Becky's POV

My eyes flicker and open slowly, and white light blurs my vision.

"She's awake, see," I hear.. Michael.. his voice.. telling someone.

"You know your stuff," I hear my mother's voice.

My eyes finally process the image in front of me, and I see.. Michael, mother, father, Charlie and Jasper.

"Hey, Becky," Jasper smiles down at me.

"I'm so glad you're alright!" Michael grins, stroking my cheek gently. My eyes avert to his face, and I smile faintly.

"I.. can someone remind me of what just happened?" I ask, my voice hoarse.

"I don't think you wanna remember, sweetheart," Michael replies.

Then, I remember. Michael doesn't even need to tell me.

Lisa and Alex tried to shoot me, but my mom stopped them.

And.. after that.. is all a blur.

I sit bolt upright, looking left to right frantically, in search of Alex or Lisa.

Or both.

My breathing becomes heavy.

"Hey, calm down, baby. Lisa and Alex are gone," Michael assures me. It's like he knew what was up with me.

"W-Where are they?" I ask weakly.

"The police took them away, to revive them. They should be awake now, and then they're gonna be interviewed," Jasper explains.

"B-But how did this..?" I can't think of a phrase, so my voice trails off.

"You just fainted from shock, that's all," Michael explains.

"I.. I'm sorry," I whimper, and Michael bends down to kiss my forehead.

"What for? You saved me.. if you hadn't have been here, neither would your mother, who saved you. There's no need to be sorry," he says calmly.

"Thank you, mom," I whisper, and she smiles down at me.

"I'm just glad you're ok, darling," she says.

"And.. there's another thing," Michael pipes up.

"What?" I demand quietly.

Michael comes closer to me, and leans his head by my ear, before whispering; "Your mother finally accepts me."

I can't help but smile. It's taken her over a month, more than that, for her to accept him.

"And now, with Lisa and Alex out of our lives for the time being, we can start our lives together," Michael changes the subject with a huge grin on his face.

"Thank God," I lean back onto the pillows I was previously lying on, and close my eyes for a moment. "This really shook me up."

"Of course it did, Becky. But the main point is.. we're all alive, and we're all ok. Just think of that, ok?" Charlie tells me.

I nod, agreeing with his statement, and open my eyes once again.

Michael is gazing at me, his eyes sparkling beautifully, and he takes my hand in his, and rubs my knuckles with his thumb.

"Things can only get better from now, y'know."

6 days later, 28 August, 1991

"So, tomorrow's your birthday," I smile, tapping Michael's nose.

We're sitting on the bed at my parents' house, just enjoying each other's company.

"It sure is.. and I'm having the day off work to make sure I have the best birthday ever with you," Michael replies.

"I hope you'll like your present," I say quietly, earning a soft nudge on the arm from Michael.

"You silly thing, of course I love anything that comes from you!" he grins, then winks. "Ahem, if you know what I mean."

He raises his eyebrows suggestively, making me laugh, and I slap his chest lightly.

"Yeah, yeah. Maybe if you're lucky, I can give you some medication for your birthday," I wink.

"Ooh," Michael laughs seductively. "Then I shall look forward to that medication, if it comes from you."

"Our medication is simply the best," I assert, leaning my head on his chest and exhaling loudly. "I wonder what's happening with Alex and Lisa now."

"Who gives a crap about them?" Michael asks, his mood changing drastically to anger. "They damn well near killed us, why would I care where they are?"

"I was thinking out loud, sorry," I whisper, trying to calm him down.

"But it's a question you asked, so you obviously wanna know," Michael replies. "I couldn't care less where they are right now. The police station, a million miles away, whatever. Just as long as they're away from me, my family, and my baby girl, I don't care."

"Uh.. so.. your birthday tomorrow!" I perk up, trying to change his mood back to a slightly happier one.

"Yeah, it is.. thirty-three years old.. ugh," Michael complains, face-palming and sighing dramatically.

"You'll live," I smirk.

"I'm gonna be so old! I wish I was, like, sixteen again!"

"I'd love to see you when you were sixteen," I say playfully.

"You really don't. Vitiligo, remember? I've changed.. a lot! I'm not the same man I was at age 16.. I kinda wish I was, but I'm not."

"Whatever you look like, you'll always be perfect to me. Can I see a picture from when you were younger.. please?" I beg.

"I don't know if I have any.. not a lotta people go round with pictures of themselves, y'know."

"Oh, c'mon! Everyone has a photo of themselves as a child! You gotta have one!" I laugh.

Michael shifts positions awkwardly, and brings out his wallet. "Fine, but promise me on your life that you won't laugh."

"My life seems a little bit of a risky thing to promise on," I pout.

"Fine, just promise, please?"

"Fine, I promise."

"Ok," Michael mutters, bringing out a photo and smoothening it out. "Here."

"T-That's you?" I ask in disbelief, staring at the photo.

It's a young boy, with dark skin and a cute afro, and he has the same eyes as Michael..

That's really my Michael?

"Afraid so," Michael replies, trying to take the photo from my grasp.

I stop him, and place the photo by his face, to compare the old Michael and the present-day Michael.

There's a lotta differences, I'll admit; the skin tone, the hair, all that..

But there's also a hell of a lot of similarities, too.

His eyes, his smile, his facial features..

And despite the fact he's changed, he is still perfect to me.

"You looked so cute as a child!" I grin, causing Michael to blush immensely and force the photo out of my hand.

"Enough of that," he says, sounding short of breath, and he places the photo back in his wallet. "I used to look so ugly, and I still do now. Nothing's changed."

"Are you outta your mind?" I ask. "You're the most perfect person I ever saw! How can you say you're ugly? Seriously, how?"

"Quite easily, actually," he replies, trying to reduce the embarrassment that he looks like he's feeling right now.

"No, Michael. You were cute as a child, you're cute now. Nothing's changed.. well, except for one thing."

"Oh yeah?"

"The fact that.. since you've grown up.. you've gotten sexy.." I whisper seductively, and Michael can't help but smile at my comment.

"I really doubt that.. so, let me see you as a child!" he says, twirling a lock of my hair with his fingers.

"I-I.. not everybody carries photos of themselves around, y'know!" I say desperately.

"Oh, don't try that one! C'mon, you saw me, why can't I see you?"

He pouts and gives me puppy dog eyes, and I simply cannot resist those eyes when he looks at me.

"Alright, fine," I give in, and take a photo from my bag and hand it over.

"Aww, you look so cute!" Michael squeaks, looking down at the photo, then at me, obviously to compare the faces.

"Yeah, please don't," I groan, burying my head into his chest in embarrassment.

"Aww, c'mon! That nose of yours is adorable! And your little eyes! Aww!" Michael squeals, and I feel my cheeks getting warmer with each word.

"Yes, thank you, that's it now!" I snatch the photo from him, and he can't stop laughing in amusement.

"Y'know, I never laughed at your photo!" I complain.

Michael hugs me from behind, and squeezes tight. "Yeah, that's because I was laughing cos you're cute."

"You lie," I accuse.

"I tell truth," he argues. "Now look, I just want you to believe what I say, ok? That can be my birthday present; your belief."

"Oh great, now I don't have to get you anything!" I grin.

"Wait, no, please, I want a present!" Michael replies childishly, having a sudden change of heart.

"If you're lucky," I smirk.

"I know I'm lucky, cos I got you!" Michael says, his tone of voice sounding rather proud of himself for having me.

Cute.

"Yeah yeah," I swat the air by his face and scoff jokily. "So, for your birthday present to yourself, you've set the ball rolling for a divorce with Lisa?"

"Sure have. That day the police came around, after Lisa and Alex were here, they had to speak with me, and I told them I wanted a divorce. So.. they said they knew people, and yesterday they called me saying we could finally get the divorce started!" Michael says, excitement in his voice.

"You told me that part yesterday, silly. So, when will this all be over?" I ask.

"Soon, I hope. Soon."

"Then me and you can finally start a life together without worrying about.. certain people," I shudder at the thought of Alex.

"Precisely!" Michael clicks his finger and points at me.

"When are we going to move outta here, though?" I ask suddenly.

That question was a little abrupt..

"Uh.." Michael pauses to think of an answer. "Soon, very soon. Y'know, once the divorce is over, and we know we don't have to worry about that any more. I'm still unable to get over the fact that your mother no longer hates me."

"See, I told you she'd learn to love you, didn't I? It just took time, that's all. Anyone could fall for you, Dr Jackson. You're cute, funny, charming, sensitive, helpful and caring.. and not to mention incredibly sexy!" I smirk.

"You describe yourself perfectly!" Michael replies wittily.

"I know I describe you perfectly. I got a way with words," I say.

"Mm-hmm. So.. maybe we should start talking about moving our relationship further," Michael starts a new conversation topic.

"W-What do you mean?"

"I mean, like, what we're gonna do with our lives. Move house, adopt kids, marriage, that kinda thing. My question to you is; would you do any of those things.. with me.. or with anyone?" Michael asks.

"Well, of course, when the time's right," I reply.

"That's my logic, too. See, I'm lucky that you don't mind not having biological children.. though there's no guarantee we won't," Michael says.

"What do you mean "no guarantee?" Surely there's a guarantee!" I say.

"Well, it's an almost-impossible chance, but we could have children. But, like I said, it's pretty much impossible. With a sperm count as low as mine, I doubt we'd have a child. Though that could be proven wrong. But I doubt it."

"Hmm-kay," I say in understanding. "What about moving house, all that jazz?"

"Moving house is simple.. you can move into my house," Michael tells me.

"I could live with you.. in your home?" I ask.

"Of course! Remember the day you were released from hospital, the day after our first ever kiss, and I said I wanted to take you to mine, rather than your parents? Although I really was rushing right there, my offer still stands. Becky, after all the crap of the divorce is through, would you like to move in with me?"

"Well, of course!" I smile. "I'd love to."

"That's sorted then, isn't it? As for other stuff.. marriage.. the time isn't right yet. We're young, and we have our whole life ahead of us. We can plan that kinda thing to happen whenever. Even the day before our death! I mean, not that that'll happen, it's just an example. I certainly hope we don't die the day after our marriage!" Michael chuckles.

"It'd be funny if we did now," I reply. "But seriously, you're right. We can be together for life, get married whenever. You married Lisa too soon, look where that got you. Let's just take things slow, we learnt to do that the hard way."

"That's true. Now, from this moment, we are going to take each day as it comes, what happens will happen. For now, in this moment, nothing else matters but this moment and what we're doing right now. The past has gone, and the future hasn't happened yet. We don't need to worry about that until it comes."

Michael's beginning to sound like some sorta councillor, or life coach; whatever.

He's really thinking about us, and that's sweet of him.

"Nothing else matters but this moment," I clarify.

Michael flashes a smile, and takes my hand with both of his, and kisses the back of my hand gently.

"Nope. Nothing. Right now, it's all about me, you, and the fever we got for one another."

Author's note: I'm getting soooo bad at making endings to chapters! I'll get better, I promise. This was more of a filler, and fillers are harder to end I guess.. maybe? I should really stop making excuses, heehee.. can we get 300 votes before the next chapter? Only ten to go! I would so appreciate it if we could! :)