AN: Hey, I'm back!
*COUGH* So, the little mix up with 'Peeta' and 'Percy' was not an accident, I promise. *COUGH* Just wanted to check and see if you were all paying attention, you know? Well done to everyone who noticed!
Since no one in my family has gone through a divorce or fought for custody of a child I'm not sure if what I'm writing is correct. So, I apologise if I mess up a little.
Six Months Later
Annabeth
Today is the day that the judge will decide who has custody of the kids- Luke or me. The divorce had been finalised a week ago. Now all I need to get through is this and then I'll know which direction I will take. If I don't get custody then Percy has agreed to let me stay with him until I can get my own place and a job. I hope it doesn't come down to that. It would be my worst nightmare becoming reality.
Things have calmed a lot in the last few months. I've spent as much time with the kids as I can because I know there's a chance that I may not see them as much anymore. That thought terrifies me, makes shivers run down my spine and sick linger in my throat.
I stand up from my place on the couch and smooth over my pencil skirt- the only smart and sophisticated thing in my closet- before grabbing my black handbag and heading towards the front door just as Percy beeps his car horn outside the house.
Right on time.
"Hey," he says, once I'm seated beside him in his car and fastening my safety belt.
"Hi," I mutter and slouch against the soft seat.
"Did you find someone to look after the kids?" he asks while he drives away.
"Yeah, my dad and Sue came from New York to look after them. They've gone bowling."
"Good. How you feeling?" Percy replies.
"Sick," I answer simply. "Scared. Nervous."
"Just try and stay calm," Percy says, not taking his eyes off the road as he reaches over to take my hand in his. "It'll all be over soon."
We sit in silence for a long time while Percy continues to drive with one hand on the wheel and the other holding mine. My mind is occupied with worrying thoughts that make my stomach turn.
I force myself to stop thinking of the kids for a minute and let my mind wander to other things. The only other subject worth thinking about is Percy.
He's been such a great help these last few months. Any time I've needed to talk he's been there, if I wanted any space he'd stay away for a few days but he'd always text me a couple of times to check how I'm doing. If the kids seemed grumpy Percy would either come over with Lilly or we'd all go out.
He's perfect, the best.
I don't know if I'd have survived all this without him.
"Thank you," I whisper, breaking the silence that had settled over us. Percy looks over as he stops at a red light.
"What for?" he asks me, obviously confused.
"For being there for me. I know I haven't been the happiest person to be around and you never complain. I'll never be able to thank you enough for all that you've done for me."
"You have nothing to thank me for. I'm just doing the right thing. You'd do the same for me, I'm sure… but your welcome, anyway."
I nod once and lean over quickly to press my lips to his cheek. He smiles slightly before turning back to the road, the smile lingering for quite a while after.
As we continue on our short journey I start to relax more and more though my problems always linger at the back of my mind. Percy tells me stories of Lilly when she was a baby to help cheer me up and I don't fail to see the pride on his face as he tells me about the time she called him 'daddy' for the first time.
The look in his eyes as he tells me the stories makes me wonder if Luke has ever spoke of our children with such adoration in his voice. Does he love our kids? You'd think every parent would love their children but I can't remember Luke ever telling our kids that he loves them.
'Of course he loves them,' I tell myself. 'He just has a hard time showing and saying it.'
We arrive at the building soon after and Percy and I get out and walk to the entrance. We go to the front desk and tell the lady sitting behind it that I've arrived. She leads Percy and I into a room where we are told to sit and wait until we are called into the room where all will be decided.
"How long do you think we'll be here?" I ask as Percy and I sit in the boring, white room.
"A good few hours. They'll want to hear what your lawyers have to say, they'll probably ask you and Luke questions, and then the judge will decide," Percy replies.
"Is Lilly with Rachel?" I question, knowing if I don't keep talking that I'll only start to worry again.
"Yeah. Rachel is going to take her shopping for a while, I think. Then she's going to drop her off at my place as soon as we get out of here."
"You don't have to stay, you know? You can go," I say, though I selfishly hope he'll stay with me.
"I'm not going anywhere. Rachel understands. Lilly doesn't mind spending extra time with her mommy and you need support. Speaking of support, where's Piper?"
"She should be here soon," I reply, just as Piper McLean walks into the room.
"Hi," Piper breathes, looking smart in a black suit and heeled boots. Her hair is pulled back in a braid and the only makeup on her face is a little mascara yet she looks flawless.
"It's nice to meet you," Percy says and stands to hold his hand out to her. She shakes it firmly and smiles at him.
"You too. You're Percy, right?" Piper asks. Percy nods before sitting back down. "I'm Piper McLean." She turns to look at me. "How you doing?"
"I'm fine," I say, trying to stay calm but failing. My hands are starting to get shaky and sweaty. I rub them against my skirt and lean my head against the wall behind me. "I can't wait for this to all be over."
A while later and we are all settled into the court room, Piper and I on one side and Luke and his lawyer on the other. Percy sits a few rows behind me with a few other people I don't know. I don't even look at Luke as we swear to tell the truth only. The judge, a man with a wrinkly face that must be at least fifty, walks into the large room and sits before us.
It all starts when the Judge introduces himself as 'Judge Zeus Grace' and asks for the basics on mine and Luke's situation. Piper stands to speak about how Luke and I both want to have full custody of the children…
And then the questions begin.
"Miss. McLean," the Judge starts. "Is there a particular reason why your client thinks Luke Castellan is incapable of looking after their children?"
"Ms. Chase believes Mr. Castellan doesn't know how to handle their children. She has looked after them from morning to evening for the last five years and he comes home late at night when the kids are asleep. The children never have time with him though Annabeth claims that Luke makes promises all the time but he always breaks them."
"I see, thank you." Piper sits at the Judge's reply and Luke's lawyer stands to speak.
"My client never sees his kids because he's been working non-stop for the last five years. He wants the best for them. He wants them to be comfortable, which is why he spends so much time working. He pays for all the bills, the clothes for the kids and any games that they want. He's doing what any parent would do for their child if they had the money."
"Was your client able to have time off work so he could have time with his children?" the Judge asks.
"He could've taken time off, yes. But he felt that Ms. Chase always had plans for them."
"Thank you," the Judge says. "Mr. Castellan, please stand." I look over as Luke stands. "Can you give a reason why you think your ex-wife is unable to look after your children?"
"Several months ago she packed her suitcase and told me she was leaving because she wanted a break. If she could do that so suddenly there's no reason for her not to do it again. I had to get called out of a very important meeting to come home and find that she was leaving for New York where she stayed with another man."
My face burns red with anger. He's making it sound like I abandoned our kids and that I'd do it again.
"And I guess you were suspicious of this 'other man'?" the Judge asks.
"I think every man would have some suspicions if their wife wanted to suddenly leave and go stay with another man, Sir," Luke replies.
"Thank you. Please, sit," the Judge orders. Luke does as he's told and the Judge turns to face me. "Ms. Chase, please stand."
I take a deep breath and get to my feet. "You left your kids for another man?" the Judge asks bluntly.
"No. I felt that it was time Luke took some responsibility. Our marriage by then was in ruins and I didn't want the kids to have to hear us arguing anymore. I felt exhausted. So, I decided to take a break. In New York I stayed with a male friend of mine, Percy Jackson, who is also here to support me today. While there I decided to go see my father as I hadn't seen him in fifteen years. I went to my old home to find that my father thought I was dead because Luke told him I'd died in the 9/11 attacks," I reply, trying hard not to sound too defensive.
The Judge turns with a frown to Luke and asks, "Is that true?"
Luke swallows before nodding. "Yes."
"Interesting… but this is about your children." The Judge pauses. "Ms. Chase, when was the last time you worked?"
"I left my job nine years ago when I found out I was pregnant with the twins. Once they were born Luke didn't want me to go back to work and I agreed so instead I could look after the kids," I say.
"Do you plan to go back to work?" he questions.
"Yes. I've wanted to go back for over a year. With the kids in school I have nothing to do and I was going to start looking before… well, all this happened."
"Do you think your children have a good relationship with their father?"
"No. The kids don't know Luke. They don't have any memories of him. The only time they hear his voice is at night when we are arguing. When Jessica came all she wanted was a family, she wanted to get to know her dad but he was always working," I say.
"Jessica isn't your biological daughter, is that correct?" the Judge asks.
"That's correct," I respond.
"How is you relationship with her?"
"Things between us have become much better these last six months, before then there was always tension between us because she wouldn't listen to me. She started to hang around with bad kids and I didn't like that. We never used to get on and I know it's because she thinks I split her mom and Luke up, which isn't the case. I didn't know she existed until she turned up on our doorstep three years ago and I was able to persuade Luke into letting her come live with us. Since then I've treated her like my own. She confided in me a few months ago and said the reason she started to hang around with the bad guys was because she thought it would make Luke notice her."
"Thank you for that. Please, be seated," Judge says. "Luke."
Luke stands, his fists clenched at his side. "Yes, Sir?"
"When Ms. Chase left for New York you looked after the children. How was that experience?" the Judge asks.
"Challenging," Luke admits. "The boys wanted their mom. I tried to bond with them. I suggested we go play football or watch a movie but they wouldn't leave the house."
"Did your relationship with your daughter improve at all?"
Luke shrugs. "Not really. I didn't know what to say to her."
"Hmm… maybe you'd have a better relationship if you'd made enough effort to bond with her," the Judge snaps.
He asks Luke a few more questions before both Piper and Luke's lawyer both speak again. We've been in the hot, stuffy room for over an hour by the time the Judge dismisses himself so he can make his decision. Piper leads Percy and I out of the room and tells us we're allowed to leave the building to get some air but to be back in half an hour.
Percy and I leave the building to walk the streets. "Who do you think will get custody?" I ask Percy as we stroll past a park filled with little children running around. "Honestly?"
"You. You've practically raised them by yourself for years. It wouldn't be right for the judge to give it to that idiot," Percy answers, sincerely. I loop my arm through his and let out a tired sigh.
"I hope he makes his decision quick. Just being in the same room as Luke makes my blood boil. I could barely look at him in there!"
"I could tell he was panicking. He's scared," Percy insists.
"Luke? Scared? I don't know why. He's probably good friends with the judge or something," I huff.
"Don't give up hope," Percy says. "You have as much of a chance at winning this than he has."
My whole body is shaking from head to toe as I sit in the seat I had occupied a little more than an hour ago. The Judge walks back into the room, making everyone fall silent. The only thing I can hear is my heart pounding and my un-even breathing.
Piper reaches over to pat my hand comfortingly as the Judge sits at his chair. He clears his throat and when he opens his mouth his voice comes out like thunder.
"I've finally come to a decision," he starts. "One parent will get custody of all three children and the other will see them every weekend. They will be collected from their home on Friday at 8pm and be returned on Sunday at 8pm. The parent that gets custody will be allowed to keep the house and both parents must keep or get a job."
I nod my head in understanding and look over at Luke to see he's doing the same. His eyes meet mine for less than a second before they flutter away and fall back on the Judge. I look at the man that is planning my future and hold my breath as he continues.
"The parent granted full custody of Connor, Travis and Jessica Castellan is Annabeth Chase…"