*The next day, 23rd April, 2005*

"Michael?" I whisper, shaking him gently to wake him up. "How are you feeling now? Has the headache gone?"

"Hmm, what?" he asks, his eyes flickering so they adjust to daylight.

"How are you feeling now?" I ask, placing my hand on his forehead. Feels normal.

"Oh, I feel much better," he says, a smile coming to his face. "In fact, I'd probably have forgotten I'd had a hangover if you hadn't have mentioned it."

"Good. So, that medication I gave you yesterday, that worked alright?" I ask with a wink.

We all know what I mean, heehee..

"Oh, it sure did, doctor," he smirks and kisses my forehead, before getting out of bed. "So, how's Ryder been?"

"He was sick three more times after the first time. God, he must have had a lot to drink," I reply.

"Looks that way. But hey, it's our anniversary soon. One week to go!" Michael says, taking his shirt off to change. It's the same one he's had on since I kicked him out of the house, about four or five days ago. Why didn't he change whilst he was gone?

I mean, I understand that he couldn't once he'd been sick, cos he needed rest up until now.

"It sure is," I reply, watching him look at his Vitiligo splodges in the mirror. They're so cute, God damn it!

"I hate these," he frowns, looking at me in the reflection of the mirror. "I hate the Vitiligo so much. No one really understands it."

"I do," I smile, getting up from the bed and hugging him from behind, which, I admit is something I don't do a lot, but oh well.

"Yeah, I know you do, cos you're the best. But others.. no," Michael says.

"Why thank you," I grin over-enthusiastically, and he puts a shirt on once I've unhooked my arms from around his waist. "Right, I'm gonna go check the kids, see if Ryder's ok, then start breakfast. Shout me if you need anything."

"Alright, Princess," Michael replies, before going to kiss me.

"Stop," I smile, pushing his lips away.

"Why?" he pouts.

"Morning breath," I state, which reminds me to brush my teeth before going to check the kids. "I'll call you when breakfast's ready."

"Alright, sweetheart," Michael replies, watching me leave the room.

I head into the bathroom and brush my teeth, brush my hair and wash myself, before sneaking into Ryder's room quietly.

"Ryder?" I whisper as I open the door silently. "Are you awake?"

I come to his bed, and pull back the duvet to see him asleep.

"Ryder?" I shake him gently, and he opens his eyes.

"Hey mum," he replies, his voice a little rough from tiredness.

"How are you feeling now?" I ask.

"Well, I haven't puked for nearly 18 hours, so I must be doing something right," he says playfully. "But I do have a headache."

"Hangoverrrrr!" I sing in his ear, and he rolls his eyes at me.

"Yeah, yeah mum. I'll try come down for breakfast in a few minutes."

"Alright, sweetheart," I reply, before kissing his forehead and heading to Dexter and Electra's rooms.

*Michael's POV*

Thank God I feel better now. I tell you, I'm never drinking that crazy again. It's taken me two days to get back on my feet! I feel like I've never been sick for so long in my life! But I've got Becky to take care of me, and that's what I'm happy about. I wonder how Ryder's getting on, having drunk as much as me at his party, if not more.. but I don't know. I haven't spoken to him since his party night, two nights ago.

My oldest is sixteen, that's so much to take in!

My little man.

Mind you, Electra is only a little over 2 years away, her birthday is in a few months.

The day before my 47th, she turns 14.

My little girl.

Then there's Dexter, who will be 12 this year, on the 7th July.

My little boy.

To me, they're all still the little tiny babies I held in my arms when they were, like, five days old. I remember every detail about Becky's pregnancies with them, how she announced the pregnancies, and where, when and how she gave birth. It still makes my heart feel so happy when I think about the first time I saw each of our children's perfect faces for the first time.

Becoming a father is just.. it's indescribable. It's that good.

Becky said she'd call me when I had to come down, so for now, I'm gonna go get ready myself.

I go to the bathroom and wash, and I brush my teeth and my hair, before heading back into the bedroom, just as my phone rings.

I'd love to have one of those iPhones that Ryder has, but it looks so modern and.. confusing.

I think I'll just stick with my Nokia for now.

"Hello?" I answer, having had no caller ID on the screen when it rang.

"Michael?"

*Becky's POV*

I've checked on Electra and Dexter, they're alright, and Ryder seems to be improving. It's great, really. The family is starting to regain its happiness once again, finally. Things are getting better and better.

I'm now making breakfast, and I'm deciding to go different today. Normally, it's simple toast and cereal, but today, to celebrate the family finally coming together again, I'm making pancakes.

I remember Michael saying he's wanted to have them for breakfast more often than we do. I think the last time we had them was.. like, a few Valentine's Days ago, when Michael made them for me for breakfast in bed.

"Mum?" I hear Electra call, as she enters the kitchen. "Ooh, are you making pancakes?"

"I might be," I wink at her. "What's up, anyway?"

"Oh, I was just asking if I could invite Kyle over today?"

"Again?" I ask. "You'll have seen him three days in a row then."

"Please?" she begs.

I sigh, "fine, but only for a couple hours, ok?"

"Yes! Thanks mum!" she smiles and runs from the room, taking out her phone. "Hi Kyle. Yeah, you can come round.."

Her voice fades as she goes upstairs, and I resume cooking breakfast.

*Michael's POV*

"I'm done with this, goodbye!" I say, taking the phone from my ear.

"Wait!" I hear her voice just before I press 'end call.'

"Ugh, what, Brooke?!"

"I wanted to talk to you!"

"Yeah, and look where that led us last time!" I cry in a whisper, so Becky doesn't hear us. "Brooke, just--"

"Please don't hang up, Michael.. we can be something special."

"Brooke, no!" I say.

"Michael, think about it. Me and you; we were always meant to be! Imagine.. you and me.. in Spain.. or, or.. what about, what about.."

"What about Never-ever land?" I ask sarcastically.

"Never-ever land? But you already live there, babe."

"No, Brooke. I live in Neverland, with Becky, my wife. Never-ever land is where you can take your dreams of us."

"Bit harsh, Mikey baby--"

"Don't call me that," I interrupt her.

"You weren't saying that when I was around yours, and you were kissing my face off," she huffs.

"That was when I was young and stupid."

"It was four days ago!"

"Exactly," I straighten up and square my shoulders proudly, as if she can see me. "I'm a changed man."

"You're so stupid, you know that?!"

"Oh, but Brooke!" I coo. "You weren't saying that when you were round mine, and you were kissing my face off!"

"Whatever, Jackson. But you know that you have feelings for me."

"Yes.." I say quietly, and I hear her gasp at the other end of the phone.

"Really, you do?" she asks hopefully.

"Yes," I reply. 

"Oh, Micha--"

"Four days ago. Those feelings have gone, now."

I hear her clear her throat, mentally trying to avoid verbally attacking me.

I love tricking people like this, especially people I don't like.

"So, them feelings have just gone like that?" she asks, and I hear her click her finger to indicate how long 'that' is.

"Sure have, Brooke. That kiss nearly ended my marriage, and now I look back on it, I'm ashamed of myself for kissing you."

"Oh, you are?" she asks angrily. "Well, maybe I'm ashamed I even got together with you when we were younger!"

"Yes, I'm ashamed! And I want you to end this "relationship, dreams, you-and-me-in-Spain" crap, alright?! Cos I love Becky, and I'm staying with her until death, alright?! Me and you, our kiss was a mistake, and.. you know what? I'm glad you said no to my marriage proposal! Cos if you'd have said yes, I don't know how I'd have coped with you for all these years!"

"Michael Joe Jackson!" she screams. "I regret the day I met you! You've broken my heart too many times!"

"I've broken your heart? Try when we were 20, and you said no to my marriage proposal in front of everyone. Try that for heartbroken, then you'll get the picture!" I retort.

"I wish I'd never met you, Mr Jackson! Saying no to you was the best decision of my life!"

"Oh, isn't that funny?! As soon as you think you got a chance with me, it was the worst decision you ever made, but now I've said we've got no hope of being together, suddenly it was the best thing that ever happened to you? Brooke, you're a mess! A real mess! Get your act together, woman! Seriously, take a step back, and realise that you really need to change! This is why people won't have you, you're a mess! Just.. I'm done!" I hiss.

"Michael, if I'm such a mess, why did you propose to me, and why did you kiss me the other day?!" she asks angrily.

"Because I was stupid enough to fall in love with you on those occasions, alright? Yes, I've made some major mistake in my life, but.. now I realise.. you were the biggest!"

"You know what, Michael? If I'm such a mistake in life, why are you still here talking to me?!" she's crying now, "I'm just trying to make things right, but you're getting angry at me! I can't help how I feel, Michael.. I can't help the fact that I fell in love with the one man that I keep falling out of love with, too.. I love you, but when you're with someone else, I can't stand you!" 

"Well, I'm sorry, Brooke. But this needs to end. Now."

*Becky's POV*

I'm nearly done with breakfast. I've been hearing a lot of shouting upstairs, but I can't tell if it's the kids arguing or not.

Most likely, they're always fighting.

"Michael! Kids!" I shout, and Electra, Dexter and Kyle come to the table.

"Hey, Kyle. How are you?" I ask.

"Fine thanks, Mrs. Jackson. And yourself?"

"Uh.. fine thank you," I reply.

"Ryder!" I call.

"Coming.." I hear Ryder reply faintly, and about a minute later, he's downstairs at the table, still in his pyjamas.

"Sup Ryder," Kyle greets.

"Sdown," Ryder replies, taking his knife and fork in his hands.

I taught him that greeting, 'sdown.' It's the opposite of 'sup,' right? Logic!

The kids start eating, but I can hear shouting still. So it wasn't the kids.. it was Michael.

"Michael!" I call. "What are you doing?!"

No response.

"Michael!" I call as I begin to walk upstairs.

Why can't he hear me?

I come to the bedroom, but I don't open the door. I just listen.

"No, you were a mistake, ok? A big mistake. My wife is waiting downstairs for me, and I'm stuck here talking to you! I don't need it, I don't need this at all!"

"Well, go to your bird then! But don't come crying to me when you want me back!"

Brooke, right?

I could kill her.

"I won't Brooke, cos I'm in love with Becky, and I will be until my final second of life. I'm not even sure why I'm still talking to you, you're a waste of my life! So, if you don't mind, I'm leaving, ok? I'm done with this! Done!"

"You've been saying that for the past twenty minutes, Michael. Yet you're still here talking to me!"

"Well, this time I mean it. And don't ever call me back again, alright? I'm still not sure how you got my number!"

"Through Kieran."

"Of course.. I'm telling him to disown you as a friend, and as soon as I tell him why, he'll do that straight away!"

"Whatever, Michael."

"I'm going now."

"Ok, but I know you still hold me in your heart. It's always been the same. I know you, Michael. I know you too well. I know it, I know you still love me!"

God, she sounds like an obsessive little girl talking about her favourite boyband!

"Brooke, I'll never love you! End it, now! I'm done with this. Never call me again. Goodbye, Brooke!"

"But Michael wai--"

Her speech is cut off, and I hear Michael's phone beep because he's hung up. I hear him sigh in frustration and he makes his way to the door.

Oh crap, I need to run!

Too late.

"Becky.. how long have you been there?" he asks, having spotted me as he opens the door.

"Not long, I only just got up here. Who were you on the phone to?" I ask, as if I didn't just hear him say her name a million times.

"Oh, it.. it was Brooke, but I told her to leave me, us, alone. She won't be calling back up ever again."

"Right," I reply.

"You're not mad that I spoke to her, are you? Remember I love you infinity-times-more than I even like her.."

"I'm not mad, Michael. And.. I love you too."

"Thank God," he smiles, before kissing my lips once. "Wait.. have you been making pancakes?"

"Yep, I sure have," I reply, and he grins childishly before placing his arm around me.

"First I feel better, then I get Brooke outta my life, then you make me pancakes," Michael says. "This day just gets better and better."

Author's note: is Brooke gone? Who knows. I should imagine this story will be over fairly soon, but I wanna get to 1000 votes before it does! We're currently on 928 (I believe) so not far left, fellas! I love you guys, so much! :D