Michael's POV

For the next month I continued to tour the country. Only problem was, I was exhausted. I had more trouble sleeping then ever before to the point it was overwhelming.

"I really need this." I whisper to Dr. Arnold Klein. He pretty much gave me what I wanted when I wanted if I said the right price. Unfortunately, that was part of the perks to stay in my circle.

Dr. Klein paced my hotel room, trying to talk me out of what I asked him. "Michael this is very dangerous. I could lose my license."

"Arnie, you're not going to lose your license. I'm desperate right now. Once I'm home, I will never ask you for this again. But for the next month, I need your help to fall asleep." I plead.

Dr. Klein slouches next to me on the couch, folding his hands in front of him. "Michael this procedure is dangerous. But I'll do it.."

I sigh, "thank you.." That's all I really wanted to hear from him. "We can't tell anyone about this. Especially Rayne. If she finds out, she might just leave me.." I head into the room and lay down as Dr. Klein prepared the equipment and places the IV drip of propofol into my body. Less than 2 minutes later I was out like a light.

The next morning I woke up feeling a little more awake than the night before. The IV had been removed and the equipment disappeared. The band aid over the small puncture covers a small blood spot.

This process repeated almost every night and I didn't hear from Rayne nor Camille in the weeks to pass. Which actually helped in me not feeling that much as guilty as I should.

Each show went by faster than the last until it left me counting down the days until I went home. I was excited for more than one reason. I was in Vegas, only a few hours away from home and I had another doctor that was willing to help me sleep. Once I'm with Rayne I won't need this stuff anymore. I anticipated, having her in my arms again.

The cold Vegas December night air stung my skin as I walked into the Bellagio hotel, my favorite hotel to stay in, dragging my feet to my suite. The after affects of my medicine induced sleep, hindering me from moving any faster. 

Bill followed me inside, "Mike I've gotta tell you something important."

I sit at the table,  "Sure what's on your mind Bill?"

"I love working for you, but age is starting to get me." He chuckled "after this tour, I'm gonna have to retire."

"oh. I'm retiring after this tour too so we're in the same boat." I joke. "But Bill I completely understand, you've been my top body guard for 30 years. You deserve a break."

Bill nodded, releasing a little chuckle.

"What's funny?" I ask.

"I knew that telling you would be easy. The hard part will be telling your daughter." He laughs a little more.

I give a grin, "yeah good luck with that." Camille and Bill's relationship was a great one, something I was very appreciative of. He was like a grandfather to her. "Well Bill, you've done an excellent job as my body guard and running the security team. It's honestly been an honor."

"Thank you Mike."

I prepare myself for my final night on tour, Bill transports me to the stadium, the Vegas strip lights flash against my window. I form a circle underneath the stairs to start my final show.

"I just want to thank everyone apart of this tour. You guys have done an amazing job from wardrobe to lighting. This is my final show as you all know, and I want to end things with a bang. Let's give my fans the greatest experience ever." I lead the circle in a group yell before getting into my makeshift rocket to start the show.

***

Finally, Bill, Wayne and Doug pull into the ranch. My golden Neverland gates covered in Christmas lights and various decorations. Pulling past the fountain and Christmas light covered trees, I see my little girl drawing on a sheet of paper in the grass. She looks up to see my truck pull into the driveway, a look of shock on her face.

"No no no! You're too early!" She says sprinting back in the house.

I frown stepping out of the car, "What? No hi daddy?" I sigh looking back at Bill who shrugs unknowingly. I lead Wayne and Doug inside the house to bring my bags inside.

As I open the door I see my vision of beauty, a big smile on her face. She squeals loudly as she practically topples me, wrapping her arms and legs around me and covering my face in kisses."Baby!" She muffles into the side of my neck.

I chuckle hugging her tightly. "I missed you too."

She hops down to look at me. "I'm so happy you're home. Did you see your child?" She grins.

"I did but she ran away, where'd she go?" I look around. Rayne shrugs before speaking to Bill and the rest of the security team. I head upstairs towards Camille's room to see her door closed. I quietly open it and I see Christmas lights hanging around her room. "What's going on in here?" I ask.

Camille sucks her teeth, "daddy you ruined the surprise.. The lights were supposed to be on." She whines.

"I'm still surprised.." I enthuse.

"Really?"

"Yeah.. Your room is beautiful! Now come here, give me a hug, I missed you!" I crouch down to her eye level.

She smiles, leaning into my arms. "I missed you too daddy. Does this mean you can read me a story tonight?" She cups her hand around my ear, "mommy doesn't read them right."

I chuckle, "I'll read it to you.. Daddy's home for good now."

"Yay!" Camille cheers.

Rayne calls Camille and I downstairs, "Bill says he's got an announcement." Rayne recalls.

Camille and I go back towards the living room where Camille runs into Bill's strong legs, wrapping her arms around his calves. "Hey little boss." He places a hand on her shoulder sweetly, before she runs to sit on my lap on the couch. He's been calling her 'little boss' since she was 2 years old and she calls him 'big boss'

Bill gives a heavy sigh, hanging his head a little lower. I knew it would be harder for him to tell the girls than to tell me that he was leaving. "I've already let Michael know..Its been a pleasure protecting you all and watching 'little boss' here grow up, but I'm retiring."

Rayne frowns, "really? Wow, it won't be the same without you Bill.. Why are you leaving?"

"What's retiring?" Camille asks.

"It means, I'm not gonna be around anymore." Bill says reluctantly.

"Why?" She asks.

"Well.. I'm getting old, my 55th birthday is coming up soon and I need to take care of myself."

"But who's gonna make sure the camera people don't get us?" She asks a little more tearfully than the last question.

"That's why Wayne and Doug and Leon are here. They're gonna make sure nobody hurts you guys."

"But I thought you were the Big Boss.."

At that moment, I saw Bill almost break, I had to interject. "Millie, Bill will be here for a few more days and I'm sure he won't mind staying in contact. But I'm pretty sure he's tired and maybe a little hungry after that long drive home. Ok?"

"Ok.." She pouts.

"Bill as you can see, you're going to be missed. Please don't hesitate to stop by even for a visit." She smiles sweetly, giving him a long hug.

"Thank you." He squats down to Camille, "see you later Little boss?" His arms outstretched.

Camille nods somberly hugging him briefly before grabbing my hand and walking away.

***
Rayne's POV

None of us were happy about Bill retiring, he had been protecting our family since before our family even existed. He was like a father to Michael and I especially when we were 19. I giggle at the memories popping in my mind.

"Mike, remember that night, you and I snuck out to see a movie and we had to call Bill to save us from the mob forming outside the bathroom?"

Michael giggles, sliding on his shirt, "oh yeah. And he gave us this long speech about responsibility and safety. I can still remember it. 'What in the blue blazing hell made you two think this was ok? Mike you are way more responsible than that, you are a celebrity and you have a responsibility to uphold.. Blah blah blah'" Michael says, imitating Bill's voice. "He was more of a father than I have ever had.." He sighs.

"Speaking of fathers.." I began, hesitant to bring in this topic. Michael turns from his dresser to look at me. I sat cross legged on the bed, ducking my chin into my shoulder shyly.

"What about fathers?" He asks.

"Joseph called yesterday. He thought you were home." I add.

"What'd he want?" He asks, half-expectedly knowing the answer.

I sigh, "money.. He's in debt.."

"He's always in debt. This is why I give money to mother and let her give him money.. He spends it on worthless stuff." Michael groans, his back leaning against the mattress.

"I don't understand.. Why doesn't he ask your other brothers and sisters?" I run my finger through his freed ponytail.

"Who's the most successful?" Michael says in a muffled tone, his face buried into my lap.

"Oh." I sigh. "What are you gonna do?" I ask.

"I'm not calling him back, he can forget about it. If he needs it that bad he'll call someone else."

"Michael, he's your father." I say. I watch him nestle his head further into my lap. His eyes closed and rested in deep thought. The rise and fall of his stomach caused me to assume he was sleeping, or on his way there. "Babe.." I rub his hair again before he inhales a deep breath.

"I know you want me to get closer with my family.. But there's no getting closer to Joseph unless money is involved. Sadly, I feel like that's why I've gotten so accustomed to that. A lot of people in this industry, entertainment and business, are only after money. They only care about what you can do for them.. That's my father as well.. My family as a whole honestly.."

It seemed to be true, a lot of people would stick around Michael until he refused to help them and then they'd disappear. There were only two or three people he could honestly call his friends, not including myself.

"The only people I trust are you and my daughter.." He continued, his eyes still closed, running his arm around my waist. "You've never wanted anything from me. Camille wants nothing but my love. That's why I'm so excited to retire. I just want to be surrounded with people who love me, and that's you and her."

I couldn't even respond to him, because it wasn't like he was wrong. I just let him lay there in silence holding on to me with every breath. He laid there quietly, humming a tune to himself , and running his fingers across my hip. Until suddenly he fell asleep, and something told me this was the most peaceful sleep he's gotten in months.

***

Michael slept in pretty late the next morning, Camille and I had slept until maybe 10 and he was still sleeping. She and I sat at the table eating before Camille finally broke the silence. "How come daddy is still sleeping?" She asks, her fork scraping the plate.

"He's catching up on all the rest he missed during the tour. You know daddy works very hard."

She nods, licking her fingers of syrup. "I know. He's the greatest daddy ever. He reads the best stories even better than you mommy."

I giggle, she's not lying. I'm not as invested in her stories as he is. "Yeah, stories are daddy's thing." I smile, watching her. When she was younger she looked like my mother, but recently she's been developing her father's features, her long curly hair pushed into a thick ponytail showing her face a lot clearer.

"When is he gonna wake up?" She whines impatiently.

"He'll wake up soon. I know you missed Michael, but he's home for good now. So let's let him rest and then we can spend time with him."

"Ok.." She grabs her dish and places in the sink, washes her hands and heads into her room. I head into mine to see Michael still sleeping. Quietly creeping into the bathroom, I take a quick shower and wash my hair, which now falls past my shoulders.

When I come out, Michael arises from the mountain of pillows, yawning loudly. He turns to see me casually standing in my towel, brushing my wet hair in the mirror. "Well that's a pleasant view to wake up to." He smirks sleepily.

I chuckle, "well good morning.. Or afternoon I should say."

"Is it really the afternoon?"

"Almost." I smile, "I didn't wake you. You seemed like you needed the rest." I throw my puffy hair into a bun and head towards the dresser to grab some clothes, I could feel his eyes watching my every move, just hoping for my towel to slip.

"I did. That was honestly the best sleep I've gotten since the tour started. Maybe I just missed my bed."

"Maybe so." I shift my back towards him, accidentally allowing my towel to drop below my shoulders.

"You might as well drop the towel.. I mean what's the point, I've already undressed you in my mind.." Michael flirts quietly.

I giggle, "don't you start.." I place my shirt on and slide on my underwear before feeling two arms around my waist. I grin turning around to face him. "Your daughter is in the next room." I giggle.

"Then we've just gotta be extra quiet.." He whispers into my neck before lifting me off my feet. I laugh loudly, wrapping my arms and legs around him so I don't fall. "Put me down." I giggle. "Camille is next door!" I laugh.

He places my back against the wooden door as I hear the latch click. "The doors locked now.." He chuckles still burying kisses into my neck. "Do you have any idea how much I missed you?" He muffles with a laugh.

"I have a clue.." I smile. "Can you at least put me down?"

"Mm-mm" he responds. He continues kissing me until I couldn't help but give in to his tantalizing lips. My back still pushed against the wall, I feel his hands grope my thighs tightly before the phone rings. "Ignore it.." Michael says in between kisses.

"Babe, Camille is gonna answer.." I manage to moan out.

"Maybe she won't. Just ignore it."

A few moments later a knock was on our door. "Mommy.. It's grandpa." Camille calls on the other end.

Michael sighs, putting me back on my feet. "Just tell him I'm not here.." He flops back onto the bed. I open the door and grab the phone, "thanks babe." I smile.

"Hi Joseph..." I start sitting next to Michael on the bed as he lays his head in my lap. "No he's not here, you just missed him!" I fake as Michael trails soft, yet distracting, kisses up my thigh. I pull his head up by his hair while he giggles quietly.

"Yeah Joseph.. I'll let him know that you called.. Ok. Bye." I hang up, "you're terrible!" I giggle as he leans me back onto the bed continuing what we started.