𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 ⅩⅩⅥ

Giselle's POV

After everything that had happened... New York... Aaliyah... Prince disappearing out of nowhere...

Michael said it was time to breathe.

He barely gave me a day's notice. One night, we were lying in bed in Havenhurst, and the next morning, he woke me up with breakfast in bed — all sweet and soft — kissing my forehead like he hadn't done nothing wrong in his whole life.

"Pack your bags, baby... we're going home."

Neverland.

Solange damn near jumped out of her skin when I told her.

Aaliyah smiled for the first time in weeks.

It was exactly what we needed — to leave L.A. behind for a little while.

The whole ride there, I stared out the window — watching the hills roll by, feeling that knot in my chest slowly start to loosen.

Michael kept his hand on my thigh the whole way — his thumb tracing little circles over my skin. Every once in a while, he'd glance over at me...

"You okay, baby?"

I'd just smile and nod.

I was okay...

I wanted to be okay.

By the time we reached the ranch gates, the sun was setting behind the hills — washing the whole place in gold.

Bubbles was the first one to greet us — hopping all over Michael's shoulder like he hadn't seen him in years.

I giggled, running my fingers through his soft fur.

"Hey, little man... you missed us?"

Solange and Aaliyah were already dragging their bags out of the car — taking videos on their little camcorders like a couple of tourists.

Michael watched them with this soft little smile... like seeing me with my girls made something in him settle.

"Y'all make yourselves at home," he told them."I want my girls to feel like princesses this week."

The next morning, we started planning.

Michael wanted the wedding here... by the pond, under the same gazebo where he proposed.

I couldn't think of a more perfect place.

Me, Solange, and Aaliyah spent the whole day walking through the gardens — picking out color schemes and flowers... cream roses... lavender... baby blue hydrangeas...

Soft, simple... like a dream.

The boys stayed out of the way — playing pool or riding the little amusement park rides like big-ass kids.

Every once in a while, I'd catch Michael watching me from the porch... that same heat in his eyes he'd had since the night he put that ring on my finger.

"You just keep walking around here looking like a damn angel," he murmured against my neck one night when we were alone in our bedroom..."Don't even know what you're doing to me."

A few days later, I finally worked up the courage to ask Solange about Mama.

"You think she'll do my hair for the wedding?"

Solange sighed, twisting her lips like she was trying to find the right words.

"She still don't like how y'all started... but she knows Michael loves you."

I felt a lump rise in my throat.

"Just talk to her, Gigi... I know she wants to be there."

I wanted her there too...

Even if she never fully accepted the life I'd chosen — I still wanted her to see me standing at that altar... happy... loved...

Finally safe.

The days passed slow and sweet.

I took care of Aaliyah — helping her slowly find her smile again...

I let Solange drag me to dance classes in the evenings — just like old times...

And every night... Michael would pull me into bed... hold me like I was the only thing in this whole world worth protecting.

We never talked about what happened back in L.A...

I knew he was keeping secrets...

But for once... I didn't want to know.

I just wanted to be his girl.

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