*15 years later, March 14th, 2005*

"Guys, this is where your grandmother and grandfather are," I tell my children.

Since Janine's funeral we have had two more children, Electra, aged 13, who has black hair and blue streaks running through it, and brown eyes, and another boy, Dexter, aged 11, who has light brown hair and blue eyes.

Ryder is now almost 16, and he definitely has Michael's eyes and black, Jheri-curled hair. It looks like Michael's hair, when I first met him in college.

If you're wondering about Michael, he's 46 now, and he's currently at home. He's matured a lot these past few years, and he's decided that the beautiful curls he had in his younger years will only appear every so often. He mostly styles it straight now, but he still looks perfect to me.

I watch the children, looking at their grandparents' grave stone. I haven't been to see it so often lately, I've been so busy. The children have never been before, but I've been here while they've been alive... just on my own. But I owe it to them to tell them where mum and dad are.

"Mom, when did they..?" Dexter asks, rolling his eyes to the right to indicate he's trying to say 'pass away.'

I look at him, and pat his back. They know it was in the 70s, but the gravestone doesn't say the precise date.

"Oh, it was the 3rd of June, all the way back in 1978," I say softly.

Electra nods in understanding, and leans her head on my shoulder.

"I wish we could have met them.."

"I wish you could have met them, darling," I say quietly. "But they can see you, up there with the other angels. Uncle Jack and your great grandmother are there, too. Oh, and your half sister Alexa."

"Dad lost a child, or.. or you?" Dexter asks.

"Yes, sweetie. Your dad.. he was going to have a child with another girl, but that baby died, and then the mother died, too."

I'm referring to Janine and her aborted child here, and I'm watching my children listen to me, fascinated.

"So we have another sister that's in heaven?" Electra asks.

"Yes, Leccy."

That's my nickname for her, I find it rather cute.

"Didn't that girl die when I was like, a few days old?" Ryder asks, scratching the back of his head, reading the gravestone of mum and dad.

"Yes, she was called Janine, and.. she did some bad things in her time, but she made them right, and that was the last thing she did before she died," I explain.

"Where's she buried?" Dexter asks.

"Oh, she's buried about forty-five minutes away, in a little graveyard, it's charming, quite charming."

"Could we go and see her?" Electra asks.

"Maybe, one day," I reply.

I haven't been to see her since the funeral, it would be weird going all of a sudden.

"Did dad love her?" Ryder asks.

"No, not really. They were.. kinda.. friends.. but, there was nothing associated with love," I answer.

"Then why were they going to have a kid together?"

Ryder's follow-up question gets me thinking. How will I tell them that Michael was sexually assaulted?

"I'll tell you one day, Ryder," I say.

"Why not now?"

"Because.. we're in a graveyard, we shouldn't be disrespectful," I breathe. Ryder nods in understanding.

"Anyway, say your goodbyes to your grandparents, and go get in the car. I just have to sort out their flowers and tidy the area up. I won't be a minute."

I watch the children run back to the car, after they bid the gravestone farewell.

I kneel down by mum and dad's grave, and run my finger through their names on the stone. I smile, and tidy the flowers up.

"I'm sorry I haven't been here in such a while, guys," I start, arranging the flowers neatly. "But the children have been a handful, and they've only just expressed any kinda interest in seeing you."

I kiss my fingers, then run the same fingers across my parents' names again, as if blowing a kiss to them.

"Goodbye, guys. I love you both, to the moon and back. I'll come back, I promise."

I walk back to the car, where the kids are waiting, and I look back at the stone every so often. I get in the car.

"C'mon, let's go home," I say, starting the ignition to the car.

--

I lock the car, and walk the kids to the front door. I don't have to unlock the door, it should already be unlocked because Michael's in.. well, he should be, by now. He had work today, he's got a job as a part-time supply teacher at the secondary school a few minutes down the road, and he said he wasn't very busy today, so he should be here by now.

I open the door, and allow the kids in first.

"Michael, we're home!"

Michael walks into the hallway, where me and the kids are taking our coats off.

"Hey, I missed you! How was it?" Michael asks, tucking a lock of his straight hair behind his ear.

He's wearing his little glasses, and he looks so cute.

He kisses my lips once, and smiles at me, waiting for my response.

"It was alright, the kids were fascinated by it.. they were asking about Janine and Alexa, too.."

Michael looks down, obviously upset that I had brought their names up. I stroke his chest sympathetically, which is being covered by a black suit jacket, with a white shirt and black tie underneath. I look up into his eyes.

"You'll get to see them, soon, baby."

"I know," Michael sighs. "I just want Janine to bring Alexa here for a flying visit. She promised me that almost sixteen years ago.."

"They probably had things to do, up in heaven, Michael. They're always here, in spirit. Anyway, I don't think we should discuss this in front of the children."

I turn my head to see all three children looking at us.

"Discuss what in front of us?" Electra asks.

I swallow awkwardly, and Michael shakes his head.

"Nothing, Leccy, it doesn't matter," he says, fighting back the croaky voice, induced by tears.

"Well, ok," Electra brushes it off, and the three children leave the room.

I look back at Michael, and he forces a smile onto his face.

"I won't speak of it until it happens, now, baby. It isn't nice for the kids to hear about my impossible dreams," he says sorrowfully, and I smile warmly.

"It's ok, Michael. They'll come, all good things come in due time."

"I know, I know.. c'mon, let's go into the living room. Watch a little Peter Pan."

"You know that's my favourite," I chuckle, and bop his nose with my finger playfully.

"Yes," Michael wraps his arms around my waist, and brings me closer. "But in case you didn't realise, it's also my favourite."

He bops my nose back, and his fake smile becomes real. He brings me even closer, and he leans his forehead against mine. Our noses are touching, by the tips. He looks down at me, in the eyes, not for a moment letting go. He knows I love those eyes, and they still get me going. They're still deep and beautiful.

He brings his lips closer to mine, and they touch in a kiss. He pushes me against the wall, and I wrap my arms around his neck, and he pushes our bodies together.

"Oh, c'mon, get a room!" Electra protests, walking by us, her eyes locked onto the screen of her phone. She looks kinda upset.

"Which cat got your tongue, Leccy?" I ask.

She ignores me, and carries on into the living room. I don't think she heard me. I take Michael's hand, and we walk into the living room. Electra is sitting on the arm of the sofa, playing with her phone.

"What's wrong, Leccy?" I ask again. She looks up at me.

"Nothing, I'm fine," she says, rubbing her eyes.

She's crying, isn't she?

"Leccyyyyy," I prolong her name, showing I mean business.

She looks down for a moment, types into her phone, then looks back up, tears in her eyes.

"Y'know we've got the eighth grade prom soon, right?" she asks. I nod.

"Yeah, you're going with Sydney, aren't you?"

Sydney is the guy she's been crushing on since she was eleven years old, and he asked her to prom a few weeks ago, when they first heard about it.

"No, mum! He asked another girl!" she cries, throwing her phone onto the sofa and burying her head in her hands.

"Hey, Leccy, calm down sweetie. Sydney obviously isn't worth it, if he wants to miss out on going to prom with someone as beautiful as you," I say comfortingly.

She looks back up at me, and I place my arm around her.

"But I've been looking forward to going with him.. he knows how much I care for him, and he went and asked Brittany! What did I do wrong, mum? What did I actually do wrong?"

"Nothing, you've done nothing," Michael answers on behalf of me. "Trust me, if I was Sydney, I wouldn't think twice before deciding to go with you. Leccy, you're a beautiful little girl, and any guy would be lucky to go to prom with you."

"You would say that, dad," Electra sniffles. "You're my dad."

"No! Look, you're perfect, sweetheart," I say. "And I bet you'll get another guy, very soon."

"You'll have a job, mum, the prom's in a week! I haven't even got a dress, yet.."

"Well, I'll get one with you, before the prom," Michael says, kissing her forehead.

Electra smiles, and hugs me and Michael.

"Thanks, guys.. I hope you're right," she says, before smiling faintly, and leaving the room, after picking her phone up from the sofa.

I exhale loudly, and flop down on the sofa.

"She's thirteen, she has a whole life ahead of her," I sigh.

Michael sits by me, and grabs the TV remote.

"I know, but girls her age are always like that.. they're hitting puberty."

Why does Michael sound so cute saying that word? It beats me.

"What were you like, at Leccy's age?" I ask.

Michael widens his eyes, looking uncomfortable that the conversation was raised.

"I.. I.."

"C'mon, Michael. I've always wanted to know!" I chuckle.

Michael leaves the room for a second, then comes back.

He hands me a photo of a boy, with dark skin, an afro.. rather spotty.

"I wanna show you this," Michael says.

"Who's this?" I ask.

Michael looks down at the photo.

"You know them better than anyone," Michael replies.

"I do? I don't recognise anyone like that. How old would they be right now?" I ask.

"Hmm.. about 46 years old."

"So, your age?"

"Yes, Becky, my age, to the day."

"Aw, they were born on the 29th August, 1958? That's cute, you got yourself a.. twin."

I wouldn't call this a twin brother, but the boy in the photo does have Michael's deep eyes..

"Yes, they sure were. Becky.."

"Who is this, Michael?"

"It's me.."

"You? How is this possible? This guy is dark skinned and has an afro!"

"I.. I should have told you," Michael says softly.

"Told me what? This can't be you," I say in disbelief.

Michael takes the photo, and looks down at it.

"But it is me, baby.."

"But.. you've got light skin," I say.

I'm not racist, but how can he change skin colour?

"I.. I know. And I can tell you why," Michael says.

"Then please do," I demand politely.

"When I was younger, about.. well, I'm not sure, about a decade before I met you.. I got this skin disease, Vitiligo.. it's a skin disease that destroys the pigmentation of the skin.. I was dark-skinned for the first.. 24 years of my life, I'd say. But, after that, I started to get lighter. I met you, about two years after the Vitiligo calmed itself down a little.. but seriously, you've never noticed my skin get lighter before?"

"No.. not really.."

I'm a little surprised. I'd heard of Vitiligo before, but wasn't sure what it was all about. Michael has Vitiligo? Woah.

"But, I guess now, you can judge me," Michael sighs.

My eyes widen. Did he just say that?

"Why would I judge you?" I ask.

He takes off his suit jacket, and unbuttons his shirt.

"How have you never noticed this before?" he asks, pointing to a lighter patch on his back.

That's a question. How had I never noticed before?

"I.. I don't know," I stutter.

He then shows me another on his arm.

"And this one?"

"Where have these all suddenly come from?" I ask.

"I guess it could be to do with the fact I used make-up to hide it more, when I was younger. But I didn't use make-up all the time," he explains.

I guess he could have a point.

"I guess.. you hid them well," I smile.

"I guess now you're gonna judge me now you've seen them," Michael accuses me.

He shows me another few patches on his stomach.

"No.. I won't judge you," I mutter.

"Promise me you won't," Michael frowns.

I'm gonna have to prove it to him now, aren't I?

"I don't need to promise in words, I'll do it in actions," I smile, then I lean my head on his side, and I kiss each and every patch on his body, one at a time.

"W-What are you doing?" Michael asks.

"Kissing those beautiful patches of yours. You're like a beautiful human patchwork," I smile, and work my way up to his chest area, kissing the patches over and over.'

"Thank you sweetheart," Michael exhales loudly, clearly enjoying the feel of my kisses.

I work my way up to his neck, and soon the kisses aren't just proof that I won't judge him; they're proof that I love him.

"Keep going, your lips are so soft," he sighs.

Aww, he's so sweet.

I carry on kissing his neck, getting more passionate with each one. He's enjoying this, I know he is.

"Ok, I give up. We can forget Peter Pan.. let's go to our room," Michael smiles seductively.

"Ok, Michael," I stop kissing his neck, and lift my head.

He doesn't even bring his shirt and jacket, he lifts me up into his arms, and starts kissing me, with such passion, that I pray it'll never end. He's so strong, lifting me up almost effortlessly.

He continues to kiss me, and walks me up the stairs as we do so. Luckily, none of the kids come out of their rooms while me and Michael make our way upstairs.

We get to out room, and Michael slams the door, still holding me in his arms. He places me on the bed, and climbs on, too, still kissing me.

He hovers over me, then I let him drop onto me, and I roll over, making him land on his back, with me on top of him. I love beating him, and pinning him down. Makes me feel strong.

I break the kiss for a moment, and look into his eyes.

"Well, after all these years together, looks like you still got those magical eyes and perfect kissing skills," I say softly.

"And it looks like you're still.. you. That's all I need," Michael replies huskily.

Hmm, not heard that voice in a while. I've missed it.

"Mr. Jackson," I say. "How was school today?"

"It wasn't bad, I was only forced to cover for one English class today."

"And what did you do with them?"

"I let them read Peter Pan.."

I give him a judging look, and he holds his hands up, as if surrendering.. well, as well as he can, with me being on top of him.

"What? Don't judge me!" he chuckles.

I smile, and kiss his lips once.

"I love you," I say.

"I love you more and most, baby."

He kisses me once more, but obviously, he can't seem to resist, as he keeps kissing again and again after.

"Oh," he sighs, before repeating his previous words. "I love you more and most."

Author's note: you guys don't mind it being set in a whole new era now..... it's obviously (in real life) around the time Michael was proven innocent of all charges.... so, what do you think? With two more kids on the scene? And Ryder being fifteen, rather than the little one month-year old in the last chapter? Too much of a time jump, or ok? Let me know! Ooh, it's such fun :D