"What do you call an animal with a prick halfway up his back? A cavalry horse!" John chuckled at the man across the table. The man obviously not finding John a bit amusing but Chanel found him every bit of hilarious. Chanel hated those men especially after hearing the stories from Gwen and Polly about how the Shelby brothers were nearly left for dead during the war. Chanel giggled loudly at Johns joke as she sat between Gwen and Michael.

"Don't entertain him. He will go on forever." Gwen whispered at her. You could tell by her face that Gwen herself was trying to contain her laughter. Michael chewed his lip and was trying his hardest to contain himself despite the look on his face Chanel knew they would laugh about this later.

"I cant help it. He is fucking funny. And if I can watch those pricks across the table suffer then so be it." Chanel said just loud enough for the Burgess family to hear.

"Perhaps you have had too many drinks." Michael said jokingly. Chanel held her hand to her chest as she acted offended.

"For your information, sweetheart... I have only had two whiskeys. I cant get too drunk or I will rip the hair out of that bloody whore at the end of the table with your cousin." Chanel said honestly. Michael followed her line of sight as his eyes landed on Finn and Charlotte. Michael soon focusing his attention back on Chanel who looked at Charlotte with most bitchiest face Michael had ever seen.

"I wish you would let it go. She means nothing to me." Michael whispered. 

"Then why is she here?" Chanel retorted.

"To be obnoxious and cause trouble. She doesn't even want to be here with Finn. If anything she came for the booze and the snow." Michael said. "I best go find Arthur. He is supposed to give the best mans speech. Tom is nervous for some reason. Be right back my love."

Michael scoot his chair out leaving Chanel in her thoughts. Chanel protectively watched as Charlotte watched Michael's every move until he disappeared out of the room. Regardless of whether she was looking or not Chanel shot daggers through her. Chanel picked up her glass as she downed whatever booze it was containing. Chanel made a face at the sour taste of whatever it was as she obviously had never touched alcohol a day in her life before she started working for the Shelby company. Her eyes traced the room and it held a majority of her favorite people. She looked over at Polly who was holding a conversation with Ada. She was practically doing everything she could to not knock Charlotte on her ass. 

Michael came back in quickly with Arthur as the two set at the table. Michael scoot in and raised his eyebrows at Chanel.

"Did you behave while I was gone?" Michael asked jokingly.

"I am an angel, of course. She is in her chair isn't she?" Chanel sarcastically smiled at Michael. Claps erupted as Tommy and Grace walked in the room. The new bride and groom and Chanel smiled at their happiness. She hoped if anything in life that she one day would experience a love close enough to theirs to become someones wife. Arthur stood as he was prepared to deliver his best mans speech and you could see his nerves all over his face. 

"I'd like to uhh, well, I am not one for speeches." Arthur stumbled over his words.

"Sing then!" John blurted out. Chanel looked at Gwen who could not believe her husbands goofy behavior. 

"I will later John. But I do, uh, have some words written down here." Arthur said nervously. He reached in his coat pocket as he unfolded a piece of paper. "Uh, this piece of paper doesn't include everything I want to say. First a few words from the heart."

Chanel looked over at Michael who was trying his hardest at this point to contain his laughter.

"Michael Gray! That is rude now stop. He is your cousin. Poor sweetheart is a nervous wreck up there." Chanel whispered at him as she tried to focus on Arthur's speech.

"It is bloody horrible but brilliant. I am sorry I know I probably look like quite the asshole." Michael let out a small chuckle. 

"A handsome asshole." Chanel whispered as she leaned closer to him. Michael licked his lips as he eyed the beautiful woman in his presence all while trying to remain respectful and focus on Arthur's speech.

"I told you to behave." Michael whispered as his fingers trailed up her leg under the table. Chanel shuffled in her chair as she instantly became aroused by Michael's touch. His hand moving higher up her thigh as her legs slowly began to spread.

"Then why are you encouraging it?" Chanel whispered.

"Because I am imagining how I will have you spread out in front of me later." Michael replied. Chanel's heart was beating a million beats a minute at his words and touch. There was no doubt that Michael Gray had this hold on her. 

"I am not a whore, Michael." Chanel reminded him. Michael looked at her as he slowly nodded his head and he rubbed her through her panties. Chanel bit her lip as she held in a moan begging to escape.

"If you were a whore you would be on me right now, in a room full of all these people. Like I told you in the car, you are mine. My girl. I don't want no one else just you." Michael whispered. He adjusted in his chair as Chanel looked down noticing the growth in his pants.

"So that's it....we are official then are we Mr. Gray?" Chanel looked at him with a huge smile. Michael let out a cheeky grin removing his fingers from between her legs.

"That we are beautiful. Its safe to say you know me better than anyone. You do things to me no woman ever has and you never leave my head." Michael whispered. But not before noticing Arthur storming off out of the room. Chanel pushed her dress back down and brought herself back to reality as she looked at Gwen.

"What happened?" Chanel asked curiously. Gwen looked at her with the most fake serious face and snorted.

"You would know if you weren't allowing your boyfriend to finger bang you at dinner." Gwen giggled. Chanel's face instantly flushed red as she hid her face in her hands at the table as chatter picked up around everyone. John leaned over, half drunk and laughed at how embarrassed Chanel was.

"Don't let little Miss Goody Too Shoes fool you, I was totally feeling her up before they even came back in here." John blurted out. Chanel looked up and busted out in laughter now seeing the red look on Gwen's face. 

"Your fucking family Michael, you've got to love them." Chanel giggled.

"They love you, ya know? All of us do." Michael said. He looked at her with the most serious face. What did he just say?

"Michael are you saying you lov--?" Chanel started to ask but Michael quickly interrupted her. He stood up and smoothed the front of his suit in a nervous fit.

"I ummm have to go to the bathroom. I will be back." Michael replied as he rushed out of the room.

"What was his rush?" John asked. But Chanel herself grew in confusion as her mouth stood agape she looked over at John.

"I have no idea...but I intend to find out." Chanel whispered.

                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------

It had been nearly a half hour and Michael had yet to return to the dinner table. Everyone went there separate ways to continue there celebrations for the night. Tommy went God knows where and Polly stood by the mantle conversating with a mysterious but handsome man. John and Arthur quickly ran outside leaving Finn. But within a moments time Chanel realized Finn was standing alone and Charlotte Murray was nowhere in sight. And obviously neither was Michael. Chanel rushed over to Finn in pure panic and rage.

"Finn, where is Charlotte?" Chanel asked feeling every bit of breathless.

"I thought the two of you hated each other." Finn scoffed.

"I cant stand her but you know she is not here...and neither is Michael." Chanel whispered looking down. Finn reassuringly rubbed her arm.

"You know she is not here with me because she wants to be. It was all to see him and be spiteful. But trust me Chanel I really don't think Michael would fuck up what you have going at this point. He seems different." Finn reassured her. 

"God I hope not, Finn. I have my guard up though as I am too familiar with heartbreak." Chanel said. All she could think of was how pathetic she sounded especially saying that out loud.

"Let love win for once. I think you will be pleasantly surprised." Finn winked. "I am going to head outside and make sure John and Arthur are not killing anyone. If you find Charlotte just send her on her way. Woman has bloody drove me insane."

Finn slowly walked off and Chanel nodded in agreement. Apparently no one liked Charlotte at this point. That brought nothing but joy to Chanel and she hated how petty she sounded at this moment. But Michael was a good thing in her life and to be honest she hadn't had something that made her feel this good in a minute and no one was going to mess that up for her.

Chanel searched every room on the bottom level of Arrow House and had no luck in finding Michael. Her heart raced faster as she started her journey up the long staircase. She paced fast as she passed a few stray couples down the long hall. She opened the first set of doors finding the room empty. She walked faster to the next set of doors as she found the same. Coming to the third as she started to open it she seen Michael sitting at a desk before opening it faster as she heard a woman's giggle. Charlotte fucking Murray.

"WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK!" Chanel yelled. Michael quickly jumped up in defense. Charlotte lifted up her head as Chanel eyed the powdery white substance on her nose.

"It isn't what it looks like darling." Michael said calmly holding his hands up. The whole time Charlotte sneered from her chair.

"Then what the fuck is it Michael. Figure you dabble in a little snow and fuck this trollop." Chanel blurted out.

"Excuse me?" Charlotte said standing up as she dashed for Chanel. Michael quickly stepping between the two as Chanel didn't hold back.

"I SWEAR YOU FUCKING TRAMP I WILL PUNCH YOUR FUCKING LIGHTS OUT." Chanel screamed.

"Try me bitch." Charlotte giggled obviously high as kite. Chanel pushed and barely reached over Michael's arm. She started swinging her arms like a mad woman as Charlotte protected her make up caked face. 

"Chanel, Chanel, look at me." Michael said calmly. Chanel felt her heartbeat in her throat and she was over the edge at this point. "Please Chanel."

"What the fuck do you want Gray? Hmm?" Chanel asked as she slowly backed away. Noticing Charlotte's barely bloody lip and she smiled. "Think you can have your bloody fucking cake and eat it too? Lead me on this whole time to still be messing with this tramp."

"Charlotte get out." Michael said. Charlotte stood in place and didn't move an inch.

"Only if you tell her the truth first." Charlotte said with the most evil grin on her face.

"Charlotte, now is not the time or place." Michael replied giving the woman a stone cold look.

"NO! You tell me what she is talking about Michael. If us means anything to you." Chanel argued. Michael looked between the two women and let out a huge sigh as he placed a cigarette between his lips.

"Charlotte is pregnant Chanel. It happened before you. She can verify. But we are not keeping it. I don't want a child with someone who needs nothing to me." Michael said coldly. Chanel had never seen Michael look so cold towards someone. She didn't even like Charlotte but felt sympathy for her.

"Charlotte...is this true?' Chanel asked as calm as she possibly could. Charlotte stood with the still evil smirk on her face. Charlotte's eyes glanced to Michael as he looked at her with absolutely no emotion on his face. Charlotte's smirk dropped as her eyes met Chanel's.

"It is true. I am not ready for a child and neither is Michael. A child doesn't need to be brought into this fucking mess of a family anyways." Charlotte huffed. 

"And?" Michael looked at her.

"There is nothing between me and this mess of a man. I got my use out of him, he is all yours now." Charlotte chuckled thoughtlessly. She turned around as she gathered her coat and put her belongings into the inside of her purse, bottle of snow included. Chanel huffed as she couldn't believe her. Regardless of keeping the child or not, sniffing snow while pregnant showed the type of woman Charlotte was. Charlotte walked past Michael without giving a thought of day and slowly approaching Chanel she leaned in and whispered, "He will break your heart."

Charlotte left the room as she left Michael and Chanel standing their in silence. Chanel at this point went and sat directly in Charlotte's previously occupied chair as the nights event made her feel mentally exhausted. Michael moved his chair as close as he possibly could next to her. 

"Chanel, please say something." Michael begged her.

"Why would you tell me that?" Chanel asked confused. "Why would I care that you knocked up some whore?"

"I felt like if we were going to move forward with us...I needed to tell you." Michael said honestly. "But there is something I need you to tell me too. I wont force it tonight but I need to know the man who hurt you."

Chanel shook her head in agreement as she smiled at Michael. Michael was changing before her eyes and becoming the man she knew he had always been. Michael was never cold to her anymore and the feelings for him kept growing. 

"Of course. Nothing but the truth from here on out." Chanel agreed. "Wow. I never thought in a million years that this would happen."

"Maybe mum was right." Michael smiled. "But don't tell her I said that."

Chanel chuckled, " Of course, we cant have Polls head too much bigger or it may explode. That woman oozes with confidence."

Michael leaned in as he slowly placed a kiss on Chanel's lips and Chanel gently kissed him back. This was different from any kiss they had before. Still passion filled but with emotion. Not just lust. 

"I need to tell you something else, Chanel." Michael said as he looked into her deep golden brown eyes. His lips were still barely brushing hers.

"Yes, what is it love?" Chanel asked curiously. Her eyes not leaving Michael's green ones, she felt him gently grab her hands as the young couples lips still barely touched one another. 

"I love you, Chanel. I have known since that day we went on our first date. You made me realize what I wanted in a woman. And that is you. God, I fucking love you." Michael chuckled. Chanel and all she held inside beamed through her smile. That is what she had been yearning to hear for weeks. That confirmed every feeling that had ever crossed her mind for Michael Gray.

"I love you, Michael Gray." Chanel smiled. Michael pulled her into his lap as they shared innocent, loving kisses. Michael not once going any further. The two just sat in each others loving arms the rest of the night in front of the fire. For tonight, this was just enough.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

The, "I love you's" have finally been exchanged. Maybe Michael Gray is a changed man after all? I am seriously loving these two. With love, Jenny. xoxo

---------------------------------------------------------------------