17th of June, 1996
Brooklyn is 30, Michael is 37

Brooklyn: I bounced my leg anxiously as I waited for Frank to pick up.

I wasn't surprised when he didn't answer. He and Michael were at a meeting about the tour.

Damn it.

Taking a glance at all five of the positive pregnancy tests that lay next to the sink, I tried again.

Finally, he answered.

"We are in the middle of a meeting, Brooklyn!" he sounded irritated.

"I know, I just really need Michael right now. Tell him it's important." I said.

"I can't just take him out of the room."

"Frank, you and I both know that if you want to, you can. So just do it."

He sighed, "Give me a few minutes."

I waited for what seemed like forever until I heard Michael.

"Babe? Is everything okay?"

My eyes watered when I thought of the little peanut inside of me.

"I'm pregnant." I told him.

I could tell he was smiling as he spoke.

"Okay. I'll be home in two hours. In the meantime, I want you to rest in bed." he said softly.

~

Michael: I hung up and gave Frank his phone.

"Tell them I had something important to do at home." I said.

"Michael, this meeting is important! Do you want to go on tour or not?" Frank looked shocked.

"Of course I do, Frank," I rolled my eyes. "But I have a scared wife at home I have to get to."

He groaned, "But-"

"But nothing, Frank. Just call Steve to take me home."

My manager mumbled something on his way back to the room where all the big Sony executives sat.

~

Brooklyn: For the next two hours I did as Michael said; I stayed in bed.

Worries filled my head instantly. And every time I told myself everything was okay, they came back.

I was so relieved when Michael walked into our bedroom. I couldn't read his expression, though. On the phone he sounded so excited and happy.

"Dr. James agreed to see us tomorrow at noon." he informed.

I nodded, closing my eyes.

Michael sighed loudly and came into bed with me.

"Do we have to go?" I asked, afraid of getting bad news.

"We have to make sure everything's alright, Brooke," he answered as he stroked my arm soothingly. "You'll see, everything will be just perfect."

"I hope you're right."

"I know I am. You gotta have some faith in this, babe."

"I do." I said. It was partly true.

~

18th of June, 1996
Brooklyn is 30, Michael is 37

Brooklyn: Please. Please, God, let this baby survive.

I kept praying in my head the whole ride to Dr. James' clinic.

Michael had his hand on my thigh as he tried to calm me down.

When we stopped in front of the too familiar building, he grabbed the two sides of my face and made me look at him.

"No matter what happens in there, remember that I love you." he whispered, kissing me.

Michael adjusted the silk surgical mask and sunglasses before helping me out of the car.

Brandon and Bill accompanied us inside and we sat quietly in waiting room.

For once, we weren't alone. Usually when we came here it was empty, since we came in the early mornings.

Three couples were spread around the room, their eyes on us. I tightened my grip on Michael's hand and hid my face in his shoulder.

I was already skeptical about coming here, and being seen by strangers who obviously recognized us wasn't helping.

The phone on the receptionist's desk rang loudly.

"Yes, they're here... Sure thing, Dr. James," I heard her say. "Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, you can go in now."

Dr. James smiled widely when she saw us. Her thick curls were pulled up in a neat ponytail as she sat behind her desk.

"Thank you for seeing us in such short notice." Michael shook her hand.

"Of course, I'm very happy to see you here." the doctor smiled kindly.

She asked a few questions, then instructed me to lay on the examination table. The cold sensation of the gel sent shivers down my spine.

Dr. James put the scanner on my stomach and once again I started praying.

~

Michael: There it was, our little baby that was the size of a tiny bean.

"He's looking great," Dr. James assured. "The heartbeat is fine, he's the right size... By the looks of it, I'd say you're four weeks along, Brooke."

Thank God.

Brooklyn had a blank expression on, giving me absolutely no clue of what her feelings about this were.

"Now, for this pregnancy to work, I think it's best if Brooklyn would be in bedrest for a few months... Until we can be sure nothing goes wrong. And, I would like to see you every two weeks for a checkup, so I could track both of you. Oh, and before I forget... No sex." Dr. James said.

I nodded. I'll do anything.

~

8th of July, 1996
Brooklyn is 30, Michael is 37

Michael: Ronda gave me the tray full of food I asked her to prepare for Brooke.

I was determined to make this the best anniversary for us. She either had to sit or stay in bed, so it worked out with what I planned.

With the tray in my hands I went to the bedroom, to find a wide awake Brooklyn on the bed.

"Good morning." I chirped.

"What's this?" she smiled when she saw me.

"Breakfast in bed."

Her eyes lit up, "Who made it?"

"Ronda." I said.

"Good, I wouldn't want our baby poisoned." she laughed.

"Very funny." I rolled my eyes, placing the tray on her lap.

"Thank you, though. This looks delicious and I'm starving." my wife placed a kiss on my cheek.

She ate quietly. I was so glad that three weeks had gone by safely.

I couldn't wait for her stomach to start growing.

"I got you a present." Brooke told me.

"Yeah?" I bit my lip.

She nodded, "It's in my closet room. First drawer on the left."

I put the tray on the nightstand, got up, and went to her closet room, excited about what she got me. Opening the drawer, I found a small box, all wrapped beautifully.

"What's in here?" I asked when I returned to the room.

"Open it." she smiled.

I plopped down next to her. I could feel her eyes on my hands as they ripped the wrapping paper.

The necklace inside the box was beautiful. It was a beaded necklace, and a gold square pendant, with a black rhinestone inside, was placed in the middle.

"Wow, babe... I love it. Could you put it on for me?"

Brooklyn blushed and nodded. She fixed it around my neck.

"Well?" I asked, showing my new necklace off.

"Damn... I didn't think you'd look so hot in it. Your neck is irresistible. Too bad we can't have sex... The things I would do to you..." she sighed heavily.

"Shhh," I put a finger on her lips. "Let's watch a movie."

~

Brooklyn: "Michael, where are we going?" I giggled.

One of his hands covered my eyes and the other guided me slowly through our house.

"Hang on, we're almost there." he said in my ear.

I heard a door open. I was seated on an office chair when Michael took his hand off my eyes.

We were in the home studio. Like always, music sheets were spread out all over the room.

My husband went to the mixing console and played with a few buttons.

"This is just the first take. It's mostly scratch, but I couldn't wait for you hear this..." he said.

He turned up the volume, making a soft melody play.

"You are the sun, you make me shine
Or more like the stars that twinkle at night
You at the moon that flows in my heart.
You're my daytime, my nighttime, my world
You are my life..."

I listened to every word. Tears of joy escaped my eyes.

"I wrote it for you... For our baby," he smiled, crouching down in front of me. Michael lifted up my shirt and put his lips on the skin of my stomach. "You and your mother are so important to me. I love you, so, so, so much."

He looked up at me, "Thank you for sticking with me for all these years. I don't know what I would've done without you..."

I sniffled and leaned down to kiss him.

"That was such a beautiful song, Mike. Thank you. And we love you so much more." I said.

He flashed his white teeth before pulling me into a long hug.

~

3rd of September, 1996
Brooklyn is 30, Michael is 38

Brooklyn: I stared down at my little growing bump.

I was halfway through my fourth month, and the baby couldn't have been healthier.

We went for another checkup yesterday, as planned every two weeks.

And we found out we're having a boy. Michael, of course, couldn't keep the smile off his face when he told each of our family members over and over again.

But we both knew that this was a high risked pregnancy, and not to get our hopes up so fast.

Yes, we were clear for the first trimester. Still, only after the 19th week of this pregnancy we can let out a sigh of relief. I lost Destiny at that point, so Dr. James said we need to make it there.

Even then, we'd have to wait until I go into the third trimester to know that we were really out of the woods.

"Babe, why are you on your feet? You heard the doctor yesterday. Either lay or sit down... We talked about this. Bedrest is critical for you." Michael sighed as he walked into our bedroom.

"I know, I'm sorry. I just had to see it again," I said. "And I have to pee."

He chuckled and let me go into the bathroom to do my business.

Just as I was washing my hands, I felt it. The first kick.

My heart raced as I felt it again. And again, and again.

I hurried to open the bathroom door to tell my husband.

"Michael!" I screamed as he sat down on the bed.

He clutched his heart, "Don't ever scare me like that!"

The necklace I got him rattled around his neck.

I took a seat next to him on the bed and took his hand, placing it on my bump.

"What?" he furrowed his eyebrows, obviously confused.

"You can't feel it?" I frowned, still feeling my baby's tiny feet kick. "He started kicking."

"Not fair." he huffed.

I was already way too attached to this baby to think he might not survive. I pushed the thought of it away, just like my husband did.

He's leaving for tour in three days. Of course, he made sure someone would be here with me.

Michael asked Janet, but I told him she had other things to worry about. I wasn't going to let her push away her family and career just to babysit me.

So, Katherine volunteered. And Michael also hired a nurse to take care of me.

"Baby Michael, come on... Kick harder for daddy." he whispered to my stomach.

As he talked to our baby, my mind wondered to Chris. It was going to be the first anniversary of his death, and I didn't know how I'd handle it. Michael said he would come back so we could go to his grave together, even though I wasn't really supposed to leave the ranch.

I couldn't help but dread my brother's presence. He wanted to be an uncle so badly.

I burst into tears when reality struck and I realized I never got to give him that.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Michael rubbed my back.

"Chris... He should be here to see this happening."

He sighed, "Babe, he's seeing all this from heaven."

I sniffled and hid my face in his chest. My hormones took over, making me cry harder.

~

6th of September, 1996
Brooklyn and Janet are 30, Michael is 38

Janet: I hugged my brother.

"You'll take care of her for me, right?" Michael whispered.

"Of course, Mike." I said.

Brooke didn't allow me to stay with her, but I had to.

She needed me. And, it was only fair that I would take care of her like she did for me when I was pregnant.

She claimed I needed to focus on my family and career. Brandon was going on tour with Michael, so I really only had Kate with me, and I could easily work on my career from Neverland.

After hugging me, Michael embraced mother in a tight hug. I could hear him thank her for staying with his wife.

Mother being the humble woman she is, said she'd do anything to assure the health of her daughter-in-law and grandson.

~

Brooklyn: It was my turn to hug Michael goodbye.

"I love you." he said and kissed me.

"I love you, too," I smiled into the kiss. "Have fun for me."

"Oh, I will." he winked.

Sighing, my husband crouched down to my stomach, "Don't cause mommy trouble, baby boy. I'll be back next month, I promise."

He placed a soft kiss on my bump and came back up to face me.

I kissed him again, longer this time.

"Mike, they're waiting for us." Brandon cleared his throat.

Michael pulled away and bit his bottom lip. He and Brandon left and I watched their car take off.

"Brooklyn, you should sit down." Katherine told me.

I nodded, going to the living room.

Both my mother-in-law and Janet sat next to me.

"Did he start kicking?" Janet questioned. Her eyes were fixed on my small bump.

"Yeah, all the time. I don't think you'll feel it. Michael didn't." I answered.

As if on cue, the baby's kicks got harder. Great.

"Did you and Michael talk names yet?"

"No," I shook my head. "But I'm pretty sure we'll call him after his father. He keeps calling him 'Baby Michael'."

I saw Katherine smile, "He really is excited."

We haven't talked about names for this baby because I was still scared of losing him. A name would make me more attached than I already was.

"Come on," Janet said. "Let's do something."

"I have to sit or lay down, Jan." I reminded her.

"Just because you're restricted doesn't mean we can't have fun. I finally have you for myself, without either of our husbands. As best friends we need to have some fun together!"

My best friend's mother laughed at her enthusiasm.

"I haven't seen her this excited since you two were little." she said.

"What do you have in mind?" I questioned.

Janet smirked and left the living room.

"Uh oh, this can't be good." Katherine chuckled.

I knew the next month won't be boring with the both of them here.