Michael's POV

Faith and I are cuddling on the sofa watching a movie and one of my guards calls to telling me Jackie is at the gate and wants to speak to me. "can you tell him I'm busy or something?"

"he said it's important and needs to speak to you ungently"

"I'll be right there" I sigh. "is everything ok?" Faith turns to me and smile at her through pursed lips

"everything's fine. you wait here. I'll be right back" I smile and peck Faith's lips and go to speak with Jackie, making sure to close the living room door first.

I go to the front door and Jackie steps inside looking really agitated. "hey! It's great to see you but, now's really not a good time. I was just on my way out and..."

"where's Faith?" He cuts me off and I look at him confused why he'd ask about her. "who?" I shrug trying to act clueless."look Mike, I'm not gonna play that with you right now ok? I'm sick of all these fucking games already! I know about you and Faith dating and that's she's living here. Now where is she? I need to speak to you both"

"what do you need to speak to her for?" I frown. "can you just get her please?"

"why?" I say nervously "just go get her please? This is really important"

"No! Enough people have upset her today so whatever it is you can tell me" I frown, refusing to get her and he sighs taking a deep breath. "you and Faith can't be together"

"yes we can! she's gonna be 18 in a few months and..."

"she's my daughter" he cuts me off "no she's not!" and frown shaking my head. "it's the truth I swear. Her mother Julie used to live on the same street as us back in Gary me an her hit once and..."

"we never knew Julie Owens as kids! And we weren't even in Gary when Faith would have been born, so you can't be her father! You just wanna break us up because you dont like her mother. What happened between you and Julie is nothing to do with Faith. If you two broke up on bad terms that's on you two. Don't take it out on me and Faith"

"you didn't know her... because you were 5 years old and it happened before we left... Mike why would I just randomly turn up at your door and say this if it wasn't true? I'm sorry to have to do this but it's the truth"

"if your really her father then where were you for past 17 years, Huh? She already has a dad" I shrug with an attitude. "plus! she looks nothing like you. she has blonde hair and Your not even the same colour. Sure, she has a slightly year round tan but, she white so she can't be your daughter. We're together and we love each other. And your not speaking to her!" I frown.

"she looks like her mother" he sighs "I know it's hard to get your head around, but it's true and I never told anyone about Faith because Julie moved away and got married. They were a happy family and Faith was taken care of. I'd see her with her mom on that stupid teen mom show and when she was older and Julie got on her talk show she'd take Faith sometimes and I'd see in magazines and she looks so happy and healthy, I did wanna meet her and tell her the truth. But she was so happy and had two parents that loved her and took care of her and there was all this legal stuff too and..."

"julie sent you here didn't she? Because of what I did to Maria" I croak and he shakes his head "actually Julie doesn't want Faith finding out about me and why did you do that to Maria? That's not you!"

"because Faith's only 17 and Maria was gonna tell Julie about us and I'm not gonna let her or anybody take her away from me. And Faith was never happy! her parents marriage is completely fake for the cameras. And Julie never cared about her. Her dads never around and Julie always talks to her and treats her like shit and She even bullied her into meeting me so she could try and screw me an the rest of our family over. did she tell you that part? I'm not letting anybody hurt her anymore or take her away from me" I shake my head.

"it's not just about Faith being underage. And Julie admitted to me she was trying to set you up and ruin your career. she had some messed up idea that if she hurt you and your career, she'd get her revenge on me for getting her pregnant as a teenager and not sticking by her. I'm sorry but you can't be with Faith" he says softly "why not? I don't mistreat her or use her in any way or cheat on her or beat her. I've done nothing but love her and treat her good and she loves me too and..."

"and she's your niece.. And your her uncle" he cuts me off softly and I start sobbing. And he puts his arm around me. "Michael, I'm not questioning or accusing you of not being good to her. I don't doubt that for a second. I'm sorry I have to do this to you. I truly am, but you two were never supposed to meet. And surly you can see how wrong it would be for you two to stay together?" He says softly and I move him away shaking my head. "then we just won't tell her! Nobody else has to know about this and me and then Faith can still be together" I sniffle and he l looks at me confused "SHE has to know"

"but she's happy with me. We make each other happy, why ruin that?... Please don't take her away from me. I love her so much" I sob and he puts his hands on my shoulders making me face him. "Mike, everybody Faith has every loved and trusted has lied to her. do you really wanna do that to her too?"

"no" I shake my head "but if she found out she might leave me because of this. I'm not gonna let that happen. all telling her is gonna do is hurt her and.."

"she needs to know the truth. Just like you did" he cuts me off. "no she doesn't! And i'd rather you hadn't told me! She can't find out. Why can't you just let it go and leave us to be happy?"

"Faith?" Jackie steps back looking behind me and I turn an see Faith standing at the door crying and I run over pulling her close to me. "is it true?" She stares at Jackie and he nods and she begins sobbing into my chest and I hold close tighter.

**********

Jackies POV

I've never felt this much emotion towards Faith before. Even though she's mine, I've only ever seen her on tv or in magazines with her mom so I've managed to detach myself from all those fatherly feeling for her, But now I'm standing here in front of her and she's heartbroken. This is the first time I've met my daughter and I've broken her innocent little heart and her Michael are crying into each other's arms.

"why would my mother do this to me?" She sobs "I don't know and I'm so sorry you had to find out this way.. Both of you" I say softly "are you gonna to take her away from me?" Michael sniffles. "you two were never supposed to meet" I croak trying not to cry. "so what happens now? I just go back to my mothers and pretend like nothing ever happened?" Faith croaks.

I look at them both desperately trying to fight back my tears. When Julie told me what was going on with them, I hoped it was just some fling. That could be quickly dealt with, but this is more than that. Their heartbroken and I've never seen Michael act this way towards any woman before and I can see just how much he truly loves her and how terrified his is of losing her. I came here to tell them the truth and get them apart and the right thing to do right now would be to just pick Faith up and walk out the door with her. She's 17 and my daughter! and Michael's my brother! But seeing them like this...

"I've not come to take you away from each other" I finally say turning to Faith. "I came to tell you both the truth and tell you who you really are. And now you know, what you do with it is your choice" I say softly. "Michael's already made it clear, he still wants to be with you And if you still wanna stay with Him then I'm not gonna stop you" I sigh heavily "The only people who know about this is the three of us and your mom and dad and it will stay that way unless YOU say otherwise ok?"

She nods not saying anything and Michael looks at her nervously. "do you still wanna be with me?"

"yes" she nods still sobbing and I smile to myself as He kisses her softly and holds her tightly in his arms. It's not the most ideal situation, but I can see Michael truly loves her and will do anything to keep her safe and happy. And what more could a father ask for?

I walk closer to them and pull Michael in for a hug. "don't make me regret this"

"thank you" he sighs in relief that I'm not taking her away and hugs me back, then I turn to Faith. "I'm sorry I haven't been there for you. I really would like to get to know you... And maybe one day you'd like to get to know me too"

she nods and smiles slightly through pursed lips and I smile back at her the same way, fighting back the tears as I look at her beautiful face. I've managed 17 not to have any kind of attachment or feelings towards her, but seeing my beautiful baby girl standing here in front of me. all the fatherly feeling I've been trying to hide come rushing though me. I pull her in for a hug then break away swallowing a lump in my throat.

"I um... I should probably leave now. you guys have a lot to take in. Michael will give you my number and you call me any time. I'm sure your have alot questions.

****

Julies POV

I'm still standing outside Jackie's house waiting for him to come back, praying that he was just bluffing and hasn't really told Faith the truth. I've been trying to call Faith, but just like this morning she still didn't pick up.

Jackie finally gets back and I rush over to him as he's getting out of the car. "what are you still doing here?" He sighs "please tell me you haven't told her?" he sighs heavily not answering me and walks away. "where is she!? Did you get her away from Michael?" I ask and he turns back to me and frowns. "is that all you care about!? their heartbroken because you!" He frowns then turns and walks inside ignoring my question and I try to call Faith for the millionth time today.

**********

Faith's POV

After Jackie leaves Michael and I stand in the hall way holding each other quietly. "are you ok?" Michael asks breaking the silence "I don't know... did that really just happen?" I sigh still trying to take everything in and he nods. "did you know?"

"no" he mumbles shaking his head. "but, none of this changes how we feel about each other right? I still love you.. Do you still love me?" he asks nervously and I nod and smile at him through pursed lips "of course I still love you" he sighs in relief and presses his lips softly against mine and my phone starts ringing.

"it's my mom"

"answer it" he says softly and I take a deep breath and answer her call.

*

"hello?"

"Faith where are you? You need to come home immediately!" My mother says shakily "is it true?" I ask in a neutral tone not knowing how to react or even feel towards her at this point. "of course it's not true! Jackie Is nothing but a liar. of course he's not your father that's ridiculous! he's just trying to mess with your head and upset you that's what he does just like the rest of the Jackson family does. Just come home and we can forget all about it ok?"

"I've never said anything a Jackie"

"y- you.. Haven't spoken to Jackie?" She says shakily. "Is what true?....that's what you should have said.... is what true?"

"I-I um..." I hang up the phone cutting her off not waiting to hear her next lie. "what did she say?" Michael asks pulling me back into him. "she lied to me" I croak "I gave her the chance to be honest with me once in her life and she just lied to me"

"you know the truth and that's what matters" he smiles at me through pursed lips. He kisses me softly then goes slightly deeper as I sync my lips with his then he breaks slightly. "let go upstairs" he whispers and I don't say anything. "you still want us to be together right?"

"of course I do" I smile through pursed lips and he smiles back pressing his lips softly against mine once more then takes my hand, leading us both upstairs.