~ Michael's POV

"I don't wanna make this into a big deal.. I want it to be a surprise." I explain to the show coordinator.

"We'll just have to squeeze you in to the show. You'll only get about 4 minutes. Is that alright?" He says.

"Yeah of course!" I smile.

"We'll have rehearsals starting next Monday. Just let us know if you need anything for your part." The coordinator scribbled my name down and continued onto the other performers. I headed back home, this time with Leroy.

"I gotta say it's weird having you as my main security now. Not that I don't trust you.. I'm just so used to Bill y'know?" I express, hopping inside the truck.

"Yeah, I understand. It's weird doing this without Bill. He taught me everything I know." Leroy chuckles back.

"I'm glad he's retired. He deserves the break." I smile. Leroy nods casually, pulling into the driveway. I walk inside the house to see Camille sitting at the table eating a Santa shaped cookie. "Oh that's right.. Christmas is coming." I kiss her forehead. "Hey Millie girl. Where's your mother?"

"She's upstairs in the bathroom.. she kept saying something about a test.." Camille says, her eyes fixated on the television.

"Thanks.." I rustle her hair and head upstairs. "Ray??" I knock on the bathroom door.

She opens the door and wraps her arms around me, tears falling from her eyes. "It's happening." She sniffles.

I frown. "What are you talking about?"

She doesn't even say a word, she wipes her eyes and grins rubbing her stomach as if to hint at something.

My mouth gaped open from excitement. "Wait really??" I smile.

She nods, excitedly jumping up and down. "Yes, I missed my period and I've been feeling really sick lately so I decided to take a test." She sniffles again. "I'm gonna go to my doctor tomorrow just to be sure but, the way I'm feeling. I'm pretty confident." 

"Oh my god. I'm so excited, after the doctors confirm I can't wait to see Camille's face when we tell her."

Rayne wipes her eyes giggling, "I keep crying. But I'm so happy. My emotions are just all over all the place."

I laugh, hugging her closely, "this is amazing news to come home to." I sit on the bed in our room a broad smile on my face from the good news.

"Aren't you excited?" She gleams, her hair falling on her shoulders as she takes her ponytail down in the mirror.

"Excited is even the right word to describe it. I had some exciting news myself. But you completely stole my thunder." I chuckle. She comes to stand in between my legs and sits on my knee. "Or should I say you stole my thunder." I chuckle, pointing to her seemingly flat stomach before placing a kiss on it.

"Oh stop it, Where are you coming from?" She asks, giggling.

"Oh, Elizabeth is having a celebration for her 65th birthday, I just went to the venue to meet with the show coordinator. At first, I wasn't gonna perform but I decided to surprise her and perform."

"Aww, Mike that's gonna be so nice." She leans her head onto the crook of my neck. "What are you gonna sing?" She asked.

"I'm gonna write something for her."

"She'll love that. I'm actually surprised she didn't ask you to perform."

"She asked me to be her date for the event." I smirk, "she wanted some arm candy." I joke.

Rayne laughs loudly, "yeah but your my arm candy." She snuggles into me a little more.

"I'll always be your arm candy." I chuckle kissing her forehead.

"I know.."

We sat together enjoying the silence we rarely get together. "We're having another baby Mike.."" she sighs.

"We are.."

"Can you believe how long we've been together? 20 years.."

I frown. "You mean 6?"

"No! I mean 20.. Michael we dated before we got married.." she looks at me, her eyebrows knitted together.

"Yeah but.. that's a whole other timeline.. plus we weren't together for almost 4 years.." I chuckle.

"So technical! Either way, we've been together for a long time.. and here we are. I mean we're having another kid. I'm still getting over Camille!"

We both laugh in agreement, she and I have been through a lot over the 20 years we've known each. I don't think either of us honestly expected our relationship to go as far as it has.

***

"You're every star that shines in the world to me..you're every..every.." I sit and sing in front of my piano. My fingers fumble over the piano keys in frustration. "C'mon Michael.." I sigh.

Camille peeks her head inside my music room quietly. "Daddy, what are you doing?" She asks.

"Writing. What are you doing in here? Isn't it your bedtime?"

She fiddles her fingers, "yes, but I wanna hear you sing.." she says innocently. I've honestly gotta learn how to tell this little girl no before my next child comes. She was just so damn cute. I pat the bench next to me for her to sit.

"Wanna hear what I've got so far? "

She nods sweetly.

I began singing "welcome to Hollywood...da da da daaa da daa.."

After a while, she sat on the floor listening to me sing the same lines over and over. I turned to see her fast asleep on the floor. Once I finished creating my lyrics, I picked her up to take her to bed, heading to sleep myself.

"It's 3 in the morning.. what are you doing up?" I ask Rayne.

"Trying to guess what this baby will be like..I'm excited for the doctor to confirm this for us." She smiles.

I lean my ear against her stomach. "Whatever is in there, I know they'll be perfect." I smile pecking her stomach once more.  I let myself lay there, my arm resting across her thighs. I honestly couldn't feel more at peace. I don't think anything could ruin how happy I've been since retiring.

***
With Rayne at the doctor's and Camille at Janet's, I was left alone. It was honestly very rare, but I enjoyed my time to myself. It's something I barely get. I sat in my office handling personal bills and other small things that needed to be handled before Leroy interrupted through my phone speaker. "Hey boss, your father is about to knock on the door..just a heads up."

"Heads up? Nobody is supposed to get through my gate without an appointment except for my mother and Elizabeth Taylor..." I scoff.

"Oh man. I thought you said both of your parents.. Bill never told me that. Want me to go get him?" Leroy says sympathetically.

"No it's no point.. once he's in you can't get him out.. I've got it." I groan.

"Sorry Mr. Jackson.."

"Yeah.." I say upset. I head out of my office and towards the front door. Trying to prepare myself for Joseph. Finally he knocks, "hello Joseph.." I sigh.

"You been avoiding me boy?" He asks allowing himself in.

"No. I've just been busy."

"Busy doing what? You're done with your tour. Your retired right?" He says sitting on the couch.

"Not officially.. but I'm moving towards it. Is there something you need Joseph?" I ask, expecting a request of money or something. My father is the only one that can make me feel uncomfortable in my own home.

"Where's my granddaughter?" He asks ignoring my question.

"At Janet's, Joseph I'm actually very busy.. is there anything you need?"

"You keep saying you're busy.. but what are you doing?" Joseph demands.

"I'm paying a few bills and budgeting.." I sigh, regretting to bring up anything about money.

"What are you budgeting?"

"Rayne is pregnant again.. so we're preparing for another ba-"

Joseph laughs loudly, "my boy!! Having another one. Congratulations!"

I couldn't help but smirk, "Thank you.."

"Michael, I'm not gonna beat around the bush. I'm in debt and I need about $400,000.."

I groan, "I knew there was a catch to this visit."

"Now look here Michael.. if it weren't for me you wouldn't be where you are. You wouldn't be 'Michael Jackson' you owe me." Joseph yells.

I start to feel small, like that 5 year old boy who hated his father, imagining him in a casket. "Joseph that's only halfway true, but I don't have to pay you for my whole life. After
18, I did this myself. If I owe anything to anybody, it's a better life for my kids."

"I really need that money, you know I'll pay you back.."

"You haven't paid me back for the half a million I gave you back in 93.. but you know what, I never expect it back." I grab my checkbook, "I'm giving this money to mother. What she decides is what you'll get." I scribble $400,000 on the blank check before placing it in my pocket.

Rayne walks in on the most tense of moments between Joseph and I.

"Oh. Hello Joseph." Rayne says, her smile disappearing from her face. She kisses my cheek, "everything ok?" She asks.

I'm simply huff and nod quietly. "What'd the doctor say?" I ask.

"It's confirmed. I'm pregnant." She smiles.

Joseph grumbles to himself, "congratulations.. I'll talk to you later Michael." He says walking out quietly.

I groan loudly, "I never wanna be that man. Ever." I slouch on the sofa.

Rayne sits on the arm of the couch, leaning my head on her lap. "You won't be. You haven't been. Camille thinks your an amazing father and I do too. You do so much for us.. and I know you're gonna do great with our new baby.."