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Here's another chapter!

~ShoamEmily

~

25th of October, 2003
Angela is 39, Jake is 40

Angela: "Just be careful." I told Jake as we kissed.

"Babe, I'm only going to meet Michael." he sighed.

"Exactly. You know how much I don't like him."

"I know, but he really is a good man, Ange. And you never liked him, not nine years ago, and not now."

"Ugh, I can't believe you've been friends for over ten years." I said.

"I'll see you later." he kissed me again.

"Daddy, wait!" Lily called, running to him.

Jake hugged our daughter, "Pumpkin, you're supposed to be sleeping."

"I wanted to tell you that I love you."

"Aww, baby girl, I love you, too. Now go back to sleep, I'll see you in the morning, okay?"

Lily nodded and hugged her father tighter.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay at home? I have a bad feeling about tonight..." I whispered when my husband kissed me again.

"Michael needs someone to talk to. It sounds like something bad happened... You know he doesn't have a lot of people he trusts, Angie. I'm grateful to be that person he can truly trust in."

"Fine, go," I said. "But call when you get there. It's too late for you to be driving all the way to Santa Ynez."

"You got it, baby. I love you, my girls." Jake gave Lily a kiss on the cheek and for me another on my lips before stepping out with his car keys in his hand.

If I had known that driving so late at night would cost him his life, I would've fought him to stay.

~

17th of January, 2006
Michael is 47, Angela is 41

Michael: I felt someone poking my shoulder.

"Michael... Michael, wake up." Angela said, still poking me.

"What?" I murmured. It was too early for me to be up.

"I need you to sing to them. They won't stop kicking, and I just want a few hours of sleep. Please." her voice was desperate.

I turned on the lamp on my nightstand and turned to her.

If this was any other situation, I'd tell her to bite me. But she is carrying my children, after all, and I've always been a good husband. Both to Lisa and Debbie. Angela is no different than them.

Plus, she needs her sleep. I couldn't even imagine how hard it must be to carry two babies.

"Let's see what these little rascals are up to." I said as I pulled up her shirt.

Sometimes when they kicked, you could see their little feet poking out of Angela's skin. I loved when they did that.

"What should I sing?" I asked Angela.

She shrugged, "Anything that would make them go back to sleep."

I put my lips on her giant bump. They were moving alright. And a lot.

"Everything will be alright, he assures her
But she doesn't hear a word that he says
Preoccupied, she's afraid
Afraid what they've been doing's not right

He doesn't know what to say
So he prays
Whatever, whatever, whatever...

Whatever happens, don't let go of my hand..."

"That was actually one of your good songs," Angela commented. "And they stopped. Thanks."

She yawned, covering her stomach again.

I frowned. These late nights interaction we had each time the babies woke her up were a relief from all our fights.

And I like not fighting with her. It's a much calmer atmosphere.

I never hated Angela. But over the years that I knew her, we never got along.

Jake was a very good friend of mine. I met him back in 1993, when I was in rehab.

He was one of the graduates that finished the program, so he helped me get better.

Ever since then I knew I could trust him. But the following year he met Angela, and they started dating.

She never liked me. From the moment Jake introduced us to each other.

"Goodnight." I sighed, turning back to my side.

~

We had a giant family breakfast, then we were planning on heading out.

The kids asked to do something as a family, so we were going to Disneyland.

Who doesn't love a trip to Disneyland?

"Maybe I should stay home. I'm not feeling so good today." Angela said as the kids ate.

She shouldn't have planned to go with us in the first place, but she insisted on coming.

She hasn't eaten anything at all, and she's constantly hungry. Especially in the morning.

"But Angie, you promised we'd all go to Disneyland together!" Paris whined.

"Paris," I scolded. "Angela is carrying two babies inside of her, she's allowed to stay home if she wants."

"It's not fair! We always go only the six of us. She's always home."

Great, she gave the kids false expectations.

"Honey, I'm just extremely tired today. Please, can I stay home?" Angela sighed.

"No. If Angela isn't going, I'm not going." Paris scoffed and left the table.

I heard her running up the stairs, then a door close shut.

"You did promise her, dad." Prince said.

I looked at Angela. I didn't know what to do.

"I'll go talk to her." she carefully stood up.

"You need to eat. I can go talk to her." I told her.

"I'm not hungry, Michael. Now can I please go apologize?"

I nodded, knowing I have no choice but to let her go talk to my daughter.

~

Angela: "Paris? Can I come in?" I knocked on Paris's door slightly.

"No." she sniffled.

"Pretty please with a cherry on top?"

I heard her walk to the door before opening it.

"I don't forgive you." she crossed her arms.

"I know. But can I still come in, and sit down? My feet hurt." I said.

She let me in, then joined me on her bed.

I uncovered my stomach, knowing she would want to feel them kick at some point.

"Paris, I'm sorry. I'd love to come to Disneyland with everyone, but I'm not feeling good today. And I think being in a crowded place like that theme park, along with your father, would not be good to the babies, or me."

"I just want us to do something as a family. Daddy married you so we could be a family, and ever since you moved in we did nothing together."

That broke my heart. I did promise her...

"Okay, we'll all go to Disneyland." I smiled.

Paris squealed and attacked me in a very tight hug.

"Wow, they're kicking!" she put a hand on my stomach.

I sighed happily, letting her feel her siblings kick, and hoped everything would go well.

~

"You shouldn't have joined us. You'll wear yourself out." Michael whispered in my ear as I buckled my seatbelt.

"I'll be fine, I have our bodyguards to keep me entertained while you go on the bigger rides with the kids. Oh, and Blanket, of course." I said, pinching my step son's chubby cheeks.

The car started driving, and Michael wrapped an arm around my shoulders like he usually would when we sat next to each other in the company of the kids.

He put his other hand on my bump and left it there. I sighed, leaning back.

"Hey, Michael, what do you think the babies will be?" Lily asked.

"I'm hoping for two girls," he answered. "What do you think, babe? Are these girls?"

"No way, this is definitely an only boys room. They kick too much." I said and rubbed my stomach.

"Maybe they're both." Prince suggested.

"Double the fun." Eric grinned.

I sighed. He looked so much like Jake... I wish he was here.

All of a sudden my mood changed. I was happy and excited for Disneyland, and the next moment I'm mourning my husband.

I shook my head. We're supposed to have fun today. I can't let the kids down.

I pushed the thought of Jake to the back of my brain, focusing on the amazing day we were going to have.

~

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay with you? Grace could always go instead of me." Michael asked, referring to the nanny.

We brought her along, because let's face it, Michael did not want me to handle the children at all. And he could not handle all four of them on his own.

"Go have fun, Michael. I'll be just fine with Blanket and the bodyguards." I told him.

He sighed, nodding. "But you are going to sit down. I set a VIP room for you two to be in while we go on the big rides. I'll come take Blanket after we're done, and we'll go on more appropriate rides for him."

"I can take him."

"You can't go on any rides, you know that."

"I won't. Javon will." I smiled at the bodyguard to my right.

"Fine, I guess that could work. But still go rest for a while before you start walking around this giant park." Michael kind of ordered.

He pecked my lips. We always kissed in public, and in front of the children.

"Have fun, guys. Don't miss me too much." I said as Prince, Paris, Lily, and Eric came in for a group hug.

~

The VIP room was amazing. Even there Blanket had something to do.

Mickey Mouse came in with Minnie and Donald and said 'hi', he could watch any Disney movie he wanted, there were lots of toys around... A total paradise for a 4-year-old.

I was offered drinks and food while sitting on one of the couches.

A little while after Mickey and his friends left, my step son asked to watch 'Peter Pan'.

He sat on my lap quietly as the movie played.

"Hey, Angie?" he suddenly said.

"Yes, honey?" I looked down at him.

"Are you my mommy?"

He left me speechless. What was I supposed to say?

"I know Prince and Paris have a mommy but she doesn't live with us. Daddy never told me who my mommy is, and now you're married, so are you my mommy?"

I wish I was.

But I wasn't sure if I could explain to him how he was born. If Michael didn't tell him who his birth mother is, then I have no right to tell him.

"I'm married to your daddy, and that's like being your mommy. I love you like I love Lily and Eric." I explained to him.

"But did you have me inside your stomach like you have the babies?"

"No, I didn't, Blanket. But if you let me, I'm planning on staying for a long time..."

It was true. As much as I didn't want to, I was going to stay married to Michael for a very long time.

"So you can be my mommy!" Blanket hugged me.

"I'd love to." I laughed.

"Can I call you mommy?" he asked.

"Oh... If you want to, I guess your dad won't mind." I answered.

He giggled and hugged me even tighter with his small arms wrapped around my neck.

We continued watching the movie, until I noticed that Blanket fell asleep.

I wouldn't mind taking a nap...

I paused the movie, and wrapped an arm around my step son who was sleeping with his head on my belly.

Almost instantly after getting comfortable, I drifted off.

~

Michael: Javon updated me and said that Angela and Blanket stayed in the VIP room for the last 3 hours that the kids and I went on rides.

"It's been quiet in there for the last hour... They were watching a movie."

I nodded, thanking him. When I opened the door, immediately I saw Blanket and Angela sleeping, cuddled on the bigger couch.

I smiled. They were cute.

"Aww!" Paris said.

"Shh." I put a finger over my mouth.

I walked over to them, waking Blanket up first. He whined and said to leave him alone.

Just like me, he was a heavy sleeper.

"I want to keep sleeping with mommy!" he told me.

Mommy? Did he just call Angela 'mommy'?

My wife started waking up slowly. She looked at me, a pissed look on her face.

"You woke me up." she groaned.

"We need to go home. The kids got tired." I said.

"I wouldn't say no to going home."

I kissed her cheek, and I could swear I saw her blush a little.

~

"You're running me a hot bath when we get home. And you're giving a massage while I'm inside." Angela said, placing two hands on her lower back.

"There's always a word you're forgetting."

"Please," she scoffed. "I shouldn't even ask. As my husband you're legally obligated to do it."

The kids fell asleep a while ago. Angela and I were just sitting in the car next to each other, silently looking outside.

"You can let go of my shoulders, the kids are asleep." she whispered.

"I'm comfortable." I smirked, tightening my grip around her shoulders.

"And I'm extremely hot, so let go." she pushed me away.

I wouldn't disagree with that. Angela was beautiful. Jake once told me her mother was Italian, and her father was half caucasian, half black American.

One of the reasons I agreed to marrying her and having a child with her was her beauty. I knew the outcome of our genes would be a beautiful looking baby.

Angela cleared her throat, "Michael, you're staring."

"Sorry."

She rolled her eyes, scooting away from me.

"Hey, what was the whole thing with Blanket calling you mommy?" I questioned.

"He asked me if he could, and I told him that you probably wouldn't mind... You don't mind, right?" Angela said.

"No, not at all... It just caught me off guard. I'm not used to hearing my kids call someone 'mommy'. It was always just me and them."

"You'll have to get used to it. He seemed really happy to finally have a mommy."

I sighed. I guess this is my life for the next few years.

"Wake me up when we're home." Angela mumbled, leaning against the window.

"Yes, dear."

"Thanks, baby."