Melly, it's at the very end of the last chapter.
that would be full of family, fun, angst, happiness, and love.
Lea and MJ were unpacking up when his dad walked in.
"Hey kids...sorry about the apartment falling through?" "Yeah, sure dad...how's Anya?" "She's good son. Getting better with each day."
"So umm..." "What dad?" "I was just wondering what you two are going to do now?" "Grandpa said we could stay with him for as long as we want. But Lea and I have started searching again. Though it's not easy dad, places are expensive." "I know that son. Which is why Anya and I would like to help you kids out."
"No thanks dad...this is something Lea and I want to do on our own." "Michael...why are you still so cold towards Anya?" "I'll leave you two alone." Walking from the room Lea headed to the kitchen. "Hey Lea...where's MJ?" "He's having it out with his dad," she smiled.
"Ouch...that can't be good, though they should have tried to heal their wounds long ago. I'm afraid MJ isn't the one with the problem. Michael is, he just hasn't recognized it. But MJ has, he noticed it a while ago. If anything, he'll be the one making his dad admit it."
"Do you think MJ left it to long?" "To be honest Lea...I don't know?
Michael Jr. is very strong willed, he's also very black and white. Very rarely does he see problems shaded. He faces everything head on. For the last few years, his father has allowed himself to believe that the problem was MJ, when deep down it's Michael who hasn't accepted Anya's illness and hurtful words."
"Then I guess we are in for a battle over the next few minutes?" Walking over Stella took Lea into her arms. "Don't worry Lea...they will both come out winners. Taylor love is very strong, it takes alot to break it." Sitting down, they waited for Michael and Michael to argue it out.
"Thanks dad...you made Lea leave... just why do you think we have a problem? God dad...we don't." "We do son. You've been nothing but cold, distant, and angry inside. For the last few years. even after Anya apologized, that still wasn't enough for you. Oh you pretended it was, but we all knew it wasn't."
"Bull crap dad. I had my arm around her at Christmas, I kissed her, and talked to her. How can you say I haven't forgiven her?" "You haven't son." "Listen dad...this is over, I'm done talking."
Trying to leave the room, Michael grabbed his sons arm.
"Let go dad. I don't want to go here with you. I'm no longer your little boy, I'm a man, now...let go, before I do something I'll later regret." Still not releasing his son he said... God dad don't you see it? You're the one with the problem, you're the one who hasn't gotten over it, not me." "No son. I'm not. You are and I'll never let go. Not until you admit we still have a problem."
"Dad...there is no problem. Listen to yourself. Notice the difference. The problem is yours, not mine. You are the one that hasn't forgiven Anya, you are the one that has been hiding the pain, while you spent the hurt trying to help us heal, you forgot to heal yourself, not me. Everytime you come here, it's always I have the problem. Stop covering dad...admit it's you, before it eats you up inside."
Walking into the kitchen Mac heard the arguement. "What's going on Stella? What's he doing to that boy now?" "Stay out of it Mac. It's Michael's son, let them work it out." "Work what out Stella? Tell me?" Stella knew if she told Mac they were arguing over Anya again, he'd break it up.
"Fine Stel...I'll find out myself." Turning to leave Stella grabbed Mac's arm.
"Anya Mac...they are arguing over Anya." "What? Why can't he let it go. What the hell is wrong with our son that he can't let it rest?" "Mac...just stop. It's time you stay out of it. Let them finally get to the root of your sons anger, and work through it as father and son."
"What? My son's anger?" "Yes Mac...MJ figured it out long ago. I'm surprised we haven't. MJ forgave Anya long ago, but our son, he hasn't. He's still holding her hurtful words in his heart. It's been his problem, not MJ's, he just hasn't realized it yet. He's got it embedded in his mind, that it's MJ that still hates her for the words. So just let them work it out."
"So you're telling me that Michael, has been hiding his own pain from Anya's words to MJ?" "Yes...ever since that day. Illness or no illness, Michael has never come to terms with her hurtful words, for his only concerns were his wife and son." "Then maybe MJ will need some help." "No Mac...stay out of it. Only MJ can help his dad now."
Looking towards the room, Mac prayed for MJ and Michael. For he knew this was going to be one tough road for his son.
"
Before what eats me up son? I'm not the one with the hate, you are." Busting himself from his dads arms, they ended up in a wrestling match on the floor. While Michael grabbed at his son to hold him down, MJ flipped him, wrapped his arms around his waist, and held him against him.
While Michael continued to struggle and fight, MJ knew it wouldn't be long before his dad released his pain.
"Let go of me son...now MJ." "Never dad...not till you admit it."
"Noooooooooo...God damn it... how could she say that about you? How could she wish you dead? God I hate her for her words. I hate her son, no mother should ever say those things to their child. I don't care how sick they are...I can never forgive her, you are right son. Never can I forgive her."
"Yes...yes you can dad, and I'm going to help you. I'm going to give you and Anya my words to survive. Then together as a family we are going to heal this wound shut." Allowing his dad to cry out his pain, MJ just rocked him as close as he could to his heart.
Out in the kitchen Mac had Stella and Lea in his arms. Trying to block out Michael Sr.'s screams, Lea couldn't take it anymore and ran outside. "Go too her Mac...I'll be alright." "You sure sweetheart?" "I'm positive. I'm going to call Anya."
When Mac got outside he found Lea rocking in the chair.
"Lea...sweetheart, come here please." Getting up she allowed Mac to wrap her in his arms. "You're shivering.." as he rubbed her shoulders, and arms. "I'm scared Mac...God... I've never heard them yell like that. Then all that banging, they had to have broken something."
"Trust me Lea...yes they were wrestling, yes they were arguing. But hurting each other? That would never happen, not even by accident." "I don't understand Mac...how could Michael not have noticed he was the one that was so angry and hurt?" "It's not that he didn't realize it Lea...it's that he didn't want to admit it. He wanted to keep it hidden. But pain like that doesn't go away. It just builds over time, then you break."
Back inside Michael had finally stopped screaming.
"How could she son? How could she say all those hurtful things to you. To my child who had been through hell." "Dad...it's not that she meant to say them. And yes they were hurtful, yes they made me angry, and saddened that she had wanted me to stop suffering. But I also understand she wasn't really seeing me. She was seeing all those victims come flooding back into her mind.
All that violence, and pain she had witnessed. It took a long time for me to finally admit that dad. But I did. I also faught my way home that day. For I was terrified that you would listen to her words, and let me go. God dad...that's what made me hate her. Not that she said the words, but that you were going to do it. That she had that kind of power over you, that's what scared the hell out of me, causing me to hate her. I could hear it in your voice dad. The saddness, the pain that you also thought I was in. You just don't remember dad."
Thinking back Michael still couldn't remember all the events of that day. The only thing he could remember was Anya telling him to let his son go.
"I really don't remember son, I"m sorry." "It's okay dad. But you have to let the hate for Anya go now. You have to talk with her, and work it out as a couple. I can't save your marriage dad, only you can. And if you keep going down this hateful road, you will find yourself and my siblings alone."
"But how son? How do I tell her how I feel. How do you tell someone that you love, you now hate them?" "You don't hate her dad, you don't. I can see the love you both still share. You also just said love... not loved.
Which means you still love her. Just be honest with her, just let her know how you feel about what she said. Let her know that you've been having trouble forgiving her, explain to her the pain you've kept hidden. She'll understand dad. We need to heal this wound shut now. It's been open for too long."
Hearing the knock on the door MJ answered it. "Hi Anya...come on in, I think you and dad need to talk." Kissing Anya on the cheek, MJ left the room.