Athena Tyler and Michael Jackson are married to people they don't belong with. The history between Michael and Athena isn't complicated; they met on We Are The World, sparks flew, but they never stayed in contact.
When their respective spouses sugg...
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Athena hesitated, unsure how much to reveal to people she just met, but sighed, "I mean, it's kind of—yes, my father is Steven from Aerosmith."
LaToya gasped, "OMG, you're related to Steven Tyler?! You're like, rock royalty!"
"I guess you could say that," Athena shrugged, "But nobody knows why he thought it was a good idea to sign his permission for me to get married at fourteen."
Joseph shook his head, "As a father, I can't fathom why he would allow that to happen. But it's clear that your marriage to Liam has been a mistake from the start."
"And Michael's marriage to Lisa Marie was also a mistake from the start," Katherine added, "I'm sorry, but I have to say it—I wish Michael and Athena stayed in touch after We Are The World in 85'."
Once they arrived at the car, Michael and Marlon exclaimed, "I call sitting next to Athena!"
"Am I something to call dibs on now?" Athena asked in amusement.
"Boys!" Katherine scolded, "No calling dibs on Athena!"
As they all climbed into the car, Janet chimed in, "I don't blame you for wanting to get away from those toxic relationships, Athena. We're here for you, and we're going to help you and Michael get through this. We're family!"
"We can leak information about Lisa Marie and Liam's cheating to TMZ, and it could put a lot of pressure on them," Joseph said once they were all settled in the car, "Right now, the public opinion is the only thing keeping them afloat."
"I feel bad tarnishing their reputations," Athena muttered, "Why is this part of the plan again?"
"Because," Randy spoke, "the more dirt we expose, the more likely they are to suffer financially. The less money they have, the less they can afford for a lawyer to demand anything from either of you. It's a lose-lose situation for them. Besides, it's not like they're innocent angels; they've been using your names to gain power and influence for years. It's high time they faced the consequences of their actions."
The family all muttered their agreement and Athena looked at Michael nervously, fidgeting with her hands.
Michael took her hand in his, bringing it up to his lips, "It's gonna be okay, sweetheart," he said, pressing a tender kiss to her hand.
"Can I....um, can I put my head on your shoulder?" Athena asked shyly.
Michael knew she thought she had to ask because she was still married to Liam and he was still married to Lisa Marie, but with those marriages inevitably ending—in Michael's mind, Athena didn't need to ask for his comfort or affection, she could just simply take it.
He opened his arms for her, invitingly, and she nestled her head against his shoulder. The warmth that enveloped her was not just from the car's heating but also from the care and love Michael exuded. She closed her eyes, finding solace in the momentary peace amidst the chaos that had surrounded them.
