Finally, I'm ready to post the next chapter. Sorry that I kept you waiting. Thanks to everyone for leaving reviews and feedback . I really appreciate it and it makes me happy that you enjoy my fic.

Disclaimer: Glen A. Larson and Universal own the Knight Rider characters in this story. Bonnie's family and her family background as well as Scott were created by me.

Chapter 19

A ray of sunshine through the closed curtains woke Michael the next morning. His eyes squinted, he looked around in the room remembering where he was and what had happened the night before. His face lit up as he gazed to Bonnie who was still asleep in his arms. Just like the morning before, he enjoyed watching her sleep thinking that he was the luckiest man in the world. This was what he had hoped would happen when he suggested that they'd spend the night at the inn.

It had taken a load off his mind when Bonnie had confronted him about their kiss and had told him that she wanted him to kiss her again. Needless to say, he was more than happy to oblige. Hearing her tell him that she wanted to be with him as well made him realize that he felt alive again. He hadn't felt like this in a long time. The last time he had been so overjoyed was when Stevie had agreed to marry him.

He looked at Bonnie again. He could watch her all day and wouldn't grow tired of it. Their friendship had turned into love. They had both ignored their feelings for too long out of fear it could endanger their work. However, their mutual attraction had become too strong and impossible to deny any longer. Michael was positive that their relationship would work. He wouldn't do anything to hurt Bonnie and he'd make sure nothing would ever become between them.

Bonnie smiled as she felt Michael's arms around her when she woke up and remembered the events of the evening before. Michael had feelings for her and wanted to be with her. She felt like the happiest woman in the entire world. It was real, it hadn't been a dream. He was everything she'd ever wanted, and she enjoyed being in his arms. She felt safe and loved when he held her closely. Loved. He loved her. He hadn't said those three words to her yet. He didn't have to. Bonnie knew he loved her without him saying it out loud. And she loved him too.

She slowly opened her eyes and noticed that he was watching her. She wondered how long he'd already been awake.

"Hey, beautiful." Michael bent his face down to her and kissed her lightly on the lips. "I love that I'm allowed to kiss you now." He grinned and kissed her again.

His lips met hers and she kissed him back. "I could get used to this. You calling me beautiful. Waking up next to you and being kissed first thing in the morning." She knew that mornings like this wouldn't happen too often. Michael would be away most of the time while she was either following him in the semi or waiting for him at home. He'd wake up in a motel room or in KITT's cabin and she'd sleep in her bed or in the sleeping compartment of the semi.

"Me too." Michael whispered in her ear. "And we'll make it happen whenever possible." He knew this was what she had been thinking of. The same thought had crossed his mind earlier.

She believed him. They'd make it work.

"It's also nice that I get to see you in a nightshirt now." Michael grinned and peeked at the sheer nightshirt she was wearing. "I don't think I've ever seen you wear something like that before. Definitely not at your parents' house last night. Did you pack this for a special occasion?"

She felt her face turn pink again. Usually, she made sure she'd pack a pajama and a robe when she spent the night at the mansion or in the semi. She didn't even remember having packed the nightgown until she had found it in her bag last night. She must have grabbed it obliviously when Michael had told her to pack her bag days ago. Or not. Maybe she'd taken it subconsciously because she had hoped she and Michael would become closer. She had chosen to wear it last night because the occasion seemed to be perfect. She wanted Michael to see her in something he wouldn't expect her to wear. Something which would make him desire her even more. She had enjoyed the look in his eyes when he'd gazed at her walking out of the bathroom and wearing nothing but her thin nightgown and matching panties. She had briefly regretted having asked him to take things slowly.

"Maybe." She quickly answered leaving it up to him to figure it out. He grinned and gave her another kiss.

"I don't remember the last time I woke up as happily as I did today." He gently caressed her face. He wondered why it had taken him so long to realize that he wanted to be with her. That he loved her. He wanted to shout it out loud. Everybody should know that he had fallen in love with Bonnie Barstow. It wouldn't be easy for him to keep quiet about their relationship. He would have to try hard to hide his feelings for her from Devon and RC.

He noticed that Bonnie had become quiet, and he wondered what was going through her head. Did she have second thoughts about what happened? "You didn't change your mind, did you?"

Bonnie was still pondering about the pace of their relationship when Michael's question snapped her out of her thoughts. Was he afraid she regretted having told him how she felt? He should know better. She wasn't someone who changed his mind after having finally had to courage to admit her feelings. She quickly shook her head and gave him a long kiss to answer his question. "No regrets. I'm not having second thoughts."

He gasped for air when their kiss stopped. Her kisses took his breath away. He would have never expected her to be such a fantastic kisser.

"You are stuck with me, Michael Knight." She whispered and looked in his eyes

"Well, I'm glad to hear that, Ms. Barstow. I wouldn't want it any other way." He laughed. "Because you are stuck with me too. I want to grow old with you, Bonnie."

Even though they were only together for a few hours, he was serious about this. He knew that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her." Your family even knew before we did. Your sister told me to finally ask you out and your parents already invited me for Christmas. This is if we have enough time off to go back to Boston. And if you wouldn't mind me spending Christmas with you and your family."

She felt tears of joy in her eyes when he told her that he wanted to spend his life with her. "I want to grow old with you too." She whispered before she thought about what else he had just said. "You aren't serious, are you? My parents invited you for Christmas? Both of them? Really?" Bonnie asked in surprise. Her father had always liked Michael and he had told her during her visit that Michael would make her happy. Hearing that her mother wanted Michael at their house for Christmas took her by surprise, however. Emily finally seemed to have realized that Michael Knight was a nice guy. "Well, we shouldn't disappoint them if Devon gives us time off again. I'd love to spend Christmas with you. No matter where."

"Sounds like a good plan. This will be the first Christmas I don't have to hang up mistletoes as an excuse to kiss you." He laughed with a boyish grin on his face. "On second thought, I better continue this tradition so that Devon won't become suspicious. Besides, it'll give me an excuse to kiss you even when others are around."

"It's a good thing you don't need an excuse anymore when we are alone." She gave him another kiss before she risked a look at the clock on the nightstand. Breakfast time would be over soon. "We should get up and get breakfast before we head back to Los Angeles."

She didn't want to leave the inn. She wished they could stay there longer. Another day, maybe even two or three so that they had enough time to enjoy the beginning of their relationship. She dreaded the thought that Michael would have to leave again the moment they would have arrived at the FLAG headquarter. She knew that moments like this would be rare and that Michael was away a lot. This was their life and she wouldn't want to change it. However, she couldn't help worrying that his assignments could endanger their relationship.

He sensed that she would prefer to stay her and savor the moment as long as possible. He knew that they would have to leave eventually. It wouldn't hurt delaying their departure though.

"We still have some time before breakfast." He said with a big grin on his face and pulled her closer to him. "And I think Los Angeles can wait a few more hours."

XXX

Bonnie caught him on the balcony staring at the lake when she returned from the bathroom after breakfast. He seemed to be lost in thoughts and she wondered what he was thinking of.

Michael sensed that Bonnie was watching him through the opened door and turned around. "How long have you been standing here?" He asked while she joined him on the balcony.

"Only for a short moment. You were so deep in thought that I wasn't sure if you wanted company." She rested her head on his shoulder and took in the view over the lake. "It's so beautiful here."

"It sure is. I can't barely take my eyes of the scenery. Unless of course you are present." He smiled and kissed her head. "You are right, I was lost in thoughts. Whenever I'm in such a breathtaking environment, I realize that I'd love to live at a lake one day. Waking up to a view like this every day and with you next to me would be a dream come true."

"Quiet and peaceful and in the middle of nature." She smiled. "Sounds wonderful."

"Do you ever think about your future? You know, what your life will be after FLAG?" He asked her not taking his eyes off the lake.

She shook her head. "No, never." He looked at her in surprise. "FLAG is my life. You, KITT and Devon. I don't plan on leaving this life ever again."

He knew what she was referring to. She had left them once and they had missed her terribly. He often wondered if she had regretted her decision to return to academia. "I don't want to leave either. But the day will come that we will have to accept that we'll have to move on with our lives. When we will be too old to work in the field and it's time to retire, or if the board decides to shut us down for good or when something unforeseen happens that will end FLAG." He paused. He dreaded the thought that KITT might be destroyed again and that they wouldn't be able to fix him. "What would you do then? Return to university?"

"No." She said determinately.

Her voice sounded determined, but he noticed the sad look in her eyes. "Why not? I thought you loved doing research and developing software."

"I do. It was a fantastic experience to go back to university and pursue post-graduate studies. But…. but…." She hesitated. "I'm kind of a red-flag in the world of academia because of David Halston. It certainly tainted my credentials that my mentor was a criminal."

Michael wrapped his arm around Bonnie and pulled her closer. "But you helped to bring him down. You weren't involved in his plans."

"Unfortunately, that doesn't matter." She explained. "But it isn't important anyway. I'm happy with what I'm doing."

"We'd be lost without you." Michael laughed. "I'm content with my life too. But if time comes and we'll have to move on, I'll buy a house on a lake and earn my money with fishing. And I hope you'll be there as well."

"Sounds tempting." She turned around to kiss him. "But I won't go fishing. I'll find something else to keep me occupied."

"It's a plan." He grinned and looked at the lake again. He liked the thought of growing old with Bonnie. "I hate to leave but we should get on the road. Next time, we'll stay here longer."

"I'd love that." She took his hand and followed him back into the room. "This place will always be special to me." She said looking back to the room one last time before they left the hotel and walked over to where KITT was parked.