let me love you ~ michael jackson & ariana grande

third times a charm

(a/n: before we start this chapter, i just wanna say ty to everyone who's ever voted for chapters, commented or just read my story in general. it means a lot to me that ppl are taking time out of their own day to read something i wrote! mayb i'm being a it dramatic lol, idk. but anyway tysm! okay let's get on with the chapter!)

April 3rd, 1998

Ariana

They say birth gets easier every time you go through it, I'm starting to think that's a lie because this has probably been the most painful one yet.

"Why does it-God!-hurt so-Ah!-....bad?" My chest moves up and down as my heart rate speeds up.

"There's a lot of pressure going on in your cervix, Mrs. Jackson." A nurse answers.

I shriek, another contraction taking me off guard as I grip Michael's hand securely.

"Ariana, remember deep breaths!" Katherine reminds me, I stick a fake smile on my face as I breathe in and out, this is doing absolutely nothing.

"Mother, I think you may be making her more flustered." Michael says.

"Nonsense, I'm not getting your feathers ruffled up, am I?"

I'm sorry, Katherine. You are!

"No, not at all."

"See, Michael?" Katherine smiles smugly.

I deflate back into the hospital bed, muffling all of my squeaks from the pain. This is gonna be a long night.

⊹⊱✫⊰⊹

"You're doing great, Mrs. Jackson. Just a couple more!" The doctor shouts.

I feel an immense amount of compulsion as I squeeze my body, once I feel like I'm almost there, my body tightens back up.

"Michael, it hurts too much." Tears are falling down my face recklessly and I'm covered in sweat.

"You've made it this far, you can't give up. Keep pushing, my love."

My stomach tightens as I feel my lower regions start to coil, I muster out the strength to push hard.

The first loud cry that I've grown accustomed to every couple of years is clear in hearing. My body relaxes itself as I catch my breath, Michael admires our newborn in his arms.

Michael cries as well as myself, passing her over to me. God, she's precious. The first thing I notice is her piercing blue eyes, neither myself nor Michael have blue eyes so this really takes me by surprise.

"Her eyes are..." My words stumble while I take in her beauty. "Like oceans." Michael finishes.

Joe is the first one to come near my bedside. Things have gotten a lot less awkward between us within the last 10 years.

He stares at her in awe. "Can I...?" I nod, he picks her up from my grasp. Rocking her back and forth slowly, "She has my eyes." He grins happily.

After he's finished holding her, Katherine keeps her snuggled up against her, never wanting to let our baby go.

Footsteps then come stampeding through the door, Janet rushes in. "I tried to get here as fast as possible, traffic was a real pain in the-" Her eyes fall onto the little baby and her frown turns into a smile.