23rd of November, 1991
Brooklyn is 25, Michael is 33

Michael: "Something's wrong," Brooklyn cried. "Michael, it hurts."
I quickly crouched down in front of her.
"What hurts?" I asked.
"Everything." she answered.
I rubbed her knee, "Tell me what you're feeling."
"It feels like really bad cramps."
"I'm gonna pick you up, okay? Hold on to my shoulders." I said, putting my arms under her body.
She screamed when I picked her up, making shivers run down my spine.
I ran as fast as I could out of the theater, trying to get quickly the Neverland guest house, where my bodyguards were living.
I knocked loudly on the door and waited impatiently.
"Just a second!" Brandon yelled. A few moments later the door opened, revealing his confused face.
"Mike? What's wro-" he said, but I quickly cut him off.
"Get us to a hospital. Now."
My bodyguard took one of the cars' keys and closed the door behind him.
Brooke clung onto me tighter as she groaned in pain.
"Wait here."
He started running to the parking. It wasn't too far from the guest house, but it was still wasting precious time.
Two minutes later a black SUV stopped in front of us.
I carefully put Brooke in the car and got in next to her.
"What the hell is going on, Mike?" Brandon asked.
"I don't know. Just step on it." I answered, pulling my wife onto my lap in hopes in would calm her down.

~

As soon as we got to the hospital Brooklyn was taken away from me. They checked her into a room, mostly for me, so I could wait for news without being exposed too much.
I prayed as much as I could that nothing bad would happen.
For the last hour I've been pacing back and forth, without being told anything.
A knock on the door made me jump. Brandon had a small smiled on his face as he stepped in, "I called the other bodyguards, they're on their way."
"Thank you, Brandon. Any news?" I said.
He sighed and shook his head.
"Your mother's on the phone, though." he held out his mobile phone for me.
I took the device from him and put it to my ear.
"Michael?" I heard my mother's soft, soothing, voice.
"Hi, mother." I told her.
"Michael, Joseph and I just turned on the television, and we saw pictures of you at the hospital. They're everywhere. Are you okay? What happened?" she asked in panic.
"Mother, I'm fine. It's Brooke, something's wrong with the baby." I said, rubbing my face.
"Oh, honey."
I sighed and noticed a tear fall down my cheek.
I was scared. Scared of losing out little Destiny, but I was mostly scared to lose my wife. They didn't tell me anything.
They're fine. They're both perfectly fine.
I looked up as a doctor walked in and cleared his throat.
"Mother, I need to go."
Before she could say anything, I hung up the call and gave Brandon his phone.
"Mr. Jackson, it's a pleasure. I'm Dr. Wright."
I shook his hand, "How's my wife?"
"Please, sit down," he said. "Your wife is fine. But, unfortunately, she lost the baby."
My heart sank and my head started spinning. Oh, no.
"Mr. Jackson?"
I shut my eyes closed, taking a few breaths.
"How- Why did this happen?" I asked, a bit shaken.
"I believe you're aware of your wife's Anemia. Well, pregnancies in women with Anemia cause different reactions to the body. Every woman's body is different, making it react differently. In your wife's case, it looked like a blood pressure drop. The fetus didn't get the amount of blood supply it needed. I'm sorry."
It felt like he actually took a knife and put it in my back. Everything we planned, everything we did to have a baby, gone.
I put my face in my hands.
Brooklyn.
I knew her, she was probably beating herself up because of this.
"I need to see her." I said.
"Of course, come with me." Dr. Wright smiled.
He opened the door, exposing four of my bodyguards: Brandon, Bill, Dan, and the newest member to the team, Jaden. I hired him a few weeks back.
"Brandon, you're coming with me." I ordered.
He walked close to me as the doctor led us through the hospital halls.
"She's in here." he stopped in front of a room.
"Thank you." I shook his hand again.
I took a deep breath before opening the door, knowing what I would fine.
My wife was crying into her pillow and was curled up in herself.
"Oh, Brooklyn." I said, walking over to her, and embracing her in a long hug.
"I'm so, so, so, sorry, Michael." she cried into my shoulder.
I put my lips to her neck and hugged her tighter.
"Shh, this isn't your fault."
"Don't say that, you know it is. My stupid body is responsible for this."
I caressed her hair as I felt my own tears running down my cheeks and fall onto her shoulder.
Brooke sniffled, "They said I need to have surgery to take her out."
I flinched at her words, pulling away from her. She avoided any contact with my eyes.
I sighed, "Brooke, look at me."
She only looked always.
I grabbed her face in both of my hands and her eyes locked with mine instantly.
"Don't blame yourself." I said, sternly.
Her already teary eyes filled up with tears, again.

~

26th of November, 1991
Brooklyn and Janet are 25, Michael is 33

Janet: I watched as Michael helped Brooke into their big house. Mother and I followed them inside.
I couldn't believe they lost the baby. Honestly, no one could.
"I want to go to bed." my best friend told my brother.
"Okay." he whispered and took her up the stairs.
"My poor babies." mother said.
I knew Brooke was blaming herself for this. Michael hid his feelings pretty well about this whole situation, but I knew he was hurt.
"Mother, do you think I caused this?" I asked.
She furrowed her eyebrows, "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean," I said, taking in a deep breath. "Maybe if I hadn't pushed her to go out with me all the time and she would've stayed to rest at home, they would still have the baby."
"Janet, honey, you know that's not true." mother said.
"She's right, Dunk. You're not the one to blame." I heard Michael's voice.
I turned to see his tired eyes looking down at me.
"Both of us knew there were risks, believe me."
I hugged him tightly.
"I really am sorry, Mike." I told him.
"Don't be. I guess the universe never meant for us to have this baby."
He acted like he didn't care, it drove me crazy.
"Michael!" mother scolded him.
"Mother!" he said in the same tone.
I rolled my eyes.
"Why are you like this, Mike? Damn it, you just lost your child!" I almost shouted.
Once I saw his hurt face and realized what I had said, I covered my mouth.
"I know, thank you for reminding me." my brother said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Mike, I'm sorry, I didn't mea-"
"Don't."
He sighed and disappeared into the living room.
"You didn't have to be that harsh on him, Janet. He needs to grief, let him do it his own way." my mother told me.
"But he's being so... so cold about it, I just-" I was cut off by a crash that was heard in the living room.
My mother and I hurried after Michael.
A little brown table was flipped over, and there was shattered china everywhere.
"It's not fair. We had a nursery, a name, clothes, everything was planned. I communicated with her, I felt her. In one night it all disappeared, just like that." he cried.
My brother was sitting on the floor, knees to his chest.
I sat next to him and pulled him into a hug.

~

Michael: I sniffled as I opened the bedroom door.
"What happened?" I heard Brooklyn whisper.
"Nothing," I told her, wiping my tears. "Go to sleep, baby."
She seemed so small under the bed covers. She got out of bed, making my heart race faster when I saw her still swollen stomach.
Just like Janet, it was there to remind me that I failed protecting my wife and baby.
I was angry. Destiny just disappeared from our lives so quickly.
"What happened?" she asked again.
"I broke a vase." I mumbled.
Brooke wrapped her arms around my torso and put her head to my chest. I leaned my chin on the top of her head, letting out a sigh.
We haven't really talked about what happened since the night we came to the hospital.
Because both of us felt so responsible we've become a bit distant. Of course, I helped her recover as much as I possibly could, but there was no denying there were things that were left unspoken.

~

1st of December, 1991
Brooklyn is 25, Michael is 33

Brooklyn: I was still recovering from everything that's happened. It felt so weird knowing I was empty.
And I was trying to avoid Michael as much as possible. He seemed distant, too, so I just let it be.
It worked, too, because he made himself more busy than he already was.
I knew my husband was hurt and upset, just like me, but I felt like he hated me. After all, I was the reason we lost Destiny.
It shocked and disappointed everyone. A couple of days ago, my dad, Chris, and Cynthia came over after they heard what happened. It was awful the guilt was killing me.
The cool breeze outside made me feel better, I figured a little walk would be nice and refreshing.
The pain disappeared from my body in a few days, just like they told me back at the hospital.
I looked at my watch. It read 6:35 PM. Michael should be returning from a meeting any minute now.
The sun started to set, so I decided to head back to the house.
Just like I suspected, Michael was waiting for me at the kitchen door.
"I was just about to look for you." he said.
He leaned down to kiss me, but I tilted my head and his lips brushed against the skin of my cheek.
"I'm gonna shower." I told him, not bothering to look at him.
I honestly felt like any contact with him would break me to pieces.
Before I realized what was happening, my husband grabbed my wrist, pulling me into a long, deep, kiss.
The tears started to form in my eyes when he cupped both my cheeks in his hands.
This is exactly what I was trying to avoid.
I tried pulling away, but he wouldn't let me. The kiss felt like it went on forever, until he pulled away to breathe.
"Why are you avoiding me?" Michael asked, wiping my fresh tears.

~

Michael: Brooklyn didn't even look at me, or answered my question.
I saw Ronda walking in, "Oh, I'm sorry. I'll come back later."
"No, don't go. I, uh, I was just going upstairs." Brooke sniffled, pulling away from me, and disappeared from the kitchen.
I sighed, looking at my cook.
"Would you like anything, Mr. Jackson?" she asked.
I shook my head, "No, thank you."
I squeezed her shoulder before leaving the kitchen, too.
On my way out, I bumped into Helen.
"Hello, sir. How was your meeting?" she smiled.
"It went well." I said, not really in the mood to talk to anyone at that moment.
"Do you need anything, Mr. Jackson?"
I sighed, "Nope."
She nodded and started walking away.
"Wait, Helen!" I called and she turned around instantly. "Could you get me a big blanket and a pillow, please?"
"Of course, sir."
"Thank you."

~

I climbed on the giving tree and sat on the little deck.
She wants to avoid me? Fine, I could use some time alone.
I wrapped myself in the blanket and sighed. These last few days have been rough, mentally.
My wife was hurting. I knew she was feeling guilty and it was killing me. I wanted to help her through this, but she wouldn't let me. She wouldn't even talk to me.
I also knew I wouldn't fall asleep that night, so I decided to spend up in my giving tree.

~

2nd of December, 1991
Brooklyn is 25, Michael is 33

Brooklyn: Michael didn't come to bed that night. I should've been worried, but I wasn't because I knew he didn't leave the ranch.
The entire night I was tossing and turning in bed, unable to fall asleep.
It was already 2:15 AM and there was no way sleep was going to come to me.
I should go look for my husband. I have nothing better to do.
I put on a hoodie and made my way outside.
Of course, the first place I checked was the giving tree. It didn't surprise me when I looked up and saw him just sitting there.
I climbed up, seeing Michael staring at the moon. He noticed me and pulled me to him.
He wrapped me with him in the big blanket. I shivered when the warmth of his body heated my own.
"You didn't come to bed," I said. "Were you up here all night?"
My husband nodded, putting his chin on my shoulder. I heard him sigh.
"I miss you, Brooke."
I hid my face in his chest, knowing what was coming next.
"I'm gonna ask again. Why have you been avoiding me? I don't see you enough as it is, so please, talk to me, Brooklyn. I want to make things better." Michael said.
"Do you still love me?" I questioned.
I looked him in the eyes. God, how I missed looking into his beautiful dark brown eyes, that always showed me what he felt. But right then I couldn't figure it out.
I think he was shocked because he just stared at me.
He attached our lips. The kiss was soft but full of passion .
When we broke away I saw his eyes start to water.
"Don't ever doubt my love for you."
I cried into his chest, hard.
My husband rocked me in his arms, silently singing. At first I couldn't make out the lyrics into a song, until he started singing louder.
"Light up your face with gladness,
hide every trace of sadness.
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile, if you just... Smile."
His voice was so calming.
"I missed listening to you sing." my voice cracked.
"Then I should do it more." he whispered.
I didn't even notice that I kept crying.
"Hey, you know what your dad told me the other day?" Michael said.
I shook my head.
"He said that even though we lost Destiny, he knows that in the future we will give him a bunch of grandkids."
I smiled at his words. So typical of my dad to say that.
Michael held me close and kissed my forehead, "Now that's the smile I was looking for."

~

Michael: "It's so beautiful." Brooke said as we watched the sunrise.
"Just like you." I whispered.
She blushed and rolled her eyes, "You're so cheeky, Mike."
I chuckled, pulling her closer to me, if that was even possible.
Even though it was still an open wound, we talked about what could've been with Destiny.
Brooklyn claimed she would have had my eyes, adding that all of our future children would have my eyes.
"I still think she would've gotten your straight hair." I told her.
"Nah, she was gonna have curly hair, beautiful chocolate skin, and your eyes. She was gonna look just like you." she said.
I kissed her, never wanting to let her go. I truly missed her.

~

We were still up in the giving tree; we didn't see a point in moving.
"Mike? Brooke?" we heard Frank's voice from below.
"Oh, shit," I chuckled, looking at my watch. "I was supposed to be at his house two hours ago."
It made her laugh.
"Hey, you two! Get down from there! Mike, you didn't show up, I was waiting for you!" Frank shouted.
"Well, Frank, I'm sorry. It's pretty comfortable up here, why don't you join us?" I asked.
"If you don't get down yourselves, I'm gonna get you down." he threatened.
"You can try." I teased.
"You're so evil." Brooklyn told me, trying to hide a smile.
I shrugged, "He can't make me leave my wife."
"Michael!" Frank shouted, again.
"I'm taking a few days off, cancel everything!" I shouted back.
I heard my manager groan in frustration, making me laugh.