"God this line is out the door..." I mumble as we walk inside the store behind the table. Crowds roar as people spot us. Michael and I wave and smile at everyone as we prepare for our first and what seems to be a long CD signing. We had finally released Invincible and of course the reception was amazing. Frank and Sasha had set us up for a CD signing in New York. I was all up for getting closer to my fans but this was crazy. The first fan came to the table and handed the guard her album which he then handed to Michael to sign and then Michael handed to me. We were like an assembly line. "I love you both. I've been a fan of you guys forever. Thank you so much." The fan says, before walking away, blowing kisses and hugging her album closely. I giggle at her excitement. "Thank you for your support" I smile. We sat there for what felt like hours, signing CDs. The fans gave us some entertainment. Some came up dancing, others came up singing, some were just plain weird. "Jayla. I love you. Your music is my life. I got a tattoo of your face on my side." The fan says. My eyes widen "Oh my God." I giggle softly. Either it was a really bad tattoo or that's what people think I look like. I hear Michael chuckle under his breath. I give his knee a nudge. "I...that is....I'm speechless... thank you." I couldn't bring myself to words so I signed his album and passed it along. He walked on still screaming out "I love you Jayla" as he left. "Is that what people see when they look at me?" I giggle softly again to Michael.. He shakes his head still laughing. Fan after fan, album after album, we watched as different fans came in front of us to shock us with something new. One young woman came in quietly and begun staring at Michael. "Michael.." She whimpers. "Will you marry me?" She tosses a small gold ring on the table in front of him. Michael grabs the ring and looks at it after passing the album for me to sign. "What'd she say?" He asked. "Would you marry her.." I explain. "You said yes, you took the ring." Sasha says. We all laugh as Michael puts on the ring. "Congratulations" I tease. "Bye Michael!" We hear in the background. "See you at the wedding!" He yells back, waving. One woman brought in her Son and Daughter dressed as Michael and I in one of our short films. That really gave us a laugh. We took a picture and signed the album after thanking her for the tribute.

After 5 hours of signing CD's and a long 4 hour flight we were finally home in Neverland. I sigh as I remove my jeans. "That was really fun. We should do that again." Michael says. "Really?" I ask. "I love the fans but that was tiresome" I laugh. I look at Michael's wandering eyes as he glares at my exposed thighs. "Hey, eyes up...there's no need to stare. All this is all yours." I smirk. I sit on the bed patting the side for him to sit next to me. He sits, sliding me onto his lap. I place my head on his chest, wrapping my arms around his neck. "I can hear your heart beat..." I smile. "I can feel yours." He says placing a hand on my chest. "They're in sync..Like I said...that's how you know we're meant to be." He smiles. "Brian says that I have this thing about me. Where people who meet me always want to protect me or be there for me...did you feel that way too?" I ask, still focusing on his heartbeat. "I've felt like that since I met you. Since you were 13. I just felt like you needed protection. I don't know...now, it's not a need to protect you..I just want to." He responds. We sit in silence as I listen to his heartbeat. My eyes closed enjoying his rhythm. "What perfume do you have on?" He asks, randomly I might add. "Uh...I think it's one of Elizabeth Taylor's... Why? Is it strong?" I ask frowning. "No.. You smell great..." He leans back onto the pillows behind him causing me to giggle. "Michael! What are you doing?" I laugh as he begins pulling me on top of his body and bring my chest to touch his. "I want you closer to me." he smiles. My head lies under his chin, with my arms still wrapped around his neck. I feel his arm caress my back lightly "I could be like this with you forever." I whisper. "You make me feel so safe...I know nothing bad can happen when I'm around you." My phone rings as Michael continues to stroke my hair. "Let it ring." I muffled into his neck. My comfort wouldn't allow me to move. The kind of love we had for each other, we didn't always need sex. This was enough for me. I could bask in his presence all day. My phone began to ring again as I hummed with the tune, Michael giggled and reached over to grab the phone. "Baby if they're calling twice it must be important.." I groan and grab the phone from Michael. "Hello?" I answer still lightly muffled. "Jayla, where are you?" I hear my mother call through the phone. "I'm at Michael's..why? Is everything ok?" I ask. "Your father.." My mom starts but I cut her off. "Mom..I don't want to know anything about that man." I scoff. "He's dead." She states. My breathing shortens. I sit up from Michael's embrace and lean my back on his knees. "He's..dead?" I repeat. "How?" "Suicide. He left a note.." My mothers says somberly. "Are you ok?" She asks. I open my mouth but words seemed to be stuck. Michael looked at me with a furrowed brow. "Jayla?" She called again. "Yeah...I'm fine. Let me call you back mom...I need to think." I respond holding back whimpers. I hang up my phone and lay my head back on Michael's neck, Re wrapping my arms around him. "What happened?" He asks holding me tighter this time. Tears roll down my cheeks onto his chest. "My dad died..." I sniffled. "Oh. I'm so sorry Jayla." He says, hugging me close. "How do you deal with something like this? You've resented this person for years, wished for him to be out of your life..." I sniffed again. "Wanted him gone. I just wanted him out of my life, not dead Michael..." I sob into his chest. "He had been trying to call me and I changed my number...I never tried to help him. I'm a terrible daughter." I cried. "Jayla, you did the best you could with your dad. You couldn't do but so much for him...you gave him 10 grand! That's more than enough for one person to rebuild their life. Honestly, after all the abuse and pain he's caused you why wouldn't you change your number? Do you know how many times I've changed my number on Joseph? Baby, there are things you just can't change. You cannot and I won't allow you to blame this on yourself." He kisses my forehead, wiping away tears. I nod my head in agreement. "I need to go to my mothers...will you come with me?" I ask. "Of course... If you'll do me a favor.." He smiles. "Stop letting your snot leak on my chest, that's not sexy" he jokes, handing me a tissue. I giggle. "I'm sorry..I'm gonna go clean my face." I laugh, lifting up. "Then we can go to my moms..