I guess you and I will have to agree to disagree on this one, Sicilian Babe . I may come up with a few rebuttals to what you've written, but then I'm sure you'll be able to respond with equally compelling counter-arguments; we can go back and forth (which might be fun, actually... we'll see how the topic progresses ).

I just felt -- from the vibe I picked up while watching GF1 and GF2 -- that Kay was the love of Michael's life. Yet many others, you among them, didn't get that feeling at all.

I just wanted to add that I too noted that Michael's proposal to Kay wasn't expectedly romantic; but I think the reason for this is that Michael was scarred after giving his heart to someone and witnessing that person's horrible death where he himself was the target. This also explains why he could not bring himself to contact Kay until after over a year. He was never going to be that romantic soldier boy again; but from that moment he also became very protective of Kay. During those times when he is able to relax and trust in the network of security he built around his family, we see that he is very tender with her: when they're dancing at Anthony's party, and when he strokes her face later that evening while they share a smile over Anthony's drawing, for instance.

I also wanted to add that I agree that when Michael talks to his mother, he's not talking about the miscarriage (and Mama misinterpreted). But I believe Kay is very much on his mind. In Washington, when Kay announces she's leaving with the children, Michael longs to tell her that he has known something is wrong; he wants to make changes; he has been thinking about how she must feel after the miscarriage; he feels responsible ("I know you blame me for losing the baby"). I found it notable that in the draft script for GF2 (which probably doesn't count, but I'll refer to it anyway because it shows what ideas were bopping around FFC's mind) when Michael is told about the miscarriage, he asks Tom if it was a boy or a girl, if Kay is all right, and if she blames him for the loss.

(I'd also like to mention that in that draft script, after the Tahoe incident, Michael gives Tom sealed instructions about the care of his operations, his household, and his family while he is away. He tells Tom that the most difficult part for him to write was relating to Kay and how she should be taken care of should Michael be killed. It was very touching that he should mention that.)

... Now look what I did. I wrote a big long post again with a few rebuttals in it; and I told myself I wasn't going to do that . Oh well, feel free to disagree back -- or I'm sure someone will, as there are plenty more who disagree with me on this Michael & Kay issue.