20 chapters, AND 4k reads, you guys!! AHH!

I'm so thankful for all of you ❤️❤️ Hope you like this chapter 😁

~ShoamEmily

~

13th of February, 2007
Michael is 48, Angela is 42

Angela: "Rise and shine, Prince!" I chirped as I took the covers off him. "Get up, we have a very special breakfast for a very special birthday boy!"

He smiled tiredly at me and slowly sat up.

"Thanks, Angie," he kissed my cheek. "Can I brush my teeth first?"

"Of course, honey. We're all waiting downstairs."

We hugged and I went to the dinning room where Michael was waiting with the rest of the kids.

"Is he awake?" my husband asked when I sat next to him.

"Yeah, he'll be down in a minute." I answered.

He smiled sweetly and rubbed my small bump. "Hey, baby."

He kept doing that, as if he wanted to feel it. But I kept telling him the baby hasn't kicked yet.

"Mike, stop. You won't feel anything."

"Doesn't mean I can't try."

I rolled my eyes, and then Prince joined us.

"Happy birthday!" all of his siblings said together.

Michael hugged him tightly, "Happy birthday, son."

"Thanks, dad." Prince smiled into his dad's shoulder.

"Come on, honey, eat your breakfast. We have a day full of activities." I told him.

The dog, Kenya, joined us. She had almost tripled her size in the last two months.

Prince's eyes almost popped out of his head when he saw the birthday breakfast Paris, Lily, and myself prepared for him.

I giggled and watched as he started digging into his food.

~

"Another supersoaker! Dad, can we play later?" Prince asked excitedly.

He was opening presents, and already got a few new water guns to play with.

"Sure. But know you're risking your life." Michael smirked.

"Nah, dad. You're going down!"

I laughed, "Before we get to water wars and all that kind of fun, we gotta clean up here."

"But Angie..." Prince whined.

"No, 'buts'."

"Fine."

We suddenly heard someone clear their throat.

Debbie stood in the living room entrance, an unsure look on her face.

"Um, Michael, can we talk? In private?" she asked.

"We're in the middle of something, Debbie." I told her.

"Please, Michael?" she said, totally ignoring me.

"I guess," Michael sighed, making me hit his shoulder lightly. "It won't take long, baby. I promise."

He placed a kiss on the top of my head, and left with Debbie to his office.

I scoffed. Did he really just blow off his family for her?

"Mommy, can we go fill these up?" Eric held a water gun in his hands.

"Fine, but be back to clean up."

Prince came over to me and kissed my cheek before all the kids ran outside.

~

What is taking him so long?

I groaned and decided to go see what Michael's up to.

Debbie was quickly leaving his office, so I stepped in.

He looked annoyed very bothered with something, and being a thoughtful wife, I decided to ask what's wrong and give him a slight massage, too.

~

Michael: Debbie stepped inside my office, and gulped loudly.

"What's wrong?" I asked her.

"Um..." she looked away from me.

I took her hand, "Come on, Debbie, you know you can tell me anything..."

"Okay, well... I think I'm pregnant."

My heart stopped. Did she just say she's pregnant?

"What do you mean by 'pregnant'?!" I said, letting go of her hand.

This can't happen! I used protection, and Debbie said she's on the pill!

"You said you're on the pill!" I pointed a finger in her face.

"I was! But a month ago I stopped because my doctor said it was causing complications!"

"And you didn't even bother to tell me?!"

"I didn't think I needed to! You're using condoms, that should be enough." Debbie told me.

"You know condoms don't always work," I rolled my eyes. "Gosh, what am I'm gonna do?!"

"Michael, we've had babies before-" Debbie started saying, but I cut her off.

"But I didn't have a family, and a pregnant wife! And you just had to tell me today out of all days, right? On our son's birthday?"

"You're acting like this is only my fault! You're the one that pushed your dick inside of me, not the other way around!"

I groaned and covered my face.

How the hell did this happen? Debbie was only someone I went to for a little bit of peace, I never meant for this to happen!

"Can we talk about this later, Debbie? I'd rather celebrate my son's 10th birthday right now." I said quite calmly, although inside I was freaking out.

"Yeah," she nodded. "I'll be in my bedroom..."

I saw her shed a few tears before leaving the room.

I rubbed my face and groaned into my hands.

"Hey," I heard Angela behind me. "What's wrong?"

Her hands were suddenly in my shoulders, and she rubbed them lightly.

I'm screwed.

~

Angela: "It's nothing." Michael said, sighing.

"You're upset, what happened?"

"I said it's nothing, Angela. Let's go back to everyone."

He pulled away from my touch and made his way to the door.

Something is bothering him, why won't he tell me?

"Mike, there's clearly something wrong. What did Debbie want?" I said.

"Baby, it's nothing you should worry about, okay?"

"What do you mean by that?" I crossed my arms over my chest, feeling a bit offended. "I'm your wife. Anything that concerns you, concerns me."

"Gosh, Angela, can't you just let it go? I really don't need this right now." Michael snapped.

I was surprised for a second, but quickly recovered.

"You see what she's doing to you? She made you upset. What did you talk about?"

"Really, it was nothing. Please, believe me on this."

I snickered and left his office. Now he's lying, too. Why does that woman have so much influence on him?

And it's not even the first time this happens!

"Angela! Wait, baby... You need to trust me on this, okay? I promise it was nothing." Michael called after me.

I ignored him and kept walking outside to call the kids to clean up the mess they made.

"You guys, come help me clea-"

Suddenly, I felt myself falling, and the entire  right side of my body hit the cold ceramic tiles, making me scream.

~

Michael: Everything happened so quickly.

I followed Angela to keep reassuring her nothing was wrong, but all I saw was her slipping.

She wailed in pain when she hit the hard floor, making me run to her.

"Mommy!" Lily gasped.

"Ow..." Angela whimpered.

"Someone call 911!" I yelled as loud as I could so one of the staff members would hear me. "Baby, what hurts?"

"E- everything... It hurts to breathe-"

She gasped for air, making my heart drop.

"Angela, take deep breaths." I instructed.

She shook her head, "I can't."

"Sir!" Javon came over to us. "The ambulance should be here in a few minutes."

I looked down at Angela who was shedding a few tears, and I hurried to shush her.

"It's gonna be okay, Angie." I whispered.

Suddenly, four paramedics barged into the house with a gurney.

"Mr. Jackson, we advise you to take the children away," one of them said as two of them lifted Angela up. "They shouldn't see this."

I quickly told the kids to go with Javon to find Maria, and ran outside where they were putting Angela inside the ambulance.

"Are you coming, Mr. Jackson?" the same paramedic asked.

"Sir, should I come with you?" Javon appeared.

I nodded fast, and got into the ambulance myself.

"It looks like a few broken ribs and a punctured lung." I heard one of them say as he pulled Angela's shirt up to reveal her body that was full of bruises and her little bump.

The paramedics' faces fell when they saw it, and the same guy looked at me. "How many weeks in is she, sir?"

"14, I think..."

"Okay. Listen, we need to drain the fluids out of her lung so she could breathe, do you think you could hold her hand really tight? It's gonna hurt her."

"Y- yeah." I stuttered, taking my wife's hand.

She was still gasping for air as the paramedics held her down, then one of them took a scalpel and started making a small incision down the right side of her body.

Angela screamed louder than ever, making me hold on to her hand tighter.

They inserted a small tube into the cut, and I saw blood rush out of it.

"How long till we reach the hospital?" someone asked the driver.

"Two minutes." he answered.

"Okay, give her some morphine, and be prepared to take her straight to the OR!"

"She's gonna be okay, sir." Javon patted my shoulder.

I sighed and looked at Angela. They put an oxygen mask over her face, and I saw the fresh tears falling from her eyes.

"Does it still hurt, baby?" I asked quietly.

She shook her head.

"Then why are you crying?"

Her eyes looked down, and I followed them, and met her small bump.

"The baby's fine, Angie..." I said, although I didn't believe that myself.

~

"Why won't they say anything?" I asked while pacing back and forth.

"Sir, they just put her in surgery, it's gonna take time. Would you like me to bring you anything to drink or eat?" Javon sighed deeply.

"Just water." I mumbled and he sat me down.

"They're both fine, sir. Stop worrying," he said. "Are you going to be okay for a minute or two?"

I nodded.

"I'll be back in no time."

Javon left the cleared out waiting room, and I started dwelling in my own mistakes.

What if we lose the baby? Or worse, what if I lose Angela? This is all my fault, I should've told her everything that's happened.

~

It's been a few hours, and I heard nothing yet.

The waiting room was filled with members from both of our families.

"Michael," Luciano called, making me look up. "You okay?"

"Trying to be." I sighed.

"They're both fine."

"We don't know anything yet."

He sat next to me, "But I know my sister, and she's a fighter. They already told you she's gonna be okay."

"But the baby..."

"Your baby is just fine." we suddenly heard an unfamiliar voice.

A doctor in surgical clothes stood there, a smile on his face.

"Mr. Jackson, I'm Dr. Rhodes," he put out his hand and I shook it. "And I can assure you that both your wife and your baby girl are perfect."

"Baby girl?" I asked, tears filling my eyes.

"You didn't know?"

"We haven't been to our monthly checkup yet."

"Then I'm glad I could give you the news. Would you like to see her?" the doctor said.

"Yes, of course." I stood up.

"Follow me."

He took me with him to a room, and told me it'll be a while until she wakes up.

When I walked in, I saw her. She looked so peaceful.

"I'll give you some time alone with her." Dr. Rhodes smiled.

I thanked him, and sat down next to Angela.

Immediately, I started crying. "I'm so sorry, Angie... This is all my fault. I promise, I'll find you a new nurse, and break things off with Debbie. I love you so much, I'm never gonna betray you again, I promise."

I knew I could never ask Debbie to get an abortion, especially because I didn't believe in that sort of thing. But I can't have her around anymore.

I looked at Angela's small bump that was visible underneath with the hospital robe she wore.

A baby girl...

~

14th of February, 2007
Michael is 48, Angela is 42

Angela: I slowly started waking up, and heard a faint beeping sound.

My eyelids opened, but all I saw was a white ceiling.

Nothing hurt, which was weird, because I remembered everything that's happened and how painful it was until I went into surgery.

When I looked down, I saw Michael who was holding my hand, with his head against the hospital bed mattress.

He was snoring lightly, and seemed to be in a really deep sleep.

He must've been worried sick...

I was hooked to so many machines, along with a scanner that monitored the baby's heartbeat.

The baby's heartbeat... He's okay...

I listened to the small, but fast heartbeat of my baby while tears were flowing down my cheeks.

"Michael..." I said, then realized it still hurt to talk.

I squeezed his hand tightly, and he moved a bit.

Why is he such a heavy sleeper?

"Michael, wake up..."

To my luck, my mother walked in, gasping when she saw I was awake.

"Oh, Angela, ero così preoccupato! (I was so worried)" she hugged me.

"I'm fine, mamma..." I said. "Can you wake Michael up? I tried, but I can't speak up."

My mom giggled, "Sure. Michael, honey, wake up..."

Michael opened his eyes, looking confused.

But when he saw me, he got up to hug me.

"Angela! Oh, Gosh, baby... You have no idea how sorry I am..." he said into my shoulder.

"For what?"

"This is my fault."

"Michael, don't be ridiculous," I pulled away so I could look him in the eyes. "I slipped on some water, you had nothing to do with it. If there's anyone to blame, it's me and my clumsiness."

He sighed and gave me a kiss, "I'm still sorry for arguing with you. Especially on Prince's birthday, I know how much you wanted this day to be perfect."

"It's fine, Mike. As long as we're both okay."

I put a hand on my small bump. He looked at it with a huge smile on his face.

"I'll leave you two to it..." my mom told us, and left my hospital room.

"You know, the doctor who treated you told me what we're having..."

"Really?" I bit my bottom lip, excited to know.

"It's another girl." he grinned widely.

I sighed happily and hugged him again. "Another baby girl... That's amazing. What are we gonna name her?"

Michael laughed.

"We can talk about that later, baby. But, I have some more good news... I'm gonna hire another nurse for you, I decided that Debbie wasn't the right one."

"But I thought you couldn't trust anyone."

"I can't, but I just think having Debbie around isn't good for you." he stroked my arm with his fingers.

He looked... Guilty. Like he did something wrong.

"What is it?" I said.

"What do you mean?" Michael looked down.

"I don't know, you tell me-"

I was cut off by a knock on the door, then a doctor walked in.

"A little bird told me you woke up. How are you, Angela? I'm Dr. Rhodes." he gave me a small smile.

"I'm good." I told him.

"Do you mind if I check on you?"

I shook my head, and Michael cleared the way.

"Do you have any pain?" the doctor asked.

"A little, when I speak... Or take a really deep breath." I answered.

He nodded, "That's very common. I'm gonna check on your ribs now, okay?"

He instructed me to uncover the top half of my body, and I finally saw all my bruises, along with the bandage that was wrapped around my chest.

Dr. Rhodes put a little pressure on the bandage, asking if it hurts.

I let out a whimper.

"I'll take that as a 'yes'," he sighed. "Well, if this was only a case of broken ribs, I'd send you home in a couple of days. But since you punctured a lung, I'm gonna need you here for a week, maybe a little longer than that."

"Aw, that means we're gonna have to celebrate the babies' first birthday here." Michael frowned.

"I know... And our anniversary."

"I'm sorry, but I want that lung to heal. I'd rather not take a risk, especially because she's pregnant." Dr. Rhodes said.

After he finished checking everything, he said the family could come in.

All of a sudden, a few of Michael's siblings, his parents, and my parents. Lastly, my brother and sister walked in with all the kids.

"Mommy!" Blanket ran up to the bed, followed by the other children.

"Hey, guys. I missed you all so much." I said.

Rose and Jared squealed with happiness.

Aww, my two beautiful babies.

For the rest of they day the family was here, and I was too tired at the end of it, that I completely forgot about wanting to talk to Michael.

~

18th of February, 2007
Michael is 48, Angela is 42

Michael: I was organizing clothes for Angela in a bag for the next week of her stay at the hospital, while explaining the situation to Debbie.

"So basically, you're just gonna ignore the fact that I'm pregnant with your baby, and make me leave?" she scoffed.

"I don't need you services anymore, Debbie. Angela will have a new nurse to take care of her," I sighed. "And no, I'm not ignoring the fact that you are pregnant with my baby. You know me, I'll never abandon you like that, or my child. I'll support you financially, okay? I'll come to the birth, and to your checkups, if you want me to. Plus, you shouldn't be working when you're pregnant, especially because of your age."

"But what about when the baby's born? You'd want to raise it, right? How are you gonna explain to Angela that you suddenly have another baby from me?"

"I'll tell her everything sooner or later. I'll be truthful about what we did."

Debbie widened her eyes, "She'll hate you, Michael."

"Already been there," I mumbled. "And she won't, she loves me, she'll forgive me."

"And if she won't?"

"Then I'll have to deal with the consequences. But I'm done cheating on her, Debbie. She doesn't deserve it, and I feel so stupid for only realizing that now."

"Why don't I just have an abortion?" Debbie asked. "That would be much easier, right?"

"I don't want you to have an abortion. I don't believe in that. That's my child you're carrying, Debbie. And I'll do anything for you and it, but I can't keep doing whatever this is." I answered, closing the bag once I finished filling it.

"I understand." she nodded.

I put the bag over my shoulder, "I need to get back to her now, we're celebrating the twins' birthday."

"Can I have a hug?"

I opened my arms for her and she hugged me tightly.

"Thank you for understanding, Debbie. I'll be in touch with you about everything, very soon."

I kissed the top of her head and pulled away.

"Bye, Michael." Debbie smiled sadly.

"Goodbye, Debbie. Thank you."

~

I heard the kids' laughter coming from Angela's hospital room and smiled.

When I opened the door, the room was already being decorated by everyone, and there was a big cake in the middle of the room.

Angela watched as everyone worked around her.

I said hello to everybody and joined her.

"Hey," she kissed me. "Did you get everything?"

I nodded, "Everything you asked for."

"Thanks, Mike. You're the best."

"Mama!" Jared tried to stand up and leaned against my legs.

"Yes, baby?" Angela smiled at him.

He stretched his arms up for her.

"I wish I could, but the doctor said I can't." she sighed.

He pouted and looked like he was going to cry.

"Oh, baby boy, don't cry," I picked him up. "You know mommy would hold you if she could."

"Here, daddy, maybe he wants a balloon." Paris said and held out a balloon that had 'happy birthday' written on it.

"Thanks, Parry. Come on, let's celebrate a very special birthday party!"

Maria and my mother gave each of the babies' birthday hats, and the other kids took one for themselves.

Everyone started singing, and Rose and Jared squealed with excitement when they got cake.

Angela laughed at their reaction, while taking my hand and holding it.

"Can you believe they're already a year old? Gosh, so much has happened since they were born..." she said, wiping a tear.

I rubbed her shoulder and kissed her forehead.

This is what I want. Angela is the only woman for me, and no one, not even another baby, could make me feel otherwise.

"Angie?" I whispered, and she looked at me. "I love you, so much."

Angela grinned, removing a piece of hair away from my face. I wanted to pull away, because when she did these gestures, it would usually mean she won't say it back.

But she pulled me to her an gave me a deep kiss.

"I love you, too." she sighed.

She finally said it.

I kissed her again, and again, until the kids told us to stop.