Half a Heart (inactive main)

“how old are they?” he hid the disappointment in his voice with a soft smile. but your confusion made him laugh a little "your kids, how old are they?"

“ah I did it again didn’t I…” you nervously chuckled under your breath. "sorry, I just have this habit of calling all patients ‘my’ kids” you hurriedly finished the rest of your home care instructions, hoping that michael found your comment cute rather than weird.

lucky for you, it was endearing to him. "that's adorable" he responded. as you handed him the prescription, he checked for a ring on your finger, before quickly glancing over your desk to see for a picture of a boyfriend. he felt relief when he couldn't find any evidence.

"thank you doctor, i'll take good care of him" your fingertips brushed against each other, and he noted how easy you are to blush.

MICHAEL THE REGULAR PATIENT

michael ends up at your office at least once every month. Sometimes just to ask a question or two. And sometimes, without any of his children.

“mr. Jackson, you know, you don’t have to come all the way up here to ask a question. I’d be glad to answer any of your concerns through email” you offered with a small smile as you placed your card in front of him.

to you, a friendly offer.

to him, it felt like a boundary.

you don’t miss the way his face fell, eyes baring the disappointment. moments like this he wished he had his sunglasses on.

“n-not that I don’t enjoy our little chats, I just…I know it’s inconvenient having to come all the way here to the hospital that’s all. I know you get mobbed at the lobby almost every time and that must be stressful for you…” you rambled “and for the kids, of course”

he's touched by how thoughtful you are. and he hoped that your care for his family's wellbeing isn't just because you're their pediatrician.

“y-yeah the kids..they don’t enjoy that so much” he added. a beat goes by before he leaned forward from the chair, elbows resting on your desk as he cocked his head with a question

“do you do home visits as well?”

BECOMING THE IN-HOUSE DOCTOR

monthly professional visits at his home were routine now. regular checkups on prince and paris, vitamin restocking, vitals checking, basic developmental tests. you were honestly running out of things to do. his children were so perfectly healthy, you didn't have to be there.

michael would always invite you over to stay for dinner. at first, you refused. afraid that this was unprofessional. but prince had learned how to talk recently, and you couldn't refuse his "pwease doctor y/n. pwease have dinner with us"

michael liked having you over for dinner because that meant prince would finish all the food on his plate. or at least, that's what he tells bill. but everyone in the room can see the way he stares so lovingly at you, mesmerized by the way you talk as you enticed prince to eat all his spaghetti. it's so mundane. but he smiled to himself anyway as he fed paris another spoonful of mush.

more often than not, the dinners turn into late night conversations, soft voices over freshly brewed calming teas in the living room. fireplace in full display with an old record playing in the background. you talked about anything and everything. dreams for yourself and for the world. you share in a mission to end child suffering. he thinks you're perfect.

“and your wife?….” you had the courage to ask one night.

“oh we’re not…like that. debbie is a good friend. we have an...agreement about the children...” he took a long sip of his tea, afraid of your response.

“like a surrogate? that’s very modern of you mike” a name you have only used once or twice before – he needs to get used to it so his ears stop flushing.

“yeah, is that weird?” you found it cute that he still seeks for validation

“I think it’s beautiful.” was your honest answer.

then it was his turn to ask. “do you ever think about having kids?”

“all the time. but I want to get married first. i'm a bit traditional that way” you admitted, a shy smile on your lips as you held your gaze to the fireplace.

“I think you and I are very alike y/n" he turned to face you, not breaking eye contact as you clinked your teacups together. chamomile in his, and peppermint in yours.

HIS DIVORCE

his divorce was all over the newspapers. and he spared no time in publicly winning your affection immediately after. he would send flowers to your hospital every. single. day. each came with a different love note, always signed with MJJ, as if you needed to be reminded on who it came from.

your older kid patients teased you if they caught you blushing.

LIFE AS MIKE'S

it didn’t take much for you to start dating officially.

soon you were at his home almost every night. and slowly, you were weaved into every corner of his life, and every fibre of his being.

the guards let you pass through the gates with ease. security didn’t have to pat you down thoroughly anymore. the chefs learned your favorites. bill knew your home and work address by heart. and the children started including you in their crayoned family portraits.

one of the greater perks of being his girl was getting to know and seeing the man that he truly is. more than the performer on stage – you saw the doting father, kind-hearted friend, loyal brother, and loving partner.

and my god did he looove to spoil you. not just with pretty gifts but with experiences you both could cherish forever. he would think of something new and exciting for the two of you to try. whether that's a night drive at a safari or going on a disney world tour.

"i want to see the whole world with you" he'd say as he smiled from ear to ear, guiding your hand to follow him.

he cared so much for others that he often forgot about himself. you took on this role quickly. you had audited his entire medical team and demanded a change in healthcare regimen, a focus on long-term healing rather than short-term numbing. "hey, who's the professional here" michael protested at first, but you made a very good argument.

and when the pressures of being the king of pop bubbled up to the surface, there is no better person to turn to than you. his insecurities, anger, frustration – all melt the moment you lay by his side.

the night air got chilly, but you nuzzled your face closer to his neck as you whispered "remember the important things Mike" your voice was small, quiet and steady. he' was so focused on the way your chest moved up and down with every breath, slowly synching with his. and just like that, he was grounded once again.

"i love you, you know that right?" he said into the air as he hugged your waist tighter. "you're one of the important things" is the last thing he muttered before he lulled into a deep sleep.

DOCTOR MOMMY

"is doctor mommy coming over today?" paris asked one morning while she was on a walk with her father, bright blues looking up at him as she firmly held his fingers. he had never heard his kids call her that before. his heart swelled, and he bent down to her level before saying "how would you like it if she were here everyday?"

paris' bright smile was all the confirmation he needed.

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

michael proposed over a candlelit dinner at his property. he transformed his garden at the ranch into an intimate celebration – a table just for two, surrounded by the beauty of nature. string lights hanging from his giving tree, illuminating your beauty amidst the night sky.

he brought out a letter he wrote, afraid he'd forget what to say. he was sweating a little, and you found his nervousness cute. you lightly dabbed his forehead with a napkin, and before you could retreat your hand, he grabbed it and interlocked fingers with yours.

he began to read

"my dearest y/n.

it's been over 3 years since i met you. and i swear, my heart has been beating faster ever since. you are the most intelligent, kind, and beautiful woman i have ever met. and you have given me the utmost privilege of being able to love you.

you make me a better man and a better father. i live everyday hoping to see you smile, or hear your laugh. i love your childlike wonder, and how you never judge me for who i am, inside and out. to the world, i may be michael jackson. but at the end of the day, i prefer to just be your mike. always.

i also cannot thank you enough for loving my kids like your own. i never pictured them having a mother in their life, the same way i never pictured falling in love again. but I'm sure glad this is the life i have been given. I thank God every day for the gift that is you.

if you could do me this honor, i would love to spend the rest of my days with you. y/n my wife.

your husband, michael"

you wanted to make fun of him for being so sure you'd say yes. but you couldn't, not when he's knelt on his knee, as tears threatendd to spill from his eyes. because you felt the same way. this was your husband, and so by far the easiest "yes" in your life.

you could only muster a nod as he slipped the ring into your finger. he held both your hands tightly as you both stood up, leaning forward, foreheads touching. you placed your hands on his cheeks as your eyelashes fluttered upwards to look at him

you really, looked at him. the beautiful, kind man you fell in love with.

you kissed him, fervently, and fully. he embraced your waist with large hands, and pulled you closer so that your bodies pressed tightly against each other. he didn't comment on the tears he can taste on your lips, or the drum-like beating of your chest.

all he could think about was how lucky he was to have found peace in you.

michael never panics anymore, not with you by his side.

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