Epilogue

Michael's POV

"Shhh!" Maeve held her finger in front of her lips as she whispered towards our children. "I need you to be as quiet as you can be!"

Trying to be as quiet as possible we entered the door that said 'employees only'. Maeve went in first and checked if there was really no one inside before the kids and myself followed.

From her backpack Maeve grabbed a flashlight that she 'borrowed' from one of my security guards. She didn't want to attract any attention by turning on the lights in the empty staircase.

"It's this way" Maeve's voice was quiet and barely audible as she pointed the light towards the stairs that go up.

"Daddy, I'm scared!" Charlotte said, her voice cracked a little. She doesn't really like the dark and even now prefers to sleep with a dimmed light on.

"Take my hand" I offered and even in the dark she found it. "We'll walk together."

We started walking up the stairs, there were about four floors until we reached the very top where Nicolas was the first at the door that said 'Do not open!'.

"It's locked!" He exclaimed with a frown on his face.

"Let me see" Maeve handed him the flashlight that he held on the door. Maeve tried opening the door as well but like Nicolas said, it was locked.

"I think, I can open it" Maeve spoke in a low voice as she kneeled down, while getting a bobby pin out of her hair. She bent it before inserting it into the keyhole. With one hand she pulled the handle while the other hand wiggled the pin in the right direction until the door opened.

"WOW!" Charlotte yelled.

"Shhh!"

We walked through the door and found ourselves at the roof of the building. A garden of concrete was in front of us.

"Did you learn that in prison?" I whispered to Maeve as the children ran past us towards the edge of the building where a small curb protected them from the height we were currently in.

Maeve had a smirk on her lips before she looked over at me and shook her head.

"I've climbed many roofs before!" was all she let me know before she turned around and walked further on the roof.

She pulled a blanket out of her bag that she laid on the concrete floor where she placed a container that held some pieces pie and forks as I remembered the first time we were on a roof. It was the day of my 29. birthday.

With excitement written all over her face, Maeve looked at me, a small birthday cake with a single lit candle in the middle held in front of her as she started singing in a sweet angelic voice.

"Happy birthday to you,Happy birthday to you,Happy birthday, dear Michael,Happy birthday to you!"

With small steps she walked in my direction. "Make a wish" was all she said when she stood directly in front of me.

With eyes full of expectation she looked at me, but all I could think if right now, were her eyes. I had a hard time looking away from them but when I finally found the strength I closed my eyes to blow out the candle.

I wish for her to be in my life, always.

As soon as I opened my eyes, she impatiently asked what I wished for and when I refused to answer she started running away with my cake.

Looking at her now, I still remember the giggles that came from her lips when I was chasing her. I remembered we ended up in a tickling fight where at one point she was on top of me. Man, I was nervous then. She still does it, make me nervous.

"I'm not used to this" I told her but she looked at me with confusion written all over her face.

"Used to what? Eating cake at the roof watching the night's sky?" she laughed. "Believe it or not, it's my first time!"

We sat side by side, our shoulders barely touching as I looked at her, shaking my head lightly. "No, not that... Well, it's my first time, too. But that's not what I meant!"

"Then what did you mean?"

"To feel normal" I answered after taking a deep breath.

"Every time I meet someone new, they already know everything about me and they treat me special when all I want is to be normal for once... and you give me that feeling. Like today, when you didn't already know it was my birthday." My eyes met hers and with pain in my voice I spoke "you make me feel like a normal man not a superstar."

Her expression softened as she looked at me with nothing but sympathy in her eyes and I felt her hand grabbing mine.

"You know" she started. "I came here to work for THE MICHAEL JACKSON and don't get me wrong, I'm honored to be here but I expected something else." Now I was the one looking confused.

"I never met THE MICHAEL JACKSON. Instead I met a very nice young man... well not so young anymore" I felt her nudge my side causing me to let out a giggle.

"His name is Michael" she continued. "And he is so sweet and fun to be around. I have to admit he is also very good looking... Oh! And his voice is magical!" She looked at me, I blushed.

"But he was busy today, so I'm stuck with you" she shrugged her shoulders and quickly looked away but I could tell she was trying to hold back her laughter.

As I planned my revenge, I tried to be as quiet as possible before attacking her.

We sat on the blanket enjoying some pie along with beverages Maeve carried in her backpack as I remembered our tickling fight where Maeve ended up on top of me.

And I remember if we didn't get interrupted by Bill, I probably would've kissed her that night.

Looking back now, I should've kissed her that night.

A heavy drop fell on my arm and as I looked up, dark grey clouds were directly above us.

"Ah!" Charlotte shrieked as the drops started to turn into a light shower.

The shower quickly turned into a heavy one when I yelled "RUN!" and we quickly made our way back towards the door, leaving everything behind.

As soon as we reached shelter I noticed Maeve stayed behind as well. With her arms wide open she stayed on the roof, the heavy rain pouring down on her. She was completely drenched by now but she didn't seem to mind at all.

"MOM!" Nicolas yelled but she couldn't hear him. The sound of the rain falling down on the concrete floor was way too loud.

As I stared at her, smiling widely while the rain is falling down on her, all I could think of was that I should've kissed her that night.

I should've kissed her.

Not wanting to waste even one more second I stepped outside in the pouring rain that drenched me within seconds as I made my way towards Maeve who slowly spun with her eyes closed.

My hand gabbed hers, spinning her until our bodies collided. That's when she opened her eyes and with a look that held pure affection she spoke "I love you, Michael". That's when I closed the distance between us.

My forehead met hers, I let my nose brush hers before I softly pressed my lips on hers, knowing this is forever because it'll always be her.