My Love is Your Love, was released to much fanfare. Although it was pitted against other big albums by artists on that same day, it held its own well enough. Every single released did well and topped the charts; her fans embraced the "cooler, hipper" Whitney and appreciated her lively, entertaining music videos that accompanied the album. Promotion for the album went as she made guest appearances on "The Late Show with David Letterman", MTV, BET, and Oprah (twice).
As far as the rumors that had loomed back at the release party, Whitney was extremely relieved that she had not heard anything else in regards to it, with the exception of some tabloid stories. Kellie and Clive were a bit leery about it distracting the album, but figured that the publicity wouldn't hurt the release, in which it definitely didn't hurt the sales in the least bit. The album was already starting to garner several awards and her performances were starting to be demanded everywhere. CeCe on the other hand (now knowing the secret) did not feel very comfortable knowing all of this going on with her best friend and knowing very well that she was sweeping the issues under the rug away from her husband and parents. She considered Kevin to be family now, and she did not like having to assist in keeping her mouth closed. She prayed for guidance and advised herself that although Kevin should definitely know what is going on, it was not her place to let him know what was going on.
Meanwhile, Whitney embarked on her world tour, starting out in Chicago. With the exception of a few cancelled shows (Whitney got sick easily and it would affect her vocal chords), the tour was so far a huge success, especially when she kicked off her sold-out European leg. It was tiresome traveling constantly again, but Whitney enjoyed feeling her fans and doing what she loved doing the most in the world- to sing. Kevin and the children joined her in the middle of the tour, in Germany. Whitney pleaded with her husband to sing a duet with her on one of the sets. Kevin refused until she called him on stage one night during one of her high-energy performances in Mannheim, Germany. "He's gonna kill me later y'all," she chirped to her adoring audience. "But I really want him to come and sing with me. And y'all, my baby can REALLY sing." The audience began to cheer in excitement. Kevin, who stood offstage watching, shook his head and mouthed "no". However, he could not help but start smiling, knowing how crazy his wife was to actually put him out like that. "He's not just a hell of an actor, director, producer, businessman…. I could go on about how amazing he is, but you all know that already." She went on, winking to her fans. "But he's been working on some of his own music, and getting his own band together. And I want you all to hear how he sounds." She beckoned to her band, who already knew the perfect song for them. The chords of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" played as the audience went wild. She looked over to Kevin and beckoned him to come to her. "You know this is our song baby, so you can't leave me hangin'." She cooed to him. Kevin looked back at the crew who waved their hands for him to go out as they all smiled. He knew there was no way in getting out of it, so he walked onstage to his wife and waved to the huge crowd, which had gotten even livelier than they already were. Just to give them a bigger show, he picked Whitney up and gave her a huge kiss; the crowd went ablaze as they fed into the love that they displayed for everyone to see. Whitney enjoyed the fanfare and her man being there and wrapped her legs around his waist for extra measure. Once he put her down, Whitney grabbed him a microphone and waited for him to start the song.
"Listen bay-bee. Aint mountain high, aint valley low, ain't no river wiiiiddee enough bay-bee," he soulfully crooned into the microphone. The audience went wild, as they were surprised at Kevin's vocal prowess. Whitney smiled in adoration before she sang "If you need me call me, no matter where you are, no matter how far… just call my name, I'll be there in a hurraaayy, you don't have to worrrayyy, cause baby there…" The two voices synched together as they sung together "Ain't no mountain high enough, aint no valley low enough, aint no river wide enough, to keep me from gettin' to you baayybeeee." They sung the rest of the song, as Kevin got more comfortable and they had a blast together. The audience went wild after their impromptu duet.
Whitney was enjoying Kevin being on the stage so much that she prompted the band to cue up "Natural Woman" by Aretha Franklin. "I'ma sing a song for my husband." She told the audience, "Y'all know Aretha Franklin right?" The audience cheered. "Yeah I know…. I understand. When you have someone who makes you feel good as not only a person, but as a woman, you've gotta keeper ladies." She smiled as the women screamed. "I've got such a good man… a man who loves me right, loves me for who I am on the inside and adores me on the outside. I had to kiss a toad or two for him to find me….but oh when he did… I knew I'd never let him go." The audience continued to cheer. "I don't care what the press has to say, I don't care what anyone has to say. I know what we have is real forever. This is for you baby." As Whitney passionately put her powerful vocals over the classic song, Kevin adoring looked on at his beautiful, sassy wife, falling in love with her yet once again. "Oh babeee look what you've done to me. You keep makin' me feel so good inside. And yeah, I wannnaaa beeeee. Because of you boy you make me feeelll sooo aliiiveeee. Cause darling, youuuu, you make me feel, you make me feel, you make me feel, like- a- na-tu-ral woman. Sureellyyy you dooooo. That's how you make this girrrll feeeeeellllll." She pointed at him, slightly curtseyed and grinned as the audience jumped to their feet. Whitney's impromptu finale to her husband made the audience drink in the love and want even more.
After the concert, Kevin couldn't get Whitney back to their suite fast enough for the night…..
"Look mommy, isn't it pretty?" Krissy looked into Whitney's eyes then looked back into the water as the ship was sailed away from the land. Whitney smiled at her eldest child. "Yes baby, it's very pretty." She told her. Kevin had surprised Whitney and planned a family cruise…just he, her, Krissy and the twins. The others had school and could not make it this time. Whitney was ecstatic because she had a full week gap in her tour and looked forward to having some relaxation , water and family time. The Disney cruise was semi-private, and it was understood that no one was to come up to them at any time, in addition to security that would be around for extra-measure. Kevin had booked them the ultimate Oceanside state room with verandah. It was two full rooms, one with a king side bed for he and Whitney and the other room was a Queen for the kids. The children were bursting with excitement, because they were on a cruise with Mickey Mouse.
"What do you guys wanna do first?" Kevin asked as he carried Bre and Bray in his arms. "Let's go on the deck and chill. It's very warm outside." Whitney suggested.
Outfitted in their swimwear, the family stretched out with books, coloring books and magazines on chaises by the Mickey Mouse pool. People were generally respectful and didn't bother them as they all relaxed. The water and sky were brilliantly blue, mirroring one another. Kevin, Whitney and Krissy read and the twins colored until one by one, they all drifted off to sleep, all slightly tired from the plane ride and the limo ride over through the traffic to make the dock on time. When Whitney opened her eyes, Krissy was standing over her, wearing her swimsuit. "Mommy, can we go to the pool now? I've been waiting for you and Daddy to wake up."
"Sure baby. You all just let me know if you start to get chilly." She told her. She took them all towards the pool. She got in with the twins and watched them splash around and Krissy slide into the water. She chuckled as she took pictures of them on her water-proof camera. Kevin looked on appreciatively at his wife and children before running over and jumping in the pool with them, pretending he was a shark. The pool couldn't get loud and crazy enough from the playful shrieks of the kids and the laughter from the parents.
Later on, they went to dinner and took the children to see a show. And the next day, Whitney and Kevin enjoyed sleeping in and doing some more swimming, eating and shows. When the ship docked the following day, the family took a private, exclusive tour of the Bahamas in Nassau, where Whitney had the girls' hair braided on the beach, while Kevin played mini flag football on the beach with Brayden. Afterwards, they all bought matching gold, chain bracelets. Whitney joked that this was the way they would always be connected as a family. After a Bahamian dinner, they went back on the ship where they all watched movies in the stateroom. On the final day, the adults enjoyed massages in the spa and later on took the children to meet Mickey, Goofy and Donald Duck personally.
The turnaround felt like it was much too soon as they boarded the plane on their return flight.
"Thank you so much for bringing us on this baby." Whitney told Kevin. "I think we all really needed this vacation. Especially me, to get away from the tour for a minute and just spend time with you guys." She smiled at him. "We'll try to take a longer one next time… maybe bring our families along." Kevin told her. "That would be nice. But I think the kids liked hanging out with their mommy and daddy." Whitney said as she leaned over and kissed her little ones, who had all quickly fallen asleep after takeoff commenced. "That's perfectly fine with me. I love our family time together." Kevin said as Whitney snuggled in his arms and fell asleep.