Stay the Night

Chapter 39

September 1st, 2003

Mariah reached down to pull the covers over her head to block out the rays of sunlight that were beginning to filter in through the blinds of her bedroom windows. Michael rolled over next to her, turning his back to her. 

She flinched at the action, biting down on her lip to remind herself that he wasn't angry with her. He had no reason to be angry at her. That he knew of. 

The light gurgling from the bassinet next to her brought her some comfort, allowing her to release her tight grip on the blankets and peek her head out. The room was too dark to actually see her daughter, nor Carey in the crib on the other side of the room, but all she really needed to was to hear the sweet sound of her daughter quietly playing.

She tried to wipe the tears that were threatening to spill from her eyes and forced herself up from her bed. She could hear Michael moving in the bed beside her and paused to see if he would wake up.

 He didn't.

She strode over to Melanie's crib and was greeted with her baby's smiling face. She was starting to fill out now that she was nearly a month old.

"Hey, pretty girl," Mariah whispered, cupping Melanie's cheek in her hand. 

Mariah chuckled lightly before reaching into the crib to take her baby into her arms. She settled into the rocking chair beside the crib, quietly humming to herself while she rocked herself in the chair.

There was something calming about Melanie's innocence. It was hard to think about all the Mariah had endured just for her to be born, especially the death threats. Janet Arvizo had nearly all but faded from memory, but every now and then Mariah would look at her daughter and remember that vile woman threatening her then-unborn daughter's life.

We're safe now.

"Mimi, what're you doing up?"

She jumped, gripping Melanie tighter to her chest. She turned to her husband, who was watching her through slits, the sleep still thick in his voice. 

"I was just checking on the baby." She whispered, turning her attention back to her daughter. "You can go back to sleep." 

Mariah could hear Michael sigh in exasperation as he sat up in bed. "I'm sure she's fine, she wasn't crying or anything."

"She was awake," Mariah replied.

"What are you thinking about?" He inquired.

Mariah gripped Melanie's foot. "I'll be leaving soon."

She didn't want to tell him what she was really thinking about and unnerve him.

"...Right..."

She frowned. "I don't want to leave you guys."

"Are you asking me to come on tour with you?"

No, but now that you mention it...

"I would love that." She said, before adding. "Only if you want to though, I know how much you hate traveling like that."

"Your schedule is a lot easier than mine." He replied.

Mariah smirked, eyes still focused on her daughter. 

"She's not going anywhere, Mariah. Come back to bed, you know I can't sleep without you."

She let out a deep sigh. 

"Okay."

September 7th, 2003

Michael decided to accompany Mariah to her last rehearsal before her tour started next week. She was starting off in Japan and with such a late start, she decided to add more dates to the tour. He was sitting in the front row with their children, watching for any mistakes or places where he felt she could improve. Despite Mariah not being a performer like himself, he didn't see why she couldn't at least try to add some new elements to the show.