25th of December, 1996
Brooklyn and Janet are 30, Michael is 38

Brooklyn: "Uncle Mike! Auntie Brooke! It's Christmas morning!" Jason banged on our bedroom door loudly.

"Ugh, get the kids away," I groaned. "This pregnant girl wants to sleep."

"Brooke, Michael, the kids want to open presents!" Janet called.

"Babe, I think we should get up." Michael said and stretched.

"But it's only 10:30. I'm so tired."

He laughed, "Why are you so pregnant?"

"Hey, it's your fault." I smiled.

He kissed me then got out of bed. I was so glad to have him home for Christmas. But tomorrow he's going back for a few shows, then he's coming back for New Year's. And lastly, he has two more shows. After that he's home for good.

Honestly, I was getting tired of having him home for only a few days, then needing to see him leave again. I just miss him more each time he leaves.

I know I was the one who didn't want him to miss tour, but I couldn't help it. I needed him.

"So are you getting up?" my husband asked.

"No..." I mumbled, pulling the blanket over my head.

"Brooklyn, you slept for twelve hours. Everyone's waiting just for us."

I felt the blanket come off of me, and saw Michael's smiling face.

"Come on, you have to see what I got you." he said, helping me up.

Being eight months pregnant can really wear you out. My back and feet ached a lot more. I felt like the baby grew way too much, making him heavier than he already was. Being in bed really didn't make it any better. If anything, it only made it worse.

But I had to remind myself it would all be worth it in the end. Soon I'll be holding my baby that I struggled so much to have.

As I brushed my teeth I noticed Michael standing at the bathroom door with something in his hand.

I turned to him and saw that he was holding a video camera.

"Look, baby boy. That's your beautiful pregnant mommy." he said.

"Michael, stop," I blushed, rinsing my mouth. "Why are you filming me, anyway?"

"It's a video diary, to show him when he's older. I want him to see how big you are." he told me and zoomed in to my bump.

"Michaeeeeel." I whined, pushing my hands into the lens.

"Okay, okay, I'm putting it away. Just don't ruin it."

I rolled my eyes and walked back to the bedroom.

Michael tried to hold in a chuckle, but failed, "Look, baby Michael, your momma's waddling."

"You're still filming?!" I screeched as I turned around.

He pressed a button and lifted his hands in surrender.

"Come on, let's go downstairs." he said, kissing my temple.

My husband helped me down the stairs slowly. I felt so big compared to him as one of his hands was placed on my lower back, the other on my stomach.

"Finally, I thought we won't open presents ever!" Jason exclaimed, taking a seat on the floor next to Kate and Lisa's kids.

"Do you want something to eat?" Michael asked and helped me sit down on the couch.

I nodded. "Something with a lot of chocolate."

I heard him laugh before going to the kitchen.

"I don't see you for two weeks and you're already bigger." dad commented.

"He's so heavy, too." I groaned.

Marie grinned at me and admired my bump.

I really didn't have the chance to continue our talk. Her and dad went on a vacation in Paris for the last two weeks.

It still bothered me that she was with him although she didn't love him like a wife should.

"Uncle Mike!" Jason yelled, obviously annoyed.

"I'm coming, hold on!" Michael yelled back.

A few seconds later he showed up with a plate in his hand. He handed it to me and I looked at the chocolate filled pancakes.

"I love you so much right now, you have no idea." I mumbled, taking the fork he offered.

"You're gonna hate him when that baby comes out." Janet said.

"Can we open presents now?!" Jason questioned.

"Jason, be patient." Cynthia scolded.

She sat next to my dad, along with her new boyfriend. His name was Kevin, and he was a lawyer. They met a few months ago when she went shopping with Jason. She lost her wallet and he graciously returned it. Their first date was a week after they met.

Before they came over a couple of days ago, Cynthia called to ask if it was okay for him to join.
I didn't mind. I even thought it was good that she started dating again.

Kevin seemed shocked to be here. Maybe it still hasn't sunk in that he was celebrating Christmas at Neverland with THE Michael Jackson.

"Yes, Jase, we can open presents." Michael rolled his eyes and sat with the kids on the floor.

Jason squealed, getting up with the rest of the children to the Christmas tree.

~

Michael: "This one is auntie Brooke's!" Jason chirped, handing the wrapped gift to Brooklyn.

"Thank you, Jase." she smiled, earning a kiss on the cheek from him.

She ripped up the wrapping paper and gasped.

"Oh, my God, this is the cutest thing ever! Thank you, Jason!"

She held a small 'Beat It' jacket, with our baby's name written on the back.

"Mommy said we should get it a bit bigger so he could wear it for a while." Jason told her.

My wife pulled him into a hug.

"Mike, look at this." she beamed.

"It's adorable." I said, only adding to her excitement.

"My turn!" Janet jumped up, giving Brooke an envelope.

She scrunched her eyebrows in confusion but opened it.

"Why is there a picture of Pablo and Gabriel posing in here?" she questioned.

"They're coming tomorrow after Mike and Brandon leave." my sister looked proud of herself.

"You see, Michael? This is why I prefer Janet."

"Ouch. That one actually hurt." I frowned.

Brooke stuck out her tongue before getting up to hug Janet tightly.

"Jase, can you give me that one?" she asked, pointing at a beautifully wrapped present. It looked like a book.

"Mike, come here." she called, patting the seat next to her.

I gladly obeyed and she put the gift in my hands.

"It's something I've been making for the last seven months. I hope you like it."

I opened it, surprised to see a photo album inside.

On it, there were the words 'Prince Michael Jackson', another name I had chosen for our son.

Pictures of my wife pregnant were inside, of each week.

"We can add more pictures, until he's born. Then of every year of he's life. At least until he's 18." she told me.

"It's beautiful, babe. Thank you." I kissed her lips.

"I got something for grandpa!" Jason suddenly said. He picked up a present gently from the tree and gave it to Joshua.

There was a mug inside, that read 'World's greatest gramps'.

My father-in-law laughed, hugging Jason.

"Promise me you'll drink in it." he said sternly.

"I promise. I'll drink coffee with it every morning."

"I got you one, too, uncle Mike!" my nephew exclaimed, giving me not one, but two wrapped mugs.

"These are two, Jase." I shook my head.

"Just open them!" he patted my knee.

I rolled my eyes and opened the wrapping paper.

"This one says 'World's greatest uncle', and the other one says 'World's greatest dad', because I know you'll be the best daddy to my new cousin." he explained.

"Jase, these are great. Thank you so much." I said, giving him a squeeze.

At the end of it all, wrapping paper was all over the living room floor.

~

Brooklyn: I was back in bed because Michael insisted I'd rest.

Both Janet and Lisa kept me company while he was showing Kevin around the ranch along with Cynthia and Jason.

They were getting along today. Maybe because it was Christmas, and they didn't want to ruin it.

"Is it true you're leaving soon, Lisa?" Janet asked.

"Janet..." I sighed.

"No, I'm actually interested."

"I am, in a week or so." Lisa answered her question.

"Aww, that's too bad," I could clearly see the fake frown my best friend had on. "Kate really loved playing with Benjamin."

"I could always bring the kids over here and they could meet up."

Janet snickered, "That's not gonna be necessary, thank you very much."

Well, that didn't last very long.

A knock on the door saved me from the argument about to start between the two.

Marie walked into the bedroom, her blonde hair framing her face that resembled mine so much.

"Can we talk?"

I nodded, looking at Janet and Lisa. Both of them scoffed before stepping out.

Marie took a seat on the bed and sighed.

"You look like you have a lot to say to me." she said.

"You claim you loved me," I looked at her. "You claim you loved Chris, but you still left us. Your first priority was supposed to be us, not to follow your dreams."

"I told you, I couldn't be a mother at that point... Let alone raise a family."

"If I were you, I would thank God for giving me two healthy children. I would be their mother and love them until the day I die. It's like you took it all for granted. Do you know how much I've been struggling to do this? I can't understand how you could just throw us away when all I want is to be a mother."

"Brooklyn, I was young. I didn't want to waste my life." my mother mumbled. It looked like she regretted saying that as soon as she let it slip out.

"I didn't mean that. I don't regret having you and your brother. You two are the one thing I'm mostly proud of. Wherever I went, anyone I met, I told them about you. I wanted to stay, I just couldn't... You have to believe me. I even thought of taking you with me, but separating you from your dad was unthinkable. And he raised you into the great people you turned out to be, I couldn't be more thankful for that. Please... I love you, I do."

Marie was crying now. Like, really bawling.

I moved closer so I could hug her. I was too damn sensitive to see anyone cry at this point.

"Okay, okay, Marie, just don't cry. I'll forgive you. You just have to understand that it's gonna take time." I said.

She pulled away and I saw her green eyes sparkling with tears.

"Really?"

I nodded. I might not understand how she took Chris and I for granted like she did, but I did understand her pain of being young.

Still, the feeling of being unwanted was in my heart. I did believe my mother loved me... But it hurt.

"Thank you," she pulled me into another hug. "Oh, thank you! I love you so, so much, Brooklyn."

I tried pulling back, but she didn't let me. She just held me closer.

"I've been waiting so long for this... Just let me hug you for a bit longer."

The baby inside me kicked, making Marie gasp.

She put her hands on my bump, "Does he always kick like this?"

"Yup. But he really gets to it at night. I'm absolutely sleepless." I sighed.

Michael was the only one that was able to him calm down. He sings to him, and our baby stops.

"Babe?" my husband called from the doorway. "I have something to show you."

Both he and my mother helped me up.

"Close your eyes." Michael ordered.

"Is this a surprise?" I questioned.

He just smiled as he took my hand in his.

"Please." he looked at me with those big brown eyes.

I rolled my eyes then closed them.

Michael led me down the hall, until we came to a stop.

"Okay, open 'em."

We were in the same room where Destiny's nursery used to be, except this time it was colored in blue. On the wall it said 'Prince Michael' in giant green letters.

"Oh, my God, Mike... When did you have the time to do this?" I asked, completely fascinated by how beautiful the room was.

"I made time." he said.

I walked around the room, admiring each toy and decoration.

"So... Do you like it?"

This scene felt way too familiar. It took me five years back.

Of course, I started tearing up. I felt so incredibly lucky that our baby would actually be sleeping in here soon.

"I think she likes it." Marie laughed.

I wrapped my arms around my husband's neck and cried happy tears into his shoulder.

"So you do like it?" he asked, unsure.

"I love it, it's beautiful. Absolutely perfect." I said through tears.

Michael had his arms around me when he kissed me deeply.

~

"Please, babe, just one round..." Michael pleaded in my ear.

"Mike, I'm not in the mood. Drop it already." I groaned, turning my back to him.

"But I miss you... I miss feeling you..." he whispered, giving my neck a little attention with his mouth.

I was turned on, but I couldn't let him see that. I felt way too fat to be having sex.

His hand went under my pajama shirt, and he took off my bra.
"I know you're horny. I can see it."

He was fondling my nipple slightly while sucking my neck, making a moan escape.

My husband seemed satisfied. "Come on... You know you want to."

"You got to second base and that's enough." I murmured, pushing away his arm that was still inside my shirt.

"I'll go put on my tour pants, I know how much you like them on me."

Just the split image of him in those pants made me wet.

"One round." I agreed.

Michael smirked, almost ripping his shirt off.