Angel in love with the Incredible Hulk

Ch. 10:

Bohemian Rhapsody

It had already been a few months after the nabbing of Sholto and his gang and after Kelly, Bosley, David, and company had returned to the United States. While things for Bos and the other two went back to normal, things with David and Kelly were just beginning. Being in that situation in Casablanca and Rio De Janeiro had made their bond and relationship grow stronger and stronger, along with the love they had always had for each other. As their dates began to get frequent, David found himself, multiple times, staring at the little black velvet box he had gotten Kelly along with the big black velvet box that contained her necklace and wondering each time if he should pop the question, but, kept putting it off and waiting for the "right" time. Then again, when is the "right" time? Will he finally get the courage to pop her the question? Find out!

It was Five O'clock at night. Kelly was getting ready for another date with David when there was a knock at her door. She opened the door and saw that it was Julie.

"Hi, Julie." Kelly greeted.

"Kelly, you look really good in that dress and your hair in that updo." Julie commented.

"Thanks." Kelly smiled.

"You getting ready for another date with David?" Julie pulled up a chair and sat down.

"Yupp. It's our 4th date." Kelly put on her earrings, "I'm really excited."

"Wow! A fourth date? I'm pretty sure you know what usually comes after a fourth date, Kelly." Julie gave a little hint.

"No, what?" Kelly was curious.

"Well, usually, after a third or fourth date, there's usually a question that is asked." Julie gave off a more subtle hint this time in order to see if Kelly would catch on.

"What kind of-" Kelly paused and as she put two and two together, she knew what Julie was hinting at, but, quickly looked down to the floor, looking somewhat unhopeful.

"What's wrong, Kel?" Julie was surprised at the sudden change in her friend's demeanor.

"I don't know if David is ready to go to that route, yet. I mean we're still kind of in the "embryo stage" of our relationship." Kelly continued to stare at the ground.

"You don't know if David is-Kelly, you two rekindled your relationship and plus, you'll never know unless you have an opened mind." Julie shrugged.

"Have you ever seen me with a closed mind?" Kelly asked.

"No, but, you never know when David will spring the surprise on you." Julie suggested.

"Well, Julie, I-" Kelly was immediately cut off when there was another knock at the door.

She went to the door and answered it. To her excitement, it was David and he was standing there in a suit and tie, along with a bouquet of roses in his hand.

"David, you look so sharp." Kelly commented.

"For you, my lady." David smiled and handed her the bouquet of roses.

"Awww, thank you, David. I love them." Kelly took a quick whiff of the roses, before putting them in a vase.

"Kelly, you look beautiful as always. You look like Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast At Tiffany's", only prettier." David was checking her out in her black dress and her updo hairstyle.

"Oh, stop it, you." Kelly playfully slapped his shoulder, before grabbing her clutch bag.

"Hiya, Julie." David turned to Julie.

"Hey, David." Julie waved at him.

"You look handsome." Kelly walked up to him and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Well, I think I'd better go home, since you two plan to-" Julie was cut off.

"Actually, we're going out, again, Julie, so, if you wouldn't mind house sitting for me." Kelly walked toward the door.

"Sure, I don't mind." Julie nodded and smiled after seeing that Kelly had left a red lip print on David's cheek, "So, if I may ask, where are you two off to?"

"We're going to take a walk out on the pier and gaze at the stars and the moon, since, it is full tonight." David didn't realize he had a lip print on his cheek until after looking into a mirror, "Oh, Kelly."

"Sue me. It was worth it." Kelly teased.

"Well, have fun you guys. Don't let me keep you." Julie walked them out of the house and to David's 1968 Mercury.

"Thanks, again, Julie." Kelly told her.

"Happy to help." Julie said, before shutting the door.

"After you, my lady." David opened the passenger door for Kelly.

"Thank you, David." Kelly got into the car and shut the door.

As soon as David got inside the car, off they went, first to a restaurant, before, the real romantic part came. Once they arrived to the restaurant, they were seated and served almost immediately. Dinner was going great for them as they managed to reminisce about old times and talk about how glad they were to be reunited and starting up where they left off. After dinner came dessert, which had them sharing a Chocolate milkshake with two cherries at the top. They grabbed the cherries and put them in each other's mouths.

"You know something? We haven't done that in a while." Kelly grabbed David's hand and held it.

"There's a lot that we haven't done in a while, Kelly and to be honest, I've never ever been this happy in a long time." David gently squeezed her hand.

"Me neither. I honestly haven't been this happy and had this warm feeling in a while. Didn't Laura or Carolyn ever make you happy for a while?" Kelly said, without letting his hand go.

"Sure, they made me feel happy, but, I never truly stopped thinking about you, Kelly. You've always been my number one." David rubbed her hand with his thumb.

Kelly smiled after he said that and kissed his hand. David leaned across the table and planted a kiss on her lips. Soon enough, they found themselves getting up and doing a slow romantic dance.

"We haven't done this in a while, either." Kelly laughed.

"Well, like I said before, we haven't done any of this in a long time and we finally get to carry on any way the wind blows as if nothing really matters, now that we aren't on a dangerous mission." David snorted.

"Did you just say a few of the lines from Queen's song "Bohemian Rhapsody" ?" Kelly asked, while unknowingly stroking the back of David's neck.

"Yeah, it is one of my favorite songs that Queen did and uh, Kelly, what are you-" David stopped mid-sentence and started to laugh.

"What's the matter with you?" Kelly also started to laugh.

"Kelly, stop." David was laughing.

"What am I doing and are you laughing about?" Kelly was still unaware of the fact that she was stroking the back of David's neck and apparently, it was tickling him.

"You keep tickling my neck and I can't stand it any longer." David laughed.

Kelly chuckled and rolled her eyes, before putting her hand back on David's shoulder.

After their romantic dance, they got back into David's car and drove down to Redondo Beach. As soon as they got to the beach, they parked the car and headed straight down the pier, talking about a possible future between them and about stuff they may or may not have told each other, yet. So far, everything was going fine, but, deep within David's mind, there was something he needed to get out in the open to Kelly, however, it was something that really wasn't easy for David to just simply come out and say. Kelly couldn't help, but, notice this.

"David, what's wrong?" Kelly noticed that David's demeanor changed drastically.

David looked at her and didn't answer.

"David, there's something bothering you and it's been bothering you for a while." Kelly got a more serious tone in her voice and folded her arms.

David still looked at her with the same stricken look and sighed, before looking back down at the water beneath them.

"Say it, David." Kelly wasn't going to take anymore of David being silent about anything, "David, we're in a relationship and we both agreed there wouldn't be secrets between us. Now, please tell me what is bothering you."

"Kelly, it is not as easy to come out and say it." David finally answered her.

"David, whatever it is, I can take it. It won't affect me." Kelly tried to reassure him.

"Kelly, I...don't think you realize just how it may affect you. I mean if I told you, you may change your mind about me and you may never look at me the same anymore. I mean I hope it doesn't come to that and that you'd still want to be with me, even after I come clean about this." David sounded troubled.

"David, are you trying to tell me that you're a homosexual or bisexual man?" Kelly's eyes got big for a moment.

"Good heavens, no!" David was immediately repulsed, yet, surprised that Kelly would ask such a thing, "Kelly, I wouldn't be either of those. I was raised in a strict home where that wasn't tolerated. Plus, if I was, then I'd be living my life in secrecy and I would be the laughing stock of all the scientists in the world. After all, not many people take too kindly to that."

"OK, that's a relief, because, I too was raised in a strict environment where that wasn't tolerated or even mentioned." Kelly breathed a sigh of relief, "I'm sorry, but, I needed to ask in order to prepare myself for the next course of this conversation."

"I understand, Kelly." David nodded.

"Well, if it is not that, then what is it?" Kelly asked.

"Kelly, let's just say that I haven't been completely honest about my marital status. You see, I was married three times, actually." David started.

"That's the thing that's been eating at you? Being married three times? Everyone is married three times, well, some people, not everyone." Kelly got the "really" look on her face.

"Well, my third marriage was, because, of the fact that, well, I got her pregnant." David anticipated Kelly's next reaction.

"You having a kid is what was eating at you? A lot of people have kids, David. Sometimes the marriage ends in divorce." Kelly wasn't at all phased and got a smile on her face, "I'm happy that you managed to have a kid, even if your marriage to her, ended in divorce. How is the kid?"

"Kelly, my marriage to her did not end in divorce. It ended in death." David still had that same stricken look in his eye.

"Oh my God! David, I'm so sorry! I'm willing to help you raise the kid." Kelly put her hand on his shoulder and rubbed it.

"Kelly, you won't have to help me raise the baby, because, he died too." David's stricken look turned to a sad one.

"David, how did he die? How did she die? How did you and your late wife meet?" Kelly was clearly curious and eager to learn the story of the third wife.

"Well, he was born premature and she was shot to death. I met her while working as a bus boy for a hospital in San Francisco. Her name was Melina Berkowitz. She was a Nurse. She was beautiful and had beautiful long jet black hair with bangs in the front. As I worked for this hospital, we would bump into each other and I was smitten for her. She evidently felt the same way toward me. So, one day I asked her out for a date and she said yes. Afterwards, the dates turned into frequent ones and pretty soon we were in a committed relationship, just trying to take things slowly, like how we are doing. However, one night we got a little intimate and the next day, she was gone. Just disappeared without a trace for about five weeks. After the five weeks were up and after nothing from her, she suddenly showed up at the house we were sharing, well, I was living in as a roommate of hers. Anyways, I asked Melina why she disappeared like she did and she got a little short with me. I knew instantly that something was bothering her, because, she would never get short with me, so, I asked her and she hesitated to answer until I told her that it wouldn't bother me and just to let it out. Melina told me that she hoped I would still want to be with her and love her, before she eventually told me that she was pregnant. At first, I was shocked, but, then, I felt happy, because, long ago, I had been told that I was unable to produce any offspring and after she told me that she was expecting, well, I was happy that I proved that Doctor wrong. So, I did what I was raised to do, I asked her to marry me, in which, she did. We eventually had our son, David Jr., a little early than the due date. He needed to be kept in the hospital for observation as he was premature and had contracted Sepsis." David took a few deep breaths and cleared his throat, "We were hopeful that he would get better, but...Oh God! This next part isn't easy."

"David, what happened?" Kelly's eyes had glazed over.

"Well, she was on her way to the hospital to visit Junior, when suddenly, out of nowhere, she was shot in our yard. I was in the house when the gunshots rang out and in a panic, I rushed to her side, immediately. After I got her into the car, I stepped on the gas and tried to get her to the hospital as fast as I could, but, you see, we were living near the mission, San Juan Capistrano and the hospital was 10 miles away. However, she was in so much pain that, before, we could get to the hospital and we were very close to the hospital, she jumped out of the car and ran off. Knowing that she was endangering herself and wanting to help her, I got out of the car and ran after her. Soon enough, as bad luck wasn't already coming my way, a thunderstorm started. As I was starting to get close to her, I tripped and twisted my ankle, which triggered the Hulk to come out, which he did. Even as the Hulk, I remember going after her and finally finding her, slumped over in an alley, thankfully near the hospital. I remember picking her up in my arms and..." David's voice was starting to break, but, he managed to clear his throat and compose himself, "she looked up at me and told me that no matter what happens, please take care of Junior, because, it is her final wish. She then proceeded to tell me that she loved me no matter what and that she'll miss me. After that, I remember receiving a final kiss from her, before, she took her final breath and passed away in my arms. The next day, after the rain, thunder, wind, and lightning stopped and after I reverted back to my normal self, I found her in my arms, on my lap and dried blood all over myself and all over her. I also found that she died with her eyes open, so, out of respect, I closed them. God, that part is still haunting to me, even to this day. I remember watching the life drain from those eyes of hers and I remember seeing her lifeless eyes the next day. I have never ever forgotten that or the day Laura died or the nights Carolyn and Elaina died or even the day my own mother died. Death just seems to follow me. I curse death and the darkness. I know my mother, Laura, Carolyn, Elaina, and Melina wouldn't want me to, but, I can't help it."

"Oh my God! David, I'm so sorry that happened. I'm...so sorry that happened to you." Kelly gave him a tight hug, while trying to hold back tears.

"Well, I wanted to fulfill my promise to Melina and take care of Junior, but, that came to an end when I found out that he had died from the Sepsis infection and the fact that he was premature didn't help either. After their private funerals and burials, I went out into the yard of the home that once was and sat out in the sun. I looked up at the sky and asked, "Why?", before, I packed up my stuff and kept on moving along." David breathed a sigh of relief after getting all of that out, "Now, here I am, happily with you."

"David, tragedy just seems to follow you. All I can say is how sorry I am, but, really that is not enough, even though, I am truly sorry and I cannot imagine what it was like. No, wait, I can, because, I too was in love a guy and believe it or not, Kris was in love with him, too. We started to compete with each other and even considered resigning over it until he was shot to death. I was devastated as was Kris, but, we both managed to patch things up and vowed to never again let a man come between us and make us compete for him, even though, I met you and thankfully not competing with anyone." Kelly rubbed his cheek with her index finger.

"Wow! So, you were in love, too? I guess we are two of a kind." David was smirking and clearly trying to bring back positive energy.

"Yes, I was, but, not as much in love with him as I am with you, David Bruce Banner." Kelly gave him a kiss on the lips.

David was completely taken by surprise at the mere mention of his full name, but, he managed to form a smile on his face, indicating that even though, he was surprised, he also liked it.

"If I can ask, how did you and Carolyn meet?" Kelly was curious, as always.

"Well, I went to Hawaii. Honolulu in fact. I found out that she was a psychotherapist and I thought she could help me gain control of the Hulk, if not rid me of him, once and for all. Little did I know, she was battling a terminal brain disease that was similar to that of Lou Gehrig's disease. As we tried everything we could possibly do for me, we formed a bond and fell in love. Of course, she met my Hulk side. Anyways, we wed and felt that if I could somehow come up with a cure for her disease in time, as her disease was terminal like I said and she only had 6 to 8 weeks to live. So, I thought that if I could help her, she'd help me, and then, we would live out our days together. That obviously didn't happen, as one night, I wanted to get her to the hospital, so, that way we could work on it there and maybe have it done that night, but, the pain became unbearable for her to handle, that she got out of the car and ran off, just like Melina did. Only, a hurricane was coming and I jumped out of the car and tried to get to her in time, but, I was nearly injured when a car hit me. Afterward, I turned into the Hulk and continued after her until I finally got to her. I remember holding her in a hug. Her last words to me were, "I'll miss you, David." along with somewhat of a final kiss on my cheek, before, passing away in my arms. The next morning, I had reverted back to normal and her corpse was in my arms. Like I said, before, I unfortunately didn't have a funeral for her. Instead, I had a private burial for her. After all of that was over with, I sat at the beach in front of our house, just staring out into the ocean that she loved, when the little boy, whom she had saved from drowning, came over and comforted me. He even told me that just, because, she died, didn't mean she was gone forever just as long as I remember her and have her in my heart. Well, I have her, Laura, Elaina, and Melina in my heart." David, despite finding it hard to talk about Carolyn's death, managed to do so and to keep himself composed.

"Damn, David! I'm so sorry for your loss of Laura, Carolyn, Elaina, and Melina. It's hard to love someone a lot and then lose them so suddenly. I know how it feels. Two times, I've had it. Once, was with the guy I told you about and another time, was with a Japanese man named Jim Nakajima. He was nice and handsome. I met him when I was on a case for a murder near his neighborhood. For some reason, after talking to him, I felt drawn to him. I mean here we barely met and I felt as if we were old friends. My natural instincts were to protect him from any danger, even though, he tried to protect me. We both confessed our feelings for each other and later, started a relationship. Our relationship blossomed very quickly. Everything just seemed perfect." Kelly smiled as she reminisced about her relationship with Jim Nakajima.

"Kelly, what happened between you and Jim? I mean everything seemed so perfect, but, you mentioned that you suddenly lost him after falling deeply in love with him." David was eager to find out.

"Well, one day, Jim proposed to me and of course, I said yes. We would've been married, but, unfortunately, it was cut short." Kelly took a few deep breaths and composed herself, "We were out on a date, when suddenly, while I was gone for a brief moment, he tried to stop a guy from robbing and possibly shooting up the restaurant, but, he was stabbed multiple times after his struggle with the guy, who turned out to be the suspect I was looking for. Luckily, Bos, Julie, and Kris were outside, because, they got him, before, he could get away. However, once I came back, I rushed to Jim's side and yelled to Kris to call an ambulance and a Doctor, but, it was too late, because, Jim succumbed to his wounds and bled out rapidly. His last words to me were, "Kelly...I'll always love you." and then, he took his final breath and died in my arms. I still didn't want to believe that he died, so, I kept insisting that we get him to a hospital, but, Bosley told me that he was beyond help and that is when I lost my composure. I was devastated for weeks on end. I loved Jim more than anything in the world and I still curse the darkness, even though he wouldn't want me to." Kelly brushed tears out of her eyes.

"Wow, Kelly! I'm so sorry for your loss of Jim. Well, we've found each other after years of losing touch and that's all that matters now." David rubbed her cheek.

"Yupp and I am happy that we did." Kelly smiled at him.

"You know that full moon is very beautiful, but, not as beautiful as you are, of course." David sat down at the end of the pier.

"Oh, you're such a charmer." Kelly sat down beside him, put her head on his shoulder, and gazed up at the moon.

David put his arm around her and held her very close to him. The two sat in silence and just stared up into the bright full moon and the gleaming stars above. David had the little black velvet box and started contemplating on whether or not to pull it out and pop Kelly the question he had popped to Laura, Carolyn, and Melina. He knew that he had been happier than ever being reunited with Kelly. Sure, he was happy with Laura, Carolyn, and later, Melina, but, Kelly had managed to make him the happiest man alive for two reasons: One, she was his first girlfriend and Two, because, he always loved her and always had her on his mind and in his heart, despite, having been married to Laura, Carolyn, and Melina. Yes, he did love Elaina, too, but, the two never had the chance to develop into a couple. David knew he had loved a lot of women in his lifetime, but, there was something about Kelly that none of the other women could ever aspire to, in his eyes. Knowing he had waited for the "right time" to get Kelly out on a date, he now knew that their relationship was blossoming and fast, he needed to pop her the question, but, there was something stopping him, well, not stopping him, but, holding him back.

David's POV

What's stopping me? What am I afraid of? I mean, I do love Kelly more than anything in the world and I do want to pop her the question, but, for some reason, I can't find the courage to do so.

I can't be afraid of putting her in danger, because, she knows how to tame the Hulk, well, at least, calm him. So, scratch that off.

*I then think about the tragedies I've faced*

Maybe, it could be, because, of the tragic events I have had in my life.

*I get a vision of the day Laura died*

Laura's death.

*I get another vision of the night Carolyn died*

Carolyn's death.

*I flashback to Elaina's death*

Elaina.

*I finally see Melina's death play out in my head*

And Melina.

Yes, it could be, because, of those tragic events. Losing Laura wasn't easy and was the reason this all started. I wanted the ability to have superhuman strength, so, that way I could save someone and not have a repeat of Laura's death. Well, that didn't work out too well, because, even with the strength of the Hulk, I wasn't able to save Elaina from the same demise.

Afterward, I had to make everyone believe I had perished in the fire, so, that way it would buy me some time to see if I could cure myself of the Hulk. I turned to Dr. Carolyn Fields as she was a psychotherapist and could possibly help me. That turned into a bust, because, she was dying of her brain disease and I wanted to help her first. Didn't work out did it, David? Nope, because, I couldn't save her from her disease. She died right in my arms.

Then, I met Melina some years later. Oh, yes, Melina is still fresh in my mind now and her death is too, unfortunately. Only thing is, I had a kid with her. Everything seemed to go great, but, that was cut short when she was shot to death and afterward, our baby died. Maybe that is why I just decided to give up on women, but, now, I have Kelly and I am happier than ever. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I really do.

*I realize that I must let the past go*

I musn't let those tragedies dictate how I am going to live my life! I've done that way too long. It's time I live my life the way I please and if that means risking having people find out that I turn into the Hulk, I didn't die, and Jack McGee having his stories, well, so be it and secrecy be damned. I love Kelly and I am not going to let set-backs hinder anything.

Outside of David's Mind

"Yes." David blurted out.

"Yes, what?" Kelly looked up at him.

"Huh?" David was caught off guard after finding out that Kelly heard him.

"You said yes about something." Kelly had a surprised look on her face.

"I must've been thinking out loud, again." David tried to cover it up.

Kelly rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the moon and the stars.

David breathed a sigh of relief that Kelly didn't bug with anymore questions. He wanted to keep it a surprise for her and wait for the right moment to possibly pop the question to her.

Will he do it? Will he FINALLY ask her the most important question?

To Be Continued...