Seconds ticked by at a merciless pace and the clicking tile of the flooring under his feet was enough to drive him crazy. He tried to reamin in high spirits, but if he were honest with himself, he really didn't want to be here.

Curls combed and styled to perfection, half the inky coils pulled back, exposing his ears while the remainder was purposefully in the way it fell across the back of his neck to rest on the top of his shoulders.

A black leather jacket and red buttoned shirt beneath showed that he was physically ready for whatever was thrown his way, but apperances can be deceiving. While he looked the part and played the part, nerves inched beneath the surface, clawing at his skin and reminding him that his life was anything but normal.

Michael didn't like interviews.

In fact, he would goes as far as to say he actually hated them.

What, with the odd remarks and prying questions. It felt invasive and no, he didn't want to sit down and explain his creative process to a bunch of people that didn't understand and he absolutely didn't want to talk about his family dymanic anymore.

Being in the limelight from the age of five does a lot to a person, teaches them to grow far quicker than should ever be forced upon a child, but it also makes a person wise. By now, Michael was clued into the social structures and the climate in which he existed and despite what the media claimed, he knew their games.

He didn't want to this, but his team had insisted and feeling as though he seemingly no choice had a choice in the matter, Michael had reluctantly agreed to one singular interview just to keep the suits off his back.

The world was set ablaze with the release of Bad. Something in which Michael had been beyond proud of, even if it did bring more attention to him with the new evolution now descended on a global scale. Shedding himself of the boy next door imagery, this was his chance to dive into something darker, gritter.

While he hadn't exactly outsold the sheer magnitude of Thriller, it would be a lie to say his latest album hadn't been well recieved. Number one across the globe, with dedicated fans finding more of an excuse to dress like him now that he had a signature look that expanded way beyond the sparkly socks and single glove motif the world now associated with his name.

Everyone wanted a piece of him. TV stations begging for a single perfomance, talented music artists longing for a feature and a hoard of media outlets were now understandably insistent with their requests to interview a tyrant of the indsutry. He wanted to shake his head and sigh in disappointment, but part of him understood that this was their way of making a living too.

With well thought our research, Michael inevitably landed on doing an interview with Ebony/Jet and while he couldn't say he exactly was fully looking forward to it without lying to himself, he had accepted woild happen regardless of his preconceived notions.

Already debating in his head how the conversation would play out, he found himself hoping more than not that this particular interviewer focused more on his career than his private life. He never did want to dive in too deep to the things that kept him grounded in moments where life got loud.

A new album, an upcoming tour, 128 shows, with the first set to begin in just a weeks time in Japan. His first solo tour away from the machine that became the Jacksons. That should be enough of a conversation topic as far as Michael was concerned.

Still, he knew how the media could be and so keeping up his gaurd was ultimately be the wises choice.

As he approached the door, leading to the room where he would spent the next short period of his life, the temptation to run back down the hallway and never returned had never felt more appealing. But like most rough patches in his life, Michael knew he would make it through.

The air in the room changed the moment he entered, the interviewer ― a well dressed black man called Darryl, who Michael had met earlier that morning greeted him with an easy smile, one that didn't totally diminish the flame of anxiety, but certainly eased it.

Once pleasantries were exchanged and after Michael found himself seated opposite the man who had every opportunity to go off course and ask questions he hadn't agreed to, the cameras began to roll and the interview began.

In a shocking turn of events, Michael was disarmingly surprised to find that for once, he was actually being treated as an artist rather than a test subject. Being asked well thought out questions about the title of his album and as well as the music video (or short films as he insisted) from the title track, to which Darryl actually paralleled the piece of work to his own life rather than prying into that of Michael.

While his gaurd was still up, he felt comfortable. So comfortable in fact, he hadn't needed any particular prompting while talking about the intimate technique that went into the creation of I Just Can't Stop Loving You.

There had been no harsh poking or prodding into his life and yet somehow, Michael had been almost too giddy to admit the recording process the second the topic of conversation had been brought up.

"You make some very strong sensuous remarks to a women that you're lying next to." Darryl stated rather than asked.

Before he even got to his question, Michael found himself cutting in, face completely void of emotion as he spoke. "I was in a bed when I was doing that-"

"Really?" Darryl asked, surprise etched into every letter he spoke.

"also, yeah. I was laying in a bed..." His laugh starting to bubble to the surface. "cover and everything when I did that rap. In the dark."

Feeling more human that he had in a while, Michael felt the tense muscles of his body start to relax. The interview he hadn't wanted to participate in, no longer felt like a death sentence.

For around fifteen minutes, the conversation weaved in and out the creativity of the Bad album, the thought process behind Man In The Mirror and where he was when he wrote Liberian Girl and We Are The World. None of it felt too heavy or invasive and while a few topics, such as the question regarding his regret in joining the music industry, felt more complex, they weren't pushed upon and so Michael answered honestly.

With the interview winding down and the thought of freedom fresh in his mind, Michael answered the last few questions with a kindness and grace he hoped would be reciprocated.

Seeing this as his last opportunity, Darryl cleared his throat, leaning forward in his chair to speak directly to the star before they shared their goodbyes.

"Now, I'm always slightly hesitant to ask artists about their personal lives for so many reasons." He confessed with an air of sincerity to his tone. "Mainly because I think the public often forgets there are real human beings behind the headlines, so I don't want to pry too much into your private life today, Michael. What I am deeply fascinated by happens to be longevity."

Michael would be lying if he said that hadn't surprised him. Round, doe-eyes widened for a fraction of a second before he responded with a nod, not entirely sure where this conversation was heading, but open to seeing the path it would inevitably lead him down.

"You live in an industry where everything seems to burns out so fast, somehow, you've managed to find a stable relationship with a particular Hollywood starlet that predates most of this madness."

There it was.

He hadn't said her name in so many words, but then again, he didn't have to. The insinuation was evident and hung heavy in the air.

Shifting his posture slightly, the only sign that Michael's familiar, protective gaurd had suddenly slipped back into place. His fingers toyed with the silver belt buckle on his sleeve, a nervous habit he'd picked up since he started wearing the leather.

It wasn't that he didn't want to talk about her. He did, but in a way, she was his sanctuary. In a world that demanded pieces of him, she had never asked for anything other than his heart and he had willingly reached into his chest cavity just to hand it over with a glorious smile.

Maybe it was down to her being a star in her own right. She could relate to him in ways others could. A child actor who had later gone on to dominate the big screen. She knew the demands of the fame and never judged him when he struggled. Somehow, she moved through Hollywood with a confidence only those that belonged there knew how and he was completely devoted to her.

Their realtionship wasn't a secret.

No, absolutely not.

They loved each other openly and enjoy showing each other off, whether that be on red carpets or charity galas. They'd walk hand in hand, smiling bright or laughing loud at dumb comments the other person had made on a whim simply because they knew it would provoke a reaction.

What they shared was special and while they didn't mind people seeing them out in the world as a couple, that didn't mean they had been compelled to feed the tablod beast. Protective over the love they shared, they would never give a tell all to any interviewers. The ones that would all too calmly ask invasive questions just to embarrass them globally.

Bracing himself, Michael prepared for the usual topics: proposal, marriage, kids.

None of it came.

"How did a young boy from Gary, Indiana, actually cross paths with such a promising actress?"

"Oh, boy." He almost laughed, genuinely taken by surprise. "You're going way back now. You know, so many people think we met at some crazy after party a few years ago, but we've known each other most of our lives actually."

A crazy fact to state, but out of the twenty nine years he had been on the earth, he had known her for eighteen. Growing up in the limelight had felt so isolating, but having someone who knew first hand what it was like had been a small mercy.

Those soul shattering moments, stuck in his bedroom where he felt so completely alone were eased within the perimetes of knowing her because he had always known that no matter how hard things became, there was always someone on the other end of the phone who could sympathise and offer a love that hadn't existed until she entered his life.

"When I was eleven, she was ten, I don't know if you remember the sitcom Family Affair." Michael spoke, a soft smile curved against the corners of his mouth. "It was huge back then and she was the youngest person in the cast. The baby of the group."

She hadn't came out the gate swinging like so many people had assumed. As a baby and into her toddler years, she'd been brought to auditions and starred in small commercials or indie movies no one had ever heard of. It wasn't until the age of eight she'd been cast in Family Affair that the trajectory of her life completely changed.

Going from nothing to a whole nation knowing your name so young had been a difficult situation to navigate. Something she and Michael had spoken at in length over the years.

"Yeah, of course I remember." Darryl nodded, smiling in a calm manner. "She was quite the star, even as a child."

"Wasn't she?" At ease, Michael leaned back against his chair, not noticing the way his eyes glazed over in complete adoration. "Well, as it story goes, she was a massive Jackson 5 fan back then. Apparently, she used to blast our records in the dressing room and drive the directors crazy between takes because she'd be singing our songs at the top of her lungs. I don't know how true that is, but that's what I've been told."

"So, she was one of your biggest fans then?"

"Yeah, I guess you could say that." Not much had changed. She still cheered the loudest for everything he did and at that realisation, Michael felt his grin widening. "The writers of the show came up with this crazy plan to create a special episode guest starring the Jackson 5. They thought it would be funny to see her reaction."

Eye lighting up at the memory, his voice raised an octave higher in the exciment of recounting the tale so freely. "They reached out to Motown. Barry Gordy thought it was a great promotional offer for the group. My father had doubts, but was quickly swayed by the paycheck."

Hands neatly folded over a small file in his hands, Darryl leaned in. "So that's how it happened?"

"Yeah." Michael nodded, shoulders rising in a small shrug. "It's so funny to think back now. I'm not even sure that episode exists anymore, but that's how it happened."

"So you met her on set?"

"I met her backstage while people were arranging the sets." He clarified. "I was eleven and so terrified. I'm shy, you know and there were all these big important people in the industry around us. I'd never acted until then and we had lines to memorise. God, I remember feeling so nervous."

Eighteen years on and he could still feel the familiar sensation of sweaty palms, slick as he carelessly wiped them on his patterned pants. So desprate to make a good first impression, Michael had been uncharactasically quiet the second he stepped into the studio knowing the importance of the show. He hadn't wanted to mess up. The same couldn't be said for his siblings who treated the whole thing like a mini vacation of sorts.

"My brothers and I were standing by the catering table, I think and I know they were goofing off because Jackie got in trouble for throwing a grape at Jermine, but instead of reaching him, it hit one of the extras." Michael chuckled at the memory. "Then suddenly, she was there. Charging over like she owned the place."

"A little diva in the making?" Genuinely curious, Darryl's eyes widened the more he learned.

"No. Of course not. She just knew her place, is all." Shaking his head, onyx optics glazed like they were practically looking into the past. "I remember she walked right past my brothers, came straight over to me and said, 'You're Michael, right?' She was so giddy. The next thing I knew, she was asking me to play hide and seek. That was it, really. The start of everything."

"The confidence of a future Oscar winner. No fear, it seems."

"Absolutely none. I was so envious of that..." his voice trailed off at the ends, memories of the girl he loved, so young and sure of the world, clouding his memory. "but a few years later, one of the suits in production told me she'd freaked out when she learned we were there." Michael chuckled, dimples on full display for the world to see. "I always thought that was cute."

Although he wished he had gotten the opportunity to see her jumping around, screaming just knowing he would be in close proximity, the picture painted had been enough ammunition for him to tease her for life. Any time he caught his love in a moment of weakness, he would use that incident to his advantage.

"We became friends real quick after that." He continued, hands falling in his lap. "On set, between takes, the two of us would run off and play games in the rafters of the sound stage or steal candy from catering. Sometimes we talked until someone was sent to find us and we'd get scolded for pushing back the schedule."

"What was it like?" Darryl questioned. "I imagine being in the industry so young felt pretty isolating and suddenly, you have a friend your own age who seems to understand you."

Michael couldn't help but reflect on the course of their realtionship. Before they dated, before he could call her his, there was always a part of him that felt particularly entranced with her and it wasn't her beauty, though God, she really was a vision. It was the way she made him feel like the lone island of isolation had been a temporary slip of his imagination.

For a long time, he struggled.

A lonely child who grew into a lonely adult, but all that faded into nothing the moment she was around and smiled at him. Finally, he knew exactly what it felt like to be understood so purely, any doubt he had about not being enough became obsolete.

"It felt like a gift, really, it's the only way I can describe it." Michael explained easily. "That week we were on set was the most fun I had."

"You were so young, so busy, how did you stay so close?"

"We stayed in touch. Not as frequently at first, we were both so young, but we tried and she would come to shows if we were in the area and hangout at the hotels to play games afterwards."  He explained, no longer feeling like he was in an interview at all as he spoke so freely about the person to change hus world. His expression softened and Michael felt his defences lower. "Then as we got a little older, in our teens, letters and late night phone calls really became our thing."

"She was a constant in my life and it was so nice to have someone who truly understood me. She'd been working in the indsutry since infancy, so she knew what it was like to not have a childhood." The words continued to flow with no distractions. "Living as we did, you really start to value the relationships you develop with people your own age because they're so hard to find."

The path that lead them from friends to something more was still freshly arched in his brain. Despite the years he'd been able to call her his girlfriend, the novelty had never exactly worn off. If anything, he only felt all the more lucky that she still seemed so hopelessly in love with him, he could see it every morning when she latched herself onto him and tempted him with pleas to stay in bed rather than handle real life obligations.

"A few years ago, we just looked at each other and realised things had shifted." Michael laughed softly, unprovoked heat rising to the apples of his cheeks as the telling words fell from his lips. "I wanted all of her and I don't know, I guess I'm just really lucky that she wanted me too." Hands covering his face, Michael waited for a moment for the shyness to pass before revealing himself to the camera lens once again. "Oh God, I sound like a cliché, but that's what she does to me. She's my best friend. I couldn't imagine a life without her."

"It's a really beautiful story."

Darryl admitted freely and for once, Michael was taken back that a moment of rare vunerability he had decided to share hadn't been turned into something ugly.

"I only brought it up because I actually have a small surprise for you. While researching for this interview, our team was digging through some old archival files from that television network, looking for promotional still from that episode."

"Oh no." Michael tried to hide his discomfort with a small, humourless chuckle. "Is this where you so show some goofy photo of me messing up on set?"

"No, not at all." Darrel shook his head and then reached down for the file sprawled methodically in his lap. "We actually stumbled across an image they had never been published, a picture the set photographer took during your very first day filming."

After a few seconds of careful maneuvering, the sound of crinkled plastic and sharp snap of heavy photo paper, with a slight twist of his hand, Darryl presented Michael with the one thing that had the capability of stealing the breath from his lungs.

A man who had the means to buy anything he could ever possibly want and starring back at him, an art form in black and white, was something no amount of money could purchase. Priceless in a way only incredibly special items were.

Void of color, yet screaming with a childhood whimsy, like a rainbow of emotion. His own smiling face, teeth bright and on display, a sparkle in his eye that only appeared on very rare occasions. His full, lush afro stood tall and while it usually reminded him of a time where he was overworked and underappreciated, he realise he had immediately skipped the sorrowful emotion he usually felt in regards to his younger self.

Because there, perched right behind him, on an old sofa Michael confidently recalled to be a hideous shade of vibrate orange now washed in grey, showing an equally as wide smile was the little girl who bulldozed her way into his life at the age of ten, stole his heart and never looked back.

"Oh God." Michael gasped, hand clasped over his mouth and adoring eyes fixated on the image presented to him. "I... I've never seen this. I mean, I know― I knew there were photos from my time on the show, but never one of us together. Look how small we were."

Unable to tear his gaze from the photograph, he leaned in closer, not wanting to miss a single detail. Their miniature forms so at ease with one another, even on the very first day of work, like it had always been so easy.

They were so young and he couldn't remember every conversation they shared, how she smelt that day or what had moment provoked this picture to be captured, but whatever it was, Michael had never been more grateful.

Her hair was combed to perfection, the stylist on the show had actually taken the time to work with her rather than against her, but Michael hadn't seen that particular style on her since she was twelve. The overalls they'd forced her into for her characters costume he could recall to be a vivid violet, but the real nostalgia kicker wasn't what she was wearing or how she looked so innocent with her eyes crickled from the weight of her grin.

What he couldn't help but fixate on was the simple way her arms had wrapped around his waist, her chin resting so carelessly against over his shoulder like she was already comfortable being so close. A trust that still lingered and held true all these years later.

"She used to creep up on me like that." Michael hummed absentmindly, like he hadn't even realise he'd spoken at all, taking the photo gently between his thumb and pointer finger, he smiled easy. "Whenever I got nervous before a scene, she'd hug me just like that."

Suddenly realising he was no longer alone and there was a camera rolling, catching his every movement and every stray emotion he hadn't expected to show, Michael carefully cleared his throat and shared a small, awkward grin.

"Can I keep this?" He asked softly. "Can I take it back with me? She'll lose her mind."

"It's yours." Darryl nodded with a small smile, reaching over to shake the stars hand as things began to wind down. "Consider it a thank you for the interview."

"Of course." Michael laughed, shaking the interviewers hand with genuine gratitude. "Thank you so much."

The unmistakeable thud of the heavy Cadillac limousine reached Michael's ears as he slid into the backseat, the car pulled away from the studio lot merging right into a puddle of screeching traffic and the air around him felt entirely too humid for him to breath. In the seat beside him, Bill, Michael's long trusted head of security was speaking openly to the driver and while the voices were loud enough to echoed around the large vehicle, Michael wasn't paying any real attention to the words said.

The interview was finally over and he was on his way back to the hotel for the rest of the day. While he wished more than anything he could have returned to the comfort of his own home, the journey from New York back to LA wouldn't make much sense until tomorrow. Lucky for him, it wasn't entirely bad news because he knew the that deep on the top floor, somewhere lounging around in the luxurious suite he would've otherwise found entirely too dull to enjoy, Michael would find the women he loved.

While busy in her own right and sporting a successful career of her own, she had a little time off before production on her next movie picked up and she'd chosen to spend as much time with Michael as she possibly could. Even if that meant flying to different cities around the globe. Michael had been elated when she told him. He hated going too long without having her close by.

The dark tint of the car windows created a safe environment, one free from prying eyes and excitable fans, but it also clouded the world in a dark hue. Usually, when he thought about it for too long, that fact would lull him into a deep sadness. This time, his somber mood had been replaced. The nostalgia from the black and white photograph now held securely between his long fingers still weighed on his mind. The moment he starred down at the reflection of his childhood self, the distinct hum of the limousine faded into the distance and the world around him changed to a rumbled echo of a life he had reluctantly waved goodbye to years prior.

Eleven years old and already so much on his plate. The guest spot, on a tv show he would watch on occasion with his entire family should he be lucky enough to have time away from rehearsals, was now another thing he had to be nervous it. Standing inside the impressive soundstage doors, Michael couldn't remember the last time he had felt so microscopic, unless, of course, he counted the times he was being threatened with Joseph's peering lens.

Groups of serious looking adults moved around like they owned the place and despite staying realitvely close to his brothers, Michael was terrified. Not in a manner that made him want to run and hide, but the kind of fear that twists in your gut and makes you nauseous. He wasn't sure if he was going to hurl or just go mute the second someone with any form of authority spoke a single word towards him.

It was times like this he wished he had Jermaine's easy confidence or Marlon's charming ability to make anyone automatically swoon. Jackie and Tito could happily engage in conversations and all the while, Michael found himself struggling to swallow his own saliva. So much like his mother, his shyness was a plague in someways, especially with all the high expectations that fell on his shoulders being the voice of the group.

Standing beside the catering table, Michael had no appetite or desire to force any snack down, but he had simply found himself far to anxious to spilt from the group. To his left, Tito laughed an obnoxious sound, so loud it bounced off walls and reverberated back to them, like some demented boomerang as Marlon egged on their eldest brother, Jackie into throwing a grape as Jermaine as retaliation to some narcissistic comment he'd made only seconds before.

Lining up his aim, keeping one eye closed and squintting through the other, Jackie made a bold attempt at ensuring he'd acquired the right target before launching the small, round fruit at Jermaine. But nothing ever really goes according to plan. Despite his best intentions, the grape veered off course and landed right between the eyes of some young actress, gasping at the unexpected hit and turning towards the small group with her eyes narrowed and steam practically coming from her ears.

Their best efforts were put to rest when four of the Jackson brothers failed to hide their humoured chuckles as they leaned into one another and hid their mischievous smirks behind their plams. Michael's round eyes widened in horror and he tried his best to utter out some form of an apology for something he had entirely no part in, but his brain refused to cooperate and words failed to come.

"Boys, seriously." Some important show runner complained, sighing with his head in hand. "Stop messing around. We have a show to run and funny business like that doesn't fly around here."

His voice hadn't been particularly loud and he hadn't threatened them in any way. Still, the silence that suddenly fell across the room felt heavy and Michael found himself looking towards his well polished shoes in hopes of avoiding catching anyone eye.

"Well done, genius." Jermaine shoved his oldest brother, a scowl set into a semi permanent fixture on his face. "You got us in trouble already."

"Me!?" Jackie gasped, face screwed up like he was getting ready to argue his case, but as he became aware of his settings and trained his big brown eyes to look around to assess the situation, he spotted a crowd of prying eyes trained on them and thought better of it. Holding his hands out in surrender, he nodded in acceptance. "My bad."

Then and there, Michael wanted nothing more than to shirk down to the size of an ant and hide from the judgmental glares. Their first day on set and in less than an hour, they'd already caused a disturbance.

Usually, Michael would have been front and center. Nothing made him happier than playing pranks on another person, especially if that person happened to be Jermaine. He took great delight in watching the vein in his neck bulging as he tried to repress his anger. However, this enviroment was entirely different.

The people here didn't seen to have time for any light hearted fun and Michael knew that if he had been the cause of any trouble and news reached their father, he would never hear the end of it and the last thing he wanted was to be on the receiving end of his belt again and so instead of participating in his brothers antics, Michael stayed silent and decided before he stepped a toe out of line, he would first need to be wise and evaluate his surroundings.

So caught up in his casual observations, he didn't notice a bundle of sunshine barrelling towards them, until the sound of the vinyl flooring under small feet squeaked loud and brought his attention back. Catching sight of biggest smile he ever could recall witnessing. Michael knew her name before she'd stopped in front of him. He'd watched her on TV for the past few years and despite knowing so many in the indsutry, this felt different because finally, this was someone his own age.

Seemingly ignorant to the other brothers, she stopped right before him, excitable and bouncing on the balls of her feet. He could see the way her eyes glamed and for some curious reason, he felt himself relaxing with the realisation she was aiming her happy grin towards him.

"You're Michael, right?" Her voice bright and airy and almost immediately she introduced herself, like he didn't already know who she was. "They take forever setting up things around here... you wanna play hide and seek?"

No 'it's nice to meet you' or 'welcome.' And while it was a particular uncommon greeting for him these days, he'd be lying it he said it wasn't nice to being treated like a kid for once.

Eyeing her from head to toe, it was clear that just like himself and his brothers, she had already been to the hair and makeup deparment and she was already dressed in her costume for this particular episode. They were ready to shoot whenever the director spoke a call of action and even though he wanted a friend more than anything, Michael knew he couldn't mess up.

"Er..." Looking towards the set, he watched as production members worked hard to bring the set to life. His eyes then flickered towards his brothers, who were staring at him with full formed smirk before he settled his gaze back towards the girl. "are we allowed to do that? I don't wanna get in trouble."

It wasn't that he didn't want to play with her. The idea was actually extremely appealing and he would love nothing more than to run around for the next hour or two in a child-like ploy to play as many games as they could think of, but he knew there were certain rules and expectations he was required to follow and he couldn't be seen failing before he'd really began.

"Oh, sure." She laughed, tucking her hands deep into the pockets of her violet overalls. "I mess around like this all the time. They usually send someone for me when it's time to start shooting."

"Yeah, but... you're the star here." It felt weird to say that outloud. People were usually saying that kind of thing to him.

"No, I'm not." She giggled and turned towards his brothers. "Can he play with me, please?"

"Sure." Marlon grinned, stepping forward to throw a casual arm around the little girls shoulders. "Don't be mean, Mike."

"Yeah, go play with the poor girl." Tito encouraged through a small laugh. "She's probably dying of boredom."

"I am." She confirmed with a small sigh, her tiny brows furrowed and lip pushed out into a small pout. "Everyone around here is a dinosaur."

"Hey." Jackie complained, rolling his eyes towards the ceiling. "I'm here."

"Point proven." She huffed and Michael couldn't help but laugh at that. If it were possible, her eyes glowed brighter and she stepped closer, causing Marlon's arm to fall limp at his side. "Come on, I'll show you all the good hiding spots."

Contemplating for only a moment or two, Michael tilted his head to the side and then returned a toothy grin and nodded. "Okay. Sure, sounds fun."

Like she was scared he might change his mind, she wasted no time in lurching forward, taking his hand in her own and pulling him with her as she ran through the set like she owed the place. On some level, Michael thought she probably felt that way. She was practically raised within the perimeters of these walls.

Michael wasn't stupid, he noticed the loud cackled of his brothers and felt the shove on his back as he passed Jermaine. He even managed a small, "shut up" when Tito quietly teased him for having found himself a girlfriend. Heat rose to the apples of his cheeks, but he tried not to pay any mind to it and if she noticed, her acting classes were seriously worth the money because she never showed it.

True to her word, she really did show him all the best hiding spots. From the hidden stoage closet in her dressing room to the small gap between set walls that they could both creep into if they turned their bodies just right.

Time seemed limitless and in a smooth move, the spark of youth fell back into his system like it had never left. Michael found himself laughing and smiling far more frequently, running out of breath as they chased each other around and feeling completely comfortable with someone who had been nothing more than a stranger earlier that day.

He couldn't help but wonder to himself, 'is this what it feels like to have a friend?' Every voice in his head screamed at him yes and Michael felt a warm sense of pride hit all at once.

The fun and games eventually came to a close and they found themselves sitting in a breathless heap in the rafters, entirely oblivious of the dangerous structure they carelessly threw their bodies towards as they shared a pack of Jolly Ranchers.

"I'm really happy you're here." She spoke, picking out the particular flavour she had noticed Micharl gravitating towards and handing it over easily. "This week is going to be so much fun."

"You think?" Michael asked, unwrapping the annoying plastic before placing the candy in his mouth and relishing in the tangy flavour. "I'm scared I'll mess up."

"It's no biggie if you do." Shurgging her shoulder, her innocent gaze settled on his face and she smiled like she couldn't stop when he was looking at her. "I miss up all the time. They'll just do another take."

"They won't be mad?" He questioned, eyebrows pinched together.

"Nah." She seemed so sure as she shook her head. "Once, Jeremy took twenty one takes just to ask for some milk."

Her giggle was infectious and without realising it, Michael found himself laughing along side with her?"

"Really?"

Jeremy was the older actor who played her father in the show. From what he's seen on TV, he had always came across like a stern, no nonsense man and Michael could hardly imagine him messing up in such a way. Then again, he supposed that's why he was so good at his job.

"Yeah." Picking out a cherry flavoured candy for herself, she nodded and leaned against his shoulder. "It was so funny. The whole crew kept laughing."

"Even the scary bald guy I saw earlier?" The one who's scolded Marlon, he had wanted to add, but decided against it.

"Lenny?" She questioned and giggled. "Yeah... he seems tough, but he's real easy to get on side. I'll teach you, don't worry."

And for some reason, Michael believed her.

A few more minutes of playful giggles, Michael sharing a few of his brothers embarrassing moments just to watch the way her face lit up in amusement, they almost forgot there was work to be done.

It wasn't until a little later when creaking footsteps grew nearer that the two children looked to their left, finding a rather tall man crouching down to avoid hitting his head off the ceiling.

"There you two are." He sighed in relief. "You're due on set, kids. You're holding everyone up and you..." he turned his gaze towards the small girl, his lips settled into a firm line, but his tone wasn't harsh nor cruel. "what did I tell you about playing up here? It isn't safe."

"Sorry, Elijah." She pouted, though she didn't seem sorry at all and offered Michael a playful wink before following the older man down a familiar path and walked side by side with her brand new friend.

Elijah, Michael would come to learn, was her on set teacher and somehow, they'd become close. Over the years, she struggled to make any friends and much like him, the isolation became overwhelming. Elijah had been the only person who genuinely tried to reach out to her.

The only person until Michael came along, of course.

The week was marked a new beginning for so many different reasons: a start to an acting career Michael had been unsure of, a new found respect for people in the tv industry and a full fledged friendship he knew he would carry with him for life.

In almost no time at all, she's become an extremely important foundation of his life. What Michael hadn't expected was to find that working on a TV show meant a lot of waiting around. Between scenes, the two of them would find ways to entertain themselves, running off into the dark, labyrinthine corridors of the studio lot and hiding in between dusty rows of old prop stage closets where Michael had once tripped over an old, rusty sword, which prompted them into a ruthless game of pirates.

In their own world, tucked away from managers, producers and Joseph, they felt like kids again. Neither of them expected anything from the other and so they both let the guards down and played until Elijah was inevitable sent to retrieve them from whatever mischievous corner of the studio they had escaped into.

Naturally, his brothers hadn't allowed Michael to hear the end of it. The Jackson 5 dressing room had been full of ruthless teasing for a week straight and though, usually it would be enough to annoy him into giving his siblings the silent treatment, Michael had been having too much fun to take any of it to heart.

"Look at, Mike, man." Marlon chuckled one day, nudging his elbow into Jackie's arm. "Can't keep his eyes on the script because he's so in love."

From where he sat opposite them, Jermaine laughed along, tossing a small, blue bouncy ball in the air and then catching it in his palm. "Oh, definitely. Mike's got himself a little girlfriend. Mother will be so proud."

Michael just rolled his eyes and pretended to reread his lines, even though he knew them entirely by heart. He wouldn't given them the satisfaction of rising to the taunts and he certainly wouldn't bring her name up in fear they would use it as ammunition to ambush the girl once they caught her on set.

By the time they'd wrapped their episode, he'd been hit with an overwhelming wave of sadness knowing he would have to go back to the harsh reality of performer and inevitability, he would be forced to leave her behind. He didn't want to, but when did Michael ever really get any say over what happened in his life?

Arms wrapped tight around one another, they cried as they changed sottowful goodbyes and even was they promised each other they would try and stay in contact, Michael couldn't help but feel like his childhood was once again being stripped from him and this time. Only, he realise it felt so much worse this time around because he actually knew what he was missing.

A sudden bump in the road jolted Michael from a vivid memory. Blinking rapid, his eyes adjusted to the scene around him. Back in the Cadillac, the world moved all too slow and alarmingly too fast all at once. He supposed it was his own fault for getting in this head space. It had been a long time since he lost himself to ghosts from his past.

"You alright, Joker?" Bill asked from beside him, eyes clouded over in worry that could only possibly come from a father figure of sorts.

Looking up, Michael's thumb gently stroked the precious black and white photograph in his hand and he smiled softly. "Yeah." He assured. "Just lost in some history, I guess."

Giving a knowing nod, Bill chuckled to himself and then turned his gaze back towards the window.

"We're two minutes out from the hotel." He stated. "We're going through the underground entrance, so we should get you straight up to the penthouse without any problems."

"Thank you, Bill." Michael muttered, sliding the photograph back into the protective, plastic sleeve Darryl had provided him with.

Leaning back against his seat, his mind filled with memories that would span a lifetime. The world thought they knew their story, but none of them knew the small, intimate details the way they did. He knew the women who still wrapped her arms around him like she did when they were children and he could hum her favourite songs in the dark whenever sleep failed to claim her for the night. Michael couldn't wait to get back to the penthouse and show her photographic evidence of when their stars aligned.

The delicate click of the lock reached his ears, proof that the door to the penthouse suite had been securely sealed behind him.

Sighing a heavy breath or relief, Michael felt the moment his body began to relax. Tight muscles from the stress of an interview he'd ultimately ending up enjoying began to unwind and his defensive gaurd fell down. In the peaceful solitude of his own space, he didn't feel like Michael Jackson the performer. He felt like a real person, full of faults and imperfections, the basis of what made a human so hauntingly beautiful.

Rolling his shoulders, Michael took a moment before shurgging out of his jacket, the sliver buckles hitting together in a soft clink as he carefully draped the dark leather over the back of a velvet armchair and groaned while stretching his back muscles. Careful hands made quick movement, nimble fingers unfastening the tiny, red buttons to roll the maroon sleeves up past his elbows. In a public setting, he had learnt to shy away from showing much of his flesh these days, but in the safety of the hotel walls, locked behind a door only trusted individuals had access to, he didn't have any doubts or worries to cloud his self perception.

He'd barley kicked his shoes off when he heard the sound of rustling silk growing nearer. Quiet footsteps drummed against the hardwood flooring and before he had the chance to turn around, a familiar warmth pressed flush against his back. A set of recognised, delicate arms slid effortlessly across his waist, palms locking together and pulling him back against the comfort of a soft frame. The floral scent he'd grown so attached to hit his nose in a wave of nostalgia and all too soon, a chin rested comfortably against the arch of his shoulder. A pair of gentle, pillowy lips pressed a delicate kiss to the hinge of his jaw prompting a satisfied hum to fall from his own mouth.

"Welcome back, baby." She purred, voice turned down a notch in the intimacy of the moment. "I missed you."

For a long second, time escaped him and Michael paused as he processed the familiarity of the moment, perfectly mirroring an image of the pair of them he'd grown so found of since finding out of it's existence barley an hour before. Practically identically in every way, the lines of their bodies pressed together, so naturally, he had barley registered when it had become a thing for them. Prehaps it always had.

Shoulders lifting up and down, the melodic tone of his free falling laughter built in a beautiful cadence, the sound so pure and youthful in places most adults fell flat. Lifting his hand, Michael tried his best to conceal the sound and failed miserably in his mission.

Shifting against him, she turned her gaze to the side on his face, taking in the apperance of the sharp contours of his face with her usual wide-eyed expression narrowed with an intense curiosity.

"Okay, fess up..." she hummed against his warm cheek. "what's got you so giggly?"

Turning with in the safe perimeters of her arms, Michael's hands automatically settled on her waist, his lips still cruved into a sweet smile as he leaned forward to capture her lips with his own, only to pull back all too soon, leaving her with an ache he wasn't ready to sooth just yet.

Through the dark length of his lashes, Michael scanned her alluring features with a devoted intensity, noting quickly that she's taken off her makeup and somehow still looked just as beautiful as she ever had. With a small laugh, he brushed the tip of his nose against her own and squeezed her tighter on instinct.

"You have no idea." Michael hummed, his wide doe eyes warm and full of affection. Reaching into the back pocket of his black pants, he pulled out the photograph. Still in the clear, protective sleeve, he presented the black and white image like a grand prize and his smile winded almost instantly. "Look at this. The interview went great and the guy who conducted the entire thing said his team had found this photo of us from the day we first met."

Untangling an arm from his warm body, she took the photograph between her fingers and analysed the ink. Michael watched in unadulterated fascination as her eyes grew impossibly large under the weight of the moment, an almost entirely too dramatic gasp falling from her addictive lips when she realised he wasn't kidding.

"Oh my God." She whispered, staring down at the imagery of her ten year old self clinging so carelessly onto an eleven year old Michael. Her lips curved into a small smile, eyes shining with an emotional glaze. "Look how small we were. I can't believe they found this. I had no idea it existed. Look at my us! I miss your afro."

Michael giggled to himself, thumbs tracing absentminded patterns against her hip with every intention of keeping her close, like separating from her would cause him physical harm.

"I know." He hummed, peering down at the picture she refused to turn away from. "We should frame it. We need to hang it somewhere we can always see it."

Michael had never believed in the concept of soulmates, but how could he deny the image before it. Sometimes it felt as though their destiny had been written before they'd ever met. Two lonely children, finding companionship in the most unexpected place.

For a beat too long, she didn't say a word. Her soft eyed gazed flicked from the photograph, then back to him, like she was placing together the pieces of a puzzle before time ran out and she lost them forever. He recognised that look. It must have been the same one that he'd worn when Darryl had so casually whipped the photograph out and placed it in front of his eyes.

Complete bewilderment.

It really was that simple.

"You know..." She began, her voice teetering the line between teasing and embarrassment. "I'm not at church, but I might as well confess... I had the biggest crush on you back then."

Michael practically cackled, his head leaning back with the sheer magnitude of the sound. He turned towards her, onyx optics filled with mild skepticism.

"Stop it! No, you didn't." He muttered, eyebrows arched in humour.

"Yes, I did!" She protested, looking up at him with stubborn determination. "Why do you think I constantly blasted Jackson 5 songs in my dressing room?"

"I thought you were a fan!" He laughed, still not fully convinced. "Everyone was a Jackson 5 fan back then. You know... I don't like to brag, but we were making big moves back then."

"I know and I really was a huge fan." She nodded and then playfully poked at his chest with the hand that wasn't holding tight to the photograph. "But I had the biggest crush on you. I remember I had a poster of you and your brothers in my bedroom and I thought you were the cutest boy I ever saw."

Michael's mouth opened in protest, like he wanted to argue against it, but words failed him, which was ironic when his career had been built off his song writing capabilities. Stringing words together should have been easy for him, but she never failed to leave him speechless.

"I mean, look at this photo." She turned the picture around, confronting Michael with the image of their baby faced seleves. "Look at my smile, how I'm clinging on to you. I mean, I was so obvious."

"I just... thought you wanted a friend." His voice soft as a whisper, like he was only just noticing the way she had always acted around him.

"Well, I did." She confessed with a small nod. "I was lonely and I really valued our friendship, but I was so enamoured with you. That week, I woke up each day, so excited to get back on set because I knew you would be there."

If Michael could've kick himself without appearing crazy, he certainly would have. How was it possible he could have been so entirely obvious to this?

She caught the exact moment his brain began to malfunction and threw her head back with a loud laugh, so utterly in love with his hopelessly naive man.

"We could have been dating that entire time." He gasped, inwardly cringing at the time he lost where he could have called her his own.

"Nah." She laughed, taking his hand and tugging him closer. "Things worked out the way they did for a reason."

"You think?" He asked, arms circling her waist as he pulled her in and eradicated any space between the two of them.

"Yeah. Childhood crushes never work out." She shrugged, leaning in until their lips were only a hairs width apart. "I have you now. What more could we ask for?"

Heart pounding, brain losing function, Michael surged forward and caught her bottom lip between his own in a scorching kiss. The familiar taste of her reaching his tongue and provoking a loud groan of satisfaction.

She was right.

He loved their story.

He loved their unpredictable childhood friendship, hiding from his brothers and sharing secrets in dark corners of the set studio. He adored their teenage years, sneaking away to find a phone and staying up way past dark just to hear her giggling over the line. And most recently, he loved calling her his own. Coming home and knowing he would find her in his space, there was no other feeling like it.

Things really had worked out the way they had for a reason.

Seriously, what more could they ask for?