Chapter 60- In the Matter of Wiley

Alexis rolled over in bed and looked at her alarm clock: 9am. She bolted upright and shook Julian. "We slept in! We need to wake the kids!" She sighed, remembering. "Never mind. They're not here."

Julian sat up and wrapped an arm around her. "I thought the same thing yesterday. I miss them too."

"The house is so empty. I hate it."

"Me too. But on the bright side, the hearing isn't until 3. I need to stop by the firm before that and I know you want to go over the case… but there's really no rush. Maybe we should take advantage."

Alexis smiled slightly and placed a hand on his cheek. "I do like the sound of that."

He leaned forward and kissed her softly. "How about the morning in bed? Just focus on us. Forget about everything else, just for this morning. Then we'll get back out there to our responsibilities."

She grinned and began to unbutton his pajama top. "I love you, you silly man."

"I love you more, Lex." He left a trail of kisses up her arm, then pressed his mouth to her neck. He slipped his hand under the shoulder of her sleeve.

She ripped off his shirt and touched his bare chest, then wrapped her arms around him. They rolled over so she was on top of him and she pulled off her nightgown, then leaned forward and kissed him.

GHGHGH

Alexis sat in the courtroom going over Lucas' file as he paced back and forth, chewing his fingernails.

"Lucas, you're a good father and the judge is going to see that," Alexis reassured. "Carly doesn't have a chance."

The doors swung open, and Carly wobbled in with Jason, Sonny, and Diane. She teetered over a bit, but Jason grabbed her arm. She turned around and glared at him. "I'm fine!" She came over to Alexis and Lucas. Her nostrils flared and her blood-shot eyes narrowed in on Lucas. "I tried to be fair to you, but you still kept my grandson from me. Now, you won't have a place in his life at all."

Lucas' eyebrows furrowed. "Carly, are you okay? You don't look well."

She laughed. "Gonna use that against me, are you?"

"No, but I'm a little concerned," Lucas said. "You're really thin."

Carly pointed a shaky finger at him. "Wiley is mine." She turned to Alexis. "And Danny and Scout are next. If Jason and Michael won't fight for what's theirs, then I will."

"Carly, please," Bobbie's voice entered the room before she did. "Drop this before you make a fool out of yourself. Don't do this to your brother."

"I see who's side you're taking," Carly said.

"In this case, I'm on Wiley's side," Bobbie said. "He needs both of his fathers and Michael and Lucas have already come to an agreement that works."

Carly laughed. "An agreement where Wiley is always at Lucas' and rarely with Michael or me?"

"Wiley is gradually spending more time with Michael. But enough about Wiley… what is going on with you? You are not well at all."

"I am fine," Carly said through gritted teeth.

The doors opened again, and Julian, Sam, Kristina, and Molly walked in. Julian and Sam came over to Alexis and Lucas.

"Spinelli and Maxie are picking up the kids from school and daycare," Sam said. "You've got this."

Lucas smiled slightly. "Thanks. I'm glad you're here."

Julian patted his back. "We wouldn't be anywhere else."

Michael and Willow slipped inside and sat with Jason and Sonny.

The bailiff finally walked in. "Please rise for the honourable Judge Lasser."

Everyone returned to their seats, still standing, as Judge Lasser took her position. "This court is assigned in the matter of Wiley Morgan Corinthos-Jones. This hearing was requested by the plaintiff, Caroline Corinthos against the child's adoptive father, Dr. Lucas Jones, who currently holds full custody of Wiley. Ms. Diane Miller will be representing Mrs. Corinthos and Ms. Alexis Davis will be representing . Ms. Miller, your opening statement?"

"Thank you, your honour." Diane rose. "My client, Mrs. Corinthos, is very concerned with the welfare of her grandson, Wiley. On the day of his birth, his biological mother, Janelle Benson, and Bradley Cooper switched him with a dead child, hereby forcibly removing him from his biological father and loving-devoted family of which he belongs. He was placed in the home of Dr. Jones and Mr. Cooper and my client and her son didn't discover who he was until over a year later. The devastation that my client's family felt over missing Wiley's first year of life, and now that has turned into almost two years, is unthinkable. My client and her family were victims through all of this. Now you'll say Dr. Jones was a victim in this too, but I will prove that is not true. Dr. Jones is an unfit father."

Gasps filled the courtroom and Lucas looked at Alexis with his mouth slightly agape. Carly looked over at them, smugly.

"Thank you, your honour." Diane sat back down.

"Ms. Davis, your opening statement?" the judge said.

"Thank you, your honour." Alexis rose. "My client, Dr. Jones, was a victim too, despite Ms. Miller's claims. He and Mr. Cooper planned on adopting a child and my client never even met the child they originally adopted because Ms. Benson and Mr. Cooper deceived him and Mr. Corinthos by switching the infants. Lucas raised Wiley from day one and they grew a close bond. He has always provided him with a safe-loving environment and goes above and beyond his basic needs. Wiley attends daycare three days a week, where he is socialized with other children, and is with grandparents two days a week while Lucas is working. Lucas is who Wiley calls Daddy. His face lights up when he comes into the room. When Lucas discovered the truth about the baby switch, he went right to Mr. Corinthos to tell him, when he could have easily kept it to himself. And upon learning his husband's part in the switch, he took Wiley to a safe place."

"Oh sure, claim that your house is a safe place!" Carly interrupted. "It most definitely is not sa—"

"Mrs. Corinthos." The judge glared at her. "You are out of line. Continue, Ms. Davis."

"My client and Mr. Corinthos came to the agreement that Lucas remains the primary caregiver, but eventually they would have joint custody. They agreed that this would be in Wiley's best interest. Your honour, my client is a good father. Wiley feels safe and loved by him. If he were to be removed from his father, it would destroy his entire world. He belongs with his daddy. Thank you, your honour." She returned to her seat.

"Ms. Miller, your first witness?" the judge asked.

"Yes, your honour, I'd like to call up Michael Corinthos the third," Diane said, walking up.

Michael took a seat at the stand.

"Mr. Corinthos, would you say that Mrs. Corinthos was a good mother to you and your brother growing up?"

He nodded. "Yeah she was great. Perfect balance between nurturing and a fun mom. We did a lot of cool things with her."

"And do you think she would be that way with your son if she were to win custody?"

"Well, yeah, but—"

"So, you're saying that she would provide a fun yet nurturing environment for Wiley?"

"Yeah, but—"

"And can you confirm to the courts how devastated you were to learn that you missed over a year of your son's life?" Diane asked.

"Yeah, I was pretty devastated."

"And do you wish that you could have your son full time?"

He paused for a moment, then said. "Yeah, I do. But—"

"No further questions, your honour." Diane headed back to her seat.

"But more than that—" Michael continued.

"Mr. Corinthos, Ms. Miller's questioning is over," the judge interrupted.

"I want what's best for Wiley!" he finished anyway.

Alexis walked over to the stand. "Mr. Corinthos, you said you want what's best for Wiley. What do you think that is?"

He sighed. "Staying with Lucas. But for him to also know that I'm there for him always."

She nodded. "You also said that your mother provided a fun and nurturing environment for you and your brother… but she kept you from your father, Alan Quartermaine Jr., is that correct?"

He paused.

"Objection, your honour!" Carly bolted to her feet.

"Carly stop!" Diane grabbed her arm, then stood up herself. "Objection, your honour. That is irrelevant and was a different situation."

"Overruled. Ms. Davis, you may continue."

Diane and Carly sat back down.

"Is it true that your mother kept you from your father, Alan Quartermaine Jr.?" Alexis repeated.

He nodded slowly. "Yeah."

"And do you think she was justified in doing so?"

His face paled. "I don't know."

"And do you think Dr. Jones is trying to keep Wiley from you?" Alexis asked.

He shook his head. "No. He wants what's best for Wiley too."

"So, Mrs. Corinthos claims that Wiley should be with his birth father, whom he doesn't know as his father, yet she kept her son from his birth father. Mr. Corinthos, you even agree that Wiley should be with his adoptive father." She turned to the judge. "I don't see why we need to continue here."

"Objection, your honour," Diane cut in. "I still have another witness to call."

"Sustained. Ms. Davis, any further questions?" the judge asked.

"No, your honour."

"Mr. Corinthos, you may step down," the judge said.

Alexis and Michael returned to their seats.

"Your honour," Diane said, rising once more. "I would like to call Samantha McCall to the stand.

Alexis' eyes grew wide and she watched Sam as she approached the stand.

"Ms. McCall," Diane said. "Is it true that you and your brother, Dr. Jones, have recently moved in together and plan to raise your children together?"

"Temporarily, yes," Sam said.

"And is it true, you were recently in prison for the murder of David Henry Archer?"

"Objection, your honour," Alexis cut in. "That was self-defense."

"Sustained."

Diane cleared her throat. "But you have a bigger track record than that, correct? You used several aliases to con men in the past."

"Objection, your honour," Alexis said again. "That was the past and Ms. McCall has made several changes in her life.

"I'll allow it," the judge said.

Diane smiled. "Is it true that you used many aliases to marry rich men and steal their money in the past?"

Sam nodded. "Yeah."

"And is it true that you killed one of them too?"

"Objection, your honour," Alexis said. "She's badgering the witness."

"Overruled."

Alexis groaned.

"Yes, I killed one of them," Sam said. "But that was self-defense too. He was beating me up."

"And is it true your ex-husband is a hitman?"

"He's a coffee importer."

"Your honour…" Diane turned to the judge. "I think this is proof that Dr. Jones is an unfit father. First he married a man who was involved in the kidnapping of a child and now he and Wiley are living with a woman who could endanger them both. I think his poor judgment is proof that he is an unfit father. No further questions, your honour." She returned to her seat.

Alexis rose. "Sam, would you say your brother is a good father?"

She nodded. "He's great with Wiley."

"And do you think they're safe living with you?"

"Yeah. I'd never intentionally hurt them."

"And is it true that you've repented of your past crimes and you're even in therapy sessions with Dr. Kevin Collins?"

"Yes."

"And is it true that Wiley and your children, Daniel and Emily, get along well?"

"Yeah, they love each other."

"Do you believe that you and Lucas can provide a safe-loving environment?"

"Yes, I do."

Alexis smiled. "No further questions, your honour."

Alexis and Sam returned to their seats.

"I think I've gathered enough information," the judge said. "Dr. Jones appears to have always provided a safe home for the child and has shown that he will protect him and put him first even if that means leaving his spouse. Therefore, I rule in favour of Dr. Lucas Jones."

Lucas and Alexis exchanged wide smiles.

"I grant him full custody of Wiley Corinthos-Jones with the suggestion that he keeps his birth father part of his life. Case dismissed."

Lucas hugged Alexis tightly. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"

Julian and Bobbie came over and hugged him.

Sam patted his back. "Way to go, bro. I was worried when I received a subpoena last minute."

Carly stormed over to them. "You think you're going to get away with this!?"

"Come, on, Mom, stop." Michael tried to pull her arm, but she yanked it away.

"Wiley is Michael's son and my grandson!"

"Carly, let's go," Jason said. "Let's go check on Avery and Donna."

Carly glared at Alexis. "This is all your fault—Ahhh." She keeled over, cradling her head in her hands. Jason and Michael knelt beside her.

"Help! Somebody help!" Alexis whipped her head around. Kristina had her arm around Sonny who had his hands pressed over his eyes. "Dad has gone blind!"

Alexis' mouth dropped and she turned back to Carly.

"I can't see anything!" Carly shouted out. "I can't see!"

GHGHGH

After Sonny and Carly were rushed away by ambulances and Bobbie, Jason, Michael, and Kristina followed after them, Julian and Alexis piled into their car.

"Okay, what is going on?" Alexis said exasperated.

Julian opened his mouth to respond when his phone rang. "Hello? Monica?"

Ding. Alexis pulled out her phone. One text message from Unknown Number. She opened it: You shouldn't have told. Her mouth hung open.

"What? Leo? Is he okay? Okay, we'll be right there." He hung up. "That was Monica. There was a shooting at the mansion."

"What?"

"Leo's fine. Ned was out with him some place. But Olivia is dead."

GH

A/N: I like Olivia, but this is for plot purposes and so Leo can be with Julexis full time. If you like Olivia too, please don't hate me.