Michael's POV

I met up with my longtime friend, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, in the studio in New York. He and I had worked together on a few projects back in the 90's in my dangerous days, but I hadn't spoken to him since the release. He greets me with a warm handshake and a pat on the back before motioning me to sit in the chair opposite him.

"Mike I was so glad to hear from you. After our last project I wasn't sure how things were gonna go.. especially after the allegations and.. y'know?" He says. "How's the daughter?" He adds.

"She's good! 8 years old... She's just like her mom now" I chuckle. "I actually had a son last year too... my little Jr." I grin.

"Oh wow, congratulations.. I can't believe baby girl is 8! Haven't seen her since she was maybe 2? Time flies.." he says shaking his head in recollection. "How's Rayne? The paparazzi manage to miss her. I haven't seen her on the cover of any tabloids in a long time." He chuckles, hitting my knee.

I chuckle back, "she's well.." I sigh not wanting to reveal our marital problems. I changed the subject swiftly to move to the real reason we were here. I head over to the piano in the booth, signaling with my hand for Kenny to follow me. "Ok, so I want to start recording this song I've been writing for a few weeks. It's a real soft melody, an ode to my wife and kids.." I explain beginning to play the tune of a song I titled "You Are My Life".

After letting him know what I wanted and expected of the record, he and I practically shot into overdrive with the production of my new ballad.

"Sorry to interrupt Boss.. Phone call." Wayne explains, peeking inside, his cellphone outstretched for me to grab.

"Let them know I'll call them back please.." I wave off, my eyes never leaving the soundboard.

"It's Camille." He adds.

I sigh, ever since I gave her this emergency cellphone for 3rd grade she's been using my number as her test subject to make sure things work properly. Grabbing the phone, I stand outside the booth, signaling Kenny for a quick minute. "Hey baby girl, daddy's working what's up?" I say in my softest tone.

"I need your help." She says sweetly

"With?"

"A turkey card.. I'm making one for mommy from Mikey and I, but I can't remember mommy's favorite color.."

"What's a turkey card?" I frown.

"A Thanksgiving Card.. I traced his hand next to mine to make a turkey. But I wanted to color it her favorite color."

I nod, chuckling at how adorable that was. "Her favorite color is Yellow. But baby girl I'm working, and if you want me to make it home by Thanksgiving and take you to grandma this weekend, you have to let me work.. I'll call you and Mikey tonight ok?"

"Ok! Bye daddy." She hangs up with a loud click. I enter the booth with a smile, "sorry."

"Daddy duties call...lets start from the top." Kenny says.

***

My hotel room was quiet and empty, it was nothing like my Vegas hotel suite that was kept perfectly for me. I even left some of my belongings there. I scroll through my contacts as I prepared to call my kids before they went to bed, I ended up stopping on Rayne's cell number for a moment, contemplating hitting the button to dial. I couldn't get out my head the image of her in tears, the fact I didn't do anything about it is eating away at me. I scroll to Janet's name and hit dial.

"Hey Mike.. how's your trip?" She answers nonchalantly.

"It's just work... I was calling to check on Rayne..I wanted to prepare myself for what I might hear when I call home to talk to my kids."

Janet giggles, "don't start stalking Rayne through me." She giggles out, causing me to laugh.

"I'm not I swear.. it's just that when I left she was crying."

"Yeah ok.. She's fine.. better than when you left. She's still upset but she's not crying.. call your kids Mike... don't worry about her." Janet advises.

I sigh again and thank her, hanging up to call home, preparing myself for my wife that I haven't honestly talked to in a week.

"Hello?" Rayne answers casually.

For some reason my vocal chords jerked, as if my nerves took my voice. "Hello??" She repeated.

"Hey Rayne." I clear my throat. "The kids sleep yet?"

"Michael is, Camille was waiting on your call. Hang on.."  she says passively, as if she knows I wasn't gonna talk to her.

"Uh.." I say before she hands over the phone, "Can we talk?" I ask.

She hesitated for a while, "after you talk to Camille.."

"Ok."

Camille and I spoke for 15 minutes about her "turkey cards" and how hard it was to trace Mike's hand because he wouldn't stay still. Then of course there was the "daddy when are you coming home" conversation. I loved my daughter endlessly and her conversation always made me happy. But it was dawning on me that she was getting older and that bothered me more than anything. Her voice wasn't as high as it used to be, she wasn't losing teeth as often, and the most heartbreaking thing was she wanted normal waffles. It was hard to deal with but she's growing, and I couldn't help but be proud of who she was becoming.

"Would you believe she went right to sleep after she got off the phone?" Rayne says a small giggle in her voice.

I laugh a little, "she's always been a little daddy's girl.."

"She has.. so what's you need?"

"I just wanted to check on you... you were crying when I left. I was worried.." I admit.

"Don't be. I have to deal with this on my own Michael."

"I just don't know why it's so hard to forgive you for this.." I say ignoring her previous statement or Janet's advice.

"I know why, and that's why I was crying. I'm upset with myself because.. I can't imagine hurting you and I actually did. After all of the things we've been through and all the people that have done you wrong.. I was the one who you knew would never do anything to hurt you. How do I recover from that? Y'know? How do we recover...so I've been battling myself."

What she said was right, I couldn't believe that out of all people to hurt me, the one person I trusted with my heart, did. That's why it was so hard to forgive her, that's why I couldn't trust her. How were we gonna recover?

"I love you Michael, you know that right?"

"Of course.. and I love you too." The silence between us wasn't awkward but it wasn't comforting, it wasn't the "I don't mind hearing you breathe" silence. It was the silence that two people had with each other when they feel like the other person doesn't honestly feel the same way they do. Suddenly the quiet was broken with more sniffles.

"Rayne please don't cry." I sigh, leaning my head in my head.

"I'm really sorry Michael, and I know I can't say it enough to make you understand.."

"I just need time.. we'll get through this."

She and I sat on the phone for maybe another 2 minutes before she decided to get off, saying Michael had a doctors appointment tomorrow morning. I hang up and lean on my pillow attempting to fall asleep for the night.

***
Rayne's POV

I sat the stack of papers on my bed, another tear rolling down my cheek. Camille runs downstairs with her "Welcome Home" sign for Michael who was coming home a day earlier than expected to beat the holiday rush of flights.

"He's coming! he's coming!" Camille squeals, sitting another sign in front of her brother, it didn't last long before he crumpled it in his hand giggling.

"Welcome home!!" Camille says excitedly, hopping up and down as Michael walks inside. He gives a big grin, before crouching down to hug Camille tightly.

"Oh! Thank you so much! This is beautiful..." he says looking at her drawings. "Artist just like your mom." He glances at me.

I shoot him a small smile, he kissed Michael on the forehead and heads towards me, his face sympathetic. "Welcome home.." I mutter.

"Thank you." He says pecking my temple. He drags his luggage upstairs before calling my name, as expected. "Ray?"

"Camille stay here with your brother for a moment please." I say before heading upstairs, I lean on the doorframe quietly. "Yeah.."

"What's this?" He asks holding my stack of papers.

"I've been thinking.. and there's no way we're gonna be back to where we were.. I don't deserve you and you don't deserve to be with someone you don't trust.. the only option I could come up with was this.." I say choking up.

Michael stood in front of me practically ready to fall to his knees. He sits on the edge of our bed, burying his hands in his head. "A divorce? ...I'm not signing this." He declared.

"I haven't signed it either and I won't if you won't... I want you to take the time to think. Are you honestly happy? Do you think you'll ever trust me fully... if you can't answer those questions..." I explain, tears streaming.

"Rayne.. I'm not signing this. Do you understand you're the air I breathe.. I can't live without you. Are you crazy? A divorce? No way.." he says crumpling the papers in his hand.

"Michael you and I both know we will never be where we were... we love each other but the trust is gone.. and I'm so upset because I can't fix it!" I sob.

Michael grips my shoulders hugging me as tight as he possibly could, burying my face into his chest. "I forgive you Ray. You don't have to punish yourself.. or me.." he says, I hear his voice crack a little "doing this would hurt me worse than anything else on this earth." He squeezed me tighter.

I sat in his arms still ashamed at what I had done, unconvinced he had forgiven me. But I couldn't help but cry in his arms and hug him tighter..