one happy in their own thoughts.
When they walked through the door of their home Michaela was surprised to see how much Zeke had accomplished for their date that night, and it made her happy thinking about how much he cared for her. But at the same time, she felt terribly guilty at how much he was willing to do for her because he loved her so completely when she loved not only him but Jared as well. She knew things were messy but she was looking forward to their conversation later when hopefully they would sort all of the complicated stuff out.
As Jared had really gone all out the food, they ate was delicious and she enjoyed every bite. She was also extremely happy and they each sat enjoying each other's company and making peaceful small talk. When the dinner was over and they finished desert. Zeke took Michaela's hand and lead her to the porch where they sat down on the swing.
They sat there in silence for several minutes neither one wanting to start what they both knew would be a difficult conversation, until Zeke looked at her and smiled sadly.
Zeke: I know Jared still has very strong feelings for you, it's been obvious for a long time now but until today I was never sure if those feelings were mutual. Every time it came up you somehow made me believe that your feelings for him were gone. But Mick I think it's time you start to be honest with and admit to yourself that your feelings and love for Jared have never gone away.
Michaela: I know I still have feelings for him, and I hate that I do, but I do. Zeke these feelings are not fair for any of us and I really hate that you know about these feelings because that's just not fair to you. Frankly it's not fair to me either cause there are some things that are meant to be private in a relationship and this is one of them.
Zeke: I know, I know. Believe me, I didn't try to go and figure it out, I honestly didn't want to know if you still loved him. What I did wonder about all the time was if you would ever be able to love me, the same way you love him, but I just don't think that will ever happen Mick. The love the two of you have is something that we will never get
Michaela: I know and I tried, really I did, I really want to Zeke, with all of my heart I wanted to love you the way I love him I really want to be able to give my heart to you the way I had given it to Jared all those years ago.
Zeke: But?
Michaela: But every time I try to move on, to put Jared in the past there he is in front of my face shoving himself into my present and regardless of how hard i try not too let him in, somehow, he places himself deeper and deeper into my heart. But Zeke, trust me, give me time and these feelings will fade.
Zeke: It's been a really long time Mick. I don't know anymore. Maybe you and Jared are supposed to be together. The love you have for him is clearly stronger than the love you have for me.
Michaela: No, Zeke, Jared and I cannot be together. I chose you and I will continue to choose you every single day regardless of how much longer you have left to live.
Zeke: But why Mick? Why do you keep choosing me over Jared? It doesn't make any sense to anyone not Jared and definitely not me. We both know there is more you are not saying and it's not fair to either one of us Mick. We both love you, we both want to be with you, but on my end its no fun being with someone who loves someone else more. And for Jared, you are killing him slowly every day you are with me when he sees the look of want and desire in your eyes that you really want to be with him over me. There is something stopping you from leaving me and going to him, yeah?
Michaela gives Zeke a sad look and then looks away.
Zeke: He doesn't know does he?
Michaela: No, he doesn't Zeke, and regardless of what happens with us, Im begging you please, he can't find out.
Zeke: I think he should know; he deserves to know.
Michaela: I don't like not telling him the truth about this, but he can't ever know because that would crush him completely, all over again.
Zeke: Normally I would say you should apologize but in regards to this Mick, you owe him no apologies. I don't agree with you, but I respect your choice and decision to keep him in the dark on this one.
Michaela: It's just really hard because I've Just never kept secrets from him before
Zeke: One day he'll understand why you chose me, and until then I give you my word that he will not hear about this from me.
Michaela: But
Zeke: I can't continue to be your husband. While you still love him. I want to be with someone who loves me completely. Who wants to be with me, because I am the man for them, the person they want to start a family with. I love you Mick, with all of my heart but I can't stay with you just because you can't be with your true soulmate right now.
Michaela: Zeke, please your all I have left! I have lost everything I had before the plane disappeared. My mother is dead, Evie is dead, Lourdes is gone, and Jared is
Zeke: The love of your life, your soulmate. I understand why you are choosing to keep him in the dark. Not tell him the truth but why kind of person does that make me if I am in love with a woman who can't love me back because she is still in love with someone else. I love you Mick; I really do and I never wanted it to come to this. I wanted to start a life with you a family with you, but what's it going to be like if I stayed? I will be living with the woman of my dreams; we will be together while your heart belongs to someone else. I understand why you are asking me to do this but it isn't fair Mick, not me and not Jared
Michaela: How is any of this fair to me? I never asked for any of this. Had i never gotten on that plane Lourdes would still be my best friend and Jared and I
Zeke: Would be happily married. I'm not asking you to change your mind and talk to Jared, all I am asking is for you to let me go. So I can find a woman who can love me back. You at least owe me that.
Michaela: As much as it kills me you are right, i do owe you that and I will let you go, but can you do one thing for me in return.
Zeke: Name it
Michaela: Can we keep it between us?
Zeke: Keep what between us?
Michaela: That you and I are no longer together. I need Jared and the world to believe that we are still married.
Zeke: So to the outside world you want to continue being married but in reality we are not.
Michaela: Yes, I'm sorry, is that too much too ask for?
Zeke: Probably, but I'm in. As long as we are clear. You still love Jared, I love you and we are happily not married.
