Pins & Needles (Michael Jackson)

{21} Oh, Baby!

Michael continued to stand his ground in the recording booth, attempting to hold back the tears that threatened him, but failing once again. He bit his lip as he took a deep breath, not wishing to reveal any more of the emotions he wished would give up.

He gazed at Celeste through the protective glass of the booth, seeing the strong sense of concern she held for him as he longed for her comfort in that moment. He then caught sight of her gently rubbing her fully-grown stomach, and he couldn't help but let a smile grace his lips at that.

It'd nearly been nine months since the couple found out the news of Celeste's pregnancy, and nothing could've made them happier than to know that their daughter would be arriving soon; very soon. Michael was easily able to see Celeste's slight discomfort from the pain she'd been experiencing from the pregnancy, which sent a sharp pang of pain in his heart, along with the already-persisting pain from the recording of his track.

When Michael's gaze shifted over to Quincy, who was evidently frustrated at the matter at hand, guilt made its way into his heart. "I'm sorry, Q," he apologized in a broken tone. He could almost feel Celeste's concerned, brown gaze burning through him at the words he was uttering. "It's just really hard for me to get through this song. I've dreaded recording it."

Quincy then sighed sympathetically. "Listen, Mike, I know how hard the recording process of this song has been for you, but the album's release date is a month from now, and this is the last song that needs to be recorded." He paused as he kept his strong eye contact with Michael. "So, we need to finish this song before we can do the final edits."

"I know," Michael murmured quietly, feeling ashamed that he'd let his emotions overpower him time and time again. "And I'll get it right this time."

Before Quincy could utter another word, Michael put his headphones back on as he took a deep breath to prepare himself for what he hoped would be a successful take. Celeste, however, was easily able to see the painful expression written on Michael's face as she gestured for Quincy to wait another moment before playing the song.

She then stood up from her chair, walking into the recording booth with one hand ready for Michael to grasp onto and the other continuously rubbing her swollen stomach in her usual habit. "I'm here," she reminded him softly, entwining their hands immediately. "Always."

Michael smiled at her tearfully, unable to form his gratitude into words.

"You ready, Mike?" Quincy questioned firmly from the other side of the glass.

Michael nodded quickly before hearing the opening strings of the song that never failed to bring him instant heartbreak. The more the song continued to fill his ears, the tighter he held onto Celeste's hand as he looked over at her for the reassurance she was always willing to give him.

"She's out of my life," Michael sang heartily. "She's out of my life...and I don't know whether to laugh or cry...I don't know whether to live or die." He continued to sing each lyric, each tear that threatened to stream down his cheeks filling his eyes to the brim quickly. He was surprised that he was able to successfully keep it together, but he knew that was for one reason only; the woman that never failed to stick by his side—his wife. When the song was coming to an end, Michael's heart rate quicken just a bit as he realized that the part that managed to break him each time was coming up. "Damned indecision and cursed pride," he sang with passion, feeling every lyric that was falling from his lips. "I kept my love for her locked deep inside, and it cuts like a knife...she's out of my...life."

Michael's voice wavered on the last lyric, but when he realized that he'd successfully finished the recording, he felt a moment of self-pride. He looked over at Celeste to see her smiling brightly at him before caressing his cheek lovingly, which he returned with a blush.