A/N: So, this (pretty long) chapter addresses one of the important characters that I, admittedly, have not focussed enough on; Cody. As one of you lovely reviewers pointed out, he never seems to be in interacting with the guys, so this chapter is very Cody-centric, and in future I will try to include him more.
I apologise if this is too sappy – I just felt like the family needed to spend some more time together.
Do pardon the clumsy use of italics to note a flashback – I wanted it to be clear.
One last note: I foresee there being two, maybe three chapter left before I wrap this story up. Thanks for the continuing support guys.
Cody sits on the swing in the playground, head leaning against the cold chain of the swing, legs idly kicking just enough to move him forward and backward. Zach and Shaun sit on the bench just across the asphalt, talking seriously, looking at a bundle of papers held in Zach's hands. He wants to go over and talk to them because he's feeling a little lonely, but remembers his mom saying that sometimes grown-ups don't always want you around, and if they're talking you shouldn't be.
Mom. He remembers the way her hair smelt of perfume and the tang of cigarette smoke when she bent down to pick him up or held his hand on the way to pre-school. His eyes sting a bit when he can't quite remember her face clearly, or hear her telling him she loves him.
Uncle Zach gets annoyed when she doesn't ring on Sundays like she used to, and since he broke his arm in summer he hasn't wanted to talk about her. Cody isn't stupid, he knows not to ask, or he might get mad about it. Not that Uncle Zach ever really gets mad, only when he's been told off at school or won't do his homework or eat his carrots. If he's been sent to his room Shaun comes in, looking all stern, and Cody feels bad for upsetting people. Shaun sits next to him on the bed and talks to him about why they're mad, and makes him understand what's going on. Cody always says sorry, and does mean it, and then Shaun hugs him and tells him to get his pyjamas on.
There are so many things to think about Cody doesn't know which one to start with, so he closes his eyes for a second and enjoys being quiet for a while.
"Is he alright?" Shaun asks, and Zach shrugs, looking at the forlorn looking figure sitting alone on the swing that glitters with frost all along the metal bars at the top.
"I don't know, he's been thinking a lot recently." Shaun nods, mouth twisting as he thinks.
"Maybe we should have another talk with him."
Shaun shivers in the early December sunshine as he makes his way over to Cody, making him shriek when he leans down and whispers in his ear,
"What you thinking about ankle-biter?"
Cody slithers off the swing, eyes wide.
"You scared me!" he says accusingly, and Shaun does his best to look remorseful.
"Sorry buddy. I need a favour." Cody loves it when Shaun talks to him like an adult, it makes him feel important.
"What?"
"See, your Uncle Zach needs cheering up. And I was thinking, why don't we take him and get him some lunch, perhaps…oh, I don't know…pancakes or something? I know you don't like them, but maybe…" If there's one thing Cody loves, and has always loved, it's pancakes. He likes them with cheese, with bacon, with chocolate - anything at all.
"I do!" he protests, and Shaun raises his eyebrows.
"Really? Sorry, I must be confused with someone else."
As they turn to walk back toward Zach, Cody hesitates before sliding his hand into Shaun's, because the kids at school say it's babyish to hold hands now, but at that moment he doesn't care, because Shaun has big strong hands that make him feel safe.
Zach smiles as he sees his two favourite people in the world strolling hand in hand toward him, talking conspiratorially. He almost feels jealous of the bond they have, but when they look at him and Cody's face splits into a big grin he can't feel that mad about it.
Cody stares at the menu in the pancake house, head tilted to one side as he contemplates what to have. In his brain he asks his stomach what it wants, but it just says anything! Just as long as it's pancakes. In the end he goes for a stack with bacon and maple syrup on, and Shaun winks approvingly as he orders his with eggs and asks for three chocolate milkshakes. Zach has his with a burger and a side of bacon, and Shaun hands back the menus.
"So," Shaun says, folding his hands together in front of him on the table and looking at Cody. He looks up at him wide-eyed, because Shaun sometimes looks like this when he's in trouble, but he doesn't think he's been bad today. "What's going on in that head of yours Cody?"
"Huh?" he asks, and Zach puts his arm around his shoulder and squeezes.
"Is everything alright? You looked kinda sad at the park."
Cody looks at a tiny groove in the table and traces it with his finger as he thinks of what to say. Zach cuts his eyes at Shaun and frowns.
"If you're worried you can tell us buddy, you know that don't you?" Shaun says gently, reaching out to grab the hand and catch his attention.
Cody looks up and blinks, because those stupid tears are starting in his eyes and he doesn't know why, because they're all together and having his favourite food and this so stupid and…
"Hey," Zach says, and his face is so kind and looks so worried that suddenly Cody can't stop the water dribbling down his face, and his nose gets all stingy. And even though he's almost eight years old and definitely too big for this, Zach drags him up onto his lap and wraps his arms about him, holding him into his chest while he cries.
Shaun gets a pain in his chest watching them moulded together, a look of panic on Zach's face as he shushes him quietly. He catches his eye and cocks his head questioningly. Zach shakes his head, as baffled as him.
After a minute or so the sobs subside into hiccups, and then into ragged breaths as he calms down. Cody turns his head, his cheeks flushed with heat and embarrassment, and looks at Shaun, who smiles at him and holds out a napkin for him to wipe his face.
Cody gives a watery smile back and wipes his nose and eyes, crawling off Zach's lap and sitting back down, annoyed at himself for being such a baby about it. Zach asks him as casually as he can,
"Wanna tell us what's going on now?"
Cody wipes his eyes again and looks at them.
"I was thinking about things, and I didn't tell you because mom said if grown-ups are talking then I can't say anything. And then I thought about her, and I can't remember her much, and it makes me sad sometimes that she doesn't want to see me, and…and…stuff." He ends weakly. Zach blinks at him and Cody sees the look that passes between them. It's what Ms Kelly at school calls a 'we're in trouble' look, and Shaun stares at Zach for a second, and it's like they're talking, but with their faces.
"Why didn't you say any of this before?" Zach asks, and Cody shrugs.
"It doesn't matter."
"Cody, of course it matters! We love you, and we don't want you to feel sad or see you cry or anything," Shaun says earnestly, and Cody knows he's right, because he always says he loves him when he says goodnight, and even Uncle Zach, who doesn't talk as much as Shaun sometimes says it. "And whatever your mom says about grown-ups talking isn't always true. Sometimes if we need to discuss boring grown-up things that you wouldn't care about then we'll tell you, okay? But if it's something about you, then of course you can ask us about it," He continues, and Cody nods, Zach's arm back around his shoulders again.
The waitress brings over the milkshakes and Cody accepts his, holding it in both hands so he doesn't drop it and make a mess. Shaun takes a giant slurp of his, but his face goes all funny because there's ice cream stuck in the straw, and he makes his eyebrows go all wiggly, and Cody can't help but giggle, then Uncle Zach snorts and joins in, and then Shaun gives up trying to get it out and laughs as well. Cody laughs so hard his stomach hurts, and Shaun gives him a wink as puts the straw back to his lips and blows, moving the ice cream out of the straw and making a big old bubble in it that pops. A bit lands on Zach's face and he scowls for a second before they all start laughing again, and they carry on laughing even when the waitress brings over the pancakes, and gives them a funny look before leaving.
As they eat they ask Cody questions about if he wishes he was living with his mom now instead of them, and he thinks about it, because he knows it's an important question, but shakes his head after a moment.
"No, I like living here with you, and I like my friends, and my school."
Zach breathes a sigh of relief, and Shaun looks happy. They explain to him about the adoption, and what it means, and he listens carefully.
"Can't I talk to mom anymore then?"
Of course he can, they tell him; this doesn't stop her being his mom, it just means that if he gets hurt or anything they can look after him, and talk to his teachers and doctors and everybody.
"It's just to keep you safe buddy." Zach tells him, and Cody nods around a mouthful of pancake. He swallows, has a bit of milkshake and looks at them.
"Does that mean you're like my dad? What about Shaun?"
They fall silent for a moment, and then Shaun says carefully,
"What do you think? What do you want to call us?"
Cody is quiet again – there sure is a lot to think about today.
"Uh, I can call Zach Daddy, and Shaun…" Shaun doesn't realise he's holding his breath until Cody says "Shaun can be Pop. Suzie at school has a Pop – it sounds cool."
Shaun swallows and looks down into his pancakes for a bit, before excusing himself and leaving the table. Cody looks at Zach, brow crinkling with worry.
"Is Shaun mad?" Zach shakes his head.
"No, I think he's really happy actually."
The day Cody breaks up from school Shaun picks him up in the car and takes him shopping to buy his Christmas presents. The middle of town is really busy, and Shaun tells him not to let go of his hand while they're walking because he doesn't want him to get lost. They go into the big department stores and Shaun asks what he wants to buy Zach.
There are so many cool things for grown-ups that Cody doesn't know which one to pick. He asks questions about everything, and Shaun patiently explains about what a shoe-shaper is, what a tie-rack is for, why men have eau-de-cologne and ladies have perfume. Cody listens attentively and purses his lips, looking so like Zach that Shaun can't help but smile.
"I want something for a daddy." He says finally, and Shaun finds a really fancy big notebook with a leather cover that can be inscribed at the desk, and Cody tells the lady he wants 'Daddy' written in the top right hand corner. She smiles at he and Shaun as she swipes the card and tells them she'll give them a ring once it's done, in about three days.
They have hot chocolate in a café, and Cody feels really big and cool, because there are lots of pretty ladies and cool-looking guys sitting around them, talking on their phones and writing in their diaries.
"Cody." Shaun says, and Cody thinks he looks a bit nervous. "I just want to tell you that you don't have to call me Pop if you don't want to. It's your choice, and I won't be mad if you don't."
"You don't want me to?"
"No, I mean yes, I just…Of course I do. You're my buddy, right? I want you to do what you're happy with." Cody nods. Grown-ups can be dumb sometimes.
"I'll call you Pop."
And the conversation moves onto other things, like moving house and what kind of room Cody would like. Cody's eyes bug a bit when Shaun says he can choose his own pictures for his wall, and get a desk and chair for his homework.
"When you get married, are you going to have a big party?"
"Do you think we should?"
"I don't mind. Can we have cake?" Shaun raises an eyebrow and smiles.
"Sure. Everyone likes cake, right?"
"Are your mom and dad coming?"
"Ah, I don't know. Probably."
"Is Gabe? Gabe's cool."
"I'll ask him."
"Is…is my mom coming? And my grampa?"
Shaun doesn't answer for a bit, and Cody thinks perhaps he shouldn't ask so many questions.
"I don't know. You'll have to ask Uncle Zach about it." Cody looks at him hard, wondering if he's forgotten the talk at the pancake house.
"Daddy."
"What?"
"I have to ask Daddy about it."
Shaun bites back the caution, the kind reprimand that just because Jeanne has said it's okay, doesn't mean everyone else will. Cody's face is so open and honest he can't bear to say anything to upset him.
"Uh, sure, ask him about it."
It's Christmas Eve, and Zach's just finished a shift at the diner, tramping in through the door holding a bag of vegetables they gave him as a kind of Christmas gift. Cody sits in front of the television, watching the Muppets Christmas Carol and sneaking chocolate when he thinks nobody's watching.
"Hey Daddy," he calls, not turning to face Zach. Zach freezes for a second, and wonders if he ought to correct him, but remembers the talk he and Shaun had last week:
"Zach, if this is what he needs to understand what's going on, then we can't take that away from him." Zach had sighed and nodded, rolling over in the bed to rest his head on Shaun's chest.
"I just… I don't want him to get confused."
"Confused about what?"
"I'm not his father. We're not his parents, are we?"
Shaun was quiet for a second and his fingertips brush down Zach's arm.
"Doesn't it depend on how you define a parent? I mean, he does have a biological mother, yes. She's on the other side of the country almost; doesn't call or visit. His father, as far as everyone knows, is probably still an alcoholic who's got no sense of responsibility and certainly no concern for his son. So no, we aren't his parents; we're better than that."
Zach nodded into the warm skin near his underarm and said nothing.
"Hey buddy," he called, kicking the door shut behind him and smiling at the tinsel lining the key bowl by the phone.
"Where's…Pop?" he tries carefully, his tongue moving its way over the unfamiliar phrasing.
"He got a phone call from his mom just now."
Zach sighs. Shaun hasn't spoken to his mother since after the party, and refuses to discuss it when Zach brings it up. He can only assume he's breaking the ice as it's Christmas. He hears a raised voice from behind the door and winces, putting a warning finger to his lips when Cody looks around and starts to open his mouth. Zach steps nearer the door and cocks his head so he can hear better.
"Is that why you called? No, Mom, I didn't tell you, because we haven't spoken for almost six months…you chose to not answer my message back in October…yes…he has known for a while, because he supports me. Don't blame Gabe, it was gonna happen sooner or later. Oh, give me a break with the waterworks, just take a valium or…hello? Hello? Fine, fuck you."
Zach's phone starts buzzing furiously, and he slips it out to see the goofy picture of Gabe he set as his caller ID flashing.
"Hello?"
"Hey, look, I fucked up, okay, I'm sorry. I only got back yesterday and mom was all 'your brother won't talk to me, I don't even know what's going on in his life' yadda yadda yadda, and I was all 'why don't you talk to him then?' and she just didn't, and then today she was being all nice and shit, and I was tired, and she kept asking me all these questions, and it slipped out – I didn't mean to say anything I swear!"
Zach can't help but laugh at his panic.
"Dude, don't panic. I've been trying to get him to talk to her for months. I'll deal with it over here; just…try and talk to her or something." He finishes awkwardly, and Gabe snorts.
"Right, I'll try that. Thanks."
"No problem. Hey, come down and see us soon, right?"
"Sure man, I don't think I'm gonna be welcome round here after this. Stay safe bro."
"You too."
Shaun storms out the room angrily.
"She is just unbelievable, I swear to you!"
Cody freezes on the couch, eyes shifting sideways as he tries not to look like he's watching them. He doesn't like it when they shout – it always means something bad.
"What did she say?"
"Oh, usual shit. I mean stuff, sorry, shit. Just about how I'm as cruel as my dad, keeping her in the dark about my life when all she wants to do is be there for me. Can you believe her? She was the one that told me I'd ruined her stupid party and made her a freaking social pariah. Never mind that she hates Stephen and his mother, and they managed to offend her son's partner, no, let's all weep over her lost social standing!"
Zach nods sympathetically and takes him by the hand to the couch, depositing him next to Cody and heading to get a couple of beers. Cody shifts a little, not breathing too loud in case everyone gets mad at him too. Shaun sits, hands fidgeting angrily as he takes a deep breath in through his nose and blows it out of his mouth. He isn't properly aware of Cody for a good ten seconds, and as soon as he is, lets out a big sigh.
"Hey."
"Are you mad?"
"Yeah. Not at you though."
"At Daddy?"
"No! No, neither of you guys. Just at my mom."
Cody frowns; he sometimes feels mad at his mom, but he doesn't shout like that.
"Did she call you bad names?"
"Something like that Buddy, yeah."
Cody stops asking questions, and just cuddles up against Shaun's warm side.
Zach passes him the beer, bending to brush his lips comfortingly against his temple.
"You alright?"
"Yeah, no, I don't know. I just…where does she get off telling me I'm a bad son? She just…this is why I didn't say anything to her. Because she makes out like I'm a bast…a bad person for not telling her before I asked. Like she wanted me to make some whole society paper occasion with a goddamn string quartet and peacocks, you know?"
Zach quirks an eyebrow; "Peacocks?"
Shaun glares at him, but his mouth twitches at the sight of Zach barely restraining a grin.
Soon they're both laughing, and Cody starts giggling too, and Shaun just makes a weird groany tiger noise and puts his head in his hands. Cody pats him on the back even though he's still giggling a bit.
"It's alright Pop, she doesn't have to come to the wedding."
The Mickey Mouse alarm clock goes off at 5am, and Cody reaches out and presses down the ear that stops it buzzing. He opens both eyes properly and sits up in bed, looking around his room. There, laid across his desk is the stocking Shaun had pulled out of the closet the night before.
Zach tiptoed into Cody's room, wincing as a floorboard creaked. He cursed Shaun under his breath for putting the sock on the other side of the room, and trod as quietly as he could.
He was almost at the desk when his foot collided with a toy Cody had left out, and it rolled against the desk with a crash. He held his breath, ready to come up with an excuse for why he was in there when Cody woke, but the sleepyhead just muttered something under his breath and rolled over. He grabbed the offending sock and crept out as quickly as he could.
"What were you doing in there?" Shaun said, sat on the sofa with his book.
"Trying to get the freakin' sock; did you have to put it on the other side of the room?"
Shaun laughed, holding out his hand for the offending item and starting to fill it with the small gifts they'd been wrapping secretly over the past few days.
"I used to love getting a sock when I was a kid," Shaun mused as he inserted the Ben 10 water bottle, "I remember getting a GI Joe when I was about eight – best Christmas present ever."
"Hey!" Zach said indignantly, and Shaun winked at him.
"I meant kid Christmas present. Clearly your gifts are way better."
"Damn right they are. Gotta say, I'm running out of ideas though."
"That bodes well; it's only our third together. Can't wait till we're old." Zach smiles at him fondly.
"Me neither."
Cody slips out from under the covers and picks up the sock carefully, tiptoeing back to bed and huddling under the covers, before pulling the first small gift out.
Zach's having an awesome dream; he, Shaun and Cody are sitting on a beach. The sun is beating down and the surfboards lie drying in the heat. Cody's reading a book about Pirates, and Shaun has just finished typing something on his computer, a big smile spread across his face. Zach feels so content he wishes they could stay forever, and his heart thumps crazily when Shaun raises his left hand to touch his cheek softly, the sun glinting off the metal of his wedding ring.
Zach's eyes pop open, and he exhales deeply. The wedding has kind of taken a back seat over the past few months, and instead it's manifesting itself in Zach's dreams. He doesn't know how to talk about it, because this just isn't something he'd thought about when they started this
Shaun rolls over and comes to lie against Zach's back, chin brushing against the stubble of his shoulder.
"Hey," he says croakily, and Zach shifts until he is lying facing him.
"Merry Christmas." He says softly, and Shaun smiles, eyes still closed.
"Merry Christmas to you too, babe."
"Shaun."
"Mmm?"
"I had this dream…" Shaun cracks his eyes open and smirks, reaching one hand under the covers to grope at him.
"Really? Sounds good to me."
"Not that kind of dream. I…we were on vacation. And Cody was there too, and we were on this amazing beach. And you…you were wearing a ring."
Shaun is still for a moment before he sighs and moves his way up to sitting.
"Did it bother you?"
"What do you mean?"
"The dream, did it make you feel uncomfortable?"
"No, it was amazing. I felt…really happy."
Shaun leant down and kisses him tenderly on the mouth.
"Okay, let's talk about it."
"About what?"
"The wedding, Zach. That's clearly what's on your mind."
"It might not be."
"It is, trust me. Because it's bugging me a bit too. Do you still want it?"
"Well yeah."
"When?"
"I don't know."
"When, c'mon Zach, just give me a date."
"Uh, I…"
"When?"
"I…July. Your birthday." Shaun looks at him for a while, and Zach can't decipher the look in his eyes.
"Why not yours?"
"Because yours is at a better time of year. And I only have to buy you one gift then."
Shaun rolls his eyes and flicks his shoulder.
"July it is. I'll sort it."
"Alright. Want some coffee?"
"God, yes."
They are up and dressed when Shaun looks at the clock and realises it's only 6.30. He tries to lie down again but Zach takes him firmly by the hand and pulls him into the front room.
"Sit there and look festive." He orders, and Shaun grins, flicking on the CD player and pressing play on the Christmas songs album.
Cody hears the opening strains of 'Frosty the Snowman' and pops his head out of the door, beaming when he sees Shaun up and dressed, yawning a little as he sorts the tree presents into piles.
"Happy Christmas Pop." He says, pulling his sock behind him on the floor.
"Hey! Happy Christmas kid!" Shaun says, moving up on the couch to make room for him.
"Look what Santa gave me!"
Zach hears the excited strains of Cody's voice from the kitchen and smiles, leaning against the counter for a second and offering a cosmic thank-you to whoever had arranged for his life to go like this. Because if it weren't for Shaun they'd still be back at the house, and it would just be he and Cody, scraping by while Jeanne enjoyed herself out in Portland. He shakes the thought from his head and picks up the coffee cups, making his way out of the kitchen.
One Turkey, lots of presents and two bottles of wine later Cody lies face down on the smaller sofa, exhausted by the excitement of the day. Zach's head is on Shaun's lap, and they watch "It's a Wonderful Life", playing on one of the cable channels.
"Shaun?"
"Yeah?"
"Do we need to make a guest list and shit?"
"Well yeah, we need to know numbers, right?"
"Yeah. I guess I should invite Jeanne, shouldn't I?" Shaun brushes some hair back from Zach's forehead and looks down at him.
"You'll have to invite Alan too though."
"Oh. I don't think they'll come."
"No."
"I want Tori there, and Gabe."
"I had been planning on inviting him I have to say, what with him being my brother and all."
"Shut up, you know what I mean. He can be the best man or whatever."
"I'd better ask my Mom, or there'll be World War Three. She'll come, even if I don't want her to."
"I can ask Mark and Adam."
"And I can ask Linda, and Julie."
"Anybody else?"
"Nobody I'm that worried about."
"Your mom will want you to invite her friends."
"She can bite me."
"That's like, ten people, twelve if Jeanne and Alan come."
"Is that alright?"
"Sure, I just…I don't know, really."
"Come on, let's get Cody to bed and we can talk about this some more."
In February, a week after Zach's birthday, they have the initial court hearing about the adoption. Zach had called Jeanne in January about the papers she would have to sign, and she had been surprisingly co-operative, and distant. Shaun had shrugged when Zach told him, putting the phone back in its cradle and pulling Zach close to him.
"Her loss."
Cody sits in the living room watching Zach straighten his tie in front of the mirror and swear to himself as the knot goes wrong, pulling it apart roughly and starting again. Pop told him last night that today he's going to go to Mikey's after school just for an hour, because he and Daddy need to go and talk to the judge about the adoption. He explained it really well, and Cody doesn't feel really worried or anything, because he knows that everything is going to be fine, because that's what everyone has been saying about it.
At the school gate Zach gives him a tight hug, and he doesn't always do that, so he hugs back really hard. Shaun picks him up and squeezes him too, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek, then puts him back down. Cody walks into the playground and spots Mikey straight away. He gives his Daddy and Pop a last look over his shoulder, and they wave at him. His Daddy has a funny tight expression on his face, and his Pop pats him on the back before they get back in the car.
All through Math Cody sits, looking at the clock occasionally when he finishes a question. Normally Ms Kelly puts on her stern face when he does this, but today she's being extra nice. Cody likes it when she smiles; her eyes go all twinkly, and she looks like a fairy or a princess or something. He told Pop that once before, and he nodded seriously, hmmm'ing like he'd said something really important.
"I had a teacher like that when I was at school. They had curly hair and bright blue eyes, and I thought they were really beautiful. I wanted to marry them when I was older."
Cody smiled, he knew Pop would understand.
"Was she as pretty as my teacher?" Shaun had looked at him for a second, and then laughed.
"Uh, well, they weren't exactly the same as your teacher, but they were just as beautiful."
At lunchtime Cody doesn't feel like playing tag or ball, and doesn't even want to do computer club, so he stays behind when everybody leaves and asks Ms Kelly if he can sit and read a book. She smiles and says of course he can.
He picks up a book that he's read before, but loves it completely.
"Cody?" He looks out from around the bookcase and sees Ms Kelly looking at him.
"Yes Ms Kelly?"
"How are you feeling today?"
"I'm alright thank you," and after a pause he adds, "how are you?" Just to be polite.
Ms Kelly smiles at him.
"I'm very well, thank you. I…I talked to your uncle last week."
"He says I can call him Daddy."
"Oh, alright. I talked to your Daddy about him taking care of you."
"Okay." Cody doesn't quite get why she isn't saying what she's thinking. Pop tells him that sometimes grown-ups keep things in their heads because they don't want to upset anybody.
"I just…everything will be alright, okay?"
"Okay." He pulls his head back and sits down with his book again.
At Mikey's that afternoon they're allowed to play Sonic on his dad's playstation, and Cody sticks his tongue out as he concentrates. Mikey's mom and dad are really extra nice to him, and his dad takes them outside to kick a soccer ball around, even though he has lots of boring paperwork to do. Mikey's mom gives his dad a soppy love look through the window like Zach and Shaun give each other, and Cody is glad he isn't a grown-up yet, because that's all way too much work.
At four thirty the doorbell rings, and Mikey's mom hurries to get it, talking quietly to whoever is there. They just carry on playing Sonic until Cody feels two big strong arms grab him from behind, and he's lifted off his feet by his Pop, who has the biggest, happiest smile on his face.
"Hey kid," he says, and Cody smiles, wriggling about until Shaun puts him down. Mikey's mom and dad have a quiet conversation, and his dad claps Shaun on the back, shaking his hand hard, while his mom kisses Shaun on the cheek.
When they get into the car his Daddy turns round from the driver's seat and winks at him.
"Hey buddy."
"What did the judge say? Was it really boring?"
"It was alright. He said he thought we were looking after you really well, and if your mom and teachers and everybody say it's okay, then we can be a proper family."
Cody grins. This day was going awesome. He decides to push his luck just one more time.
"Uh, Pop."
"Yeah?"
"Can we go to Burger King for dinner?" Shaun makes a face at him in the rear view mirror.
"Really?"
"Pleeease?"
Zach looks at Shaun out of the corner of his eye and grins. Shaun is terrible at saying no.
"Fine, but just this once."
Cody smiles. Most awesome day ever.
