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

Michael: A few days passed since that... Awful incident.

The interview aired, adding more fuel to the fire in the media.

There were endless reporters and paparazzi even hounding the Neverland gates.

Frank already called with measures we could take to keep Angela and the babies safer.

But nothing felt safe after that day.

We were hiding here at Neverland, away from everyone and everything.

Angela was given strict instructions for bedrest for at least a week; which she definitely needed.

The morning after the incident, we were about to leave the hospital, when contractions started up again.

I knew she hated being bedridden, but it was necessary.

I could see the pain all over her face when she'd get up to use the bathroom, every little movement still hurt.

The bruises spread all over her right side. It clenched my heart every time I looked at them.

I blamed myself. How could I not?

I shouldn't have insisted on going into that crowd without extra security, and I should have held her closer to me.

Angela didn't allow me to dwell on it, though.

She claimed it wasn't anyone's fault except that fan who pulled her down.

My siblings have been trying to call non-stop, and I did my best to avoid taking their calls.

Non of them knew about Angela prior to the interview. So once they saw it, I was done for.

They all probably wanted to know what was going on, how everything happened.

Of course, Angela's parents were the first ones to call the minute we got back to Neverland.

They were frantic, telling her over the phone how they think she shouldn't make any public appearances soon.

I agreed. She didn't need that kind of stress again, and I also wanted everything to calm down, although I realized that was only wishful thinking.

Frank had been handling most of the damage control, even giving some interviews here and there just to put out the fire.

And me? I was struggling. The talk with Angela that night set me back.

I was pissed at Frank for even mentioning my little... Issue.

But now that she knew about it there was no going back.

I really tried my best not to take anything after we got home.

It didn't last more than a day, the pain being unbearable just one day without any remedy.

Every morning since, I found myself in the study, staring at the drawer where the painkillers were hidden.

I knew I shouldn't. I'd promised Angela that we'd talk, sort this out, and we would find a solution.

But the pain... It was past physical at this point.

It was emotional, mental, an ache that seemed to be deep in my bones.

This morning was the worst, though.

My hand hovered over the drawer for a moment, my mind racing.

Angela woke me up early so I'd help her get to the bathroom.

Today wasn't a good day for her, and as much as the pain seemed to have subsided in the last couple of days, she struggled more this morning.

Her pained expression was what broke me, as she clutched my arms tightly, not wanting to say anything that would concern me.

She eventually fell back into a somewhat deep sleep. Yet, there I was, restless.

I could just take one. Just to take the edge off, so I could be there for her without my pain clouding everything.

If I don't take care of myself, how am I supposed to take care of her?

But then I heard Angela's voice in my head, that gentle worry she had the night of the incident.

I couldn't let her down again.

Quickly, I shut the drawer and stood up, deciding to go get her some breakfast from the kitchen instead of drowning in my thoughts.

~

I watched Angela as she ate, a smile making its way to my lips.

"At least I didn't lose my appetite," she remarked. "Gosh, these babies are still so hungry..."

"And they better stay that way." I played along.

She leaned in just a bit to place a long kiss on my cheek before going back to her food.

"How's the pain?" I asked.

"Better. I think this morning was just me not being rested enough. Maybe I'll even walk around a bit."

"Angie, you can't. Doctor's orders. Come on, it's just three more days. Then, you can do whatever you want, okay? Even ride the Ferris wheel if you'd like."

She rolled her eyes at my joke, "So you're gonna keep me grounded?"

"You don't really have a choice, babe." I said.

"Right."

There was a long silence while she finished her meal, and I offered to take the tray away from her.

I opened the door, only to find Bill standing there, about to knock.

"Sir," he glanced between Angela and I. "Sorry to interrupt, but there's a certain Rosa Brown at the gates..."

"Rosa? Are you sure, Bill?" Angela asked him.

"Yeah, she's your sister, isn't she...?"

"She is. Let her in, please."

He nodded, leaving quickly. I turned to Angela, confused.

I knew things with her an Rosa were more than rocky ever since we told her family about everything.

"Angie, are you sure you want to see her...? You need to be resting, I don't know if that's a good idea." I told her.

"She drove all the way from LA just to see me. The least we can do is invite her in, Mike." Angela reasoned, wincing as she sat up higher.

"Alright... Just, don't overdo it. Please?"

She nodded, telling me to go greet her sister.

I sighed, my headache intensifying, and hoped nothing goes wrong.

~

Angela: I adjusted myself on the bed, hearing Michael's footsteps come back, followed by Rosa's.

Taking in a deep breath, I braced myself for the conversation I was about to have with my sister.

"Angela?" I heard, and looked up to see her at the bedroom door.

She hasn't changed much since I saw her almost a month ago.

Me, on the other hand? I was definitely physically different, and I saw her eyes widen a bit when she saw me.

They landed on my bump, the way my pajama shirt rode up. I'm so big.

She then glanced at the bruise that peeked out, tears threatening to fall.

"Hey, Rosa," I smiled weakly. "What are you doing here?"

"I- I saw what happened on the news... I didn't know if to call, mamma said you haven't really been answering, so..." she took a step closer.

Michael still stood at the door, his brown eyes telling me he was unsure if to leave or stay.

I gestured him to come sit next to me on the bed, and he obliged immediately, his hand finding my shirt so he could pull it down.

He placed a gentle kiss right under my belly button.

My fingers went to caress his shoulders. For a split second, I completely forgot about my sister.

It amazed me all over, how he could take all my worries away with a simple touch.

"Are you okay?" Rosa finally asked.

We both looked at her, still by the door.

"Yeah, I'm just in pain still. Nothing a few more days in bed can't fix," I answered. "Babies are strong, so we're all good."

Her brows knit together. "You've been in bed ever since?"

I nodded, feeling a lump in my throat, "I'm supposed to be resting. I had some contractions, and I cracked a couple ribs-"

"Contractions? Cracked ribs? That's- that's not good, Ange..."

"I know, but it's all okay now. I'm being taken care of."

I took Michael's hand, squeezing it, and he gave me a grin in return.

Rosa looked around the room. She seemed as if she was out of place, reminding me of my own experience when I first visited Neverland.

Her eyes scanned the large room, the décor. I could tell how lost she was in it all.

She then glanced back at me.

"You're not taking this seriously, are you? You're supposed to be resting, not talking about contractions like it's just another day."

Michael cleared his throat. "She's doing her best, Rosa. We're both trying to handle this... We were both so scared that day."

Rosa's gaze snapped to him, surprised at how defensive he sounded, "I didn't mean to offend. I just... I care, okay? I don't want to see my sister hurt."

"I get it, Rosa," I said. "But I need you to understand- this is my life now. I can't just drop everything because of this incident... And it's not like I'm in a hurry to get back out there, anyway."

Rosa's face softened, yet I could see she was still frustrated.

"I just wish I could've been here sooner. I was worried sick when I saw what happened."

"Well, you're here now," I tried to lighten the mood. "And I'm grateful for that."

Rosa stepped closer, her eyes glistening. "I missed you, Ange. I know things have been complicated since all of this... Since Michael. This crazy, crazy life of his is something else..."

Michael's hand tightened around mine as he shifted uncomfortably, waiting to be blamed again.

"I've been trying to protect her," he told her, his voice low. "And I'll continue to do that. But I need you to trust me, Rosa. I'm not here to take her away from you. And if I could, I would give all this up for her."

My sister studied him for a moment, uncertainty in her eyes, "It's not about trust... It's just hard to see her like this and know that this life isn't what she wanted... Especially now, stuck in this ranch without being able to step into the outside world."

"The outside world that almost made me lose my babies? I rather stay here than be out there." I mumbled.

"Non of this would have even happened if you weren't with him, Ange. You gotta see that..."

"And neither would this," I cradled my bump. "I wouldn't give this up for anything, Rosa. You gotta see that. I chose this. I chose Michael."

There was a long pause as she stared at my fingers that pressed into the lower part of my belly.

I could see the wheels turning in her head, probably thinking of what to say next.

"I just want you to be happy, Angie," Rosa finally said. "I just want you to be safe."

I smiled at her again, my heart beating a bit faster now. "I am happy, Rosa. And I am safe, right here. I promise. I just need you to support me. I want my sister back. Please."

She took a breath, then nodded slowly, "Okay. I can try."

"Good," I said, relief washing over me. "I'll need my big sister around for all the chaos that's coming. Twins are no joke... And we have a wedding to plan."

"We do, don't we?"

We both laughed, and she walked over to the bed so she could hug me.

She was gentle about it, careful not to put too much of her weight on me.

I sighed into her shoulder, feeling like we might be able to get past this.

~

Rosa and I sat on the bed for hours.

We talked and laughed until it was too late for her to go home.

Michael offered her one of the guest rooms, and I asked him to get her some of my old clothes to change into.

She thanked us before wishing us 'goodnight', not leaving without another hug.

"I'm gonna run you a nice, warm bath." Michael kissed my forehead and disappeared inside the bathroom.

I leaned back against my pillows, still frustrated of being stuck in bed like this all day.

I just wanted to be able to walk and do stuff on my own already.

Another rush of pain went through me, this time caused by my babies moving a bit too fast, reminding me why I was on bedrest.

"Mike!" I called, already attempting to jump off the bed. "I could really use that bath right about now..."

~

I closed my eyes, enjoying Michael's soft fingers as they brushed against my skin, washing away the soap.

"Mmm," I moaned. "Thank you for this, it's just what I needed..."

"You gotta let me pamper you more, Angie." he kissed my naked shoulder.

"I'll get too used to it... You sure you want that?"

He smirked against me, "Just say the word, I'll do whatever you want me to."

His lips trailed to my neck, and I closed my eyes again, hoping to focus on him instead of the faint pain shooting up my side.

He then went on to massage my back, but his caresses felt different. A little less loving, distant almost.

My eyes opened at the slight difference in his touch, only to be met with that same cabinet where I first found his pills, above his sink.

I went back to our conversation in the dark hospital room, how he promised we'd talk.

But we never did, and I was getting worried about him.

I didn't know how he handled everything that was going on; taking care of me, the press, the non-stop phone going off.

It worried me. I figured he might have turned to the pills, but I didn't want to push.

Not when everything was so raw, so fresh.

We were both still recovering, and yet I knew his recovery might be different than mine.

I shifted slightly, glancing behind me to look at him, hoping to catch his eye.

"Michael?" I said, trying not to sound like I was pushing.

"Hm?" his voice was somewhat far away.

I hesitated for a moment, not wanting to set him off. "You said we'd talk, about... The pills. Remember?"

He paused for a second, his hands stopping on my back before resuming their soft movements.

"I'm handling it." he said, voice quiet.

"I figured, but... We never really talked about it, Michael," I sighed. "And with everything happening-"

"I said I'm handling it." he interrupted, a little sharper this time.

His fingers tensed against my skin.

I bit my lip. "But are you, really? You're exhausted, and I see how much you're juggling. I don't want you to-"

"Angela," he snapped. "Drop it. Not tonight."

I blinked, caught off guard by his tone.

He never spoke to me like that. The only time I truly heard him raise his voice was after the incident.

Poor Frank and Bill, they never heard the end of it.

So I knew I was treading into unfamiliar waters.

"I just... I just want to understand. You said we'd talk, and we're running out of time. I'm scared, Michael, not just for me, but for us. I need you."

"I'm here," he almost growled, pulling away from me slightly. "But you keep pushing and pushing. Why can't you just trust me to handle it?"

"Because you won't talk to me!" I shot back, feeling the sting his words left. "You're shutting me out, and I'm scared that one day, it's going to be too late. I can't do this on my own. I need you with me, fully, not hiding behind this wall!"

"I'm not hiding." he muttered.

He then stood abruptly, the water moving in the tub as he climbed out and grabbed a towel. "I told you, I'm fine. You need to stop worrying about things that don't concern you."

"Don't concern me? I'm about to be your wife! I'm the mother of your children, how does this not concern me?" I stared at him, feeling cold now that he was gone.

He stayed silent. My heart sank as he wrapped the towel around himself, his back to me, the conversation clearly over in his mind.

"Michael..." I whispered, feeling the tears coming. "Please. We can't keep ignoring this."

He turned to face me, his eyes flashing with a mix of frustration and something else; anger.

"I said drop it, Angela." he repeated, his tone cold now.

He looked at me for a moment, his expression unreadable, before turning and walking out of the bathroom, leaving me alone in the water.

The door clicked shut, and the silence settled in.

I sank deeper into the tub, feeling defeated.

The water was growing cold around me as I sat there, still baffled.

His words echoed in my mind, how upset he got.

Why is he shutting me out like this?

After another moment of silence, I hoped he would come back. But he didn't.

I stood up, my body protesting as I stepped out of the tub.

I didn't want to be alone, but I also didn't want to face Michael right now. I needed space to clear my head, too.

Rosa. I needed to talk to my sister.

I struggled to walk into my closet room to find some panties and a big t-shirt, attempting to bend down to put on some loose shorts.

A quiet moan left my lips when I did, that faint pain where my bruises were still very much there.

When I walked back to the bedroom, Michael wasn't there.

It pinched my heart, to know he was so upset with me that he would rather not be in bed so late at night.

Taking a deep breath, I made my way to the hallway, then up the Neverland staircase.

I knocked on Rosa's door and hoped she wasn't asleep yet.

The door opened, and she stood there, her hair thrown in a messy bun above her head, eyes sleepy.

"Hey, Ange," she rubbed them. "What are you doing on your feet? Why aren't you sleeping?"

"Can I come in? I need some sister time." I said.

"Of course. Everything okay?"

I shook my head, walked in, then plopped down gently on the bed with a groan.

"You look upset." she commented, getting in bed next to me.

"Michael and I had a fight." I mumbled.

"About...?"

"Just... Everything," I rolled my eyes, not wanting to go into too much detail. This was too personal. "I just feel like we're not on the same page. I guess I'm worried."

"Worried about what?" my sister pressed.

I sighed, "I don't know. I just feel like things are changing so fast, and we don't have a lot of time before the babies come. I need him to be... Present. But it feels like he's shutting me out."

Rosa nodded, understanding in her eyes. "That sounds tough, Ange. I can only imagine how overwhelming it must be."

"It is," I admitted, the tears stinging. "I just thought after everything that happened, we'd be more... Close. That he'd trust me enough."

"Did you talk to him about it?" Rosa suggested.

"I tried," I said, frustrated once again. "He got angry, and it just turned into this huge thing. I don't want to push him away even more, but I can't just ignore it."

She put her hand on my arm. "You wanna tell me what it is?"

"I can't... It's uh, personal."

"Okay," she nodded, and I was glad she didn't try to push more. "You're not alone in this, you know? You have me, and I'm here for you. Even if it means spending the night with your big sister instead of him."

I managed a small smile, feeling a little better. "Yeah, I think I'd like that."

"Great, should I go get us some ice cream? You can pick a movie for us to watch."

Rosa stood, offering a wide grin, before walking towards the door.

"Cookie dough, please!" I called as she disappeared into the hallway.

I heard her laugh, saying she got it.

I lay back, and as much as I was happy for this time with her, I couldn't help but long for Michael's arms to hold me right then and there.

~

26th of April, 1989
Michael is 30, Angela is 25

Michael: The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery glow over Neverland as I sat alone in the Giving Tree.

The night was quiet except for the soft rustling of leaves, which distracted me from my thoughts from time to time.

I looked up, seeing the stars twinkle in the distance.

I didn't want to yell at Angela, or get mad, but she just kept pushing... I couldn't control it.

And I hated the fact that I left her alone.

The way I reacted made me think over and over again if I was even ready for everything.

Was I ready to marry her? To have kids, to settle down?

Be a husband, a father?

Was I ready to let someone in to my most, darkest places? My secrets?

But Angela wasn't just someone.

She often felt like the one, the only one that could always understand me.

It was like that from that first, quiet night we spent together.

She loved me for the man that I am, not my fame.

She'd made it clear she never cared about that sort of thing.

So why am I so stubborn about letting her in?

The deeper I sank into my thoughts, the heavier the weight on my heart became.

I could still hear Angela's voice, full of confusion and hurt.

I let my fears take over, pushing her away when all she needed was my honesty, my love.

The chill of the early morning made me shiver, and I tightened my jacket around me.

Could I have been so focused on protecting her from the chaos of my world that I forgot to truly let her in?

What is the point of bringing her into this crazy world if I still have to face it all alone?

Just as the first light of dawn began to peek through the leaves, illuminating the sky, I heard soft footsteps approaching.

I turned to see Rosa walking towards the Giving Tree, her silhouette framed by the growing light.

She paused a few feet away, her brow furrowed with concern as she looked around.

"Michael?" she called from below. "Michael, where are you? Bill said you might be here... I need to talk to you!"

"I'll be right there!" I said, making her head snap in my direction.

I hurried to climb down, and she watched, wide-eyed. "Did you- did you just climb down a tree? You spent the whole night up there?"

"Yeah, I needed to think," I said. "Is Angie okay?"

"She's asleep in the guest bedroom. We watched movies and had ice cream most of the night."

A sigh of relief left my lips, "Thank you."

"Don't thank me, I was just doing my sisterly duties," she looked down. "She wouldn't tell me what you fought about. I didn't really know how to help."

"You can't do much. It's me and my stupid issues."

"That's exactly the problem, Michael," Rosa said sharply. "She told me me you keep acting like you're the only one who has to deal with whatever this is. Angela cares about you- She's not just some obstacle in your life. You need to let her in. She wants to be let in."

I shifted uncomfortably, her words sinking in. "I just- It's complicated. I don't want to drag her into my mess."

"She's already in it!" she stated, her hands on her hips. "You think she doesn't see how you're going through something? The more you push her away, the more you hurt her. You're not actually protecting her like this."

I took a deep breath, trying to process what she was saying. "I know... But I don't know how to stop."

"Start by talking to her!" Rosa urged. "No more hiding in the trees or pretending everything's fine."

"But what if she doesn't want to hear it? What if I scare her off?" I felt a knot tightening in my stomach at the thought.

"Do you really think that? Angela loves you, Michael. I saw it from the moment I laid eyes on you two," Rosa replied, her cheeks blushing at the memory. Mine did, too. "She's not going anywhere if you just let her know what you're feeling. You can't just keep bottling everything up. It's not healthy for you, and it's not fair to her."

"You really think she'll understand?"

"I know she will. And I also know how stubborn she can get, so if you don't let her in soon, she'll start digging in herself."

I nodded. She's right, I can't let myself push her away. Not my Angie.

"I'll, uh, go wake her up. Give you a few hours to catch up on sleep..." I said, and started walking towards the house. "Thanks, Rosa."

"Just remember, I'll kill you if you fuck it up!" she joked, but there was a hint of seriousness in her voice.

I laughed to myself, hoping Angela would forgive me.