Love hurts?

One too many lives

Michael's POV

I go upstairs with Princess and Ocean is in the bedroom finishing off getting ready. "she's all fed and changed" I say softly coming into the room and she walks over taking her from me. "you don't have to do everything. You don't have to prove anything" she mumbles taking her from me and holds her close. "yes I do. I didn't keep any of you safe and I blamed our daughter for what happened to you" I croak. "you weren't in your right mind and everybody knows that. Including me" she says softly "I know how much you love her. I see it in your eyes everytime you look at her. You have that same look you do when you look at DJ and Vaeh" she smiles through pursed lips and hands her back to me and I hold her close to my chest. "are you ok about today? Because if you don't feel up to it. You don't have to go. Robert would understand" I say softly and she sighs sitting on the bed beside me. "this is my only chance to say goodbye" she sniffles. "I wish I'd been there for him at the end"

"I don't think Robert would have wanted you to be the one to find him" I shake my head. "at least it was peaceful and he wasn't in pain" she smiles through pursed lips trying to fight her tears. I know I promised Ocean I'd never keep anything from her, but I told her Robert died from his illness and it was peacefully in his sleep and he wouldn't have felt any pain. This is the only promise I've ever broken to her and even though I feel guilty about it, I know I broke a promise for a good reason. Ray told me what happened and that Robert died from a heart attack after overdosing on heroin and Ocean's been through too much pain already which is why I lied about what happend to him. It won't bring her brother back, but it gives her some kind of comfort believing that it was painless and in his sleep.

there's a knock on the door and LaToya walks in. "the car will be here Soon" she mumbles and I nod. "I um.. I made some calls and cancelled everything for the wedding and called all the guests to let them know what's happened" she says softly and I frown shaking my head hinting to her not to talk about it and she quickly takes the hint. "I'll give you both a minute" she mumbles and leaves and Ocean breaks down in tears once again. "this has to be the worst birthday ever"

"don't worry about any of that today" I shake my head and pull her in close to me. "that's not what I'm worried about. What if... She's there?"

"I'll be there. And so will the rest of our family. If she is ,it doesn't matter because nobody's gonna let her anywhere near you or the children. They'll have doctors and stuff all around her" I reassure her and she holds on to me tighter. Not saying anything.

There's another soft knock on the door and this time it's my dad. "the cars here" he says softly and we both nod getting up from the bed. "are you sure both sure you want to take the children? Because one of us doesn't mind staying behind and..."

"we're sure" Ocean cuts him off nervously. "we do trust you. It's just..."

"I understand" he cuts me off. "your mother and I would be the same if we had been through what you two have been through" he smiles at us both through pursed lips "we'll all wait downstairs for you"

**********

Jessica's POV

"I am truly sorry for everything I've put you both through. Especially you Ocean. I never meant to hurt you or any of your family and I understand now that blaming you for what happened to your sister was never your fault and I'm so sorry I blamed you. God didn't put you on this earth to save her, but to save your beautiful daughter Princess. You both have three amazing and beautiful children, just like I once did and I hope that one day you could find it in yours hearts to forgive me and understand that, I never took Duncan or Princess away to hurt you two or any of your children. I'm getting alot of help in the hospital and am now starting the grieving process for both Marissa and Robert. I've already lost two children and as parents I'm sure you could both understand the pain I'm suffering and how much I don't want to lose you too Ocean. I hope one day you'll forgive me. Especially you Ocean. I know I've treated you badly in the past and I was never there to keep you safe and for that I'm truly sorry"