September 7th, 2001

Madison Square Garden New York, New York

Michael Jackson's 20th Anniversary Special

" Do what you want to do! There ain't no rules it's up to you. It's time to come alive. And party all night through the night. "

" Miss Jackson you're on in five! " A stagehand says sticking their head in my dressing room.

I nod and wave them off. Butterflies go through my stomach at the thought of performing his songs in front of thousands of people. This has been thirty years in the making and I want it to be perfect. It will be perfect.

" Okay Bib's you got this. These are songs you've perfected years ago. This is going to be an amazing show. " I tell myself as I smooth out my dress for the millionth time.

Knock Knock

" Bianca? Wow, I love your dress. You're wearing my favorite color. " My father's soft voice comes from the doorway.

I smile and turn around.

" This old thing? It's one of three costume changes. " I joke poking his cheek.

He giggles and twirls me around. " I can't wait for this night to be over. "

Yeah, he didn't want to do this. It was apparent when they approached him to do it months ago. The only reason we are even here is because the fans want it so badly. And that leads us to this night.

" Are you ready for this? " I ask him seriously.

" Of course. We've been through the rehearsals so I'm confident that it will be a great show. I just wish it were under better circumstances. " He says flashing me the smile the world loves so much. " The question is, are you ready? You've been working on this album for a while now and we never get to see you. Your siblings are growing every day and ask about you all of the time. "

Oh God, the guilt trip. " Daddy you know how much I love Prince Michael and Paris. This is just something I need to do for me. "

" You can record an album anywhere. Why so far away from home? " He asks for the fiftieth time since I told him I was recording at Paisley Park.

Pinching the bridge of my nose I groan. " Dad I want this album to be better than any of my previous work. Something I can really proud of. I don't care about the sales, I just want to shed my little girl image once and for all. I'm twenty-six not thirteen anymore. You should know how I feel better than anyone. "

" I do know all about that Bianca. My point is that you have responsibilities and running from them won't help you. " He says through gritted teeth. " It has been this way since the divorce... I thought it was mutual? "

I hate these conversations about Mike and I. We always get a little irrational and then ends up apologizing after. When we announced our engagement he was over the moon. Having Mike Myers as a friend and son in law was very appealing to him. We made friends pretty quickly when I was dancing with the ABT here in New York. He was doing SNL and we became friends. Mostly because I had a private studio rented in the same lot that they do the scetch comedy.

To be honest I was never in love with the man. More like in love with the idea of him. He really had his shit together and by the time we got together, I felt like I needed to prove I could make a relationship work. My dad feels like we gave up on our marriage too quickly but look at his track record...

To an outsider, my father and I's relationship looks strange. We're a lot closer than most fathers and daughters. Not sexually, of course, don't be nasty. The truth is, we're definitely co-dependent. It's very unhealthy and I've gone out of my way to stop the patterns.

He sighs again. " Baby girl I do know how you feel. I just miss you that's all. Now let's forget this for now and got put on the best show ever... Britney is out for The Way You Make Me Feel by the way. She just doesn't have it in her. " He says helping me put my earpiece on.

There are a few things I don't agree with about this show... But I kept it to myself, for the most part. I love Liza, but You Are Not Alone is so not the song for her to be singing tonight. And Mark Anthoney singing She's Out Of My Life? Jehovah. Not my circus, not my monkeys.

Ugh. Damn these earpieces. " I hate these things. "

" I know I do too, but times have changed. So has technology. It will just take some getting used to. " He sighs. " There it's in place and ready to do its job. "

I smile and kiss his cheek. " Let's go do this. "

" Slashy! " I squeal throwing myself in his arms.

He wraps himself around me and buries his face in my neck. " Woah there, boy. " I say pushing him away. " Where's Honey? "

He smirks in that annoying way I can't stand. " She's in the audience with your dad. " His hand shot out to grope my ass and I slap his face in shock. He rubs his jaw and continues to smile, genuinely this time. He just loves fucking with me.

" Don't do it again asshole. " I warn.

Grin increasing, he comes in again for another feel.

I raise my hand again and he backs away laughing his ass off. " Now I know you're playing, but I don't think your wife will appreciate it. "

" She's cool you know that. " He says shrugging.

I roll my eyes. " Mmhmm. I'm sure. "

Okay, so this sometimes happens between us. I love his wife Honey like a sister... I've known her since I was thirteen after all.

" Okay, so Honey's in the audience. And where should you be? " I ask with attitude.

He smirks once more. " Talking to you. "

I roll my eyes again. " Now you know that's a lie. I'm just about to get on that there stage and bring the house down. "

Two seconds later Usher runs up looking pumped. " It's time. "

" Okay, I'm ready. " I say allowing him to lead me to my position.

While we are walking his hand slides further south than I like so I elbow him in the side. He hunches over and I can't help but smirk. Looks like I'll be singing my dad's parts so he can catch his breath. Oops. Maybe men should be more careful in who they grope.