12th of March, 2004
Michael is 45, Angela is 40

Angela: "Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Angela. Happy birthday to you!"

My sister, Rosa, organized a birthday party for me, inviting almost everyone I knew.

She claimed I needed it after being so devastated by Jake's passing.

I've been grieving for months now, and that feeling never went away.

Michael never called back about Jake's wish. The only relationship I had with him now was watching him coming in and out of court on TV.

"My beautiful Angela, happy birthday." my dad hugged me.

"Thanks, daddy." I said.

He gave my cheek a wet kiss before being pulled by my kids to play.

"Luciano! Come, I want to take a picture of you and your sisters." my mother said with her thick Italian accent.

We were all given Italian names. My mother insisted on that.

"Mamma, non siamo più bambini (we're not kids anymore). We don't need pictures." Rosa told her.

I only understood Italian. Rosa did the speaking part of it.

"But this is a special event. Ora dove è tuo fratello? (Now where is your brother?)"

I noticed another guest coming in, wearing shades and a hat that looked way too big for someone to wear daily.

I'd recognize that nose everywhere.

"Where are you going?" Rosa asked when I started making my way over to Michael.

"I'll be back. Set the camera up." I told her.

Michael saw me, and I pointed upstairs to where my bedroom was.

"Thanks for hiding me... Wow, you have a lot of friends." he took off his shades and hat.

He looked like hell. Even worse than that. He got skinny, and looked more tired than he usually did on TV.

"You look awful." I commented.

"Yeah, I haven't been getting much sleep lately," he sighed. "How are you?"

"I'm good... As good as I can be. What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to give you an answer to your offer."

"I think not calling for four months is a great way to tell me you're not gonna do it. It's okay, I understand. We don't get along, why would you want to marry me?" I mumbled.

"But-"

I cut him off, "Really, Michael. I understand."

Michael shot me a glare, making me shut up.

"I want to do it, Angela. For Jake. I can't let him down, just like you can't." he finally said.

"Really?" I gasped.

"Yes. It could also boost my image... God knows I need it. But you don't mind if we get married next year, right? It's nothing against you, my hands are tied. Literally. They put me in handcuffs."

Michael showed me his bruised wrists, and I flinched.

I might not like him that much, but I knew he never did such awful things. Jake reassured me of that. He said that as a witness of what these kind of cases did to Michael, there's no way what the accusers are saying is real.

"There's also the part where we kind of have to be seen together a bit, to wake up the press... I'm planning on our wedding to be public, you know?" Michael explained. "So people can see that I'm actually getting married and not start any theories like they did when I married Lisa Marie Presley. You should come support me in court tomorrow, and hold my hand or something. We can go on fake dates... And next year we'll announce our engagement. You'll have to lie to your family, I really don't want to explain to anyone our situation. I'm hiding it from my own family as well. No one can know. Are you up for that?"

I nodded. He knew what he was doing.

"Thank you, Michael." I smiled.

"Of course. I'll do anything for Jake."

When he stood up, I noticed he was swaying a little.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked, worried.

His eyes suddenly closed, and he collapsed, hitting the floor with a loud 'thud'.

I crouched down next to him, calling his name over and over but there was no use.

The bedroom door opened, and Luciano came inside.

"Sis, everyone's looking for you- " he started saying, but saw Michael on the floor. "What the hell? Is that Michael Jackson?!"

"Call 911. I think there's something seriously wrong with him." I ordered calmly, even though I was freaking out inside.

"But why is he here?"

No one really knew that Jake and Michael were friends. Only me, our kids, and Michael's house staff.

"I- I-" I stuttered, trying to make up a lie. "He's my, um, boyfriend. We're dating."

My brother's mouth hung open. "No way! You're a total fake, sis."

"It doesn't matter right now, go get a damn ambulance already!"

When Luciano left, I hurried to go inside my bathroom and find a damp towel to put on Michael's forehead.

~

Michael: "Get out! His girlfriend, my ass! We never saw you around each other!" I heard Janet yell.

I slowly opened my eyes. I saw my little sister and Angela standing in front of the hospital bed I was in, fighting. The rest of my family was surrounding them.

"What's all the screaming about?" I asked hoarsely.

"Mike!" Janet gasped.

Angela took a seat next to the bed and held my hand.

"She's holding his hand now! Mike, who the hell is she?"

"Someone very special to me." I smiled at Angela. Well, it was a fake smile.

"Are you dating?" mother asked.

"Uh, you could say that," I moved uncomfortably in the bed, stopping when I realized my back hurt. "What happened?"

"You came to my birthday party and when we went upstairs you fainted." Angela told me.

"Oh... Right." I sighed.

"What did you go upstairs for, Mike?" Janet questioned. "I hope it's not for what I think it is, you know your doctor told you to stay away from any physical activity."

I saw Angela blush when she realized what my sister was implying.

"We just wanted some privacy from all the guests that were downstairs." I said.

A phone went off, and Angela excused herself, saying it was her brother calling. She placed a peck on my cheek and left the room.

"Wow, Mikey," Jermaine smirked. "That is one hot chick."

I rolled my eyes at him, "Don't you dare."

"How old is she?"

"Where did you meet?"

"How long have you been dating?"

So many questions at once.

"I think Michael needs to rest. Everyone, out." mother ordered.

All of my brothers and sisters scattered out of the room, along with our parents, leaving me with and Janet, who was crossing her arms over her chest.

"I don't like her, Mike. She looks like trouble." she scoffed.

"Don't worry, okay? I know what I'm doing." I said.

"You knew what you were doing with Lisa Marie and Brooke Shields, and look where that got you. You always end up with a heart ache, and who's the one to fix it? Me."

"Dunk, we've been dating for a while... And it's going really well."

Janet still didn't look convinced. "But you don't need another heartbreak right now. Especially with everything going on."

"But she's supporting me. She's really great, Dunk. Give her a chance. Please?" I begged.

I could not let anyone, not even Janet, doubt my fake relationship with Angela. I needed this.

"Fine, but I'm still not sure about her."

"Understood. You'll warm up to her, I know you will."

She said her goodbyes, and I saw Angela walk back in.

~

Angela: I pressed the green button when I was out of Michael's hospital room.

"What, Luci? I'm busy." I said into the phone.

"Are you still with your boyfriend?"

"Yes, he just woke up... Did everyone go home?"

"Yeah," my brother mumbled. "Lily and Eric are at mamma's."

"Thanks, Luci. I'll call you later, okay? Ti amo.(I love you)" I told him.

"Same here, sis."

He hung up, and all of the Jackson siblings fled out of Michael's room.

Janet was last, giving me a cold stare before joining her sisters and brothers.

I returned into the room, "Wow, your sister does not like me."

"Yeah, she's just a little overprotective. I've been pretty hurt before by women." Michael had a small smile on.

It was awkwardly quiet, and a knock on the door broke the silence.

It was a very familiar man, but I could not put my finger on who he was.

"Angela, this is Tom Mesereau. My lawyer." Michael said.

"And who is this lovely lady?" Tom asked as we shook hands.

"We're dating. And she'll be coming with us to court from now on."

"I didn't know you had a girlfriend, Michael." Tom chuckled.

Michael shrugged, "We've been private about our relationship."

"I understand. So, listen, they want you to come to court tomorrow."

I scrunched my eyebrows. But the doctor who examined him earlier said he was not capable of even standing.

"He can't. He hurt his back. The doctor said he can't." I interrupted their conversation.

"I'll try to convince them to postpone the court, but we are not on their good side lately." Tom said.

I heard Michael sigh deeply. He didn't deserve to go through all of this. He never did anything to a child. If Jake was sure of it, I was too.

"Well, you should sleep, Mike. Get some energy for tomorrow. I'll inform you in the morning of what's happening." Tom and Michael shook hands.

"I think I'll be heading out, too... The kids are at my mom's, I should probably take them home." I said.

Michael nodded, saying he wants to rest.

"Are you sure you'll be okay on your own?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'll be fine." he answered.

"Goodnight, Michael."

"Goodnight, Angela."

~

13th of March, 2004
Michael is 45, Angela is 40

Angela: The phone rang loudly, never stopping.

I groaned, reaching out to take it.

"Angela." I murmured.

"How fast can you get ready?" Michael asked quickly.

"Huh?"

"I need you to come to court with me. Tom said they didn't let me off the hook. How fast can you be ready? And wear something nice."

I looked at the clock that read 7:55 AM.

"Give me 45 minutes." I told him, hanging up.

I dressed up in a dress I thought would be appropriate for Michael Jackson's girlfriend to wear, and moved to my makeup.

~

"At least one of us looks good." Michael said as I sat next to him in the car.

He was wearing only a nice jacket, underneath it a white shirt, and his pajama pants.

"So here's what's happening: Tom called me and said I have be in court in two hours or else they'll vote in favor of my accusers. I didn't even have time to put on a decent suit."

He moaned in pain, "And my back is killing me."

"So inhuman of them to do that to you. You can barely sit straight."

He was leaning against the car door, with a few pillows behind him.

I felt bad. He's going through all of this, and now he also has to worry about us looking like a real couple.

~

Flashes, fans yelling, and questions from the paparazzi were everywhere when Michael and I walked together, our arms intertwined.

We had two bodyguards behind us, and Michael's father, Joseph, was next to me.

Is this really what I want my life to look like for the next few years?

~

24th of January, 2006
Michael is 47, Angela is 41

Michael: I brushed my teeth, still half asleep from Angela's unpleasant wake up call.

She was now doing her morning routine of going up on the scale and complaining about another pound that she gained.

If four days ago I was in heaven, I'm definitely in hell now.

I spit out the toothpaste in my mouth and rinsed it.

"It's your babies that make me so fat. When I was pregnant with Lily and Eric, I only gained 35 pounds." she whined.

"You're only complaining because they're my children." I rolled my eyes, knowing that if she was pregnant with Jake's babies, she wouldn't even say a word to him.

"Whatever. I'm going downstairs to eat." she said.

"You won't make it half the way down." I sighed.

"Yes, I will."

"You say that every time."

And every time I have to run and help her either climb up the stairs or go down.

"Then you better hurry up and finish because I'm hungry." Angela left the bathroom.

~

Angela balanced the plate full of food on her giant stomach.

"No wonder you're gaining weight. Look at how much you're eating." I murmured.

"Wow, Michael. Are you on a mission to make me upset today? Because it's working." she huffed.

"Maybe I am."

She rolled her eyes. "Stop being a dick."

"I'll stop being a dick when you stop acting like a bitch."

"I'm going to finish my breakfast in the kitchen." Angela scoffed, leaving the living room.

I crossed my arms, extremely annoyed with her.

All of a sudden, I heard something break, and Angela's whimpering.

I jumped up, running to the kitchen. The plate she held was shattered all over the floor, while Angela was leaning against the island in the middle of the room.

"I tried to go up on one of the stools," she explained, panting. "And suddenly this sharp pain came out of nowhere. Oh, my God, it hurts so much."

She wept loudly, making me come over to her.

Dr. Stevens told me she might get really painful fake contractions after the 30th week. It's just a way for her body to get used to labor later on.

"Angela, turn around." I ordered.

"I can't." she whimpered.

"Yes, you can. I'll make it go away, I promise."

She did as I told her, leaning her elbows on the island and turning her back to me.

I pressed hard into her lower back, and hoped the pain would disappear soon.

Angela kept on crying, while panting heavily.

"But you gotta breathe, okay? Come on, deep breaths. In and out." I instructed.

I put a bit more pressure on her lower back, and soon enough her muscles loosened a bit.

"There, isn't that better?" I asked quietly.

"Thank you," she sighed. "That was really scary."

"Wait till it's gonna to be real contractions, you'll kill me." I chuckled.

She laughed a little.

"You need to lay down for a while, and stop trying to do things you can't do without help." I kept on rubbing her back a bit more.

"Yeah, I'm fat, aren't I?" Angela groaned.

"Just a little."

I helped her walk back to our bedroom, being very careful when we went up the stairs.

She waddled her way to the bed, and lay down.

"Can you massage my feet, please?" she asked.

"Aw, you said 'please'."

Of course, she had to roll her eyes.

"Can you get me my belly moisturizer from the bathroom? I need to get rid of my stretch mark."

"'Belly moisturizer'." I chuckled, going into the bathroom.

Once I got the cream for her, I went back to the bedroom and gave it to her.

I started massaging her feet while she spread the cream all over her big stomach.

"Hey, Michael?" Angela called. "Thanks for tolerating me."

"I kind of have to." I said.

"No you don't. I can be very annoying. Even Jake said I'm annoying."

"But as much as we might not get along, you're still my wife and the mother of my children. And the kids, they love you. I've never seen them this happy before. I think they like having a mother figure around. They're having so much fun with Lily and Eric... And I'll be honest with you, I always wanted a big family. I'll basically have 7 kids when the babies are born."

"I never knew you wanted a big family." Angela smiled.

"Yeah," I blushed. "Growing in up in a family of 9 kids is... Challenging, to say the least. But my mother always said that we are her biggest joy, and I took that on..."

"That's great. Well, just know that if you want more children after the twins, I'll gladly give you more. I love kids, too. And your kids... Wow, I love them. I really do, I feel like they're my own. And now Blanket started calling me mommy." she ran a hand over her belly, giggling.

"Yeah, he loves you, too."

"I have to say, Michael, you really are an amazing father. I see the way you're handling both your children and mine... And how you talk to these babies, now I understand why Jake wanted me to have a baby with you."

Her face turned sad in seconds, and she started tearing up.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Oh, it's nothing... The thought of Jake just popped up. I miss him." she answered.

"You really loved him, didn't you?"

"You have no idea... He was perfect for me. I can't imagine myself loving someone else, ever."

I looked down at her foot that I was massaging and frowned. I did have hope one day that maybe we could be a couple... I would like a woman in my life that I could love, and that she'll love me back. Angela just seemed like the one it could happen with.

I'm loyal when it comes to the women in my life, so I have to be loyal to my own wife, even if we don't actually have a real relationship.

"I'll do it, Mike." Angela mumbled.

"Do what?" I turned back to her.

"I'll give birth without an epidural," she told me. "If, we switch doctors."

I sighed. I wanted her to give birth naturally because I was scared something might go wrong... I don't trust almost anyone when it comes to handling and taking care my family, especially when it's such a big deal like delivering two babies.

I guess it could only make things better between us if I agree.

"Okay. Which doctor do you want?"

"Dr. Haring. He seemed pretty amazing."

"Okay," I rubbed her foot gently. "I'll set our next appointment at his clinic."

"Thank you!" she gasped, getting up from her side of the bed to hug me.

I took in her scent. She smelled like a mixture of Vanilla and flowers.

"Maybe you should get back to bed, take a nap." I offered.

"Yeah, I'm getting pretty tired. Thank you for that foot rub, by the way. It was great." she kissed my cheek.

~

I took the chance of Angela taking a nap to go visit Jake's grave. The cemetery he was buried in wasn't so far away from the house, so I put on a disguise and asked my bodyguards to go alone.

When I reached his beautifully decorated grave, I sat down in front of it.

"You were one lucky man, Jake," I sighed deeply. "I wish I had a woman that loved me as much as Angela loves you."

The tears suddenly appeared. "She's so confusing, though... One moment she hates my guts, and the other she's hugging me. You'd probably know what advice to give me... You always knew what to say."

"What did you get me into, Jake?"

~

So sorry for the wait! I'm actually in London right now, and I only had wifi at my aunt's house, that's why this took me so long!

Hope you understand ❤️

~ShoamEmily