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 침상, 소파 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 said "hi Christian" again as he sat up on the 침상, 소파 and reached for me to grab him. I picked him up into my arms and hugged him as tight as I possibly could. I said "I missed 당신 so much!!!" He just looked at me and asked in broken English "you come for me Mike; 당신 come for me?" I started to get choked up as I said "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 said "mean mommy; mean mommy!" I hugged him tighter and said "don't worry; you're not going with her!" Melissa shouted "I can't believe you're going to let my son be raised 의해 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 팬 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 침대 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 심장 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 said "mean mommy!" He started to cry and I said "it's okay; 당신 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 표, 테이블 and John said "if 당신 don't need me I'm going to catch the flight back to LA! It leaves in 15 minutes! Are 당신 going to come with me?" I said "no; Christian and I will just catch the flight at 9 AM tomorrow. Thank 당신 for all your help John!" He said "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 음식 got there, I brought it to the 표, 테이블 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 당신 eat breakfast this morning?" He said "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 said "no 음식 yesterday!" I shook my head in disbelief and said "I'm so sorry!" He responded "she's a mean mommy!" I said "I believe you." Christian asked "I'm going to have a new family?" I smiled and said "actually; 당신 have a new family." He looked at me confused and I said "you're part of my family now buddy!" He asked "am I going back to your house Mike?" I said "no; we're going back to our house!" I whispered "you don't have to call me Mike anymore if 당신 don't want to!" Christian asked "why not?" I said "because I'm your daddy now!" He asked "can I call 당신 daddy?" I said "of course 당신 can; if 당신 want to!"

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


***

We are on our flight back to California from 런던 and it'll be about an 시간 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; 날짜 of birth October, sixth, 1984." Christian's third birthday is 다음 월 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 said "good morning." He responded "good morning daddy." I said "were almost ready to land. Then I'm going to take 당신 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 said "hi; do 당신 remember me?" Christian hid his face in my shoulder and I said "oh; you're back to usual shyness now!"

We walked down to the parking 차고 where the SUV was and I buckled Christian into his car 좌석 다음 to me. As Tim started the car, he said "your mother's waiting for 당신 at the house Michael." I said "she didn't tell me she was going to come over." James said "we just assumed that 당신 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 said "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 의해 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; 당신 know that!" She said "I'm so sorry Michael; I completely forgot." I whispered "will 당신 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 said "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 표, 테이블 and noticed two gift bags. I asked "what's all of this mother?" She said "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 said "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 said "wow; look at that!" I grabbed the other bag off the 표, 테이블 and he must've taken out at least 30 different 디즈니 movies." I said "he's definitely going to have plenty to watch for a while. Can 당신 say thank 당신 to grandma?" He whispered "thank you" very quietly and mother responded "you're welcome; I'm glad 당신 like them."

I carried Christian into the 부엌, 주방 and mother said "I also went grocery shopping for 당신 while 당신 were gone Michael and I bought supplies for Christian." I said "thank 당신 mother; it's much appreciated!" She said "you're welcome and if 당신 ever need my help for anything don't hesitate to ask." I said "I should be okay for a few weeks until I have to go back to work. Will 당신 watch him during the 일 for me when I do have to go back to work?" She said "of course I will." I said "anytime 당신 want to come over here 당신 can." She said "I'm sure that I'll be visiting quite often; goodbye Michael." I said "I 사랑 당신 mother" as I shut the door. I turned around to look at Christian sitting on the floor and asked "do 당신 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 said "Mickey Mouse" and couldn't get out of my arms fast enough. He asked "this is my own room?" I said "yup; all yours!" He stared at the Mickey 쥐, 마우스 mural I painted on one of the walls in his room and I asked "do 당신 like it? I painted it just for you!" He said "yeah; you're a good painter daddy!"

I got him ready for 침대 and said "I'll go get your 영화 downstairs; so 당신 can pick one out to watch tonight." I came back upstairs with the bag of 영화 and dumped them out on the floor. After about 15 minutes, he still seemed undecided; so I said "or 당신 can watch 만화 because I have cable hooked up in your room." He said "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 다음 to the 침대 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 당신 going?" I said "just to my room right across the hall. All 당신 have to do is call my name and I'll be in here faster than 당신 could imagine." His eyes started to water and I walked back into the room. I knelt down 다음 to the 침대 and asked him "what's wrong?" He said "I don't want to sleep in here alone! Will 당신 please stay with me daddy?" I remembered that there is a 침대 that pulls out from underneath the twin size bed; so I decided to lie on that.

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

***

I opened my eyes and rolled over. The first thing I saw was Christian rolling right off his 침대 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 said "morning buddy" and he seemed confused as he asked "what happened?" I said "you fell off your bed. Don't worry; 당신 landed on me!" He looked at me and said "oh; good morning daddy." I yawned as I asked "would 당신 like some breakfast?" He responded "yes please" and I picked him up to bring him downstairs.

I brought him into the 부엌, 주방 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 당신 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 분 later, he came back into the 부엌, 주방 carrying his cup and said "here 당신 go daddy!" I grabbed it from him and said "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 부엌, 주방 to make breakfast while he watched Mickey 쥐, 마우스 cartoons.

Once the 음식 was done, I went back into the living room and picked him up. I brought him to the 표, 테이블 and sat down in the chair 다음 to him as I passed him his plate. He asked "what are we going to do today daddy?" I asked "what do 당신 want to do?" He said "I don't know." I asked "do 당신 want to go swimming in the pool? It's too hot inside and it's really nice outside today." He said "I'm scared of the water." I said "you don't have to if 당신 don't want to; but I promise 당신 that I won't let anything happen." He said "no; I don't want to." I grabbed his plate and said "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 다음 to him on the floor. He took a plastic alligator out of the toy box and passed it to me. I asked "do 당신 know what animal this is?" He said "a crocodile" and I responded "no; this is an alligator." He said "oh an alligator" but instead he pronounced it "aldergater" and that made me laugh. I said "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 분 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 said "I 사랑 it here daddy and I 사랑 you!" I said "I 사랑 당신 more!"

***

Christian sat on the counter in the 부엌, 주방 as he watched me start to gather things to prepare 공식 만찬, 저녁 식사 with. I softly sang the alphabet because I have been working on letters and numbers with Christian. He said "A, B, C, D, E, F, J" and I said "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 스파게티 공식 만찬, 저녁 식사 and I wasn't prepared for the mess that was involved. He had sauce in his hair, all over his face, all over the 표, 테이블 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 said "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 당신 read me a story?" I said "sure" and grabbed a book from the bookshelf in his room. After I was done 읽기 him a story, I asked "do 당신 think 당신 can sleep in here 의해 yourself tonight?" He looked at me and said "no." I asked "why are 당신 afraid to sleep in here 의해 yourself?" He said "the monsters will get me!" I smiled and asked "monsters; where?" He pointed to the closet and I walked inside. I said "I don't see any monsters in here" and he said "under my bed!" I walked out of the closet and knelt down to look underneath his bed. I said "I don't see anything under here either Christian." I stood up and said "I promise there's no monsters in your room. If 당신 find any then I'll beat them up for you; okay?"

He reached out for me to hug him and I said "I'm just going to be in my room! All 당신 have to do is call for daddy and I'll hear you! I just can't keep sleeping on that little 침대 on the floor because it's going to end up hurting my back." I gave him a 키스 and a hug before turning on the TV. I shut off the light and said "night – night buddy; see 당신 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 침대 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 음식 and she agreed to sit down and eat with us. She asked "how are 당신 adjusting to fatherhood Michael?" I said "I 사랑 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 said "that's great Michael; did 당신 find out when you're going back to work yet?" I said "in about a week; I'll make sure I call 당신 ahead of time."

Mother helped me clear the 표, 테이블 and Christian went off into the living room to play. While the two of us were washing dishes, I said "I'm glad 당신 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 당신 when 당신 have to watch him during the 일 while I'm working." She said "I agree with 당신 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 다음 to Christian on the floor. He immediately climbed into my lap and I suggested "do 당신 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 said "it's okay; I'm not going to do anything to you." He slowly let her put him on her lap.

I smiled and said "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 said "uh-oh; now 당신 have two people that know you're ticklish!" He shrieked with laughter as he forced out the words "stop it." I said "give grandma a 키스 and we'll stop!" I was shocked beyond belief that he actually kissed her because I thought it would take a lot 더 많이 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 said "I'm supposed to meet up with your brother's for lunch; would 당신 like to come?" I thought about it for a 초 and said "no; I think that will be too many people for Christian to meet at one time; but could 당신 tell them that they should stop 의해 one at a time over the 다음 week?" She said "I can try to tell them; but 당신 know that they don't listen to me most of the time Michael." I said "I know mother; 당신 don't have to tell them if 당신 don't want to. I know anything to do with me has to be with money 또는 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 said "I'll tell them that if they do decide to come over 당신 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 분 to meet Christian. Before I forget; what are 당신 working on 다음 since the tour is over?" I said "filming for my 'moonwalker' starts soon!" She said "that's good; 당신 must be really excited! I know 당신 can morning to get 더 많이 involved with 연기 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 said "good morning Christian" and went into the living room to turn the TV on for him. I was about to walk back into the 부엌, 주방 when Christian followed behind me. He sat down 다음 to me at the 표, 테이블 and asked "what's that?" I said "this is for my job and I have to read it." He asked "what's your job daddy?" I said "I usually sing; but I'm going to be in my own movie!" He said "that's cool; I can't wait to see 당신 do your job!" I said "I will let 당신 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 부엌, 주방 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 다음 to him on the 침상, 소파 and said "don't worry; I don't have to look for another week." He smiled after that and started watching cartoons.