Michael's point of view

When I came back from the Flatiron building around six in the evening, I expected June to be home to her family, but she still wasn't there, and I still couldn't reach her on her phone. As I began to grow worried, I asked David to call Rebecca for me, as I didn't have her number. I know this wasn't maybe the right thing to do, because June would have thought that I was spying on her, and not giving her the space she needed, but I really needed to know she was okay after what happened to her the previous night.

"Rebecca? It's David. Tell me, did you see June at all today?" he asked, pacing the floor of Michelle's living room. "Where is she now? What kinda stuff she needed to do? W-What?" he suddenly stopped. "You can't tell me? Listen, things are a little bit complicated right now, so if you know anything, just tell me. She had a-- a cardiac episode last night, and we don't feel safe knowing she's out there alone. How can you assure she's fine?"

I closely listened to the conversation, getting nervous little by little. As far as I understood, she knew where June was, but couldn't tell us where. That announced something bad.

I knew for sure that she was with Prince at that point, and my heart broke a little.

"She won't say shit, but she said June was fine," Dave told me as he hung up his phone. "She's probably going to call."

"I have a bad feeling about all of this," I said in a low voice, sitting on the couch. "I can feel she's with Prince. I just know it."

"Michelle and Damon are about to come back from work, maybe they'll know where she is. Don't draw any hasty conclusions before we know the truth, okay?"

"David," I sighed, running my hands on my face, "it's pretty clear to me that she's with him. She told me he was in New York, and then she suddenly said that she needed to go. She may not know that she has feelings for him, but I know it. It's not just friendship, and you probably know it too."

"You want to go there and check by yourself? I could come with you, if you want to," he offered kindly.

"No, even is she is with Prince, she needs space, and she needs answers. If he can be the one to give her her answers so that she comes back to me, then so be it."

"I honestly don't know what game she's playing with Prince, but I don't like it. I've seen them both together, and they're as thick as thieves, really, I ain't gonna lie about this," David declared before sighing. "Sometimes, I caught her looking at him with those lustful eyes, and it scared the shit out of me, because I don't like the guy."

"What if she chooses him over me?" I asked with a sharp pain in my heart at this only thought that she could let me down. "What if she just ran away with him? What if I planned this entire thing on Halloween for nothing? This could be the saddest story ever been told."

"This ain't gonna happen," David reassured, sitting next to me. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to her."

"But I'm also the worst. I put her through hell at times, and I know she's tired of it."

"Michael, come on. You know just as well as me that you put each other through hell. Your relationship was never easy, there was always something – or someone – in your way to create tensions between the both of you. This is your life," he shrugged, patting my shoulder gently. "This is just another ordeal that you'll go through together, as one."

Even though I wasn't convinced by his words, a little smile appeared on my face as I gave a friendly hug to David. I was glad I wasn't on my own at this moment, or I probably would have gone completely crazy.

"Thank you," I sincerely said, pulling away.

As on cue, the front door opened, and Michelle, Damon and Jeremy came in, all smiles.

"Hey guys," Jeremy greeted as he made his way up to us. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing much, just talking," David answered, shrugging. "Let me help you with that," he kindly said, taking the grocery bags from Damon's arms.

"And I'm taking care of these," I gently said to Michelle, taking her bags as well.

"Thank you, Michael," she smiled a bit. "So, where's my daughter?" she asked, following me to the kitchen.

Uneasy stares were exchanged between David and I, and of course, everybody caught our change of demeanor.

"She hasn't come back yet?" Jer asked, his face translating worry and confusion. "She's been gone since six this morning, and she's not home yet?"

"We called Rebecca, and she said she was fine, but she couldn't tell us where she was."

"That motherfucker," Jeremy muttered, clenching his jaw. "That's it, I'm kicking this midget's ass."

"Wait, Prince? Isn't he supposed to be back in Minnesota?" Michelle asked, confused.

"No, he's in New York, filming for his upcoming movie," I explained, before grabbing Jeremy's arm. "Leave her be. I could have gone there myself, but see? I'm still here."

"Why the fuck are you still here, Mike? This motherfucker is –"

"Jeremy! Language!" Michelle scolded.

"Seriously, Michelle. Prince is trying to get your daughter, and trust me, you don't want this short stack as ypur next son-in-law. He doesn't deserve June, but this man right here," he said, pointing at me, "sure he has made mistakes, sure he's been a real douche at times, but he loves your daughter like no one else could ever be able to love her. And that son of a bitch of Prince is trying to ruin this amazing love they share."

"This is no reason to respond by violence. If Michael decided it wasn't the right thing to do, then you should listen to him."

"Jer," I began, giving him a faint smile, "seriously, leave her be. She needs space, and I can understand that, you should do the same."

"I just can't stand to see her make mistakes all over again," he sighed, running a hand on his forehead. "Why did you have to be a douche and turn her down in the first place?" he asked, swatting my hand away.

"Because I needed to work on my trust issues, and because I-I freaked out. Things were never supposed to be like this," I said, and I started to become emotional. "I already told all of you why I ran away the way I did, and I want to apologize once again."

"That's okay," Damon reassured, giving me a gentle pat on the shoulder as well. "I guess this wasn't what you expected at all. The proposal, I mean."

"No, but the more I think about it, the more I come to think that it's not that surprising coming from June to be the one to propose, as she's spontaneous, and impulsive," I said with a little smile. "In my dreams, I was the one asking her to marry me, somewhere on the beach in the Bahamas. She would say yes, and by now, we'd be married with tones of children running around this place. But things got complicated, and she broke up with me for my own good, I got married to a crazy woman that I never loved and who made me believe that I was going to be a father which caused me to say goodbye to the love of my life once again. So much stuff happened in my love life, and June left me so much times that I freaked out when she proposed. I was petrified at the simple thought that she'd leave me again as my wife this time."

"What made you change you mind about getting married, then? You never said," Michelle asked me, in a shaky voice. She was becoming emotional as well.

"I love you her," I simply said, my voice cracking as the tears gathered in my eyes again. "I realized I've always trusted her, and through the months, June always proved me that she'll stick by my side every step of the way now, but still, I didn't listen to her. I used my trust issues as an excuse, while the problem is me, and only me. I'm so insecure about myself, about the way I look, about me not being good enough for her. That day, I was so afraid she found someone that finally was good enough for her in Prince that I just left, because I was so mad at myself," I explained, wiping the tears away from my eyes. "I worked on myself, I spent hours on the phone with friends, and finally, I knew what I had to do. I knew I couldn't let her get away. After everything she told me that particular day, that she loved me for who I was, I realized I wanted to end up my life with her."

When I looked at Michelle again, she had a slight smile on her face, but tears were flowing down her cheeks, as Damon was holding her tightly.

"You need to get your girl back, Michael," Damon told me, rubbing his wife's back.

"She'll get back to me when she's ready. I don't want to rush her, she said she needed space to think, and I'm giving her the space she needs, no matter how much time she needs."

"Are you sure she'll come back?" Jer asked me with sympathy.

"I don't know. I'm just as lost as y'all are. We just need to wait and see," I sadly said, sitting on a barestool. "I just hope I didn't plan all of this stuff for nothing."

"So you're positive about the fact that you want to propose so soon again?" Damon asked me.

"I am. I want to make things the right way. Sure, I won't propose the same way I dreamed of, but she'll remember that moment for the rest of her life, that I can promise you. Well, if she still wants me."

"We're not even sure she's been with Prince, Michael," Michelle reasoned.

"I know," I sighed, looking down at my lap. "The thing is, she said that she didn't want to get married until she has her ideas clear. Now I hope she will forgive me quickly enough, because I planned everything for Halloween."

"Do you know what you're gonna say this time? Because from what I've heard, she went all out with her love delcaration. Do you think you'll be able to do better than her?" Jer slightly laughed, trying to lighten up the mood.

"I wrote a few things down, yeah," I admitted, rubbing my neck.

"You should speak with your heart, Michael. Don't write things down," Michelle advised, coming closer to me. "When June proposed, she didn't plan anything. The words just came out, and you should do the same."

"I don't want to forget something, you know. I want this to be perfect this time. That's why I need your help," I said, standing up from my seat. "You know that June and I were supposed to go trick and treating with Tim on Halloween, right?"

"Is that still the case?" Jer asked, and David nudged him. "What? I'm just asking, considering what's been going on."

"This is what would happen in the best scenario. In the worst, June breaks up with me within the following days."

"Let's hope for the best then," Michelle whispered to her husband. "Go on, Michael."

"So um, then, after trick or treating, I'll ask June to come with me on the roof of the building facing the Flatiron. I'll tell I need to show her something, or whatever, and well... The show will begin."

"That's all?" Jer asked, raising his eyebrows, which caused his boyfriend to nudge him again. "I mean, that's really romantic and stuff, but I expected something... Fancier, you know, coming from you."

"You don't know the half of it, shut up!" David scolded him, which caused me to laugh slightly.

"Oh, because you know, Rogers?"

"I do, and it's gonna be huge, and romantic as fuck, I'm telling you this!"

"Language!" Michelle and Damon scolded in unison.

"Sorry," he muttered in a child-like voice. "I just wish I could be there when it happens."

"For safety, Bill will be coming with us, and Pit will be already on the roof, hiding with a camera to record the entire thing. This is the kind of stuff you never get tired of watching," I smiled a bit.

"And if she refuses?" Jeremy asked, and David rolled his eyes at him.

"Will you stop being all negative, for fu – God's sake?" his boyfriend shouted, throwing his hands up.

"I just want to make sure he's got a back up plan!" he argued back. "Ain't nothing wrong with that!"

"Boys, come on, stop it," Damon gently said. "Jeremy raised a good question. We have to think about the possibility that June may refuse. So, Michael, do you have a B plan?"

"Honestly? I don't have any back up plan," I admitted, shaking my head. "I just have to keep the faith and keep my eyes on the prize."

But I knew I would be devastated if she turned me down.

Just as much as she was when you turned her down, dumbass. 

***

June's point of view

When Rebecca hung up the phone, she looked at me, and gave me one of her famous scolding stares, her arms crossed under her breasts.

"You're fucking up," she stated coldly. "Do you realize everybody's worried about you?"

"I know, but I need to think about something to do," I said, pacing the floor of my manager's hotel room.

"You've been thinking for over three hours! What do you even need to think about?"

"Did you listen to a word I said for these past three hours?"

"Yes, that's why I don't get it," she told me, before stopping me from pacing. "And stop pacing, you're giving me an headache."

"You don't get it? How the fuck am I supposed to tell Michael?" I yelled, panicking.

"You've been asking me the same question for hours now, girl," she sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. "You need to be honest, and speak your heart out. This is not something you'be never done before."

"I've never spoke my heart out in such circumstances, though," I sighed in desperation, sitting next to her on the bed. "Loving can hurt sometimes."

"You're tough, you're gonna get through this love triangle."

"There's no love triangle anymore. I know who I want now. Things are crystal clear to me now," I admitted, looking at my manager.

"Then just be honest, and everything's going to be fine," she smiled, patting my knee. "Will you be okay?"

"Of course," I smiled, placing my head on her shoulder. "Thank you for staying a bit longer with me, Becks," I softly said as she wrapped her left arm around my shoulders. "Hopefully the newbies arrived safe and sound," I chuckled slightly.

"Don't worry about them, they're grown ups," she chuckled back. "I'll take care of them while you're here, and I'll make sure they don't do anything stupid."

"When they see the New Yorker's cover, tell them not to think they're hot stuff. They have this tendency to be a little bit big headed at times," I explained, chuckling.

"Let the kiddos brag about it, it's a major thing for them."

"You're probably right," I said, removing my head from her shoulder. "I mean, I'll probably brag about this in front of Paulina as well, so yeah," I laughed, thinking about the bitch's face when she'd see the cover.

"You're so childish," she chuckled back.

As I was about to speak again, a knock on the door interrupted me, and I looked at my friend with a frown, "Are you expecting someone?"

"Uh, no," she said, confusion written on her face. "That must be the room service, I guess."

She tood up, and went to the door. When she opened it, Prince was standing there with a box in his hands. I frowned in confusion as well, and joined Rebecca at the door.

"Hey," I softly said. "What are you doing here? I thought – "

"Put this on, and make yourself presentable," he instructed, cutting me off.

He handed me the big, rectangular box and I looked into his eyes before taking the present from his hands hesitantly.

"Wh – Why? I – "

"Don't ask questions. Be ready in an hour."

"Uh, guys, there's a problem. I'm leaving for the airport in--" she looked at her watch, "oh fuck. I'm leaving in ten minutes. I have to leave the room."

"You can go. I'll pay for the room," he assured Becks, looking straight at me.

"What are you doing?" I asked, putting the box on the nearby chair.

"You need to trust me," he softly said to me, taking my left hand in his. "Get ready," he repeated, before kissing the top of my hand and walking away.

"Wait, Prince!" I called, but he didn't turn around and kept walking.

"What the fuck just happened?"

"I have no idea," I honestly said, before coming back into the room.

"Open the box!" my manager excitedly said. "I can feel it's some fancy dress."

I took the box from where I left it, and sat on the bed. When I opened it, Rebecca's guess turned out to be true: it was indeed a dress, and it was gorgeous.

I pulled it out of the box to take a better look at it. It was a dark purple floor-length tight dress, and just seeing the color of it made me smile a little.

"June, there's a letter in there too," Rebecca declared behind me.

I put the wonderful dress on the bed, and took the paper from my manager's hand. I unfolded it, and read the words in my head.

"Only want to see you laughing in this purple dress."

Another smile appeared on my face at the modified lyric from his song Purple Rain.

"What does it say?"

"Don't you have a plane waiting for you?"

"Come on, I'm curious now!" she pouted. "The guy shows up, says that he's going to pay for my room, buys you a hella fine dress, and you want me to go? Now?"

"You are going to miss your flight. I'll call you tomorrow," I simply said. "Can I just ask you a favor?"

"Depends on what kind," she narrowed her eyes at me.

"Can I borrow your make up? I don't have any, and I must look like shit after all the tears and everything, you know."

"I never thought in my entire life that you would actually ask me for this," she joked, rummaging through her suitcase. "Here. Is this all you need?" she kindly asked, handing me her make up bag.

"Is there a spare toothbursh in there?" I asked, pointing my thumb to the bathroom's door.

"Yes. You have soap, shampoo, toothpaste and everything you need," she said, closing her suitcase. "Now I'm leaving, or my husband is gonna blow a fuse if I don't come back."

I giggled, and pulled her into a tight hug, "Thank you for listenning to me, Becks."

"No problem, boss," she answered, patting my back gently. "And remember, honesty is the key."

***

As I was adjusting my hair and make up in the mirror, a knock on the hotel room's door ineterrupted me, and all the nervousness I tried so hard to reject came back in me at once. I took a deep breath, anticipating what Prince would tell me, and the reason why he made me dress up.

I inhaled one more time, and opened the door.

But I kept holding my breath as I didn't expect the person that was in front of me.

"Michael?"