It's been a few days since Tayler's nieces and nephew were dropped off at her house, having had enough of this game of back and forth, she decided not to send the kids back to their mom for a little bit and just keep them. Of course Tionne and her mother had a field day with the news, but she was grown and paid her own bill so the opinions of others meant nothing to her. Not even if it was coming from her mother and best friend.

At first it was difficult for her to manage her working schedule with the kids, but after a few days she was able to work something out. While the kids were at school, she ran errands, cleaned the house, visited her mother or slept in, if time allowed. Then when the kids got home, she started dinner, and made sure their homework was started. By 7, homework would be done and the babysitter, who was her sweet 56 year old next door neighbor would be at her house to watch the kids. On the week days, she would leave the club by 12 and on the weekend, she'll leave by 2:30 in the morning. At first, the new scheduling messed up her paper just a bit but working the boring day shift was not an option as there is barely any customers during that time; however, being one of the fan favorites, her clients got the hint of the time differences and she was able to get her money back up.

After she saw the kids get on the bus this morning, she begin to get ready for the day and decided it was a day for her to go visit her mother again and pay a few bills to keep the lights on, especially since it wasn't just her anymore but the kids.

As she picked up their room, she groaned at the slue of toys covered in the girl's room.

"I told this damn girl to pick these things up before she went to bed, I'm going to kill her" she groaned.

"Goddamn it!" She cursed as her toe stepped on a piece of lego.

She fell on the bed, clutching her toe as she felt she was about to die from the pain.

"I swear to God the devil himself made these, I'm going to whoop some ass tonight, I swear!"

Once she calmed down, she finished picking up the house.

She decided to skip breakfast and head straight to the shower.

As she looked herself in the mirror once again, a habit of hers. She picked herself a part.

This time the brutal judgements were much worse due to her encounter with the king of pop. She knew better than to let a stranger's words bother her but she couldn't help it. Michael has that aura of perfection and that presence alone, exerts this pressure like you have to be perfect too. It seemed silly but he was God like, she felt ashamed next to him. As if she had disappointed him and she only known the man for what? 10 minutes, though they met twice.

She shook her head as she giggled and got in the shower. Only people dreamed about meeting Michael and here she was, met him twice on accident and seemed to have insulted the man, made assumptions, and cursed his name.

It wasn't her fault, her past has made Tayler form this hard shell that even something as soft and gentle as Michael couldn't even break. She couldn't understand it herself, but she had subconsciously made this solid exterior that only appeared when she felt threatened, and for her, that was often.

You see all her life, she never felt good enough for her mom. Her father wasn't around, which didn't help her feelings of rejection. Her mother was not around due to working, trying to support her kids, then she had these creepy boyfriends who made a game at making passes at Tayler while her mother wasn't looking. That only brought her self esteem down lower. Her mother never told her how proud she was of her, how much she loved her, never hugged her or kissed her and never tucked her in at night. Yes she understood her mother had many responsibilities and that she had multiple kids, but that didn't stop her from being hurt and wanting the attention of her mother. It hurt her to think she wasn't good enough so she made a game out excelling in everything, school, extracurricular activities, and even going off to college. However, it never worked and until recently when her mother found out she had leukemia the only thing that made her come around was her guilt.

It hurt Tayler to think that the only time she got to be alone with her mother and really get to know her or to hear her mother say she loved her was when she became sick and essentially on her death bed. It sickened her to think all these years she wasted on trying to make her proud and she waits till she's dying to make a move. However, she was torn. On one end she was angry and secretly hated her mother for things she still can't discuss out loud, but on the other hand she felt better late than never and decided to make peace with her past and end the internal feud.

But that didn't stop the pain.

~

As she knocked on her mother's door to ensure she was descent, she could hear laughing coming from the inside.

She smiled to herself as she missed hearing her mother's laughter and trying to save the sound within her memory, in case she needed to play it back when she was gone and she could no longer hear it.

"Come in" her mother said in a sing song manner.

Tayler opened the door.

"Hey mommy, so I bought you some breakfast from Waffle House, the doctor said that I could bring some of your favorites in to help with your appetite." She said looking down at the bags.

When she looked up, she got stopped in her tracks. Her throat become extremely dry and her eyes bugged out of her head.

Before her was her mother, sitting up in bed. No longer looking weary and worn down. But today she looked more alive and held a permanent toothy smile. Her color even came back from ashy gray to that shiny Hershey kissed skin Tayler admired when she was a little girl.Her body was still small and her hospital gown swallowed her body, but this time she looked more alive.

However, next to her mother wasn't a a healthcare professional like she anticipated but it was Michael. He sported a leather jacket with a plain white v-neck underneath. However, in true Jackson fashion, the jacket was gawdy. It held large buttons and a thick gold band around his right arm. Black denim pants hugged his lean thin legs, and he rocked this look with his black shiny loafers, of course. His hair was laid on his shoulders with a few curls plastered on his forehead.

She went over every detail in her head as she allowed her eyes to roam. Although she hated him at the moment, he was beautiful. She couldn't deny that even if she wanted to. The brother looked damn good.

She took this opportunity to admire his facial structure. His face was scalped by the Gods. And his smile, the feature that made her heart swoon, it was pearly white and full. Not gold plated and held gaps like she was used to when all the other brothers tried to approach her.

He bit his lip as he heated up in her gaze. Just as she was eyeing him, he was eyeing her but he was being more settle with her as he is a gentlemen of course.

Although he seen her scantly clad at work, he loved seeing her in every day wear. She looked good he thought. The baggy Guess polo shirt still managed to reveal her curvy figure. The distressed jeans she wore hugged her in all the right places. Her hair no longer curly, but bone straight. He had to admit, he's been wanting to tangle his hands in her hair since they met and he hopes to God he could.

He made a mental note that she was the every day woman. She could be a knockout if she wanted to be as revealed by her profession, but she could dress down and still be as beautiful. Something he definitely appreciated and wanted to see more of her, if given the chance.

"Hello" her mother was singing.

They were staring so long that they forgot she was there.

Michael chuckled. He looked away and bit his lip, which is something she grew to love over her years of admiration for this man.

"Damn, tension so thick you could put a knife through it. Break it up you two. Do I need to hose you down?" Her mother suggested.

Michael just giggled again, shaking his head no.

Tayler blushed, but she kept her face out of Michael's sight by assembling the breakfast food for her mother. She wanted to appear busy to avoid his gaze. However, she found herself missing his eyes and managed to look up every now and again to sneak a peek.

"See Michael, this is my daughter who I was telling you about. Now you see, just make her darker, her hair shorter with an updo and that was me about, 5 years ago."

Michael and her laughed.

"I was a knock out, I could catch bees with all this honey."

"I don't doubt you could. But I did meet her yesterday in the hospital."

"Why didn't you tell me you seen him?" She questioned her daughter.

"Because mom, I didn't think it mattered." She brought the breakfast tray in front of her mother.

"You didn't think it mattered. Are you crazy woman! This is Michael Jackson, not Andrew Jackson, not Jesse Jackson, hell not even Rebbie Jackson, but Michael-Jackson."

"No offense Michael" she added.

Michael continued to laugh, something he hasn't been able to stop doing since he came in contact with her mother, she was a riot.

"Yes mom I know. No big deal". She sat down to enjoy her own food.

But of course, it was a big deal. She just didn't want to have a fan girl moment like her mother was having. Yes, she was never impressed with the celebrities and ballers that she was introduced to at her job, but nobody was a Michael Jackson. Also, it didn't help that she loved him since she saw him on tv as a little girl.

A fact her mother knew.

"Not a big deal? Michael did you know that every time you and your brothers would get on tv, she would kiss the tv."

"Oh really?" He raised an eyebrow at Tayler and faced her mother again.

"Tell me more." He encouraged.

"Mother, don't!" She warned.

"What are you going to do? Beat my ass?" Her mother barked.

"Anyways, and when you guys would be done with y'all performance or interview, she would cry. It was the cutest thing." Her mother went on.

Shoot me, now. Tayler thought as she put her head down in embarrassment. Leave it to her mother to expose her to Michael.

"I remember this one time. You're going to laugh. Now she was a little petite little girl, and in the house we only had two TVs. One in my room and one in the living room. Now I had six kids, you do the math. One night you all were supposed to be on some program, I can't remember. Tayler wanted to see y'all so bad that when her older brother Richard took the remote, she went flying at him like a spider monkey. My poor Ricky, he didn't stand a chance. Then she did this wrestling move and I swear my little girl slammed her older brother. He was so mad, he just ended up leaving to his friend's house and didn't come back for three days."

Joy and Michael laughed like there was no tomorrow. They got on as if they had known each other forever. Although she was dying of embarrassment, she shared in on the laugh too. Besides, she was older now and that stuff was behind her. However, it warmed her heart to see her best girl and someone she found attractive get along. It further mentally pushed her in the arms of Michael. They looked so content, almost like they were family just laughing and talking with one another.

Even though she couldn't have Michael, she did feel the urge to find a special someone who could experience the joy of her mother or someone her mother would like. Just so she could leave the world in peace knowing her daughter was ok.

"Oh, I HAVE to tell you about her 8th grade performance in the talent show."

"Mom, you tell that story and you're going in a nursing home." She warned again.

"Ohhhhh, I'm shaking. Anyways Michael, as I was saying. So." She went on to tell the embarassing story that her daughter tried years to forget. A story that revealed her fainting in the middle of singing I wanna be where you are.

Tayler cringed and put her head down occasionally, trying to avoid Michael's gaze.

Could this get any worse.

~

After the embarrassing ordeal was over.

Michael's gut hurt so much and he had tears on his face. He hasn't laughed like that in so long and he appreciates Joy for her help.

"You know what Ms. Joy, you're a card. You're so beautiful and funny. I wish I could've met you sooner." He commented.

"Oh Michael, keep it down or people may think you're flirting with me."

They laughed.

"You wouldn't want a certain someone to get jealous" she whispered loudly.

Tayler rolled her eyes as she was growing tired of being the but of the joke.

"Don't worry. You're my best girl." He kisses her cheek and sent a wink Tayler's way.

"Alright Ms. Joy, I can see you're having breakfast and I don't want it to get cold. I'm going to go" He said.

"Awww do you have to?" She pouted like a child.

"I don't want to but I don't want to hold you up, plus I have some rounds to make today. But I'll be back, if that's ok with you?"

"Hell yeah it is" Joy exclaimed.

They chuckled and he kissed her cheek goodbye.

"Tayler, I think you should walk Michael to the door. Make sure he isn't bombarded by people" Joy requested.

"I'm good ma, Michael is a grown man. Plus he has body guards, that what he pays them for" She replied.

"Girl, get your ass up!"

Tayler hesistated to rise but she did.

Once they reached the outside, she let out a breath she didn't know she held. While she did this, Michael laughed.

"Wow, your mom is great" he wiped an imaginary tear from his eye

"Yeah she's something" she crossed her arms

"Aww don't be like that Tomato"

She gasped when he said her embarassing childhood nickname.

"I can't believe she told you that!!!" She hid her face in her hands.

She then smacked his arm in hopes to make him stop laughing.

"Ouch! Damn girl you can hit"

"Yeah and I can also punch, do you want to find out?" she retorted.

"Ok ok ok pit bull, I'll back off. I don't want to get body slammed" he chuckled.

She groaned in annoyance.

"Man you need to cool down, it was cute. Although it may seem embarrassing , she shared some very nice things about you."

"Yeah like what?" She raised a brow and leaned on the door frame.

"Well she mentioned that you have a good head on your shoulders, you graduated top of your class with a BSN. That you're a good cook, and can play some basketball."

She stood stunned as her mother spoke highly of her in her absence. It just shocked her that her mother paid enough attention to save the memory for later, just to brag about her daughter.

Maybe she did care.

"Also, she said that you're one of her most selfless children. How you stopped working as a nurse to see about her, and moved closer to be with her in her time of need. How you take care of your nieces and nephew like your own. Also, she went on about how she is proud of you." Michael revealed.

"She said that?" She asked almost breathless.

He shook his head yes. "Why do you look surprised?"

"To be honest Michael, my mother and I haven't always seen eye to eye. She never really showed me the affection I needed, it felt like she was always too busy. Always putting a man's needs before ours"

"I didn't even think she paid attention to that stuff" she added.

It was like word vomit but it didn't feel bad coming up. She felt compelled to bare herself slightly to Michael. He seemed genuinely concerned like he cared for her. Being a big reader of energy, his didn't feel forced so she knew he was real.

Plus, who would he tell?

It was in that moment, where they connected. It seemed that they both longed for the love of their parent that they never received. Off of that one moment, they bonded over something that was heartbreaking but it seemed to be mended as they sat in each other's presence. A spark ensued as they stared in each other's eyes, they no longer felt invisible or misunderstood. Now they had someone that knew exactly how they felt inside.

They may be put together on the outside, but in the inside they were both broken children calling for the love and attention of their parent, that they'll never receive.

"Well I admit, it was nice hearing those things about you, it definitely gave me some insight about you. Plus, now that I said those things out loud I realize she is trying to play match maker" he chuckled.

"Oh God, of course" she sighed.

"But would that be such a bad thing?" He questioned.

Wanting to change the subject, she spoke up.

"Listen Michael I know that we haven't had the best moments when we meet. But I just wanted to say thank you. For taking time out of your schedule to sit and speak with my mother. Although it was embarrassing like shit, it was nice to see my mother be carefree. I mean-wow she looked so alive and I believe I owe that partially to you. I know that you're busy so I won't take up your time but thank you" she breathed out.

"Oh my God, wow" he commented.

"What?" She looked just as shocked as he did.

"She can say something nice" he beamed.

"Whatever bug"

"Oh are we giving each other nicknames now?" He cheesed.

"No, you're just a bug. Plus, I don't know you to give you something as endearing as a nickname" she stated matter of factly.

She knew what she was saying, she wanted to prompt him into saying something about getting to know each other better but she'll be dammed if she made the first move.

He obliged her invitation and stepped a bit closer to her.

"Well why don't we change that" he stared in her eyes.

Her core turned to mush as they world around them disappeared. This is just how the girls are in the movies, she thought. She didn't think that feeling was real but here she was turning into a puddle at Mr. Jackson's feet.

She thought of something witty to say but decided against it as she was tired of playing games and wanted to see what the next level of being close to Michael would offer her. She wanted to have close contact with him, she wanted to know the man behind the enigma that was Michael Jackson.

She simply nodded, adding "I would like that"

They shared a goofy smile like a nerd getting the number of the most popular kid in school. They were both intrigued by each other. She didn't have the glamorous life that he lived, and she damn sure wasn't on the level that he was on but that excited her and made her want to know more about him. She wanted to go deeper than the headlines, she wanted to know him. On the other hand, her hard exterior peaked his interest. It wasn't until he spoke to her mother that he understood why she had this hard shell, because she was guarding herself while she protected and saved everyone around her. Her selflessness and the fact that she loved her family especially the kids is what got him on cloud nine with her.

For the both of them, it was one thing for someone to say they love kids or that they help people or they'll make sacrifices for others but it was one thing to actually see someone do it and that lit the fire.

He watched behind his shades as she wrote her number down for one of his guards. He couldn't believe it. It wasn't like he didn't believe he couldn't get the girl, but she played so tough that he never thought she would give her number up. At least not without a fight.

This felt like a victory for him.

As he walked away with his guards trailing him, she couldn't help herself, she had to say one final thing before ending their interaction.

"You better use it" she cocked a brow.

He stopped in his tracks. He faced her with a grin.

"That's the plan. I'll call tonight beautiful." He winked.

She swooned and mentally cursed herself for falling for his charm but she couldn't help it. She never imagined meeting her childhood crush nor did she imagine getting his number.

This couldn't get any better.