That New Years Day was spent quietly at the Maclean-Laytners. They had had a small intimate gathering on New Years Eve that just consisted of family and a few friends. Dee and Ryo gave each other quite the midnight kiss while Bikky was all red after Carol had pecked his cheek. The girl still had a tendency to turn him to jello even though they had been together for quite a while. Even Grace got her holiday smooches when a picture was taken of Dee, Ryo, Bikky and Carol all kissing the baby's sleeping face. Dee had even put 2008 glasses on her face. It was absolutely adorable and now as Dee sat on the couch with Ryo and Grace watching the morning news, he felt nothing could be more perfect.
"This has been a fantastic holiday season." Dee said happily.
"Agreed." Ryo said as he lay in his husband's arms. Grace lay asleep on his chest. "Probably the best."
"With many more to come." Dee said as he kissed the top of Ryo's head.
"As long as we're together Dee." Ryo said. "That's all that matters to me."
"Not even the Devil himself could take me if he tried."
The next day was back to work for Ryo and Dee. It was early in the afternoon and they were busy in their office reading some files on a cold case they had been assigned to when there was a knock at their door.
"Come in." Ryo said.
In walked their lawyer Marilyn Specter who had been representing them in their custody case.
"Marilyn." Dee said. His heart stopped when he saw an envelope in her hand.
"The results are here." She said as she handed the envelope to Dee. Ryo ran over to his side as Dee tore open the envelope and began skimming the letter. Immediately they become sullen.
"99.9 match." Ryo whispered. "Tara is Grace's mother."
Dee crumpled the letter and threw it against the window shaking the blinds. He began to rub his forehead as a headache came on.
"There's more." Marilyn said. "I got this just afterwards."
"Don't even show us." Ryo said. "We know. Tara is filing for custody of Grace."
Marilyn nodded as she took a seat by Ryo and Dee. The two men held each other's hands tightly needing the other's strength.
"A court date is being set for a week from today in Family Court." Marilyn said. "It will give us enough time to prepare all the necessary work. I am going to take some time and investigate Tara, you two just need to make sure you have all paperwork from ACS and anyone who can back you up as being good parents to Grace on hand."
"Then I will let the whole god-damn precinct in that court room to show the judge that we are good to be Grace's parents."
Marilyn sighed.
"I as your lawyer and off the record can tell you that I don't doubt that you two are fine parents to that little baby. So that's why I must tell you this. The judge during this case is going to be Judge Barton. He is an old school judge who unfortunately does not see that the world is changing. He doesn't look too kindly among homosexual families."
"Oh great!" Ryo said angrily. "Of course that's our luck."
"I am going to file a motion to see that Barton will not be the judge in this particular case. But it's a long shot. I can't give you any guarantees on it."
Dee groaned.
"Just do what you need to do and we'll do our part." He said. "Is Tara going to want to see Grace before the hearing?"
Marilyn shook her head.
"I made sure that the girl is to stay away until the hearing." She said. "I already talked to her lawyer about that. While he was adamant about not keeping the child away from her, I made sure he knew it was in the best interest of Grace.
Marilyn took a breath because what she was going to say next was not going to be easy.
"But that also means that Grace can't stay with you either."
"WHAT!?" Ryo yelled.
"Her lawyer and I settled an agreement. If Tara cannot see Grace then she cannot see you either. Tomorrow Grace will have to go back to Mother Maria's Orphanage until a decision has been made in regards to her custody. It was the only way I could keep Tara away from the baby. If I disagreed the lawyer would see to it that a temporary joint custody motion be made until a decision is finalized. I, like you, don't trust this girl with the baby and fear that she may be a flight risk. I have seen many young adults do so in such cases. "
"But she has been staying with us the whole time!?" Dee yelled. "We take care of her! She only knows us!!"
Ryo put his hand on Dee's shoulder.
"It's for the best Dee." He whispered. "I'd rather she stay at Mother's then somewhere else or with Tara herself because I don't trust her anywhere around Grace no matter whose around. Can we visit her at least?"
Marilyn shook her head.
"Unfortunately no. The guard there will have to report if one of you violates that rule and you will be forced to leave the premises and it will be a stain on your case. But that goes for Tara too. However, you are allowed to call, same goes for Tara. We are trying to keep tempers down and everyone calm since this is a special case."
"Heh..calm...that's going to be fucking easy." Dee said. "Who the hell does this brat think she is!?"
Ryo was quiet. He really didn't want Grace to leave their home.
"Thank you Marilyn for your information." He said. "We will follow all instructions necessary to fight for our little girl. All I ask of you is to find enough information on Tara as possible that can prove she is not fit to be a mother."
Marilyn smiled.
"I most certainly will. I actually have a helper in this case. Your friend Jack McCoy and his assistants at the D.A.'s have offered to investigate Tara's past. He made me swear I report any bumps in the road to him. I can't say Tara's lawyer won't do the same to you, but we will do our best. Just try to remain calm."
She stood up.
"I must leave now." She said. "But I will be calling in a day or two on my progress. Have faith you two, it's just the beginning. We are in for a fight, I won't lie, but I promise you I will do much more than my best to make sure your little girl stays with you."
"Thank you Marilyn." Dee and Ryo said in unison. She nodded and left the office. Immediately Ryo and Dee clung to each other.
"I want to go home to Grace." Dee said quietly as he held his husband. Grace was being watched by Melinda that day. "I don't want her to go to Mother's. I want her to stay with us."
"Me too." Ryo whispered as she trembled in Dee's arms. "But we have no choice. Besides, she'll be okay at Mother's and we can call her to make sure she is alright. It'll be fine."
Ryo tried to smile. But he couldn't help the tears that had formed in his eyes. Dee held onto Ryo as tears came to his own eyes.
"Yeah...you're right...it'll be okay."
