Never Tear Us Apart - A Michael Jackson Fanfiction

Chapter 1: Babyshower

May 1958

"Oh Katie! You made it!"
Leanne smiled as she pushed open the screen door for Katherine.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world. You sure didn't miss mine."
Katherine stepped in the house that was beautifully decorated for her best friend's baby shower. She walked a bit until they both ended up in the middle of the room and touched their baby bumps. They both took a glance at one another before looking back down.

In unison they said, "Hey little one, say hello to your best friend."

Although their children were still yet to be born, they knew that because they were pregnant at the same time Katherine with a boy / Leanne with a girl, they would be the best of friends, and they were determined to allow them to grow up together .

"Well, why don't you have a seat? The other guests should arrive real soon, you know how we can never be on time."

Katherine chuckled her friend and obliged, and took a seat on the couch, allowing her body to relax.

Leanne escaped into the kitchen to dish out last minute food that she had been re- heating up since folks were late.

Minutes later the doorbell rang and Leanne reappeared letting her guests in.

"Oh my goodness, all these gifts! Please you may put them underneath that table until we are ready to open them."

Katherine couldn't help but notice Leanne forcing a smile this time. That's when she realized Leanne's child's father still hadn't arrived.

"Leanne, may I help you with anything? You should not be doing all that by yourself in the kitchen."
Katherine finally said speaking in a hush tone as her friend walked by her forcing her to stop in front of her seat on the couch.

"It's fine, it's nothing I haven't done before Katie."
Leanne quickly walked away disappearing in the kitchen as the guest mingled and gave hugs to the ones they knew.

Katherine stood up from her seat and quietly walked into the kitchen not letting this go.

"Lewis should be here by now Leanne... I could go to house and have Joe go looking-."

"NO..."
Leanne yelled but quickly softened her demeanor when Katherine gave her a look of sadness.
"Katie... don't you go feeling sorry for me. I am going to have a good baby shower with or without him... now give me a hug so our babies can hug one another also."

Leanne and Katherine hugged each other tight allowing their bumps to touch and they both were delighted with a giggle feeling their babies move almost at the same time.

"Now... you take this, and I will take this. We need to get this shower started."
Leanne handed Katherine a platter of rolls as she carried green beans out to the table instantly putting on a smile when she was in view of the guests.

Everyone had a ball after getting food in their belly's and were anxious for Leanne to open her gifts.

Mrs. Washington a neighbor who was in her late 80's of course had her way and made Leanne sit in a chair in the middle of the room and start by opening her gift first because she claimed to be the oldest in the room. Though Ms. Elaine had her beat a few years little did she know, but Leanne wouldn't dare talk back nor deny an elder so she did as was instructed.

After gifts were open Leanne stood up to speak to her friends and neighbors who kindly came to support her.

"Ohh everybody... I- I just feel so special... I thank each and every one of you for showing up for me to-."
Leanne stopped mid sentence as the door swung open to a drunk Lewis stumbling in on his unborn daughter's baby shower.

"Sorwwyy I lay errrbody."
Lewis laughed through his messed up wording and slurred speech. He immediately fell onto the floor passing up from his drunken state. Katherine and the guests were shocked, they gasped, whispered, with horror on their face. But not Leanne she was very calm as if this was not brand new to her.

"As I was saying I thank everyone for coming..."
Leanne choked back tears after the guests turned to her and immediately ran off to her bedroom.

"Alright everyone I think we should go..."
Katherine spoke up several minutes after everyone sat in silence. Everyone seemed to agree because almost instantly people began, throwing away their trash, grabbing their belongings and stepping over Lewis as they headed out the door in a single file.

Once everyone was gone Katherine lightly tapped on the bedroom door. There was no answer. She tapped once more, still no answer. This time around she knocked and finally heard a voice.

"Katie, please just go... I'll be fine.. Lewis will wake eventually.. just leave me be."
She knew Leanne was fighting back her tears until she would leave. Normally she would be a persistent friend but now she knew it wasn't the time to be that friend she needed space.

Katherine sighed and like the guests that just left she cleaned up the rest of the trash and cups, grabbed her own belongings, stepped over Lewis but unlike them before she headed out the door she grabbed a blanket that was over one of the couch cushions and put it over Lewis before officially departing.