16th of April, 1994
Brooklyn is 28, Janet is 27, and Michael is 35

Brooklyn: I felt so relieved being away from Michael. I finally had a good night sleep without feeling like shit.

"Someone's looking extremely happy today." Chris commented when we sat down for breakfast.

"I'm feeling a bit better." I said.

"I'm glad, sis." he smiled.

We started digging into our food, but then the phone rang.

"Daddy can I answer?" Jason asked.

Chris nodded, "Go ahead, buddy."

My nephew got off his chair and ran to pick up the phone.

"Pancakes, anyone?" Cynthia walked into the dining room with a plate full of pancakes.

"Yes, please." I said, licking my lips.

"Uncle Mike! I missed you!" I heard Jason exclaim.

I flinched at the thought of Michael finding out that I left. I knew he'd be furious.

Jason looked at me and then back at the phone. "Yeah, she's here... Okay, uncle Mike... Love you too!"

"Auntie Brooke, he wants to talk to you." he held it out for me.

"Tell him to call again in a minute. I'll take it in my room." I told him.

My nephew nodded, talked to Michael for another few moments, and hung up.

I stood, "I'll go talk to him. Excuse me."

I ran up to the guest room, waiting for Michael to call. He soon did, and I took a deep breath before answering.

"HOW DARE YOU LEAVE LIKE THAT?!" he yelled, piercing my ear.

"Michael..." I sighed heavily. "I had to. I couldn't fight you anymore."

"So you leave?! Is that the best solution you could find?! And without even thinking of telling me! You got some nerve, you know that, Brooke?"

He's talking to me like I'm a little child. Who does he thing he is, trying to control me like that?

"I owe you nothing, Michael. Especially not after the way you've been treating me." I mumbled, but he definitely heard because he started cursing under his breath.

"Wow. The way I've been treating you?! What about the way you've treated Janet for the past month, huh?"

"Why do you always have to bring her into this? I'm talking about the way you don't even support me when I'm feeling like shit after losing your baby! On top of that, I have to find out Janet got pregnant, and her baby is healthy, and beautifully growing. And you making me feel like complete shit every day didn't make it better, either!"

I sniffled as the tears threatened to escape, "I know neither of us will be agreeing anytime soon... I'm suggesting that we take a break."

It was better for us. He wanted to be with Janet, and I needed time alone to get my head straight.

"Call me when you're ready to really talk." I said.

I didn't let him respond before hanging up.

I put the phone back and covered my face.
Did I really tell my own husband that I needed space from him?

"I'm sorry he's making you feel that way, sis," Chris's voice startled me. "I'll kill him if you want me to."

I turned him, to see his arms opened wide for me.

"Please don't kill him." I giggled as we hugged.

"Fine, but only because you really love him."

"You don't mind if I stay for a while, right?" I asked.

"Of course not. You can be here as much as you need." he answered and tightened his grip around me.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it. But I gotta go to work and take Jase to school, so I'll see you when I get back. Right now, I want you to take your time to relax."

I nodded into his chest and gave him another squeeze.

~

6th of May, 1994
Brooklyn is 28, Janet is 27, and Michael is 35

Michael: "Mike, come on, we gotta go. Even Brandon's going." Janet said, rubbing my shoulder.

"Exactly. Brandon's going as your boyfriend and the father of you baby. I can't show up alone, people will ask where Brooke is." I murmured and kept playing with the mix console.

"That's totally an excuse. Just tell them she's home, sick. Plus, you've been in here for the last couple of days. You stink, Mike. Take a shower, please, my pregnant nose can't stand your smell."

I cracked a smile at her comment. She's been trying to convince me to go to a party held by Sony for launching something important that I forgot about.

I was disappointed that Brooklyn wasn't here. Although the last few weeks were hard for us, I loved going into bed with her every night... One time, after fighting, we even had make up sex. It was totally unintentional, and it only happened because I was turned on by her being so aggressive with me.

I missed her. That was the truth. I felt so alone since she left... It really hurt to know I made her feel so bad. But, by what I've heard from Janet, they were still not talking. It still pissed me off.

I sighed, "Do I really have to go?"

"Yeah, we both promised the Sony team we'd be there. If I'm going, you have to go, too."

"Alright. But only because I really should get out of the house."

"Yay!" Janet clapped her hands excitedly. "Now go take a shower!"

~

"Here, Mike. Have a drink." Brandon gave me a glass of what smelled like strong liquor.

"I don't think I should..." I said, holding it out for him to take back.

"You have to, let yourself relax a bit. Come on, just one drink. Have some fun for a change!"

I sighed, gulping the drink down.

Brandon laughed, "Now you're talking! I'll get you another one."

Great. I just hope he doesn't get me drunk tonight. I don't need anymore problems.

"Oh, my God! Are you who I think you are?!" I heard a woman ask behind me.

I turned around to see a very familiar face, I just couldn't put my finger on who she was.

"It is you! Michael Jackson! Gosh, who'd think I'd meet THE Michael Jackson tonight?"

"Uh, it's very nice to meet you," I said. "And you are?"

"Oh, how silly of me! I'm Lisa Marie Presley." she smiled widely.

I widened my eyes, "As in Elvis's daughter?! It's my pleasure!"

"Mine, too," she giggled as we shook hands. "Did you come here alone?"

"I did. My wife is, um, sick at home."

"You hesitated, Michael."

I scratched the back of my neck, embarrassed.

"It's really nothing." I assured, but it looked like she wasn't convinced.

Why am I assuring a complete stranger that everything between my wife and I is good?

"Okay, if you say so. Would you like me to get us some drinks? Wine maybe?" Lisa Marie suggested.

"Yeah, sure."

"I'll be right back."

She placed a kiss on my cheek, catching me off guard.

~

"Remember when we met?" Lisa laughed.

"We did meet before! You came to a Jackson 5 concert in Las Vegas, right? With two bodyguards?" I questioned.

"That's right. I loved seeing you perform... You're so great live." she said.

I blushed. "Thanks."

"So, what about your wife? I mean, we've been talking for over an hour and she hasn't called, or showed up..."

"I rather not talk about her." I muttered.

"Why?"

"We've been fighting over the last month. It got ugly and she left to live with her brother for a while..."

"I'm sorry for asking." she put a hand on my knee.

I was surprised by the gesture, and she noticed.

"Aren't you married, Lisa?" I cleared my throat.

"It's complicated." she sighed deeply.

Before I could ask what's been going on with her marriage, her phone went off.

She excused herself to answer.

After talking for a minute or so, she turned back to me.

"I'm really sorry to be doing this, but the nanny called and apparently my son has a little fever."

"Oh." I frowned. It was really nice talking to a woman who didn't scream at me for a change.

"Here, take my number. Call me whenever."

Lisa Marie slipped a piece of paper into my hand, and kissed my cheek one more time before leaving.

~

10th of May, 1994
Brooklyn is 28, Janet is 27, and Michael is 35

Michael: I laughed loudly into the phone.

"Stop! It's not even that funny," Lisa scoffed. "What's so funny about slipping on ice?"

"The image of it! Oh, I can imagine your face when you realized you were slipping! That's too funny!" I said, laughing harder.

She was telling me about her trip with her children to an ice skating rink.

"So is Brooklyn back home?" she asked.

"No. I haven't called her." I answered.

"So she doesn't know about me?"

"Not really."

"Michael, we've been talking for a few days now... Maybe you should give her a call." Lisa said.

"Oh, no. She wanted space so she gets it. I'm not gonna piss her off more than I already did."

I heard children laughing on her line, and I smiled to myself. Her kids must be so cute.

"So where were we before talking about how I slipped while skating?" she hurried to change the subject.

"We were talking about having children."

"Oh, yeah! So I know about your wife being pregnant three years ago... Any chance that after you two make up you'll be trying for another one?"

"Actually, she was pregnant a couple months ago..." I sighed. "And we went for our first doctor's appointment, but as soon as she checked Brooke, she told us there was no heartbeat. This is why this whole mess started. You probably know that my little sister's pregnant... Well, Brooklyn and her have been best friends since preschool. They've been inseparable until now. Janet's pregnancy was unexpected, and since we lost another baby, my wife hasn't talked to her."

"Brooke felt betrayed and hurt, and I get that, because I'm hurt too, but she was pushing Janet away. I told her she's being selfish. You get it, right? She was only pushing her best friend away because she got pregnant by accident! I mean, if we ignore the fact that Janet's my baby sister... It's just so unfair to her that Brooklyn's been doing that. She needs her best friend's support through this pregnancy." I continued.

"Wow... I didn't think it was that complicated." Lisa giggled.

"Yeah..."

"Mike?" I suddenly heard from the hallway. "Are you in here?"

Janet showed up at my bedroom door, a bright smile on her face.

"Lisa, I'm gonna call you later, okay?" I said into the phone.

"Sure. Goodbye, Michael."

I put the phone down, getting up to hug my sister.

"It's like you grow every time I see you." I admired her rounded bump.

"That's a nice way of telling me I'm fat."

"Oh, no, not at all, Dunk! You look great!"

She chuckled at me, "I'm kidding."

I rolled my eyes and hugged her again.

"I was hoping you'd like to come with me and convince Brooke to forgive the both of us. I miss her... Who's Lisa?" her eyebrows were furrowed when we pulled away.

"No one, just a friend."

"Sure... So are you coming with me?"

"I think it's pointless to try, Dunk. She's not gonna listen to us. I rather we do something here or go out, if you'd like..." I told my sister.

"I guess we could grab something to eat. I haven't been out of the house since that party. Brandon's driving me absolutely crazy!" Janet groaned.

"Okay, let's go get you some food."

I wrapped my arm around Janet's shoulders and took her with me downstairs. We drove along with a few bodyguards, and had the best brother-sister day ever.

~

I stopped here because it was getting a little too much for a bonus chapter, but if you'd like me to continue, I will! Just comment and tell me what you'd like me to do, because I wouldn't mind doing another bonus chapter following the plot in this one and the last one!

Love, love, love!

~ShoamEmily