June 2, 1979 Michael and his brothers were on their way from Norfolk, Virginia to Columbia, South Carolina for the Destiny Tour. They're in the middle of nowhere when their van decides to start breaking down. "What's going on?" Jermaine asked Bill who was driving. "The car is acting up." Bill said. "We're going to be late. Aren't we?" Randy asked. "I'm going to pull over and check it out." Bill said. "I'll help you." Tito said as he got out. ~~~~~~~~~~~ 15 minutes "I think the engine is shot." Bill said. "What? How are we going to get to Columbia on time?" Michael asked. "We've got to flag somebody down, and hope they'll help us." Bill said. "HELP?! We're in the sticks! We haven't passed anyone for miles. There's nothing but trees. The last hick town was 20 miles from here." Randy said. "Randy, please stop. You're making it worse." Jackie said. "WORSE?! I'm mak-" Randy started. "Shut up!" All the other brothers said in unison. "Nobody ever listens to me." Randy grumbled as he walked back over to the car door. There was a black Volkswagen Beetle driving on the road in the distance. Bill tried to wave and stop them. "Hey!!!" They sped past. "We're stuck!" Randy said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10 minutes later You and your father had just come back from his workshop in his pickup truck He was a mechanic. You broke it, he could fix it. "I'm so glad you wanted to spend the day with your old man." Your father said. "Yeah... it was that or go home and be forced to watch Young and Restless with mom." You said. Your father laughed. You saw a van pulled to the side of the road in the distance with a man waving frantically. "Hey dad, look!" You said as you pointed towards the van. Your dad began to slow down and pulled behind the vehicle. You and him got out and walked over to the man. "Thank you so much for stopping. We were on our way to Columbia, but our vehicle stopped working." The man said. "Well you're just in luck. I happen to work on cars. I'll see what I can do. Names (f/n) (l/n) by the way." Your father said. "Bill Bray." He said. Your father nudged you. "I'm (y/n)." You said. "You've gotten someone to help." A voice said behind Bill. "Yes. Oh I forgot to introduce you to the boys. Boys come here please." Bill said. You see 5 boys exit the car. Your eyes went wide. The Jacksons. You tried to regain your composure as quick as possible. "This is Randy, Michael, Marlon, Tito, and Jackie." Bill said. "Hi!" They all said in unison except for Randy. "Nice to meet you all." You father says oblivious to their identities. You offer them a small smile and wave. What do you say to the Jacksons? 'Hey! I'm a huge fan.' You thought sarcastically. "Well let me go take a look under that hood of yours." Your dad says. You didn't move at all. You just stood there awkwardly observing the whole fiasco. ...That was until Marlon Attempted to break the silence. "So.... you're a girl...." he said before drifting off. "You dummy! Of course she's a girl!" Jackie said before smacking the back of his head. "Geez! I was just trying to make small talk." Marlon said with a shrug. You giggled at this. "So... what's your name again?" Michael asks you. "(Y/n)." You say. "Do you listen to music?" Michael asks. "Yes." You say. "What types of music?" He asks. "Different types." You say. "Like who?" He asks. You thought for a moment before deciding to toy with them. "Eh... the Jackson 5/ Jacksons." You say. Their eyes went wide. "Oh really? That's interesting." Michael says. "I know. I want to go see them live one of these days. Maybe I'll finally get to see what they look like. For now, I guess the radio will do." You say. They all look at each other shocked. "You've never seen them?" Jackie asks. "No. Have you?" You asked. Jackie started laughing before heading over to your father and Bill to help on the car. "What's so funny?" You asked. "You." Marlon said. "How?" You ask. "Nothing." Marlon said. "Well. It looks like it's going to need a new engine. I'll have to tow it to my house and work on it tonight." Your father says. "Will we be back on the road at least by tomorrow?" Michael asks. "I'll have you on the road by tomorrow morning at most depending on the problem." Your father says. "Okay." Bill says. "Let me get this tow hitch hooked up." Your dad says. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Your house was only about 20 minutes from where they broke down. You enter the house with the Jacksons boys following behind you. Bill was outside working on the car with your dad. "Momma we have guests." You say. "Oh really? Wh- THE JACKSONS?!" She said as she nearly fainted. You pinch the bridge of your nose. "Sorry 'bout that." You said. "So you know who we are." Marlon said. You smirk at him. "Maybe." They just laughed. "I'm glad y'all are here. Who's hungry?" Your mother asked. "Me." They all said. "What are you making?" Randy asks. "Possum feet." You say jokingly. "WHAT! There's no way I'm eati-" Randy said. "(Y/n)! Why would you say that? I'm sorry boys. That's her odd sense of humor. She's just not used to much social interaction. It's rare that she comes out of that cave of hers that she calls a room. We're actually having steak and cornbread." Your mother says. You roll your eyes before making a plate and heading in your room with it. "(Y/n), sit out here. We have guests. That's rude of you to go hide." She says. You sigh before taking a seat at the table. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Somehow the boys got you to come out of your shell and talk to them more. You were now sitting in your room with Michael. The other boys had went to bed on the couch bed and in the guest room. Michael chose to stay in the room with you. You and him had gotten pretty close in the short few hours they'd been there. "Do you ever think you'll leave here?" Michael asks you. "Why would I? Everyone I know is here. Everything I know is here. I'm country at heart. I like visiting the big cities, but I don't think I could live there." You said. "It's peaceful out here. No one to bother you at all." He says. "Would you ever want to be normal again?" You ask. "What I wouldn't give for it sometimes. Don't get me wrong, I love what I do. I just- sometimes I just want to live life you know. Not always attached to my career." He says. "I get how you could feel like that." You said. "...um..I was wondering... do you have a boyfriend?" He asks. "With my father? No way! Any guy that comes up here to talk to me might get shot." you say laughing. "Overprotective dad?" He asks. "Yessir." You said. He laughed. "So...would he be mad if I kissed you?" Michael asks. "Oh most definitely, but I'd say do it anyways." You say while smirking. Michael leans in and kisses you. It felt like a million fireworks. It felt like time was frozen.... you loved every moment of it. Michael pulled back out of breath. "I love you." He said mindlessly. He must've seen the shocked expression on your face because he then said "I-I-I mean I li-" he started. "I love you too." You interrupted. Michael blushed before smiling softly. "I love you more." He said. You smiled back at him. "I'm not quite nocturnal yet, so I need to hit the hay." You said before pulling back the covers to get in the bed. "Okay. Goodnight sweets." Michael said as he crawled in the bed next to you and went to sleep. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Next Morning Your dad had stayed up all night fixing their van. Now it was time for the goodbyes. Everyone had exchanged goodbyes except for you and Michael. He came up to you and hugged you before kissing your forehead. "I'm going to miss you." Michael says. "You'll be fine." You say. "I won't. Not without you. I'll come back for you. I promise." He says. You sigh. "Michael... don't make promises you can't keep. I don't expect you to come back. I'm not going to obligate you to do so. I fully acknowledge that this was just a fling. You'll move on shortly. It's okay." You said. "I don't want to move on. I want you. I'll return." He says. "I'll be here." You say before letting him go. "Thank you again Mr. (l/n). How much for fixing the van?" Bill asks will wallet in hand. "Someone actually made my little girl happy for once. It's free." Your father said. "No I have to pay you fo-" Bill started. "I insist." You father said. "Okay. Thank you!" Bill said before getting in the van. Michael waved to you for what you thought would be the last time seeing him. You waved back and smiled sadly. 'Goodbye Michael.' You thought. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 22 Years Later You were now 43 years old still living in the middle of nowhere. You were by yourself now that your parents had passed. It was just another day for you until you saw three black SUVs pull into your yard. 'Huh?' You thought to yourself. You saw someone with a mask get out of the car.
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You opened your door. "Yes?" You ask. "I've held to my promise." a soft voice says. "Promise?" You ask. "Yes (y/n). Promise. It's me. Michael." Michael says. Your eyebrows raise. "Michael? Why are you here?" You ask. Michael giggled. "I said I'd be back. I want to see you." He said. "22 years later." You say. He looks down. "Sorry." He says. "It's fine." You said. "Can I get a hug?" He asks. You smile before walking over to hug him. "My feelings haven't changed. That's why I'm here. I want you to come with me to California." Michael says. "I can't just leave Michael." You say. "You can. What's here?" He ask. "Nothing." You say. "Exactly." Michael says before getting on one knee and pulling out a black box. "Will you marry me?" He asks. Your breathing hitched. "Michael... I don't know what to say...when I was younger it would've been a definite yes." You say. "Let it be a definite yes now." He says. You hug him and say "Yes!" He smiled before slipping the ring on your finger and kissing you.
