Chapter 14

Jackson and Maggie walked into the court with Catherine and his attorney. Jackson said, "Please make sure that you emphasize that neither one of us are with our daughter right now, and it's not because we're working to take care of her, but because she thought it would be fun to challenge an agreement that has been working all this time."

Maggie squeezed Jackson's hand giving him a physical sign of her support. Catherine looked at her son. April had been married to her son, and then she had become pregnant with not one, but two of her grandchildren. She maintained her respect for April because she was the mother of her grandchildren. However, she was highly disappointed in April's latest actions. She stood behind her son completely in fighting this.

It wasn't that she was biased because he is her son. Catherine thought that Jackson was an excellent father. He was VERY hands on. If Harriet needed him he didn't complain. He didn't make excuses for what he had to do, and why he couldn't. He made it work.

Catherine had overheard a conversation between Jackson and Maggie when they had first started dating. Jackson had apologized for not having time because April had been going through things and he had to take his daughter. Maggie had sounded very understanding. Thinking about that Catherine couldn't believe that April had the audacity to bring Jackson to court asking that he be relegated to a weekend father. He was a full-time father and just like full time mothers they worked and raised their children. Catherine was glad that Jackson was fighting this because April didn't get to take that away from him.

When they walked into the courtroom they saw Meredith and Amelia waiting. Maggie walked over to her sisters asking, "What are you two doing here?"

Meredith said, "We're here to support you and Jackson. You two are family and we're going to have your back."

Amelia said, "Yeah, did you expect us not to be here as a support system for you two?"

Maggie hugged her sisters thankful for the fact that they were willing to show up for her and Jackson.

As they all got settled in their seats the door to the courtroom opened and in walked April, Matthew and April's mother. Karen gave Jackson a dirty look. Seeing this Catherine gave Karen one right back. Catherine wasn't in the mode for April or her high and mighty mother.

As the court proceedings went on that morning they listened to April's attorney lay out how April is a volunteer doctor for homeless people. She explained how she was available to take care of her daughter without the regular use of childcare. Her attorney argued that it was better for the child to be with a parent as opposed to being in daycare.

The more her attorney talked the more agitated Maggie, Jackson and Catherine got. They even said that they were only in court today because Jackson and Catherine were using their name and influence in the medical community to intimidate her. April had testified that they thought that the threat of their big-time lawyers would stop her from doing what she believed was best for their child.

The judge called a recess before hearing from Jackson's attorney. Maggie turned towards her sisters shaking her head. Meredith was the first to speak, "I can't believe Kepner is doing this. She almost died. One would think that she would be a little more sensitive to the fact that life is short and not waste everyone's time doing this."

"She's obviously not thankful. Isn't gratitude a part of religion?" Amelia questioned.

Catherine said, "The entire time they were talking I realized how frivolous this whole proceeding is. I have better things to do with my time to be sitting in a courtroom trying to amend a child custody arrangement that will probably get changed back in a few months anyway because Harriet will be going to school."

Jackson squeezed his mother's hand as he made eye contact with Maggie. She tilted her head to the side staring back at him. Maggie stood and Jackson stood with her. They turned to everyone saying, "We'll be back."

Jackson and Maggie walked out of the courtroom and then out of the courthouse to their car. Once inside Maggie said, "It's going to be fine, babe. Everything will be fine. No judge is going to look at how hands on you are as a parent and reduce your time."

"Thank you. You truly are my place of peace. I didn't have to say anything, and you knew." Jackson said kissing Maggie's hand.

"It's not necessarily that I know what you need in any moment, but I think about if I was in your shoes and what I would want. I always what to offer you things I would want. It's important that your needs are met too." Maggie explained.

They sat in silence for a moment. Then Jackson said, "I just never thought that we would have these issues. I thought that she would understand that after having grown up without a father that being a father would be very important to me. I don't want to be absent. I want Harriet to know that I am there and always will be there, but we're adults and we do have to work, but I'm balancing it all. I'm being a father, being a doctor, being a boyfriend, and being a son. I balance it all and I'm thriving in all areas, Maggie."

Maggie nodded with a bright smile she said, "I know that Jackson. You don't have to tell me. I'm your colleague, and your girlfriend. I see how you handle it all. I know that not only do you do the best that you can, but you also do it well. I don't question you as a father. If I did I would stay out of it, but I support you so fiercely because I know that everything that you do is for the best interest of Harriet."

Jackson and Maggie stayed in the car a little while longer talking then they headed back inside. By the time they re-entered the courtroom Richard had joined their group.

Jackson shook hands with Richard and Richard kissed Maggie on the cheek. Jackson said, "I'm surprised you're here. You and April pretty much got along."

"This is family son, and like your mother I am not happy about what she's doing. I feel like this is unnecessary and I wanted to show you my support. I had a meeting earlier and then I had to do a post op follow up on a patient, or I would've been here earlier."

When the hearing reconvened Jackson's attorney laid all of their cards on the table. Arguing that Jackson be given full custody because he was able to provide a stable routine whereas April's volunteer work made a routine more difficult. His attorney pointed out how they had a family unit with Jackson, Maggie, Catherine, Richard and Maggie's sisters.

They also explained how it was important for the young child to socialize with other children and how that was beneficial for her development. It was also discussed how April was volunteering and not getting paid for her work which made her home a one income household, while Jackson had an inheritance and he and Maggie worked making large salaries at their jobs, so they were able to provide for a better education and other experiences for Harriet.

The last thing that they discussed was how Jackson had been a very present parent in Harriet's life. How he cared for Harriet after April's traumatic delivery.

After both sides had presented the judge said, "I want to admonish you that the court is not a playground. There are actual children out there who are in danger with one parent or the other. Parents who aren't good at parenting and need to be supervised when they have their children. To bring this man in here asking for full custody when you've had the same custody agreement the entire time since you all stopped living under the same roof is frivolous and it is wasting the court's time. Dr. Kepner will your daughter be starting preschool within the next few months?"

April had a shocked look on her face. She looked scared. She answered, "Yes, your honor."

The judge then asked, "So explain to me why this makes sense? Why you thought that this was important enough for you to come here today to waste the court's time? Because if you have your daughter every day during the week every week, won't you have to have childcare more? Because with the way things are you can do your volunteer work during the weeks when you don't have your child. I don't see a reason to grant your petition: however, since you think that family court is a playground I am tempted to grant Dr. Avery his request."

Jackson held his breath and Maggie squeezed his hand. They never thought that they would actually win physical custody, but it sounded like the judge wanted to go in that direction.

Jackson whispered to his attorney and then asked the Judge, "Your honor, may I please say something?"

The judge said, "That is fine Dr. Avery."

"Judge I don't want you to grant me full custody. All I ever wanted was to keep things the way they are. I know you may feel the need to punish Dr. Kepner, but the main goal for Maggie and I is Harriet's well-being. We feel that leaving things as they are would be just that for Harriet, in her best interest. I'm not trying to use my child to be spiteful. I just want us to be able to co-parent amicably like we did prior to starting new relationships." Jackson pleaded with the judge.

They took another break before the judge gave his decision. When the judge walked out of the courtroom Maggie turned to Jackson placing a kiss on his lips. He smiled down at her asking, "What was that for, babe? Not that I'm complaining."

Maggie smiled at him. She said, "I'm just so proud of the man that you are and I'm proud to be part of your life."

Jackson smiled at her and whispered into her ear, "I'm hoping that you will show me a little later just how proud you are of me."

"You know that I got you." Maggie said winking at Jackson.

Amelia coughed saying, "Get a room."

Maggie turned to look at her sisters and shrugged.

When the judge came back it was so quiet in the courtroom that you could hear a pin drop. He said, "My first instinct was to teach you a lesson Dr. Kepner about playing games with the court, but after listening to Dr. Avery's impassioned plea I have decided to grant his request that the custody arrangement remain untouched. You will continue to work within those terms."

When the judge gave his decision Maggie couldn't help the tears that escaped her eyes. She couldn't believe that April had brought it all the way here. It was extremely unnecessary. Having Harriet at the hospital daycare made it easier for her and Jackson to go see Harriet during breaks in their day.

When court was over Jackson and Maggie shook hands with his attorney. Jackson hugged his mother and Richard and Maggie hugged her sisters and thanked them again for coming to show their support.

Jackson grabbed Maggie's hand and walked over to April. Her attorney had just walked out, and she was preparing to leave with her mother and Matthew. Jackson said, "April, you have to know that I would never take our daughter away from you. I know that you are a good mother and I know how much our little girl loves you."

Karen said, "Jackson, we don't care to talk to you right now. We have to get home to get to Harriet."

Maggie could feel Jackson tense beside her. Then she heard Catherine's voice, "You're really ungrateful. You do realize my son almost walked away with physical custody of Harriet and your daughter would've been relegated to a weekend parent like she was trying to do to my son? The only reason that didn't happen was because of my son's graciousness. Here he is trying to be gracious still, in light of everything you've done to get us to this place, and you can't be any kinder?"

Richard placed a hand on his wife's shoulder. He didn't want Catherine getting worked up.

Jackson shook his head then turned with Maggie's hand still tucked in his and walked out of the courtroom. He was very happy with the outcome, but he was finding it difficult to think about co-parenting with April after all of this. However, it was time for Jackson to place his focus on other things. Like the woman who stood proudly by his side. It was time he showed Margaret Pierce just what she meant to him.