Never Tear Us Apart - A Michael Jackson Fanfiction

Chapter 3: You'll be dealing with me!

August 1964

"Knock, knock!"
Leanne shouted as she entered the Jackson family home with Ah'leah dressed in her birthday outfit that her mother had excitedly put together for her 6th birthday.

It was Michael's birthday also so of course both proud moms wanted to celebrate their children's birthday together. It's been that way since their children were born, since they were born on the exact same day.

As soon as Leanne let go of  Ah'leah's hand and looked up. She spotted Joseph sitting on the couch with the newspaper covering his face. He clearly was ignoring her. He didn't say a word as she smacked her lips and headed to the back where she knew Katherine would be preparing the meal for the birthday party.

"Hey Rebbie."
Leanne smiled at Rebbie and rubbed her head as she sat at the table helping Katie prep.

"Oh good heavens. Leanne you are so early!... Ah'leah sweetheart Michael is in the back with the rest of the boys."
Katherine kept her hands to her sides as they were covered in flour and carefully kiss her friends cheek, careful not to get her outfit dirty.

"Now you know, I'm always early. You know how we say. We don't wanna be late. The other folks can be, but we can't it's our tradition... now what can I do to help you?"
Leanne laughed as Ah'leah smiled at Rebbie and then headed out the kitchen, no longer hearing the conversation as she headed to the boys room.

Ah'leah gently held the knob and twisted it opening the bedroom door, seeing Michael and his brothers fooling around dancing in a circle.

" What in the world?"
Ah'leah laughed at the sight of them. When Michael spotted her, he had the biggest smile on his face and immediately pushed past the circle of his brothers and grabbed her hand, pulling her in the middle with him.

"Come on! It's our turn."
Michael made Ah'leah dance with him as Jackie and Tito hummed and the others sang a tune.

Ah'leah was delighted that Michael wanted her to be a part of his routine. Now that she understood what was going on she immediately danced along willingly this time.

The moment was stopped suddenly when Joseph appeared in the doorway. He looked at all the boys and immediately pushed past them grabbing Ah'leah's arm roughly.

"Don't you know better girl? You shouldn't be in this room you go in there with Latoya."
Joseph harshly shoved Ah'leah out the room making her retreat into the living room. He returned taking off his belt staring directly at Michael.

"Joseph it was my fault... we were just playing around."
Jackie spoke up quickly, trying to take up for Michael and take all the blame so that Michael would not get this punishment, he would.

"I don't want to hear it, Michael outside!"
Joseph shouted signaling worry from Katherine who heard him all the way in the kitchen.

"Leanne watch the chicken." Katherine limped as fast as she could to the back room and found Joseph grabbing Michael by the arm just as he had did Ah'leah. "Joseph! Unhand that boy immediately it's his birthday for crying out loud!"

"The boy had that girl in this room! I caught them together very closely."

"Let him go!"
Katherine didn't let this go and stared Joseph down until he finally unhanded Michael.

"You lucky boy.. next time you mother won't be able to save you."
Joseph hit the back of Michael's head before officially leaving the room.

Katherine gave a sigh of relief, and pulled Michael into her arms and allowed all her boys to crowd around her with hugs.

"Mother... we were just dancing and-."
Michael said through tears as Katherine shushed him and rubbed his back.

In the kitchen Leanne took the chicken off the stove when it was clearly done. As she took out the last piece Ah'leah came into the room with tears rolling down her cheeks. She sat in the living room with Latoya for the longest debating on whether to tell her mom or not she finally realized she should.