I slowly turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. The door opened and I quietly walked inside with my lawyer John behind me. Christian had fallen asleep on the диван, мягкий уголок in the room and I knelt down in front of him. I whispered "hi Christian" in his ear and he barely opened his eyes. He rubbed his eyes because I don't think he believed it was me. I сказал(-а) "hi Christian" again as he sat up on the диван, мягкий уголок and reached for me to grab him. I picked him up into my arms and hugged him as tight as I possibly could. I сказал(-а) "I missed Ты so much!!!" He just looked at me and asked in broken English "you come for me Mike; Ты come for me?" I started to get choked up as I сказал(-а) "yes buddy; I came back for you!"

I walked out of the room carrying Christian in my arms and could see that Melissa was arguing with the judge. Christian started crying and сказал(-а) "mean mommy; mean mommy!" I hugged him tighter and сказал(-а) "don't worry; you're not going with her!" Melissa shouted "I can't believe you're going to let my son be raised by Michael Jackson!" She shouted swear words at me as we walked out the door and I couldn't believe that she would use that kind of language around a 2 1/2-year-old!

John had to run back inside the courthouse to get Christian's file with his birth certificate; so I quickly snuck back to the hotel just across the street. We barely made it inside the door before an ambush of Фаны pressed up against the front entrance. I shouted "security" and thankfully a few of them were standing right there. While they held the doors shut, I ran upstairs to my hotel room and locked the door behind me.

I sat down on the edge of the постель, кровати with Christian on my lap and that was the first time I really realized how awful he looked. He was absolutely filthy and was wearing clothes that were at least three sizes too small for him! My сердце was aching for Christian so much and I felt horrible for giving him back to his mother. I know I couldn't have kept him then but I still regret letting any of this happen to him.

Christian looked at me and сказал(-а) "mean mommy!" He started to cry and I сказал(-а) "it's okay; Ты NEVER have to go back there again!" Someone knocked on the hotel room door and I answered it. My lawyer John walked inside and passed me a folder. I opened the folder and it was all of Christian's documents. I put the folder down on the таблица and John сказал(-а) "if Ты don't need me I'm going to catch the flight back to LA! It leaves in 15 minutes! Are Ты going to come with me?" I сказал(-а) "no; Christian and I will just catch the flight at 9 AM tomorrow. Thank Ты for all your help John!" He сказал(-а) "you're welcome Michael; I'm glad I could help!"

I shut the door behind him and picked up the phone to order some food. Once the Еда got there, I brought it to the таблица and Christian sat on my lap. Before I could even take the plastic lid off of the chicken fingers and French fries I had ordered him, Christian was trying to grab it. I quickly pulled the lid off and I couldn't believe how hungry Christian was! I asked "did Ты eat breakfast this morning?" He сказал(-а) "no; mommy only gives me lunch sometimes." I didn't know what to say at first and then I asked "you haven't had anything to eat since yesterday?" He сказал(-а) "no Еда yesterday!" I shook my head in disbelief and сказал(-а) "I'm so sorry!" He responded "she's a mean mommy!" I сказал(-а) "I believe you." Christian asked "I'm going to have a new family?" I smiled and сказал(-а) "actually; Ты have a new family." He looked at me confused and I сказал(-а) "you're part of my family now buddy!" He asked "am I going back to your house Mike?" I сказал(-а) "no; we're going back to our house!" I whispered "you don't have to call me Mike anymore if Ты don't want to!" Christian asked "why not?" I сказал(-а) "because I'm your daddy now!" He asked "can I call Ты daddy?" I сказал(-а) "of course Ты can; if Ты want to!"

I cleared the таблица and сказал(-а) "okay buddy; let's get Ты cleaned up!" Christian asked "bath?" I picked him up and сказал(-а) "yup." Afterwards, I got him dressed in the огонь truck pajamas that I bought him a while ago. I covered him with the blankets and knelt down Далее to the bed. I kissed his forehead and he asked "what did Ты do that for?" I сказал(-а) "I kissed your forehead." He asked "what's a kiss?" I looked at him confused and asked "you're mommy never gave Ты kisses?" He сказал(-а) "no; why did Ты do that?" I didn't really have any other answer that I could come up with off the вверх of my head; so I сказал(-а) "parents are supposed to give their children kisses and hugs." Christian asked "oh; can I give Ты a kiss?" I pointed to my cheek and сказал(-а) "right there." He pecked my cheek and I сказал(-а) "you're so sweet." I lay down Далее to him and сказал(-а) "good night Christian." He сказал(-а) "good night daddy; I Любовь you!" I responded "I Любовь Ты more!!!"


***

We are on our flight back to California from Лондон and it'll be about an час before we get to the airport. I had already woken up for the day; but Christian was still sleeping and I was bored. I decided to start looking at the folder with all of Christian's documents inside it. I opened it and saw his birth certificate. It read "Christian Levi Carthage; дата of birth October, sixth, 1984." Christian's third birthday is Далее месяц and I'm glad that he's with me to celebrate it.

I put the birth certificate back inside the folder and something accidentally fell out. I picked it up and noticed that it was a picture of a man. I looked at the back of the photograph and written on it was the words "Alexander Benton." I took the birth certificate out and realized that the person in the picture must be Christian's biological father because the names matched.

Christian started to wake up; so I quickly stuffed the picture back inside the folder and put it away. He opened his eyes and I сказал(-а) "good morning." He responded "good morning daddy." I сказал(-а) "were almost ready to land. Then I'm going to take Ты home." Just as I was saying that, the private jet pulled onto the landing strip and into the docking station of the airport. I picked Christian up and grabbed the luggage with my other hand. When we got off the plane, my bodyguards James and Tim were waiting for us. James looked at Christian and сказал(-а) "hi; do Ты remember me?" Christian hid his face in my shoulder and I сказал(-а) "oh; you're back to usual shyness now!"

We walked down to the parking гараж where the SUV was and I buckled Christian into his car сиденье, место, сиденья Далее to me. As Tim started the car, he сказал(-а) "your mother's waiting for Ты at the house Michael." I сказал(-а) "she didn't tell me she was going to come over." James сказал(-а) "we just assumed that Ты knew that she was going to come over because when we let her inside she was carrying a whole bunch of bags with her." I сказал(-а) "I want to see her; I just didn't know she was planning on coming over today."

We pulled into the driveway and I carried Christian up to the front door. I took my keys out to unlock the door and when I opened it I noticed the lights were off. I flipped the light switch and all of a sudden a whole bunch of people shouted "welcome home!" Christian immediately started crying and I looked around the room to see my entire family standing there; even my father Joseph!" I tried to soothe Christian by saying "it's okay; I wasn't expecting that either. Mother looked at Christian sympathetically and asked "what's the matter?" I responded "he's shy mother; Ты know that!" She сказал(-а) "I'm so sorry Michael; I completely forgot." I whispered "will Ты just get all them out of here? Christian is too shy for all of this right now! This is way too many people to introduce him to at once; we have to slowly do it over time! I don't want him to be overwhelmed." She asked "if I get them to leave can I stay for an hour?" I сказал(-а) "yes just get them out of here; especially Joseph!!!"

After a few minutes, everyone had left and I followed mother into the living room with Christian in my arms. I looked at the coffee таблица and noticed two gift bags. I asked "what's all of this mother?" She сказал(-а) "just a few things I bought for Christian." She took him out of my arms and sat him on her lap with one of the bags. Christian hesitated to open it as I сказал(-а) "it's okay buddy. Maybe he won't be as scared if he sitting on my lap instead of yours." I took him out of her arms and sat him back down on my lap with the gift. He opened the bag and pulled out a remote-control car." I excitedly сказал(-а) "wow; look at that!" I grabbed the other bag off the таблица and he must've taken out at least 30 different Дисней movies." I сказал(-а) "he's definitely going to have plenty to watch for a while. Can Ты say thank Ты to grandma?" He whispered "thank you" very quietly and mother responded "you're welcome; I'm glad Ты like them."

I carried Christian into the кухня and mother сказал(-а) "I also went grocery shopping for Ты while Ты were gone Michael and I bought supplies for Christian." I сказал(-а) "thank Ты mother; it's much appreciated!" She сказал(-а) "you're welcome and if Ты ever need my help for anything don't hesitate to ask." I сказал(-а) "I should be okay for a few weeks until I have to go back to work. Will Ты watch him during the день for me when I do have to go back to work?" She сказал(-а) "of course I will." I сказал(-а) "anytime Ты want to come over here Ты can." She сказал(-а) "I'm sure that I'll be visiting quite often; goodbye Michael." I сказал(-а) "I Любовь Ты mother" as I shut the door. I turned around to look at Christian sitting on the floor and asked "do Ты want to go see your new room?" He reached for me to grab him and I carried him upstairs.

I opened the bedroom door and Christian was so excited. He сказал(-а) "Mickey Mouse" and couldn't get out of my arms fast enough. He asked "this is my own room?" I сказал(-а) "yup; all yours!" He stared at the Mickey мышь mural I painted on one of the walls in his room and I asked "do Ты like it? I painted it just for you!" He сказал(-а) "yeah; you're a good painter daddy!"

I got him ready for постель, кровати and сказал(-а) "I'll go get your Фильмы downstairs; so Ты can pick one out to watch tonight." I came back upstairs with the bag of Фильмы and dumped them out on the floor. After about 15 minutes, he still seemed undecided; so I сказал(-а) "or Ты can watch Мультики because I have cable hooked up in your room." He сказал(-а) "yeah; I want to watch cartoons."

I picked him up and put him underneath the covers as I turned the TV on. I knelt down Далее to the постель, кровати and kissed his forehead. I got up and shut off the light as I was about to walk out of the room. He asked "where are Ты going?" I сказал(-а) "just to my room right across the hall. All Ты have to do is call my name and I'll be in here faster than Ты could imagine." His eyes started to water and I walked back into the room. I knelt down Далее to the постель, кровати and asked him "what's wrong?" He сказал(-а) "I don't want to sleep in here alone! Will Ты please stay with me daddy?" I remembered that there is a постель, кровати that pulls out from underneath the twin size bed; so I decided to lie on that.

I сказал(-а) "good night Christian" and he сказал(-а) "good night daddy; thank you." I asked "for what?" He сказал(-а) "for giving me Еда every day, my own toys, my room, hugs, kisses, loving me, and for being my daddy!" I had to force back tears as I сказал(-а) "you don't have to thank me for that! I'm supposed to provide those things for Ты and I do that for Ты because I Любовь you!"

***

I opened my eyes and rolled over. The first thing I saw was Christian rolling right off his постель, кровати and he landed on my stomach. I groaned in pain and he opened his eyes. He looked around the room and rubbed his eyes. I сказал(-а) "morning buddy" and he seemed confused as he asked "what happened?" I сказал(-а) "you fell off your bed. Don't worry; Ты landed on me!" He looked at me and сказал(-а) "oh; good morning daddy." I yawned as I asked "would Ты like some breakfast?" He responded "yes please" and I picked him up to bring him downstairs.

I brought him into the кухня and sat him down on the counter as I opened up the fridge. I took out some eggs and milk. I took Christian off of the counter and asked "can Ты go get your sippy cup for daddy?" I chuckled at how adorable he looked as he ran into the living room to go find his cup. A few минуты later, he came back into the кухня carrying his cup and сказал(-а) "here Ты go daddy!" I grabbed it from him and сказал(-а) "thanks Christian."

Before I started to cook the scrambled eggs, I walked into the living room and Christian was climbing on the couch. He sat down and I passed him his cup as I turned the TV on. I went off into the кухня to make breakfast while he watched Mickey мышь cartoons.

Once the Еда was done, I went back into the living room and picked him up. I brought him to the таблица and sat down in the chair Далее to him as I passed him his plate. He asked "what are we going to do today daddy?" I asked "what do Ты want to do?" He сказал(-а) "I don't know." I asked "do Ты want to go swimming in the pool? It's too hot inside and it's really nice outside today." He сказал(-а) "I'm scared of the water." I сказал(-а) "you don't have to if Ты don't want to; but I promise Ты that I won't let anything happen." He сказал(-а) "no; I don't want to." I grabbed his plate and сказал(-а) "okay then; I'm not going to make you." I washed his face and helped him down from the chair.

Christian walked up to the toy box downstairs in the living room and I sat down Далее to him on the floor. He took a plastic alligator out of the toy box and passed it to me. I asked "do Ты know what animal this is?" He сказал(-а) "a crocodile" and I responded "no; this is an alligator." He сказал(-а) "oh an alligator" but instead he pronounced it "aldergater" and that made me laugh. I сказал(-а) "not aldergater; alligator." He grabbed a bag of dinosaur figurines and dumped it out on the floor. He gave me a dinosaur and I lay down on the floor on my stomach to play with him. The минута I lie down on the floor, he climbed onto my back and wrapped his arms around my neck. I looked up at him and he gave me a kiss. He сказал(-а) "I Любовь it here daddy and I Любовь you!" I сказал(-а) "I Любовь Ты more!"

***

Christian sat on the counter in the кухня as he watched me start to gather things to prepare ужин with. I softly sang the alphabet because I have been working on letters and numbers with Christian. He сказал(-а) "A, B, C, D, E, F, J" and I сказал(-а) "G; we have to work on this." I picked him up off of the counter and brought him over to the table.

I had cooked a спагетти ужин and I wasn't prepared for the mess that was involved. He had sauce in his hair, all over his face, all over the таблица in front of him, and I don't know how he managed to do this; but he got it in my ear! I looked at him and сказал(-а) "look at this mess!" I picked him up and wiped his face off with a napkin.

I took him upstairs, gave him a bath, and tucked him into bed. He asked "can Ты read me a story?" I сказал(-а) "sure" and grabbed a book from the bookshelf in his room. After I was done Чтение him a story, I asked "do Ты think Ты can sleep in here by yourself tonight?" He looked at me and сказал(-а) "no." I asked "why are Ты afraid to sleep in here by yourself?" He сказал(-а) "the monsters will get me!" I smiled and asked "monsters; where?" He pointed to the closet and I walked inside. I сказал(-а) "I don't see any monsters in here" and he сказал(-а) "under my bed!" I walked out of the closet and knelt down to look underneath his bed. I сказал(-а) "I don't see anything under here either Christian." I stood up and сказал(-а) "I promise there's no monsters in your room. If Ты find any then I'll beat them up for you; okay?"

He reached out for me to hug him and I сказал(-а) "I'm just going to be in my room! All Ты have to do is call for daddy and I'll hear you! I just can't keep sleeping on that little постель, кровати on the floor because it's going to end up hurting my back." I gave him a Kiss and a hug before turning on the TV. I shut off the light and сказал(-а) "night – night buddy; see Ты in the morning."

I walked into my bedroom and climbed into my huge king-sized bed. I looked out the doorway and into Christian's room. He was already fast asleep and I have to say that it feels weird not having him in the same room as me. I walked back into his room because he was rolling out of the постель, кровати again and I had to catch him. I covered him back up with the blankets and kissed his cheek before I made my way back into my bedroom.

***

There was a knock at the front door while Christian and I were eating breakfast. I answered it and saw that it was my mother. I offered her some Еда and she agreed to sit down and eat with us. She asked "how are Ты adjusting to fatherhood Michael?" I сказал(-а) "I Любовь it! We've established a routine and I think he's pretty used to waking up and having me be there. I finally got him to sleep in his own bed." She сказал(-а) "that's great Michael; did Ты find out when you're going back to work yet?" I сказал(-а) "in about a week; I'll make sure I call Ты ahead of time."

Mother helped me clear the таблица and Christian went off into the living room to play. While the two of us were washing dishes, I сказал(-а) "I'm glad Ты came over today because I think it's a good idea to start getting Christian used to being around you. I don't want him to be scared to be with Ты when Ты have to watch him during the день while I'm working." She сказал(-а) "I agree with Ты Michael; it's probably a good idea to get him used to me while you're here so he will be less afraid."

Mother and I went into the living room and sat down Далее to Christian on the floor. He immediately climbed into my lap and I suggested "do Ты want to sit in grandma's lap?" He looked at her and then at me because he didn't know what to think. Mother reached out her hands to grab him and сказал(-а) "it's okay; I'm not going to do anything to you." He slowly let her put him on her lap.

I smiled and сказал(-а) "maybe I should tell grandma your secret!" He smiled and I whispered "his feet are ticklish." She tickled his feet and he started hysterically laughing. I tickled his other foot and сказал(-а) "uh-oh; now Ты have two people that know you're ticklish!" He shrieked with laughter as he forced out the words "stop it." I сказал(-а) "give grandma a Kiss and we'll stop!" I was shocked beyond belief that he actually kissed her because I thought it would take a lot еще time to get him warmed up enough to her for him to do that.

I grabbed Christian off of her lap and we went into the kitchen. I took his sippy cup off the counter and gave it to him. Mother looked at her watch and сказал(-а) "I'm supposed to meet up with your brother's for lunch; would Ты like to come?" I thought about it for a секунда and сказал(-а) "no; I think that will be too many people for Christian to meet at one time; but could Ты tell them that they should stop by one at a time over the Далее week?" She сказал(-а) "I can try to tell them; but Ты know that they don't listen to me most of the time Michael." I сказал(-а) "I know mother; Ты don't have to tell them if Ты don't want to. I know anything to do with me has to be with money или else they don't want any part of it. He'll meet them eventually; but I'm not going to pay them to come over here! Basically that's what will happen because it soon as they come over here they're going to tell me that they need money for something." She сказал(-а) "I'll tell them that if they do decide to come over Ты don't want to be askied for any money! I didn't raise them to be like that Michael. I'll insist that they come over here at least for a few минуты to meet Christian. Before I forget; what are Ты working on Далее since the tour is over?" I сказал(-а) "filming for my 'moonwalker' starts soon!" She сказал(-а) "that's good; Ты must be really excited! I know Ты can morning to get еще involved with Актёрское искусство and producing. I can't wait to see it!"

***

I was downstairs going over the rough copy of the script for my "Moonwalker" movie when I heard Christian walking downstairs and looked over at him. I сказал(-а) "good morning Christian" and went into the living room to turn the TV on for him. I was about to walk back into the кухня when Christian followed behind me. He sat down Далее to me at the таблица and asked "what's that?" I сказал(-а) "this is for my job and I have to read it." He asked "what's your job daddy?" I сказал(-а) "I usually sing; but I'm going to be in my own movie!" He сказал(-а) "that's cool; I can't wait to see Ты do your job!" I сказал(-а) "I will let Ты go with me one of the days when I'm not so busy; but you're going to be staying here with grandma a lot of the time while I'm working."

I couldn't really tell; but I don't think he like the idea of that because he walked out of the кухня and into the living room without saying a word to me. I closed the script and followed him into the living room. I sat down Далее to him on the диван, мягкий уголок and сказал(-а) "don't worry; I don't have to look for another week." He smiled after that and started watching cartoons.