14 - repent

1989 - Oscars, Pasadena, California

The reporter tried to talk over the camera over the screaming fans and paparazzi. "I can hardly hear myself speak and the reason is that Giovanna Wolf has just arrived and not only has she arrived, she has brought the baddest man in town, Michael Jackson."

"Hi!" I said into the camera with Michael's hand around my waist. I could barely see with all of the flash going off.

"First off.. what a power couple."

I threw my head back and laughed. Me and Michael as a couple. Hilarious.

"And you two are twins tonight!" the reporter said waving his hands down our outfits. We decided on the same color schemes.

I felt him swing his arm around my shoulder and pressed his cheek to mine. "We're practically married."

"Really?!"

Michael grinned. "No, we're just best friends."

"Or brother and sister," I added.

"Or husband and wife," he said, pressing his fingers in my arm.

"It really depends on the day," I heard him snicker at our inside joke.

"I love it. Well, this is your first ever Academy Award nomination. How does it feel? Is the pressure on?"

"Gee, there's so many talented women I'm up against. I'm so nervous! The nomination was an award in itself, though. I'm just so excited to be here for a real reason this time," I joked. "Michael makes it a lot more comfortable." I squeezed his hand.

"How about you Michael, do you think she is going to win?"

"Of course. She put her blood sweat and tears in her art and she deserves all of the rewards. I'm just honored to be a friend to such an amazing inspiring woman right now."

Charming.

"Giovanna! Michael! Give us a kiss!"

"One smooch! Come on!"

I searched in his eyes for a hint of his approval and he did a slight nod. I pulled his chin in and gave him a big three-second smooch and he immediately hid behind me in shyness. It seemed like a thousand cameras flashed to get a picture of that. It was in every newspaper cover the next day.

"Well whatever you are to each other, the world adores you both."

"And we love you more."

----

I pressed my forehead on the cold window of the SUV and closed my eyes as Alisha was nearly losing her head on the phone back to our hotel. Something about going to court... something about a lawsuit... I was too out of it to listen. My worst fear is coming to life right now... the exact reason I didn't want to do this in the first place... all because of a security camera.

"Michael.. meet me at Gia's place tomorrow at 8 pm. Don't be late," she said. "I have a plan."

When Alisha and I arrived at my gates we saw Michael's car parked outside of it. He followed behind us into my property. I felt like a zombie trying to search for my keys. I've been a mute for the past 22 hours, just emotionally drained.

While I finally found them, Michael commented behind me. "So.. about those keys."

"Nope."

"It would be nice to have a set of keys again, Frecks. For times like this when you two tell me not to be late but then make me wait for 45 minutes."

"Not happening," I said opening my door.

"You know this is all your fault" he said, closing my front door behind him.

Alisha sighed, preparing herself for the war ahead. "Here we go... Let me go get a drink."

I was appalled. "Maybe this wouldn't have happened if you weren't so obsessed with me and didn't show up to the hotel like a stalker."

"Or maybe this wouldn't have happened if you didn't answer a goddamn door a g-string away from naked. Who does that?"

"Or maybe if you didn't try to impersonate Alisha, and actually used your own stupid voice I wouldn't have opened the door in the first place!"

"Or maybe if you were actually civil to me and wasn't such a cunt all of the fucking time I wouldn't have to impersonate Alisha to get you to answer!"

"Or maybe-"

"No, I'm not even halfway finished," he said, cutting me off. "Maybe if you didn't leave me when I needed you the most during that.. time period.. then we wouldn't have went through this issue in the first place. Or maybe if you actually took my marriage proposals serious and didn't laugh in my face when I asked you, I woudn't have gotten married to someone else at all. You left me when I was down, Giovanna. When I was literally at my lowest point."

"That was pretty messed up," Alisha commented reaching into my liquor inventory and helping herself to a glass of white cognac.

I groaned. "I get it!" I regret this every day. It was selfish of me and I have apologized over and over again. "How many times are you going to rub it in my face?!"

He shook his head. "The nerve.. to be mad because I got married and tried to be happy. After all that we've been through.. and the favors I've done!"

Alright, now he was just being ridiculous. "If you're really going to bring up the virginity thing again-"

"Well, spoiler alert, I most certainly am."

"Well, news flash Michael, the sex wasn't that great."

Michael and Alisha gasped simultaneously.

"Oh my god, no you didn't just say that. You.. really just ruined my day, Gia" Alisha sighed.

Michael cut his eyes at me. "You said you loved it."

"Well I lied!"

He laughed. "I'll remember this next time you're begging to slide down on my cock."

"Since when have I ever begged for your cock?!"

Michael held out his finger and opened his mouth trying to think of a memory.. and failed to come up with one. Just as I thought.

"And sorry to burst your ridiculously inflated ego, but I've seen bigger."

Alisha choked on her drink.

"You're lying. Who's penis have you seen other than mine? Your imaginary boyfriend's?"

"I can get a real boyfriend if I wanted to. And I do own porn, Michael."

"I'm puzzled. I'm taken aback. How bigger do you want it, Giovanna, because you can barely deep throat it. Or take it, for that matter," he scoffed and waved his hand in my face, dismissing me.

"Enough." Alisha ordered, closing her eyes. "How did we even get to this topic?!"

"I will literally grab a ruler, whip my dick out right now, slap it on the table, and measure all of these inches. Dare me. It's even impressive on soft."

"ENOUGH," Alisha screamed. "I swear you two are going to make me go into a stroke. Both of you.. sit."

Michael and I sat on the opposite ends of the couch while Alisha chugged back her drink. "Ugh.. I'm going to deal with you first, Giovanna." she hissed standing over me. "What.. the hell were you thinking opening the door naked?!"

"Okay, first of all, I wasn't naked."

"As if panties makes much of a difference."

"A thong at that," Michael added.

I brought my legs up on the couch and laid my head on the pillow, too pregnant and exhausted to even engage in this.

"And you!" Alisha glared down at Michael and pushed his forehead. "You don't even want to know what I have to say to you. I don't even have the words," she snarled. "Gia, may I slap him?"

I shrugged. "Go ahead."

Michael's eyes widened. "Wha-" Alisha immediately smacked the back of Michael's head. "Ow!"

Alisha slapped him across the cheek this time.

"STOP."

I giggled under my breath.

"Okay now that's out of my system, we can talk about options. Now the video clearly shows Giovanna... in the nude."

"Not like everyone hasn't already seen me nearly naked before."

"Movies don't count. It's the principle. You don't open doors naked." Alisha held out the newspaper. "You can't really see him until he comes out twenty minutes later. They also have a shot of Michael walking up the stairway. But as far as Michael's face.. not so much since he had on a disguise but it's a little obvious to me. Maybe it's because I know it's him. But if I was a stranger I definitely wouldn't have thought it was him."

"He even wore darker foundation," I added.

"The nose gives it away."

"What are you trying to say, Alisha?" Michael questioned.

"I didn't even insult you but if the shoe fits, bitch."

He scowled. "So what do we do?"

"Well.. you two can do one of three things. We can all claim that it wasn't Michael at all and Gia just opens the door naked for people. Michael walks away free."

"Yes," Michael agreed.

"No," I said firmly. If I'm going down we're all going down.

"Or we can admit that your marriage was open. You can add that you and Lisa were separated at the time," Alisha suggested.

"They weren't separated at the time and I'd rather not talk about Lisa too much.. because if she starts talking..." My voice trailed off even thinking about the things she could say to the public.

Michael shook his head. "It's fine. We signed a contract for her not to speak about anything."

"But still.." Alisha warned.

"I paid her twenty million. Because someone, I'm not going to say any names here because I'm not a snitch, but someone in this very room thought it was a good idea to make out with me in front of her.. and proceed to reach in my pants and grab my dick, to add."

Alisha gasped. "Gia!"

"I didn't want to say it but..." Michael mumbled.

"Well I didn't ask you to finger me either."

"MICHAEL!" Alisha clutched her necklace. "Oh my god. That poor woman."

"Poor woman? Oh please," Michael chuckled.

I scratched my neck. "Or we can just not speak on the subject at all. Which adds suspicion but it's better than having our response backfire on us."

"But we have one tiny issue. The baby. How are you two going to handle this with the public? Because if you guys plan to announce Michael as the father you really don't want your son to be labeled as a love child."

"Well, I'm marrying Gia anyway."

"Comedy," I sneered.

Michael slid over and started to tickle me.

I twitched and tried to shield myself. "Stop!" I giggled.

"I am going to marry you whether you like it or not Giovanna Evelyn Wolf," he smiled, trying to get my neck.

"Stop it! Oh my god, you know I hate my middle name!"

He got on top of me to plant kisses on my face making me laugh even harder. "I'm not taking no as an answer." He shoved me over so he could lay next to me. "Let's try this wonderful idea called.. honesty."

"I'm listening."

"Just say that me and Gia had a fall out.. I married Lisa.. I wanted to have a baby with Gia after it was obvious Lisa was a mistake and told that to Lisa which made us separate. Right? So Gia got pregnant.. let's just say via insemination. Lisa couldn't handle it so she filed for a divorce. Gia and I got married after realizing our connection with eachother again. And everyone thinks Gia and I dated for years so it's not a surprise."

I nodded. "I like it."

He nuzzled his face into my neck and gave me a quick kiss under my ear. I smirked.

"That's a nice little bedtime story after you two are publicly a thing but what does this have to do with the security tape?"

"We don't have to say anything at all. We don't owe them an explanation. Just say that I offered Giovanna my glorious frozen genetics.."

I exhaled. The arrogance just doesn't stop.

"And Lisa was okay with it and she got impregnated through insemination."

"Ignoring the glorious genetics part, I agree to issuing that as a statement," I stated.

"Michael, can you get Lisa to back this up?" Alisha questioned.

He sucked his teeth. "Are you drunk?"

"Just pay her!"

"Nope. Not giving her another cent. And she wouldn't do it anyway."

"Just.. talk to her about it."

"I'll have my lawyer talk to her about it."

"I don't care who talks, just make it happen." Alisha grabbed her bag and went out the door. "You two make me work overtime."

Once Alisha was gone, Michael looked up and grinned at me. "Frecks."

I closed my eyes and gave him the silent treatment.

"Frecks."

"Frecks."

"FRECKS," he screeched in my ear.

"WHAT IS IT GODDAMNIT IT MICHAEL?!"

He giggled at my reaction. "You've seen bigger, huh?"

I slapped him upside his head, not even believing he was still on that with bigger issues at hand.

"Ow!"

----

"To the left... a little to the right... okay now a little up... not that far up you idiots," Michael directed, holding a clipboard of the checklist in his hand. It was a warm summer day at the Neverland ranch and his birthday, and Michael had workers scrambling around like ants trying to set the event up. The sun was shielded by the large tent and the theme was mostly white with black and gold details.

Brian and Austin dropped the chair on the grass. "Why don't you lift the thing yourself? It's heavy as hell."

"Because I'm too busy directing this surprise baby shower... clearly. It's a job only a true man can handle."

Brian groaned. "You just had to pick the hottest day in August for this. And what is this throne made out of? Gold?"

"Yes, it is actually. I got it specially made for her." Michael had gotten the detailing in gold with Giovanna's name engraved at the very top. The red and gold throne was at least ten feet tall. "Straight from Egypt. So I'd appreciate it if you handled it with care." Michael was greeted by the four men carrying the two huge walls of white roses and he told them to put it right behind the throne.

He checked his watch. "The guests are going to be here in an hour." Now that the secret was out for a little over a month now, Michael invited all of his and Giovanna's closest family and friends. He told Gia it was supposed to be for his birthday but she was in for a treat. "Where is that cake?!"

Aaron lead the two workers carrying the cake by the river where the tent was. The cake was at five layers tall with white icing roses throughout and was complete with a gold crown at the top. "And If you two drop this I will strangle you with the force of 20,000 Newtons."

One of the workers looked up at Aaron, bewildered. "How old are you again, kid?"

"Okay for one... do you see this chin hair? I'm a grown man. Number two, I'm the uncle of this baby so I suggest you recognize-"

"Aaron! Place it over here," Michael said next to the chocolate fountain and assorted fruit and catering.

Aaron looked around, impressed. Then his eyebrows raised up. "Wait a minute.." he said, wiggling his finger trying to figure out what was missing.

"What's wrong?" Michael asked, noticing his expression.

"Where's the liquor, bro?"

Michael gasped, smacking his forehead. "Oh my god I completely forgot about the champagne.."

"How did you forget about the liquor?!"

"How are you the one to remind me about the liquor? Out of all people?"

Aaron sucked his teeth. "That's not important."

Michael had gotten the heavy liquor for the part two of the baby shower. Adults only. He completely forgot about the wine for the family baby shower. "Brian, quick, run to a ABC store for me."

"For what?"

"Get like.. 80 bottles of Cristal."

"Eighty?! I think you have to put in a special order for that. No store sells that much."

"Then go to multiple. Just please make it happen. You know where my cash is." Gia's mother would be bringing her in a little over an hour now.

----

As I stared at the off white maxi dress I sighed. I was getting bigger and bigger and bigger and it seemed like I was growing out of clothes every month. But it was Michael's birthday and I made sure to look extra special. I also had his present with me too.

The news was on.. still on that security tape incident. It was getting mixed reviews from the media. Some people thought it all made sense.. others thought we were vile people. Regardless the publicity was doing some good because I was getting scripts shoved in my face from top directors left and right for after I have the baby. I just had to choose which one.

"Giovanna?" my mother asked, barging into my room. "Come on, we are late." She notices my eyes and tilts my chin up. "Have you been crying?! I told you you need to turn that news off."

"No.. it's not because of that. It's this script I was sent..." I said, which was true. It's just the character I was supposed to play was in a situation similar to Michael and I and it made me emotional.

I grabbed Michael's box and headed out of the door.

Once we drove into the ceremony I was so surprised at how many people showed up.. so many Hollywood stars. It seemed like a little over 100. And a lot of my own family. Nearly all of Michael's family. I didn't see Michael and I was so confused.

"SURPRISE!" Everyone shouted, applauding. I jumped, completely taken aback.

"Huh? Surprise for what?!"

Michael ran up from behind me suddenly with a camcorder in his hand pointing at my frightened face. "It's a baby shower!"

I gasped. "For real?!"

All of the guests chuckled and clapped some more.

"There's your seat," he said, pointing up to a huge red and gold throne with the most gorgeous wall of roses that matched my dress. "Queen."

"Oh my god..." I grabbed my dress and ran up to the throne, laughing all of the way. I spotted his parents and nearly screamed, running to hug them both. His parents both gave me kisses on my cheek and his mother said pregnancy looked gorgeous on me. Aw.

The dinner proceeded after everyone went around and gave me their presents, which I was so grateful for the kindness even though they really didn't have to. Michael recorded the entire thing to show, talking to the camera to our son to show him this when he gets older, he said. He went around so all of the celebrities could wish him the best and give him a piece of advice for his life. TLC, Naomi Campbell, Diana Ross, Brooke Sheilds, Whitney Houston, Elizabeth Taylor, Quincy, Janet, Stevie, Mick Jagger, Iman, Michael's brothers, Mariah Carey, Shaggy, Paul McCartney, R. Kelly, the list goes on. It was beautiful.

He came up to where I was sitting and turned the camera around on both of us, kissing my cheek.

"Hi baby!" I smiled, waving in the camera. "Your mom loves you very much. So much."

"And your dad loves you too. But watch this for a second." He walked off and gave the camera to Alisha who was crying tears, I don't know why. I looked at her for a sign but she was only trying to silence her tears.

The music cut off and Michael took the microphone and held out a glass of champagne, asking for everyone's attention. He smiled at everyone, shy as ever.

"I want to thank everyone for flying out here. You don't know how much it means to me. This is the best birthday ever."

Everyone clapped and howled from the seats.

"But this evening isn't for me, it's for the love of my life, my bestest, closest friend in the world. Who means everything to me. And now we have a son together. This has been my dream for years."

My eyes opened wide trying to figure out if he was really doing this right now.

"And I'm so.. so blessed," his voice cracked as he teared up. "To have her in my life."

"Um.." I said low under my breath not prepared for this at all as everyone looked at me. He walked up to me and I looked back at him with sheerterror in my eyes. "Michael Joseph Jackson what the hell are you doing..." I whispered through my teeth.

He got on one knee in front of me and everyone went completely wild for it as he reached in his pocket and pulled out this huge princess cut diamond ring and took my left hand, kissing it. "Will you marry me, Frecks?"

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A/N: Can I get a vote if you liked that?! Lol & Brian <3 I missed him too much!