~Rayne's POV

I groan at the sound of my doorbell ringing, my hair a mess, I trot down the steps. "What?" I whine. "Delivery!" The man at the door yells. I open to see a bouquet of tulips. "Oh. Thank you.." I say slightly confused, I sign for the flowers and close the door, setting them on the table.

"Just another memory. Hope you have a great day, MJ." I read.

Why is he being so sweet? Maybe he's just making up for what happened. I'll allow it, I guess. It was too late in Japan for me to give him a thank you call. So, I sit the tulips in water and place the vase on the table before taking a quick shower and head to my father's. I know I told myself I wouldn't tell my dad I was home, but how was I gonna hide from him for two whole months?

"Knock knock, dad.." I smile, peaking inside.

"Who's there?" He asks.

"It's not a joke daddy." I giggle, walking towards the kitchen where he sat.

"Why are you home?" He asks, kissing my cheek.

"I just got homesick... Japan isn't as great as I thought it would be." I lie, I couldn't throw Michael under the bus like that. Especially, with him being so sweet recently. My father stares at me for a while, a broad grin on his face. "What?" I giggle, "you're starting to look just like your mother." He says softly. I roll my eyes. "Oh God, Please dad, no"

"your mother was beautiful, there is nothing wrong with looking like her."

"I hated her, Dad. Why would I wanna look like someone I don't even like?" I say slightly annoyed. I knew where this was heading.

"I really think you should visit your mother's grave, it will give you closure."

"I don't want closure with her. She was a horrible woman, who hated her own kid!" I say louder. "God! Stop trying to make me love that woman."

"Sweetie, I didn't want to make you angry. I just want what's best for you, and I really think you wouldn't get so angry every time someone brings her up if you just visit her." My father explains.

I give up the argument and walk to the living room, turning on the television. I wish my father would just understand that everything that woman did to me, made me hate her more and more. There is no fixing or closure, it's done. She's dead.

"Anyway Dad, I'm going to be cooking tonight. Derrick is coming to California with his pregnant wife Leah. I'm making them dinner, did you want to come?" I ask.

I watch as my father stammers a bit, hesitating to answer. "I-I.. I have a date." My eyes scan him as he holds back a grin. "A date?" I ask. "With who?"

"One of my sound people from my movie 'Legal Limit'" he says proudly. I was so surprised, my dad never goes on dates. "Gary Fleeson has a date!" I joke. "Well I guess you can flake on me tonight."

***

I set up the table, the food smoke floating through the house. "Derrick!" I yell hugging him tightly, "Oh my God Leah, it's so good to see you!" I smile allowing them in. We sit at the table eating and talking.

"Rayne, how have you been since the wedding?" Leah asked. "Great, I'm an artist. My paintings and other artwork are being sold everywhere." I smile. "It's so good to see you guys! D, my dad was gonna come but he's on a date." I say, emphasizing the word date. Derrick's mouth drops, "what?" He laughs. "Your father never dates!"

"I know!" I laugh.

After our meal, Leah was exhausted so I offered her a spare room to lay down in while Derrick and I caught up.

"I'm so proud of you" I say. "Back when we were younger, you never wanted a family. Look at you now."

Derrick laughs, "I know right, I'm a little nervous. This is a huge step."

"I'm sure you'll be a great father, that little girl has no idea how lucky she's gonna be." I grin. Derrick nods, "we both said we'd be married and have kids by now. Somebody backed out on their promise." He gestures to me.

I let out a long sigh, "I got proposed to.. I just said no."

"Who proposed?"

I give him a look as if to say "you should already know who."

His eyes got extremely big, "you said no?? What the hell happened? You love that guy."

"I do love him, but things have happened where I'm just on the fence about marrying him." I explain. I tell him everything that happened before he finally tells me, "if he's trying to make it right, let him." I nod.

"Thanks D."

I see Leah and Derrick out, locking the door behind them and take a shower to get settled into bed. Of course, my phone rings for my nightly call with Michael. "Hello?"

"So listen to my heart,
Lay your body close to mine,
Let me fill you with my dreams,
I can make you feel alright.
And baby through the years,
Gonna love you more each day,
So I promise you tonight,
That you'll always be the lady in my life."

I hear a familiar tune in my ear. I couldn't help but grin. "God, you got me blushing over here." I giggle. Michael laughs, "I'm sure you're extremely cute right now too. How are you baby?"

"I'm so much better now. I miss you." I admit.

"I miss you too, I'm so tired of traveling. I'll be back in the states soon, my flight leaves in 4 hours. My first American show is California."

"I'm super excited." I grin.

"Anything good to tell me today?" He asks.

"Not really.. Oh, my dad is trying to push me to visit my mother's grave. He thinks I'll get closure." I roll my eyes. Michael stayed silent for a while before I finally realized, "you agree with him, don't you?"

"I told you I think you should visit her. Why don't you want too?"

"For what? I don't care for her. It's no point."

"What if I go with you? Or ask your dad to go with you. That way you won't be alone."

I groan loudly, "you're gonna make me go aren't you?" I whine.

"You know me well." He laughs.

"Thank you for the tulips.. I got the memory." I giggle. "We would sit in your mom's tulips and talk about everything. Vent out our problems to each other. We helped each other." I reminisce, "I'm so glad we met Mike."

"I am too. Listen, I've gotta go. But I'll see you soon." He says, I whine wishing our phone calls never ended.

"Ok... Love you." I pout.

"I love you too."

***

~Michael's POV

I finally landed, stretching my legs after a 24 hour flight back home. I had a couple stops before going to Rayne's and having movers move my things in my new home. I of course visited my mother, gripping the small black box in my pocket.

I watch mom squeal as I opened the box revealing a diamond ring. "Michael this is the most beautiful piece of jewelry I have ever seen. It's extravagant! Who is it for?"

"Rayne. I'm gonna do it." I grin, proudly looking at the ring. "You're gonna propose?" She gasps, "Oh my God Michael! Congratulations baby!" I laughed, my mother always wanted all of her children to be married and have kids, I was the only one who hadn't done either. But I was ready.

"What is all the screaming?" Joseph says. "Michael is gonna propose to Rayne!" My mother smiles. I don't know what to expect from Joseph. He just stood there for a while, I held my breath for his reaction.

"Well. Congratulations. I know I haven't been that nice to Rayne, but she's a good girl." He says patting my shoulder. I nod politely, "thank you Joseph." To have my father's approval for anything means a lot. "I have to ask her father for his blessing before I do it." I explain. "I'm sure he'll say yes." Mother smiles, "I'm so proud of you." She grins.

I nervously knock on Mr. Fleeson's door, he opens almost immediately. "Oh, hello Michael. Rayne isn't here, she's home." He says politely. "That's ok, I was actually coming to talk to you. If you don't mind."

"Uh, sure. Come on in." He says, stepping aside to allow me in.

"So what can I help you with?" He asks, sitting on his recliner.

I feel my stomach drop slightly, my mouth began going dry and my palms started sweating. "Well, Rayne and I have been together for a long time and I think she and I are both ready to move to the next step. I wanna marry her. I'm completely in love with her and I couldn't see myself with anyone else. I guess I'm asking if you would approve of me proposing to your daughter." I explain.

Her father places a finger on his chin, narrowing his eyes at me and I see a glimpse of Rayne. "My only concern is, I've seen her hurt by you before. I know you're a good guy, but my daughter's feelings are the most important factor here. Now how do I know you won't hurt her again?"

"Like I said, I'm in love with her and I can't imagine hurting her. She and I have gone through our problems, but we always manage to fix them. All I can say, Mr. Fleeson, is that I will work my hardest to keep her happy. Her happiness is mine as well."

Another long silence, I feel like he likes watching me squirm. "Ok." He says, placing his hand out for me to shake. "Really?" I smile, I can't believe that I'm about to take this step.

"Thank you so much Mr. Fleeson." I happily hop inside my car, "he said yes!" I tell Bill. "Great! Now all we need is Rayne!" Bill claps before driving me to Rayne's.

I knock on the door, silently thinking of when I wanted to propose to her and how. She opens the door and her mood changes from groggy to excited in less than a second, literally wrapping herself around me, her feet no longer touching the ground. I hug her tightly as she muffled squeaky, unknown words into my neck. "I missed you too!" I laugh, waddling the two of us back inside the door. "Why didn't you call me when you landed?" She smiles, finally hopping down.

"I can't surprise you?" I smirk, lowering my lips to hers.

It feels like forever since I've had the opportunity to kiss her. For the first time in a long time, she didn't deny me that opportunity. Wrapping her arms around my neck, she smiles against my lips, releasing a small giggle. This was the kind of reunion I had been wanting for years.

I see the tulips I sent her sitting in water on the table, then have a seat in the living room. Rayne comes and takes a seat on my lap, it was like she was stuck to me, and personally I didn't mind at all, I missed all of this. It gave me more and more confidence to pop the question later on. She curls her head on my shoulder, her hand slowly stroking my face.

"Promise me you'll never let me leave you again." She says quietly. I chuckle, "I promise. But I need a promise from you."

"What could that be?"

"You have to promise, that you will continue to work on actually talking out your problems."

"Ok. I promise."

We sealed both of our promises with a lip lock, that turned into a full out make out session. I lean Rayne softly on her back, pressing my lips against her neck. Her fingers run up down my back slowly. She moans out lowly, as if she had been waiting on this for a long time.

She and I don't do this often, and given our previous problems I don't think we've even had the desire to.

Her legs instantly cross around my back, as I rub my hands on the inside of her thighs. Her skin was so soft and smooth, I couldn't get enough of her. We both start removing our clothes slowly, tossing them on the floor. Finally after years, it felt like, I entered her. Watching her grab onto the edge of her couch, her bottom lip being gripped by her teeth. Every time she said my name, it was louder and louder. I was focused on making her feel good, I hurt her so much recently, I felt like I owed it her. She pulls me closer to her, burying her face into my neck softly clawing at my shoulder. She releases one last gasp of pleasure, before I pull out of her slowly. Her lips once again meeting mine, nothing but the sounds of our heavy breathing in the air.

I think we had both forgotten about me moving my things out of her house. After taking a quick shower, she was fast asleep on the couch covered with her blanket. I softly touch her nose, causing her to stir in her sleep. I giggle, doing it again. Her gorgeous eyes finally open up to me. "Hey pretty baby.." I smile. "Are you still coming to check out my new place with me? Or did you forget?"

"I forgot." She laughs. "I'll go shower and get dressed." She leans up planting another kiss on my lips. I think we're finally back where we used to be. I'll only be here for a few days before going back on tour for my American leg. I wanted to propose while I was here.

We drive into the ranch, and it had been beautiful tended to since the last I had seen it. There were colorful flowers planted everywhere, the grass was cut and green, all of the buildings were repainted and the brick pavement was repaired. It was perfect.

"We're gonna have to up the security detail around here Michael. This is a lot of land." Bill says.

"Bill I'm sure you guys will pick the right people." I assure him. Rayne and I walk inside the main house, to see everything refurbished and fixed up. "It's beautiful." Rayne says, releasing my hand to explore the house more. I was hoping she'd move with me but I won't spring that question on her until I ask her my most important one.

"You won't be lonely in this big old house?" She asks me, her eyes wilted with concern. I give her a comforting smile. "I think I'll be ok."

The leasing agent Jason, met us in the kitchen, a wide smile on his face. "What do you think? You like it?"

"It's great. Thank you so much for all of your help Jason, I really appreciate it." I smile politely, shaking his hand.

Rayne grabs her stomach, "I'm starving" she pouts. I check my watch, "oh it's definitely dinner time and I'm kinda hungry myself." Then it finally hit me, how to propose.

I whispered to Bill to send someone out to grab some food and to take Rayne and I to a certain spot in LA.

"This looks really familiar." Rayne says, her face locked to the window in curiosity. I simply smirk. "Oh I know where we are. This is where we had that picnic with Tatum O Neal." She says.

"Yeah you're right." I respond, laying out the blanket for us to sit on. She stood looking over the city and sunset. I sit on the blanket motioning her to come and sit with me. She leans in between my legs, resting her arms on my legs. "What is up with you going down memory lane recently?" She asks.

"I don't know. I just want to remind you of everything we've done together. I met you when we were 19, it's literally 10 years later. Think about it." I explain.

"Wow.. It has been 10 years." She says quietly. "I think we're ready to make more memories." I say into her ear, pulling out the ring and holding it in front of her.

"Oh my God." She gasps, her hand over her mouth.

"Our relationship is not perfect by any means, but I think after 10 years we've perfected our flaws. I don't know about you, but you're the only person I even think about wanting to be with every day of my life. I can never get tired of you." I chuckle. "I mean, if you say no now, I'll just ask you everyday after. That's how much I want you to marry me. So will you be with me forever? Will you marry me?"

There was a long silence, then a few whimpers while tears fell off her cheeks.

She said "yes." Turning to kiss me, she sits on her knees allowing me to place the ring on her finger. I wipe her face and kiss her over and over again. Bill simply places our food beside us.

"I cannot believe you did this." She says, examining the ring.

"One more question. Will you move in with me?" She simply nods. "I've gotta tell my dad." She says excitedly.

"He already knows.. I stopped by there to tell him. That's why I didn't tell you I landed." I grin

"You are so sneaky!" She giggles. "I love you baby."

Wow, I'm engaged.