17th of February, 2000
Brooklyn is 34, Janet is 33, and Michael is 41

Brooklyn: I wasn't gonna let the recent events effect me.

Yes, I was crushed about losing a baby, and I felt too responsible for his loss.

But knowing I'll have Kamron soon made it better. I think Michael realized that, too, because he seemed to be taking this okay.

We celebrated Prince's third birthday. Michael decided it should be this huge party with the entire family, and their children, of course.

Paris sat on my lap as I tried to get her to speak. She was already a year and nine months old, but she barely said a word. When Prince was her age, he was very talkative.

"Can you say 'ma-ma', Princess? Please..."

She looked up at me with her big eyes that were a mixture of Joseph's sea-like eyes, and Chris's piercing blue ones.

Then, her eyes traveled to the side, her smile getting bigger, too.

"Da-da!" she squealed.

Obviously, that's the only word she actually can say.

Michael walked to us while putting on his shades.

"Babe, I'm heading out." he said, kissing Paris's head.

"Where to?" I asked.

"A meeting, I'll be home around 7. Oh, and I want to take you and the kids out for dinner, so be ready."

I nodded, "Have fun."

My husband placed a soft kiss on my lips before saying goodbye.

"Wave to daddy." I told Paris, who gladly did as I said.

Her eyes turned sad when Michael disappeared.

"We'll see him tonight, baby girl," I smiled. "Now say 'ma-ma'! Please, Paris."

My daughter smiled back. "Da-da."

I scrunched my nose, making her giggle.

~

I put Prince and Paris in their beds for their nap, and quietly closed the door.

Just as I started walking down the stairs, the house phone went off.

I sighed then picked it up.

"Neverland Ranch." I murmured.

"Hello, Brooklyn." Paul said.

I gasped, tightening my grip around the phone.

"Paul!" I exclaimed loudly.

I haven't talked to him in so long. He's been really depressed after Linda was gone.

Right after the wedding, I got a call from Stella. She told me Paul was in a really bad shape, and that her and her siblings need help. I left the kids at home with Michael and got on the first flight I could get to Tucson.

I could never get the image of his broken self out of my mind. It was awful to try and console him. I was there for over a month, but he never came back to the happy Paul I usually knew.

I understood him completely, because I was in the same situation as him when Chris died.

Soon enough, Paul's kids and I decided he couldn't go on like this.
We got him a counselor that helped him in ways we couldn't.

The past year was intense for him. He hadn't talked to me, but Stella made sure to keep me updated. That's why this call got me very excited.

Paul cleared his throat, "How are you?"

"Me? We don't speak for over a year, and you ask how I'm doing?" I laughed a bit.

"Well, yes I want to know how you've been. You said yourself we haven't spoken in over a year." he said, and I could hear the smile on his voice.

I thanked God he was his happy self again.

"I'm good, Paul," I told him, eager to hear about how he was feeling. "The kids are great, and Michael is even better. But seriously, I need to know how you are doing."

"I'm much better, thanks to you and the kids. I don't know where I would have been without you. Probably where Linda is now."

My heart stopped.

"Don't talk like that. Please." I whispered.

"I'm sorry... Um, listen, I'm doing a few recordings in Los Angeles, and I'll be here for about a week. I thought maybe I could stay in your guest house."

"Yes!" I almost screamed from happiness. "Sorry about that."

The thought of seeing him again after so long made me so cheerful.

He chuckled deeply, "I'll see you tomorrow, love."

I hung up, the smile never coming off my face.

~

"Mommy, I think I saw daddy's car outside!" Prince ran to me.

"You sure?" I questioned.

"Yeah!" he nodded.

"Alright, go put on your mask."

"Can I take Spiderman?"

"Sure, but do it quickly, daddy said we have to be ready."

He dashed upstairs and I put Paris in her coat.

"Brooke, I'm home, let's go!" Michael walked into the house.

He saw me with Paris and smiled widely.

"Princess, you are the cutest." he gasped, taking her from me.

She hugged his neck tightly, and giggled when he placed a kiss on her lips.

"I'm ready, mommy!" Prince tugged my shirt. "Hey, daddy."

He was holding his Spiderman action figure while wearing his matching Spiderman mask.

"Hi, baby boy." my husband patted his head.

When we finally got into the car, Michael leaned in to my ear and whispered, "That outfit is perfect, babe... It will totally make a good impression."

"A good impression? On who?"

He only smirked before the car took off.

~

I sat impatiently as the four of us were waiting for the mystery guest to join.

I would never tell Michael that I was disappointed about him or her coming, but I was. I thought we would finally have some alone family time together.

"Daddy, can I take off my mask now?" Prince asked quietly.

"Sure." Michael mumbled, looking at his watch.

"Always late." he sighed.

"Yo, Mike!" I suddenly heard a high-pitched call.

My eyes widened when I saw Chris Tucker from 'Rush Hour'.

"Good to see you, Chris." my husband hugged him.

When they broke the hug, Chris looked around the room.

"Damn, Mike... This is the biggest VIP room I ever saw!"

Michael chuckled at him, then introduced the children.

"Is that Spiderman? Oh, man, I love Spiderman!" Chris exclaimed when he saw Prince's little Spiderman figure.

"Me too!" our son smiled.

"And you must be Mrs. Jackson. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Mike wouldn't stop talking about how hot his wife is, and now I know why."

I blushed and shook his extended hand.

"It's great to meet you, too, but unfortunately I haven't heard as much about you." I said, looking at Michael.

He scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah, I guess I should be the one to blame for that."

"Mommyyyyy," Prince whined. "I'm hungry."

"Then let's get to the food!" Chris ruffled his hair.

~

I laughed when Chris told another joke.

Michael was cackling, and that made me laugh harder.

We barely got to eat because the entire dinner he was telling jokes.

"I'm gonna stop 'cuz y'all cracking up in front of your kids, they're gonna start asking what you've been takin'." Chris mumbled.

That just made both of us laugh more.

"Okay, okay," Michael said once our laughs died. "I wanna make a toast."

We all raised the champagne glasses we had.

"To family and friends. I love you all so much."

"Daddy, you forgot to add our baby brother." Prince told him.

Chris looked confused. "Baby brother? You got her pregnant, Mike?"

"Oh, no, we're adopting next month." I smiled widely.

"Well isn't that a surprise! Another baby Jackson, that's amazing!"

"To family, friends, and Kamron." Michael took a sip and we followed.

Right after that, he made sure to pull me close and put his lips close to my ear.

"By the way, he's staying at the guest house for a few days."

Shit. I forgot to tell him about Paul.

"He can't. We have another visitor tomorrow." I whispered.

"I know Paul's coming. Helen overheard your conversation, so she told me about it. It'll be alright, babe." he reassured, rubbing the back of my hand.

~

18th of February, 2000
Brooklyn is 34, Michael is 41

Brooklyn: I basically jumped into Paul's arms once I opened the door for him.

"Hello, love. Good to see you." he chuckled in my ear.

Although I was glad to have him here, it saddened me to see him walk through the door of our home without Linda by his side.

"Uncle Paul!" Prince screeched, hugging his leg.

"Prince! Oh, my, you grew so much!"

"Yeah! I'm a big boy now!"

"You sure are," Paul let go of me and crouched down to give him a hug. "You look just like your mommy's brother, did you know that?"

Prince nodded. "Daddy tells me that all the time."

"Speaking of Michael, where is he?"

"Showing the ranch to another friend of ours you'll be sharing the guest house with..."

"Oh?"

I nodded, "Yeah, I didn't know until last night. Sorry."

"Don't worry about it, love. I'm sure we'll get along." Paul smiled warmly.

"Uncle Paul, can I show you my room? Pleassseeee!" Prince tugged on his shirt.

Paul agreed, and picked my son up.

He grunted, "I'm getting old."

I laughed as they disappeared upstairs.

"Damn! This is some house! I want a palace like this!" Chris's loud voice echoed through the house.

"Mrs. J!" he yelled when he saw me. "Loved what you did with the place. Amazing."

"Don't compliment me, this is all Michael. I just live here." I said.

Michael rolled his eyes at my comment, before we heard Prince squeal upstairs.

"Mommy! Uncle Paul won't stop tickling me!"

He laughed loudly and the three of us quickly went up the stairs.

Prince was laughing uncontrollably as Paul made sure to tickle him where it tickled the most.

"Daddy, save me!" our son pleaded.

Michael walked over to them. It looked like he was going to take him from Paul, but instead, he joined him.

"Alright, that's enough," I finally told them. "Leave my poor baby alone."

Once they let him go, Prince ran to me and hid behind my legs.

"Don't ever let them do that again, mommy!"

There were laughs from everyone, making him scoff.

~

Michael: I was trying to listen to something Chris was saying, but I kept crossing my eyes outside, where Brooklyn and Paul were talking between themselves.

He had his arm around her shoulders while his other hand rested on her knee gently.

"Mike, stop staring and listen to me." Chris snapped me out of it.

"Sorry." I murmured.

"You ain't got nothin' to worry about, Mike. No one can compete with you."

I wasn't so sure about that, and I had no idea why.

Paul and her did have something special between them. I've noticed that ever since I introduced them to each other. It was sometimes stronger than what Brooke had with Linda.

I looked at them again. They were laughing, and Paul hugged her shoulders tighter.

I stood up to stop whatever was happening once my jealousy took over.

"Chill, man. She hasn't seen him in a long time, they're probably just catchin' up." Chris pulled on my arm.

I sighed, sitting back down.

He kept talking to me, and I listened, but every now and then I glanced over at Brooke and Paul.

~

Brooklyn: Paul broke our hug, and I saw the tears in his eyes.

He took his hand off my knee, then wiped his tears.

"I'm sorry, I'm always this sensitive since Linda isn't here," he apologized. "I can't thank you enough for everything you did for me to get better, Brooklyn."

"Of course. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if you weren't you again." I told him.

He grinned and hugged me again.

"Michael told me you are adopting a baby."

I bit my bottom lip, nodding. I couldn't wait to finally have him. We were so close to the adoption day.

"We're naming him Kamron."

Paul's smile widened. "That's a great name. Maybe I'll come when he joins the family."

"I'd love that. Please do." I said, a bit too excitedly.

He sighed happily and looked around us.

"I really should come here more. This place makes me so happy. Now I understand why Linda always talked about coming here when she felt down."

A piece of my heart broke away. It seemed to me like I lost everyone who loved Neverland, and maybe keep losing them. First Chris, then Linda...

I shook my head in hopes it would get the thought out of it, but it didn't help.

"What's wrong, love? You turned pale in seconds." Paul's worried tone made me look at him.

"It's nothing... I mean, I just remembered I have a phone call to make." I lied.

He looked skeptical, but let me go anyway, "Go ahead, love."

I hugged him for the millionth time today, then went inside the house, passing Michael and Chris on the way.

I took the nearest phone and dialed dad's number.

"Joshua." he answered.

"Hey, daddy." I said.

"Sweetheart, how's it going?"

"Good, I guess... Are you okay?" I asked frantically.

Worries filled me suddenly. He was still at the hospital after the surgery he had. It went perfect, and he was feeling great afterwards, but thinking about the people who love Neverland the most and how they all disappear from me made me feel unsure about his condition.

Too many bad things happened here.

My dad cleared his throat, "I'm absolutely fine, sweetheart. You alright? You sound like you're about to cry."

A huge weight lifted off my chest.

"Yeah, don't worry about me. Rest for me, okay? I'll call tomorrow." I hurried to hang up.

He's okay. He's gonna be okay.

Then there was only one man who loved this place more than anyone that popped into my mind.

Michael.

~

Michael: I decided to confront my wife once we got into bed.

The way Paul held her today annoyed me so much.

I mean, I can get jealous, too.

I waited patiently for her outside the bathroom door as she took a shower.

When I finally heard the water stopping, I stood up straight.

The door slowly opened and revealed her wrapped up in a towel. I noticed her red, puffy, eyes right away.

"Babe?" I asked, slightly worried.

Brooklyn looked up at me, but quickly glanced away.

Suddenly, she wrapped her arms around my neck tightly and started crying.

I scrunched my eyebrows, confused by her sudden mood change.

"Brooke-"

"Shh. Just let me hold you for a second." she begged.

I couldn't help hugging her back.

There were a few moments of silence before she spoke again.

"I love you. Please don't leave me."

"Gosh, baby, never." I assured her, overwhelmed by her sudden need to express herself so drastically.

What is this all about?

"I'm gonna go put some clothes on, then can we cuddle? I really need it right now." she whispered in my ear.

I nodded, putting her down.

I watched her go into her closet room. Still very confused about what just happened, I got into bed.

Brooklyn soon came back, her eyes more red than before.

I opened my arms for her and she nested herself against my chest.

She sniffled, "I have a confession to make."

"What is it?" I questioned.

"I can't be here anymore."

"Can't be here? What do you mean by that?"

"I can't be in Neverland anymore."

~

I am terribly sorry for not updating! I have this trip abroad from school, and it's making me super busy... I hope you understand and forgive me!

Please, tell me your thoughts about this chapter! Thank you so much, and don't forget to vote, my loves!

~ShoamEmily