18th of April, 1986
Brooklyn is 20, Janet is 19, Michael is 27

Brooklyn: I woke up, feeling a bit light-headed from last night. Talking about my mother with Michael helped reduce the anger towards her.

Feeling a bit disappointed that Michael wasn't next to me right now, I stretched and went into the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face.

I went downstairs, and saw Joseph, Janet and Katherine sitting in the living room.

"Good morning." I said.

"Good morning, honey." Katherine smiled, mentioning for me to come sit down.

"Brooklyn, what are you doing here?" Joseph asked.

"She spent the night here, Joe." Janet answered for me. I smiled at her.

Joseph nodded, looking outside.

"Your father called, Brooke. I told him you were asleep, but he wants to talk to you." Katherine said.

"I'll go talk to him." I said and started walking towards the kitchen.

"Wait for me!" I heard my best friend call. As we walked into the kitchen I sighed and leaned on the counter.

"What the hell happened, Brooke? One second you're happy and the other Michael tells me you cried the entire night. I'm worried about you." Janet told me.

"My mother came back."

~

Janet: "My mother came back." Brooke whispered. I looked at her, not believing what she just said.

"What? Why?" I asked.

"I don't know. Chris said she knows about Michael and I, and now we think she needs something." she said, "And it's my fault she came back."

"How is it your fault, exactly?"

"If I didn't date Michael, maybe she wouldn't have come back."

"That's just not true, Brooke." I mumbled.

"Why else would she come back after seventeen years? To apologize to my father so we could be a happy family again? I don't think so." Brooklyn said.

I sighed. It's not her fault. I can't believe she would even think like that.

"Where's Michael?" she asked.

"He had a meeting to go to. He said he'll be back at three." I answered.

"Call your dad. I'll be in my room." I said, turning away.

~

Michael: Cameras flashed everywhere as we stepped out of the building. Brandon led me to the car and I waved to my fans before getting inside.

"How long is the ride gonna take?" I asked him when he sat across me.

"About an hour, Mike," he answered, "What's up with you today?"

"I just want to get home." I mumbled. Brandon didn't look convinced.

I really didn't want to leave Brooke today, but I didn't have a choice. At least Janet was home with her, so I didn't have to worry too much.

I sighed, and hoped we would get there as soon as possible.

~

The car stopped in front of my parents' house. I quickly got out, thanking Steve and Brandon.

I walked inside, and almost immediately I heard my mother's voice.

"Michael, is that you?" she asked. I walked into the kitchen, and saw her making a cup of tea.

"How was the meeting?"

"It was fine, a bit boring actually. Where's Brooke?" I said.

"She's upstairs with your sister. Give this to her, okay?" Mother told me, putting the cup of tea in my hand.

I hugged her carefully, "Thank you, mother."

I went upstairs and knocked on Janet's door. A smiling Janet opened the door and let me in.

"Mother told me to give this to you." I said and gave Brooklyn her tea.

She took it gladly, and smiled at me.

"I'll give you two a few minutes alone. Mike, I need to talk to you about something later." my sister said. I nodded and she left.

I sat next to Brooke on the bed, and she clutched my shirt.

"Are you cold?" I asked, wrapping my arm around her shoulders.

"A bit." she mumbled. I lifted her head and kissed her lips. They were burning.

"Baby, you're burning." I said.

"I know, your mother mentioned that an hour ago."

"Did you talk you your dad?"

She nodded, "He said he understands why I came here."

We sat there for a few minutes, and Brooke drank her tea. Every time she did, she shivered, and that made me pull her closer to me.

"Mike, can I stay for a few more days?" she asked.

"Of course." I answered, smiling.

~

I went with Janet outside, while Brooklyn was sitting in the living room with my mother.

"She thinks it's her fault, Michael. She thinks that maybe if she didn't date you, her mother wouldn't have come back. Can you believe her?" my sister said.

I can't lie and say I couldn't believe her. I understood why she was feeling that way.

"I can understand her. But, if it's anyone's fault, it's mine. I'm the one who kissed her first. It wouldn't have started if I didn't kiss her." I said.

"Not you, too." Janet mumbled and rubbed her temples, "God, you two are so annoying!"

"Janet, you-" I started saying, but Brooke's voice cut me off.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing, go inside, baby." I told her.

"Michael thinks it's his fault now. If it's anyone's fault, really, it's that woman's for leaving your family, Brooke. You two aren't responsible for this." my sister said sternly.

"I don't want to hear another word about her or this. You two are supposed to try on tuxedos and dresses, and not stress just because one woman decided to show up. Understood?"

Brooke and I nodded, and we walked back inside.

~

Brooklyn: After what happened, I decided to go take a shower. Katherine told me I should, because I might feel better. She promised me hot soup for dinner, and of course, another cup of tea.

When I came out of the bathroom all clean, Michael was sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Feeling better?" he asked and smiled.

"Yeah, a bit." I answered. I sat next to him, and he pulled me into a long hug.

I felt his breath on my neck. "I love you." Michael whispered.

We broke the hug, and I kissed him lightly.

"I love you too, Michael." I whispered back.

My fiancé touched his lips and frowned a bit. "You're still hot, Brooke."

"It doesn't just go, you know. I'll rest for a few days and it'll go down." I said, trying to reassure him.

There was a knock on the door, and Janet opened it, "Mother's calling everyone for dinner. You'd better come, Brooke, because we're all eating soup because of you."

I rolled my eyes and Michael chuckled.

~

Michael and I were lying on his bed, throwing ideas for the wedding.

He was holding his stomach after having a laugh about something he suggested.

"Hey, Mike?" I said, wanting to ask him something.

"Mmhm?" he asked, looking at me.

"Can we invite Paul and Linda?"

Over the past two years Linda and I became close, and that instantly made Paul and Michael closer.

"McCartney? I don't see why not. They are good friends of ours." Michael said.

"I actually wanted to ask Linda to be one of my bridesmaids." I mumbled.

"What was that?" he smiled.

"I want Linda to be one of my bridesmaids." I said, louder this time.

"Aww, isn't that just cute?"

"Shut up," I told him, "Do you think she'll do it?"

"Of course she will. Do you want to call them now?" he offered.

I looked at the clock. 23:34. "It's about 8 AM there."

"They're awake, I'm sure. Call them." my fiancé handed me the phone. He dialed the number, and I waited.

"Hello?" Paul's deep voice answered after a few rings.

"Paul? H-hi, it's Brooklyn Casey." I said.

"Brooklyn, hi! How have you been? I heard about the engagement, congratulations!" he said.

"Thank you. I actually called to invite you to the wedding. It's on July 8th."

"Oh, wow, we'd love to come. Thank you for the invitation."

"Um, Paul, is Linda there by any chance?" I asked.

"Yes, she's here. Linda, darling, it's Brooklyn." Paul told his wife.

Linda's voice was loud and clear when she took over the phone, "Brooke, you're getting married!"

Michael chuckled next to me. "Girls." he murmured.

"Hey, Linda. I missed you, too." I said sarcastically.

"You know I missed you. Now, I want information."

"Well, you're invited, obviously. July 8th. And, I wanted to ask you if you'd be one of my bridesmaids."

"Of course, it would be my honor! Oh, God, this is absolutely amazing!" she said.

I laughed and we said our goodbyes.

"She said she'll do it. Oh, and they're coming. They both said they wouldn't miss it." I smiled.

"See? You worry too much," Michael said, "Now, let's go to sleep. I have a long day tomorrow."

I nodded and he turned off the lights. I cuddled close to him, and his warmth flooded me immediately.

Michael kissed me goodnight, and I drifted off to sleep.