Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Love Will Prevail

Michael returned home from the studio after making Heal the World into an actual song. Good vibes had been around him all day, he was returning back to his old self. He felt really good about that. Work, work, work was the only word on his mind at this moment, it was only 5 o clock in the afternoon. Michael was thinking about where he wanted to start off his new tour.

Hmmm

" Michael?" he turned his head to the curly haired woman. He flinched a little, still not completely used to having her around again, she noticed this reaction, watched him carefully and then smirked. " I'm not going to hurt you.." she said lowly, turned around, walked back towards the kitchen, swiftly looking back at him. He knew she wanted him to follow her, he saw she had on an apron.

He murmured to himself," Oh God is she cooking?" Michael walked into the kitchen right behind her and asked," Where's my chef?" Jasmine picked up the big butcher knife and positioned herself facing him. " I sent her home for the day." she said softly. Michael tried to ignore the big knife in her hand, eyeing her.

" You what? That's not your job, Jasmine." he told her firmly pointing at her. Jasmine started to cut the cooked chicken she was making evenly, and said," Well I didn't really think it was a bad idea, since I'm cooking right now..." she eyed him quickly and attended back to her cooking. Michael scratched the back of his head.

" You still don't have the right to send my workers off, I'll let you off with a warning this time."

Jasmine put her hands on her hips, " ' I'll let you off with a warning'," she copied him in a fake voice," Geez man, I will ask you next time. Calm down" Michael stared at her for a second and shook his head. Jason walked in and went to the refrigerator. He grabbed a can of soda and looked over at Jasmine.

" Oh God is she cooking?" he said out loud then looked at Michael. He kind of whispered," That's what I said." Jason watched her as she did her work and said," Let me warn the girls." he laughed jokingly. Jasmine reached over and smacked his arm playfully, " Oh shut up." Michael called for Jason to come to him.

" What's up?" he asked. Michael pulled him closer and whispered," Stay in here for a minute, I have to go check something. Make sure she doesn't put anything unusual in her food." they both look at her, her back was turned to them. Michael continued," can you do that?" Jason nodded," Yeah, I can." Michael patted his shoulder and walked out the kitchen. He went up the stairs and checked on each of the girls, but they always seemed to be in Shauna's room a lot so he knew to check there first. He was right.

" Hey..." he said coming in softly. They all greeted him back, they were sitting on the bed, chatting, watching TV before he came on. He sat on the bed next to them and said," I'm sorry for... last night. I wasn't thinking and.." he stopped, thought and inhaled," there is probably a better way than this to say 'sorry' for trying to kill you guys. I've finally come to mind and admit that I love you three, very much. I should have told you way back in the beginning about the mafia thing I had gotten myself into. I'm a million times sorry. I will never ever go back to that mafia, the bad one anyway. Will you ever forgive me?" he exhaled.

It was a short minute of silence, and all at once, they went in to hug Michael. He hugged back with sincere emotion. Nicole told him," It's okay. But Promise we'll never have to worry about you trying to kill us again." she made a serious yet funny face. Michael chuckled a bit," I promise with all my heart." They smiled back at him.

Shauna said," Yeah, but we love you too Michael."

" Very much." Sasha added. Michael smiled again. The door creaked open, Jasmine peeked her head through and gently said," Sorry to interrupt but, umm, dinner is now ready and you can come get it whenever you feel like it." Michael turned his face to the others and made a face, making the girls giggle as he got up. He walked to the door, Jasmine was waiting on him on the other side. "That was fast." he said.

" I was cooking before you got home." she replied. They went down stairs into the kitchen, Jason wasn't there anymore. Where did he go... he thought to himself. Michael went over to the dishes and saw Jasmine had made chicken enchiladas. She was holding onto his arm and felt him pause. " Something wrong?" she asked. Michael pointed at the dish.

Jasmine sighed," I did not do anything to them. I did not poison it or anything. Why would I do that whenever I'm eating it too."

Michael shrugged," Never know with you, Jass." Jasmine assured him," I promise. Cross my heart." He looked down at her and then back at the dish," Oh goodness, I'm going to die." he groaned. Jasmine slapped his arm," Michael!" he laughed at her.

....

The girls were eating in their rooms, while Jasmine and Michael sat at the table. Michael watched as she cut into her food and ate it with a knife and fork. He said," You eat so properly." she placed her fork down and grabbed a napkin," Well I should... I don't want to eat like a dog." he nodded.

After a couple of minutes, Michael was just watching her eat her food cautiously. Before taking another bite, she looked up at him.

" Why aren't you eating? I know you haven't had anything all day." she asked. Michael said straight forward," Waiting on the side effects to happen to you." She blinked.

What... " Are you serious. Eat now."Jasmine was slowly losing her patience with his trust issues with her. Jason walked into the kitchen, Sasha was following behind him, and he looked over at them. " Oh look at you guys." he cooed out. Michael asked him," Where did you go, I specifically told you to stay in the kitchen while I was upstairs."

Jason explained," Well whenever she got done cooking, I figured I could leave then and so I did."

" You can never follow directions can you?" he looked behind him," Why is she with you, Sasha what are you doing?"

Sasha watched Michael carefully," Uhh, he's eating in the room with us and we're just coming down for more. I like it Jasmine." she smiled. Jasmine smiled back," At least someone does." and glanced back at Michael. Before Michael could say anything, Sasha added," Don't worry, Mark's in there too." Jason got more food and nudged Sasha to the stair way. They went back upstairs. Jasmine made a face at Michael," See, they ate and are perfectly fine. " she took another bite.

Hesitantly, he grabbed his fork and knife and cut into the Mexican dish, slowly he rose the fork to his mouth, watching Jasmine who was watching back. He put it into his mouth and Jasmine smiled," See, nothing's going to happen. When I said I changed, I wasn't kidding, babe." Michael stopped for a minute," Babe?" Jasmine blushed.

" I meant to say Michael. You know what I mean." she stammered. Michael laughed at her reaction and took a sip of his water.

_____

After they were done eating, they sat on the couch in the living room, watching TV, having a decent distance between them. Michael would glance over at Jasmine every once in a while, she seemed tensed. He put his hand on her shoulder," Hey, something bothering you?" Jasmine whispered," Nothing.." He made her face him.

" Come on you can tell me." he told her. Jasmine inhaled and slowly exhaled," you know this isn't over yet..." Michael was confused," what?"

" They still want to kill you. Even though they ordered you to kill the girls, they were going to kill you as well after you did. I don't know why they have been so quiet lately, I believe something is up." she explained. Michael looked down and thought. " Why do they want me dead so bad?" he questioned quietly. Jasmine began to tear up, " To be honest, I don't know. I wish I did, 'cause I don't want you to die..." Michael lifted his hand to her face and whip the fallen tear on her face.

" Aww, don't cry. I will get through this, they won't kill me." Michael tried to comfort her," As long as you believe in Love." Jasmine half smiled. He grinned," Anyway, after I'm finished with my album, I want to tour. Start off in London, that's my plan anyway." Jasmine's eyes lit up," Oh London. Can we come. You know, me and the girls and stuff."

" I was planning on taking you guys anyway. We'll talk about it tomorrow at the conference." he said. Jasmine pouted," Aww you have a conference tomorrow." He took her hand and held it," I won't be gone for long." Jasmine came a little closer to him. " Better not... babe." she said slightly quietly. They moved in closer, Michael began to close the distance with a kiss.

The sudden burst of laughter from Shauna's room made him pull back instantly. They looked at each other and giggled shyly. Michael said," Uhh... Maybe we should go to our rooms now." Jasmine thought...but I want to stay up with you.

" Yeah, you're right." she agreed. They got up and stood there. Michael went to hug her," Goodnight. If you need me, you have my number." Jasmine went up to kiss him, making him tense up in surprise but then soften. She ended it and said," Goodnight." Jasmine walked up stairs to her room. Michael watched her until he heard the door open and close, then he made his way up to Shauna's room. He opened the door.

" What is going on in here?" he asked. Everyone was laughing then instantly, silence swept the room, they were all on the floor, except Nicole, playing twister. Nicole was holding the spinner. Michael looked around," Where's Mark? Jason." Jason answered him," He went home. He told me to tell you that but I forgot."

" Of course you did. Don't keep them up all night." he told him," Goodnight." they all told him goodnight, and he closed the door. He looked at the door a couple ways down where Jasmine was. He was trying to decide whether or not he wanted to go in there, he clenched his fists and walked over to the door.

....

Jasmine was sitting on her bed with her laptop, she heard footsteps. She watched the door carefully and saw shadows underneath. Michael put his hand on the doorknob and held it there. Jasmine held her breath and bit her bottom lip in anticipation. He then let go of the doorknob and walked back downstairs, going to his room. Jasmine sighed.

Michael went inside the room, changed into his night clothes, and turned off all the lights. His phone lit up on the night stand. A text message from Jasmine," Why didn't you come in? I know it was you." He cleared his throat and sent back," Maybe tomorrow."

Maybe.