Before you read this! To refresh your memories refer to Chapter 17- Secrets. It will be mentioned in this chapter somewhat!

This chapter is dedicated to @thedreamchaser I hope you like it, and thank you!!

Tatiana's POV

I shake my head as tears go down my face. "W-what....?" I whisper as he looking up at me slowly, staring.

"I love you..." he whispers staring at me. I shake my head in disbelief slowly, looking up blinking as tears roll down my face.

My mind goes blank as I feel my heart sink. "Those are the three words, I've been waiting to hear forever...." I think to myself. I shake my head, my eyes glazing.

"What is it?" Michael whispers staring at me.

"I don't believe that..." my voice shaking as I swallow hard moving away from him, my body shaking. I can't be close to him.

He gets up off of his knees and gently grabs me by my arms, staring at me softly.

"I know that." he says gently touching my chin, making me look up at him as I swallow hard.

"Just please..." he says softly. "Let me explain."

I look down from his eyes burning in mine. I'm so tired from the flight here and from crying, I don't know if I even have the energy. I sigh and looks up at him. His beautiful eyes stare in mine, his curl falling in his face.

"Fuck your beautiful looks...." I think to myself as I nod my head down.

"Fine." I whisper softly as he gently takes my hand leading me into the living room.

He sits down on the couch swallowing hard as I sit next to him, my head down playing with my fingers.

"I don't know where to begin." he whispers softly as I bite my tongue down, to keep from smarting off.

"How about when you acted like a jackass and broke my heart?" I think to myself bitterly.

"It was my responsibility to love and protect you...." he says softly. "I know you think, that I just-" he lets out a slow sigh as he looks at his hands. "You think I realized I was in love with you when you got in the accident." he says softly. "I knew I loved you for a long time, when I first met you." he whispers looking at me. "And I felt guilty deep down, when I treated you the way I did...god, firing you and the Grammy's."

He furrows his eyebrows, pain flashing in his eyes as he continues to stare in mine.

"But I did realize how wrong I was when I thought-...." he looks down his eyes glazing slowly. "I thought you were dead. I-I saw the footage, of the accident and I did feel guilty." he says as tears suddenly roll down my face. "I felt guilty how I treated you, that I couldn't hold you and tell you how much I love you." He says his voice cracking slowly. "Everyday I kept telling myself it could've been fixed. We could have talked. But I refused...." he swallows hard staying quiet for a split second. "You were my girl....it should've always been your word over anyone and everyone else's." he whispers. "And as for Paul....god..." he closes his eyes. "I was so angry, and jealous. I knew you were telling the truth. But everyone got in my head. And it isn't an excuse." he whispers. "I should've believed in you, because you always believed in me." he looks up at me slowly as tears suddenly fall from his beautiful face.

As much as I want to hate him, I open my mouth to speak he interjects.

"Ever since the Grammy's I couldn't stop thinking about you. I've been trying to make it right, but it I just screwed up again at the airport....." he swallows hard and stares at me. "Why didn't you tell me you were a virgin before?"

I stay silent for a moment and looks down.

"I was scared...." I whisper softly. He furrows his eyebrows in confusion.

"Scared...?"

"When I was 17, someone tried to--...." my voice is nothing but a whisper going out.

"Someone tried to what, Tatiana?" he whispers staring at me.

I shake my head swallowing hard, as Michael comes to realization.

"T-they tried to...." he closes his eyes resting his head in his hands for a moment. He looks up at me sadly.

"D-did you think I was going to hurt you?" He asks softly. I shake my head quickly.

"No." I say softly.

"I wish I knew..." he swallows hard. "I should've known."

"Why?" I say raising an eyebrow.

"Then I--" he looks down fidgeting with his long fingers nervously. "I could've made it more, special..." he says softly.

"It was special..." I say shrugging the memory off, to keep from crying. "It was special to me, everytime..."

He stays silent for awhile and lets out a breath. "I can't believe I was your first...." he pauses for a moment.

"I mean, out of all people, you chose me. You waited all of those years, you could've waited until you got married, but no, you chose me. And even though you don't believe me when I say this because I laughed in your face, it does mean a lot to me." he whispers softly. "It was just unbelievable..."

"I made you wait, didn't I?" I raise an eyebrow slightly.

He stays silent for awhile, and finally speaks up.

"The man that you shared those memories with, the man you fell in love with is still here. I'm right here, baby. And I'm not going anywhere this time. I'm here to make you happy, and to make up for these past months of loneliness... darkness... emptiness... worthlessness... everything. And I've loved you for a long while, but I was just too afraid to tell you because of what just happened between us. But now, I'm not afraid anymore. Even if you still hate me, I love you. And I know I always will, so there's no point in trying to fall in love with someone else because you're always going to have my heart. That's just how it is, okay? There is nothing more that I want than to be with you. And this time, it's just me and you. No one else. Not Rachel, not Paul, not anyone, just us two. And I know it's going to take a while for us to get to where we once were, I completely understand. I just want one more chance.." he whispers.

He breaks his stare for the first time looking down, my heart breaking slowly. I stare at him knowing he's sincere.

"Listen Michael," I say softly, but he still doesn't look up at me . "I understand what you're feeling, okay? I get it. But if I saw you hurting, the way that you saw me, you know I would stop everything just for you. But you didn't."

I have no idea what he's thinking. But I know he's still feeling the guilt because unexpectedly, a tear rolls down his cheek.

Oh my God.

He looks down trying to hide his tears as I try to hold in a gasp. I don't want to make him feel like he can't cry in front me.

But he's crying....infront of me.

I swallow hard as I slowly get up. I kneel down in front of him, moving to sit on his lap with my leg on either side of him. His hands grip my waist and slowly wrap around her, but he still doesn't look up at me.

"God, seeing him this way...." I think to myself my anger melting away a little.

"Hey, look at me." I whisper once more, wiping his tears.

His guilty eyes slowly meet mine, making me tear up slightly. His eyelashes were wet, his eyeliner was just a little smeared.

"I'm sorry, Tatiana." He whispers.

"I know." I nod, running my thumbs along his strong, high cheekbones that I always loved. "And I'm still not giving up on you." I whisper softly.

He pulls me closer to him, holding me tighter, he buries his head in my chest. I wrap my arms around him, my hand getting lost in his long curls, holding him there, looking down at him.

"I promise I'm gonna be a better man..." He whispers. "I promise."

Michael's POV

After an hour of us holding onto eachother, Tatiana is fast asleep in my arms holding onto me. I sigh as I run a hand down her back, touching her curls.

"God I love you..." I think to myself as I watch her sleep. I look up at the wall seeing the time and looks back down at her.

"Tatiana..." I whisper softly as she stays in a deep sleep. I give a slight smile as she sleeps on my chest, her soft breathing against my shirt. I gently shift under her getting up slowly with her in my arms. I carry her up the stairs slowly.

I carry her down the hall to the guest room. After opening the door quietly, I put her in bed as she sighs softly in her sleep snuggling up in the bed as I pull the covers over her.

I lean down kissing her forehead softly before brushing her hair back. I frown lightly as I look closely at her seeing a small scar on her forehead. I swallow hard kissing it softly.

"As long as I'm alive, I promise....nothing will ever happen to you." I whisper.

I watch her for a moment as she sleeps. It's more than tempting to climb in bed with her, and hold her.

But I can't rush it, and she made that crystal clear.

I slowly walk to the door before closing it softly. I start the walk back to my room slowly, before a voice calls me down the hall.

"Michael?" she says as I raise my head up.

"Yes?" I say through a struggled yawn.

"Michael, I'm sorry to bother you this late....but someone is on the phone, for you." she says.

"This late?" I say tiredly. "Tell them I'll call in the morning."

"Sir...you don't understand. It's Mr. Thumbtzen..." she says as I feel my head slowly begin to ache.

"He wants to speak with you....now.."

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Hey guys, If I'm late updating its because I am trying to get my schoolwork done. Also to all my Italian babes, this story will be translated into Italian by @TonySMichaelJ !!! Keep your eyes out for it!

Also, please remember if you see this story stolen or etc. Give me a heads up. I'd appreciate it!

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Xoxo,

moonwalkergal