Baby Clifford

Reminisce

Melody sat in the living room with photo albums around her. She smiled as she found a picture of Michael holding her in front of her crib. "What are looking at?" Ashton asked as him and Luke sat beside her on the couch. "I'm looking at old photos. Reminiscing on when you guys were young. Instead of now, you being eighty years old." She laughed. "That hurt! I mean, we're only seventy-nine." Ashton laughed.

Melody grinned at some of the pictures of her childhood. Her multiple birthdays and the places people only dreamed of being. "I'm remember that night, Luke got so drunk that he'd threw up on the bed." Ashton remarked as he pointed to the picture of Melody on Michael's shoulders in front of the Eiffel Tower. Melody only laughed at the thought. 

*Later*

"Melody," the girl looked up at her father as he stood at the enterance of the living room. "You should go get your jacket or something." Michael spoke, slightly grim. Melody nodded and went to get on her bomber jacket. Michael's former bandmates looked at him with confusion. Michael walked over and whispered something into Luke's ear. Luke nodded back and told Ashton.

"Come on Melody, I want to take you somewhere." He told her and lead to the car. Melody paid attention to the outside view as it turned from city to country side. "Dad, where are we going?" Melody asked. "To...to see your mother." He mentioned. Melody lightly nodded and looked out the window again. Michael took a breath as he turned into a cemetery. It looked peaceful, not mainly scary or creepy like most. The grass was a healthy green and there was a tree on the top of the hill.

Michael opened the trunk before he got out of the car. He opened her door and had a bundle of black flowers in his hand. "These were her favorite." He said and lead Melody up the hill to the tree. "Why is she all the way out here?" She asked. "I knew your mum would've wanted to be somewhere similar to her home in America. She'd want somewhere she could breath and think." He explained, his voice semi quiet and horse. "Oh," she whispered and kept following beside the tree.

Michael took a harsh breath before he knelt down beside the grave, which was trapezoid shape. Melody took a few steps back. "Hey, Haylie. I know it's been a while. I'm here though, don't you worry. I'm still your home if you want me to be." Michael spoke to the grave. Melody checked her imagination for a second she swore that she saw a transparent version of her mother behind him, rubbing his shoulders. "She's here," Melody whispered quiet enough to be heard by herself.

"Melody," Michael turned his head to her. "Come here." He said and Melody walked over and sat beside him. He took a hold of the folding picture frame, opening it. Melody looked at him as he looked at the pictures. "She could tell you so many stories. Just off the top of her head. She had such a different life, I couldn't even explain. I know she would tell you about her life, and I regret not telling you and that she can't. She could only tell them right. Haylie...she wouldn't have been the best mum when you were younger, but she would've helped a lot. You were her last gift to be from her. It was the best present she ever gave." Michael explained and kissed her temple. He placed the picture frame in her lap. "That's her." He said.

Michael took a breath before talking out his wallet and pulled out a picture, his hand lightly shaking. "That was our wedding night." Michael said and showed her the pictures.

It started snowing in the middle of the March. The middle of March, in Wisconsin. It could snow. I couldn't believe it." Michael said.

Melody stared at them. She always wondered. "Dad," she whispered. "What baby girl?" He asked her. "What would she have thought of me?" Melody asked. "She would be proudest mother on how tough her little girl is and how much of a voice she has. Melody, never think your mum would've been disappointed with you." Michael told her. Melody nodded, "It's just that I-" "Never met her and you want to know." Michael finished and she nodded again. Tears starting to appear in her hazel eyes. Michael just simply hugged her. "She loves you, just like I do, baby girl. Unconditionally." He whispered to her. "I love you too, Dad." Melody spoke gently.