Ocean's POV

It's Monday morning and Michael and I are getting ready for our first day back. I have to admit I feel kinda nervous about going back. "Are you ok?" Michael asks finishing getting ready "mhm" I lie "how about you?" He nods nervously "I'll be ok"

"What about...." He cuts me off "I'll just keep my distance from him" he comes closer and cups my face in his hands "you and DJ mean more to me than anything and I promise you I'm never gonna bring anything like that back into our house again ok?" I nod smiling and he kissing my temple. We never told Joseph Michael was getting the Coke from a friend at work because if he knew he'd make him quit working there, but Michael really needs this job.

*****
Michael's POV

After I dropped Ocean off at school I head straight to work. I know I told her I was ok but truth is I'm actually really worried about today. I haven't told Ocean or Joseph that Ray's been calling and texting me all week because I don't want either of them to worry and so far I've managed to avoid him but I know it's not gonna be easy to do once we're in the same building.

Once I'm in work it doesn't take long before Ray sees me and comes rushing over "hey! I've been trying to a get hold of you all week. You avoiding me or something?"

"No, I've just not been feeling good so I took some time off" he nods understandably "yeah there has been a lot of bugs going around" I'm about to leave and he starts following beside me "so I'm guessing your gonna need some more...you know?" He winks "um....actually I'm not..." Before I can finish Jack comes over "first day back and already fucking around?"

"No! I was just on my way" I tell him and quickly leave. I knew this would happen as soon as I got back. Ray has been a good friend to me and I do feel bad avoiding him but, I've been given chance after chance and there's only go be so many 2nd chances i'm gonna get. So I really can't fuck up this time.

I'm in the office working on some orders and Jack comes in "glad to see your feeling much better" he smiles coming over to me "um. Yeah" I shrug and carrying on with what I'm doing "you know I've been  lookin for an assistant supervisor right?

"Yeah I know" I nod "you should think about going for it'll be a great opportunity for you"

"Thanks, I'll defiantly think about it" I smile. I look over at the clock and notice the time "I should get going. I gotta go pick my wife up" I tell him getting up to leave "well I'll go through it all with you sometime and let you know all the details" he smiles "yeah, that's sound good" I shrug "yeah, you can come over. I'll get us a pizza and some beers. Make a night of it" he stands smiling at me and he's really starting to make me uncomfortable "my nights are actually pretty busy" he nods understandably "wife trying to put you on lockdown huh? My wife's a real bitch like that sometimes too" I frown shaking my head "Ocean's actually pretty cool" he walks over putting his hand on my shoulder "you should give sometime to yourself as well you know? Your a young boy. It doesn't always have to be about work and family" I'm about to say something and Ray walks in and for the first time today I'm actually relieved to see him "I'll leave you to it" Jack smiles leaving the room. "That was weird" I frown and Ray chuckles "more like creepy....your a young boy it doesn't alway have to be about work" he mimics making me laugh.

Ray and I are talking as we're walking to our cars and just as I'm about to get in he stops me taking my arm "sorry we didn't get to finish our little talk earlier" I sigh knowing exactly what he's talking about "listen, me and Ocean aren't actually doing that any more" I explain and he nods smiling through pursed lips "I get it. You not being in work last week must have put a really strain on the back balance"

"Well yeah but..." He cuts me off shaking his head "Mike it's cool. Your a good customer I know your good for it" I shake my head "it not the money it's just..." He cuts me off putting his hand in my pocket "like I said it's cool, you can pay me back on Friday" he smiles and walks away.

When he's gone I sit my car and take it out of my pocket. I knew today was gonna be hard and it was good of Ray to help me out like that 'fuck it' I sigh to myself putting it in the glove compartment. Ocean and I made a promise not just to ourselves but to DJ. I just wanna get today over and done with.

*****
Ocean's POV

When Michael picks me he seems really quite "how did it go?" I ask and he nods "it was fine" he smiles through pursed lips "and you?"

"It was good. I spoke to the principal about me leaving so I was mainly just signing some forms so today's my last day"

"So you won't be going to your prom?" I shake my head "to be honest I really didn't wanna go anyway" he sighs and looks over at me seriously "do you really wanna leave or are you just doing it because I told you to?" I nod smiling "I really wanna leave"

When we get home I see my mother coming out of her house "Ocean can we please talk?" She asks nervously "I know we've said this a thousand times but we really are sorry about what happened and I know we don't deserve it but I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me someday" I can see the sincerity in her eyes "I forgive you" I smile through pursed lips. "Maybe we can go for coffee or something sometime? I'd really like to see you and get to know DJ"

"I don't really think.." I begin to say and she nods cutting me off "I understand. It's gonna time" I nod looking at the ground "I'm not gonna push you. So whenever your ready I'm here ok? She smiles then heads back inside.

When we get inside Michael doesn't say anything and I can see he's pissed off. "Do you really wanna see them again?" He asks concerned "I don't know..maybe. Their still my family even after" he cuts me off  "after they called you a slut and disowned you? And tried to make you give up our son?" He frowns "and what about all the stuff they used to do? They were always putting you down and bullying you into things you didn't wanna do and if you did it wrong you got beat for it...and what about them taking your brother away from you?"

"Why are you getting so mad at me?" I asks getting upset about him reminding me about all that stuff. He sighs calming himself down "I'm sorry I didn't mean snap at you like that" he says pulling me close "it's just you and DJ are my family now and I don't want anybody hurting either of you"

"The 3 of us are always gonna be a family no matter what and I haven't actually said I wanna speak to them again"

"But your thinking about it?" He says softly and I nod feeling bad about upsetting him like this. He kisses my temple then pulls away slightly "you've had a long day. why don't you go relax in the bath and I'll cook us something nice to eat" he smiles

****
Michael's POV

It really pissed me off that Jessica thinks she can walk back into Ocean's life like that and say she wants to get to know DJ. I know Ocean is thinking about it because that's what's she's like she's so forgiving. But like I said. her and DJ are my family now and when DJ was first born Carson even said to me if I wanted them so badly then I can keep them and that's exactly what I'm gonna do.

**
Once Ocean is in the bath I sneak out the front door and head over to their house. "Can we please talk?" I ask Jessica when she comes to the front door and she invites me in. "Is everything ok?" She asks sitting on the sofa and I sit on the chair opposite her. "Ocean asked me to come over here and give you a message" she looks at me concerned "she said she's sorry but she can't forgive you for what's happened" she frowns confused "but she just..." I cut her off "I know what she said, but she only said that because she felt uncomfortable and wanted to go inside" she sighs looking at the ground visibly hurt "I'm really sorry...but she said doesn't wanna see any of you anymore" she nods pursing her lips "I understand. Maybe one day" she smiles slightly "maybe" I shrug.

I quickly sneak back into the house and head to the kitchen and start cooking before Ocean finishes her bath.