Rayne's POV

Even after a few days, it was still hard to understand that I had a sibling. I still hadn't called her, and honestly I wasn't sure I would. Why would she wait all these years to connect with me? The way I grew up, I couldn't imagine having a sibling to deal with that pain with me.

I went through so many emotions, I was angry because, why would my mother keep her from me for so long? Why did Alonna get the pleasure of not having to grow up with my abusive mother? I was confused from the fact that my mother actually had another child and never told me, she cheated on my dad.

I sat up in bed, staring down at the now wrinkled card in my hand holding my sister's phone number.

"Call her." Michael says, his eyes studying me at the door. "It's not easy finding out you have a sibling, I know." He says sitting on the edge of the bed.

"I'm so conflicted.." I sigh.

"Let me guess, you're upset and angry and confused? Right?" He says, he leans his feet on the bed, pulling me into his arms.

I nod silently, I know Michael knew exactly what I was going through after dealing with his sister for the past 20 years. He still hadn't accepted Joh'vonnie as his sister, and I was afraid I'd be like him and hold resentment against the wrong person.

I sat there quietly as Michael picked up the phone and handed it over to me. "Invite her over, get your questions answered.. don't be like me." He says.

I sigh, taking the phone and slowly dial the number.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Alonna... it's Rayne."

Her voice sounding just as exasperated as mine, "hey Rayne... what can I help you with?"

"I'm ready to talk.. I just needed some time to think. So I want to invite you over.. so we can get to know each other." I stutter through the statement.

She breathes heavily, "ok, I'm glad you called.." I let her know my address and she told me she'd be here within the next two hours.

"I'm proud of you." Michael says, his arm placed around me.

***

I'm glad she was coming while the kids weren't home, Camille was at school and Michael was with Siggy's for the day. Siggy had practically adopted Michael as his own, which I thought was ok seeing as how Michael doesn't have a older brother to look at, only his dad.

But I wasn't sure if I wanted her to meet my kids yet, I was already uncomfortable she was meeting my husband.

"You have to give her some credit, at least she didn't go to the media about this.." Michael says walking into his office door, as I finalized my cleaning in the living room.

Leon escorted her inside the house and I gave him the ok to leave us alone.

Alonna cautiously walked in with her briefcase in hand, a small awkward grin on her face.

"Hi, I'm glad you called.." she says. "Can I sit down?"

"Yeah of course.. sorry." I sigh sitting at the table opposite her.

"I brought my briefcase full of documents for all of your questions.. I know proof is the main thing you need to accept all this. So please ask me anything." She prepares herself, placing her hands on the table with a soft smile.

My eyes wander, going completely blank in questions I had I simply ask her. "How'd you get here... what's your story?"

"Well.. Tammi and my birth father Richard Grim were on and off for about a year in 1960.. then in 1961, I was born."

"My mother and father didn't divorce until '63.. so you're telling me, my mother cheated on my dad." I ask shaking my head, my father loved her.

"I don't want this to ruin the thought of your mother.. I'm just going by what I've been told." She adds cautiously.

"No no, if anything you're confirming it." I mutter, "ok so, your father and my mother got together and had you. She just gave you up?" I add.

"Luckily I got to talk to my birth father before he died, and he said, he and mom- Tammi, came to a mutual decision that they never wanted a child between the two of them. So they gave me up. He said it was hard for him, but my mother had no problem because she had to keep me a secret from your dad."

That sounded like her.. always thinking of herself and not her child. "Alonna, I'm sorry that she-"

"Don't be. I had a really good life.." she smiles, "I just want to meet my other half of my family. My birth father pointed me in your direction.. well in your father's direction.. but I heard he passed. I'm sorry."

"Thanks, it was a few years ago. He probably would've been easier to get ahold of then I was." I chuckle softly.

"Yeah I figured, but I really needed to find you.."

"I think we both did." I sigh, "did you wanna ask me anything?" I ask her.

Without hesitation she asks, "what was mom like? How did you live?"

I sigh, not wanting to tarnish the image she may have of our mother but I wanted to be honest. "The truth? She was a horrible mother.. for the first five years of my life, she was great.. but once my- our grandmother passed, she became someone else and she was terrible."

"Oh God...was she abusive?"

"Very." I answered, "Alonna.. I don't want to turn you away from her or your feelings toward her.." I hesitate telling her more.

"No, this is good. I want the truth about her." She urges me to keep going, reaching out to squeeze my hand.

"She was addicted to drugs and she tried to get clean but it ended up killing her..I moved out here with my dad when I turned 19 to get away from her."

"Wow." She says. We were interrupted by Michael coming out of his office to grab a glass of water from the kitchen.

"Oh mike, come meet my um.. my sister." I force out my mouth, it still doesn't feel right to say. "This is my husband.. your brother in law."

She gives a small smile and shakes his hand, "hi, I'm Alonna.. nice to meet you"

Michael outstretches his arms for a hug, "your family now so." He smiles. She gives a small grin and like clockwork Janet walks in with my kids.

"Hey, I picked up Michael from Siggy's, he said he's sorry he couldn't drop him off." Janet announced.

"Mommy!" Michael smiles, running into my legs. I pick him up, giving Alonna an awkward grin.

"Well.. this is your niece and nephew.." I say as Camille hugs me sweetly.

"Hi!" Alonna smiles.

"Camille this is your Aunt Alonna." I explain.

Camille frowns, "daddy has another sister?" She asks.

"No. this is my sister." I explain.

"Huh? But I thought you were an only child mom.." she asks.

"Yeah me too. So this is my sister in law?" Janet asked.

"Yeah. It's a long story.." Michael says seeing both my sister and I were getting uncomfortable. "Dunk thanks for bringing the kids back. We'll talk later ok?"

"Alright.." she says suspiciously.

"I'll take the kids upstairs Ray.. you continue with your visit." He says.

"Oh, you know what. It's time for me go anyway. Let's catch up tomorrow ok?" She smiles. "It was so nice to meet your family and your kids!" She gives me a small hug before heading out.

***

Michael's POV

I knew Rayne was going through a lot. It's not easy to learn that you have a sibling. Especially when your family has always been relatively small. I tried to give her as much support as I could, while trying to balance working on my album and getting a few things done before Christmas because we were going to New York.

I couldn't wait for this album to be over and done because it was taking away from time I could spend with my kids.

"Dad.." Camille says sweetly creaking the door open.

"Yes beautiful.." I respond with a smile. She hops in my lap and curls up.

"I love you." She says.

"I love you more. What's this for?" I smile.

"You've been so busy I don't get to see you before I go to bed, so I just wanted to tell you I love you."

I smile to myself cuddling her tighter, no matter how old she gets, she'll always be my baby girl. "I love you too Millie."

"More than Mikey?" She giggles,

I laugh loudly, "that's not fair. I love the both of you equally."

"If you had to choose.." she says trying to justify her question.

"I'm not gonna have to choose." I responded, tickling her.

"Ok.. ok." She giggles. "When did mommy get a sister?"

I sigh, "that's a long story that mom will have to tell you. Maybe when you're older you'll get it.. ok?" She nods quietly, "alright go to bed. I'll see you in the morning." I smile pecking her forehead, watching her walk out of my office.

***

My brothers wanted to go into the dance studio to work on old moves and see if they've still got it. We haven't performed together in 20 years so I hoped we still had the same chemistry, or even better than before, that way we don't fight like we used to.

I met them with my son, at the hayvenhurst estate dance studio where they had already been talking about our set list. "Hey fellas." I sigh.

"Hey Mike, about time you showed up." Jackie jokes,

I chuckle slightly, "I know, I had to bring Mike Jr, Rayne's got a meeting at Camille's school.. what's going on here."

"We were just talking about the music for the performance. Kinda buying time to wait on you." Tito says.

"Well I'm here, let's get to work." I clap.

"Oh mike you were right. Alejandra is pregnant.." Jermaine says standing in his spot.

I chuckle, "told you." I started the music and we began dancing, surprisingly we've still got the same chemistry.

"Damn it Randy, you keep stepping on my feet. That last step is left not right." Jermaine groans.

"It's alright, we're rehearsing. Randy's not used to you being on his left.. let's start again." I instruct, trying to keep the peace. Mike stands in front of us trying to copy our moves causing us to laugh.

"He's just like you mike." Randy chuckles.