Disclaimer: Glen A. Larson and Universal own the Knight Rider characters in this story.

Chapter 3

"Should I open it?"

Was Michael asking for her permission? Would he really respect her wish if she told him that he shouldn't read Devon's letter? She wouldn't make this decision for him. She had seen his eyes sparkle when he realized who had sent the letter. It was obvious that Michael couldn't wait to find out what was inside this envelope.

Therefore, instead of giving him an answer, Stevie only shrugged indifferently.

Her behaviour surprised him. Remembering how she usually reacted whenever he mentioned Devon, Bonnie, or KITT or whenever he heard from them, he would have assumed that she'd suggested he'd either open it at a later time or not open it at all. It wasn't a secret to him that she lived in fear that one day he'd regret having left his family and would leave her again. Even though he always reassured her that he was happy they were finally allowed to be together, he couldn't convince her to erase these worries from her mind.

He waited for another moment, giving her the chance to change her mind before he finally opened the envelope and unfolded the note Devon had attached to an invitation card. He smiled as he saw Devon's handwriting on the note and the Knight symbol on the invitation. How many of those cards had he received during his time there? And every time, he had cringed at the sight of it, had dreaded the thought that he had to attend yet another fundraiser, dinner, or other festivity at the mansion and had racked his brain to think of a way to get out of the obligation to show up. Today, however, he caught himself being excited and thrilled that he'd received an invitation to a FLAG dinner.

Stevie watched him carefully as he read the note again and again. His eyes were still fixated on Devon's words and he didn't seem to take any notice in either her or his surroundings. Whatever Devon had written, it seemed to make Michael forget that she was still around. She cleared her throat to snap him out of his thoughts and decided to ask the inevitable. "What does he want?"

His eyes slowly moved away from the letter and back to his wife as her words reminded him where he was. "It's an invitation." He finally explained and showed her the card. "To a dinner party at the mansion. Well, not to an ordinary dinner. It's held for Devon. To honor his birthday."

A birthday dinner. This sounded fairly innocent. Stevie sighed in relief. It wasn't a cry for help, begging Michael to return to the Foundation and risk his life on a daily basis again. No, it was an invitation sent to them because Devon considered them as family. They'd attend the dinner, do some small talk, and then leave the mansion and return to their new life. She would do this. For Michael. Because she knew it was important to him and because he wanted to be there.

"Well, tell him we'll be there." She answered, forcing herself to smile. The smile on his face showed her that this was the answer he had been hoping and waiting for.

"I'll tell him right away. Thanks, Stevie." His eyes were still sparkling as he pulled her closer and kissed her passionately. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

XXX

He had been smiling all week long. Devon's birthday was soon, and Stevie was certain Michael was already counting the minutes until they would finally leave for the party. Her mood, however, was getting less upbeat the closer the day of the party approached. More than once, did she wish she'd asked him not to open the letter.

"Do we have to go to that dinner party?" Stevie asked Michael as he was busy wrapping a present for Devon. "It's a long drive just for a dinner."

It wasn't the first time she had asked Michael this question. Despite pretending and reassuring Michael, she was looking forward to the party, it was obvious to him that she didn't really want them to go.

"It's Devon's birthday, Stevie. It would be rude if I ... if we didn't show up." Michael explained to her again. "It's only a dinner, Stevie. The food will be fantastic, and everybody will be there. You know that I haven't seen them ever since you were released from the hospital and we moved away from the city. They are my family, Stevie. They were there for me when I was praying for your life after you got shot at our wedding. You wouldn't be alive if Devon hadn't flown in the best doctors. And..." Michael paused. "And I'll get to see KITT."

Michael hadn't seen KITT ever since that day either. Bonnie had secretly given Michael a new comlink so that he could still talk to KITT but whenever Michael tried to use it, KITT refused to talk to him.

"I know how much this means to you." Stevie was aware how important it was for Michael to see his family again. It wasn't fair to him that she kept asking him not to go. But she was worried and afraid. Afraid that Michael would change his mind about having retired once he saw KITT again. Afraid that Devon would talk Michael in coming back.

Stevie prayed silently that this wouldn't happen. They were finally together, living the life they were supposed to live, and she was determined to make sure it would stay like this.