Michael's P.O.V

I hated the fact that I had to leave Maria with nothing more than a note, but I had been pulled out by my bodyguards. The frenzy of the paparazzi had gotten too much.

I had been sitting in my hotel room for over two hours, but she hadn't showed, I hoped that the press hadn't got to her.

I had promised to do a press conference tomorrow afternoon to try and clear up the wild rumours and I wasn't looking forward to it. Matt had told me to either make mine and Maria's relationship public or cut it off completely.
I had no intention of doing the latter, but I really didn't want to put her in the spotlight either.

Another hour passed and I'd had enough of waiting. I sensed that something wasn't quite right, but I was probably just being paranoid. I guessed that she hadn't left the hospital, worrying about Destiny, it was something she would do.

I had to go back there, but I couldn't without the paparazzi pouncing on the both of us.

I decided to phone Matt.

"I need your help, man. I know that you don't approve of me and her, but I need to get back to the hospital. She needs me. Can you get me out of here?"
He reluctantly agreed to assist me, and I just managed to slip out unnoticed. The press and fans had died down a little, my security had seen to that with the bribe of my press conference the next day.

As we drove down there, I could've sworn I saw her walking along the side of the road, but I couldn't be sure in the awkward light of the blackened windows.
I guess minds do play tricks when you're in love, I thought.

Maria's P.O.V

I hadn't been walking too long when a car pulled over in the lay by ahead of me. I saw a familiar waving and jumping figure.
"MARIA! HEY M! IT'S ROX!" I hurried over to her.

"Hey" I mumbled as she nearly suffocated me in a massive hug.
"What the hell are you doing hitchhiker? Are you gonna get in or what?" I nodded and slung my bag over the front seat as I got in. I was relieved that I didn't have to walk all the way there at least.

"So where's the most wanted nurse going?" I looked at her, confused.

"Oh c'mon you know what I'm on about, I leave you for like four days and you end up bagging the most famous guy on the planet? At first I couldn't believe it, but you know, maybe I should leave you more often" She wiggled her eyebrows at me.
"I haven't 'bagged' anybody. Can you just get me to the hospital? That's where nurses are supposed to be going, right?" She giggled as she drove towards the only place that I felt safe.

"Girl, you sure can pick 'em! I mean he's loaded, and he's sooo hot like I can't believe you got such a looker! I thought you were gonna be single forever, you were so boring, you never wanted to date anybody... M, are you okay? You look a little off for someone who just managed to get Michael Jackson into bed- oh my god, please tell me you have done it with him, I bet he's a real mover in the sheets, I've seen what those hips can do-"

"Jesus christ Roxanne, give it a rest! We're not even together okay? At least, it's not official... and it's never going to be. What is it with you and sex? Why do you have to be such a... Look, I'm just stressed at the moment. One of the little girls on my ward is in surgery right now and that's all I care about. I am not dating Michael Jackson okay?"

She glanced at me and was silent.

"There's something else wrong, isn't there?"
I sighed "Yes. I need to tell you something... but could you pull over a second?" She did as I asked and cut the engine.

"What is it?"
"You know what I told you about Craig? Well I didn't quite tell you everything. See, when he left, Michael turned up and he found me crying"

Her eyes widened, but she kept quiet.

"Anyway, we... kissed... and then he got angry at Craig but I managed to keep him from going out to look for him. So he dropped me over to your place" She nodded.

"Anyway, you went out with Jed right? So that evening Michael came by and we had a slight argument, but nothing major. We nearly... but he decided it was too soon and he was a bit drunk so he stayed the night, in separate rooms at first, but then I had a nightmare and we ended up sharing a room and we both just fell asleep."

"Okay, but that doesn't explain why-"

"I haven't finished. Look I went back to my apartment today to get my things and... Craig was there. Don't start! I know it was a bad idea okay but I wanted to forget the whole thing and eventually move back in, but that's not going to happen now... to cut a long story short, Craig is onto me and Michael. He wants to ruin our relationship and in doing so, Michael's career. He made a disgusting video of me and Michael and is threatening me with it unless I break up with Michael... Oh, and do you know where Jed went earlier?"

She gripped the wheel. "Please don't say he..."

"I'm sorry Rox, but he works for him, I don't know why..."
"I do. He's a journalist" We both looked at each other. It all suddenly made sense.

"Rox, I need you to help me. I l-love Michael. I do. I love Michael. I don't want this to happen, I can't lose him. If you please help me out, I can stop Craig and you can get your pretty manicured nails into Jed"

She hugged me tight and whispered "I've always wanted to hear your fighting talk M, I have a plan, but you're just going to have to roll with it if it's gonna work. Pretend we never spoke."

I nodded and after a few minutes, we were back on the road with nothing more than the chaos of our thoughts to break the silence.

Michael's P.O.V

I was snuck into the back door to the hospital and it wasn't long before a doctor approched us.

"Mr Jackson, I'm Doctor Millstone. I'm surprised to see you here so soon, but rest assured that the press have moved on, you will be quite safe here for now"
"Thank you Doctor. I was wondering if you know the whereabouts of a Nurse Rose? She was attending to the little girl I was visiting earlier"
"Ah, well, Nurse Rose signed off for the day a few hours ago, I'm afraid."
My heart sank. "So she's not here?"
"I believe she will be back soon, she has been put down as a visitor for when Destiny Tate comes out of surgery, she still has another hour" With that, he left me to wait.

I was suddenly confused, if Maria had left the hospital, why hadn't she come to see me? Maybe it was the paparazzi that frightened her, I couldn't blame her for that.

"Matt, I don't know if I should make me and her public yet. She didn't come to my hotel because of the paparazzi, she's not ready" I put my head in my hands.

He put his hand on my shoulder. "Look man, I know that it's difficult, but she chose to be with you, that means she chose everything that comes with it. If she loves you like you do her, she's gonna have to accept it. And if not... well, you still have us"

I sighed, he was right. I just hoped this would end well.

*