~Rayne's POV

"Another meeting with your lawyer?" I grumble softly, as I was awakened by Michael rustling out of the bed.

"Yeah. I'm telling you Ray.. This is killing me. I can't keep doing this every morning." He sits on the edge, burying his tired eyes in his hands.

I cover myself and sit up, placing a hand on his back. "I know you're tired baby. I wish I could help somehow." I lean my cheek on his back. He sighs again before standing to walk into the bathroom.

"I'm thinking of just settling the case." He says.

"Well why not? Just get it over with." I responded

"My lawyers don't think it would be a good idea. They say it looks like I have something to hide." He rolls his eyes. "But I think I'm just gonna settle."

"Think of it this way, if someone touched Camille, the way Audrey claims you touched Malik. Would you take a settlement?" I ask

"God no, I'd want them to get help. They need help, it's clear they're sick." He says in disgust.

"Not the route I'd choose, but.. You wouldn't take the money. I say offer the money, if Audrey takes it, everyone will know she's lying." I shrug. "I don't know one parent that would allow their child to get molested and take money to make it better. If that happened to my baby girl, I'd want them to rot in the deepest darkest prison." I continued.

"I see what you're saying." He nods, closing the bathroom door behind him.

I laid back down and thought about our conversation. I couldn't imagine anyone hurting my little one like that. Honestly, I'd want them dead. Not just for my child, but for other children. Now unable to fall back asleep, I turn on the television. "Hey Mike, Latoya's on TV."

"I cannot and will not stand by and watch my brother get away with these crimes he has committed on these children. I've seen checks written to the families of these kids..."

"FUCK!!" Michael yells, tossing his shirt to the ground. I've never heard Michael so angry to the point he curses. I close our room door so he doesn't wake Camille or if she is awake, she won't hear any other swear words to emulate later.

"My sister is a fucking idiot. She's letting Jack control her! She's brainwashed!" He says pacing. "Just like that piece of shit book she wrote. Joseph never touched her! She does things for attention, we all know it. FUCK! I definitely can't settle now! She just ruined everything!"

He was right, he couldn't settle without looking suspicious. I simply sighed, there were no words to calm him down. He was rightfully upset.

"Rayne, this could go to trial. I could go to jail! This is serious!" He says in a worrisome tone.

"Don't think like that." I say. "You're not going to jail. You're gonna be here with me and Camille. Yes, Latoya said some really stupid things, but don't let that hold you back... Ok?"

He nods quietly and continues to get dressed in silence.

"Maybe we should spend some time together, go on a date? It'll give you and I a break from being parents and you can just breathe for a moment. Ok? Once you come home, we're going out. We'll take buggy to my dads."

He releases a long sigh before nodding and saying "I love you." He leans down to kiss me before heading out.

***

"Mommy, I'm hungry." Camille taps my face.

"Ok baby I'm up." I squirm out my bed. We head downstairs and I go to place her in her high chair

"Ouch mommy." She whines, trying to push herself out.

"Ok, you've gotten bigger overnight. Looks like you'll be eating at the table." I sigh, grabbing two phone books and a pillow from the couch for her to sit on. I underestimated how tall she was even to be a two year old. She must have inherited Michael's height. I heat up some French toast sticks and pour syrup on top, expecting sticky fingers as the after effect.

"Where's daddy?" Camille questions, licking her fingers.

"Daddy is working. He'll be home later." I explain. I wondered how he was dealing with things especially now.

Bill knocked at the front door with Tito at the door with him.

"Tito?" I frown, it's very rare Tito comes over to visit.

"Hey sister-in-law" he smiles, "I just came by to check on Mike." He walks in.

"Michael isn't here."

He sighs, "how's he doing? I saw what Latoya said this morning. She's not well.."

"Uncle Tito!" Camille says, running up to him.

"My favorite niece!" He responds kissing her sticky cheeks.

"I wish there was a way to help with all this. I just don't know what to do. I don't like how angry Michael has been recently. You know he actually cursed?" I sit on the couch.

"I believe it. I'm hoping we can maybe all come together and get Latoya out of that situation and support Mike in his time of need. This family is so full of disfunction. You've been around long enough, you see it. Hell, you're part of it now." He chuckles.

I laugh as well, "I'll talk to Mike and get back to you Tito. Thanks for checking in."

"Of course, it's so funny.. Marlon and Michael would fight over who would win you over back in the day. I'm glad it was Michael. You bring out the best in him on his worst days. I know if you weren't here, he'd probably lose his mind dealing with everything right now."

I smile, "well, that's my job." He waves out and I shut the door behind him.

~Michael's POV

I press my hands against my forehead, exhaling sharply. "My mind is made up. I don't wanna have to go through this for another seven years. Just give her the money and we can all move on."

"Mr. Jackson, Audrey is willing to settle for $500 million. That's way too much and do you know what this will do to your reputation. This just might ruin your image as an international pop star. " my lawyer advises.

"I don't care, maybe it's better this way. I won't have so much attention on me. Give it to her, I'm done." I lean back in my chair. "Besides, my wife thinks that if Audrey takes this money I'm offering, she's clearly lying. My fans know my heart. No matter what the tabloids and media says, no matter what my sister says or Audrey! My fans understand."

My lawyer hesitates for a while, "fine.. I'll call Audrey's lawyers and tell her we'll settle. She'll take the money and you'll be a free man." After it was settled, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. There was a sense of safety for my daughter rushing through me. Just imagining my daughter starting school and being teased because her father is in jail for touching a kid enraged me.

***

Once again the only thing making me smile greeted me right at the door. I caught her in the middle of dragging her overnight bag into the living room. She was so independent to almost be 3 years old.

"Hi daddy!" She smiles, straining her little arms.

I chuckle lightly, "hello Millie.. Going somewhere?" I frown at her bag, grabbing it out of her hands.

"I'm going to papa's house." She responds. I frown again in confusion.

"Why?"

She shrugs, making an "I don't know" noise, before sitting on the couch waiting.

"Camille Michelle, are you ready?" Rayne walks out. "Hey baby." She grins, pecking my confused lips. She looked stunning, her printed dress hugged her perfectly. I hadn't appreciated her post baby body at all. It feels like I haven't had time. But why was she dressed up in the first place?

"Baby girl you brought your own bag out here? You didn't have to do that." She giggles. She takes another glance at my stuck face. "Why do you look so confused?"

"I am. What's going on?"

"I'm guessing you forgot about our date.." She says discouraged.

"I completely forgot. But no worries, we can still go." I smile.

Rayne exhales in relief, "ok. I'm gonna put some stuff in the car. Can you just grab Camille and her bag?"

I nod, grab Camille's bag off of the floor, and grasp her hand as she jumps down off the couch. I feel her pull back and whine slightly. "Millie what are you doing? Come on, let's go to the car."

"Daddy.." She whines, tugging back again.

"What's wrong Camille?"

"My feet hurt." She whines.

I furrow my brows, "really? I just bought those shoes.. They can't be too small." I kneel down. "Oh baby girl." I chuckle. "They're on the wrong feet." I sit her on my knee and take her shoes off watching as she flexes her toes.

"I couldn't tell." She frowns, folding her arms and pouting.

"That's okay, you're still learning my love. You'll get it soon enough." I go to zip her shoes back up, before she stops me. "No I can do this part." She hops off my knee proudly zipping her shoes.

I grin proudly at her, kissing her cheek. "So proud of you. Ok let's go." I couldn't imagine sitting in jail, missing my daughter learning small things like this without me.

***
Dropping off Camille at Mr. Fleeson's house was easy, I would think because she's not around a lot of people, she'd have separation issues, but she was surprisingly calm.

As we pulled into the restaurant, Bill held on to us fairly close, practically pushing us inside the tinted glass doors. Once we were inside, the cameras were non existent.

"You look beautiful Ray." I smile admiring her, stroking her cheek with my thumb. "I really need this night of just us."

"Thank you." She giggles, tugging her lower lip. "Mike, I don't want you to think that I'll never be there for you. Even during bad times like this. I've seen how angry you've been and I don't like it. If there's a way I could help you feel better, you know I'll do anything." She grabs my hand.

"You've been here for me for everything. That's all I could ask for from you. Keep loving me for who I am. You and Camille make me a better person." I bring her knuckles to my lips. "Ok enough mushy stuff. We settled the case today."

"Congratulations! It's over?" She smiles.

"Just about. I know I'm done with it."

"How much did she go for?" She smiles.

"$500 million"

"What??" Rayne says, her radiant smile disappearing. "Michael that's a lot of money!"

"I know. We're fine, we can afford it." I shrug.

"I know we can, but.. $500 million? That could've went towards Camille's trust fund. Speaking of.. We need life insurance."

"For what? We're not going anywhere.." I frown.

"Baby lets be realistic, anything could happen. Lord forbid one of us pass away but if that does happen, we know Camille will be ok.."

I chuckle, "when did you become such a mother? I remember a time when you never wanted kids. You're outstanding, there's such a change in you."

She grins, "I can't go a day without thinking about her and her future. She's my baby girl. I used to be so hot headed, but now I have to think about what I wanna say, how I wanna do things... I know she's watching.

"You're doing an amazing job." I respond.

"Thank you." She answers coyly.