Michael's POV

Janet's voice trilled through the phone as I sleepily listened, "Mike, it's gonna be really nice. Just come over so you can meet him. You don't have to stay for dinner ok?"

I yawn, "Dunk I'm happy you found a guy you're interested in, but I'm so tired, I just wanna sleep tonight. Besides, Rayne and I aren't on the best of terms right now; She's sleeping in the nursery with Jr."

Right as I finished that sentence, Rayne opened the room door dressed in a blue dress, fumbling through her jewelry box, "you're coming to Janet's dinner right?" She asks, her eyes still focused on her jewelry.

With Rayne already dressed it's not like I had a choice, "who's watching the kids?" I ask standing to head into the shower and hanging up with Janet.

"Derrick is on his way over." She says walking out the room.

I groan loudly, slamming the bathroom door behind me. Rayne and I haven't been getting along recently, so to have to be around her right now is not something I wanted to do.

***

We walked towards Janet's door waiting for someone to open it. "Why couldn't we just stay home.." I mumble.

"Stop complaining, we both need this. Maybe if we got out the house we might get along a little better." She mutters back.

Janet opens the door and I'm greeted with all of my siblings as well as Janet's current love interest, Chico Debarge. "I'm so glad you dragged Michael out of the house Rayne." She says hugging me.

"It was like pulling teeth." Rayne says with a fake giggle. We all say at the table everyone was more quiet than usual. It was an unconventional feeling, like something was about to happen. An hour into dinner, Chico excuses himself and leaves Janet's home, thanking everyone for meeting him. "He's gone, can we go now?" I whisper in Rayne's ear.

She clears her throat, ignoring my question, she was treating me like a child and I was honestly getting agitated.

"So Mike, how's the new baby boy. We haven't seen him in a while." Rebbie smiles.

"He's growing. Really smart, he's starting to walk now." I light up, talking about my kids were one of my favorite things. "He calls me doo doo instead of daddy." I chuckle.

"Aww, like little Siggy used to do.." Jackie laughs.

"It's so adorable to see you get so excited to talk about Camille and Michael.." Janet smiles, "I know you wanna watch them grow up. So we actually set up this dinner for another reason Mike..."

"What are you talking about?" I ask.

"Baby, we're worried about you. You're going back to popping those pills and it's affecting us and our family. I love you too much to watch you kill yourself like this." Rayne says.

"Are you serious? Did you set up an intervention?"  I ask angrily.

"Michael we all see it happening all over again." Jermaine chimes.

"Don't get mad at Rayne, this wasn't her idea." Janet says. "All of us here love you very much and we want you to get help.."

"Michael I found a bottle with a name of Patrick Anderson.. Who is that? Are you using fake names to get more pills?" Rayne asks, her eyes filled with tears.

"I can't believe you did this, I'm not addicted! I need them to help me sleep. I've always had problems sleeping you know that." I slam my hand down on the table. I stand to walk out. "The nerve of the rest of you, where were you guys when I was really in trouble before I went to rehab. No one had anything to say to me..." I head outside and slam the truck door demanding Leroy take me back home. I was livid. I get back home and head straight to my room not saying a word to Derrick or Camille who greeted me with a "Daddy look.."

I couldn't believe them, all of them. An intervention? I head straight to the bathroom and grab the pill bottle, taking three pills into my mouth and swallow them dryly. Tossing the bottle across the room with rage, a yell released from my lips.

Rayne enters a few moments later, her eyes soaked from tears. She didn't say anything to me she just grabbed a bag and started shoving clothes in. "What are you doing?" I ask, watching her. She didn't answer me, so I grabbed her arm. "Rayne..what are you doing?"

She snatches away, "get off of me Michael!" She yells. "You obviously don't care about what you're doing to our family. My babies don't deserve to be around you like this, and I don't either. I'm taking the kids to my father's house."

"What do you mean?! Rayne think about this.. You're gonna separate our family over something like this?"

Her glossy, sad, still strikingly beautiful eyes stared at me as I grabbed her hands in mine. She looked over my face quietly, "you don't see what your doing to me...I've been through everything with you. I stuck by you... It's killing me to watch everything that we've been through not matter to you." She cries, pulling her arms away.

I watch her pull the bag over her shoulder and grab Michael and Camille, closing the door behind her. I stood there stuck, and suddenly I felt alone, in my cold home. I sat in bed all night a photo of my wife and two kids stained with my own tears.

*** a week later

Rayne was ignoring my calls, I felt like I had nothing. I was empty all the way to my core. In those few days they were gone my life felt less than normal, meaningless. I missed my daughter waking me up in the morning for school or breakfast. My son and his morning kid shows, I found myself just leaving the television on to give my brain the perception they were still here.

Were we over? I asked myself over and over again. I dialed Rayne's number again, hoping for an answer. It was 5 in the morning, but I know if I was feeling like this, Rayne felt the same way. She couldn't sleep either.

Rayne's POV

"Hello?" I answered somberly, as I watched the kids sleep quietly with me in my father's bed.

"Come home.." I hear his voice sigh tearfully. "I miss you guys so much. I haven't eaten, barely slept. I can't even record."

"Michael.." I sigh. I missed him too, and I hoped he was taking care of himself. This was hard on me too though, to watch him continuously throw his life away hurt more than leaving him in that house alone.

"Please just tell me you'll come home. I threw it all out..id do anything for you, you know that." Each sniffle was killing me inside.

"This shouldn't be for me.. It should be for you, for your kids.. You're not well Michael and we won't be either. The kids don't deserve to watch you do this to yourself."

"I know, I know and I'm so sorry Camille saw that. I'm sorry, but I need you to come home Rayne. I can't do this on my own."

"I'm not ready to come back yet. I know you can beat this on your own Michael. I'll call and check on you and bring the kids by but.. As of right now, we'll be at my dad's." I sigh, swiftly hanging up. My eyes dried out from crying all week, fluttered away the small tears attempting to form.

Camille woke a few hours later, flipping on the television to see a music video of Michael's playing "blame it on the boogie". "Look Mikey, there's uncle Tito and Uncle Jackie! And that's daddy!" She smiles pointing to Michael. I missed that Michael, when he was ambitious to go solo and we loved each other for what we were, not what we did for each other. "When are we going home mom.. I miss daddy a lot." Camille asked and I couldn't figure a way to explain anything right now.

Derrick came over a little later to check on me, I sat the kids in the living room while Camille held Michael in her lap. Derrick followed me into the kitchen. "How are you feeling Ray?" He asks leaning over the countertop.

I sigh, shaking my head. "I feel terrible. I miss him, but I want him to get clean for himself. It's like I've been taken for granted. But I know he loves me... I just want the kids, especially Camille to understand why I'm doing this."

Derrick hugs me tightly, "I know it's hard, but you're doing the right thing. He can't depend on you to keep him sober.. He has to want to stay that way. Just don't keep his kids away from him... That will kill a man." He sighs from his own memories.

I nod, "I know.. I'd never do that. I want them to inspire him to keep going. I'm gonna take them over there today. Will you come with me.. Just in case it gets too heavy in there?" I ask.

"Of course.."

***

We pull into the ranch and Camille hops out rushing towards the door, opposite my staggering feet, grabbing Michael out of his chair and putting him on the floor to practice walking more.

"Daddy open the door!" Camille says banging loudly. His eyes open as Camille lunges into his arms hugging him tightly. He grips her quietly, his eyes watering. "I missed you so much.." He muffles into her cheek. After putting her down, he grabs onto Michael Jr his smile wider than ever. "My boy." He says, kissing his cheeks.

I wanted to hug him but I simply said "Hi." My legs couldn't move any further than the front step. He puts his hand in mine, pulling me into his arms. I didn't even have the strength to hug him back.

The kids sat on the floor while Michael and I sat on the couch quietly talking. "Are you eating Mike?" I ask scanning his body.

"No, I'm not gonna lie to you Ray.."

"You need to eat. I just wanted you to see the kids so you knew what you were getting clean for.."

He nods, "I'm gonna do this Ray, I promise.."