Author's Note: For those of you who still can't believe that Mike is the father of Brenda's baby girl, here's storyline flashback proof. Mature themes ahead.
==
Early 1986 - The Penthouse, California
BRENDA
At the time, Prince would start touring for "Parade" soon and leave me to my own devices.
I just couldn't deal with his band anymore. Constant bickering triggered between everyone and my mind just wouldn't handle drama during rehearsals.
Prince felt crushed when I decided to move on and continue shaping my career without him. Lisa and Wendy tried keeping me around, but even those two wouldn't convince me otherwise.
It didn't even help when Prince began showing off different women openly again. As if I never existed. This man would hands with Playboy models while still sporting the wedding ring. Never even feeling guilty.
Drained by Prince and still devastated from that continued media scrutiny after "Soul Train," I fell into my worst habits. I didn't even give a fuck anymore.
Partying.
Drinking.
Smoking.
Calling Michael.
One night, I called him hours before l'd go out. Kim or even Charlene couldn't tag along with me. This was no ladies night for once.
I wanted to feel desired so badly. Prince hadn't even made love to me in quite a while. A long-ass time for whatever reason.
Michael called back desperate hours later. At least someone cared about me.
"Baby Girl, are you still at the house? I'll be there soon. I've missed you so much, Mama." My heart ached when Mike left a message on my answering machine. I could only listen to his trembling voice.
I instantly drifted thoughts back to when we'd call at midnight two or three years ago. When nobody else seemed to care, we had each other.
Michael showed up before long that night. I immediately recognized the chiming elevator.
I'd stood in the bedroom mirror to clip earrings and knocking began as soon as my hands finished.
"Come in." I glanced over my shoulder to face the door. Michael welcomed himself into my room seconds later.
"Hi." Michael cut himself off and just looked at me for a moment. Silence haunted the bedroom in a way.
"Hi, but why stare at me?" I laughed before turning around to smooth my dress in the mirror again. This extremely low-cut and tight little number shaped around my curves just right.
"Because you're mine. Not his. Does he even love you as much as me?" Michael then wrapped his arms around my waist and held me from behind.
We both faced the mirror at this point when he simply breathed. His kisses graced my next for the first time. I leaned right back into him. Protected more than anything else.
Kisses widened on my neck as Michael referred to my cheating "husband."
"No, Daddy. Please stay with me. I don't wanna be alone tonight." I trembled.
My entire body ached for his attention. We clearly wouldn't leave the house at this point.
"I'm not leaving you. Ever. For one night, can you just be my girl? I love you so much, Baby. Please?"
I answered him with the deepest kiss.
My wedding ring sat in a jewelry box that night.
__
I woke up in his arms the next morning.
Blankets rustled as he turned around for our first kiss of the day. My waking eyes couldn't even view sunlight yet.
"Good morning, Beautiful." Michael caressed my face afterwards.
"Good morning." I blushed seconds later. My nose brushed against his as Michael held the back of my curly hair.
Then, the phone rang. We both hopped out of bed. Michael his in my bathroom after scrambling to get his clothes off the floor.
"Hello?" I faked the most professional voice despite circumstances. Anyone could've answered the landline this morning.
"Good morning, Baby. How are you?" Prince greeted me on the phone as if nothing happened. As if this man hadn't cheated for the umpteenth time.
"Good morning. You're up early. What's going on?" listened to his voice and sat on the edge of this bed completely naked.
"Heading to rehearsal in the limousine. What are you doing?" Prince had no idea that Michael scrambled to looked presentable in my bathroom right now.
"About to take a shower." I answered Prince honesty this time. Michael rushed out of the bedroom as soon as we locked eyes. We couldn't even kiss before he left.
"Aw, without me?" Prince teased back to answer my earlier response. I rolled my eyes, knowing that some random woman probably sat right next to him.
"Yes. Don't play dumb. I've heard about those groupies recently. Really, Prince? You're a married man now. " I groaned.
"Mo, I'm...I'm sorry." Prince stopped that silly behavior and somehow tried to persuade me with apologizing. This man even slipped in a variation of my longtime nickname. Again.
It never worked.
"Do you love me or not? A ring doesn't mean anything if you don't take the vows seriously. I'm tired of being ignored." I immediately ranted at Prince despite my own time with Michael last night.
"Mo, I love you so much. We would never get married if that wasn't the case. Please know that I care. I'm absolutely wrong for that and those women will never be you. It's a terrible habit, but I promise to be better. Please. I love you, Mama." Prince continued begging. My heart couldn't take the lies.
About two weeks later, I became sick out of nowhere.
