It Could All Be So Simple...

Your Child

Michael: Baby I swear this is my first time hearing about this *goes to grab me*

Ivory: *step back* *raise my hands* don't touch me right now *sit on the bed* *sigh* *chuckle* what now? How old is this child? 

Michael: *sits next to me* I don't know. You know if I knew I had a kid out here I'd be there. 

Ivory: *rub his hand* I know, I know. This is just a lot baby. *look him in his eyes* you need to call that lawyer back.

Michael: I've been dodging her calls, I don't have anything to say about Lauren. 

Ivory: *chuckle* 

Michael: What?

Ivory: Those are the calls you've been declining? 

Michael: Yeah, what? 

Ivory: *shake my head* nothing *hand him his phone* call her.

Michael: *sighs* *calls the lawyer* *puts the phone on speaker*

*On The Phone* 

Lawyer: Hello? 

Michael: This is Michael Howard, I just received your message. 

Lawyer: Yes, Mr. Howard, how soon can you get to my office? 

Michael: I'm actually out of the country right now. I'm just calling to get some more details on the child situation. I wasn't aware that I had a child with Lauren.

Lawyer: I'm aware. My client explained that to me and if you would like a paternity test we can make arrangements for that.

Michael: How old is the child? 

Lawyer: She's 5 years old, right now she is in protective custody until you can claim her and if you don't wish to do so, she will be placed in foster care.

Michael: That doesn't make sense, that means she was born years before we broke up 

Lawyer: According to my client, she got pregnant right before you went to med school. Says her dad has been keeping her for 3 years now. 

Michael: *sighs* give me 24 hours *hangs up* 

Ivory: *stand up* I'll go tell Simone and Brandon to start packing.

Michael: No, let them stay. It's their honeymoon too. 

Ivory: Okay, I'm just gonna tell them we have to leave *start walking towards the door* 

Michael: Hey *grabs my hand* 

Ivory: *look at him* 

Michael: *frowns* we good? 

Ivory: Yeah, this isn't your fault. She was conceived before we got together. I can't hold this against you. 

Michael: *kisses my hand* I love you.

Ivory: *slightly smile* I love you too. *walk out* 

*In Brandon and Simone's room* 

Brandon: Oh shit, damn. You good?

Ivory: *shrug* that's my husband. For better and for worse, right? 

Simone: *rubs her temples* this cannot get out. We're already dealing with Lala and now this? What happens when the media finds out. 

Ivory: Can we not make this about business right now SJ? All I care about is keeping my marriage in order.

Simone: *nods* you need to go see Lauren. 

Brandon: *shakes his head* nah, bad idea. Ivory's got way too many screws loose to see that girl again after all this shit.

Simone: She needs to make sure Lauren isn't a threat. When she goes to trial they're gonna put her on the stand and we need to be able to control what she says in regards to Ivory and Michael. Too much bad publicity and all of our businesses go under.