Family Ties

One Hell Of A Celebration

Michael's POV
4 Months later ....

30 years ago I continued my career but did so as a solo artist . It was a decision that at the time I was soo scared to do because of my thoughts and family and how cruel show business can be . I took on this task and I couldn't be more happier . Of course I miss my family and being apart of a large family you'll always gonna feel like you are doing something wrong or something is missing when you don't have the ones you started out with right along with you . That's why I couldn't celebrate this day without my brothers all five of them . When I called Randy and asked how he would feel if I asked him to perform because he hasn't perform since the early 80's he immediately said yes and so did the others . We immediately hooked up here in Roberta's hometown and a month ago because there were a lot of interruptions including the terrible  attack on the World Trade Center . I'm beyond blessed . I had a meeting with the executives there the morning of September 11th and thanks to my family who were soo excited that I was there they kept me up way past when I agreed to go to bed for this meeting . When I woke up it was massive  chaos everywhere because people thought that I went to my meeting but they were relieved that I didn't and we were terribly sorry for the thousands of lives that was lost that day . We continued with production and from that day we have been here in New York . It's been a beautiful four months in my family though. Maddie is four months and she is such a joy to be around . She fits right in with this family at such an early age . Lyn and Rilley are loving each moment of being big brother and sister . Roberta just fully recovered from the c-section . She was in a lot of pain for three months and I was right there while she healed and I'm glad to say she is back . She has been here every step of the way to see that it gets done the way I want it to . Tonight is the big night but before I go I got a confession to make . The pain killers addiction crept up on me and I've been trying so hard to hide this side of me from Roberta and my family but my mother and brothers already suspected that I had relapsed . It started when we was still in Malibu. I couldn't sleep . We just gotten Maddie back to sleep from her middle of the night wake ups . I was up and I couldn't go back to sleep . I made a phone call and one of the staff members that is usually here by 5 or 6 in the morning found where I kept all of my medications and gave me one and from that one it's become two or three but it's different ones . I know I'm terrible I know and I don't know what to do . I don't want this to wedge itself into my family .

Roberta's POV
In these past four months I've been on a emotional roller coaster. With me having three children now . Contracts to be fulfilled but because I gave birth via c-section I was given a longer maternity  leave . Thank God for that . So now I feel like I got more time to get my body back to what it use to be . I've been taken really good care of myself . I pamper myself every two weeks now like I literally put it on my schedule to get my hair done and nails done and my toes . Being a mother of three is a handful but at the same time I also got to check in with myself . Today marks 30 beautiful years of magic in the career of Michael Jackson . We are here in Maddison square garden to celebrate it . Me , Elizabeth Taylor and soo many other wonderful people have been working extremely hard to make this night as special as the man who is behind it all . Speaking of him he hasn't been himself lately . He gets irritated faster than normal . He usually is the most patient person in the house but lately everything makes him irritated . I don't know what it is but I have to find out . I'm really excited about tonight though because a lot of our friends are going to be here . Chris Tucker, Usher ,Whitney and soo many other people but I miss Whitney she wasn't able to make it to the hospital when I was having Maddie but she did call and we talked. She told me she would be here tonight to perform and I can't wait . I think it's real sweet because Whitney and Michael are really great friends . It's because of Mike that I met Whitney and I couldn't be more grateful for our friendship . Right now I'm in my childhood home that just finish getting remodel so it looks really different . This is the first time my brother and I are seeing the house after the reconstruction. It looks beautiful . My dad would be proud . My mom did a wonderful job with designing it especially my bedroom and my brother bedroom . They added more bedrooms to it so Sapphire , Lyn, Rilley, and Maddie can have a room when they come over . Which is where we have been staying . Mike has been with production and his brothers making sure that everything goes right and just like anything else Mike puts his hands on he usually is all in . So I haven't seen my husband all day and I miss him even though he kissed me goodbye earlier this morning . Tonight will be special . I can feel it ... 

                              Later on That night 

Michael's POV
We are now forty five minutes into getting ready for tonight . From what I've heard it's wild out there and I can hear it . I went all day without thinking about a pill and I feel really guilty because I took two after rehearsals I feel rejuvenated. Roberta is suppose to be coming in with the kids now . We are going to leave the kids with Grace backstage they can watch from the tv in the room but because we do have a four month old baby we don't want the noise to upset her. I talked to Whitney and I am not sure if it's these pills but my vision is very clear and it was like looking through a mirror with her . Something isn't right here . It's actually scary but the show must go on . Me, Mother, and Roberta all are directed to our seats as the show begins . The crowd is massive out here but then again this is Maddison Square Garden .

                   Almost Three Hours Later .....

Roberta's POV
The show took my breath away . It was beautiful . Seeing how many new artist look up to mike especially Usher . Michael once again took the stage and tore it apart . Another reason out of all the trillion reasons why I love him . It was getting late and my children do have to stick to the routine even Maddie . I left way before him but not without telling my brother in laws that they did a phenomenal job and telling my husband congratulations. His gift is on our bed . I got him a big photo book with all the sweet hardworking memories that has brought him to this day . I had an incredible day starting off with being able to wake up and then to a beautiful breakfast and massage . So it's only right I end the night off with a beautiful bubble bath in this beautiful tub. The kids each had a bath and ate and now they are sleeping . Today was a long day for them too hahahaha. They were hype when we got in the car on the way back to our suite. They kept saying " daddy dancing and uncle marlon and uncle Jackie and uncle Tito and uncle Jermaine and uncle Randy were dancing too and singing "hahahaha they had a wonderful time too . Now they are knocked out in their rooms . As I am relaxing every muscle in my body in this tub I notice that mike problem was notice to his mother . She was beyond sad and disappointed. I'm guessing that he didn't tell her or his family that he relapsed but it was shown in her face and I told her that I had to find out for myself . He didn't come to me either . So in all aspects this is breaking news to everybody too . I hear him come in but I'm still laying in this tub with my eyes closed . Within minutes I feel hands massaging my scalp with my shampoo and once again this is one of the trillionth reasons why I love my husband he always knows what I needs . I slowly open my eyes to his beautiful brown eyes that I love the fact that they are passed down to our children .

Me: Good evening baby
Mike: Good evening baby .
Me: you were on fire tonight . Tonight was amazing in general .
Mike: Thank you baby I'm glad you guys enjoyed it . What was your favorite part ?
Me: it would have to be when the jacksons performed because I can't remember when was the last time y'all performed on the same stage since the victory tour .
Mike: yeah I believe that's my favorite part too . I remember the victory tour but that was soo long ago . It was a blast performing with them again .
Me: yes it was .
Mike: I would've thought that your favorite part is when Whitney performed too .
Me: now don't get me wrong it was very nice to see her again but it wasn't the same in a way . Like deep down I knew that I was seeing her but she wasn't the same Whitney . Something was different . Something was off .
Mike: I sense that too when we was talking but I couldn't put my finger on it . She didn't look like the Whitney I knew .
Me: your mother said the same thing to me when we was watching you perform .
Mike: why would she say that ?
Me: I don't know but a mother knows her child .
Mike: I was going to eventually say something but I -
Me: when was you going to tell somebody baby ? I had to find out by myself that something is wrong . When I saw you and Whitney together I had to put 2+2 together by myself when you're my husband . Never mind me how about your mother . The look on her face was soo sad because I'm guessing she went through something with you before when whatever is wrong with you was happening with you before . I know what's wrong but I want to hear you tell me what's up .
Mike: Baby it's not easy coming to you and my family to simply say hey I have a problem . About some weeks back I couldn't sleep at all and that feeling hasn't happened in a while . I tried to force myself to sleep and it wasn't happening . Not to say that that was a good reason to relapsed but that was what started it . I'm sorry I should've cam to you. I should've talked to somebody about it because I know that it isn't going to stop as much as I want it to . Something about not having control is a weakness of mines when it comes to this though .
Me: wow ... it's ok baby just like with everything else that happens in our life I'm going to always be here however you have to be honest in everything no matter how small the situation might seem .
Mike: absolutely baby .

We got ready for bed and watched tv until tv ended up watching us . What a celebration is what was on my mind as we went to sleep .