I smiled at the sound of AJ's tiny little feet scurrying down the hall and into my bedroom. She climbed on the বিছানা and asked "daddy why are আপনি packing our suitcases?" I ব্যক্ত "remember, I told আপনি a couple days after your third birthday we would be leaving because I have to go back to work." She ব্যক্ত "daddy I don't want to leave! I want to stay here!" I ব্যক্ত "I know and trust me I don't want to leave here either! We won't be gone very long this time though! We'll be back about 35 days from now." She responded "35 days… that's going to take forever!" I ব্যক্ত "just think about it; when we get back I won't have to go on tour for a very long time!"

As I put the last few things into AJ's suitcase, I noticed that it was almost 8 o'clock and asked "do আপনি know what time it is AJ?" She asked "what daddy?" I ব্যক্ত "it's time for a certain three-year-old to start getting ready for bed!" She asked "what three-year-old?" I chuckled and ব্যক্ত "I'm talking about আপনি silly!" She ব্যক্ত "oh; but I'm not tired! I don't want to go to sleep daddy!" I ব্যক্ত "I know আপনি don't want to but আপনি have to. Now, go get ready for bath time and I'll be in there to help আপনি in a second." She grumbled all the way down the hallway and shut the bathroom door.

A few মিনিট later, I went in to check on her and she looked at me with a frustrated expression on her face. I asked "what's wrong?" She ব্যক্ত as she passed me an empty bottle of bubble soap "it's not working!" I ব্যক্ত "that's because you're supposed to put this in after the water." I looked at the empty tub that was covered in blue goo and asked "how much of this did আপনি put in there AJ?" She ব্যক্ত "the whole bottle." I ব্যক্ত "the whole bottle!"

I quickly rushed to wash her hair before the bubbles got too out of control, but AJ and I soon found ourselves cracking up with laughter because she had almost become completely consumed দ্বারা the bubbles. She ব্যক্ত "daddy; I think I put too much bubbles in here!" I chuckled as I moved a mountain out of the way of her face and ব্যক্ত "I think you're right about that!" The পরবর্তি thing I knew, she grabbed a pile the bubbles and ব্যক্ত "I want to give আপনি a bubble beard like me." I of course didn't think twice about it and let her cover my face in bubbles. I got up from kneeling down on the floor and went to clean my face off in the sink.

After AJ had gotten dressed in her pajamas, I ব্যক্ত "okay; আপনি have to brush your teeth." I passed her the toothbrush and she gave it back to me after only about 20 seconds. I ব্যক্ত "no AJ; this is exactly why I have to watch আপনি brush your teeth! Keep brushing and I'll tell আপনি when!" Finally, she had successfully brushed her teeth and I picked her up to bring her to her room. As I tucked her into bed, she ব্যক্ত "I can't wait until we can stay here forever daddy! I don't like when আপনি have to work so much!" I ব্যক্ত "I know AJ; but I promise that once we get back here I'll just be working on TV shows and stuff like that. There won't be any আরো concerts for a long while! Alright; I know you're trying to distract me so আপনি don't have to go to bed; but I'm going to sleep now too because I'm tired!" I gave her a চুম্বন and turned on the TV. As I shut off the light, she ব্যক্ত "I প্রণয় আপনি daddy!" I ব্যক্ত "I প্রণয় আপনি আরো AJ"

***

As I sat there in our hotel room, my watch started beeping and I ব্যক্ত "okay; time for me to go to the সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান now AJ." She ব্যক্ত "I'm going too!" I ব্যক্ত "no; আপনি can't come because I have to perform and I'll be too busy to watch you." The মিনিট those words came out of my mouth, AJ looked at me with a devastated look on her face and her eyes started to water. I looked at her sympathetically and picked her up into my arms. She rested her head on my shoulder and started to cry uncontrollably. I whispered "hey, আপনি don't need to cry. I'll be back in a few hours." She ব্যক্ত "I want to go with আপনি daddy!" I ব্যক্ত "you wouldn’t have fun like আপনি would here with Grace and Prince!"

After trying to console her for over a half hour, my cell phone started ringing and it was my manager Frank. I answered it and ব্যক্ত "yes; I'm well aware that I'm late Frank! I'm about to leave right now; but I don't want to leave while AJ's freaking out and crying like this! আপনি don't get what it's like to be a father because আপনি don't have any kids; so don't try to lecture me about what I should অথবা shouldn't do!" I hung up the phone and ব্যক্ত "I'm getting so sick of him because of his attitude since the children have been born!" Grace tried to grab AJ out of my arms; but AJ had a death grip around my neck. Grace ব্যক্ত "you have to let go of daddy AJ because the concerts going to start soon and he can't be late." AJ continued to cry and I whispered "do আপনি want some ice cream?" I saw a little smile on her face as she buried it into my shoulder and she reached out for Grace to grab her from me.

I quickly snuck out of the hotel room while Grace was busy getting ice cream out of the mini fridge in the hotel room. When I made it to the সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান arena, I had gotten there just in time for the show. I had to go directly from the dressing room to the stage. I didn't even have time to check in with Frank and I was glad because I don't want to hear what he has to say to me right now. When I finished the show, Frank was sitting backstage with his arms crossed and he looked at me; clearly frustrated. I sat down পরবর্তি to him on the পালঙ্ক and he ব্যক্ত "that was a close call Michael; আপনি barely made it!" I ব্যক্ত "listen, AJ was freaking out I'm not going to leave her when she's crying! That's something that I just won't do as a father!" He responded "Michael; আপনি have a job to do! I understand that আপনি wanted to comfort AJ but it's not like the world was going to end if she cried for a few minutes!" I ব্যক্ত with a hint of aggravation in my voice "until আপনি have kids of your own আপনি won't understand what it's like to hear one of your children cry! I'm not going to discuss this with আপনি any further because not that’s going to get us anywhere! I'm here now and that's all that really matters. I'll try my best not to be late from now on; but আপনি should know that I have two jobs now! I'm not just Michael Jackson the superstar anymore! I'm a single parent and I'm one of the few people that my kids look to for comfort when their upset অথবা hurting! If there's one thing I want আপনি to understand from this conversation it's that they don't care that I'm famous! They don't care that I'm Michael Jackson! They don't care that millions of people are waiting to watch me perform! What they care about is that I'm there for them no matter what! Prince and AJ are just kids and they don't understand who I am yet; right now as far as they are concerned I'm just daddy! I suggest আপনি spend a little less time complaining and a little আরো time trying to picture yourself in my shoes! My job as their daddy is way আরো important to me than any of this ever was! আপনি have your head so far up your গাধা it's ridiculous!"

Frank didn't say a word to me as I stormed out of the arena and slammed the door behind me. I walked to the car with Jeffrey and he asked "are আপনি okay Mr. Jackson?" I opened the car door and ব্যক্ত "I just want to get back to my kids!" We drove back to the hotel and I went up to our room. I was surprised to see that AJ was still awake and watching TV on the couch. She whispered excitedly "daddy!!!" She ran into my arms and I ব্যক্ত "I told আপনি I'd come back!!!" Grace came out of one of the separate bedrooms and asked "how was the concert?" I ব্যক্ত "it was okay I guess! 14 আরো shows to go and I don't have to worry about this tour anymore!" She ব্যক্ত "you seem a little upset Michael; are আপনি alright?" I ব্যক্ত "yeah; I'm fine. Frank and I got into it at the সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান arena after the show; but I'm okay now! What are আপনি doing up AJ? It's way past your bedtime!" Grace ব্যক্ত "that's my fault Michael; I told her she could stay up until আপনি got back."

***

I'm so close to finishing my tour and I'm glad that I only have five shows left before it's finally over because I hate touring so much! I was about to walk through the door of the hotel room that I share with AJ and Prince. When I opened the door, Grace was sitting on the পালঙ্ক with Prince in her arms and AJ was throwing toys all over the place. Grace moaned "I need your help Michael!" I looked at her concerned and asked "why? What's wrong?" She ব্যক্ত "AJ hasn't been listening to me at all today and I'm exhausted! She was jumping up and down on the beds, tossing puzzle pieces all over the room, and refusing to eat anything other than what she wanted to eat!" I immediately looked over at AJ and she stared at me like a deer in the headlights because she realized that she had gotten caught. Grace ব্যক্ত "I'm going to go put Prince down for a nap and hopefully get a couple hours of sleep myself."

After Grace had gone off into one of the other rooms, I looked at AJ again and sternly ব্যক্ত "I'm not happy AJ! আপনি need to listen to Grace when I'm working! আপনি know better than to disobey me!!! Grace may let আপনি get away with that stuff but I'm not going to!" AJ walked over to the corner of the room and faced the wall. I ব্যক্ত "that's what I thought. আপনি wouldn't dare act that way around me. At least not right now anyway!"

After her three মিনিট were up, I walked over to her and ব্যক্ত "I don't want to apologize to me because আপনি weren't misbehaving for me আপনি were misbehaving for Grace. That's not okay AJ and I won't allow that; do আপনি understand?" She ব্যক্ত "yes daddy" and I ব্যক্ত "go apologize to her please." AJ slowly made it her way into the room where Grace was watching TV and I ব্যক্ত "AJ has something she wants to say to আপনি Grace." Grace sat up and AJ ব্যক্ত "I'm sorry for not listening to আপনি today." Grace responded "I accept your apology AJ; thank আপনি for apologizing." I looked at Grace and ব্যক্ত "from now on, when she's not listening to আপনি during the দিন just let me know when I get back and I'll take care of it!"

This is part of the reason why I hate being on tour! I can't say that AJ is a lot আরো behaved when I'm around because that's not true; but she at least knows what's going to happen if she does something that I don't approve of. I think part of the reason why she's অভিনয় out is because she just wants to be back at Neverland! The thing I have to remember is that she was so young for the first leg of the tour that she didn't really remember what it was like to be away from me pretty much all the time! Now she has to learn to share what little time she has to spend with me with her little brother. I know I say this a lot, but I HATE being on tour!!!!!!!!!!!!

***

I smiled from ear to ear as I ran backstage after closing out the final সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান of my "History" tour and scooped AJ into my arms. I ব্যক্ত "guess where we're going tomorrow AJ?" She asked "where daddy?" I ব্যক্ত excitedly "you, Prince and I are going back home!" She shouted "finally; can we go প্রথমপাতা right now?" I chuckled and ব্যক্ত "no, we have to wait until tomorrow because we have to get on an airplane." Grace asked "are আপনি sure আপনি are going to be able to handle getting both of the kids packed and ready for the fight tomorrow all দ্বারা yourself?" I ব্যক্ত "of course Grace; don't worry about me! I can handle it! Now, আপনি better hurry and go catch your flight before আপনি miss it! Enjoy your three weeks paid vacation! আপনি deserve some time with your family and বন্ধু because you've been stuck in a hotel room with my children for quite a while." She ব্যক্ত "thank আপনি so much Michael; I really appreciate it!"

Without my knowledge, one of my backup dancers had প্রদত্ত AJ a piece of চকোলেট cake that was backstage and I really regret letting her eat it. I didn't want to take it away from her after she had already taken a bite but; that gave her an extreme sugar rush that I really didn't want her to have at 11 o'clock at night. Jeffrey and I ran out to the car with the children in an effort to avoid the paparazzi; but that obviously didn't work because there was an ambush surrounding the car. AJ hates the paparazzi because they never listen to me when I tell them not to take so many pictures! I've told them several times that the lights from the flash on the cameras bother her eyes; but they don't care! We just barely made it into the car without being pummeled দ্বারা thousands of photographers not looking where they were going.

One of the things I've noticed since AJ has been diagnosed with ADHD is that when she eats any sugar it makes it even আরো difficult for her to sit still. She started tapping her foot rapidly as she sat there in the car. I ব্যক্ত "you have to try to calm yourself down AJ because when we get back to the hotel আপনি have to go to sleep so we can be up in time for our flight." She ব্যক্ত "daddy, I’m not going to be able to sleep right now; I'm way too hyper!"

Sure enough, when I tried to get her to go to বিছানা she tossed and turned for 20 মিনিট straight before I came into the room. I lay down পরবর্তি to her and ব্যক্ত "that's why don't like আপনি to have sugar before আপনি go to bed. I'll tell আপনি what, আপনি and I can talk until আপনি fall asleep; but we have to be quiet because your brother is already sleeping." She asked "daddy, why do আপনি প্রণয় me even when I don't listen to you?" I ব্যক্ত "because AJ I'm going to প্রণয় আপনি no matter what আপনি do!" She asked "even if I colored on the wall? I chuckled and ব্যক্ত "you already did that last year; remember?" She ব্যক্ত "oh yeah; but what if I cut my hair দ্বারা myself?" I ব্যক্ত "you already did that too!" She asked "what if I –?" I ব্যক্ত "you could do anything and I'm still going to প্রণয় আপনি because you're my little girl!" She asked "what about when I'm 30 years old?" I chuckled and ব্যক্ত "you're still going to be my little girl!" She ব্যক্ত "I'm so happy that you're my daddy!" I ব্যক্ত "and I'm so happy that you're my little girl!!!"

***

It was around 9 AM when Jeffrey and I walked through the front door of the house and AJ was still asleep. She had slept through everything surprisingly and I knew it was only a matter of time before she would wake up. I carried her upstairs to her bedroom and went back downstairs to spend some quality time with Prince. I'm really glad the three of us our প্রথমপাতা now because I've missed way too much while I was finishing the last leg of my tour. Prince is adorable and he is just learning how to laugh; which I love. I can always make him laugh just দ্বারা dancing and he thinks it's the funniest thing in the world.

About 10 মিনিট later, AJ came back downstairs and ব্যক্ত "we're home!" She ran up to me and jumped with excitement. She saw that I was holding Prince and came over to চুম্বন his forehead. I ব্যক্ত "you're such a good big sister AJ; you're so sweet!!!" She noticed her toys in the corner of the room and ব্যক্ত "I missed these toys so much! I wish we could've brought all of my toys when আপনি had to go to work daddy!" I ব্যক্ত "yeah; but we wouldn't have enough room for all of them. That's why we only brought the really important ones with us!" She immediately started playing with all the toys that she hadn't seen for a মাস and a half and completely forgot that the two of us were having a conversation.

Eventually, there was a knock on the door and I answered it to see my mother standing there. I ব্যক্ত "I've missed আপনি so much mother; come inside!" She walked inside and followed me into the living room where the children were. AJ noticed her sitting পরবর্তি to me on the পালঙ্ক and climbed onto her lap. Mother looked at me and ব্যক্ত "I bet you're glad that আপনি can just relax now Michael!" I ব্যক্ত "I'm relieved and I just can't wait to not have to worry about anything other than the children for at least a few months. Frank and I had an argument a few weeks পূর্বে and even though he apologized to me things between us have been really awkward lately. We decided to take six months off from working just to clear our minds because neither of us like it when we fight. I'm extremely financially stable right now and I don't think that I'll have to worry about money for very long time. I already get millions of dollars from ‘the Beatles’ catalog and my own album sales! I'm just looking অগ্রবর্তী to enjoying life with my family for six months. I think I deserve a break!" Mother ব্যক্ত "I agree with আপনি Michael! I think আপনি push yourself way too hard sometimes and আপনি need some rest! If আপনি ever need someone to watch the children I'll be here for you! I প্রণয় watching my grandbabies and আপনি can trust me!" I ব্যক্ত "of course I trust আপনি with the kids; but I don't trust my brothers অথবা Janet with them because I know they don’t have good judgment. Alanna has learned some not so appealing language from some of them and I really don't want her to learn anymore!" Mother suggested "what if I was to watch the children over here; instead of at Havenhurst?" I ব্যক্ত "actually, I have a better idea! I've always wanted to take the children on a road trip and I was wondering if you'd like to come along because I obviously can't take care of three-month-old and a three-year-old all দ্বারা myself."

She thought about it for a সেকেন্ড and asked "where are আপনি planning to take the children?" I whispered "Disney World in Florida; but don't tell AJ because it's a surprise!" She ব্যক্ত "that sounds like fun! I'll go with আপনি guys! Are we going in a car অথবা an RV Michael?" I ব্যক্ত "with all the crazy traffic, it will take us three days to get there and three days to get back home; I figure it will be আরো fun in the car because I want the children to have a normal road trip experience! Obviously Prince isn't going to remember any of this; but AJ will and I don't want her to miss out on things just because I'm Michael Jackson! I don't know how she is going to like being stuck in a car with you, Jeffrey, Prince, and me for three days; but we'll get through it together." Mother raised her eyebrows and ব্যক্ত "it'll be quite the experience; that's for sure!!!"

***

After literally packing for days, mother was on her way over and all of us were about to start our family road trip. When she finally arrived, mother grabbed Prince and I grabbed AJ while Jeffrey brought our bags out to the অগ্রদূত that I had rented for the trip. Mother and I sat in the two middle seats within the back আসন with AJ to my right and Prince পরবর্তি to my mother. I excitedly asked "are আপনি ready for this AJ? It’s time for your first road trip!!!" She responded "I'm so excited to find out where we’re going! Will আপনি please tell me daddy?" I ব্যক্ত "nope; you're just going to have to wait and see when we get there!" She ব্যক্ত "awww man daddy!" I chuckled and Jeffrey made his way into the driver’s seat.

Jeffrey started the অগ্রদূত and we were off. I have to say that it's been years since I've really been on a road trip because I can usually just get a private jet অথবা a flight on a commercial airplane to get to where I need to be. The last time I ever remember being in a car for extended periods of time was when Joseph would bring us to gigs when he was trying to get us a record deal. I remember being out all night at "adult clubs" and having to go to school the পরবর্তি day. Needless to say, I hope AJ will remember this road trip years from now because I want to make it really special!

About two hours into the trip, we of course got the four word প্রশ্ন that every parent gets, "are we there yet?" I chuckled and ব্যক্ত "not even close!" Little did I know that was going to be the first of many times that she would ask me that question! Thank God for the TV that was installed inside the van; so we could watch চলচ্চিত্র and keep AJ entertained. I had fallen asleep watching a movie with mother and AJ, to wake up to my daughter saying "daddy; আপনি snore too loud!!!" That had mother laughing for quite a while and then we all started to get a little hungry; so we decided to go through the drive-through at McDonald's. I stumbled up towards the front of the অগ্রদূত and ordered our খাবার when we pulled up to the microphone. Afterwards, I quickly snuck back to my আসন before Jeffrey pulled up to the window to pay for food. I ব্যক্ত "if only that guy that talked on the microphone knew that it was Michael Jackson ordering a double cheeseburger!" Mother laughed and ব্যক্ত "I don't think people expect যশস্বী to order খাবার from places like McDonald's!"

While AJ was eating, I encouraged her to drink the soda that came with her happy meal. She isn't very familiar with soda because I don't let her drink it that much; so she was really hesitant. She didn't really like it surprisingly; so mother let her have the milkshake that came with her meal. An ঘন্টা had gone দ্বারা and we pulled over to fill up the tank of gas. I let AJ get out of the অগ্রদূত with me; so she could stretch her legs because we had been sitting in the car for a while. Jeffrey had gone into the store to pay for the gas and mother was feeding Prince a bottle inside the van. AJ hadn’t ব্যক্ত much since we had gotten the food; but then she pulled on my sleeve and that's when it all went downhill.

I turned around to see what she wanted while I knelt down in front of her to tie my shoes and she asked "daddy?" I asked "yes?" She looked at me for a few মিনিট and I asked her again "yes?" That's when she looked at me once আরো and proceeded to projectile vomit all over the front of my শার্ট and pants. I didn't know what to do at first because I was so caught off guard দ্বারা what was going on. I pulled opened the sliding door on the অগ্রদূত and poked my head in. I ব্যক্ত "uh-oh mother; we seem to have a bit of a situation out here! Can আপনি bring some napkins?" She slowly made her way out of the অগ্রদূত with about five napkins in her hands. She ব্যক্ত "oh; that kind of a situation." Jeffrey came out of the gas station store and was oblivious as to what had happened.

Thankfully, we were in the middle of nowhere at a small family-run gas station; so there I was at this gas station digging through my suitcase for a pair of clothes. There was only one customer in the store; so I didn't mind signing autographs for him after I had changed my clothes. When Jeffrey and I got back into our seats inside the van, AJ ব্যক্ত "I'm sorry I threw up on আপনি daddy." I ব্যক্ত "that's okay AJ; I don't care!" Mother chuckled and ব্যক্ত "at least আপনি and AJ can say that you've experienced the typical family road trip now Michael!" I rolled my eyes and sarcastically ব্যক্ত "very funny mother; very funny!"

***

We arrived at the hotel in Florida late last night and AJ still doesn't know why we're here. Mother, AJ, and I were eating breakfast in our room and I decided that it was time to tell AJ where we were because she was extremely curious at this point. I ব্যক্ত "I'm surprised আপনি haven't figured out where we are at AJ! Grandma came with us because she's going to watch Prince while আপনি and I go to ডিজনি World for the day!!!" She looked at me in shock and ব্যক্ত "you haven't taken me to ডিজনি World since before Prince was born daddy because আপনি told me he was too young to come with us!" I ব্যক্ত "grandma's going to watch Prince and then she will eventually meet us at ডিজনি World when it's not too hot outside because I don't want Prince to become overheated অথবা dehydrated. That just means that just আপনি and I are going to be spending time together for a while."

I gave mother a cell phone so she could get a hold of me when she decided to bring Prince down to the theme park. AJ and I went down to the park with Jeffrey because I knew he would need to protect me from the crazed fans. It's almost like the অনুরাগী know when I'm going to be there and they wait outside for me to arrive. Jeffrey walked in front of us as I entered the front gate carrying AJ in my arms and paid the admission fee. I unfortunately had to take AJ into a private room away from the other families so she could visit with the characters because people wouldn't leave us alone while the three of us were waiting in line to meet the characters. It's almost as if they think that I'm part of the theme park. Once they realize that I'm there, they forget why they came to ডিজনি World in the first place and I just feel bad for the children of these parents that spend all দিন chasing me for an autograph; instead of taking them on rides.

We were at the park for over four hours when I decided to take AJ to a ডিজনি store located within the park. I took her inside the store and she has always been a huge অনুরাগী of "Toy story"; so I wasn't surprised when she immediately went over to that section of the store. There was a gigantic "toy story" playset with different toys for different scenes in the movie and AJ asked "can I get this?" I think she thought it all came in one complete set; when in actuality each part is sold separately and I wasn't about to pay hundreds of dollars just so she could have the entire thing. I really don't like spoiling her and her birthday was just a few weeks ago. I knelt down পরবর্তি to her and ব্যক্ত "Honey, that thing doesn't come altogether. I would have to buy each of the different parts for আপনি to have the whole set. If আপনি want to, আপনি can pick out a couple play sets; but I'm not going to buy আপনি the whole thing."

That definitely wasn't the right thing to say in the middle of the store because AJ decided to throw a temper tantrum. I was SO embarrassed because everyone was staring at us and taking pictures of AJ rolling around on the floor. She was screaming at the শীর্ষ for lungs and my mother decided to প্রদর্শনী up with Prince at that very moment. I didn't want it seem like I didn't have authority over AJ; but I absolutely hate getting strict অথবা disciplining AJ in public. Tabloid magazines always like to blow things out of proportion and I don't want to look like I'm being mean to AJ. I honestly didn't know what was the best choice! Mother was looking at me and expecting me to do something and everybody else was just standing around taking pictures. I whispered sternly "AJ that's enough! Stop this right now!!!" She immediately stopped the tantrum because she could tell that I wasn't messing around and I picked her up off of the floor.

Mother, Jeffrey, the baby, AJ, and I booked it back to the hotel. When we got back to our room, mother and I sat down to have a conversation together. She shook her head and asked "what was that all about Michael? That was crazy!!!" I ব্যক্ত "AJ wanted all the toys in a set; but I didn't want to spend all that money. I told her no and she threw herself on the ground." Mother ব্যক্ত "I understand that part; but it shouldn't have taken আপনি that long to react. When আপনি and your siblings were younger, I didn't like any of আপনি act like that!" I ব্যক্ত "no আপনি didn't; but in my defense, I'm EXTREMELY famous now and I have a lot of things to think about when it comes to disciplining AJ in public. All it takes is one picture and someone could say that I'm an abusive father just because they want money from a tabloid magazine mother!" She ব্যক্ত "that shouldn't stop আপনি from disciplining her Michael. আপনি always tell me that আপনি want your children to grow up as normal possible. AJ doesn't know why all those people are taking pictures of আপনি and normal three-year-olds have temper tantrums that just so happen to be in public sometimes. All I'm saying is that আপনি can't avoid it when cameras are around just because you're afraid that it will be misinterpreted because someone's trying to make some money off of pictures of আপনি and AJ." I sighed and ব্যক্ত "you're right mother; I shouldn't worry so much about what other people think of me as a father because as long as AJ knows I প্রণয় her that's all that matters. When she acts like that পরবর্তি time, I'll deal with it right away!!!!! I just don't know what I'm going to do with AJ in a few years because I have a feeling that the behavioral issues she has are going to be much worse; especially when she's a teenager! Oh gosh; I don't even want to think about that right now because it worries me so much!!!!!"

***

We got back from my trip to ডিজনি World yesterday and there was a message on the answering machine from Debbie asking me to go out for lunch with her today. After I dropped AJ and Prince off at Havenhurst, Jeffrey and I headed to a very জনপ্রিয় coffee ভান্দার in Los Angeles to meet with Debbie. I found her sitting at a টেবিল and walked over to sit down. I ব্যক্ত "it's nice seeing আপনি Debbie; it's been a while since we have seen each other!" She ব্যক্ত "as soon as I found out আপনি just finished your tour, I wanted to call আপনি so we could catch up on what's been going on in our lives. I was surprised when আপনি didn't answer the phone." I ব্যক্ত "sorry about that; I would've answered the phone if I was home." She asked curiously "where did আপনি go?" I ব্যক্ত "I decided at the last মিনিট to take a spontaneous road trip with my mother and the children to ডিজনি World the দিন after we got back from the tour." Debbie chuckled and asked "you went on a road trip Michael?" I laughed and ব্যক্ত "yeah; looking back on it now, that wasn't the best idea." Debbie asked "why not? How was the trip?" I laughed and ব্যক্ত "to start off, AJ asked me every five মিনিট if we were there yet. Then the traffic was horrible and that caused us to be behind schedule; so Jeffrey and I ended up taking turns driving the van. We didn't want to stop at a hotel to sleep because we didn't want be even later. Then to শীর্ষ it all off, when we were at a gas station AJ threw up ALL over me and I had to change my clothes; which wasted even আরো time! Needless to say, we took a plane back to California instead of using the অগ্রদূত again! I don't think I'll attempt another road trip until the children are older! It was a lot আরো work than I thought it would be!"

The waiter brought us our খাবার and Debbie asked "are আপনি happy আপনি get to relax now Michael?" I ব্যক্ত "more than আপনি could ever imagine Debbie! I think the kids and I are just going to relax around Neverland for about a week and not do anything special. I was actually excited when আপনি called me because I think it's the perfect time for me to add a third child to my family. I'm not in a rush because I don't really have to worry about going anywhere for work anytime soon; so whenever it's comfortable for আপনি I'd like to get reacquainted… If আপনি know a mean দ্বারা that." She laughed and ব্যক্ত "I know exactly what আপনি mean দ্বারা that Michael and I can't wait!"

After leaving the coffee shop, Jeffrey and I went over to Havenhurst to pick up the children. When we got there, AJ and Prince were both fast asleep and mother ব্যক্ত "you know Michael, আপনি deserve a break! Why don't আপনি leave the children here overnight so আপনি don't have to wake them up?" I was reluctant at first; but then she ব্যক্ত that she promised she wouldn't have anyone over to the house until I came back to pick the children up. I decided that I could trust her to listen to me and ended up leaving the children at Havenhurst.

As I sat there on the পালঙ্ক in my house, I noticed how quiet it was and I didn't like it all because it hasn't been this quiet since before AJ was born. Jeffrey was busy checking the security cameras and I had no one to talk to; so I decided to invite Debbie over just to have some company. She immediately drove over to the ranch and we decided to watch a movie together. It was a really boring movie and the two of us realize that from the very beginning. Debbie chuckled and ব্যক্ত "this movie is awful!!!" I ব্যক্ত "you can say that again!" Debbie ব্যক্ত "no, I'd rather do this" and the পরবর্তি thing I knew she was laying on me. I ব্যক্ত "whoa, whoa, whoa Debbie! I'm not ready for this right now! I realize that you've got a crush on me; but I don't want this to become a thing between us because I don't want a relationship right now. I just want another baby and that's it!" She sighed and ব্যক্ত "that's alright Michael; I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me just now!" I ব্যক্ত "I don't want to disappoint you; but I also don't want to lead আপনি on to think that there could be something আরো than just a friendship between us. Trust me আপনি wouldn't want to be in a relationship with me!" She asked "why not?" I ব্যক্ত "because it would be nothing like a normal relationship! There's too much that comes along with dating me. আপনি would have to deal with being harassed দ্বারা the paparazzi all the time and give up on having any privacy in public. আপনি would constantly have to deal with awful tabloid stories written about me and possibly you. I'm not interested dating আপনি even though we are married now! It just wouldn't be fair to আপনি অথবা to the children."

I felt terrible afterwards because Debbie looked disappointed; so I looked her in the eyes and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. I ব্যক্ত "you know what, tonight seems like the perfect night to try for another baby because the house is empty and it's just আপনি and I!!!" She responded "I don't want আপনি to feel like আপনি have to do something just to make me happy Michael! আপনি already spent too much time trying to make everybody else happy and I'm not about to let আপনি do that for me!" I ব্যক্ত "I insist Debbie; it's the least I could do for আপনি because you've provided me with something that I never thought I would ever have; children of my own! If I get আপনি pregnant night then so be it! If it doesn't work tonight then we'll try in a few weeks like I had originally planned! It's not like it's going to do any harm if we did it a few weeks early!" Debbie asked "you would really do that for me? I don't want to force আপনি to do anything আপনি don't want to do Michael!" I ব্যক্ত "you won't be forcing me Debbie; I want to! Just because I don't want আপনি and I to be considered as a couple doesn't mean I don't find আপনি attractive! I'm glad you're the mother of my children because I couldn't imagine AJ without her amazingly blonde hair!"