Note: I know I've been taking my time with this story, and I want to say thank you for staying with me. Derrick is featured in this chapter. Here is Chapter 25.

Chapter 25: And the Reason Why She Left Me…

Nadine POV (Several hours later in transit)

After some time mumbling my crying so that Sefra wouldn't wake up I managed to call Derrick, who was going to meet us at the train station. I told him I wanted to spend time with Mom after knowing she was fighting cancer, but he kept bringing Michael up. I hadn't told him that I left him, and I could only imagine his reaction if he knew. I took a deep breath as I sat in my seat and looked out of the window, that was until Sefra started whimpering. I picked her up and smelled that she needed a diaper change, so I got up carrying her and her bag to the restroom to change her. After changing her we went to our seat and phone started ringing, and it was Derrick.

"Hey little brother," I said.

"Hey sister," he said.

"What's up?" I asked.

"I happened to run into Roxy on the way here."

"You're there already?" I asked.

"Of course," he said, "When have you known me to be late?"

"Touche." Derrick hated being late.

"Roxy gave me some look, I was thinking what's her problem," he said.

"Roxy and I are currently not at speaking terms," I said.

"What happened?"

"Me, Michael, and Sefra," I said, "Without me telling her."

"Petty," Derrick said.

"Anyway, it'll be another hour or so until we get to Atlanta," I said.

"I'll be waiting for you two," he said.

"Alright. Love you brother," I said.

"Love you too," Derrick said, "Bye."

"Bye."

I hung up and cradled Sefra until she went back to sleep. I knew the pain I was still feeling was doing the unthinkable to Michael, which if my timing is right would be getting up soon only to find that…

Michael POV

Where's Nadine? I woke up early to have my period of inspiration in the back yard and Nadine wasn't in bed with me. Normally, or once in a blue moon she would sleep in the room where her clothes were if something was bothering her. The thing with that is I wished she opened up the things that bothered her, and I knew that something was bothering her yesterday, she just wouldn't tell me. I got out of bed and went into that room to find that it was clean, and none of her clothes were in the room. No, I thought, please God don't let this be what I think it is. I went back to our room and saw the sapphire and diamond engagement ring on the bedside table. Please God no! I thought, more like crying inside. The last place I needed to look but was afraid to was Seferah's room. I didn't want to think that Nadine left me and took our daughter with her, but it was looking that way. I slowly crept in and there was no one in the room, and my worst nightmare had come true: Both Nadine and my baby were gone. I held the side of Seferah's crib and began to cry, the woman whom I loved more than anything and mother of my child was gone. Did she not want to marry me? Did she really love me? The questions swirled around my head and needed an outlet. I went to the dance studio and started to dance, but I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I spun and fell to the ground and started crying. This was burning me to the core, I didn't think that I would hurt so bad from the girl who wore the black jeans and turtle neck sweater. As I was crying and letting everything out Ana came into the room, her eyes watering as she saw me.

"You know?" I asked.

"Yes, unfortunately," she said.

"Why would she leave me?" I then asked, not expecting Ana to have an answer.

"Her mother is sick," Ana replied.

"But she left the ring here," I said.

"I know, Michael."

"And she took-," I started.

"Shhh," Ana said putting her finger at my lips, "I know."

At the moment she hugged me and I just let it all out, apologizing if I stained her clothes. Ana gently rubbed my back as I let all that pain out. It was as though salt was being put on the wound.

"You haven't lost her," Ana said.

"Yes I have," I said, "She isn't here with me."

"She'll be back," Ana said, "It'll take some time…"

Nadine POV

Seferah and I finally made it to the train station in Atlanta, and I could see my brother standing there waiting for us. We got off the train with our belongings and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"My sister and niece in the ATL," Derrick said with a smile.

"Yes, it's good to be home," I said.

"I thought your home is at Neverland," he said.

"No," I said, "Atlanta will always be home to me."

"Whatever you say," he said.

Derrick picked up some of our belongings while I carried Sefra and her baby bag and we headed for the car out in the parking lot.

Derrick POV

I was happy that my sister was home along with my niece, but I knew something wasn't quite right. I kept asking her if Mike knew about her coming to Atlanta but she kept changing the subject or pretended not to hear me. As I was packing her stuff in the car I sent a text to Mike to see how he was doing.

"Hey Mike what up?" I said.

It was a couple of minutes before he answered back.

"Nadine left me," he responded.

"What?" I sent back.

"I'm a wreck right now. She took our baby with her," Mike answered back.

"Damn Mike," I texted, "I just picked her up at the train station."

"Hey, I didn't pack that much," I heard Nadine say from the front seat.

"My bad," I said, "Almost done."

"I'll call you later Mike," I texted him and close the trunk of the car. I got in the driver's seat and looked at Nadine, whose eyes were puffy and I knew what that meant. My sister had been crying.

"Is everything okay Kalere?" I asked.

"Yeah, everything's fine," she said softly. Seferah was still sleeping.

"Okay," I said. I didn't buy it, but I didn't want to argue.

"So you ran into Roxy, huh?" Kalere asked.

"Yeah, I think she was headed for work," I said, "Saw her on the way here."

"Oh," she said.

"How long have you two not been on speaking terms?" I asked.

"For a while," she said, "I was still pregnant with Seferah."

"Oh dang," I said.

"How's Mom?" she asked, the reason why she was here.

"The chemo makes her weak, but luckily doctors found it early," I said.

"Do you think Mom is going to be happy to see me?" she asked.

"Of course, but you know she is going to ask about Mike," I said.

Kalere was quiet as she turned to look out the window, and I saw the tears through her reflection.

"What's going on?" I asked, even though Mike already told me.

"I couldn't go through with it," she said, "There, I said it."

"Couldn't go through what?" I asked in almost an attitude.

"Living such a lavish life," she said, "I'm not ready for the change that comes with marrying Michael. It's more than just a last name."

"You know Mike is probably not going to handle this well," I said, being careful of my usage of tense.

"That and I wanted to see Mom," she said.

"And how long did you plan on being here?" I asked.

"I don't know," Kalere said, wiping her tears.

"What about Seferah knowing about her father?" I asked.

"She'll know," she said.

At this point we were sitting in front of Mom's house. We looked at the window and saw our mother sitting down in a chair in the living room, reading the newspaper and sipping on coffee.

"I'm just saying," I said, "I know your father wasn't there because he didn't want to be there. Don't let Mike not be there for Seferah."

"I don't want to talk about this anymore," she said.

"Fair enough." I said.

Nadine POV

Derrick was getting on my nerves with his interrogating, I didn't want to talk about Michael and me leaving anymore, even though I would have to do it again with Mom. I got out of Derrick's car and rushed to the door with Sefra in tow and Mom was in all smiles when she saw me through the window. She opened the door and gave Sefra and I a huge hug.

"My baby is home!" she said.

"Yep, I'm home," I said, hugging her and Sefra.

"And my grandbaby is here!" Mom said, "Oh my she's gotten so big!"

"Yep!" I said, handing Sefra over to her.

"I'll get your stuff from out the car," Derrick said.

"Okay," I said, "Thank you brother."

"No problem, sister," he said.

"How long are you in town?" Mom said.

"I'm here for a little while," I said.

"How is Michael?" she asked.

"Uh, he's been busy working on his music videos," I said, trying hard not to wince. I didn't know why I wanted to wince, it was the truth last I knew.

"Speaking of videos," Mom started, "I saw 'In the Closet' and that was a steamy one."

I blushed.

"Yeah it was," I said with a smile.

Mom then started to play with Sefra, who was now awake and ready for anything.

"What's taking your brother so long with your stuff?" Mom asked.

"I don't know," I said as I looked out the window, "Oh, he's on the phone, that's why."

Derrick POV

I wanted to call Mike and get the whole story of what was going on between him and my sister. There were some blanks that needed to be filled. I dialed the number and Mike answered on the second ring.

"Hello?" It was obvious that the man was crying.

"Hey Mike," I said, "Now what happened?"

"I don't know," he said, "I thought everything was fine and I wake up to the engagement ring on the bedside table and my daughter gone."

"And the wedding plans?" I asked.

"I thought that was fine too, even though at first it felt like pulling teeth," Mike said.

I let out a sigh with my hand over my forehead.

"What?" Mike asked.

"She started giving in," I said.

"Did I pressure her?" Mike asked hysterically.

"No man it's not you," I said.

"I can't be without her and our daughter," Mike said, "Especially my baby!"

"Well, wait…," I said, "I think I could be of some assistance."

"How?" Mike asked, "You can bring her back?"

"Uh, I don't know about that Mike," I said.

"Then what?" Mike asked frantically.

"I'll keep you updated about Kalere and Seferah," I said, "Especially Seferah."

"My baby," Mike said, still crying.

"Don't worry," I said, "I'll record Seferah's every moment from first step to first teeth, I'll keep you involved in her life."

"Oh man Derrick thank you!" Mike said with a smile.

"Now here comes the hard part," I said.

"I know," he said, "Going on without her."

"Keep the faith," I said with a smile almost singingly.

"Thanks," Mike said with a smile.

"Well, I got to go," I said, "Talk to you later, Mike."

"Okay," Mike said, "Bye."

Michael POV

Derrick made me feel a little bit better by saying he would record Seferah's major milestones, but the pain was still there. What was worse, life still had to go on, I still had to prepare for the "Remember the Time" video shoot which was coming soon. Also, it was time for another tour, and Norman had been on my case about getting ready for this one. So at this point, I had to do what I tell my fans…Keep the faith…