Ramona finally let go of Michael after a few moments of embracing him. She hadn't realized just how much she had missed him until now. She breathed in his cologne while she held him, and now her hair and shirt smelled like him. She loved that man smell on her, even if it wasn't Michael's, but the fact that it was his made her stomach flutter with butterflies.

"I like it when you smile like that. You should do it more often," Michael smiled and touched the tip of her nose.

"Yeah? Same to you," she winked and he grinned. "Thank you for keeping your promise."

Michael blinked. "What promise?"

Ramona rolled her eyes and nudged his shoulder. "You came back in one piece like you promised. Thank you," she smiled.

He grinned. "Yea, well it's what I do."

Ramona felt a tinge of déjà vu for a moment and she bit her lips and looked down.

"Ramona?" Michael asked.

"Yo!" they turned to Tasha yelling down the street. "Come on, Ray! You're late!"

"Oh, alright I'm coming!" she yelled back and Tasha grinned and ran inside the studio.

"Late for what?" Michael asked, looking over Ramona's shoulder at the studio.

"Dance class. I've been helping her teach some underprivileged kids how to dance," she blushed.

"I see. Hm, well then let's go," he said. Ramona gave him a funny look. "What? I have nothing better to do today and I would like to hang with my bestie for a while. Besides, when are you going to show me all this hard work of yours you kept telling me about on the phone?" She blushed and scratched the back of her head. Michael giggled and grabbed her hand. "Let's go!"

She nodded and they both ran to the studio like a couple of kids. When they walked in, Tasha had the class already in position and she stood at the front of the class. She smiled when Ramona walked in but then paused when Michael walked in behind her, still hiding behind his hat and shades. She moved on over toward them and smiled at Ramona.

"About time you got here," she nudged her and then looked at Michael. He was studying her for the longest time before she narrowed her eyes and stepped closer to him and taking off his glasses. She stared into his eyes for a moment and he smiled nervously, not sure what she would do. She opened her mouth to speak but then frowned and smacked him on the shoulder.

"Okay…ow?" he said.

"Where the hell have you been mister?" she asked angrily.

He raised a brow and smacked her shoulder and she winced. "Don't use bad language in front of these kids. And I have been everywhere!"

She smacked him back. "And you didn't think to call me after all these years?"

Michael smacked her again. "I have no idea who…" Michael paused and then took a step back when she moved a hair behind her ear angrily, showing her face fully to him and staring up at him with those familiar big brown eyes of hers. "Tash?" he asked.

"Well duh!" she yelled and smacked him again. "How could you, egghead! I haven't heard from you since you went on the HIStory tour!"

He smacked her back again. "Don't call me that in public! And it wasn't my fault!"

"Liar!" she yelled and hit him again. Michael scrunched his face and smacked her back. They went back and forth slapping each other and Ramona and the kids stood back in shock. Ramona seemed rather bored with it however, but the kids were just shocked to see Michael Jackson coming in to their studio and now having a slap war with their dance instructor.

"Am not!" he yelled and slapped her again.

"Are too!" she retorted with another slap.

Ramona cleared her throat and stepped closer to them. They ignored her and continued to argue until she grabbed both of their hands to stop them from slapping each other. They both paused and Ramona pulled them closer together and they immediately embraced each other. Tasha sighed and Michael smiled as he lay his cheek on the top of her head.

"I'm sorry. I just missed you," Tasha said.

"I'm sorry too," he said.

"Alright," she pushed away after hearing a kid clear his throat. "We will talk later but right now I have a class to teach. Ray, are you set?" she asked Ramona.

Ramona nodded and unzipped her jacket, letting it fall to the floor. Michael's eyes widened at her outfit. She was wearing her black tights and a top that was cut like a t-shirt but it ended about an inch below her breasts, showing off her toned stomach. Michael hadn't seen this much skin on her before and he felt himself begin to blush.

"So, as you all are aware, we have us a special guest with us today. Class will continue as usual of course, but if Michael would like to step in and show us a thing or two, he is more than welcome," she smirked his way and he nodded, taking off his jacket and sitting down on the floor on the other side of the room.

"Pardon me, miss Tasha, but weren't you just fighting with him a few seconds ago?" a girl asked.

"Yea, about that, Michael Jackson and I have a history. I grew up around his family in Gary, Indiana. They took me in when my parents were killed. I don't want to get to into that, but Michael has always been like a brother to me and we lost touch after he got big, so I took out my frustrations on him like a sister does to her brother and now we're over it, okay? So…let's get to it!" she said rather quickly and then slapped on the stereo.

Ramona and Tasha stood in front of the group and went through some choreography to different dances and different songs and the students followed. Michael watched in fascination. He was used to being surrounded and all attention on him, but this time, the kids paid him no mind. They were focused on the girls in front, following every step. Ramona made a move while standing up on the tips of her toes and moving around in a circle, and then she attempted to spin but lost her balance. Michael jumped up and caught her before she fell.

"Didn't I tell you to take it easy?" he teased and she rolled her eyes and moved away from him.

"Yea, thanks," she smiled.

"Good catch, Mr. Jackson," a young man said. "How do you move so fast like that?"

Michael smiled. "Practice. And please, call me Michael."

The girls smiled along with the kids and invited Michael to show them a few of his own moves. The kids adored their time with him and the girls just stood by and watched. Tasha grinned when he tried to teach the Moonwalk and they couldn't quite figure it out. She stood beside Michael and moonwalked right next to him and Ramona leaned against the mirror and smiled. She watched Tasha and Michael dance and play around together like a brother and sister would. It was really a beautiful sight.

Pretty soon the kids had to leave for the day and Michael promised he would drop by again and keep in touch as best as he could. They all thanked him for his time and hugged him before leaving. As Michael and Tasha came back from walking the kids out, they found Ramona stretching in the middle of the room.

"So, do I get to see your moves now?" Michael asked with a grin.

Ramona looked over her shoulder. "What? Oh, no I was just finishing up. I'm kind of tired," she lied.

Michael looked at Tasha and Tasha smiled at him and then shook her head. "Watch this," she whispered. "Come on, Ray, you know you want to show off some of your new stuff."

"Not really."

Tasha rolled her eyes. "It would take your mind off that dream, you know."

Ramona's head shot up and she glared at Tasha's reflection in the mirror. "Uh…"

"What dream?" Michael asked as he moved over next to the stereo and sat on the chair. He turned the chair around and sat backwards on it, leaning his elbows on the back of the chair and laying his chin down on his arms.

"Well…I…um…" Ramona stuttered.

"Well?" he asked, tapping his foot.

Ramona eyed Tasha and Tasha grinned and slammed her hand down on the radio. Scream louder came on and Michael quirked an eyebrow. "Come on, Ramona."

"That's not fair," Ramona pouted as she stood up.

"Face it girl, you are a slave to the rhythm and you can't fight it," Tasha grinned.

Ramona began to retort, but her feet started moving without her. Michael chewed on his lip in curiosity. He wanted to know more about this dream that she seemed so embarrassed about and he was determined to figure it out. For now, he watched Ramona move.

She seemed to lose herself in the music. She slid across the floor as if she was walking on water. She threw her body down, face first, and twisted her body backward like an acrobat and balanced her legs right above her head, putting her weight on her arms. Michael was entranced. A new song came on and he began tapping his own feet. Rihanna's Pin de Replay came on and Ramona began dancing in a new fashion. Michael couldn't stand it anymore. He jumped up, pulled his hair in a ponytail, and slid into the middle of the floor. Ramona made a stance and Michael slid right in and wrapped his arm around her waist and grabbed her hand with his, twirling her around and began a swing dance.

He moved with her and she smiled and followed him. They moved their legs together like he had done in Smooth Criminal, and he spun her around and cornered her against the far wall. "Tell me about your dream," he whispered almost seductively in her ear.

"There's nothing to tell," she said and pushed him off. She began dancing away from him and he followed her around the room. Pretty soon, the song was switched by Tasha to The Way You Make Me Feel. 'Ironic' Ramona thought. Michael grinned and began chasing her around the studio.

He cornered her against another wall and she looked at him frustratingly. "It can't be that bad of a dream, babygirl. Why wont you tell me?"

She frowned at him. "Why wont you let this go?" she pushed him away again and he pulled her against him in the middle of the room and danced rather intensily with her. She loved every second of it. This was a dance she always wanted to try, but she never had the chance.

"Um, guys?" Tasha said over the music.

They ignored her and continued their dance. "Tell me," Michael demanded, pulling her tightly against his chest.

"No!" she yelled and spun away from him, only to be pulled back to him. They danced back into the middle of the floor and spun again.

"Guys!" Tasha yelled.

Just as her voice reached their ears, Ramona's feet made contact with a puddle of sweat and she lost her footing. Michael tried to grab her, but instead he went down with her. She landed on her back and he landed over the top of her. One of his hands instantly flew behind her head so she wouldn't bust her head on the hard floor, and his other hand kept his weight off of her.

"You alright?" he panted.

Ramona panted and nodded. "I'll live."

They sat there for a few minutes, both dripping with sweat. "Why is it so hard for you to tell me about this dream? We are best friends, aren't we?" Michael asked.

Ramona glared at him for a moment before pushing him aside. "Will you just stop?" she asked, sitting up on her knees next to him. Her eyes pricked with tears and Michael gulped. "Yes, we are best friends, but there are some things I need to work on before I can share them, okay? I'm dealing with it and I don't need your help with everything that goes on in my life!"

A tear slipped down her face and she covered her eyes with her hand. She shook her head and stood up and leaned against the far wall. Tasha's eyed widened and she walked to the bathroom to give them some privacy. Ramona turned away from Michael and mentally beat herself for lashing out at him like that. He didn't deserve it and she knew that.

Michael's own eyes burned with tears and he slowly stood and walked over to her, putting his hands on her shoulders and turning her to face him. "I'm sorry, babygirl. You're right. I shouldn't have pushed you like that."

She sniffed and shook her head. "You were only trying to help. I'm sorry," she said weakly before more tears slid down her face. Michael wiped her eyes and pulled her into a hug and just held her for a while.

The next day…

"Mama se, mama sa, mama ma coo sa," Ramona sang and danced in the kitchen as she cooked.

"What are you doing?" Luke chuckled as he walked in the doorway. "What smells so good?"

Ramona was making yams and pumpkin pie to take to Neverland for Thanksgiving dinner. She spun around with a spoonful of yams and held it up to him with her hand underneath the spoon. He smiled and tasted it and nodded his approval and she smiled and kissed his cheek and continued dancing.

"What time are we heading over there?" he asked.

"As soon as I'm done cooking, we will pack up," she smiled as she continued to dance.

"Don't you ever get tired of dancing all the time?" he asked, still leaning in the doorway of the kitchen.

"Never!" she smiled and continued her dance. Once everything was complete, she cleaned up her mess while Luke packed up the car with the food. They locked up and headed over to the ranch and was greeted at the gate by Derek and Shawn. "Hey guys! Happy Thanksgiving!" Ramona smiled and leaned out the door, handing them 2 home maid cookies that were decorated as turkeys on a big popsicle stick.

"That's cute, Ray," Derek grinned. "Thank you! Happy turkey day to you too!"

"Thanks sweetness," Shawn grinned at her. Luke eyed him for a moment and Shawn cut his eyes to Luke which made Luke sink in his seat and look away. Shawn was very intimidating.

"I hope you all join us for dinner," Ramona winked. "Wouldn't be the same without you."

"We will be in as soon as we make sure everyone's arrived, no worries," Derek smiled and rubbed her head.

Ramona drove up and found a parking spot next to a rather large white SUV. They climbed out and walked up to the door and knocked. Kai answered the door and hugged Ramona. "Long time no see, Ray! How are you?"

Ramona smiled and hugged her back. "I'm great, how are you?"

"Good thank you!" she smiled and then looked at Luke. "Oh hi there, I don't believe we've met! I'm Kai Chase, the chef here."

Luke smiled and nodded. "I've heard about you. I'm Luke, Ramona's boyfriend."

Ramona blushed a little. She wasn't used to that and she wasn't entirely comfortable with it. "Right, okay well let's get this party started," Ramona said nervously.

Kai smiled and took the food from Luke and walked into the kitchen with it. Ramona followed her and entered the dining room where some of the family were visiting. Luke walked over to where the men stood talking about football and Ramona rolled her eyes.

"Raybug!" Janet squealed when she saw her. She ran over and hugged her tightly. "You're looking good girl! How are you?"

"I'm good thank you! You're looking radiant as ever! How are you?" Ramona grinned.

"Fantastic," she grinned back. LaToya and Rebbie walked in after hearing Ramona's voice and hugged her tightly as well. Katherine soon joined in and gave her hugs as well. Ramona wasn't entirely sure why, but she felt like she was just another part of this huge family. They all treated her as if she had been born a Jackson. The men came over and gave their hugs and kisses as well. Ramona soon noticed Lisa had arrived and she was standing in the corner watching Ramona closely with a look of jealousy on her face.

A pair of arms wrapped around Ramona's shoulders and she jumped when she received a big kiss on the cheek. "Glad you made it, babygirl," Michael whispered in her ear and then walked to Lisa and kissed her lightly on the lips. Lisa glanced at Ramona to make sure she was watching. Ramona noticed some of the family avoided looking at Lisa or even talking to her. That was odd.

After a few moments, Joseph walked in and greeted everyone. Lisa smiled brightly at him as if she was trying to suck up to him and he walked past her and hugged Ramona tightly and kissed her forehead. "How are you, girl?" he asked.

"I'm great, Mr. Jackson, how are you?" she smiled.

"Hungry! And call me Joe, sugar," he winked and she giggled and nodded.

"Hi Joseph!" Lisa said with a smile.

Joseph almost grumbled at her and waved at her. "Yo," he said and then headed for the men. "When do we eat?"

"Calm down, we are getting to that," Katherine smiled. "Let's all sit, shall we? Michael, are you ready? Is everyone here?"

Michael looked around the room and smiled as everyone began to take their seats. "I think so," he said with an uncertain look on his face.

"No wait, we are missing 2 people," Ramona said. Everyone looked up at her and then looked around for a moment. Finally, Derek and Shawn walked in and took their seats.

"Thanks for waiting for us," Derek smiled at Michael.

"Now everyone's present," Ramona said to Michael and he grinned and nodded.

"Alright, let us pray before we eat. Kai? Are all the workers here?" he asked.

She stood behind the table and called in the workers from all over the ranch. The room was filled with people and once everyone was accounted for, she nodded. "Everyone's here now."

"Great. Let me start out by thanking all of you for being here. It means so much to have all the people I love right here with me and God bless each and every one of you for everything you do. Let's join hands and pray," Michael said sweetly. Everyone smiled and joined hands, including the workers, and Michael said a prayer, thanking God for everyone in his life. He thanked Him for his talent and his fans, the music, and his family and friends and he blessed the food. Once he finished, everyone joined in with the amen and began feasting.

Everyone shared goofy stories around the table and Michael's cousins sat together at the children's table eating and giggling. The men shared stories about their younger days as the Jackson Five, and Michael shared a few of his own stories. They all took turns going down the table telling a silly story, and when it got to Shawn, he had to think for a moment.

"I know you have to have something, Shawn," Ramona winked at him in encouragement and he grinned.

"Well, there was this one time we were at this arena. I was standing near the bathrooms waiting for Michael to finish up his business. It was before any of the fans arrived and all the sudden, Michael screamed loudly and it echoed from the bathroom out the door and across the arena…"

"Oh no, not this story," Michael mumbled and placed his hand over his face. Everyone chuckled and continued to listen to Shawn.

"So I ran in there and asked him what happened and he said 'I dropped my glove.' At first I wasn't sure what he meant, but then I saw his glove floating in the toilet. I couldn't help but laugh and I've gotta say, if looks could kill…" he laughed and everyone laughed with him. Michael shook his head and blushed. "So I fished it out and wrung it out over the toilet and held it up to Michael and he wouldn't touch it until it was cleaned thoroughly."

"It was poo water! That's asking for major illness!" Michael tried to defend himself and everyone laughed.

"Poor baby," Lisa cooed and rubbed his face lightly. Michael gave her a fake smile and Tito snorted from across the table. Ramona bit her lip trying not to laugh and Tito winked at her.

As the dinner began to draw to a close, Michael came across another story he wanted to share with Ramona. "So as the Jackson Five, we were on tour and we were in this hotel room playing pranks on each other. We stayed up all night long. Oh it was so much fun. We had pillow fights all night and told ghost stories, and then we caught word that Barry was coming to our room and we wanted to prank him…"

"You mean YOU wanted to prank him," Jackie retorted.

"Hey, you didn't refuse it, did you?" Michael asked.

"Not like we had much of a choice," Jermaine chuckled.

"Whatever, make me the bad guy," he grumbled. "So we filled up this bucket of water and hung it over the door and waited for him to walk in. Oh when that water hit him you should have seen his fa…" Michael paused when he burped rather loudly in the middle of his story. "Oh…" He slapped his hand over his mouth and blushed a deep red. Everyone paused and looked at him and Lisa looked surprised.

The kids at the other table began laughing and Ramona giggled. "Wow, Mike…"

The others looked at her and then back at him before they began to laugh. "You're excused, Michael," Katherine said with a smile.

Michael still sat frozen and embarrassed before Ramona spoke up again. "That was weak, Michael. Come on, guys can belch louder than that."

Michael gawked at Ramona and finally lowered his hand and began to laugh with everyone else. "Yeah, thanks. So anyway, Barry has yet to get us back for that one," he grinned, already over his embarrassing moment.

Once dinner was finally over, Ramona excused herself to run to the bathroom. Everyone else sat at the table for dessert and talked quietly amongst themselves. The kids sat around the living room watching cartoons. They would be sent outside to play once dessert was over so the men could watch football.

Within moments, a loud rumbling was heard outside. It sounded faint at first, and then as it grew louder, the house began rattling. Everyone froze, not sure what it was at first, but as the house shook, the kids ran in and sat on the laps of their parents. Michael was used to earthquakes, so he simply put his hands down on the table trying to steady it. Everyone else just sat and waited. As the house shook, a loud shatter of glass echoed through the house followed by a high pitched scream. Michael's eyes widened in an instant and he stood up so fast, he knocked his chair on the floor and cracked the wood.

"Ramona!" he yelled and bolted for the bathroom. The house quit shaking once he reached the bathroom and he pushed the door open. Ramona was sitting against the far wall with her hands on her head, eyes widened in shock. There was broken glass all over the floor a few feet away from her where the mirror had fallen. She didn't look hurt. Michael stepped over the glass and bent down to her level. "Are you okay, babygirl?"

Ramona sat frozen and unmoving and wouldn't answer. Michael moved her hair out of her face to check for any injuries and was relieved to find none. He took her hands in his and wrapped her arm around his neck and picked her up, carrying her out of the bathroom. Once he entered the living room, he was surrounded by everyone asking what happened and if she was hurt.

"No, I don't think she's hurt. She's just scared, that's all. I'm gonna take her outside for some air," he said. Everyone nodded and moved away so he could walk outside with her. Lisa still sat at the dinner table and watched angrily as her fiancé carried his best friend outside.

He sat her down on the bridge and looked into her eyes. He brushed her hair behind her ears and caressed her face. After a few moments, she blinked and then sucked in a sharp breath. "The ground moved," she said in a shaky voice.

"I know. It's okay, Ray, earthquakes happen," he said softly.

"No, it's not okay. The ground moved….the ground…it isn't supposed to move!" she began to yell.

Michael put his hands on her shoulders. "Calm down, babygirl, it's alright. No one was hurt, that's the important thing."

"How can you be so okay with this? Earthquakes, Mike…you can't avoid earthquakes and you cant predict them. How is that okay? The ground moved!" she yelled and began to pace. She kept mumbling things about mother nature and everything else could be avoided except earthquakes.

Michael was in shock. He had never seen her like this and it was scaring him. He had to calm her down or she could make herself sick or something. "Ramona," he said. She continued to pace and repeat herself. "Ramona…" he said again. She couldn't hear him. She continued pacing and mumbling and he stepped in front of her, put his hands on her face and kissed her. She froze instantly and he could feel her body slowly relax against him. He held her for a moment and then stepped back, still holding her face in his hands.

She looked up at him and blinked before letting out a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry."

Michael chuckled and pulled her against him. "No need to be sorry. I freaked out after my first quake too. It's a scary thing," he said softly.

She backed away and looked up at him. "How did you know it was my first?"

Michael shrugged. "I know my babygirl, that's how," he winked and she smiled. "Come on, let's go back inside. Everyone is worried about you."

Ramona blushed and followed him off the bridge and toward the house. "I don't know why."

"Are you kidding? You're more a part of this family than Lisa is," he chuckled.

Just as the said that, he heard a sharp intake of breath nearby. He looked over his shoulder past Ramona and saw Lisa standing there. He gulped and Ramona froze in mid step. Did she see the kiss? Oh boy.

"How could you say that?" she whimpered and her eyes welled up with tears. "I thought your family liked me!" she sniffed. Michael hated it when girls cried, especially girls he cared about.

"Lisa, sweetie," he took a step closer to her and held out his hand and she turned away and walked out toward the amusement park. Michael sighed and Ramona looked at him and then looked out to Lisa's retreating form.

"You better go after her. She has kind of been ignored this whole day, I'm sure she's been feeling left out and unloved," Ramona said, softly pushing Michael in the direction Lisa went.

Michael sighed once more and nodded before walking away. Ramona smiled weakly and headed back inside to join the rest of the family.