Okay, I know I'm repetitive with 'Return to Neverland' but it's always been my favorite movie growing up and it fit this chapter pretty well.

Hope you enjoy! Don't forget to comment & vote ❤️

Next update will be full of drama so keep an eye out haha

Love,
~ShoamEmily

~

2nd of April, 1989
Michael is 30, Angela is 25

Angela: The car came to a stop in front of the main house at Neverland.

The last time I was here felt like ages ago, when I was still frustrated with my mysterious symptoms, still going to school, unknowingly pregnant.

I couldn't believe how much had changed since that last visit.

I clutched Michael's hand tighter as I watched our luggage was moved inside quickly, the reality of it all finally hitting me.

Bags that held some of my belongings from my Berkeley dorm room, and my parents' house, now being moved into my new home; Neverland.

A lot of it was what we brought back from New York, considering it was most of my wardrobe.

Michael opened the door, getting out first before helping me.

I looked around, the familiar grounds making me smile.

My parents were coming over for dinner tonight, along with Luciano, to actually see where we were going to live.

I asked my mom to invite Rosa, too.

She didn't think it was a good idea, but said she would try.

It hurt, the way my sister reacted. Why can't she see that I want this?

"Welcome home," Michael leaned in to whisper in my ear, his hand finding my bump, as if he was talking to them, too. "You're gonna love it here."

"I know. I already do." I smiled.

Edith greeted us, and I couldn't help but notice how she eyed my belly.

Michael grabbed my hand, leading me towards her.

"It's wonderful to see you again, Ms. Brown," she smiled, spotting my engagement ring. "Or is it Mrs. Jackson now...?"

"Still Ms. Brown, Edith." I blushed.

"Soon, though," Michael said teasingly, and kissed my cheek. "Speaking of, Edith, please make sure everything is ready for tonight. We're having Angela's parents over."

"Of course, Mr. Jackson, I remember. Anything else?"

He shook his head, "Thank you."

Once Edith walked away, he immediately turned to me, probably sensing the tiredness in my voice.

"What do you need, Angie?"

I wrapped my arms around his neck, then placed a small kiss of gratitude on his lips.

When we pulled apart, his brown eyes were still full of worry.

"To unpack," I sighed. "And put my feet up for a little bit..."

He tightened his grip on my lower back, "How about I go check on dinner, and you go rest? I'll have Edith bring you something to eat, alright?"

I nodded, thankful. "You're the best."

Michael placed another, longer kiss on my lips before guiding me to the front door.

~

With my legs crossed under me, I lazily flipped through a magazine, munching on some chips and strawberries Edith brought me.

The doors that led outside were wide open, allowing fresh air to come into the master bedroom from the gardens.

As I turned the page, my eyes fell on an ad for a crib, and my thoughts drifted to our babies.

We would need something like that soon enough, along with everything else.

A wave of anxiety rose as I thought about how little time we had before they would actually be here.

The double diapers, double clothes, sleepless nights - it was all overwhelming, to say the least.

I wanted it all to be perfect when they arrived.

A kick to my side made me wince, their tiny feet definitely getting stronger as they grew.

"What do you think?" I asked softly, rubbing the spot. "Would daddy like this one?"

"Like what?" I heard from the bedroom door.

Michael swiftly walked towards the bed and kicked off his loafers before sitting next to me.

I showed him the magazine. "Just brainstorming. There's not a lot of time before they get here, and I'll probably be too worn out by then to get everything ready."

He took it from my hands, looking it over before flashing me a reassuring smile. "We'll get it all sorted. But don't worry about it now. Dinner's all set."

"Thank you, Mike."

A smirk then crept to his lips, a familiar spark in his eyes. "So about that crib... I actually wanna show you something."

"Uh, sure... Do I have to get up for this?" I pouted.

"Trust me, Angie, you don't wanna miss this one."

He took both my hands in his, helping me off the bed.

Then, he led me to the staircase that wound up to the second floor of the master bedroom.

It made me scoff, not really having the energy to go upstairs.

"Close your eyes." he ordered gently, clearly enjoying my attitude.

I groaned, not in the mood for surprises. "Mike..."

"Just trust me, baby. Please?"

With a sigh, I closed my eyes, putting my hands out for him again.

He helped me climb up the stairs quickly.

"Okay," he said excitedly. "Open 'em."

When I did, my breath caught in my throat.

I blinked in surprise, taking in the sight before me. It was a nursery.

A beautiful, bright nursery, complete with two cribs, two changing tables, and a soft sofa with a glider chair next to the large windows that let in the afternoon sunlight.

"I figured we had to start somewhere," Michael said softly, walking towards one of the cribs. "You can change anything you want if you don't like it, but I thought we should start getting ready... Pick colors, clothes..."

His words trailed off when he noticed the tears welling up in my eyes. "Angie?"

I couldn't speak at first, too overwhelmed by how perfect it all was.

I walked around the room, touching the furniture, letting the reality of it sink in.

"When did you have time to do all this?" I whispered, tears slipping down my cheeks.

Michael walked over, gently wiping them away. "I made time. I wanted you to feel at home here, especially after everything with my mother, the move... And Rosa."

I looked around the room again, another wave of emotions washing over me.

Neverland really was home now.

He made it that way, making space for me. Our babies, too.

And despite the pain with Rosa, I knew I was exactly where I needed to be.

With Michael by my side, and our little family that was already taking shape.

~

9th of April, 1989
Michael is 30, Angela is 25

Angela: I lay in bed that morning, just staring into space.

It was early, maybe around 6.

Michael had his arm around me as he slept deeply still, his breathing shallow.

I've been awake for almost an hour.

Tiny but fast kicks woke me up, almost begging that I would give them attention.

I looked outside, to where the endless green fields spread out, with ponds, trees, and the birds that were only now waking up, along with the sun.

Neverland was like a dream come to life, and as beautiful as it was, there were moments where it still felt like it wasn't mine, even after a week.

The staff were nice, but I could feel their disapproving looks when I would turn my back, or how they'd stare at my bump.

I hated that unwelcoming feeling.

Like I was an outsider, tiptoeing into Michael's world, not truly belonging with him in their eyes.

Whenever Edith caught them stepping out of line, though, she hurried to straighten them up.

I was thankful for her protectiveness.

It seemed like she was the only one on my side recently, except for Michael, of course.

I quietly moved out of Michael's hold, sitting up.

Then, I hopped off the bed, my feet landing on the soft carpet underneath.

The sunrise pulled me to it, so I made my way to the doors.

Slightly sliding the curtains, I studied the sight in front of me.

Sprinklers going off, the sound of the ponds... It was all so quiet, which I appreciated after the last few weeks in LA.

Dinner with my parents went smoothly; they were astonished when they arrived at the ranch, like anyone would be.

Luciano didn't shut up about how he couldn't believe this was my life now, still unable to grasp the fact that his older sister was engaged to Michael Jackson, or having his kids.

One thing missing was obviously Rosa.

I asked Edith to set up an extra plate, just in case she'd come; but she didn't.

A part of me wondered if she might be right.

If I should feel guilty, as though letting go of my life at Berkeley meant letting go of who I was before I met Michael.

She still hadn't spoken to me since our argument, or reached out at all, and my parents were concerned, though they were trying to be supportive.

Having them for dinner made me realize how much I missed them.

I missed the normalcy of home, my mom's cooking, catching my dad singing as he helped her in the kitchen, Luciano's loud music, and even Rosa's temper.

They were my world before everything changed.

I pressed a hand to my belly, feeling my babies' kicks slowing down under my fingers.

Our babies. They were slowly becoming my world now.

"Oh, now you decide to calm down?" I whispered to them. "Now that I'm fully awake, huh?"

I turned back towards the bed, smiling at the sight of Michael, his face relaxed as he slept.

He stirred slightly as I slid back under the covers, his hand instinctively finding its way to my bump, resting there as if waiting for them to greet him.

"Good morning." I said, leaning in to kiss the corner of his mouth.

His eyes fluttered open, a lazy smile spreading across his face.

"Mornin'," he mumbled, his voice still thick. His hand rubbed slow circles over my bump. "How are they?"

"Woke me up, wouldn't stop kicking." I placed my hand over his.

He brought his lips close to it, "Are you two already giving your mommy trouble? I won't stand that kind of behavior, babies..."

I let him speak to them for as long as he wanted, before we decided to leave the safety of our bed and get ready for the day ahead.

Our 20-week ultrasound was finally here, and we were driving down to LA for it.

To my surprise, Dr. Grey had a clinic in LA as well, and Michael had managed to book every upcoming appointment with her, knowing how fond I had become of the young doctor.

She was always so understanding and kind, able to soothe my worries with just a few reassuring words, even giving me her home number for any question I might have.

Michael watched me as I got dressed in what was now my dressing room.

Half of my stuff was still in luggage, and I procrastinated unpacking.

I bent down to pull on my maternity jeans. "What?"

"I'm just admiring you, that's all." he said.

I smiled, "You need to get ready, too..."

He came over, wrapping his arms around me from behind.

His warm lips found the back of my neck.

They left butterfly kisses, sending a familiar shiver down my spine.

His hands found my bump again, "I don't think I thanked you enough. For giving this a chance... Us, our babies."

"Oh, Michael," I sighed, turning to face him to see the tears in his eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just feel... Really lucky lately."

I kissed him softly, suddenly feeling something wet on my cheek.

Michael pulled me to him so he could hold me tight, silently crying into my shoulder.

"I love you, Angela. So, so much..."

~

Michael: I watched Angela disappear down the path leading towards the gardens, with Bill following her close, but not too close.

It was after breakfast, and she mentioned wanting to explore the ranch more, to take in the quiet before we had to head down to LA.

I understood why. It's exactly why I built this place, for the sake of quiet moments.

I took a deep breath and turned back into my study, closing the door.

The heavy mahogany desk and the wall-to-wall bookshelves gave the space the most inviting feeling.

Here, surrounded by books, I could think. Or at least, I tried to.

My mind was still spinning from Angela and I's moment this morning.

How she let me cry in her arms for a while, assuring me she was here to stay.

I sat down at the desk, leaning back in the chair and rubbed my aching temples.

The pill I took before breakfast wasn't helping today, and I wondered if I should take another one.

There were so many things I needed to manage recently, to think about.

But with the babies coming... Everything felt like it was accelerating. I couldn't afford to leave anything unplanned.

A light knock on the door broke my train of thought.

"Mr. Jackson?" it was Helen, one of the housemaids, her voice cautious as she peeked into the study.

"Yes?" I sat up.

"Mr. DiLeo is here," she said, stepping inside. "He's waiting in the living room."

I nodded, taking a deep breath. "Thank you, Helen. I'll be right there."

She gave me a small smile before leaving, closing the door quietly behind her.

I stood up, staring at the paperwork scattered across the desk.

Business meetings, charity projects, contracts; it all seemed insignificant compared to what was about to come.

And I knew what Frank wanted to talk about. That interview.

I really didn't want to do it, or put Angela through that sort of thing.

She's just starting to get used to this world, my world, how can I put her in the spotlight so fast?

I headed down the hallway, my mind already rehearsing the conversation that was about to come.

Frank was relentless when it came to protecting me from the media, but I knew this time, it wasn't just about me. It was about Angela. About the babies.

When I walked into the living room, Frank was already seated on the leather couch, his typical cigar in his mouth.

He looked up as I entered, a wide smile plastered across his face.

"Mike!" he greeted, standing to hug me. "How's it going?"

"Hey, Frank," I said, offering a small smile. "I'm good. Just... Thinking."

He raised an eyebrow, smirking a little. "Thinking, huh? That's dangerous."

I chuckled, "Yeah, well... There's a lot to think about."

Frank nodded, his expression growing more serious.

He sat back down and motioned for me to do the same. "I know the interview thing is a tough sell, but we do need to talk about it."

I sighed, settling into the chair across from him.

"We do. I just... I don't want Angela to get dragged into it. She's already sacrificed so much."

Frank's eyes softened for a moment, and I could tell he understood.

"Look, I get it. The last thing you want is for her to be hounded by the press. But you know as well as I do, they're already sniffing around. It's only a matter of time before they start publishing rumors, and when they do, it'll be out of your control."

I clenched my jaw, hating that he was right. "I just don't want to lose the little privacy we have left."

Frank leaned forward, his tone serious.

"Mike, the best way to keep some level of privacy is to get ahead of the story. If you don't speak, they'll make up whatever sells. We do this on your terms, set the narrative, and we can control what gets out there. Otherwise, you're letting them tell your story for you."

I sat back and rubbed my face. "I know, Frank. But it's not just me anymore. It's Angela, the babies. I don't want to put them in the spotlight."

Frank was quiet for a moment, choosing his words carefully.

"They'll be in the spotlight regardless of what you do, but that's exactly why you need to do this, Mike. To protect them. Once they're born, once people know about them, it's gonna get even crazier. We have to prepare for that. You know how the media can be."

"You think she can handle it?" I asked.

Frank looked me dead in the eye, "From what I've seen, Angela's strong. She's handled a lot more than most people ever could. And she loves you. Let's not take that for granted."

I glanced out the window, where Angela had disappeared earlier.

She did say she could handle it.

She was willing to do whatever it took to protect us, to stand by me. But that didn't make it any easier.

"I'll talk to her." I said finally.

Frank smiled, satisfied. "That's all I'm asking. Think it over. The sooner, the better."

I nodded, though my mind was still far from settled.

As Frank left, I stood there, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on me.

~

I sat in the backseat, my eyes fixed on the road ahead, though I wasn't really seeing it.

Bill was driving us to the doctor's appointment, his usual quietness filling the car, but my thoughts were louder than ever.

Beside me, Angela shifted slightly, her hand resting on her belly.

I could feel her eyes on me, searching, waiting for me to say something.

"...Michael?"

I didn't want to burden her, especially not with everything on my mind.

But now I was distracted from what really mattered, which was the appointment.

My hand clutched the middle seat, the frustration only growing as my thoughts spiraled.

Why couldn't Frank wait until tomorrow to talk to me?

"Are you okay?" Angela asked, her hand reaching for mine.

I blinked, realizing I'd been lost in my thoughts for too long. "Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine."

She wasn't convinced, of course.

"Michael..." her voice was gentle, but she knew me too well. "You barely said a word since we left the house. What's going on?"

I sighed, glancing at her briefly before turning my gaze back out the window. "Frank came by earlier, when you were on your walk. He wanted to talk about the interview."

Her expression changed, and I could see the concern in her eyes. "Oh. What did he say?"

"He thinks it's time. The press is getting too close, Angie. If we don't do something soon, they'll start making things up. And I don't want them to pull you into this... Into everything that comes with it."

She was quiet for a moment, her hand still resting on mine.

I knew how much it bothered her. Since that last night of my tour, she's been very anxious about us stepping back into the world again.

My fiancée didn't ask for any of this attention, and the idea of her being dragged into the spotlight, especially now, made me feel like I was failing to protect her.

"I know you're worried," she said gently. "But, Michael... I want to do this with you."

I glanced at her, surprised. She always seemed so strong, but this...

I didn't want her to feel like she had to take it on. "Angela, you don't have to-"

"I know," she interrupted softly, her voice firm. "But I want to. Frank's right, Michael. If we don't do this, they're going to start writing their own stories. I can handle it."

I loosened my grip on the seat, trying to absorb her words.

She shouldn't have to handle any of this. Not now, not with everything else going on.

"I just hate that you're even in this position." I muttered, my frustration slipping through.

Angela smiled, squeezing my hand.

"I'm in this position because I love you. And we're having two babies, Michael. We're going to be a family. I want to protect that just as much as you do."

I could see she wasn't just saying it to make me feel better, she actually believed it.

She was willing to face the challenges with me, even if it scared me to bring her into this world.

"You sure about this?" I asked quietly, still searching her face for any doubt.

She nodded, "Yeah. We'll do it, and face the consequences. But at least we know we got to tell things our way."

For the first time that morning, some of the tension in my chest eased.

We were in this together, and as much as I wanted to shield her from everything, I knew she was right.

It really would get worse if we didn't at least try to control the upcoming rumors.

I turned to her, feeling thankful.

"I don't deserve you." I whispered, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

She laughed lightly, rubbing her bump. "You're kinda stuck with me now, so you have to say that..."

I smiled, the weight on my shoulders a little lighter as Bill drove us toward LA.

No matter what came next, I knew she'd be by my side.

~

Angela smiled tiredly at me as we waited in the examination room.

Her fingers were tapping on the sides of the bed, clearly nervous.

I squeezed her hand gently, trying to calm her, though I could feel the tension in her grip.

"Where is she?" Angela asked.

"She'll be here, Angie. Probably has other patients..." I said, rubbing my thumb over her knuckles.

I glanced around the room - sterile, quiet, and far too still for my liking.

Anything resembling a hospital always made me uneasy, but I kept that to myself.

Angela didn't need anything else to worry about.

She shifted uncomfortably, "Are you sure you don't want to put your scarf on? Dr. Grey will know who you are."

"No, I'm good. I wanna be present today. I can't wait to see them again... They probably grew so much."

I put my hand on her rounded stomach, feeling slight taps.

My fiancée grinned when she felt the same movements I did, "They're getting a little too big, I think..."

Just then, the door opened. Dr. Grey walked in, flipping through Angela's chart.

"Good afternoon, Angela," she began, not looking up yet. "How are you feeling today?"

"I'm okay, just tired. And getting bigger, I can't really see my feet anymore..." Angela said with a playful grin, making me chuckle.

Dr. Grey finally glanced up from the chart, and her eyes widened as she noticed me standing there.

"Oh... um, you're, uh..." she fumbled, slightly flustered.

"Michael," I put my hand out for her to shake. "But you know me as Joey."

Angela squeezed my other hand, amused at Dr. Grey's reaction. "He wanted to be here today as himself."

Dr. Grey blinked, clearly still processing the situation, but quickly snapped back into her professional mode.

"Well, it's wonderful to meet you, Michael," she smiled and shook off her initial surprise. "Should we get started?"

The doctor moved towards the ultrasound machine, adjusting the settings as she spoke.

"Alright, let's take a look at the them." she applied the gel to Angela's belly, causing her to shiver slightly at the cool sensation.

The screen lit up, and there they were - our babies. My heart flipped again.

The doctor pushed the scanner around, and Angela's face twisted in discomfort.

"Sorry, Angela, just give me a second to find their heartbeats... Ah, there. Strong, just like last time."

The loud thumping sounds made me tear up a little. I squeezed Angela's hand even tighter.

"Would you like to know what you're having?" Dr. Grey smiled.

I shook my head, remembering how my fiancée said she wanted to stay surprised until they're born.

"Please." she said.

"What? Angie, you wanted the surprise, remember...?"

She waved me off, her eyes fixed on the screen. "I don't care anymore, I just wanna know. Please, Dr. Grey?"

The doctor nodded, pointing to the screen.

"This is baby A, a girl. And baby B, who's currently hiding, is a boy..."

I bit my lip. One of each... Oh, God.

Angela's eyes were full of tears. "Really?"

"Yeah. They're looking very good, too. Keep up the good work. I'll give you a few minutes, then we can take a look at how you're doing, Angela. Be right back."

Dr. Grey cleaned the gel off her bump, quickly leaving the room.

Angela smiled through her tears, and my hand again.

"Gosh, Mike... A girl and a boy..."

I kissed her hand gently, putting our foreheads together. "Yeah, that's- that's crazy."

She wiped her eyes, still in disbelief. "I can't believe I gave in."

I chuckled, looking at her, "I'm glad you did..."

We sat quietly, staring at the ultrasound printouts Dr. Grey handed us.

The moment felt surreal, but it was all real, our future was right there.

"You ready?" I asked softly.

Angela exhaled and shook her head. "Nope."

"Me neither..."

She burst out laughing, and I joined her, both of us just enjoying this one, short moment of certainty.