XXXX

Michael sat at the table alone thinking about today. Liz had certainly set him straight about his actions earlier when he decided to flip out on the kids, or rather on Jacob. He hadn't meant to be so hard on him; he was just kind of stressed…if that was even the word. But either way it was no excuse for how he treated him. Earlier, today's dinner table consisted of just Liz and himself as both children seemed to have taken an early night. Michael sighed as he leaned on the dining room table with crossed arms in front of him. Well this sucks… he thought before Liz came in and chucked two envelopes on the table. Michael scanned her blank expression before picking one up and turning it over.

It read in big letters …To Holly… And the other envelope said… To Jacob….

'What are these?' he asked and Liz leaned back in her chair.

'Letters, from their parents…' Michael bit his bottom lip and then nodded lightly.

'So, are you going to give them to them now?' he asked and Liz sighed.

'No…' she said but then leaned over and picked up Holly's letter. 'I'm going to give Holly hers…' she said and then Michael raised one eyebrow.

'But what about Jacob's?'

'You're going to give it to him.' Michael immediately began to protest.

'Aw, but Liz you know he must hate me now tha-'

'Ssshhh, you have to be adult about this now Michael, you have to go and apologize. You never know, you might find some common ground.' She nodded with a smile and then got up leaving him with a simple salute. Michael gulped and then half dragged himself out of his seat, out the door, up the stairs and outside of Jacob's door. Okay, here goes nothing…

XXXX

'Hey Holly.' Liz said as she glided around the door.

'Hey…' Holly said with a very timid presence about her, she hadn't been this calm to Liz since she had arrived there. Liz came and sat on the bed next to Holly and Holly set a hair brush that she must have been using down on her bedroom table lazily. Liz likewise chucked the letter into her lap. 'What's this?' Holly asked and flipped the letter carelessly in her hands.

'It's a letter…from your parents-'

'It's from my mom?' she asked quickly. Instinctively, and subconsciously, she drew the letter very close to her. Liz nodded and Holly looked back down at the red letter. 'What does it say?' she asked, talking more to herself than to Liz. Liz sat there and looked thoughtful for a moment before Holly stopped her. 'You don't have to answer that.' She said and then carefully began opening the letter.

'Do you want me to give you a minute alone?' Liz asked and Holly paused for a couple of seconds before slowly shaking her head.

'That's alright…' Holly said and then unfolded the letter. She cleared her throat before reading aloud.

To my beautiful daughter…

Hey Holly, I hope that you are having fun out there and that you are doing well…I hope that you are taking on board the messages that are being taught to you and that you are learning from this experience. That you are contributing fully in all the tasks and that you are respecting your placement mother and father as much as I hope to regain the respect that you used to have for me.

I have realized that over the years our, what had once been, close relationship has for some reason started to deteriorate and we have grown apart. I can't help but feel responsible for this sudden change in you and I feel that I may have neglected to see that you were in need of me more than I allowed you to be and for that I am so sorry darling. I can't even begin to describe the hurt that I feel when you tell me that you hate me and that you wish I was in a worse place. Or the inner pain and how terrible I feel when you don't listen to me and when you get drunk and smoke and all of those things.

It may not seem like it but I do need you Holly, as much as you need me, if not, more. It's just us two at the end of the day and I really want to make it work between us so we can get our good relationship back to the way it was. I hope you are good and that you are going to get me an autograph ;) See you soon Hun.

Love mom x

By now Holly had tears streaming down her face that she hadn't realized were even there until she blinked causing more to go cascading down her cheeks. About a week ago, she would have chucked this letter aside without even reading it, but these past few days had really made her realize that she had missed her mom more than she thought she would. This showed what her mother really felt inside and this letter made her feel bad but overwhelmingly happy at the same time. This was the first step to seeing more faults within herself and also the first step to a new relationship with her mother. An emotional moment indeed…

She soon felt an arm over her shoulder as Elizabeth Taylor came to comfort her. 'That's just beautiful.' She said and Holly nodded.

'I know…' she leaned into Liz and rested her head on her shoulder.

'Do you know what you need to do now?' Liz asked and Holly looked up at her slightly confused. 'When you get home, you need to sit down and talk; I mean really talk to your mother. You need to discuss the issues in your relationship and I bet you that you'll soon sort this feud that you have with each other.' Holly nodded and smiled faintly down upon the letter. 'And promise me that as soon as you see your mother, you tell her you're sorry.' Holly froze.

'But it's so hard to…'

'No trust me, as soon as you see her it'll be the first thing you'll want to do. Promise?'

'I'll try…' Holly said and then hugged Liz.

'Okay…can I ask why you and your mother have parted so badly?'

'I-I don't know…I don't know, but I think it's my fault. I got into bad crowds at school and they were all rude to their parents and when they rebelled I guess it allowed them to have more freedom…I wanted that kind of freedom…so…' Holly broke off and Liz looked at her sympathetically.

'You shouldn't do that to your mother Holly. I know you're not like that, and if you did it all to fit in, or for freedom or whatever, I'd tell you now, it's really not worth it.' Holly nodded again, really thinking about it…

XXXX

*Knock, Knock*

No answer. Michael sighed and then opened Jacob's door. Jacob lay on his side in his bed and didn't bother to look up to see who had just come in.

'Jacob…' Michael said, his voice suddenly dry and hoarse. Jacob pulled the sheets over his head and then Michael heard a sniff. 'Jacob…?' he called and sat on the end of his bed. 'Jake?' he said again but this time pulled the sheets off of Jacobs head. He saw Jacob's red eyes and tear stained cheeks. Wow, I hope I didn't do that to him…Michael thought guiltily. 'Are you okay?'

'Do I look okay?' he snapped but then sat up and moved far to the edge of the bed away from Michael. Michael swallowed and then like a child stuck to letter out in front of him. 'I don't want it.' Jake said folding his arms across his knees.

'It's from your mother.' He said and Jacob's eyes softened a little but he remained stubborn.

'I still don't want it…' He said and Michael sighed.

'Come on Jacob, I know your mad at me…but don't take it out on your mother.' Michael stared at him with encouraging eyes and Jacob soon gave up and snatched the letter off of him.

'Fine, you can go now.' He said and Michael shrugged.

'Alright, fine.' He said helplessly and then got up to walk off. He got to the door before turning around. 'but I just want to say I'm sorry for earlier…I shouldn't of lashed out at you the way I did…' he said quickly then speedily walked out. He sighed against the door and looked to the left to see Liz coming out of Holly's room.

'Hey Michael, are you going to give him the letter?'

'I already did…'

'And what was his reaction?'

'I don't know…he's reading it now I think…'

'So then why aren't you in there with him?'

'Because he doesn't want me there…' Michael said simply about to walk off but Liz stopped him with a soft hand on his shoulder.

'Michael I really think that you should be there with him, I was with Holly and the reaction that I saw was amazing, it was like I was speaking to a whole different person. They're not bad kids Michael…they're just…misguided.' Michael sighed and then walked back to the door and knocked. There was no answer and he shrugged again then went to walk away a second time but quickly before Michael had time to protest, Liz swung the door open and threw Michael inside by his shirt collar, shutting him in.

'Hey Liz what the-' he lowered his brows, but paused when he looked over and saw Jacob's face now soaked in tears. He hadn't expected to see that. He cleared his throat and warily walked over. Jacob clutched the letter in his hands and then chucked it down in the bed and wiped his tears. 'Jacob? Did you read it?' Michael asked softly and went back over to sit on his bed.

'I thought I told you already…I don't want company.' Jacob said defensively, he seemed to have only just realized that Michael had re-entered the room.

'You did…but I thought that you might have needed somebody to talk to.'

'Oh great and what makes you think that?' Jacob asked.

'Because you're like me…' he said and picked up jakes letter.

'Hey that's personal!' Jacob said and Michael folded it respectfully.

'That's okay, I won't read it if you don't want me to.' He said and set the letter back down.

'And how am I like you? I'm not rich…'

'I meant personality wise…you're a private person right?'

'Yeah…'

'And kinda shy.'

'Shy? No… Star struck? Yes.'

'Well…sort of like me then…but you really love your mom right?' Jacob stayed silent for a while.

'Yes I do…' he said quietly and Michael nodded.

'So do I…but I don't remember ever showing my love to her by disobeying her…' Michael said and Jacob swallowed seeing where the conversation was going.

'See, there you go again trying to judge my personal life…' Michael looked over at him.

'I'm not here to judge you Jacob, I'm here to help you.'

'Yeah well talking to me like this isn't going to help…' he snapped and Michael shrugged again.

'Like what?'

'Like…like…you know…'

'Like in a way that makes you consider that I might actually be right?' That got Jacob…

'Look, you know nothing about me and as a matter of fact you're not right at all, I love my mom and I treat her the way she should be treated.'

'Okay…' Michael said and then interlocked his hands around one knee and rock slightly back and forth. 'So then why are you crying of guilt?' Michael asked simply looking at Jacobs eyes as they shot down and back up again.

'These aren't tears of guilt…these are tears of homesickness…'

'Alright…' Michael said simply again.

'Listen I am really tired and my arms are still aching from washing your Ferris wheel so if you don't mind-'

'What happened to your dad?' Michael asked cutting right through Jacob's words and right into his heart too.'

'Wha-what?' he asked and Michael kept his curious yet innocent gaze at him.

'Where's your father?' Jacob shrugged and Michael could see pain deep within him through his eyes.

'That doesn't matter…'

'It does, because I can see that even reference to him makes you upset. What did he do?'

'Nothing!' Jacob stressed and then looked away. 'I don't know where he is and honestly, I don't care.'

'Do you still speak to him?' Michael asked and Jacob sighed.

'If I don't know where he is then I obviously don't speak to him do I?' he snapped with an attitude and Michael stopped rocking.

'How comes he isn't around anymore?'

'Mr Jackson, with all due respect, I don't think that's any of your business.' He said calling his tone slightly and then slunk down more in bed.

'How old were you when he left you?' Michael asked, he, for some reason, felt that he really needed to know because he could relate to Jacobs situation himself.

'Why all the questions?'

'Why did he leave?'

'Dude, I already said it's none of your business.' Jacob said getting annoyed now at Michael's persistence.

'What was the last thing he said to you?' Michael asked and Jacob stopped. He stared into space a deep look of reminiscence on his face. He swallowed before returning back to earth more than a few second later.

'Leave me alone.' Was all he said before pulling his hood up so Michael couldn't see his face anymore.

'What was it Jacob?'

'Just leave me alone…' Jacob sang not shifting an inch.

'Was it worse…?' Michael said, his voice so low that it was almost a whisper. Jacob paused and the room was silent.

'What?' Jacob asked confused at the last question. Lifting his head so the light on the room could outline his lips.

'How bad was it?' Michael asked and Jacob sighed and let his head fall again. 'Did he call you names? Did he curse at you? Did he hit you?'

'I really don't remember, my dad left when I was 2.' Jacob said his voice trembling and Michael shook his head.

'Jake don't lie…I know he didn't…'

'Look the relationship between me and my dad has nothing to do with you.'

'Just tell me Jacob.'

'Why are you so concerned anyway?' Michael didn't answer and Jacob sighed looking down.

'I really think you should just let it out. I have a feeling you've been holding this in for a long time. 'Jacob bit his lip. 'Trust me Jacob you'll feel better…' Jacob didn't move an inch. '….I know what it's like…' Michael said and something in his tone must have finally convinced Jacob to talk. When he spoke his voice was quite and broken.

The last thing my father called me…' Michael stayed silent and still listening intently. '…was…a mistake…a stain on his life…just an excuse for my mother to hold onto him…' Jacobs voice broke and Michael resumed chewing his lip. The room remained silent until Michael cleared his throat.

'Do you want to know the last thing that my father said to me?' Jacobs head came back up again and his eyebrows furrowed under his dark hood. The light now only enlightened his mouth and nose. All but his eyes... he too stayed silent and that was Michaels cue to speak. 'he told me I should drop dead.' Michael said without blinking an eye, he had in the past decided that it wasn't worth getting upset about. Although, he did begin to shake his leg restlessly, something he always did when he was trying to hide the fact that he was sad on the inside. 'He said that I was an ungrateful son of a…gun.' Michael quickly filled in the curse word and Jacob gasped his mouth open under his hood.

'No waaaay…' he said and Michael nodded.

'Yeah, he did…'

'He told you that? But you're like the biggest star in history! How dare he-'

'Jacob I could make all the money in the world but what difference would it make? He's still my father and I'm still his son.' Michael said. Jacob shook his head.

'No that was way out of line!' he said and Michael shook his head.

'It was no more out of line than what your father said to you…' he stated and Jacob fell silent again mouth still open, head still shaking. 'And the worst thing about what he said to you is that none of it is true.'

'But… it is. I am a stain on his life.' Jacob said, sounding like he was trying to convince himself.

'No Jake, you're not. You should know that, because I know your father knows that, deep down in his heart.'

'No I really think he does.'

'Trust me, he doesn't.'

'But how would you know?'

'Because when a baby is born it is a part of you and you can never truly ignore or disown that part of you, it's always there and you'll always love it and want to keep it. Your father still loves you no matter what he says. My father has never once told me he loves me and I've never once told him but no matter what he has said or done to me, I will always love him deep down inside, whether I like it or not. Just like your father knows he loves you.' Jacob half smiled and then took his hood off staring down at the bed sheets with a trouble look on his face.

'I don't listen to my mom anymore…because of my anger at him… I used to think that they split up over me and that it was all my fault. And when my dad said that to me, I couldn't help but think…you know, that my mom must have felt the same but she just never said anything. So I felt deep down inside that, if she hated me…then I must…that I should, hate her too… but I couldn't find it in me to be drastically horrible, so I settled for not listening to a word she says…sometimes I feel so bad…' Jacob stopped and sighed with more tears building up in his eyes.

'Jacob, your mother does not hate you at all. If she tells you what to do then it's most likely for your benefit, not her own. And if she has never said out loud that she hates you then that's because she doesn't. You should listen to your mother because I feel that she's really trying to get a message through to you. You couldn't find it in you to be horrible because you know more than anybody else that you're not really like that, and if you're not like that, you shouldn't pretend that you are. Be Jacob, no matter who tries to down you r self esteem, whether it's your father or a complete stranger, stay true to yourself, it's the best you can do. I reckon you'll feel a whole lot better.' Jacob wiped his eyes nodding in agreement.

'I think your right…thank you Mr. Jackson, and I'm sorry I was so rude to you earlier.'

'It's fine, we all have those days…' he said and then stood up to hug Jacob. 'Now you remember what I told you, and make sure that as soon as you two are alone, you tell your mom everything you told me okay?' Jacob nodded and they broke away. 'That's my boy.' Michael said and Jacob smiled. 'Alright now get some sleep, I'll see you in the morning.' Michael said with a smile and Jacob got into bed.

'Goodnight Mr. Jackson, thanks again.' He said and Michael shut the door. He went back to his room happy, with a spring in his step. But he also felt sort of sad inside. He wished he'd had someone to tell him that as a child but he was glad he could do that for someone else. He smiled and it faded again when he thought back over the events of today when his vase got smashed. He wished it would have been so easy to get through to Holly. He sighed and kicked his shoes off, flopping backwards on his bed and letting the exhaustion win the battle as he drifted into a brand new dream, just as complex as his mind had been ticking throughout the day.

XXXX

Coming up…

*'So what's the task for today Michael?'

'There is none, were going out today.'

*'get off me.'

'aw, but you look mighty sad there.' He said and pulled her closer to him.

'I said get the f*ck off me creep! I am not in the mood for any freaks today so just back the hell off-'

*'MICHAEL JACKSON, THAT'S MICHAEL JACKSON!'