Chapter 57

Michael's POV

Nicolas' birthday party has started hours ago with a nice lunch where all his friends were there including all of our family and Carmen, Maeve's mother. Lisa and her kids unfortunately couldn't make it since they had to be somewhere else.

Everyone was having a good time, well, everyone but the birthday boy, his little sister and I.

Both children were sitting completely still with a sad expression on their faces at the table while everyone around them was having fun.

It was a nice and sunny day today, the kids even started to have a water fight but Nick and Charlie weren't in the mood.

Apparently Nicolas told his little sister that their mother disappeared and that no one knows when she'll be back and now they're both worried sick about her.

With my hands folded in front of my chest I sat underneath a sunshade. I gave up convincing them that their mother is doing fine and that she would want them to have fun today. Now I regret talking to Nicolas, I should've known that he'd tell his sister.

"Mr. Jackson, telephone!"

One of my employees yelled from the kitchen with the receiver in his hand and with one last glance at my children, I walked into the kitchen to answer the phone.

"Hello?"

"Michael!"

"Bill, is there a problem?"

"No, I just wanted to give you a heads up, you never going to guess -"

"AHAAHHH" I yelled and jumped as I felt cold water hit me on my back and when I turned around, I saw one of my nephews laugh mischievously at me with a super soaker in his hand quickly sprinting away.

"WAIT UNTIL I GET YOU!" I screamed back before I put the receiver back to my ear.

"Sorry Bill, I just got shot" I informed him while staring at my children from the distance.

It hurt me to see them this sad, especially since I tried to make this day as special as I could but I understand they miss their mother, I do too.

Suddenly their whole body language changed as first Nicolas and then Charlotte started to sprint away. "MOMMY" I heard them yell and at first I couldn't believe my ears but then I heard Bill's voice coming through the phone.

"Maeve is back!"

Without saying goodbye or anything else, I hung up as my feet carried me back outside. The whole party stopped as everyone stared into the same direction. The screams and noises that were heard until moments ago stopped completely.

Silence.

My eyes first met the back of my children's heads as I saw a woman on the floor, dark brown hair, face hidden. Her grip was tight around my children as I stopped in my tracks and observed the scene for a while.

When her grip on the kids loosened and they got up from her lap, I could finally recognize the face of my wife as she kissed both children before my eyes met these familiar crystal blue ones that lit up with a spark of light that haven't seen in what felt like an eternity.

*****

Earlier that day

Maeve's POV

With a small bag in my hand, that held all the things I lived with these past two months, I walked out of the tiny apartment I began to secretly love. Ava and Sean were already waiting for me by the car.

"Are you ready?" Ava asked me with the door held open while smiling widely at me.

With excitement and worry inside of me, I nodded. I really missed my family and I didn't want to stay away from them any longer but I was worried because Michael will definitely be pissed when he sees me.

Even on short notice, Sean and Ava managed to get some days off to take me home to LA, they were as excited as I was about this road trip since it's their first holiday in a very long time.

The drive to Neverland Ranch took us about six hours since we needed to take a few stops because Sean couldn't hold it longer. I swear, he has a bladder worse than a child.

The first few hours on the road were fine, we sang along to the radio and had lots of fun but the closer we got to the grounds of Neverland, the more nervous I got. When the gates finally came into view, Ava stopped the car and for a while all three of us observed it from a small distance.

"Are you ready?" Sean turned around and looked at me. I sat in the back and my eyes just kept staring at the familiar golden letters on the gate.

A small smile appeared on my lips as I nodded slowly and Ava drove in front of the gate.

Immediately a security came our way and I recognized him to be Bill.

Ava already rolled down her window as she smiled widely at Bill.

"No fans in front of the gate please" he said coldly.

"Oh we're bringing a present for Nicolas, it's his birthday today isn't it?" Ava explained and I couldn't help but giggle lightly at her being this naive.

"Are you invited?" Bill raised his eyebrows.

"Of course, we a-"

"Bill, can you please let us through?" I spoke nervously as I stuck my head through the front seats so that he could see me.

Frozen in his spot, he stared at me before whispering "troublemaker" which made me nod nervously.

With a slow nod he stepped back and the gates slowly started to open after he gave the signal. As Ava drove through, I watched Bill disappear before I gave Ava the directions.

"Wow, this place is huge!" Sean commented as he stared out the window.

"You have no idea" I told him as the main house came into view.

"Beautiful" I heard Ava whispering before I instructed her where to park.

From this position we could see the party and I started to get even more nervous since I didn't think Michael would invite this many people. It looked like, everybody was here and was having fun, except for Nicolas, Charlotte and Michael who were all sitting quietly by a table.

"Don't you want to go to them, Mae?" Ava asked as she noticed me hesitating.

"What if they are angry at me? For leaving?"

"Why would they be angry? They'll be over the moon to see you because for all they know you could be dead! But you're not, they'll be relieved."

My gaze stayed at my family while I processed Ava's words when suddenly Michael got up from his seat and walked away. The most scared I was about his reaction, so this was my chance.

Slowly I got out of the vehicle as I started walking towards my children, my eyes already watering, my knees shaking uncontrollably.

Two more slams of car doors were heard behind me, letting me know that my friends also got out of the car.

The closer my feet dragged me the more the urge of screaming their names built up inside of me, at one point I couldn't ignore it any longer, so I did.

"NICOLAS! CHARLOTTE!" I yelled as I started jogging in their direction.

As soon as their names left my mouth their heads as well as everybody else's turned in my direction.

My children's eyes lit up instantly as they started running to me while yelling "MOMMY!". My heart immediately warmed at hearing their voices scream for me.

When they were finally in my reach, I fell to the ground, not caring if I'd crush my knees open on the hard ground as I embraced them tightly in my arms and while I held my children, all the problems in the world seemed so irrelevant. It was just us at this moment that I tried to embrace with every fibre of my body.

When they let go of me, I took a closer look of both their faces before kissing them both. It seemed as if they've grown so much these past 2 months.

When I looked up, my eyes then met Michael's, he was standing a short distance away from us with an angry look upon his face.

Oh boy, here we go.

As I got up from my knees, I felt both children grab my hands as I kept staring at Michael whose hands hung loosely on each side of his body.

"Michael...I" I started but I couldn't find any words as my mouth run completely dry. Tears were already starting to roll down my cheeks again as his expression suddenly showed relief and he started walking towards me.

My hands slipped out of my children's grip as I swung my arms around my husband as our bodies crushed against each other's. I felt his face immediately bury in the crook of my neck while his arms held me tighter than they ever have and I turned my lips to his ear where I whispered "I'm so sorry Michael, I love you!" After I did that, his face came out of its hiding place with his lips immediately pressing against mine.

Finally, I am home.