Nobody's POV

She couldn't process clearly what she had heard, the silence engulfed the table as nobody knew what to say next.

Although she had just became an adult by force due to her baby, Tayler couldn't help but be juvenile by snapping first and not being a rational adult like she's used to being. However, instead of her charging at Joseph she charged at Michael.

"IS THIS WHY YOU ASKED ME TO MARRY YOU? FOR SOME DAMN BUSINESS DEAL?!" She darted her eyes at Michael, standing up in the process.

She was hurt by the situation, she was confused, but more so  she was angry. She felt like as if this was a trap to save the Jackson name as being the sanctified, pure, happy-go lucky family that they had played up to the public. How could they use Elijah? How could they make her think that they wanted to do things different, though the circumstances weren't the best either. She just expected more and being let down by her expectations made her lash out.

Between Jackie, Enid, Lydia, her dad not speaking to her and Michael she had had enough of people.

"You sit down now and watch your mouth" her father Ed had said through gritted teeth.

"Oh now you speak to me? No dad, I don't want to calm down! You are basically treating my baby as some sort of business deal. You all have obviously been saying a lot behind my back so now I want to hear what's going on and I will get to the bottom of this" she angrily replied.

"Now, is this why you asked me to marry you?" She questioned again.

Her heart stopped beating just to hear Michael's words. He still sat at the table in disbelief at what his father had just said. Truly she didn't believe in her heart that Michael was capable of being so impulsive to ask her to marry him for publicity. It hurt him to think that she thought so low of him when there was a time when she knew Michael better than anybody. How dare she accuse him of treating Elijah as if he were a pawn. But Michael being the new man he was, he stood up for himself.

"No, Tayler. I swear, I had no knowledge of this deal. You have to believe me, I'll never treat you or Elijah like that. Despite what you and I are going through, you have to believe that Elijah will never ever be a pawn to me."

She stared at him trying to decipher the truth from the lie.

"Tayler please calm down." Katherine reasoned.

"I understand how this may seem, but it is not what you think. Now in Michael's defense it was only discussed between the parents. He is telling the truth." Katherine finished.

She looked at Mrs. Jackson, knowing that it was the truth, but Tayler being the girl she is, she knew mothers would lie for their sons and at this point she didn't know what to believe. However, she sat down going against her better judgement.

"Bullshit!" Donna spoke up.

"Donna please" Ed tried to calm her.

"No Ed, I will not. This is not what we discussed! We said that we needed an arrangement that this story will not get out to the press in order to protect both of the kids and Elijah from ridicule. We said that we wanted Eli to have a normal life. Now we're sitting here trying to get her to sign a contract to basically keep her damn mouth shut" Donna snapped.

By now all heads were turned towards Donna's direction, Joseph was annoyed at this point to where he sat back in his chair with his arms folded.

"Ed man, you think you can keep your woman in check" Joseph purses his lips.

Now Donna was not your average church going woman. Although she believed in God, she did not bite her tongue and was definitely not as meek as Mrs. Jackson. Donna came from the city of Watts California and came from poverty. She was the only girl out of four boys, and she learned how to defend herself by fighting them and she often had to defend herself in school because girls would often make fun of her hair, clothes, and being poor. She backed down from no one or nothing. People might see Donna as a loud mouth and unnecessary, but she had a story. A story that prevented her from being a mild individual to the point that she felt she had always had to stick up for herself.

To add on, she loved her step-daughter who in her eyes was her baby. With that being said , she would protect her from anyone and everyone.

"Excuse me? In check? If you think for one second I'm going to let you treat my daughter and grandson like they are a tabloid scheme that will have the Jackson empire crumbling you are sadly mistaken. I am not your wife, I don't sit behind a smile and let my husband walk all over me  like a rug on a muddy day and I won't start. Now I appreciate your hospitality Mrs. Jackson, and I respect your house but we're in a garden so technically we're outside. Now Joe, you can talk to your kids how you want  and do to your kids what you want but this one right here and that little one in there will never be subject to the iron fist of Joseph Jackson. I got your number Mr. Jackson and I'm not afraid to dial it" Donna just quit while she was ahead before she further  embarrassed her husband.

Katherine sat back with a curt smile. It was true she often let Joe do what he wants, but she believed that a man was the head of the family. Plus, he gave her the life he had promised and the life she had always dreamed of so that made her look pass a lot of things.

Katherine was a polite woman and she used her religion to guide her life. Her beliefs had bled into her personality so therefore she treated everyone and everything with respect and never had a bad word really to say. Nevertheless, if provoked and in order to protect herself and her children she would go the extra mile so she understood the anger that Donna had. In true fashion, what Donna said was true. They only discussed on ways to protect the baby and the kids. However, Katherine knew her husband had to have his way and go behind her back and change things. But she didn't want to say anything because they were a unit so she stayed quiet and let Donna do the talking which she was more than happy for her to do.

Remembering what Donna had said and based on the reactions of everyone at the table, Tayler had more questions. She looked to the right at her father who sat next to her and said:

"You knew about this daddy, didn't you?"

He just put his head down and back up.

"Yeah I knew, but I understand that he just wants to protect his family" he reasoned.

"I don't understand, why would you agree or think this is a good idea? Daddy you know despite what has transpired I have always treated the Jacksons with respect and admired them. I love Michael, I would never ever put his family at jeopardy for my own gain" she begin to get vulnerable.

"Listen, I just want to make sure that the Jackson name will not be used for profit. As the baby is a Jackson himself, I don't want the public making a mockery or having a field day with this story. I understand that you are falling on hard times and you being the household name that you are, selling this story could be big. However, because he's a part of this family we would like to be included in the conversation so we can come up with a way that doesn't make Michael look as if he's a promiscuous teenager that can't keep it in his pants" Joseph interjected.

"But Michael is a promiscuous teenager that can't keep it in his pants" Donna pointed out.

"Joe are you hearing yourself? Not one time did you mention the benefit I will gain from this deal. Everything is the Jackson name or Michael. I love my baby and I will never treat him like a pawn. Now if I wanted to do a magazine spread I will, but not to destroy YOUR family name but to show teenagers that you can have a baby, live a normal life, and be a star. You're so busy obsessing over this damn family that you didn't even realize or say anywhere in your rant that I AM HIS MOTHER!" she yelled becoming angry with every word she said.

"NEWSFLASH MR. JACKSON, MY SON DOES NOT HAVE THE JACKSON NAME SO EVEN IF I WANTED TO SELL MY STORY, IT WILL NOT BE TIED BACK TO YOU. THE NERVE OF YOU! I AM FALLING ON HARD TIMES BECAUSE I WAS DROPPED FROM MY LABEL TO HAVE YOUR GRANDCHILD. I WORK A 9-5 JUST TO PROVIDE FOR HIM! I WORKED WHILE PREGNANT AND FINISHED SCHOOL WHILE PREGNANT AND NOBODY HAD ANYTHING TO SAY THEN." She choked out with tears.

She was fed up at this point, everyone was treating her as if she had no feelings at all. As if she just loved Michael for the money or had Elijah for the money. She lost everything having him. Everything she worked hard for, everything she dreamed of. Even after having him, she lost her father too.

"It was your fault because you lied to everyone!" Joe flipped on her.

"I LIED TO PROTECT HIM! I LIED BECAUSE HE WAS SCARED TO DISAPPOINT YOU MRS. JACKSON AND NOT GET HIS ASS BEAT BY YOU MR. JACKSON BECAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS THAT YOU CANT KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF YOUR KIDS OR THEIR WALLETS. IM NOT THE ONLY ONE YOU NEED TO BE WORRIED ABOUT USING THE JACKSON NAME FOR MONEY." She said.

"What did you say girl?" Joe questioned.

"Alright Joe that's enough! She may have caused some trouble, but that's my daughter and you will respect her like I'm showing your son respect by not whooping his ass for knocking up my daughter!" Ed defended his daughter.

"You heard what I said, and oh yeah you better hope I don't go to the press with stories about this whole family. You know what I'm talking about too right Joe." Tayler smirked.

He knew exactly what she was talking about. Being around the family and Michael speaking so freely to her about personal problems and family issues, she knew everything about every member of the Jackson family. However, being a celebrity kid, growing up around celebrities, and being one herself she knew what their life was like. They constantly lived under a microscope and she knew journalists could be so mean, she would never sell a story about the Jackson's. She just wanted to even the playing field with Joe, besides she would never hurt Michael.

All the while everyone said their peace, Michael said nothing. It wasn't as if he was scared to speak. He just didn't know what to say. In his heart and mind he knew he was disappointing Tayler and Elijah; however, he just couldn't help it. Everyone was speaking and defending Tayler he felt why did he have to when everyone else had it covered.

"I want to get out of here, I want to get my baby and go" Tayler wiped her tears, preparing to leave.

"Oh no please don't leave Tayler. You haven't opened your gifts and the kids really are bonding with Elijah" Katherine stood up.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Jackson, but I don't want anything from you all. I just want my baby and to leave." Tayler said.

"Wait-" Michael jogged to her before she got too far.

"Please don't go just yet" Michael asked.

"Michael, your family has done nothing but give me a slap in the face and right now so are you. You didn't say one word in my defense and that is what I needed the most. I thought you truly changed, but still you have not stood up to Joseph just yet. I'm sorry, but I have to go. Just call me when you want to see him or I'll call you. We'll talk about it." She finished.

He knew she was done, he could tell by her face and her tone, she was exhausted by the whole situation. He couldn't help but feel responsible and guilt as he watch her and her family march back into the house.

"Why?! Why?! Why did you have to say anything to her about that?" Michael asked Joseph.

"Michael, mind your father now" Katherine answered.

"No mother, they are my family now and I have to protect them. Look what you did! You made her leave and take him! If you keep pushing her away, I promise I will leave this group and we all know it will all go down hill if I leave" Michael threatened.

"You wouldn't dare" Joseph stepped up to Michael.

Coming face to face with his father, this moment took Michael from boy to man. He was furious and was disappointed in himself that he didn't speak up sooner so he stepped closer to his father.

"Try me"

With that they stared each other down not saying a word. Joseph knew he needed Michael to continue on with his brothers. Especially after this deal with CBS and the new show, he needed Michael to stay or else he would be breaking the contract and have to pay millions.

Michael left his father to attend to Tayler and Elijah, the ones who needed him the most.

The scene inside the house was disheartening. Little Janet begged Tayler not to go just yet and everyone stood aside silently, knowing already what was said outside. It's not like they could just ignore the screams coming from the always tranquil garden.

"I'm sorry Jan, but I have to get home. I'm not feeling well. But hey, call me anytime you'd like and I'll make sure you get to see him ok? LaToya has my number" Tayler reasoned.

"Deal" Janet held Tayler's legs, hugging her.

"Tayler lets go" Donna rushed.

She said her goodbyes and Michael watched her leave as she tried to soothe a now crying Elijah. Michael couldn't help but wonder if his baby felt the negative energy that surrounded his parents. Whatever Michael thought just made him feel more guilty as everyone poured out of the Jackson home to send Tayler and the baby off.

He raced past them and managed to get to Tayler in time. They stood facing each other not saying a word. Michael finally breaking the ice, reached out for Eli, kissed him on the head and did the same to Tayler.

"I'm sorry" his voice broke.

"Yeah, I am too"

Though it wasn't goodbye, it sure felt like it. This moment felt as if a storm was brewing already to take the young teenage couple down as they tried to raise their new baby. However, everyone was so oblivious and angry that they never saw the storm coming.

Michael stood by  and watched as the love of his life and his baby rode off through the gates of the compound. He silently wished he could go too. He wished he could take them away from all of this, maybe one day.

Maybe one day soon.