The next day Castle arrived at the court house a little early for the afternoon session. He wanted to get a look at Jon Schuler. Rick's heart fell when he saw him, the man was...grim. He had on an inexpensive black suit, a white shirt but no tie and looked to be in his mid to late sixties. The man never even looked at him or the baby in Rick's arms. This had to work!

Castle had talked to Ryan by phone about what had happened in the morning session. Kate had already given the custody panel information on the murder of Rebecca Schuler and the current status of the investigation. Mr. Schuler had his lawyer present the legal documents. The birth and death certificate for his son Eric, the marriage certificate for Eric and Jane Schuler and the birth certificate for Rebecca. The panel also requested a DNA sample from Mr. Schuler, which was reluctantly given. The morning session ended as they waited for the test results.

Esposito waved to Castle as he entered the room and motioned for him to come over to the small group on the other side of the room. Rick's eyes were instantly on Beckett. He walked over, unsure what to say or do as Kate got up. She looked so tired and sad, he just wanted to hold her. Emma smiled and clapped at seeing Kate. Beckett held out her arms for Emma. "Hey there pretty girl! Don't you look nice." Kate ignored Castle as she took her from him, hugging and kissing her. Rick's arms touched Kate as he gave her Emma. He was stunned at how much the brief contact affected him. His heart was beating fast and he sunk down into a chair to stop his knees from shaking.

Swallowing hard he finally spoke. "No one looks happy, how is it going?"

"He is going to win and he knows it. I hate the thought of what Emma's life will be with that man. All he talks about is God, carrying on his family name and the family tradition, he owns some kind of a store." Kate hugged Emma closer and finally spoke directly to Castle. "Looks like someone went shopping again." She pointed to the small rolling suitcase he brought. It held all her clothes, the sippy cup, her lamb and all the remaining diapers and wipes. Emma's bottle was in Rick's suit jacket pocket. He handed it to Kate.

"I wanted her to look pretty when she meets her great-grandfather for the first time."

"She does, she looks so pretty and so happy..."

Her tone was breaking his heart. Before he could say anything more, the five members of the custody panel entered the room. There were three women and two men, they sat at the long table at the front of the room. "Are the test results ready?"

"I want to object again for the need of the tests. You are calling Mr. Schuler a liar! He has given you proof Rebecca was his grandchild. I want no more delays, conclude this now!"

"Dr. Parrish is on her way! She will be here shortly."

The woman seated in the center of the panel, ignored the lawyer and spoke directly to the older man. "Mr. Schuler, this panel has just one duty, to decide what is in the best interest of Emma. First, we would like to extend our profound sympathy for the loss of Rebecca."

"Thank you."

"Sir, I do understand your desire to have the only remaining member of your family returned to your care. However you are no longer a young man. Taking care of a toddler is difficult. Who will help you care for Emma?" The lawyer got up but the woman cut him off before he could speak. "No Mr. Taylor, I want Mr. Schuler to answer!"

"She is my responsibility. When my son was killed, Rebecca was ten. She was always a good girl until my wife Sarah died. Then she would no longer do what she was told. She wouldn't do her chores and went out after dark and sometimes she did not come home at all. I should have been more strict...stopped her because a week or so before she left I learned that she was with child. She would not tell me who...I tried to help. I found a man who just lost his wife. He said he would marry her, even though she carried another man's child."

"Excuse me, let me understand! You arranged a marriage for Rebecca to a man she had never met, to hide the fact she was an unwed teenage mother?"

"He was a good man. Good to the church and his neighbors. His wife died giving birth to his son. He had two other girls but they were too young to help. He had an infant to raise, he needed a wife. Rebecca needed to atone for her sins. She would be a wife to a good man and the marriage would hide her shame." The panel stopped to discuss this new information.

Beckett shook her head in disgust and and whispered to Castle. "What century is this guy living in? I'd run away too. I can't bear the thought of Emma living with him."

Castle reached over and put his arm around her shoulder and patted Emma cheek. "I can't either and maybe..."

"Touch me again, Castle and that arm will need a cast...As much as they don't want to give Emma to him. He is her only family and it's the law!"

Castle saw Lanie enter the room and she gave him the thumbs up signal. "Have I ever let you down Kate? A very wise man and great poker player told me the secret to winning when you know your opponent has a better hand."

"Yeah, you bluff! That's not going to work here."

"No, you kick over the table. Look out because things are about to go flying!"

Rick stood up and Lanie walked over to stand beside him. "I need to bring a urgent matter to the attention of this panel."

"This is a closed hearing. Who are you, sir?"

"My name is Richard Castle. I have been caring for Emma since she was found. Frankly, I have fallen in love with her and hoped to adopt her. I paid for a private investigator to find the identity of her mother. That was before Mr. Schuler came forward. I wanted to make sure that she had no other family that would complicate the adoption. I was surprised to learn that Emma's biological father lives in New York City."

"No it's a lie! He is trying to steal my only family. That boy used Rebecca like a whore and walked away, no he ran away. He has no family and is a Godless outsider."

Castle ignored Mr. Schuler's outburst. "I was able to locate the young man. Edward Long agreed to a DNA test to prove paternity. Dr. Parrish has the results of both DNA tests with her."

"Dr. Parrish?" Lanie stepped forward with several copies of the test results, she handed one to each member of the panel and one to Mr. Schuler's lawyer. " On a standard DNA test at least 5 to 7 markers of DNA will match for any family member. Mr. Schuler has six markers that match Emma. Mr Long has ten markers in common. He is Emma's father." As Lanie walked back to sit beside Castle she whispered, "I think you just got out of the doghouse. Don't blow it!"

Castle smiled at her but turned to look at the panel with a serious face. "Mr. Long is waiting outside, he would like to speak to this panel about the custody of his daughter."