Notes: Muggle/Modern!AU

"It wasn't supposed to be like this," Marlene stated, rocking her leg as she leaned back on the sofa.

"What is it supposed to be like, Marlene?" the doctor asked.

"I should be in my home with my child," she replied, "not here sitting in an office talking to a doctor about my mental stability."

The doctor tapped the notepad they were holding with the pen in his hand. "Why do you think you're here?"

Marlene snorted harshly. She had to have this conversation over and over again; and she was not fond of it. Detested it, really.

It wasn't fair at all. It wasn't like Gregory had to go through this. Oh no, because he was happily married with the perfect job and living in the perfect neighborhood, her daughter was in his custody until Marlene was more stable.

Marlene was still trying to figure out where it had all gone wrong.

"Listen, Dr. Bones," Marlene said, "we can keep having this conversation and getting nowhere, or you can say I'm progressing so I can get my daughter back."

Dr. Bones gave Marlene a calculated stare, a small smile on his face.

Marlene didn't like his expression. She raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "Am I amusing you, Dr. Bones?"

He shook his head. "Not at all, Marlene."

"Then what exactly is that smile doing on your face?"

Dr. Bones shook his head once more. "You didn't answer my question."

Marlene sighed and rolled her eyes. "I'm here because there was a fire at my home," she said, "and law enforcement doesn't understand the concept between an accident and arson so they took the only thing that made my day shine away from me."

She looked away before the shrink could catch the quick change in her emotions. So much had changed since she graduated school, but Marlene wouldn't have ever thought it would have come to this.

She had married the love of her life and had a child. Now she was divorced and fighting to keep joint custody because someone tampered with her gas heater.

Life was certainly fickle at times. If it were a physical person, Marlene would have kicked him.

"How have you been since the separation?" Dr. Bones asked.

Marlene gave him a cold stare; it was a look she had given since she first had to have a psych evaluation. Bullocks if you asked her.

"Fine."

"You don't seem fine."

"You don't seem the type to prattle on when you know the answer already," Marlene retorted, "yet here you are, prattling on."

Dr. Bones seem unphased by her words. It made her even more annoyed with the man. She just wanted her child; that was all.

"Let's try another approach," he said.

Marlene shook her head. "Let's try another session on the 'never' day."

"Marlene, if you want to get your daughter back, you know you have to attend my sessions," he reminded her.

She felt so trapped...defeated; and there was nothing she could do about it. Though Dr. Bones knew exactly where to push her buttons; Marlene would do anything to get her daughter back.

With a heavy sigh, Marlene crossed her arms and conceded with the rest of the therapy session.

"Don't worry, Harmony, you'll be home with Momma soon."

A/N: written for HSWW (Challenges and Assignments)

Assignment #3 Women's History Task 2: write about a mother fighting to gain or regain custody of her child or children.

Insane House Challenge: (dialogue) "Am I amusing you, [name]?"

365 Prompts Challenge: 133. "It wasn't supposed to be like this."

Lent Challenge - Only Minor Characters

Word Count: 550