Return III

Chapter 19

Prince's POV

I sit on the couch next to my sister and she watches tv as I watch, and listen, to my grandpa talk to someone on the phone. My feet are up on the glass coffee table and I am hunched back in a comfortable position. Grandpa Joe paces the living room with his arms crossed, and grandma Katherine is sitting in the love seat across from us next to our father.

"Yes, he will be home tomorrow morning. 

What for?

Okay...

Yes, he's spending the night with his mother tonight.

No, Natalie lives with their mother.

Okay, I'll see what I can do. 

Mhm... Mhm... Alright, thank you. 

You too, goodnight."

"What was that all about?" grandma asks and grandpa shakes his head. 

"Jennifer wants another interview... but with both twins this time." he says, then plops onto the couch next to Paris.

"That's cool," Paris says, not looking away from the tv, and when nobody says anything, she adds, "that'll be cool for them."

"Wait, she wants them both at the same time?" dad asks and grandpa nods. 

"She even asked about you, Michael. Wanted to know if you're ready to be interviewed yet." grandpa says and everyone turns to my dad, whose eyes widened. He draws in a deep breath and sits up, shaking his head and placing his hands on his knees.

"Wow, uh... I- I don't know yet about that, Joe." dad says and grandpa shrugs his shoulders. 

Paris sits up slowly and turns her head to dad with a big, encouraging smile on her face.

"Come on, dad. Everyone already knows that you're back, so why not talk to them? Lord knows they all want to hear from you." she says and dad fakes a smile.

"I know that, I just... I don't know, I don't really feel safe out there." dad says and Paris's smile fades as she looks down at the floor.

"I think Paris is right, dad. You came back and everyone knows it. I mean, you got the guts to go back on stage right after you just got shot, and everything turned out great. And yeah, I'm sure everyone wants to hear from you, badly. I mean, the fans are probably dying out there." I say and dad tries to smile again, but this time, he actually nods.

"You guys are right. I understand what you are trying to say, I just don't think that right now is the right time for an interview by me. I want the twins to have the spotlight for a while, and when I feel comfortable enough to do it, I will. I promise." dad says and nobody replies- not even a nod.

"Besides, the wedding is coming up, and I want to get that over with before we bring fame into this relationship again. I don't want to mess it up like I did last time, so I don't think I will even be making a major come back." he adds and again, nothing. He sighs and shifts his position on the couch, entwining his fingers together.

"Guys, I'm working on new music." dad says and Paris and I jump from the couch in excitement, wide smiles on each of our faces- even grandma and grandpa. Paris runs over to dad and wraps her arms around him, and I do the same, but not the running. Dad smiles and tells us to take it easy- as his back is sensitive.

"When were you gonna tell us this?" Paris asks quickly, tucking her short hair behind her ear and dad shrugs.

"I was going to surprise you guys at the wedding, but-"

"Sorry!" Paris interrupts excitedly and dad smiles.

"It's okay. I just want to get the wedding over with and then I'll think about where to go from there, as far as my career goes. After all, I am getting a little old to be performing anymore." dad says and Paris and I shake our heads simultaneously.

"Whatever, dad." Paris says and grandma's voice interrupts our laughter.

"If James Brown can shimmy his seventy-three year old ass up on that stage back in 2006, you can move yours at fifty-six." she says and the whole living room breaks into laughter.

"Okay, you have a point mother. But James Brown was legendary and didn't have a sore back or other health problems such as I." dad says and grandpa rolls his eyes, shaking his head.

"You will be fine. I'm sure if James was still here, he'd be performing better than he did in his younger years; even at eighty-two." grandpa says and dad slightly shakes his head.

"I doubt it, Joseph." he says and grandpa shakes his head again.

"Well anyways, good luck getting Blanket to do an interview." Paris says, taking her seat back on the couch next to grandpa. He throws his arm on the back of the couch behind her head and exhales deeply. Dad presses his lips together tightly and sighs.

"I know, right?" he says and I nod. 

"After what he saw what happened to Natalie, I think his mind was set on never, ever doing an interview ever again." I add and dad looks about the room.

"The only one we could get him to do was that "Remembering Michael Jackson" Documentary. Other than that, we couldn't get a word out of him in front of a camera." grandma says and dad nods. He sits up some more, and inhales a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

"Let me talk to him." dad says and grandma nods.

"I think it would be best if you were the one to do so." she says and dad nods as well.

I can't imagine the twins getting through an entire interview together, but just thinking about what that would do for dad and Natalie is beyond words.

A/N

Guys! I'm soooo sorry about the late update. I had to think about what I wanted this chapter to be about, but I don't usually do that. Normally, I'll just start writing and make it up as I go. But I have an idea for where I want the story to go from here, and to give you guys a little teaser, it's not gonna be pretty. But it's gonna be interesting, so STAY TUNED! 

I love you guys so much, and I hope you're enjoying the story so far. We're still pretty far from the end, but not too far ;)