Michael & I woke up in the morning on the couch, bare and cold. I looked at Michael's angelic face and saw him smile back at me with his sleepy eyes. Michael kissed my forehead and looked us over. I looked too and began to blush but I wasn't smiling because I mainly looked at myself. I will never understand why Michael still loves me at all.. Why did he even marry me? Why does he not see what I see? Why does he want me?.. I mean ME.. Of all people.. Michael must've sensed my despair because he made me look at him and he kissed me with all the love that I felt last night with him. Then he pulled back and looked at me. I was still in a daze from the kiss.

Michael: You're beautiful Suzanne.

Michael assured me. I didn't believe him so I looked away.. I wanted to believe him but I just couldn't..

Michael: Suzanne, why don't you believe me?

I looked at him again.

Suesie: Because I-.. I.. I don't know..

Michael: Yes you do, tell me.

I sighed..

Suesie: Look at me Michael!

Michael looked..

Suesie: Never mind, don't look..

I said covering myself.. Michael chuckled lightly.

Michael: What's the problem?

Suesie: Why can't you see this? ME! Are you blind?

Michael gave me a pitiful and convoluted look.

Michael: No I'm not blind.. What are you talking about?

Suesie: What the hell do you mean, 'What am I talking about?' Why can't you see the scars, scratches, bruises, stitches, and dry blood? Why can't you see the iniquities that I have? What about my bad habits? Why can't you see the same things that I do?

Michael gave me a stern but concerned look.

Michael: I do see them, but I look past them.. You really need to stop your blasphemous and explicit words.. I love you, and part of loving you is looking past your bad habits.. I don't have anything without you. You are my light and my heart.. You look past my iniquities and other imperfections. But the fact that you don't love yourself is devastating. Baby, you shouldn't be ashamed around me.. You could walk around the house naked for all I care but the fact that you can't even stand in the mirror and smile at your reflection.. It hurts baby. It really does.

Michael said trying to pry my hands away from my body.

Suesie: Why do you make it seem like it hurts you more than it hurts me? Do you have to walk around with this body? Were you born with this? Did you get cut up and raped? Did you get pregnant and have a miscarriage? Did your mother get brutally murdered in front of you? No? I didn't think so.. Why can't you see this? Why do you even love me?

I said getting up and leaving the living room. I limped my way upstairs and put on some clothes. I went back downstairs but I didn't see Michael.. Oh well.. I got into the vehicle that we own and began to think about everything that I said.. I found myself starting to cry remembering what happened the day I was manipulated.. I prefer not to talk about it though. I cried so much that I couldn't see anything. I decided to just go and take a bath to clear my mind of things.. I got up there and got in the bathroom, then I ran some water.  It was as hot as I could stand. I laid there in the hot water and just thought about everything.. The school, my husband, my stalker, and my childhood.. I hated my life as a child.. I was always being insulted or hurt.. But the thing that got me the most was the day my innocence was taken away....

I never liked myself since that day. I closed my eyes and tried to drown out my pleads for help but it kept on haunting me.

'STOP! PLEASE!'

The screams got louder and tears streamed down my face.

'MOMMY! HELP ME! SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME!'

It wouldn't stop. I started to sink into the water flowing deeper and deeper into my trance.

'DON'T DO THIS TO ME! STOP IT! YOU'RE HURTING ME!'

My hair was in the water, along with my lips.. I blew bubbles, trying to clear the air out of my lungs. I started to hear the creaking of the bed and the cries from my mouth beginning to fade. I started to sink my eyes under the water when I heard a door close. I opened my eyes and looked at the door in a heartbeat.

No one..

I looked at the water and thought about what I was about to do.. How could I do that to Michael? He loves me so much. The phone rang right then and there, but I let it go to voicemail. The voicemail was very familiar.

'This is the Jackson residence, please leave your information here and we will get back to you. Much love and God bless you.'

Beeeep!

?: Since when is it a we? Michael Jackson, you need to pick up your phone and call me back.. I mean pick it up right this second.. NOW MICHAEL!

I ran to the phone and picked it up.

Suesie: Hello?

?: SUZANNE?

Suesie: Yes, this is she..

?: Oh my Lord! I'm so glad you're alright!

Suesie: ...... Thank you?

The woman sighed.

LaToya: It's your sister from High school.. Yvonne..

It finally hit me.

Suesie: Oh my gosh! Hello! How are you?

LaToya laughed.

LaToya: I'm doing great. Where is Michael?

Suesie: I don't know.

LaToya: Well, will you tell him that I said to call us?

Suesie: I will do that.

LaToya: Thank you! I'll talk with you later, bye!

LaToya said hanging up. I went and put on some clothes. Then I sat down and watched 'Fat Albert and The Cosby Kids'. I was about to fall asleep when I heard the door open again but this time, it was the bedroom door and I saw who it was. Michael was holding a bear in one arm and in his hand was a rose. It was so sweet. I looked at him with tired eyes and smiled. Michael came over to me and set the bear down. He handed me the rose and said the most sincere thing I've ever heard.

Michael: This rose represents you. You have beauty that no one can resist and the true beauty lies within it. The thorns are your imperfections and protection. You keep walls up and don't let anyone in them or even tear them down. Your imperfections fascinate me and they capture my eye. When this rose blooms, you will be able to see all the beauty that lies within it. You are my rose.

Suesie: That's sweet Michael but-.

Michael: This bear represents me. Always there, perfect to cuddle with, takes away your pain while feeling it, loving you, being loved by you, and has imperfections too.

Michael said cutting me off.

Suesie: That is true but-.

Michael: No baby.. Don't add on. Just accept it and remember what I said.

I nodded and laid the gifts beside the bed on my nightstand.

Suesie: Thank you.

Michael looked at me and smiled. I then remembered what LaToya told me.

Suesie: Oh and LaToya told me to have you call her.

Michael nodded and disappeared for a while. Then he came back after a few minutes.

Michael: Baby, get dressed.

Suesie: Formal or casual?

Michael: It doesn't matter, just get dressed.

Suesie: Alright.

I put on my green sun dress, green flip flops, brown belt, and brown sun hat. Then I went to our vehicle. On our way there, Michael asked me a few questions....

Michael: Baby?

Suesie: Yes?

Michael: Who touched you?

I became alarmed and my eyes widened.

Suesie: W-what?

I stammered.

Michael: Who touched you? You said that you were.... Manipulated..

Michael said glancing at me. I couldn't answer for a while.. It was too personal.

Suesie: .... Why?

I finally said.

Michael: I just want to know. I want to protect you from them and love you past that pain.

Suesie: Well it will never work.. Nothing will..

Michael sighed and frowned..

Michael: I shouldn't have asked that..

Suesie: You really shouldn't have asked..

Michael: I ask because I care.

Suesie: But do you even think about what that does to me to remember something like that, just to tell YOU?

Michael pulled into a parking lot and sighed again.. Then he put his head down as he shook it.

Michael: No.. Suzanne, I don't mean to hurt you.. I just want to know who to keep you from.. Who to protect you from.. Who to fight against for you.. Don't you know how much I Love You? I'd never intentionally hurt you.

Suesie: I'm going out for some air..

I said getting out of the vehicle. I walked beside the building and stood  there. I heard the car door close and I sighed. I turned around to to be face to face with Michael. He looked a little upset and his sorrow showed through everything. It burned through me and I saw him start to cry. I hugged him tightly and he started to talk through his tears.

Michael: Suzanne.. Baby I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to upset you.. I Love You so much.. I feel your pain.. I'm so sorry baby.. Please don't be mad..

Suesie: Michael, baby don't cry.

I said wiping his tears.

Michael: I'm sorry.. I can't..

Suesie: Don't be sorry. It's my problem, I have to live with it, and I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you. I'm sorry.

Michael looked at me and kissed me.. I smiled when I looked at him again and kissed away his remaining tears.. I kissed his eyelids and hand.. I wanted him to know how sorry I really was and how wrong this situation is.. I should be open to my husband, not pop off because  he wants to find out the truth about something important.

Michael: I Love You so much..

Michael grinned.

Suesie: I Love You more..

Michael shook his head..

Michael: If you only knew how much I Love You, you'd be blown away.

Suesie: If you knew how much that I Love You, You'd never believe it.

Michael & I put our foreheads together and started to whisper.

Michael: I know I'd believe it.

Suesie: Let's say that I Love You more than you will ever know and call it even.

Michael: I do too..

Michael & I just stood there and had a moment of connection.

Suesie: Let's get to our destination now.

Michael smiled and nodded. We got into the vehicle and drove to LaToya's house. She answered the door before we could knock on it.

LaToya: What took you so long? Why is Michael's nose red?

Suesie: Hello to you too.

I laughed. LaToya pointed us to her backyard and we sat down under the umbrellas. Michael looked at me and smiled. I smiled back at him, earning a wink and an air kiss. The yard was filled with other people and I reconized all but one of them. I did not reconize the woman.. Michael leaned in close to my ear and whispered great information to me.

Michael: That's our mother and your mother-in-law.

I nodded.

Suesie: Thank you.

Michael kissed my ear, causing me to get shivers down my spine, and sat back in his chair. LaToya came over and snatched me out of my seat.

LaToya: Suzanne! You must meet our mother! This is Katherine and we love her dearly.

I smiled and shook hands with Katharine.

Katherine: You are a very beautiful young woman.. Are you the one who's dating my Michael?

Suesie: Thank you and no..

Katherine frowned.

Katherine: That's too bad.

My ring started to sparkle in the sun's light. LaToya took my hand and looked at it conspicuously.

LaToya: Why didn't you tell me?

Suesie: Tell you what?

LaToya: Michael can be a real Applehead sometimes.

Suesie: What are you talking about?

LaToya pointed to the ring on my finger and gave Michael a look that said 'Really?' I was officially convoluted right now.

LaToya: Michael, In the house. Now!

LaToya shouted. She pulled me inside too.

Michael: What's the problem?

LaToya: The problem is this ring..

Michael: What wrong with it?

LaToya looked at Michael's hand too.

LaToya: YOU ALREADY DID IT? WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME? YOUR OWN FAMILY!

Michael: Stop yelling Toya.

LaToya: Don't Toya me. I don't even know what to say right now..

Suesie: LaToya, breathe.. Tell us what's wrong.

I said rubbing her back. LaToya looked up with tears falling.

LaToya: You got married behind our backs.. Why didn't you tell us? Or even mom?

Michael & I looked at each other and back at LaToya.

Michael: I'll admit it.. I was wrong but we love each other very much.

Suesie: I must promise to tell you everything after this.

LaToya smiled.

LaToya: Promise me and I have a question..

Suesie: I promise.. What's on your mind Yvonne?

LaToya grinned..

LaToya: Are you pregnant?

I blushed and walked away with embarrassment but I didn't go very far.

Suesie: Oh my gosh, LaToya!

Michael grinned and pulled me close to him.

Michael: Not yet, but we're working on it.

Michael looked directly at me and I blushed. He lightly pinched my cheek making me blush harder and for LaToya to giggle. The rest of the time, Michael & I had fun.. Until it was time to go..

Michael: I want to announce us..

Suesie: When? Right now?

Michael nodded.

Michael: Everyone, I'd like to make an announcement.. Suzanne & I have gotten married..

Everyone was looking at Michael as if he were a Cyclops.. Then they looked at me and Michael's mom came over to us calmly but intimidating.. She spoke softly to us..

Katherine: I'm very disappointed that you & my Michael got married behind our backs and didn't tell anyone.. But I'm just glad that he married you.. You are a very beautiful young woman and seem like you are very dedicated to Michael.. Take care of him and Michael, you take care of her.. Welcome to the family!

She said embracing us in a hug. The rest of the family followed behind Katherine and gave us hugs, along with words of encouragement. Michael looked at me and smiled. I smiled back at him and then we went home.

Michael: Oh my.. Baby aren't you glad that we told them?

Michael said smiling as he went through the door.

Suesie: Yes I am. It feels nice to know that I'm accepted into the Jackson Family.

Michael looked at me with an serious expression.

Michael: They have to now baby. We are a family now whether they like it or not.

Suesie: Well, I'm just glad that they did.

Michael smiled and kissed me, then he pulled back grinning.

Michael: Now, how about being a daddy.. That sounds nice, really nice.

I blushed and looked down.

Suesie: We should take a break from that, we need jobs.

Michael sighed with a smile and sat down on the couch.

Michael: Come and sit down baby.

Michael said as he pat his leg. I smiled and sat down. Michael turned on the TV and we just cuddled there until he slipped his hand under my shirt, feeling my injuries. I looked at him and he looked back at me.

Michael: You're my beautiful rose.. Never forget that.

Michael said and I half smiled. I got up and went to bed after that, then Michael joined me. He held me close and refused to let me go. This is why I love him.