A Few Weeks Later.

~Rayne's POV

"Is everything ready?" Michael says, peering out the side of the bedroom window into the courtyard. Balloons and all kinds of decorations were placed throughout the ranch for Michael's big celebration.

"Mother called and said they were on their way, but I don't want them to be here before Jackie, Janet and the rest get here.." He panics, letting out a small sigh of worry.

"Tito and Randy just pulled in.. I'm sure the rest will be here soon." I explain heading outside to greet his siblings. Tito, his 3 sons, Randy and his daughter all hop out of their cars. A big smile on their faces.

"Joe Jackson day huh? Did you convince him to do this because I know this wasn't just volunteered" Tito grins, his arms outstretched for a hug.

"I may or may not have given him an idea or two." I smirk. "It's so good to see you guys. Hopefully he'll start to calm down when he sees you." I gesture for them to follow me back into the house.

"Look who's here.." I smile, opening the door to Michael, pacing the floor.

"You guys are late. I told you 12. It's 1:45." He sighs, wrapping arms around his niece and nephews.

"Mike, we're here, calm down." Tito says calmly, straightening his bowler hat.

Finally little by little his siblings began rolling in before their parents. Michael scolding all of them for being late.

"Only one missing is Latoya." I inquire, looking around the room at Michael's siblings.

"Her husband is keeping her away from her family. We can't get in contact with her." Janet says.

"Oh.. I hope she's alright." I worry.

"Your Father and Mother are here Michael." Bill says peeking his head inside the living room we stood in.

"Thanks Bill." Michael says as his siblings file outside to meet them. "Rayne, do you think this is really a good idea?" He asks, wilting his eyes with worry.

"It's a good start for bringing your family closer together. It'll be fine." I smile, squeezing his hand as we made our way outside.

"Mother." Michael smiles, hugging her tightly.

"This is beautiful Michael, how much land is this?" She gleams admiring the ranch.

"3,000 acres" he says proudly as I hug Mrs. Jackson.

"Joseph." Michael says politely, his hand reached out to shake.

I never knew how to greet Joseph, so I would just smile and wave politely, hoping for a reaction back. We had no kind of relationship and it didn't bother me at first, but he's my father-in-law for God's sake.

Once the event began, things started to loosen up, I actually caught his father smiling while feeding a monkey. I decided to record it, you never know when you'll see a sight like that again. I handed off the camera to Marlon to catch a little down time. I had been feeling so fatigued recently. I sat on a bench, far enough to be alone, but close enough for me to see everyone.

I loved watching Michael get along with his family, he turned this ranch into one of the most fun places on earth.

"Why are you just sitting here? You're missing all the fun." Michael said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders, sitting his water gun in his lap. I shrug, "I'm kinda tired, I guess it's been a long day. You seem to be enjoying yourself."

"I am." He grins.

"I told you everything will be fine. Look, even your father is having fun." I smile.

"Yeah he is.. Thanks for talking me into this. I might make this an annual thing." He says, kissing my temple. He helps me off the bench and laces my hand in his.

"Where are you taking me?" I ask.

"Just to walk around the ranch." He grins, grabbing his gun off the bench.

I raise my eyebrow, "Okaaay" I say suspiciously.

He and I walk past his mother and father and I noticed Marlon began following us with the recorder. We walked past the pool, past the trampoline, and into an open field. Before I knew it I was hit from 3 different directions with blasts of water, from Michael, Janet and Jackie. I let out a loud screech, my hair drenched. "Michael!" I yell out with laughter. "You set me up Jackson!"

Janet hands me a water gun from behind her back. Michael laughs, "betrayed by my own sister! Rayne, you're barking up the wrong tree, I've never lost a water fight."

"Things change." I smirk, pumping up my gun, creeping toward him. He dashes off in a fit of laughter screaming "NO!"

"Get him Rayne!!" Janet yells, chasing after him. I chase him all around the ranch, it felt like the whole 3,000 acres. Every time I would get close enough, I squeeze the trigger releasing water, but he dodged every drop.

"You're lucky my tank is dry Jackson! But this is not the end!" I scream as he continues running and giggling into the distance.

Later that day after everything had cooled down, I had grabbed onto some of Michael's younger cousins and set up a plan. I was determined to get Michael wet by my hands tonight.

We caught him at the perfect time, talking to Marlon, while he filmed him. I place my finger over my hand to signal Marlon and the kids to keep quiet, while I crept toward him in the middle of his conversation with the camera.

"It takes a lot of body and coordination before-NO!" He yells, before plunging in the pool. The kids and I fell to the floor with laughter. "I told you this wouldn't be the end." I grin, sitting in one of the poolside chairs.

"I'm gonna get you Rayne." He giggles hopping out of the pool. I yell, guarding myself with my hands as he began laying his soaked body on top of me before running away. His cousins run after him before they retreated back to me practically breathless.

"Rayne. We couldn't catch him he's too fast." His cousin Levon says sitting beside me, I giggle. "It's ok. I think he got the message."

Michael struts back towards the pool in a brand new outfit and cautiously walks past his cousins. I couldn't help but giggle, "they won't do anything to you. As long as you say I won." I fold my arms smirking.

"I would never." He chuckles. "It would be in best interest you agree." I laugh. His cousins creeping behind him again.

They pushed as Michael planted his feet into the ground. "I'm a nice person! I just took a shower!! And I washed my hair thoroughly!" He objects, edging closer to the pool. He grabs my arms, pulling me in with him as he falls. "NO!" He screams. I come up for air, wiping my eyes to see Janet and Marlon cracking up.

"You two have been at it all day. Do you mind coming back to the family now?" Janet smirks. "We have to give Joseph his boat, it's at Hayvenhurst now."

"I'm gonna go, the wife is waiting at home. You and Mike got this right Janet?" Marlon says.

"Yeah we'll be there." I giggle, I feel something lift me upward before seeing myself on Michael's shoulders. "We're coming now." He says, bending down so my feet can touch the outside of the pool. Michael and I get ourselves together and hop in the car.

Once again, that wave of exhaustion hit me like a train. I let out a long yawn before resting my head on Michael's shoulder, falling asleep for that 2 hour ride to the Jacksons home.

"You go ahead, I'm gonna go to dad's and catch some sleep." I yawn getting out of the car, handing him the recorder.

"Ok babe, you look beat. I'll be quick. We can go right home and you can get some sleep" he kisses my forehead before I cross into my front yard.

I walk inside to hear Dad and a female voice giggling back and forth. I enter the living room to see my father and the designer, Gloria La'reaux, giggling over a glass of wine.

"Oh. I'm sorry, I should've called first. Hi daddy. Good to see you again Gloria." I smile politely.

"Rayne, hey baby. What are you doing here?" My father says walking over to hug me.

"I'm only here for a little while, I'll be upstairs sleeping. I'm exhausted. Michael is at his parents for a moment. Sorry to interrupt." I yawn walking upstairs. I didn't know that my dad and Gloria were that interested in each other. I was happy, he's finally dating again.

***
Michael's POV

While Rayne slept, Janet and I headed to the back of the house to meet Joseph and Mother with the boat. They met up with us about 20 minutes later and as soon as Joseph saw his new boat his smile was even brighter than before.

"This is nice, who bought this?" Joseph says.

"Michael and I did.." Janet says, watching as he examined the boat.

With me and Janet being his most successful children, everything we did was for our father's approval, Even giving a gift. I could only imagine how long Janet was holding her breath like I was holding mine.

After hanging with Janet and my parents for about 2 hours, Janet and I left. "You did good Mike. Today went so smooth." Janet says, patting my cheek. I kiss her cheek before she rolls up her window to leave.

"Thanks for the help dunk!" I wave off. I make my way over to Rayne's dad's to let Rayne know its time to go. Knocking on the door, Gloria Le'reaux answers. "Oh.. Uh.... Is Rayne here?" I say in sincere confusion.

"Of course she is! Michael it's so good to see you! How did you like Rayne's wedding dress?" She grins as she allows me in.

"It was beautiful thank you so much for making it." I say, still slightly confused, heading towards the stairs. "Hey Mr. Fleeson" I wave.

I knock softly on Rayne's door as it creakes open. There's my baby, completely knocked out on the bed. I shake her softly, "Ray.. Wake up, let's go home."

She wakes up squinting her eyes, "how did your father like the gift?" She mumbled.

"His face was priceless, he loved it." I smile a proud smile.

"That's so good baby." She smiles. "Everything went perfectly today. I'm so proud of you." She winces grabbing her back to sit up.

"Are you okay?" I frown, helping her.

"I'm fine, I've been having this pain for a week, I think I've just been sleeping wrong." She says in a groan. I nod, watching her writhe in pain.

"Are you sure?" I ask concerned.

She nods her head, her face scrunched from pain as she stands. "Let's go home." She forces a smile. I had a second mind to take her to the hospital, I didn't like seeing her like this.

Once in the car she let out a small squeal that scared both Bill and myself and I decided we were going to the hospital no matter if she objected or not.

***

"Well, after running a few test we've learned that you're pregnant Mrs. Jackson." The doctor smiles. I couldn't help but grin, Rayne on the other hand wasn't so happy. "What?" She asks.

"You're pregnant, congratulations. You're about 2 1/2 months in." She smiles again, before leaving us to talk.

"Michael, we're not ready for this child." She says.

"Yes we are! We are completely ready. I know we'll do great baby." I say holding her hands.

"Michael what are we gonna do once you go on tour or travel to promote an album. What are we gonna do? You're already not home a lot because of your album." She says tears welling in her eyes.

"I'll just have to hold back a little more. This is more important. Our family is more important. Ok?" I lean my forehead on hers. "I promise I'll take care of you. You won't be alone."

I wipe the tears slowly rolling off her cheeks before we leave the hospital.

"Everything alright?" Bill asks, peeking in the rear view mirror. Rayne ignores him, her eyes still glossy from tears.

"Yeah.. She's pregnant." I respond quietly.