Hey all! Update 1/2 for today
Keep an eye out for the next one!

Also, another long one 🤭

Enjoy ❤️

Love,
~ShoamEmily

~

11th of February, 1989
Michael is 30, Angela is 24

Angela: My eyes shot open, that familiar feeling making its way up my throat.

I gasped, throwing the sheets off my body.

I ran to the bathroom, crouched down in front of the toilet, and waited for the nausea to pass.

It didn't. I clutched the sides of the toilet, retching loudly.

The bed creaked. Michael then stood at the door, rubbing his tired eyes.

"You're okay," he cooed before coming down to my level and holding my hair up. "Let it out, baby..."

As he held my hair, other hand soothing my back, my mind wandered, thinking of how we ended up here.

So much had changed since we got to New York two weeks ago.

In those two weeks, my belly grew significantly, and I often found myself in front of the mirror, staring at it.

I already had somewhat of a bump.

I might have not known a lot, but I knew this wasn't how I was supposed to look.

Because if I did my math right, and I did, I should have only been around 12 weeks.

It seemed odd, but as long as the baby was growing, I didn't want to put unnecessary worries on our minds.

And we had plenty of those to go around.

I hadn't told my parents about the pregnancy. I just couldn't. Not yet.

I expected anger from them, but hearing it on the phone a few nights ago still stung.

They were furious about me taking off without saying much, upset about me not explaining why I needed time away from school.

And Rosa? God, Rosa was pissed.

The disappointment was clear, but what was I supposed to tell them?

"You're seriously throwing away your education for a guy?! I don't care who he is, he's not allowed to treat you like that!" she yelled in my ear when she heard.

What my sister didn't know is that I had made that decision all on my own, when Bill came over the other week, showing Michael and I the latest tabloids.

We were everywhere.

The moment I saw my face plastered across the front covers, I knew going back to school wasn't an option, not with my belly growing and our every move under watch.

Our relationship was officially out, and when I asked Michael about school, he had a sympathetic look on his face.

"Everyone knows who you are now, Angie. They won't rest until they get ahold of you, trust me. I can't make you quit school, but it's an option you have to think about..."

He was right. But quitting? That decision felt like giving up a part of myself.

The pill bottle that had been on my mind before was completely gone by now, no trace of it in my too anxious of a brain.

Not that I didn't care, there were just too many things to deal with.

Like staying here. We only decided to stay in New York for the sake of our peace, because no one really knew where we were.

LA seemed too hectic for the moment, especially since we were still trying to figure things out.

It was an unspoken agreement not to talk about the future.

We were focusing on the now, on just being together and trying to understand our situation.

Because what really mattered was Michael and I.

He even returned home the other day with a pregnancy book for us to look at, I thought it was the sweetest thing.

When I finished hurling, Michael helped me sit down to catch my breath.

"Sorry." I apologized, taking the piece of toilet paper he offered. I wiped my mouth, looking down.

"For what, Angie?"

"Waking you up again. I swear I'm not doing it on purpose."

"I know, you don't need to apologize. I'm here for you, you know that." he smiled.

"I do. Thank you," I sighed. "Help me up?"

He did, and looked at me through the mirror while I brushed my teeth.

His arms were crossed against his chest as he leaned on the doorframe, just watching me.

My cheeks flushed, and to hide my embarrassment, I bent down to rinse my mouth.

I straightened up a little too quickly, the world around me spinning all of a sudden. "Woah."

Michael hurried to steady me, strong hands taking ahold of my arms.

He gave me a worried look, but I waved him off.

"It's just first trimester symptoms, Mike. I'm okay."

"Let's take you back to bed, baby. It's too early," he insisted, slowly leading me back to bed. "I'll get you some water, hold on. Don't get up."

I sighed, staring down at my small but protruding tummy.

Lifting my shirt, I pressed the soft skin, still unable to comprehend the life that was growing inside me.

Michael soon came back, so I hurried to cover my bump.

He's seen it already, but I was still insecure about how big I was.

He made it clear that he didn't care.

My changing body never stopped him from making love to me almost every night.

He'd come back from the studio, and after a day of being away, he was all over me.

I wasn't sure if it was the pregnancy, or the fact that he had to spend time away from me, but he couldn't keep his hands off.

I later figured it was the fact that we'd grown closer to each other, too.

It reminded me of our days in Tokyo, how much I got to know him then.

Michael sat next to me, handing me the water.

I thanked him, and his eyes followed my every move as I gulped it down.

"Better?" he asked.

I nodded and put the glass down on my nightstand before turning back to him.

He pulled the sheets around us, arms holding me close.

Placing a kiss on my forehead, he mumbled a quick 'I love you'.

With his lips still on my forehead, he sighed. "Maybe we should go a see a doctor, Ange. It's been long enough, we need to know everything's okay."

My heart picked up its pace. I knew he felt it too, because he shifted a bit.

"Why wouldn't it be okay?" I replied, a bit too quickly and defensively.

"I'm not saying it's not, but just to make sure-"

I shook my head, "I can't go out there. Not right now..."

His hands cupped my face, making me look at him. "We'll have Bill and the other bodyguards. I'll keep you safe, Angie. I just want to make sure you and the baby are healthy."

"We are." I insisted.

"I don't want to argue, I just- I'm worried, okay?"

I nodded, "I know, me too, but I can't. I want to stay here, with you, for as long as I can. Please?"

Michael's eyes softened as he tried to read me, still holding my face gently. "I get it, baby. I really do. But we can't hide in here forever."

"I'm not trying to hide," I muttered, pulling away slightly, and sitting up. A knot tightened in my chest. "It's just... It's too much out there right now. I don't want everyone staring at me, staring at us."

"They'll always stare," Michael said truthfully, his voice gentle. "But we can control how much we let them in."

I glanced down at my hands resting on my small bump.

"I don't want them turning this into something it's not." I admitted.

He sighed loudly and leaned back against the headboard, still close enough that our shoulders touched.

He knew what I was talking about.

The minute word gets out about this pregnancy, there's no turning back.

People will call me names, talk endlessly. I can't face that, not right now.

"I understand. Really. But hiding here isn't going to make it go away. The world's always going to be out there, baby."

"I just want to feel safe, Michael. That's all. I'm not ready for the world to know anything yet. Hell, my parents don't even know! You yourself said my face is everywhere, why give them anything else?"

Michael gave a small nod, his hand resting reassuringly on my knee. "Okay. I don't wanna push you. We can stay here for a little bit longer. Maybe another week or two, how does that sound?"

"Thank you." I mumbled, feeling a small weight lift off my shoulders.

"But," he added with a gentle smile. "We'll eventually have to face it. And when you're ready, we'll take it slow."

I managed a small smile. "Yeah."

For now, I was happy with staying in this bubble we created.

There was no rush to face the world outside; not yet, at least.

~

12th of March, 1989
Michael is 30, Angela is 25

Angela: Two weeks soon turned into just under two months.

I couldn't hide my bump anymore, no matter how hard I tried.

Even my oversized hoodie felt tight, and I was getting more and more frustrated with my changing body.

I wasn't just pregnant - I was huge.

The lower part of my stomach was very much rounded, sticking out as it kept growing.

It then dawned on me that there might be more to this pregnancy than I thought.

My pregnancy books suggested large babies, or even twins, but I wasn't convinced.

I mean, there's no way, right?

Bill had to go maternity clothes shopping for me, along with Michael, who paid for a whole new wardrobe, after I've been basically living off his clothes for most of it.

I tried to argue, saying I don't need new clothes, but he noticed my discomfort every time I tried squeezing into sweatpants.

I'd been cooped up in the penthouse the entire time, not seeing any reason to leave.

The sounds of New York City outside were a constant reminder of the world beyond our windows, but I had no desire to step into the chaotic streets filled with people and honking cars.

And although I enjoyed just being in our own private world, the isolation was starting to get to me.

Michael was busier than usual, spending hours on hours at the studio, sometimes leaving me early in the morning and I had to fall asleep on my own late at night.

I hated it, and missed the way he would cuddle me to sleep.

While I understood he had a lot on his plate, me being some of the reason for it, I couldn't shake the loneliness I was feeling.

But the nights he was home, we'd stay up late, just talking most of the time, our bodies all tangled together in bed as the city twinkled below.

We started figuring out the future, and we agreed we'd eventually have to get married.

Michael claimed he wanted to do it right, though.

I tried calling my parents, to share some of my excitement.

And every time I did, I was met with unanswered rings and a deafening silence.

They had every right to be upset.

Yet I longed to hear my dad's laugh and my mom's thick accent. Especially today.

It was my 25th birthday, and I was all alone in a big penthouse, very much pregnant and somewhat cranky.

And I missed my mom's cooking so much.

To distract myself, I decided to attempt one of her recipes.

I really did enjoy cooking lately, especially when Michael would come home to compliment it.

It also meant I could make myself whatever it is I was craving.

There were a lot of those lately, and so late at night.

Just a week ago, I had Michael call Bill around 3 AM to get me ice cream because we were out of my favorite.

It was already late afternoon when I stood in front of the pantry, staring blankly at the full shelves.

The distant sounds of the city drifted through the windows as I was deep in thought.

My craving had turned into a desire for my mom's homemade gnocchi, the kind that melted in your mouth and burst with flavor.

And so, I grabbed some potatoes, starting to peel them.

It was then that I suddenly felt an unfamiliar sensation inside me.

A soft, faint flutter.

I paused for a moment to touch my stomach, and then it happened: small taps responded to my fingers pressing. I gasped.

The baby's kicking.

Surprise washed over me, followed by a flood of emotions.

It was something I read about, but nothing could have prepared me for the reality of it.

My heart raced as I realized it was a sign of life. A life Michael and I had created.

I could hardly believe this tiny being was already making its presence known.

"Oh, hi, baby..." I whispered.

I stood there, my hand running over each small tap I felt, amazed.

I was going to be a mother.

This small miracle inside me was beginning to claim its existence, reminding me that I wasn't alone, even in this big, empty penthouse.

Wiping my tears, I couldn't help but giggle, my earlier frustrations melting away with every little kick.

Michael has to know, he'd be so excited...

I hurried to the phone, dialing the studio number. Quickly, I asked for Michael.

"He's not here, miss," the clerk said. "He just left an hour ago."

I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion, wondering where he could have gone.

I asked if she knew where he was, disappointed when she didn't have an answer.

Hanging up, I sighed deeply, hoping the baby would kick when he's home.

Quickly, I went back to cooking, those small taps still felt in my lower belly, accompanied by the distant hum from outside.

A reminder that even in my isolation, the city pulsed with life beyond the walls of our penthouse, just like the baby inside me.

~

A little over an hour later, dinner was about to be ready.

The kitchen had a familiar smell to it, so I knew I did something right.

I decided to try and make this a more cozy, romantic night.

So I pulled out some candles, and set up the kitchen island all nice.

The front door opened, and I recognized Michael's light footsteps. "Angie?"

"Kitchen!" I called, lighting the last candle, and adjusting the maternity dress I wore.

He walked in, smiling widely. I couldn't help but smile in return.

One of his arms hid behind his back, making me curious.

"What's that?"

Michael pulled me to him with his free arm before revealing a giant flower bouquet. "Happy birthday, baby."

My hormones were definitely going wild today, because I felt myself tear up again.

"Oh, Michael, they're beautiful. Thank you." I leaned up to peck his lips.

"It smells amazing," he complimented when he pulled away, then looked around. "Did- did you do this?"

"I thought we could have a nice date night, considering it's my birthday... I've been missing you too much lately. You're never home."

"I know, Angie, and I'm really sorry about that. Things will calm down soon, I promise," he sighed, his expression full of guilt. "So, did you talk to your parents today?"

His question hit me, straight in the guts.

"No," I said quietly. "They... They didn't answer."

Michael clearly noticed the sadness on my face. "I'm sorry, that was a silly question."

I brushed it off, trying to convince him it wasn't a big deal.

Nevertheless, he hugged me. I clung onto his neck, letting out a long exhale.

His hands, now soothing my back, traveled to the sides of my belly. Another kick, stronger this time.

Michael broke our hug, eyes instinctively going to my bump. "Was that...?"

"You felt it?" I questioned.

"Y- yeah," he bit his lip and went down on his knees in front of me. His lips came in contact with the fabric that stretched over my pregnant body. "Hi, baby. Can you do that again?"

But to his disappointment, nothing came.

I hurried to lift up his mood, "Come on, let's eat, before the food gets cold."

We sat down, eating quietly, while stealing playful glances. He then grabbed my hand.

"So, about seeing a doctor," Michael said. "Frank found a private clinic, not too far away. He says they have great reviews. I'm thinking we can go tomorrow morning, I cleared my schedule."

"Mike..." I put down my fork.

"Please, Angie. We have to see how the baby's doin'. I promise, I'll keep you safe. It won't be like last time, we'll go in and out and straight home."

My heart clenched at the memory.

Last time. When fans and paparazzi swarmed us as we left the concert and I felt so vulnerable.

But this time, my growing belly couldn't be hidden anymore. "But I can't hide it, Michael. What if people see? What if-"

His hand tightened around mine, as if the decision weighed on him, too.

"I know... And I've been thinking about that. I don't want you feeling unsafe, or scared about what people would say. It's my job to make sure you feel secure. That's why..." he trailed off, biting his lip again as he reached into his pocket, pulling something small.

He didn't even give me time to process when placing a velvet ring box in front of my plate. "Open it."

I obliged, my eyes almost popping out.

Inside the box lay a beautiful engagement ring.

It was a big oval cut, with smaller diamonds placed in a halo around the big stone. A delicate band held it in place.

It almost resembled Princess Diana's, except mine had all diamonds.

My heart filled with so much warmth as I realized he remembered me saying how much I loved hers, during one of our many late night talks.

"Oh, Michael..."

"I saw it today, it looked too perfect to leave behind... I thought you might need some reassurance about us. You know, to make things official." he said.

He didn't have to ask me the question that hung in the air, because he knew the answer.

I simply nodded, unable to speak when the tears ran down my face.

Michael took the ring and gently slid it onto my finger, his hands trembling just slightly.

I let out a small sob as he brought my hand to his lips, kissing the ring tenderly.

I couldn't wait any longer, and got up from my seat to hug and kiss him endlessly.

~

We cleaned up after dinner, both of us radiating with excitement for what lay ahead for us.

The ring on my finger proved that he saw more in our future, and really was committed, to me, and our baby.

And it would keep us safe from the rumors that would be surfacing as soon as we reveal this pregnancy.

I then found myself under him on the living room couch, the movie he picked out for us to watch slowly turning into background noise.

The candles I lit glimmered around us, and he poured us two glasses of sparkling apple juice, setting the mood just right.

Our lips moved in sync as he lay between my legs, careful with my bump that was starting to get in the way.

"I love you, Angie. I love you so much," he said into my mouth. "You're everything I've always wanted..."

He moved to place eager kisses on my neck, and squeezed my thighs tightly, leaving pink marks where his fingers were.

"I love you, too, Mike- Ooh!" my breaths became erratic as he was about to push himself inside me, when an unexpected knock was heard.

I panted, "Are you expecting someone?"

"No, it's probably just Bill. He can wait," Michael declared. "Now, where were we...?"

His tip was right there, and my breath quickened with anticipation, just wishing he would do something already.

He connected our lips, his tongue found mine, slowly pushing himself in.

His kiss muffled my shrieks as his hips moved against mine.

Just when I thought nothing could interrupt this moment, a louder knock was heard.

I groaned, holding him to me when he tried to get away.

There I was, hot and bothered, while my now fiancé was being distracted by the door. "Give me a second, Angie. Don't move."

He pulled out, leaving me feeling empty.

Getting out of my hold, he hurried to grab his briefs and pants from the floor.

I sighed, covering myself up with one of the throw blankets.

Talking came from the front door. I wonder who it is...

It was a woman's voice. Soft, but filled with surprise.

"How can you just take off like that?! Not even one call! Is she here...?"

"Wait, mother!" Michael called, their voices getting closer.

"Oh, God..." I muttered to myself, putting two and two together.

Katherine Jackson stood in the living room doorway, her eyes wide as she took in the sight of me.

My arms instinctively flew to cover my growing belly, but it was too late.

Her glance already landed there, her expression shifting from surprise to complete shock.

I tightened the blanket around my body, embarrassed.

"Mother..." Michael started, stepping in front of her, almost to protect me from his mother. "This- this isn't really a good time..."

Katherine's eyes darted between us.

"Michael," she began sternly. "Why didn't you tell me?"

I could feel my cheeks flush, my body shrinking slightly under her intense gaze.

I hadn't even met her yet, and now she was seeing me like this.

Pregnant, naked, clearly not married, and living with her son.

Katherine's eyes narrowed, and she took a step closer, her attention focused solely on Michael now.

"You should've told me, Michael. This-" she motioned at me. "This is serious. How long has this been going on?"

Michael took a deep breath, standing tall but clearly uncomfortable. "Mother, I was gonna tell you, but we just... Things happened too quickly."

He glanced at me, then back to her, his voice gentler. "This is Angela."

I managed a small, awkward wave from where I sat, still wrapped up in the blanket, unsure if I should apologize or disappear. "Hi, Mrs. Jackson..."

Katherine's gaze softened briefly before her eyes flickered back to him.

"Michael, this is not the kind of thing that just 'happens'. You're telling me you didn't think to tell your own mother that you're about to become a father?!"

I wanted to defend him, to explain, but I could feel the judgment in her voice.

It didn't matter what we said right now; her first impression was already set.

"We were gonna tell you," Michael said again, more insistent this time. "But we needed time. Things have been... Complicated. We didn't want anyone to know."

Katherine shook her head slowly, her disappointment clear.

"Michael, you should know better than anyone that nothing about your life is ever private for long. The world is going to find out soon enough, and this situation... It needs to be handled properly."

Situation? I'm a situation? Our baby?

She turned to me, her eyes softer but still stern.

"Angela, I'm sure this has been overwhelming for you, dear. But this," she gestured toward my belly. "Isn't something you can keep hidden. You two need to make things right before it's too late."

Her words got to me. I felt my cheeks burn from guilt and shame.

I hadn't planned on meeting her like this, but here we were.

And I couldn't hide the fact that my bump, now impossible to ignore, was going to raise questions.

"Mrs. Jackson, I know how it looks, but we're doing everything we can to figure this out," I said, my voice a bit shaky. "We just-"

"You need to get married," Katherine interrupted. "Before the baby comes, before the press catches word of this, and this situation gets worse. You know how people talk, Michael. You know what it could do to your reputation. To all of us."

I swallowed hard, glancing at Michael.

I could see the conflict in his eyes - he hated being put on the spot like this, especially when we were just starting to figure everything out.

But Katherine wasn't wrong.

Michael rubbed the back of his neck, his voice calmer but no less tense. "Mother, I get what you're saying, but I don't want to rush anything. Angela and I... We'll get married, but when we're ready. We just got engaged tonight..."

Katherine's lips tightened. "Michael, you don't have time to wait. You need to do this the right way. For the baby's sake. For your sake."

A knot suddenly tightened in my stomach.

As much as I wanted to stand up for us, to say we were handling it, I couldn't deny the growing sense of urgency her words were creating.

My anxiety picked up again, because I knew she was right.

It's what I've been thinking of, too, and why I was so afraid to leave my bubble.

"I..." I began, trying to steady my voice, but Katherine's gaze silenced me.

Michael noticed my unsure eyes and sat next to me, his expression softening as he took my hand.

His simple touch soothed my racing heart, especially as he brought my hand to his lips to kiss the back of it repeatedly.

His mother sighed deeply, looking between the two of us again.

"Michael, Angela," she began, her voice softer now. "I can tell that you... Love each other, very much. But love isn't enough sometimes. You have responsibilities now, to each other and to this child."

The room was silent for a long moment. Michael was the first to break it.

"Mother, we appreciate your concern, but this is our decision to make. We'll handle it. Now, please, I'll call Frank and get you a hotel room, and we can talk another day..."

Katherine's eyes lingered on him for a moment before she exhaled, her shoulders relaxing slightly.

"I'm not leaving." she announced.

Both Michael and I blinked, taken aback.

"You're not?" I asked.

"No," Katherine replied, her eyes settling on me. "You're part of this family now, Angela, whether married yet or not. And family supports each other. So, I'm staying to help make sure this gets handled the right way."

I could feel my heart beat faster as the reality of it all sank in.

I had imagined meeting Michael's mother under better circumstances, maybe over tea or dinner, not like this. But there was no escaping it now.

Michael sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Mother, we don't need you to-"

Katherine held up a hand to stop him. "Michael, I'm staying. We're going to talk about how to move forward. I'm not leaving my grandchild's future up to chance."

With that, she excused herself.

"I'll give you two some privacy. We'll continue this conversation tomorrow."

As Katherine left the room, I looked at Michael, my heart still pounding. "What the hell just happened?"

He sighed, playing with my fingers. "I- I don't know. How did she even find us?"

I watched as he leaned back, clearly confused and defeated. I wish I could read his mind right now.

"I'm sorry you had to meet her like this. I swear, she's a lovely woman..."

"Hey," I said, teasingly nudging his shoulder, hoping to lighten the mood. "At least she didn't walk in while we were, you know, really getting into it. We made that mistake once."

Michael chuckled, "Thank God for small miracles."

He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me as close as possible. "But seriously, I'm sorry you had to meet her like that. This wasn't how I thought introducing you to my mother would go."

Neither did I. "Well, I guess now I get to experience the whole package, huh? The ring, the baby bump, and the mother-in-law, all at once."

He grinned, the tension easing from his shoulders. "At least it won't be boring."

"Is it ever?"

"I guess not..."

I leaned up to kiss him, "How about that movie?"

"Yeah, the movie," he smirked, lifting me up gently to make sure the blanket was still wrapped around me. "But maybe it's better if we continue this in the bedroom..."