Michael's POV

"Hey fellas, what brings you two over?" I open the door to Tito and Jackie, noticing them looking around at the mess of a house I'm in now. "Sorry about the mess, I usually have the cleaning crew come in the day before the kids get here.." I mumble.

"We came to check on you.. nobody's heard from you in a few weeks.. have you even showered? You've still got on pajamas" Tito says.

"Rayne hears from me. I'm fine. I wish people would stop worrying about me all the time.. I'm a grown man." Diverting from his question on if I've showered, because I hadn't.

"A grown man with a drug problem, man even Joseph's worried.." Jackie says bluntly.

I sigh loudly, "tell everyone I'm fine.. tell Joseph, tell the media, tell the tabloids, tell the fans.. I don't care.." I sit on the chair nearest me, by my kitchen, resting my head on the countertop.

"Listen Mike, we just wanted to make sure you were alive alright.. it's been two months.. Do you know if Rayne is coming home soon?" Tito asks.

I nod cautiously, "I don't know when but... we've been talking about it. I'm still clean just.. depressed." I look at the dishes piled in the sink from the few meals I attempted to eat and decided I should just start on the dishes. "Guys, I've got a lot of cleaning to do.." I clue them to leave.

They nod and walk out, "just.. take care mike."

"Yeah.." I mumble. I knew, in reality, my life was a complete mess. I could barely sleep, and even when my kids were with me I couldn't spend time with them because I was working on this album. There would be days I'd go to my dance studio and try to dance out my frustrations, but most of the time I never had the ambition to get out of bed. I honestly don't have the energy to do the dishes, so I walked off, leaving them to soak in sudsy water.

I knew people were worried because I hadn't been answering any calls from my office phone or my cell, unless it was Ray or the kids. I had honestly become a recluse.

***

I belted one final note into the microphone in front of me, clutching my headphones closer to my ears to make sure I was in tune. "I love you.." I ended softly, finishing my song "Speechless"

"How was that?" I ask over the mic, scratching my chin hairs.

"Sounded great Mike.." the producer replied, flipping the switch to stop recording. I came and sat next to him. He observed me quietly, "is everything alright?" He asked, his face filled with concern.

"What?.. yeah I'm fine. I just haven't shaved." I chuckle awkwardly.

"Ok..." he frowns. I knew things were looking bad if my producer was starting to see the problems on my face.

That night was a night I actually thought I would get a good nights sleep. I was so tired, I fell asleep rather quickly only to wake up at 4.
I stared at the ceiling until the sun came back to greet me. I kept hearing a rustling from downstairs causing me to jolt forward. It's way too early for my cleaning crew to be here, they weren't due to be here for another two days.

I head downstairs to check quietly, and sure enough my living area was spotless. I frown, "Carmen, the kids don't come until Thursday.. you're here early." I call out, my mood couldn't have lifted any further when I looked in the kitchen to see Rayne placing another plate in the drying rack.

"Carmen is good but she can't clean like me." She grins.

My feet were stuck in the spot I stood, a wide smile sat on my face. "What are you doing here?"

"Is this really how you live when the kids aren't here?" She asked, wrapping her arms around me in a hug. I bring my arms around her in return, hugging her tighter than ever, not wanting to let her go., My chin leaning on her forehead.

"I've been a mess.." I mumble.

"I see." She chuckles, "you haven't even shaved.." she adds, cupping my chin in her hand. "I'm so afraid to see what the rest of the house looks like.." her eyes widen.

"Don't go in our room." I warn, my clothes were all over the place, and the picture of Rayne and the kids were entangled in the sheets. I slept with it like it was a teddy bear, a security blanket of sort. The sheets were practically off the mattress.

She continues washing the dishes I had left in the soapy water. "Michael, I'm sure there's more food on these plates, than in your stomach... have you been eating?"

"I try.." I say quietly. She whips back around to face me, she was even gorgeous when she was disappointed in me. I pull her into another hug.

She couldn't help but smirk. "I need you to eat." She muffles into my chest.

"What made you come here today?" I ask.

"Jackie.. he told me you were over here in shambles. He told me you needed me.. bad." She says stroking my cheek.

"I do.." I reply pecking her lips. "Where are the kids?"

"Derrick is watching them at my dad's."

"So now that you see I'm a mess without you.. will come home now?" I whine.

She sighs softly, her eyes trailing away from mine.

"I guess that's a no.." I release her waist. "Ray I've been clean for 3 months.. what do you want me to do?" I fold my arms, leaning on the arm of my couch.

"I don't know.." she sighs.

"I mean.. do you not wanna come back?" I ask.

"I do.. I'm just afraid that I'll come back and- I just can't watch you relapse again. It kills me.." she explains. "I care for you too much to watch you do this to yourself.. but I have to be selfish and spare my feelings."

I bring her in between my legs. "If I relapse, I'll bring you the divorce papers myself. Just come home.."

She giggles quietly, "we wouldn't get divorced, that's for sure. We're well past that.. 22 years past that."

"It's good to know you won't give up on me." I say, fiddling with her fingers. She grins, kissing me softly.

***

When I woke in bed a few hours laters, she was gone.. the room was clean and her clothes were folded on the edge of the bed. I laid there for a few moments, quietly taking in the fact I knew she wouldn't give up on me. I still don't understand what I did in a past life to deserve her.

I walked downstairs to see her in her bra and a pair of my boxers in the kitchen. The aroma of breakfast food thickening as I got closer to the kitchen. "I don't know about you but I'm starving." She says, biting a piece of a pancake. She points me to a plate with a stack of pancakes and a few pieces of turkey bacon.

Usually I'd turn away, but I was actually hungry. It had something to do with Rayne being here. I kiss her forehead, grab my plate and head to the dining room table.

She sits on the opposite side, "Michael, I'm gonna move back home.." she says putting her head in her hand. "I'm trusting you.. all I ask is that we don't put our kids through this again..Mike may be too young to understand, but Camille gets it.. I don't want to hurt any of us again."

I nod, "I don't either.."

"Ok.." she nods, "I told Derrick to bring the kids.."

I couldn't hold back the big grin on my face.

The kids walked in a few hours later, Camille runs into my arms, clutching me tightly not allowing me to stand without her on my hip. "My baby girl.. I missed you so much.."

"Daddy, Uncle Derrick said we're coming home for good. Is that true?? I think he's just joking.. he's always pulling pranks like you did." She says cutting her eyes at him.

"No.. he's not pulling your leg." I chuckle. "You're back home for good."

"Mommy's staying too?" She asked.

"Of course!" I grin, placing her on her feet to pick up Michael. "Hey big guy.." I hug him tightly.

My mood was already lifted and my family was only home for ten minutes.