25th of December, 2006
Michael is 48, Angela is 42

Michael: "She'll be okay," Dr. Haring said as I held Angela's hand. "And the baby is perfect. Just make sure she'll be in strict bed rest from now on. It's a risky pregnancy, you know, because of her age... Don't let her be on her feet too much, and like I said before, no drama."

I sighed in relief. "Thank you. And I really appreciate you coming all the way here on Christmas."

"My pleasure. I'll see you in a few weeks." Dr. Haring shook my hand and left.

Maria placed a wet cloth on Angela's forehead, and kissed the top of her head.

"You heard the doctor, Michael. She's okay," my mother-in-law reassured. "By the way, I'm so sorry for how Luciano and Rosa acted."

"It's fine, I never expected them to like me. I know how much everyone in your family loved Jake." I said.

"That's weird, you get sad when you talk about him. It's like you knew him."

"I didn't, Angela always talks about him. And I always feel close to him thanks to Lily and Eric."

Maria sighed and said she's going to wet the cloth again.

"Wait, Maria," I called. "Um, I was wondering, since Angela needs to be in bed now, if you'd be able to stay here and help the nanny with the kids. I'm starting a few projects with some new artists, so I need someone I can trust to look after them."

"I'd love to! But who will take care of my daughter while you're gone?" Maria asked.

"I haven't really thought about that..."

"Maybe you should get her a personal nurse, just in case something happens."

When she said that, I knew the exact person to call.

Debbie probably wouldn't mind doing me a little favor. I'll get her here to take care of Angela while I'm away, and even if I want some peace and quiet for myself, then everything will be perfect. I trust Debbie with eyes closed.

Although I knew Angela didn't like Debbie, I also knew my wife would have to suck it up. She was so happy to be pregnant again, she'd do anything for me and this baby.

I smiled, "Yeah, that could work. Thanks Maria. I appreciate it."

"Of course. Here, put this on her forehead," she gave me the cloth. "I'll go ask Jared to get me more clothes from home."

My mother-in-law left our bedroom and I looked down at Angela.

Her eyes fluttered open. She glanced up at me, a confused look on her face.

"What happened?"

"You fainted." I told her.

She tried sitting, but I hurried to tell her to lay back down.

"My head hurts." she murmured, rubbing her forehead.

I caressed the back of her hand, "Yeah, Dr. Haring was here, he said you need to take it slow for a while."

"Which means...?"

"Bedrest, mostly. And working out things with you brother and sister."

"How long am I grounded for?" she asked, ignoring what I said about Rosa and Luciano.

"Until Dr. Haring says it's okay for you to start waddling around again." I answered.

Angela scoffed, "Don't start being an asshole again. You know how I feel about the whole waddling thing."

"I'm just teasing," I kissed her hand. "I'm glad you're okay, Angie. You really had me worried."

She pulled me by my shirt, making me be as close to her as possible.

Her lips found mine and she kissed me slowly.

"I promise to never worry you again, okay? I'll stay in bed and do whatever you want as long as our baby is healthy." she said once she pulled away.

I let out a sigh. What she doesn't know for now can't hurt her.

~

27th of December, 2006
Michael is 48, Angela is 42

Angela: My eyes shot open when the urge to pee woke me up.

I'm not even two months into this pregnancy, and my body is already preparing itself for the next 7 months.

"Ange? You okay? Do you need help?" Michael mumbled sleepily as I got out of bed.

"No, I'm just going to pee. Keep sleeping." I said.

After doing my business, I walked back to the bedroom to see Michael's phone blaring.

It was a text massage form Javon.

Curiosity got the best of me, and I took his phone, reading the message.

Thanks God he's always been a heavy sleeper.

Usually, I wouldn't go through his phone, but since Christmas he's been a little distant. Just a little. I knew he's probably taking care of the kids while I lay in bed all day, but then at night when he would crawl into bed with me, he would check his phone all the time. I wanted to get to the bottom of this.

Got you her number, sir. She said call her whenever you'd like tomorrow.

I read the text again. Her? Who is 'her'?

Deciding to be a good wife about this, I woke him up to ask him. I didn't want to jump to conclusions so soon.

"Who is this lady and why do you need her number?" I questioned once he was a little awake, and shoved the phone into his face.

He looked puzzled for a second before realizing what the text said.

"I'll tell you, but you gotta come back to bed. And you have to promise you will not get mad. I'm doing this for you and our baby." Michael said.

"Fine." I huffed, going back to my side of the bed.

"You remember Debbie, right?"

"Yeah..."

Where is he going with this?

"Well, I asked your mother to come help Grace with the kids while you lay in bed, because I might be starting to work on a few projects," my husband explained. "Don't worry, most of them are in the US, and maybe I'll have to fly to Europe a few times, but it's nothing you should worry about. Anyways, since I won't be here as much as I'd want to, your mother suggested that I'd hire you a personal nurse. You know, just in case, so you could call someone if anything goes wrong."

I scrunched my eyebrows. "Okay... So what does Debbie have to do with any of this?"

"I was planning on hiring her as your personal nurse-"

Before he could finish I shook my head. No way. He knows I don't like her.

"Hear me out, Angela. I don't trust anyone anymore. Debbie never did anything to betray me, or hurt me... Come on, she offered to give me a baby in a time I really needed a child of my own. She's a good friend of mine, and a great nurse. Please."

"But what about the children?"

"What about the children?" Michael asked.

"She's Prince's and Paris's birth mother, Michael. As a mother I would never want to see my children being raised by another woman. Especially if that woman is married to my ex husband." I answered.

"First of all, Prince and Paris don't remember her. The last time she saw them was when Prince was 3. And secondly, Debbie and I were never married, it was just to satisfy my mother. She didn't want me to have a baby out of wedlock."

"Still..."

He took my hand and held it tightly. "Please... You said you'd do anything to keep our baby healthy."

He had a point. And I did want to keep our baby as healthy as it can be.

"Okay, you can hire Debbie. But I have an ultimatum. She doesn't go near the kids. They're all my babies, and you know how much I love them..."

"You don't even have to say it, I already planned on telling her the kids are off limits. You're their mommy now."

I kissed him so passionately it started to heat up pretty quickly.

"What did Dr. Haring say about having sex?" I questioned as I unbuttoned the pajama shirt he wore.

"Nothing..." Michael smirked.

He let me pull down his pants as well, and I placed kisses all over his body.

~

Michael: I tapped my fingers anxiously on my desk as I waited for Debbie to answer.

Why the hell am I nervous? It's only Debbie, my long-time friend, the one who's given me Prince and Paris, and made me the most happiest man on earth by doing that.

"Hello?" I heard her after a few more rings.

"Debbie? It's Michael." I said, sitting up.

"Wow, never thought I'd hear that voice again." she giggled.

I cleared my throat, "How are you?"

"Good... And I'm guessing you're more than good with your new wife and kids. Congrats."

"Thanks."

"Never thought you'd be that kind of man, though..." Debbie mumbled.

"What do you mean?" I questioned.

"Oh, nothing, I just didn't think you'd marry your dead best friend's wife."

"It's not like that. We started dating a few months after Jake passed away. We... Fell in love."

"I'm just looking out for you, Michael. I don't want to see anyone hurt you again like Lisa hurt you."

"I know, and I'm grateful," I told her. "So, um, listen... I need a little favor."

"I'm all ears." Debbie said.

"Why don't you come over here and I'll tell you? I'll get a car to take you all the way here, my bodyguards know where your house is."

"Can I see Prince and Paris?"

I knew that would come sooner or later, but I couldn't break my promise to Angela.

I scratched the back of her neck, "Uh, we'll have to see about that."

"Okay, send your bodyguards. I'll be waiting."

"Thank you so much, Debbie."

"No problem. I'll see you soon." she hung up and I sighed.

"Dada!" I heard from outside my office, then Jared crawled in with the new dog in. The kids named her 'Kenya'.

"Hey, baby boy. Where's your big brother who's in charge of his dog?" I smiled as I picked my son up.

Kenya scratched on my ankle, and I called for Prince.

"Yeah, dad?"

"Come take your dog, please. I thought I told you not to let her into my office."

He dragged himself into the room and took the dog.

"And take her out for a walk!" I said as he left.

Jared giggled, making me look at him.

"Let's go check on your momma."

When I was upstairs, I saw Angela with her mother and Rose on the bed next to her.

"Debbie is on her way here." I blurted out.

She sighed, "She agreed to do it?"

"I told her we'll talk about that when she gets here."

"Did she ask about Prince and Paris?"

I nodded. "Yeah..."

"And what did you say?"

"That we'll have to see about her meeting them."

Angela smiled at me.

"Thanks you, Mike. Can I talk to Debbie today, too?"

"Uh, I'm not sure..."

"Michael, I gotta meet the woman who's gonna take care of me for 7 months." she rolled her eyes.

"Maybe, I'll think about it." I said.

I took out my phone and texted Javon to go get Debbie.

"She's on her way."

~

I opened the door with a nervous sigh. Here goes nothing.

Debbie stepped out of the car. She looked... Great. Like when I first met her back in the 80's. She lost weight, but her face was still like I remembered it.

"Michael, hi!" she chirped and hugged me.

"Hello, Debbie," I hugged her. "You look... Woah. You look amazing."

"Thanks. It really means a lot to me."

"So," she smiled as I showed her in. "What is that favor you talked about?"

"Let's go into my office." I said.

When we were inside my office, I sat her down and took the seat across from her.

Debbie looked around the room, smiling at a picture of Prince, Paris and myself from when they were little.

"Would you like anything to drink?"

"No, thank you. I'm curious about that favor."

"Okay, so um... Angela's pregnant again." I told her.

She rolled her eyes, "No surprise there. You have a thing with getting women pregnant twice."

"It was a mutual decision to have another baby. But listen, because she's 42, almost 43, her doctor said she has to be in bed for the rest of her pregnancy. And I really mean it when I say this, but I can't trust anyone anymore, Debbie, and you've never let me down. I need a nurse to take care of her."

"So what you're saying is, you want to hire me?"

I nodded, "I do. I'm doing a few projects in the next few months, so I won't be home a lot. I have the nanny and Angela's mother to take care of the kids, but then Angela is left alone. Can't let that happen. Please, do it? For me?"

"Can I see my children?" Debbie asked, crossing her arms over my chest.

"Debbie, I'm not sure about that. They don't remember you, and Angela is very sensitive about this subject..." I answered.

"She wants to keep me away from my children? They're my children, Michael. I gave birth to them. What if it was the other way around?! Would she like me to keep her away from her kids?"

"Why are you like this? If I haven't had called you, you probably wouldn't even think about them."

"I just want to see them. At least give me that." she sighed.

I groaned. "Fine, but you are not allowed to tell them who you are. They are off limits whenever you're around, got it? They are happy with Angela around, they love her like she's their mother. Actually, scratch that. She is their mother. Understood?"

"Yes, Michael. So when do I start?"

"Next week. I'll be in Japan for a few days, so I need you here."

"I'll be here," Debbie smiled sweetly. "Thanks for letting me see my kids."

She placed a kiss on my cheek, and I was sure I was blushing.

"And thank you for doing this. I really do appreciate this, Debbie. You have no idea how much you've made me happy right now." I said, hugging her.

"You know I'd do anything for you..." she giggled.

Debbie pulled away from me, "Can I see my kids now?"

I chuckled, "Yeah, let's go."

~

2nd of January, 2007
Michael is 48, Angela is 42

Angela: "Promise me you'll act nicely. Debbie is doing this as a favor, don't drive her away so quickly." Michael said as he kissed me.

"I'll try." I rolled my eyes, kissing him back.

It was actually nice being in bed all day. No commitments, no noise... Just me and the bed, with Michael coming in to check on me once in a while. And when he did, all he did was pamper me. I was in heaven.

"I'm gonna miss you. And you, too, baby." he whispered to my still flat stomach.

I played with his hair, "We'll miss you, too, Mike."

He placed a kiss on my lips again before his phone rang.

"That's Javon. I gotta go." Michael sighed when he took out his phone.

Debbie stood at our bedroom door and smiled at him as he made his way to her.

He kissed her cheek. "Thank you so much, Debbie."

"It's my pleasure. Have fun." she told him.

Michael blew me one last kiss before disappearing out the door.

With my husband disappearing, Debbie's smile disappeared, too.

"Is there anything you need right now, Angela?" she asked flatly.

"Uh, no, thanks... I think I'll take a nap." I mumbled.

"Goodnight."

She closed the door, making me sigh.

Let's hope everything goes smoothly this time around.