Michael's P.O.V

"Michael? Michael! C'mon sleepy head, the doctor's gonna be here any time soon"

I heard that familiar sweet voice cut through my dreamless sleep. I scrunched my eyes up as I turned and looked at her.

My love. My girl. At least, that's what she would have been if I hadn't been so stupid as to walk away. I was determined to never do that again.

Her hair was tied into a loose ponytail, obviously done in a rush in an attempt to tidy herself up. She was fully dressed in yesterday's clothes, though they were slightly rumpled from spending the night on the floor. She had just managed to put on some subtle pink lipgloss, making me want to kiss her all over again.

That was the thing with women, no matter where they were they always seemed to have makeup on them, it could be an apocalypse and they'd still be rummaging around for their cosmetics.

But she needn't have bothered, she was effortlessly beautiful. I wished it was that easy for me, maybe then the press would keep off my back. I wasn't vain or anything, not at all. I just had to look perfect all the time, especially after all my trouble with acne, the looks people gave me, I couldn't stand for people to call me ugly ever again. I wouldn't be able to survive that.

I rubbed my face with my hands and she grinned.

"I'm guessing you slept well"

I wasn't used to her toying with me, I liked it.

"Like a baby, thank you for enquiring Miss Rose"

I saw her face redden as she blushed. We were both as bad as each other. She fidgeted with the lose strands of her hair. I couldn't believe that I was capable of making her feel so... uncomfortable. But she didn't seem that uncomfortable the night before, maybe, unlike me, she had come down from cloud nine and was starting to regret what we had done. I hoped that wasn't the case, I would quite happily do that again.

"Oh and your clothes are on the end of the bed"

My heart slammed to a halt as I realised I was completely starkers. It was then my turn to blush.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to watch. I'm going to step outside... you know, to distract the doctor until you're... um, decent"

She hurried out of the room, tripping over her shoelace as she went out of the door. I smiled, she was too sweet.

She was being particularly intriguing, perhaps she was still on a high. Nonetheless, it was still evident that I was completely smitten by her. She was beyond perfect.

As I got dressed, I thought back to the night before. I could still smell her on my skin, and taste her lips. I couldn't think of anything more perfect than the feeling of being consumed by nothing else but love.

Maria's P.O.V

I cringed as I pulled the door closed. I had completely embarrassed myself in front of him.

I had been awake for over an hour or two before I woke him up, just watching him sleep.

His curls were all messed up, stuck to his forehead. His chest moved evenly, his eyelashes were so long, perhaps even longer than mine. He was the most beautiful creature I had ever had the pleasure to lay my eyes on, even though he insisted he wasn't. I guess that just added to his perfections, he was so modest. He deserved every compliment in the world, yet he took each one with suprise and grace, and being completely bashful by the attention.

I couldn't understand how someone who behaved so confident on stage could be so shy. How did I deserve someone so perfect when I couldn't even walk in a straight line without making a fool of myself? Why would someone so famous want to even look at me anyway, let alone...

I stopped at the realisation of who was really in that room. This wasn't Michael, the shy and sensitive man that I fell in love with, this was Michael Jackson, the superstar, completely untouchable, the one who wouldn't even give most journalists the privilege of an interview. And yet I had spent the night with him.

What was I going to do? Would we have to pretend it had never happened, and say we were nothing more than acquaintances again? I didn't think I could put up with that charade any longer. I feared that I was going to lose him again, and I knew that I wouldn't be able to handle my heart being crushed a second time. I was starting to panic before I spotted the familiar figure of the doctor who had consulted Michael the day before. It seemed like a lifetime ago.

I smoothed out my clothes and prayed I looked presentable and not obvious. But I reasoned that surely any other family members would look the same after spending the night in a hospital. I just hoped I looked more like a stressed mess rather than a lovemaking mess.

I heard Jack's words in my head "you're not his family" . But it was impossible to be anything else to him, he meant too much to me, the way I had subconsciously ran to his side told me as much. And I hadn't seen any other family here, or at all since I'd known him. I would have to take that role since nobody else seemed to care. I wondered what could have happened between Michael and his brothers to warrant them not coming to visit him.

With new confidence, I made my way over to the doctor. I cleared my throat and he turned to me and I took in his features for the first time.

I froze at what I saw.

This man, his eyes with the same squint, his features, though aged, were exactly the same as that pig I used to know. Craig. This could only be his father, the likeness was uncanny.

"Can I help you, young lady?" His voice however, was not the irritated growl I expected. In fact, it was soft, professional.

"Um y-yes. Yes. Mr Jackson is awake, and you said you would come by this morning to check on him, Doctor....?"

"Murray. Dr Murray. Did I not introduce myself yesterday? My apologies. Of course, let's go now, hopefully we shouldn't have to keep you both much longer. You are his relation?"

I hadn't expected that question.

"...Of sorts. It's not blood related no... more like an um, acquaintance. But... but I'm always here for him... he's done a lot for me, especially recently, it would only be right to return the favour."

He nodded thoughtfully as we walked down the corridor to Michael's private room. I wondered if he was aware of what his son had been up to. But then I supposed that doctors were not always able to keep up with current events, what with their long hours.

We pushed open the door and I was relieved to see a very laid back, fully clothed Michael, lying in bed and rigged up as if he hadn't moved a muscle.

It was almost comical, like we were part of a big practical joke. I just hoped he was feeling as serious about us as I was, then maybe we'd stand a chance of being together, officially. That's what I wanted most, I didn't want to sneak around anymore, I felt too involved with him now, I was in too deep, I couldn't just cast us away as nothing.

I waited anxiously as the doctor fiddled with wires, taking Michael's blood pressure and asking him about his symptoms. They seemed to have subsided, but I wasn't so sure that was the case for myself, but I had felt like this for so long, I wasn't sure if it was really me or these do called antipsychotics.

I wasn't even sure if I could trust the doctor either, what if he knew everything and was a part of it? Why would he then tell us about it? None of this made any sense.

I crossed the room and got myself a plastic cup of water from the water cooler. I tasted it, it didn't seem suspicious. I shook myself, I had to stop being a fool, this was a hospital and anything I drank would be fine, or else the entire hospital would be closed down. I had to stop being paranoid.

"I would also like to ask you some questions about your general health, Mr Jackson."

Michael nodded, leaning back into the pillows. He seemed very relaxed considering the ordeal he had been through. Maybe I needed to chill out, he would be fine now that we knew what was going on.

"Have you had any alcohol in the past few days?"

Michael nodded. "Just a little though, only a little"

The doctor sighed. "Well, alright. Do you smoke?"

Michael laughed and shook his head. I knew why he found it amusing, he sang for a living, he couldn't compromise his career by smoking. Besides, I couldn't even imagine him with a cigarette, it seemed unnatural. I took a sip of my drink.

"Okay, good. Finally, are you sexually active?"

I spat out my drink and spluttered, alerting the doctor.

"Are you okay, madam?"

I finished coughing and nodded "Yes, thanks, I'm fine. Sorry"

I looked up at Michael, who was clearly entertained by the whole episode. Why did he have to ask that question, I thought.

"No need to apologise, Miss Rose. She's definitely fine, if you know what I mean doc, aren't you sweetheart?"

My heart sped up at his playful tone. What was he doing?!

"No, I can't say I do know what you mean, sir."

Michael dramatically rolled his eyes. "I mean that she's fine. You know how we say things in America? You heard my Thriller album doc, the song 'PYT'?"

The doctor looked at him, confused. "I should imagine most people of the English speaking language has heard your album, but I would much rather you answer my question, then you can go."

The situation was getting beyond humiliating. I couldn't take much more of his messing around.

"What he's trying to communicate Dr Murray, is that yes, he is sexually active since me and him had sex only last night."

I looked up at Michael, smug. He stared at me with a stunned expression. We both looked over at the doctor, who had taken my place at being embarrassed.

"Ah. Well. That's. That is helpful, for our tests anyway. Thank you, I think, for sharing."

Not much to anybody's suprise, he was keen to discharge us and leave.

Michael's P.O.V

I couldn't believe what I had just heard. Where did this confident, sexy, flirty woman come from? I was learning more and more about Maria all the time.

She watched the door close on the nosy doctor, then turned to me, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Oh Michael! What have I said? I'm so sorry, I-I always say the wrong things when I'm nervous"

I immediately got out of the bed and beckoned her to come to me. I hugged her tight, breathing in her hair. I couldn't stand to see her upset, it brought back unfavourable memories.

"I know that, Maria, you told me before. And don't worry, I don't mind that you said, you got me out of an awkward situation"

She pulled away and smiled at me. "I guess.... are you sure? What if he tells people? I've just put you in danger again"

"It's definitely fine" We both laughed as we remembered the poor doctor's embarrassed face.

I walked over to the chair and rummaged in my coat pocket that was draped over it. I pulled out the small black box that I had stored there moments before I had passed out. Or maybe it had been Matt, I still was fuzzy bon the details. I would rather forget it had ever happened. I saw Maria's eyes widen.

"Maria, I'm only in danger when I'm not with you. I was a fool to leave you. I need you in my life, Maria, that's all I can say and..." I got down on one knee, my palms sweating as I remembered what happened the last time. Maria put a shaky hand to her mouth, not saying anything.

"And I remember that you were rudely interrupted the last time I was in this position. So could you... could you possibly finish your sentence?"

Maria nodded and looked me deep in the eyes. "I believe I was going to say... that Of course I will marry you, Michael"

I leapt up and held her, a big grin over both our faces. I slid the ring onto her finger.

It was a little on the big side, but still beautiful. I would have to get her another one later on, I couldn't help being a perfectionist.
Maria's P.O.V

We left the room together, Michael's hand on the small of my back, his touch burning through my coat. I was in a state of complete euphoria, I couldn't believe it was really happening.

As we made our way to reception, I heard a yell, making us turn round. A girl was rushing over to us, and my stomach twisted as I recognised her. If it hadn't been for Michael holding onto me,I would have ran out of there alone.

"ARE YOU GOING TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY I HAVE A TRUCKLOAD OF REPORTERS AT MY HOUSE, ASKING ME WHY I AM SLEEPING WITH MICHAEL JACKSON?!"

I felt Michael's stare burning a hole in my chest. I looked at the ghost of my past and sighed.

"I have nothing to say to you"

"No? Well I have tonnes to say to you. Why would you do this to me? I'm your sister, your soul mate, your other half, your twin. I guess that's why it was so easy to steal my name, wasn't it Suzie?"
Michael let go of me. I knew then that everything I had gained, everything I had done to keep my past from consuming me, was now coming back to bite me.