14th of February, 2009
Brooklyn is 43, Michael is 50

Brooklyn: It's been a little over two weeks since I told Michael I quit.

Ever since then, he tried his best to make up for it. He organized an entire party for Prince for tomorrow evening, and tried spending as much time with our kids as possible.

Surprisingly, he didn't bother me even a little about the tour, although I knew he started working with Travis Payne. I made it clear to him that I don't want to talk about it, so he respected that and it was never mentioned unless I asked how his day was.

And I was up walking and dancing again, thankfully.

Today was Valentine's Day, and Michael already started the day with making me a Valentine's Day breakfast.

We had heart-shaped pancakes, then some hot cocoa.

Since it was Saturday, the kids weren't even awake yet, so we had the whole house to ourselves.

I was washing the dishes while Michael had his arms around my waist.

"So I have something to tell you... But you have to promise not to get mad." he said.

I stopped what I was doing and turned to face him.

I don't like where this is going...

"I'm listening."

"AEG gave me a deal... You'll return to be my lead choreographer, and I have to sign to do an extra of forty shows. I agreed. Babe, I need you to do this with me... Please..."

I scoffed, looking down.

"You did not- I can't believe you. I made it clear that I don't wanna do anything with this tour. And fifty shows?! You won't handle that, Michael! I can allow ten shows, but fifty?! That's too much for you!"

"I can do this, Brooke... But only if you join me. Please, I need you... I need you to help me prepare my body for this, because you know me more than Travis or anyone else..." he grabbed both of my hands and looked me in the eyes, searching for an answer. "I'll beg, I'll do anything you want. Just please help me..."

"No, I don't want you to beg. What I want is for you to stay home... Fifty shows, Mike? That's too much. I rather not do this at all than watch you do something you can't handle." I said.

"Please, baby..."

He had tears in his eyes as he pulled me to him and started crying into my shoulder, "I want to work with you one last time, Brooke... To dance like we used to. I want my kids to see me perform... I want them to experience what the audience experienced when they saw me live... I want them to see us together where we're the most comfortable with each other, where our love started. Please do this with me one last time..."

I sniffled into his curly hair, hoping to stop my own tears, and ran my fingers through it gently.

I couldn't handle him when he cried.

"Daddy?" I heard all of a sudden.

Michael pulled away from me, wiping his tears before turning around.

"Good morning, Princess." he said softly.

Paris hugged him tightly and he placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Why was daddy crying?" my daughter whispered to me as she gave me a hug.

"I can't say, Paris." I told her.

Michael cleared his throat.

"Parry, are you hungry?" he asked, his voice breaking.

"Nope, I'm fine... I think I'll go wake Prince up or something..." she muttered and disappeared from the kitchen.

I sighed deeply and leaned against the counter.

"Think about it, babe. I meant it when I said I need you. Because I do." Michael said before going after Paris.

I closed my eyes.

What do I do?

~

Michael: "Parry, wait for me!" I called when I saw Paris run up the stairs.

She stopped on the top stair and I joined her.

"Why did you cry, daddy?" she looked at me.

"It's nothing, baby..." I said.

"I don't believe you."

She crossed her arms just like Brooke usually does, and had that same annoyed expression on her face.

"Come on, let's do something together." I smiled, taking her hand.

"No, I want you to tell me." Paris insisted.

Stubborn, just like her mother.

"It's nothing you should worry about, Princess, okay?" I assured her. "Now go change, I wanna take you out for some ice cream. How does that sound?"

She nodded quickly and went to her bedroom.

~

I adjusted my sunglasses as I watched Paris eat the ice cream I bought her.

Dan and Bill were sitting a couple of tables away from us, making sure no one would come too close.

Paris didn't have anything on her face; she asked me if she could take off the masks and just be herself.

I couldn't say no. My daughter was old enough to make her own choices, and if she wanted to show herself to the world, I didn't mind.

"Hey, daddy, do you mind telling me the story of how you and mommy met?" she questioned.

"Again?" I chuckled.

"Mom told it to me a few days ago, but you tell it better."

"Okay, Princess, anything for you," I smiled warmly. "Well, your mother and I met around 35 years ago, when she was just 8-years-old."

"I know that part, daddy."

"Her and auntie Janet were best friends, and since you know your auntie, she didn't shut up about your mom until I met her. Once, Janet and I caught her dancing in her room... Your mom had so much talent, I could see it. So I offered to teach her and help her with some dance moves." I continued.

"And then you fell in love with her." my daughter sighed.

"See? You know the story, why do I have to tell it all the time?" I asked.

"Because I like when you tell it, daddy," she answered. "So how come you're taking me out to eat ice cream when you're supposed to spend the day with mommy?"

I shrugged, "I can't take my daughter out now?"

"Not when it's Valentine's Day."

It's a good thing I was wearing glasses because she couldn't see it when I rolled my eyes.

"After we finish here we're going home and you and mommy will have the best Valentine's Day ever." Paris said.

"Really? And how do you plan on making that happen?" I took and extra spoon and dug into her ice cream.

"You underestimate me, daddy."

I laughed, "Okay, baby girl, whatever you say."

When she noticed I was eating her ice cream, she snatched it closer to her.

~

Brooklyn: The boys have woken up, and of course, asked where Paris and Michael were.

"They disappeared an hour ago, but I don't know where they are." I answered.

They nodded and kept eating what I made them.

"Mom, we're home!" Paris yelled and I heard the front door close.

"We're in the kitchen!" Kamron told her.

Both my daughter and Michael walked in. Paris had a smirk on.

"Guys, come on, I have something to show you." she said.

"We're eating." Prince mumbled, stuffing more food into his mouth.

"I need to speak to your mother, Prince. You can take your food upstairs." Michael smiled.

"Thanks, dad."

The kids grabbed their plates and ran upstairs.

I gulped, looking at him.

"Where were you?" I asked.

"I took Paris out for ice cream," he said. "So, did you-"

"I'll do it."

I saw him tear up. "Thank you..."

He opened his arms and I hugged him tightly.

He put his chin on my head, sighing.

I couldn't say no to him. I had to do this, whether I liked it or not. I've never seen him this desperate before.

"I love you so much, Brooklyn. Thank you for doing this with me." my husband whispered.

"I love you, too, Mike..."

He pulled away from our hug and grabbed both sides of my face.

Michael kissed me slowly, making sure to hold me tight.

~

Prince: "Paris, what are you doing?" I asked my little sister when she picked up the house phone.

"Making this the best Valentine's Day mom and dad ever had," she answered, smiling at me. "Hey, Bill! Listen, I need a favor..."

I stopped listening to what my sister was saying and wandered into my own thoughts as I ate the last few bites of my waffle.

"Okay! Thanks, Bill!" Paris chirped and hung up.

She then whispered something in Blanket's ear. He nodded, dashing out of the room.

She moved on to Kammy, and he followed Blanket.

Paris turned to me, "Prince, I need you to get daddy and tell him to get dressed in something mommy would like."

"Why?"

"Just do it. Please?"

"Fine." I said and stood up.

The first thing I saw when I entered the kitchen was my parents eating each other's faces.

Gross.

"Dad," I called and he pulled away from my mom. "I need to show you something."

"Right now?" he questioned, looking annoyed.

"Yeah."

He sighed and gave mom another long kiss before joining me.

"Do you have to do that when we're home?" I whined.

He snickered at me, "So what's this all about?"

I shrugged, not really knowing how to answer his question.

"All I know is that Paris told me to make you dress in something mom likes."

"Oh, she's planning something."

"Yeah, I guess." I murmured.

We reached my parents' bedroom, and he went in to get ready.

~

Brooklyn: "Is this really necessary?" I heard Michael ask.

"Yeah, daddy. I promise you'll like it." Paris told him.

We were both blindfolded once we were seated inside the car, with Paris in the middle of us and the boys in the back.

"Steve, can you tell me where we're going?" my husband huffed.

"Sorry, Mike," Steve said. "Paris said I can't."

I was so confused; what was my daughter planning?

~

We were in the car for what seemed like forever.

"Okay, we're here!" Paris squealed, leading me out of the car.

I felt the wind in my hair, and a smell that seemed familiar.

"Take your blindfolds off."

I gasped when I saw where we were.

"Paris... Baby, who told you about this place?" I gaped at the giant field that spread out in front of us.

"I remembered dad telling a story about your first date," she said. "Now take these and enjoy your Valentine's Day."

She handed us a picnic basket and a blanket.

"Have fun!" our kids waved as they drove off with Steve.

I looked at Michael who had a goofy smile on. "Might as well enjoy this, right?"

I nodded, linking our arms.

We walked up a hill, and sat exactly where we sat 25 years ago.

~

I was surprised to find everything we had on our first date in the picnic basket.

Even Michael's old sketchbook with the drawing he did was inside.

"I wonder how Paris knew about this." I sighed happily, and finished my second glass of white wine.

Michael poured me another glassful, "You know how she's always curious about how we met and everything that happened between us."

"This is really nice, though... A little peace and quiet again."

"Yeah, and having you here makes this even better..." Michael chuckled.

I blushed, and drank a bit more.

He pushed the glass away from my face slightly, pulling me into a deep kiss.

When the kiss broke, he took both of our glasses and placed them on a nearby rock.

"What are you doing?" I asked when he lay me down on the blanket, his body on top of mine.

"I'm gonna make love to my wife, right here, where I took her on our first date." he answered.

His lips came in contact with the skin of my breast, where my cleavage was showing.

"What if somebody sees us?" I giggled.

"Let them see. We're not doing anything wrong."

It was my turn to give his lips a very a passionate kiss.

Michael's hand traveled up my back and unzipped my dress, sending shivers down my spine.