Stay the Night

Chapter 62

November 2nd, 2004

"So has he mentioned it?" Jermaine asked. 

Mariah shook her head. "Nope,"

Jermaine and Mariah were sitting in the living room at Hayvenhurst while Michael was upstairs talking to Katherine. 

He looked up when he saw his father slowly make his way towards his favorite chair with Nicole following behind. 

"You messing with your grandpa, Nicki?" Mariah chuckled. 

Nicole dramatically rolled her eyes. "I'm not bothering him, Mommy. We're talking,"

Joseph settled his chair with a smile on his face. "This is my little buddy, ain't that right, Twin?"

"Yes," Nicole cheesed.

"Mariah," Joseph started. "Watch him,"

He made a gesture at Jermaine. 

Mariah started laughing. "There will be none of that!"

"I'm just saying, Jermaine never discriminates," Joseph chuckled.

Jermaine couldn't help but laugh. "Joseph, I'm married,"

"Speaking of, where is Halima?"Mariah asked, turning her attention back to Jermaine. "We've never met,"

Jermaine raised an eyebrow. "You haven't?"

Nicole and Joseph started having a conversation all their own, Nicole informing her grandfather of all the happenings of her dance class.

"No," Mariah shook her head. "When have you brought her over?"

"We'll be coming to the dinner at the end of the month," He pointed.

She smirked. "Oh yeah, our annual Not-Thanksgiving,"

Jermaine noticed Michael coming down the stairs behind Mariah's head. The woman continued chattering excitedly about what she was going to cook for the family dinner.

"--and my father used to make this really great--"

Michael put a hand over her mouth before bending down to kiss his wife on the forehead.

I'm glad those two got it together.

After months of listening to both Michael and Mariah go back and forth about whether or not they would get back together and watching both parties make fools of themselves by attempting to move on, it seemed like the situation finally came to a resolution. 

Jermaine grinned at the pair. "Get a room,"

Michael rolled his eyes. "Whatever,"

He leaned down to whisper in Mariah's ear. Jermaine couldn't hear him despite him only being a mere five feet away. The woman's face flushed red, and she lightly smacked Michael's arm.

"It's time for us to get going," She announced.

"Oh, y'all nasty," Jermaine frowned up in mock disgust. "Take y'all happy behinds home,"

Mariah giggled as she got up from the couch.

"Bye Jermaine,"

November 10th, 2004

Mariah gripped Michael's hand tightly as they walked into the auditorium for Nicole's dance class. Janet had volunteered to take the kids to find seats while Mariah stayed behind to help Michael with his disguise. 

"Do you think they'll recognize me?" He whispered. 

Mariah suppressed a laugh as she observed her husband, wearing a veil around his head, large sunglasses, and a large baseball cap.