29th of August, 2009
Brooklyn and Janet are 43

Brooklyn: "Rough day?" Dr. James asked as Janet and I stepped into her office.

I nodded. The thought of replacing Michael was still in my head the entire time.

I already told Janet I don't want to go to this checkup, but she wouldn't listen. I was not in the mood whatsoever.

"I'm sorry, hun." the doctor apologized.

"For what? It's not your fault." I snapped.

"Don't mind her, Dr. James. My sister pissed her off today." Janet told her.

"It's okay. Lay down, Brooke."

Dr. James pulled up my shirt, putting some gel on it. I flinched at the cold sensation.

"He's looking really good. I'm really proud of you for keeping him safe in there, hun. And yourself, too." she said.

She looked back at the screen, her face looking puzzled.

"What's wrong?" Janet asked.

"Have you felt any pressure today, Brooklyn?" Dr. James asked me.

I shook my head, "I don't think so."

"You're having a contraction. Are you sure you can't feel it?"

"Yeah."

"It could be nothing, but I still want to check your cervix. Okay?"

"Okay." I agreed.

I took off my pants and underwear quickly.

"As I suspected. You're two centimeters dilated." Dr. James sighed, taking off the medical glove once she finished checking on me.

"I've had early dilation with the twins, but they stayed in there until week 36. She isn't in labor, right?" Janet questioned worriedly.

"I don't think so. That contraction could have been Braxton Hicks, but we can never know. I need you to be in strict bedrest from now on. Go home, and if you feel any contraction in the next few hours, call me."

Dr. James looked at me, and noticed the terrified look on my face.

I'm only 29 weeks in. I can't have him now.

"Don't get scared. He hasn't shown any signs of distress, and his heartbeat is fine. Just stay in bed for the next few weeks." she smiled reassuringly.

I dressed up and let Janet take me back to her house. Although Dr. James said he's okay, my heart was racing inside my chest.

~

Janet: I walked into Brooke's room with a bottle of water in my hand.

"Did you feel anything?" I asked her.

"No, nothing yet." she answered, rubbing her stomach.

She's been in bed for three hours now, and nothing happened.

"I guess it was a false alarm." I said.

"Yeah, I'm glad. I was not ready to have him be born so early."

"Wouldn't that be nice, though? If he was born on Michael's birthday..."

"But he'd be premature." my best friend took a sip from her water.

"You get sleep, okay?" I gave her knee a rub.

Brooklyn covered herself with the blanket and sighed.

"I guess I need it. Goodnight, Jan. I love you."

"Love you, too, honey."

I turned off the lights and quietly closed the door.

"Wait, Jan!" she called.

"Yeah?"

"Do you think I'm replacing him? Michael?"

"Oh, of course not," I lied. "It is completely understood, Brooke. Paul is helping you, and I get that, because no one else understands what you're going through."

She did not need to know that I believed she was replacing my brother. I knew how betrayed and hurt she would be that her best friend was thinking that way. Not to mention she never meant to replace Michael. All she wanted was someone who understood.

"Goodnight, Brooklyn." I finally closed the door completely.

"Auntie Janet, can I go in there? I have to ask mommy something." Kamron said.

"She just went to sleep, Kammy. You can ask her tomorrow." I told him, taking him downstairs with me.

"Then I'll just ask you. You're performing soon, right? Do you think we can come watch you?"

"I don't see why not. But only if your mother agrees."

I was doing a tribute to Michael at the VMA's. I knew they already planned a tribute to him, but after he passed away I was offered to perform 'Scream'.

"Good, 'cuz me, Prince, and Paris want to come. And can we walk the red carpet with you?" he questioned excitedly.

"We'd have to ask your mother." I said.

"I'm sure she'll say yes!" my nephew smiled.

He hugged me then ran off, saying he has to find his siblings.

"Hey, baby." Wissam hugged me from behind.

"Hi." I giggled as he placed small kisses on my neck.

What I would do to get him into bed with him right now...

Like he read my mind, he tightened his grip around me. "Would you like a wild night in bed tonight, after the kids go to sleep?"

"I wish... Someone's gotta take care of them tomorrow, I can't sleep in... You know how tired I get after those kind of nights."

"You get your beauty sleep, I'll wake up. I think I make a good enough babysitter."

This man is too good to be true.

"I don't know, Wissam..." I sighed.

"Trust me." he whispered.

"It's not that I don't, I just rather be here to make sure everything is okay, and take care of Brooke."

Wissam gave my cheek a kiss. "You're so difficult... But I still love you. I'll go see what those kids are up to and get them ready for dinner."

He let me go and disappeared to find all of the children in our house.

I saw Paul walking down the stairs.

"Is Brooke sleeping?" he asked me.

I nodded.

"God, I feel so awful for earlier... If I knew your family felt that way I wouldn't have come today."

"Paul, it's fine. She needed you there. That house probably brought a lot of emotions out of her, you saw that she almost didn't get out of their old bedroom... My sister, La Toya, she's always had a thing with Brooklyn..." I said. "And you know, maybe she is trying to replace Michael, but I understand that. Us, the family, might know Michael our whole lives. But we weren't with him every single day. Brooke was the one who was there, always. She probably spent more time with him than any of us. And I can't even imagine what it feels like to lose that person you spent most of your time with. You do, and that's why I called you to help me. I can't be that supportive person to her because I don't know how it feels."

Paul shook his head. "I'm sorry you feel that way, and I have to let you know that it is not true... Because even though you're hurting from Michael's passing, you're taking care of her, and you help her... I don't think that if I was as close to Michael like you are, I could've helped Brooke the way you do. You're very strong for doing that."

I sighed, thinking about how I didn't cry about Michael since the memorial service.

Paul saw that I wanted to change the subject.

"Would you like me to start making dinner?" he offered.

"No, I was actually on my way to make it. But thank you."

I walked to the kitchen and took in a deep breath.

I knew I wasn't really that strong. I was pretending for the sake of me, Brooke, and my entire family.

Blinking the tears away, I got a hold of myself and started on dinner.

~

12th of September, 2009
Brooklyn and Janet are 43

Brooklyn: I felt wet lips on my forehead and opened my eyes.

"Good morning, mommy." Paris smiled.

"Hey, baby." I stretched.

"We made you breakfast!" she chirped, and Jason along with Prince showed up.

"Aww, thanks, guys. Where's Janet?" I asked.

"Her, Paul, and Jermaine went out to get some things." Jason answered.

"Oh?"

"Yeah, but I have no idea where they are."

Prince gave me the tray full of food and Jason asked him and Paris to leave.

"You have an appointment at Dr. James's today, I'm supposed to take you there along with a few bodyguards." my nephew informed.

I groaned. "Do I have to go? I don't want to get any more bad news."

"You won't, auntie Brooke. I'm sure my baby cousin is okay in there."

I rolled my eyes at him. Everyone kept reassuring me that my baby was perfectly fine, and I was getting sick of it.
He was clearly not okay if I'm dilated. I never had dilation in my pregnancies before, so it scared me.

All of that, along with the fact that I was terrified of giving birth alone. Michael wasn't here to massage my back and hold my hand and tell me everything will be perfect and soon we'll be holding our baby.

I ate my breakfast quietly while Jason answered a phone call.

"Hey, baby... Yeah, I miss you too... I wish I could, I'm helping my aunt today. Tomorrow, maybe? I have to ask your mom something, anyways..."

Immediately I figured he was talking to Riley. I was so happy that they were dating. It was good to see him in love, and it also made Lisa and I closer than ever.

But he had that look on his face that said he was planning something.

"What do you need from Lisa?" I questioned, drinking from my glass of water.

"I want to talk to her about marrying Riley." he said.

I choked on the water I was drinking.

He knocked her up, I just know it.

"Is she pregnant?" I eyed him.

"No..." he seemed nervous. I raised my eyebrows to show him I wasn't believing him.

"Yes... I don't know, maybe. I'm suspicious. She's been so damn moody lately, even more than you, auntie Brooke... And she's throwing up like crazy."

"Did you talk to her about it?"

"Hell no. She'll get angry at me and say I'm calling her fat! Uncle Mike told me how freaky her mom is when she's mad, you think I'm gonna risk my life like that? Her daughter is probably a hundred times worse!"

"What about your mom?" I said.

Jason snorted, "She'll be disappointed in me. She raised me to not make the same mistakes her and dad made. And Kevin's gonna be all like, 'See, Cynthia? That's why I didn't want him dating that girl'. I love him, I do, he's the best step-dad ever... But he never liked Riley."

"I'm sorry for asking, Jase. On the bright side, you might be the future father of Elvis Presley's great-grandchild." I tried making him a bit more excited about this situation.

"Yeah, that's exactly what I need. To be that guy who knocked up Elvis's granddaughter. Ugh, I just wish uncle Mike was here. He'd know the answers to everything like he usually does. I hope that shitty doctor rots in jail like he deserves."

My nephew's sudden outburst surprised me. I've never seen him so frustrated before.

He looked at my finished plate. "All done?"

I nodded, giving him back the tray.

"Oh, and Katherine's joining us at your checkup. She should be here soon enough to help you get ready." Jason told me.

"I'm already here." Katherine was happily grinning as she stood in the doorway.

"Hello, Mrs. Katherine." Jason gave her a slight hug.

"Hi, Jason. You're looking a little sad, are you okay?" she asked him, voice full of concern.

"Yup, totally fine. Just call me up when you're done here."

"Wait, Jase!" I called.

I carefully stood up and hugged him tightly.

"If Riley's really pregnant, know that I'll support you all the way. You'll make a really good dad. Maybe after your cousin's born I can help you with finding the perfect ring for her." I whispered in his ear.

He sighed into my shoulder and gripped me tighter.

Jason let me go and closed the door after he left.

"So what would you like to wear today, honey? Janet said she got you some new clothes, want to try then on?" Katherine suggested.

Why is she so perky?

"What's up, Katherine?" I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Nothing, I'm just glad to be seeing my grandson today."

"Katherine, you're being overly excited right now, so I doubt that's why you're like this."

"You didn't watch TV in the last couple of days, right?" she asked.

"No, didn't have time. Why?"

"La Toya has done something... And this time she crossed a line..."

I closed my eyes. "What did she do?"

"Sit down first." she ordered.

"I'm okay. Just tell me." I said.

Katherine reached for the remote control, and turned on the TV.

She flipped through the channels until she reached 'Fox'.

La Toya was standing behind a podium as reporters yelled her name.

"Thank you all for joining me today," she started. "I have the need to reveal some disturbing news about my sister-in-law, Brooklyn Casey-Jackson."

"What the-" I snatched the remote from my mother-in-law, then turned up the volume.

"I know you all must've heard that she is pregnant with her fifth child. What I'm about to reveal to you is as shocking to me as it will be to you, but... The child she is carrying in not Michael's. In the beginning of the year, they have broken up over fights for having another baby... Brooklyn wanted another one, while Michael claimed he was too busy for a baby. Brooklyn has cheated on my brother, got pregnant by a man that my family doesn't know, then convinced all of us that it is Michael's baby."

My mouth hung open.

"La Toya!" one of the reporters yelled to her. "Is it true that Prince and Paris aren't his?"

"I can not answer that because truthfully, I don't know. But, you know, neither of them look like him except for Blanket. I'm just saying." La Toya laughed.

The crowd in front of her joined.

"Brooklyn..." Katherine sighed.

"I can't believe she would lie like that. I'm sorry for saying this, Katherine, but your daughter is the most selfish, and ignorant person I know. She can't see someone else happy while she's miserable."

"I'm apologizing for how she's acting. I don't know what's gotten into her. I'm ashamed in her, truly."

"It doesn't make any sense, Katherine. I never did anything to make her hate me like this..." I rubbed my face.

It then hit me that the press will be more haunting than ever now. Everything is going to turn even more complicated, because La Toya was sounding very convincing. Anyone would believe her.

"Honey, I'm sure she will come to her senses and apologize soon enough," Katherine tried to make me feel better. "But you should sit down for a while, you've been on your feet too much."

I ignored her, grabbing my phone and dialing La Toya's number.

"Hello?" her annoying voice said on the other line.

"LA TOYA!" I screamed. "WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? HAVE A LITTLE BUT OF SYMPATHY!"

"Brooke, put the phone down." I heard my mother-in-law say.

Tears escaped my eyes, "I'm already struggling enough to do this without Michael, why would you make it harder?"

La Toya was about to respond, but I couldn't hear her due to the fact that I let out a tiny shriek of pain.

Katherine grabbed my phone and hung up. More and more pressure kept coming to my lower abdomen, making me scared as hell.

"I- I'm having a contraction." I mumbled.

"Jason!" she yelled.

I gripped the sheets tightly, trying to breathe.

Katherine looked inside my phone.
"I'm calling your doctor, honey. Keep breathing."

"He's not ready." I told her.

"Shh, it's going to be okay. Focus on breathing correctly."

"What's up?" Jason ran inside the room.

He saw me and his face fell. "Oh, no... How am I the one to be stuck in this situation alone when all the other adults are out somewhere?!"

"Jason, calm down. I don't need you freaking out, too. Help your aunt breathe." Katherine commanded.

He sighed and took a seat next to me.

I grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly.

"Dr. James? It's Katherine Jackson, Brooklyn's mother-in-law..." Katherine left the room to speak to my doctor without my moaning in the background.

I tightened my grip on Jason's hand as the pain kept on coming.

"Ow... Auntie Brooke you're hurting me..."

I knew he was not going to be any help right now. That just made me scared even more. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if my baby doesn't survive.

"Okay," my mother-in-law reassuringly said, walking back in. "Dr. James said to get you to the nearest hospital and check your contractions."

"Uh, Mrs. Katherine, the nearest hospital is UCLA..." Jason whispered.

"No. I'm not going there-" I started protesting, but a wave of pain cut me off and I started breathing heavily again.

The next few minutes were a blur, and soon enough I found myself in the car with Katherine and Jason by my side, helping me get my breathing straight, while my kids were in the back, being both excited and nervous about their baby brother's probable early arrival.