Lunar Eclipse...the Other Story

Note: The first part of this fan fiction is a direct quote from the above mentioned episode of Moonlighting. The characters and the quotes are not mine, as much as I would love to lay claim to them. This is meant for nothing but the entertainment of the reader. If you would like to archive this story, please email me first.

Thanks to: Branham, as always, my wonderful beta reader.

Lunar Eclipse...the Other Story

Maddie and David sit before an altar in a church, both frowning and sad looking.

Maddie- Well, I guess this is it. Over and out.

David- Six, two, and even.

Maddie- I thought it would be different.

David- I didn’t think about it.

Maddie- If we could just have these five years to do over again. Maybe we could - - (pause) - - You know, David, after all that we’ve been through together, the ups, the downs, the ins, the outs. I just want you to know, I can’t imagine not seeing you tomorrow.

As Maddie and David gaze at each other, lovingly and sadly, the sweet sounds of Ray Charles begin to play. A tear escapes Maddie’s eye as they remember the past. There is a sudden shout of alarm and Walter Whitebread from the office earlier comes running into the church.

Walter- Wait, wait, wait, wait!!!

The music stops and David stands.

David- What? You haven’t wreaked enough havoc on our lives already, now you have to interrupt our reminiscing too?

Walter sighs heavily, looking down at his clipboard.

Walter- I’m afraid there’s been a mistake.

Maddie stands and wipes the remaining tears from her eyes.

Maddie- What do you mean? Are you saying that we haven’t been canceled?

Man- Yes. I got my lines crossed, you’re not supposed to canceled. Just moved back to your Tuesday night slot.

Maddie and David exchange looks.

David- So this means we can go back to the banter, the door slamming, the innuendo?

Walter grins.

Walter - Precisely! Now, if you will just sign these- -

He holds the clipboard out to David, who takes it reluctantly and turns to look at Maddie before turning back to the man.

David- I don’t know about this. WE really thought we were being canceled. And to tell you the truth, neither of us were unhappy...sad maybe. Regretful for the way things turned out definitely.

Maddie- David’s right. We’ve been at this for going on six years now. Our fans have given up on us, and the writers just don’t care anymore...just look at the horrible Annie mess they got us into.

Walter- But...you...can’t...you...

David- Give us five minutes to talk it over, ok?

Walter- But we don’t have five minutes.

David- Just cut off the beginning of Growing Pains, they already have three kids anyway.

David gives Walter a little push and, sputtering his unhappiness, he walks out the door of the church. David turns to Maddie, smiling slightly.

David- Surprise?

Maddie- Yeah.

They look into each other’s eyes. The same emotion burning in both of them.

David- Let’s cancel the show, Maddie.

Maddie looks at him closely, carefully searching his eyes. After a few minutes, she nods and smiles sadly.

Maddie- It’s for the best, I suppose. We’re both kind of burnt out.

David smiled at her.

David- You were actually going to miss seeing me everyday?

Maddie felt the tears well up in her eyes and blinked them back.

Maddie- Still am.

David- Who says this has to end? It’s up to us, Maddie. This isn't a TV show, these are our lives. I say if we want to be together, nothing should stop us.

Maddie looks thoughtful.

David- It’s your call, sweetheart.

Maddie- Let’s do it, David.

David- We're in a church.

Maddie- Not that! Let’s give them what they want.

David (Confused) - That’s not what they want?

Maddie- Addison...

They grin at each other. Walter sticks his head back in, impatience on his face.

Walter- Times up, kids. What’s it going to be?

David- We want to cancel the show.

Walter- All right--

David- Next week. We have something planned for next week’s episode.

Walter- I can probably manage that. Now, can we roll the credits? I’m going to be in even more trouble if we don’t let the Seavers have their baby.

MOONLIGHTING CREDITS ROLL

NEXT WEEK’S EPISODE

The screen is white. All white. No contrasting colors, just white.

Voice- Is there an end to this thing?

Voice 2- David!

Suddenly, the white disappears and the camera zooms out to show Maddie and David sitting on his desk. Maddie is holding her train in her hand, she is wearing her wedding gown. David is in a tuxedo. Maddie keeps wiggling the wedding ring that adorns her left hand.

David- Stop fidgeting.

Maddie- I can’t help it. It just feels...weird.

David- Thanks.

Maddie- I didn’t mean...

David- I know. (He looks at the camera) They’re heeeere!

Maddie- Oh, hi.

David- So, we promised you’d get what you wanted, and here it is.

Maddie- David and I are lawfully married.

They both hold up their left hands, revealing two gold rings.

David- Unfortunately, our wedding wasn’t half as exciting as Agnes and Bert’s, the wedding night, however...

Maddie- David! Also, it ran a bit long, and seeing as how they only gave us half an hour, we’re going to have to edit.

Maddie picks up a remote sitting beside her and points it at the camera; David and Maddie are standing before an altar, facing each other, holding hands.

Priest- Do you, Madolyn Hayes, take David Addison, Jr. as your lawfully wedded husband? To love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, as long as you both shall live?

Uncertainty flashes through her features, but is replaced by a look of love.

Maddie- I do.

The priest smiles and turns to David.

Priest- Do you, David Addison Jr., take Madolyn Hayes, to be your lawfully wedded wife? To love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, as long as you both shall live?

David looks at the priest, a look of mock confusion and worry on his face.

David- That’s an awfully long time...

Maddie slaps him lightly on the hand. David grins and turns to face her.

David- In sickness and health, huh? They didn’t mention forever and always.

Priest- Is that an ‘I do’?

Maddie- Believe me, that’s as close to an ‘I do’ as you’re going to get.

Priest- Then by the power invested in me, by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.

Maddie and David kiss softly, then harder, pulling away only when the priest clears his throat. Maddie wipes a smudge of lipstick off of David’s mouth.

Maddie- Forever and always, huh?

David- Longer if you’re good.

They kiss softly one more time and the screen goes blank. Maddie puts down the remote. She and David are holding hands.

Maddie- And that’s how it ends.

David- Yeah, are you happy now?

Maddie- Of course, there is still the matter we discussed last night.

David- Maddie, do you really want to get into this on national TV?

Maddie- Not that! The other thing?

David- Why get their hopes up? We’re not positive yet.

Maddie- David, this might be our last chance to do this. Telling them will make them happy.

David- They weren’t too happy last time.

Maddie- That was a bit different.

David- Yeah, well...

The phone on David’s desk rings and Maddie and David look at each other, confused, Maddie shrugs and answers.

Maddie- Blue Moon...what?...That’s great!...Thank you!

She hangs up the phone and smiles David. He looks at her, waiting for an explanation. Maddie nods at him and grins. David shouts and wraps his arms around her. They break apart, both grinning, still holding hands.

David- There you have it, folks. That’s the real end. They way it should have happened to begin with.

Maddie- And now we’re going to play the montage of scenes that we were going to play to begin with.

David- And believe us, ladies and gentlemen, you most definitely have not seen the last of us.

Maddie- We’ll be together again.

David- That was really corny. Who’s writing this?

Maddie shrugs.

Maddie- Let’s roll em’.

Both- Goodbye, everyone.

They kiss and wave at the camera as it fades out. The montage of scenes roll, and the song, ‘We’ll be Together Again’ plays. Instead of stopping on David waving, it shows David and Maddie sitting on the desk, holding hands and smiling at each other.