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Heaven Can Wait

Chapter 14: The Verdict

June 12, 2005 (Sophie 24, Michael is 46)

Tomorrow was the day the truth would come out or the day where I would be sent to jail for nothing. I was confident in my lawyer and the jury; I knew they would it least have enough sense to tell that the Arvizos were lying.

Mother was over with my children and we were all seated in the dining eating dinner quietly. When I had gotten done eating, I excused myself from the table, and wandered outside. It was just staring to rain and I headed straight for my giving tree. Once up there I pondered my decision to move away from Neverland. I was pretty sure that I had finally decided that I needed out of this place. I couldn't live here anymore because of the lies that haunted the place. I didn't even want to live in California anymore.

I climbed down from the tree just as the rain was getting so heavy that the drops hurt when they hit you. I was soaking wet, but I didn't care.

"Michael!" I heard Sophie's voice call in the distance.

She came into my view wearing skinny jeans tucked into her polka dot rain boots and her matching parka. The hood was up over her head so I couldn't see her face very well. I didn't want to talk to her, I couldn't tell her that I wanted to move away from a place that she loved so much; a place that I loved so much.

"Michael, stop!" She yelled running towards me.

I kept walking until her short form jumped in front of me. The pain in her beautiful blue eyes made me stop abruptly.

"Michael, why are doing this? You're soaked," she said running her hand down my soaking wet black hair and my trembling shoulder. I didn't say anything to her; I just stared ahead, blind with the pain that tomorrow would bring.

"Michael, you're scaring me. You need to stop, I know you're scared. I'm scared too, but I hate to watch you get depressed like this. Everything's going to be fine. I-."

I don't know what came over me, but I didn't want her to talk anymore. I cut her off with a passionate kiss. To me it felt like a kiss in the movies when two lovers are reunited and it just happens to raining outside. I felt Sophie's arms wrap around my neck and I put my hands on her waist. I slid my tongue in Sophie's mouth and continued the deep kiss. Our mouths were moving against each others with urgency, but at the same time it was calm.

I pulled away and led Sophie to a bench that was nearby. She sat down beside me and cuddled beside me to get some warmth because the rain was still coming down heavily.

It was awhile before I finally found the words to say, "They're ruining me, Sophie."

When Sophie hadn't replied, I continued the conversation on my own, "I mean this trial is slowly eating away my very soul. I don't know how to go about living. I need a change. What if I told that I have no interest in living at Neverland anymore? What if I told that I can't look at this place anymore, I can't stand it?"

"First I would ask why, and then I ask would ask you where are we supposed to go," Sophie said quietly.

"They ruined Neverland for me; I can't stay here much longer. There's a house in Las Vegas that I really like," I said running my hand up and down Sophie's arm.

She sat up and looked in my eyes, "Then we'll move there. I could use a change of scenery."

"Thank you," I muttered, finally breaking down.

Sophie started crying as well, she buried her head in my hair feeling my pain.

She looked up with an expression on her face that told me that she had just remembered something, "The kids want you to tell them good night before they leave with your mom."

I stood up, helped Sophie up, and wrapped my arm around her waist as we silently walked back up to the house to tell my children good night.

That night I didn't sleep hardly at all; I tossed and turned the whole night fearing the verdict. I know I kept Sophie up the whole night because she sat in a zombie-like trance in the courtroom the next day. I was seated up front with my lawyer and Sophie was seated a few rows back. They wouldn't let her sit with me; I would give anything to have her sitting here and holding my hand.

The jury filed back into the courtroom and one man stood up and read aloud from a tiny piece of paper, "The defendant, Mr. Michael Joseph Jackson, was charged for four counts of molesting a minor, four counts of using an intoxicating agent on a minor, one count of abduction, and one count of conspiracy to abduct a minor. He was accused by Gavin Arvizo, 13, and his parents. On June 13, 2005, the state California Court System is a witness to the sentence that was reached by this jury. We find the defendant not guilty on all ten counts."

The man sat down and I looked outside, a woman was releasing doves into the air. Don't get me wrong, I was glad that all of this was over, but my reason for not standing up and celebrating with my lawyer, friends, and family was obvious. This trial had broken my spirit, the only thing keeping me alive now was my family. I felt like I could never show my face in public again. I looked back and saw Sophie staring at me with concern. I stood up and walked over to her. She threw her arms around me, kissing my lips repeatedly.

"Michael," Sophie whispered in my ear, "I'm pregnant."

I looked her and smiled, bringing her in for a passionate kiss. Maybe now things will be back to normal.

December 2005 (Sophie is 24, Michael is 47)

I walked by into the living room of our new Las Vegas home. Sophie and the kids were decorating the beautiful Christmas tree.

I took a sip of my wine and led my perfect wife to the couch, "I love you so much."

"Love you too," Sophie said kissing me softly.

We continued to sit on the couch and watch the kids color pictures for Santa and try to guess what was in the colorfully wrapped boxes under the tree.

I put my hand on Sophie's pregnant stomach and felt a small movement, "He's kicking."

I smiled a huge smile as Sophie placed her small hand over mine and smiled.

She rubbed my fingers, "You're not going to name in Prince Michael Joseph Jackson the third, are you?"

I laughed a little, "I don't know."

"Please don't. I don't want the kids getting confused on who we're talking to," Sophie complained to me.

"Okay, we can talk about names later," I yawned, "Right now, I'm going to bed."

I stood and sat my wine glass on the side table, "Okay, time for bed kiddos. Santa doesn't come until you're in bed and asleep."

Each of the kids told Sophie and I goodnight and headed to their separate rooms. I helped Sophie off the couch and we went upstairs to our bedroom. Sophie locked the door before sliding off her clothes. She walked over to me sexily. I was sitting on the edge of the bed taking off my shoes staring at her. She sat on top of me, straddling my hips, and kissing me.

"Sophie, you're already pregnant," I said, chuckling as Sophie kissed down my neck.

"I know, I was just going to bathroom, but I got sidetracked," Sophie smiled and I kissed her softly.

"Oh, I have to go get Santa's presents out of the closet," I said sliding Sophie off of me and walking out the door.

I put the presents beside the tree in front of the fireplace. I walked back to our bedroom and walked in the bathroom, seeing Sophie resting in the Jacuzzi tub. I sat on the edge and placed my hand on Sophie's wet stomach.

"Michael," Sophie's voice broke the silence filling the room, "Do you think we'll lose this baby?"

"I hope not, Sophie," I say, staring at the floor.

I felt Sophie's hand lift from the water and stroke my hand. I looked down at her, and then stood up and slid my clothes off, sliding into the tub with Sophie.

I pulled her close to me, "Promise me you won't leave me like Lisa and Debbie did."

Sophie leaned up and kissed me, "You couldn't get rid of me if you tried. I'm too in love with you."

After about a half hour of lying together in the tub, we got out, put on our pajamas, and fell fast asleep in each other's arms.

The next morning a loud knock on our door woke me up, Sophie had already gotten up to answer it. The kids burst through the door and ran straight to me.

They jumped on me all screaming, "Daddy! Santa really came!"

I was still, however, pretending to be asleep. I gripped my pillow, opened my eyes slowly, and then attacked my kids with a surprise pillow fight. After having a huge pillow we all ran downstairs and the kids played with their presents. Sophie curled up against me on the couch, I was truly happy now.

February 2006 (Sophie is 24, Michael is 47)

I had been out buying groceries with the nanny when I walked in the kitchen to see Sophie lying in a puddle of blood, unconscious.

I threw the grocery bags I had in my hand on the counter and ran over to her, "Sophie!"

I got some cold water and splashed it on Sophie's face to wake her up.

Her eyes fluttered opened and she sat there in shock, "Michael."

I held her hand tightly, "Are you okay, sweetheart?"

"Michael," Sophie took a ragged deep breath, "I think we lost the baby."

I held her close to me, the sounds of our sobs filling the room. When you think everything is fine; it always gets messed up again.

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