26th of October, 1995
Brooklyn and Janet are 29, Michael is 37

Janet: Mother sat next to me on the car ride to Neverland.

A frantic Michael called the both of us to be there ASAP.

"Did you know they lost another baby?" my mother asked with a sad tone.

"No. I didn't even know she was pregnant." I answered.

Mother sighed heavily when we saw the Neverland gates.

I played with the ring on my finger and thought of taking it off. Brooke won't be happy for me, anyways.

Just before we stepped out of the car I put the ring in my pocket.

We went inside the main house to find Michael biting on his nails. I could tell he was anxious.

"Thank God you're here," he hugged us. "I don't know what to do."

"What's wrong, Mike?"

He took our hands and led us to the living room.

I saw my best friend's smile widen as we walked in.

"Oh, how I missed you!" she chirped and attacked me and my mother in a group hug.

It took me by surprise. She sounded so cheerful.

Michael gave me a 'now-you-know-why-I-called' look.

Paul and Linda stood quietly in the corner, seeming very confused.

"Babe, can I take them for a second?" my brother said.

"Of course." Brooke pulled away.

Before he got to even move, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

It was the kind of kiss you ease into quickly, that makes you want more. I could tell Michael was enjoying himself too much.

I think they forgot we were there, because soon his arm snaked around her waist, and Brooklyn was running her fingers through his jet black hair.

I cleared my throat, "Mike, you wanted to talk to us, remember?"

I've seen them kiss before, but that was just disgusting.

Didn't she lose a baby? Since when is her and Michael that close after losing a baby?

My brother let go of his wife, then turned to us.

"Come on." he said.

He took us to his office and closed the door.

Michael started pacing, "Do you see why I called? Last night she was soaking our bed with tears, and now she's all perky and happy. I'm so confused."

"So you want us to fix it?" I questioned.

"Yes. You know her more than anyone, Dunk. She trusts you. And mother, you basically raised he-"

"Hold up," I interrupted him. "What do you mean 'she trusts you'? You're saying that like Brooke doesn't have trust in you."

"Well..." he looked down.

"Mike, you can't be serious." I widened my eyes.

"After I lied to her about Joshua and Linda, there's no way she still trusts me."

Linda?

He saw my confused expression and hurried to explain.
"She has breast cancer. It's bad. They tried to hide it because I asked. Chris's death was already too much for her, and we lost another baby the same night of his funeral.... She's been so depressed ever since."

"I'm sorry, honey." mother said, opening her arms for him.

He held onto our mother for a while.

"Please, Dunk. You know she's doing this to run away from reality. It's not good." Michael said.

"Fine, okay. As long as you believe me when I say she still trusts you." I hugged him as well.

"If you say so." he mumbled.

"I know so."

He gave me a small smile and hugged me tighter.

~

Brooklyn: I had enough of bad things happening. So, pushing it all away for a while seemed like the right thing to do.

I lied to myself that I was happy by creating a false reality.

In that beautiful place, Chris was alive, dad and Linda were okay, and Michael was holding our baby.

Actually, all I wanted was to spend the time I had with Paul and Linda.

"Babe, Janet needs to talk to you." Michael said as he walked into the living room.

Great.

"Sure. Let's go, Jan." I put on a fake smile and followed my best friend outside.

"You can't go on like this, Brooke." she said.

"Like what?" I asked, acting dumbfounded.

"Stop acting like everything's okay. You're confusing us all."

"But everything is okay."

She groaned, "This is bad for you."

I shut my eyes closed, just wanting to go back to the perfect world I created for myself.

"You know what else is bad?" I took in a deep breath. "Losing my brother, going through another miscarriage, and finding out two of the people I love have cancer. What I'm doing is not bad."

Janet sighed.

"It's not good for you to pretend everything is okay. I know it's hard, but everyone is here with you."

"Jan, I'm fine. Why can't you see that I'm happy?" I said with a fake happy voice.

"You might fool Michael with all this 'I'm happy' shit, but I ain't buying it." she crossed her arms.

"What do you want me to tell you? That I'm dying inside? I can't live in grief forever."

"I can see that you are. I've known you since we were 4 years old, don't expect that I won't see right through you. Brooke, I can help you deal with all this, you don't have to run away." my best friend told me.

I've had enough of people feeling sorry for me.

"How can you help when you don't even know how it feels?" I asked.

She furrowed her eyebrows, "Excuse me?"

"You don't know what it feels like, Janet. Non of your brothers died. You have a daughter. Joe isn't dying from cancer. So don't tell me you know how it feels!" I yelled, feeling the tears emerge.

"This is exactly what I'm talking about. You're pushing everyone away." Janet said.

"Don't you think I have every right to? Everyone I love is dying." I whispered.

It was true. First my dad, then Chris, then another baby. And now Linda, too.

"Not everyone." Michael's voice was heard.

I looked at him and saw his worried expression.

"Sure feels like it." I murmured and covered my face.

I felt him remove my hands, seeing him looking down at me. I looked away since I didn't want to let him see my tears.

"Brooke, look at me. I'm here. Janet's here. Joshua and Linda are still here. We are all here with you." he told me.

He caressed my hair and leaned down to kiss me.

"We're here. I'm here. I'm never gonna leave you." he kept saying.

~

Michael: After Janet successfully got Brooke to talk, she asked me to take her to bed.

"You're never going to leave me?" she asked into my chest.

"Never ever." I promised.

She nodded and cuddled closer to me.

Suddenly she perked up, "I have to talk to Linda."

"You'll have time to do that. Right now you need to rest." I said, pulling her back to me.

"But she must be so confused, I-"

"No. You're staying in bed."

Brooklyn scoffed and turned away from me.

I scooted closer to her, wrapping my arms around her waist. All I wanted was to be with her, to feel her. It seems like I haven't done that for so long.

"I miss you, babe." I whispered in her ear.

She turned her head to me, a smirk on her face, "Show me how much you miss me."

"Are you serious?"

"I need to let off steam..." she shrugged.

I could feel myself blush before my wife put her lips on mine.

She kissed me hungrily, making me roll on top of her.

~

Lunch was quiet. Me, Brooke, Janet, mother, Paul, and Linda sat at the dining table.

Brooke cooked; she always loved cooking. I remember she used to help Joshua cook back when she was a little girl.

And Chris used to love her cooking.

I smiled sadly at the memory of him. God, I missed him.

Janet's phone went off, so she excused herself and went to answer it in another room.

I sighed, taking a bite of Brooklyn's famous mashed potatoes.

My sister returned, "I gotta go. Brandon's coming to pick me up with Katie. I totally forgot we're supposed to go out tonight, to celebrate."

"Celebrate? Celebrate what?" Brooke asked, looking puzzled.

Janet put on a smile and took out her engagement ring.

"He proposed."

Almost instantly, they were hugging each other, screaming and jumping like teenagers.

I rolled my eyes.

Linda laughed. Paul shook his head, but still had a smile on.

~

Brooklyn: "So you have three years?" I asked Linda with a heavy heart.

"That's what the doctor said the last time I saw him. But I don't want to be treated or anything... I just want to spend the time I have left with my husband and children, and of course my good friends." she answered, holding my hand tighter.

I nodded and looked away.

Face it, Brooke. You have to.

I hugged her, never wanting to let go. I felt like she would disappear if I did.

"Just remember what Michael said. We're all here." she told me.

"But you're going to die."

"Not right now. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it." Linda sniffled and rubbed my back.

"Hey, girls! Come out here for a second!" Paul yelled from outside.

I pulled away from our hug, telling Linda how much I love her.

"I love you, too, Brooke. So much."

I attacked her in another big. She laughed, hugging me back.

"Brooke! Linda!" Michael called.

I chuckled, "We should go to see what they want."

We wiped our tears before standing up.

"I heard you two today. Looks like you listened to me," my friend smiled, elbowing my ribs. "Paul, on the other hand, didn't hear anything. And you were loud. He's getting old."

"You're taking credit to an idea I had. Pfft." I smirked.

"GIRLS!" Michael now sounded impatient.

Walking outside, we found our husbands waiting with arms crossed over their chests.

"Finally."

"Close your eyes, ladies." Paul said.

Linda and I looked at each other.

"Just do it." Michael rushed us.

I sighed and closed my eyes.

I jumped slightly when I felt him put a blindfold on my eyes, adjusting it.

"What are you doing?" I questioned. He took my hands in his and started leading me somewhere.

"Babe, it's a surprise. Try to relax."

I groaned. I was not in the mood for games, no matter how cute this would turn out to be.

We walked for a while. Paul and Linda were talking between them, every now and then she asked him where we were going.

What are they planning?

"You are aware of the fact that I'm dressed in sweatpants and an over-sized t-shirt, right?" I murmured.

Michael snickered, "It doesn't matter. I've see you naked, you think it bothers me to see you in sweatpants?"

I let go of his hand so I could hit him. But my fist came in touch with the air.

"You're such an ass."

His arm was around me suddenly, and his hot breath tickled the back of my neck.

"An ass who loves you. Now shut up."

I mentally rolled my eyes.

We came to a stop soon, which wasn't expected.

"Take it off." Michael ordered.

I did as he told and looked amazed. A table for four was neatly organized on the gazebo. It was decorated with lights and flowers, what made it even more perfect.

"Oh, wow." I managed to say. I was blown away.

"What's this?" Linda asked.

"A double date," Paul grinned. "After you, ladies."

My husband linked our arms together, "By the way, this was fully my idea."

"Liar!" Paul exclaimed.

It made us all laugh.

"So except for food, what's the plan tonight?" Linda smiled warmly at her husband.

"A movie, a walk under the stars... All that romantic cliché stuff." he returned a smile.

Michael pouted at his words.

It really was a bit cliché. But it seemed like such a great distraction.

"He's just grumpy. Don't listen to him, Michael. I think this is wonderful." Linda hurried to compliment the evening they planned.

We sat down at the table quietly.

In the corner of my eye I saw Paul and Linda kiss. I heard them exchange 'I love you's, and wondered if that was going to be Michael and I in twenty years.

As if on cue, his lips attached to mine.

"I love you." he mumbled into the kiss.

"I love you more." I tried saying while being out of breath.

~

I moaned into Michael's mouth as he pressed me more against the door.

Our romantic double date just ended, and each couple separated to their room.

He's been teasing me all night by putting his hand on my thigh, every now and then rubbing my skin.

I was really turned on when he "accidentally" slipped his fingers into my pants and played with my panties.

He moved to my jaw, sucking hard. I just wanted to feel him inside me already.

"C- can we p- please go to b- bed?" I begged.

My husband didn't say anything. He just kept sucking everywhere near my neck area.

His hand traveled to my waistband and pulled off my sweatpants.

He unbuckled his belt, letting his own pants fall down.

Our undergarments were soon off as well.

I wrapped one leg around his waist so he could have more access, and then finally got what I've been wishing for the whole evening.

~

OH, MY GOD! I haven't even realized I reached 40 chapters!
Thanks for sticking with me for so long!
Yesterday was Paul's birthday!! Happy birthday to him, one of my biggest loves!
I hope you like this chapter!

~ShoamEmily