8th of June, 2009
Brooklyn is 43, Michael is 50

Brooklyn: "Mommy, Blanket is being annoying again!" Kamron yelled loudly from his room.

Save me.

The kids finished school a few days ago, and guess who had to entertain them?

I groaned as I stood up from the comfortable position I was in. Paris and I were watching a movie together, but I couldn't really enjoy the time with my daughter when Kamron and Blanket weren't getting along.

"I wish Prince was here." I mumbled to Paris. My eldest son was sleeping over at Ryan's since yesterday and he was supposed to spend the rest of the week there.

"Me too. You know I love you, mommy, but this movie is really boring." she said.

"Boring? It's one of the greatest movies of all time!" I scoffed. "Do you have another movie you'd like to watch?"

"High School Musical!" she smiled.

"Fine. Put it in, I'll go see what your brothers want."

"Mommy!" Kamron yelled, again.

I took in a deep breath before going to his room.

"You guys," I sighed when I saw them fighting. "This has to stop. You can't keep calling me whenever you have a disagreement. Your dad doesn't want me on my feet too much, so I can't keep going back and forth like this. Now you either get along, or Blanket can go to his room and neither of you would have a good time. I'm serious."

"I'm sorry, mommy." Blanket apologized.

Kamron nodded, "Me too."

"Thank you. Be the good boys you are."

I returned to Paris after they gave me a hug.

She already started the movie, and was deep in it.

"Do I really have to watch this?" I asked.

"Yes." she answered.

I sighed, lying down on the couch we shared. I put my head on one of the couch pillows.

I didn't even notice that I fell asleep.

~

Michael: I wasn't home so late today. It was around 11:30 PM when I closed the front door.

"Daddy!" I heard.

Paris, Kamron, and Blanket ran to me.

They were all dressed in their pajamas. I smiled and hugged each one.

"Why are you still awake?" I questioned.

"We're on summer vacation, daddy. And we were in the middle of a movie." Paris said.

"Where's your mom?"

"She fell asleep around dinner time on the couch."

I chuckled, "Okay, go continue your movie."

They took me with them to the living room, and I immediately noticed Brooklyn who was sleeping on the bigger couch.

"We tried waking her up, but she kept telling us to go away," Kamron told me. "Why is the baby making her so tired?"

"Because, Kammy, he's living and growing inside her. It's really hard for her to have another human being inside." I sighed.

I turned to my wife, "Babe... You have to wake up."

Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled sleepily at me.

"You're home," she rubbed her eyes, sitting up. "What time is it?"

"Almost 12." I said, then gave her a kiss.

"Ew!"

"Daddy, stop!"

I looked at my two young sons and rolled my eyes.

"Paris, when is this movie ending?" I asked.

"40 minutes."

"10 more minutes and you're off to bed." I ordered.

"But, daddy-" Kamron started, but I lifted a finger in the air to show him there was no arguing about this.

10 minutes passed by quickly, and they all skipped up the stairs.

"Have a wonderful sleep!" Brooke told them.

Once they were really gone, she leaned back and sighed in relief. "Finally. This has been the worst day. The boys wouldn't stop fighting."

"I don't understand why you have to put yourself through this, when you're as tired as you are, Brooke. This is exactly why we hired a nanny. You're supposed to be resting, not chase around our kids." I said.

"There's no point of calling her if I'm home all day, Michael. And it's not like I don't enjoy doing this. I actually love being home with them. Only sometimes it can get tiring."

"But you're first priority is supposed to be this baby, and keeping him safe in there. You are carrying a life inside of you, a life we made. I don't want you worked up all the time."

My wife closed her eyes, "My first priority are my children. All of them. I have to give each one attention, or else they'll feel like I love the other more. And you're right, I am carrying a life we made, but you can't worry about me all the time. You have other things to worry about right now. I am giving him all the attention he needs, believe me. He's doing great."

"I believe you, babe." I smiled, putting a hand over her stomach.

"You look wrecked." she commented.

"Don't remind me."

"Let's go to sleep, okay?" Brooklyn brushed a few hairs away from my face.

She leaned down and kissed me. As we kissed, I wrapped her legs around my waist and picked her up.

She clutched my shoulders tightly, probably surprised by the sudden action.

"I thought I'm too heavy to carry." she said in my ear.

"You are."

She hit my shoulder playfully, then giggled. "Mike... Can I come to rehearsals with you?"

"You really want to? I'd rather have you stay home..." I sighed.

"I've been home for a whole month, it's really getting on my nerves. Pretty please."

"I guess you can join me next week."

Her beautiful eyes lit up and she hugged my neck.

"Um, I talked to Dr. James, and she scheduled an appointment for us later this month. I just hope you don't forget this time..." she smirked.

"I won't." I snickered.

"Really?" Brooklyn laughed as I took her up the stairs. "I think your memory is starting to fade, old man."

"When's the checkup?" I asked, ignoring what she said.

"On the 23rd. I tried lining it up with your schedule, so it'll have to be early in the morning." she answered.

"Sounds perfect." I put her down on our bed gently.

I started walking to our closet room, but she stopped me.
"Where are you going? I thought we were going to sleep."

"We will, I just have to put on my pajamas."

"You don't need those, take off your clothes and come cuddle me and baby Chris." she pouted.

I couldn't say no to her when she made her cute puppy face.

I took off my jacket and shirt, my pants coming off right after.

~

9th of June, 2009
Brooklyn is 43, Michael is 50

Brooklyn: Baby Chris was restless all night. It was around 3 AM when I realized I wasn't going to get any sleep.

But when I sat up in bed, I noticed Michael was missing.

I dragged myself out of bed and started looking for him.

"Mike?" I said when I reached the living room, but there was no answer.

I searched every part of the house and not one sign from my husband.

Then I remembered the single room he always asked me to never go to. It was the room closest to ours. I respected his privacy, so I never really got curious about what was in there.

I knocked on the door, "Michael? Are you in there, honey?"

When there was no answer, I tried opening the door, but it was locked.

I kept knocking.

The door opened slightly, revealing a man I did not know.

"W-who are you?" I asked, feeling intimidated by a stranger being in my house.

"I'm sorry for scaring you, Mrs. Jackson," he smiled. "I'm Dr. Conrad Murray. I've been hired to take care of your husband."

What?

"Hired by who? I don't remember hiring you." I raised my eyebrows.

Michael had a doctor. And a very good one, that I knew and trusted.

"AEG."

"Why does he need a doctor?"

"I can't answer that. If he wants, he'll tell you himself."

I crossed my arms, "Let me in."

"I'm afraid I can't do that. Mr. Jackson specifically ordered not to let anyone in here." Dr. Murray started closing the door.

I put my leg in front of the door, stopping it.

"Mrs. Jackson," he sighed. "I do not want our first meeting to turn ugly. Please, step away, before you or your baby get hurt."

He looked down at my visible bump with a slight smirk.

I wrapped my arms protectively around it, hiding it from him. "Are you threatening me in my own home?"

"I'll do anything to keep Mr. Jackson's orders."

"How will he react when he hears you've threatened his pregnant wife? I'm sure he won't like that." I rolled my eyes.

He chuckled, "Believe me, he won't even know about this conversation. With you on his mind, and this tour, and your kids, I doubt you'll want him to worry about more things, am I right?"

This Dr. Murray guy really knew how to get on my soft side.

I nodded.

"Good. I'm glad we came to an agreement. Get some sleep, Mrs. Jackson. I'm sure Michael wouldn't want you tired when you're carrying his child. Goodnight." he started closing the door, again.

I didn't care about what he said. I needed to know that my husband was okay.

I slid in through the small crack that was left, barely making it through.

"Mrs. Jackson, I asked you nicely to leave." Dr. Murray huffed.

I spotted Michael immediately. He was in bed, with an IV in his arm, and an oxygen mask over his face. He looked lifeless.

I gasped, running over to him.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?!" I barked at the despicable doctor that stood on the other side of the bed. "Michael, baby, wake up..."

I shook his shoulder as the tears formed in my eyes.

"He won't wake up until what I gave him wears off. Which should be around 6." Dr. Murray informed.

"You'll wake him up right now, do you hear me?!" I ordered, still looking at my lifeless husband.

"He's only sleeping, Mrs. Jackson... He needs it, do you really want to interrupt his sleep?"

"Yes, damn it, just do it already!"

"Move, please."

I shook my head violently. "How can I know you'll really do it?"

"You just have to trust me, I guess." he smirked.

Unwillingly, I let go of Michael and gave Dr. Murray space to work.

I watched him inject something into the IV and stopping something else from flooding through the tube.

The tears just wouldn't stop. As the doctor stopped what he was doing, I started wondering how I let this happen again. In my own house.

"How long has this been going on for?" I asked Dr. Murray.

"I've been hired about a week after you left the tour. But using this specific, um... Medicine, well, it only started two weeks ago," he answered, pulling the IV out of Michael's arm. "There, I'm done. He should wake up in less than an hour."

I sighed in relief, taking a seat on the edge of the bed.

"Get out of my house, Dr. Murray." I looked down at my stomach.

"I think I should stay until he wakes up."

"Get out, or I'll call security."

He grabbed his bag, then left.

"Thank you for waking me up, baby boy." I caressed my stomach gently, thankful that he was restless and I could wake up to find out about this.

~

My eyelids felt heavy and I was sure I would be falling asleep soon.

I heard a groan. I snapped my head towards Michael, who was stirring.

"Dr. Murray?" he whispered, his eyes still closed.

"He's gone." I said.

His eyes opened, and he looked at me. They were completely bloodshot. "W- what are you doing awake?"

"Your son woke me up."

He tried sitting up, but fell right back, a moan leaving his lips.

"Please explain why I found you in the middle of the night, out of our bed, being drugged by some doctor. And then he tells me this has been going on for over a month? An entire month, Michael?! When were you planning to tell me?!"

"There are nights I can't sleep... Kenny asked me why I look so tired, and I told him. Then someone from AEG found about it and they offered to help me sleep." he said weakly.

"Couldn't you tell me about it? I'm your wife, Michael. I'm supposed to help you sleep, not a sketchy looking doctor that I don't know. Who the hell is he, anyways? He looks like trouble." I scoffed.

"Babe, I didn't want to bother you about it," Michael sat up slowly. "You're pregnant, and as much as the baby looks good, it's still risky for you to be stressful. You don't need this. Take care of yourself and the baby, don't worry about be. This is really helpful, I've been getting a good night sleep with the help of Dr. Murray."

"You're back to drugs, Michael, how can I not worry about you?!" I screamed.

"It's nothing serious, baby..." he took my hand.

"It doesn't matter, I'm gonna tell security to never let him in here again." I pulled my hand away.

"No!" he protested.

"You're addicted again... Jesus, I'm the worst wife ever. How could I be so blind? This tour was one big mistake, Michael. Look at what it's done to you..." I whimpered.

"Don't cry, Brooklyn, please..."

"I'll talk to Kenny first thing in the morning, you are not continuing this tour." I got up.

"You're exaggerating. This tour is the perfect way to end my career. I need this." Michael followed me.

"And I need you. Our children need you. This baby needs you."

"I know that."

"Really? That's why you've agreed to being drugged?" I spat.

My husband stayed quiet.

"What did he give you?" I broke the silence.

"Propofol." he said.

"What is that?"

"It's what they use in surgeries for anesthesia."

I widened my eyes, then fell back down on the bed.

This is all my fault. I'm so busy caring for the kids that I couldn't see that Michael was struggling.

My head was pounding at the thought of it.

"Brooke..." he tried holding my hand again.

"Don't touch me." I scoffed.

"Baby, don't do this. Please, I need you to understand." Michael grabbed my face, making me look at him.

He was a mess, and I was too upset to even be in the same room as him.

"I'm tired of understanding, Michael. Each time you're under pressure this happens. How many times can I watch you do this to yourself?" I pushed his hands away gently.

"I'm sorry." his voice cracked.

"We'll talk about this in the morning. I'm too tired to do this right now."

I left the room, running to our bedroom. I was feeling sick to my stomach, I couldn't even breathe right.

The door seemed so far away all of a sudden, but I managed to get to it, then clutched the door frame.

Michael's hands steadied me as I lost balance.

"Brooklyn, take deep breaths." he instructed.

But I couldn't. My breath hitched in my throat.

"Babe, come on, breathe with me. In and out."

I followed his instructions and soon enough I calmed down.

"It will be okay, I promise. You have to trust me this time." he whispered in my ear.

"I said I'm tired." I spat, wiggling out of his hold.

I successfully got to the bathroom, and that awful feeling washed away once I was crouching in front of the toilet, puking my guts out.

~

"Mommy?" the sound of Blanket's small voice woke me up.

My back was against the cold tile wall of our bathroom as my eyes opened.

"Yeah, Blanket?" I asked with a groggy voice. I've been either crying or throwing up the entire night; I didn't even remember falling asleep.

"Daddy's asking if you're coming down for breakfast." my son said.

"Isn't he supposed to be at work?" I groaned, hoping I could've avoided seeing him.

"He said you're not feeling well, so he stayed home."

"Tell him I'm not hungry." I mumbled.

"Okay, mommy. I love you."

"I love you, too, honey."

Honestly, I just wanted to escape from reality. For once, I wanted to run away from Michael and all his problems. And my gross, pregnant, body wasn't helping the situation.

This baby was the reason why I didn't continue the tour. If I was there, maybe non of this would've happened.

Sometimes I wish I didn't have to care so much.

I stood up from the floor and washed my face.

After that, I returned to the bedroom to find Michael waiting for me.

"You should eat." he said.

I rolled my eyes, "I'm not hungry."

Yes, I was going to be a bitch about this. I knew this would happen, but he didn't listen to me. He pushed himself to the point where he has to relay on drugs again.

"How many times am I supposed to apologize, Brooke?" his eyes followed me as I found a suitcase.

"You don't need to apologize, because it shouldn't have happened in the first place." I muttered.

I needed to get out of here. This place was suffocating for me.

"What are you doing?" he asked when I put clothes inside the suitcase.

"I'm taking the kids to my dad's for a few days." I answered.

"So you're just walking away from this?" he sounded hurt.

"Yes." I said flatly.

"Wow. Thank you, babe, for being a good wife."

"Don't make me feel like this is my fault, Michael. You brought this on yourself. I can't do this again."

"Fine, go," Michael snorted and made his way to the door. "But you are not taking my children with you."

"Yes, I am. They are not staying where their father is getting high." I said.

I took my packed suitcase, putting it next to the giant piano outside our bedroom.

"Paris! Kamron! Blanket! Come upstairs, please!" I called.

The three of them appeared at the top of the stairs.

"Paris, baby, go pack a bag. We're going to grandpa's and grandma's for a few days," I smiled warmly at them. "Kammy, Blanket, I'll come help you."

"Parry, do you want to go with your mother, or stay with me?" Michael asked our daughter sweetly.

I scoffed, "She's coming with me, Michael."

"No, she isn't. Baby girl, you're big enough to decide. Me, or your mother?"

Paris hesitated, her blue eyes looking between Michael and I.

"I'm sorry, daddy." she said with tears in her eyes, and ran to hug him before going to her room.

"Let's go, boys." I told my sons.

~

"Hello?" Ryan's mother answered my call.

"Hi, Sharon, it's Brooklyn Jackson." I said.

"Brooklyn, hey! I'm so glad Prince came here, the boys are having so much fun together."

"Yeah, about that... I'm gonna have to pick him up in around 30 minutes. Can I talk to him?"

"Of course. Is everything okay?" she asked.

"Oh, yes. We're just going to my parents for a few days, and I know how much he loves seeing them." I told her.

Paris put her bag in the car, along with Kamron's and Blanket's.

I could hear the smile in Sharon's voice. "I understand. He's right here."

"Mom?" Prince questioned.

"Hi, honey. I'm coming to pick you up, okay? Be ready in 30 minutes."

"Why? I'm having fun." he whined.

"Your dad and I had a little fight. Don't worry about it, baby, we'll be at your grandparents' house. You love it there."

"I guess," he sighed. "Bye, see you, mom."

He hung up, making me look at Michael who was standing at the front door.

The kids got in the back seat of my car, and buckled up.

"I'll give you a call when we come back." I said.

He nodded, looking away.

I opened the driver's seat door, then took my seat. I put the key in the ignition, closed the door, then drove to the gates.

~

Prince: "Hi, baby!" mom grinned when I got in the passenger seat next to her.

She kissed my cheek, "How was it?"

"Good," I said. "So what happened with dad?"

"I don't want to talk about it." she murmured.

I noticed her hands shaking as she held onto the steering wheel.

"Hey, Prince." Kammy smiled.

"Hey, bro." I fist-bumped him.

"Mommy, can we go home? I miss daddy." Blanket said.

"Cheer up, Blanket," mom sighed. "You love being at your grandparents'. We'll have fun, I promise."

My youngest brother nodded, but I could see he was still sad.

Mom pulled out of Ryan's driveway and soon we were driving through LA.

About 15 minutes into the ride, she put her hand over her rounded stomach, and I saw the tears streaming down her face.

~

I wanted to put 'Morphine' instead of the picture, but Wattpad wouldn't let me, so I settled for the picture. Just put the song on while reading this, it's really one of my favorites!

~ShoamEmily