With Michael

Chapter 52 - Paul & Linda IV

24th of March, 1997
Brooklyn is 31, Michael is 38

Brooklyn: Screeching from the baby monitor woke me up.

"Babe, could you please go check on him?" I groaned, turning to Michael.

It was light out but it felt way too early for me to be up.

"Michael." I whined, and opened my eyes. He wasn't there.

I sighed and got up, wiping the sleep out of my eyes as I dragged myself to the nursery.

Prince was crying loudly, making me pick him up.

"Are you hungry, baby boy?" I asked.

He cried louder so I rocked him in my arms before sitting down on the rocking chair.

His lips latched onto my nipple, and after a few minutes I started to feel that my eyelids were closing.

I was so tired. He was keeping up at night.

Surprised that Prince fell asleep sooner than usual, I placed him in his crib and walked back to the bedroom.

I sighed when I lay down, closing my eyes.

But, of course, that didn't last long. A few moments later, more screeching came from the baby monitor.

Where is Michael when I need him?

It took me an hour to calm Prince down. I decided to take him into bed with me so I wouldn't have to be so far away from him.

~

I was standing in the clouds. The place seemed way too familiar.

Prince was in my arms, wide awake, and smiling.

"Mommy!" I heard from behind me.

I gasped when turning around. Destiny stood there, her long curls fell onto her shoulders, and her big brown eyes looked at me.

They traveled to Prince, and her smile faded.

"Who's that, mommy?" she asked, coming closer.

I hesitated before answering, "This is Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr."

"Is he my brother?"

"Y- yes."

"He's so cute." Destiny said, touching Prince's hand. He grabbed her finger and squealed.

She watched him lovingly.

"Destiny?" I said.

"Yes, mommy?" Destiny didn't take her eyes off Prince.

"You're not mad?"

She looked at me, confused. "Why would I be mad?"

"You don't think we're replacing you?" I questioned.

"Oh, no, mommy. You and daddy are finally happy, I can't be mad at that. Plus, he's the most perfect baby I've ever seen."

It was quiet for a while after that, until Destiny spoke again.

"You know who I met?" she said. "My other brother and sister. But they're too small to see you."

"Your brother and sister?"

"Yeah, the two other babies you and daddy lost."