The trial of Peter and Geraldine Carnazza was set a week after Geraldine had been arrested. She was remanded without bail while the District Attorney's worked on their case. Unfortunately, the attorney representing both Peter and Geraldine was a tough nut and he was trying to declare a mistrial for Geraldine on the counts of too little evidence and a lesser charge for Peter on the count that he had acted in self-defense against Vinnie Lawston. It was a rough case with both Ryo and Dee being set to testify on behalf of the prosecution. Lisa meanwhile was staying at her grandparents still doing well in school though more stressed out of course under the circumstances. She had become a regular to the Maclean-Laytner household whether it was babysitting Grace or chilling out with Ryo and Dee finding out information about the case. Dee and Ryo had become like brothers so she enjoyed spending time with them and their family.
In the interim, Ryo and Dee were wiped out as ACS was now checking on them and Grace's progress often. Mother Maria was able to convince ACS that Grace should stay with Dee and Ryo until a decision had been made in her adoption process stating that her orphanage was becoming too crowded with newborns and that little Grace was in good hands, otherwise she wouldn't have put them with her son and his husband at all! ACS decided that Mother Maria after all her hard work with the abandoned children of New York City deserved the benefit of the doubt. But between Grace's late nights, the case, and ACS's constant phone calls, visits, and new paperwork Dee and Ryo were wearing down.
Thanksgiving came and Ryo, Dee, Grace and Bikky headed upstate to visit Ryo's Aunt Elena and Uncle Rick. They had told Elena and Rick about the new addition to their family so it was evident that mood of the evening would be upbeat. And it was the moment Elena opened the door!
"RYO, DEE!" She squealed and immediately threw her arms around her nephew and his husband. "OH HOW ARE MY FAVORITE NEPHEWS!"
"Good." Both Dee and Ryo said breathlessly. Bikky just looked on thankful he was holding Grace to protect him from Elena's overly happy affection. Grace just cooed and squirmed about in her new gingham dress and matching headband.
Elena looked over Dee and Ryo's shoulder and saw the baby.
"OHHH IS THAT MY NEW LITTLE NEICE!?" Elena released her hold and Ryo and Dee and leaned down to Bikky and the baby.
"WHAT AN ADORABLE LITTLE GIRL, COME TO AUNTIE ELENA!!!!" She said as she lifted the baby out of Bikky's arms. Rick appeared just then as Ryo and Dee tried to catch their breath from the tight hug.
"Hello boys!" Rick said smiling as he shook their hands. "Bikky God everytime I see you, you get taller and taller! Come on, let's go inside and you can tell me all about how basketball is going!"
Bikky grinned and followed his uncle. Ryo and Dee meanwhile sweatdropped.
"What are we, chopped liver!" Dee asked.
Once everyone settled inside, Rick brought out a vintage wine and some soda for Bikky while Elena kept her hold on Grace bouncing her and squealing at every little thing she did. Ryo couldn't help but grin as he leaned his head down on Dee's shoulder.
"You two look exhausted!" Rick said as he stared at his nephew and nephew in law. "Tough time on the job?"
"That and squirt." Dee said. "She's colicky. She'll cry for hours on end until she spits up or just settles down."
"But she's perfectly healthy." Ryo pointed out. "We took her to the pediatrician's who said she is developing wonderfully. She cried when she got her vaccinations, but she was such a brave baby."
Dee smiled remembering holding the diaper clad baby as she was poked and prodded. Ryo sat next to him trying to distract her from the needles by tickling her belly and giving her kisses. When the doctor gave her the shots did she begin to wail. Dee and Ryo nearly started crying themselves as they tried to calm her down. They hated seeing their little girl in pain. But Grace calmed down to the point where she nodded off and the doctor complimenting on how well Grace was progressing. She would put in a good word with ACS.
"You were quite a colicky baby too Ryo come to think of it!" Elena announced. "Your poor mom and dad would stay up night after night with you. There were times I stopped by after class just to let them get a few hours sleep. It faded within a few months."
Ryo smiled.
"I guess I drove them nuts as a baby."
Rick smiled.
"Nah, they were more worried that you might have been ill more than anything. There were a couple of times your dad was so worried that he would call the hospital. Luckily you would settle down before your dad would have to call the paramedics or get you into the car!
"First time parents." Elena said. "I'm surprised they weren't at each other's throats with all the stress of having a new baby like all the stories I hear. Turns out they were closer than ever. Your dad would give your mom some time to rest while he took care of you. He even demanded the art dealer company let him work for while Aiko was on maternity so he could be there for you both. Since it was your father and mother who started the business they had no cause for complaints.
"Wow..he pulled that off in an art business?" Dee asked.
"Mmm." Rick nodded. "Frank's first priority was his family, but he wasn't about to let a company he and Aiko built together go to pieces just because they were settling their lives. So assistants and artists in the making would meet with Frank and drop off work and hold meetings over the phone or in the little office in your house. It really sailed. After Aiko recovered from giving birth and resting enough, she became involved too. They worked from home until they felt it was okay to leave you at home with a sitter during the day Ryo."
"That sitter being me!" Elena said. "I was taking afternoon and night classes at the New York School of Art so I would drop by in the mornings and stay till five before my first class!"
Ryo grinned softly as Elena cuddled Grace in her arms. He was glad to have such a close family as a child and now to be having one of his own as an adult.
Elena passed Grace back to her "daddies" as she called them as she went to check on the meal. Rick grinned as his nephew held the baby who was beginning to nod off.
"We have the guest room set up as Grace's own little nursery away from home if she needs to be put down or changed Ryo. You're aunt thought of everything!"
"Oh thanks Uncle Rick, that would be great!"
"We could hold her for hours." Dee said smiling. "It's just that our arms tend to get tired."
Dee yawned a little sighting Rick to notice how tired he and Ryo looked.
"Here." Rick said sitting up. "Let me." He extended his arms to Ryo and took Grace gently from him.
Rick smiled at the sleeping baby in his arms.
"Definitely a little angel." He whispered. "Bikky, could you grab the diaper bag for me and we'll put Grace down in the guest room."
"Sure!" Bikky said and did as he was told. Ryo and Dee were about to get up and follow him, but Rick gestured for them to sit back down.
"No way, you two, sit." Rick said. "It's my turn with Gracie and you two deserve a good moment's peace! I'll just put her down and be right back."
"She can get a little fussy though." Ryo pointed out.
Rick winked.
"Trust me Ryo." He said. "I've been around babies enough to know how they can act. Hence why your aunt and I never had children between babysitting and you and all the little children Elena meets when she does her photo shoots."
Ryo smiled, nodded, and put his head on Dee's shoulder. Rick and Bikky headed to the guest room where an old bassinet was placed in the room for Grace to sleep in.
"Whoa that's nice!" Bikky said staring at the white, fluffy bassinet. "Where didja get that!"
Rick smiled.
"We've had it for years." He said. "We bought it when we took in a baby whose mother was a recovering drug addict. Elena was doing a photo shoot for an article about homeless teens and she stumbled upon one young mother with a five month old that had been trying to kick the habit, but had no help. Elena's heart went out to the girl and offered to take care of the baby and put the girl into a recovery center, provided she do as told, if not Elena would see to it the baby was put into custody of Child Services and we would vie to keep it. His mother loved him enough to try to stop the drugs cold turkey so she could breast feed him. But in the end it was difficult for her, so she had to scrounge around for some formula. She was grateful Elena was willing to help."
"So what happened after two months?" Bikky asked as Rick laid Grace down.
"His mother returned clean and sober with an apartment and a job." He said smiling. "The rehab center set her up. So Elena and I had no right to try to keep little Michael from her. We gave him to her, but made sure she gave us her phone number and address and not to be surprised if we showed up unexpectedly. So a few days later we did and found that they were doing just fine! Theresa was doing a fine job as a mother working long hours and going to school and little Michael was taken care of in the interim in daycare. The apartment was clean and they had everything they needed. We keep in touch with them now and again, why Michael is almost fifteen and in the honor society at school! Elena and I hadn't expected all of that to happen, but I guess it goes to show that anyone can pull through out of dark times. "
Bikky shrugged.
"I guess."
Rick grinned and ruffled Bikky's head.
"Just like you kiddo." He said. "Come on, let's check on that dinner!"
Bikky and Rick walked into the living room and were met with quite a sight. Dee and Ryo, cuddled fast asleep in each other's arms still sitting up on the couch. Rick tried to stifle a laugh while Bikky just put his hands on his hips.
"I guess they have been working too hard." Rick said with a smile. Just then Elena came stomping out with a sigh.
"We underestimated that turkey or we need a new oven Rick!" She said. "It's still uncooked. It's going to be another two hours before we can eat!"
Rick however shushed her and nodded his head towards Ryo and Dee. Elena gasped and put her hand to her mouth.
"Oh my." She said. "My poor boys."
"Let them sleep!" Rick said. "Grace is also out in the guest room. They all need it."
Elena nodded and grabbed a blanket off of the loveseat and wrapped her nephews in it. They hardly stirred except to hold each other closer. Rick put his hand on Bikky's shoulder.
"Come on Bikky." He said. "I know where there is a football game playing right now at a high school. Unfortunately there is no basketball game going on tonight. I wish I had a ball, then I would challenge you to a game of one on one!"
"That's okay Uncle Rick." Bikky said. "Football's fine!"
"Well to sweeten the deal." Rick said. "I'll see if I can scrounge up a hotdog or something since it looks like it might be awhile before we eat!"
"NOT TOO MUCH JUNK!" Elena whispered. "And fine, leave me to slave over the stove and a baby in the next room, heartless men!"
Bikky sweatdropped, but Rick laughed lightly and kissed his wife's cheek. He knew she was half joking.
"I knew you'd understand honey!" He said. "Come on Bikky, grab your jacket!"
Bikky and Rick were soon out the door after that leaving Elena huffing and puffing. But when she turned to the sight of her nephew and his husband fast asleep on the couch she knew this moment she couldn't pass up. She grabbed her camera, turned off the flash and took a few good shots. With a smile she put the camera away and walked back into the kitchen to see what the hell she was going to do with that turkey!