"Your honor, Miss Ramirez has proven she is fully capable of being a responsible adult." the attorney stated. The judge stared at Cruz a moment then continued to listen to Cruz's attorney. "Look, the problem that lead her parents to take full custody of Miguel was the fact she had planned to marry Mateo Bernoulli who wasn't an American citizen and she had planned to move into the country she was in at the time, Italy. But she bad been back in America in one place with a VERY sturdy job, plenty of income and has no inappropriate relationships with anyone who could possibly cause any negative impact or neglect toward Miguel and Cruz as his rightful guardian and mother." The judge looked to Cruz and asked "And you are aware that you would have a close eye kept on you Miss Ramirez? That any slip ups would cause you to lose custody of Miguel for good?" Cruz nodded.
The judge then turned to Cruz's parents and asked "Do you believe, as parents and grandparents.. That your daughter has.. Grown up. That she is fit to raise Miguel and put him before anything and all things now?" The parents nodded. The judge leaned back in his seat then decided "I'll grant Cruz partial.. Custody.. Giving her Mondays, tuesdays, and wednesdays with Miguel. But I expect by Thursday evening he will be back with your parents Miss Ramirez. One way or another." Cruz nodded and thanked the judge! "Thank you! Yes, I promise to be the mother Miguel needs and deserves!" The judge snickered like he hadn't heard that before. "We'll see how Miguel does Miss Ramirez.. Don't give your hopes up. In a few weeks we'll see how the child is and then go from there to make a more permanent decision. Dismissed!"...
Sally parked her car and looked over to see Francesco's car parked out to. Great.. So he came back to her office. Seriously? Sally sighed and grabbed her phone and pulled up Lightning's name. But she hesitated. What would he really do that she couldn't? Exactly. So she put her phone in her purse and walked into the building. No sight of him yet. Up to her office, there. He was waiting in the hall outside. Sally took a deep breath before making her way down the hall. Francesco stared at her and atood up as she passed him by. "Sally.." He cooed. Sally stopped and SLAP right across his cheek! Her assistant stared immediately as that grabbed his attention!
Francesco grabbed his cheek in the stinging pain as Sally stepped to his face and ordered "Leave.. leave town because you are unwanted here." She began to walk away but Franceso whined asking "You would give McQueen a chance after everything but not I? I have proven my love for you many times and given you everything he wouldn't!?" "No! No, what you gave me was another reason to hate men like you!" She then went inside her office and slammed the door. Francesco was a little embarrassed but more hurt. Did he deserve that? Yes. But.. He truly loved Sally and didn't mean to do the things he did. He just didn't want to lose her and pushed to far. He wouldn't have done the things he did to Cruz and Mateo to her and Lightning exactly.. He did what he did to Mateo because one, he and Mateo had a bad relationship and bad feelings towards each other anyway.
The two constantly fight. Two, Cruz was a bad influence for Mateo and an even worsw partner. He didn't want his brother being with someone like her. He had to make her leave.He did what he did because he honestly thought Cruz would leave Italy to be with her son. But no, she stayed for Mateo. He frowned and felt tears welp in his eyes. Francesco lost his mother, his brother.. He didn't even know where Mateo had ran off to again.. Sally, the woman he loved... His father, regardless if he hated him or not... His fans and his life had changed and he had no one. He didn't even know why he was here. What did he expect? That Sally would forgive him and fall in love with a monstwr like him? He'd be better off dead than hurting her anymore.
Sally leaned against the door. Another thing that got her thinking. She did give Lightning another chance instead of Francesco. Francesco worked with Cleo, tried killing Lightning, planned to seperate Lightning from the kids, ruined others lives, hurt people.. But.. Then again.. So did Lightning. Lightning tried to kill someone.. He hurt people.. He worked with Cleo, heck he fucked her and dated her! Lightning pushed Sally away and the kids to do horrible things and even sent them away... Maybe this was what Sally did and wanted self consciously. Maybe she just chose men like this and put herself in failing relationships. Like Ben.. Then Lightning.. Then Francesco.. Maybe being in a relationship wasn't for her. Maybe she and Lightning were never meant to be anything more than this. They just lost each other...
Storm brushed his hand over the top of the car. It was definitely some old clunker. The roof was all messed up which he guessed it was a wreck car. Something Lightning just pulled out of the junk yard of that old tow truck driver. He sighed. How was he suppose to do this. Cruz was gone out of state for her custody battle. Only a few people knew. Jackson and Cal really. She would have told Lightning if she wasn't too busy with trying to sexually win him back. Anyway, Jackson shook his head. Why was he wondering how Cruz's court was going? Why did he care? Why was he?.. He realized it. He was changing. Being around Cruz, Cal, Lightning.. It was changing him and shaping him into a different person ans honestly.. He kind of liked the new him. Or at least how the new him felt. He heard the door open and asked "Whose there?"
"Just Lightning.. Checking up on you." Lightning announced. Jackson nodded and explained "Well.. I got a few parts in.. I can't tell if it's right or not but.. I think I have a long way to go still.." "That you do, but.." Lightning checked the work Storm had done then smiled. "It's looking really good. You just placed one thing in the wrong spot. I'll help you get it back ou"-"No..No, I got it.. Let me do it." Jackson asked. Lightning was surprised, but happy seeing a nicer and more well rested and in a good mood Jackson Storm. Lightning watched Jackson pat around and feel the car and parts. Watching the young man fiddle around and work okay. "Would you.. Consider doing something for me?" Jackson asked softly. Lightning looked at the young man and shrugged answering "If I can, sure." Jackson took a deep breath before asking of this.
"Would you drive me out to the jail Cleo is at?.. I wanna talk to her.. I want to hear it from her. That she destroyed the only thing that could possibly give me my sight... Please.." Lightning sighed. He immediately thought of what Sally would say. Lightning would have to either ask, which Sally wouldn't allow this more than likely.. Or he could not even tell her. Just drive Jackson out, help him inside, and then wait in the car. Jackson did deserve to hear that hinself and Sally shouldn't say no to that. "Please.. I.. I want to hear it from her.." Jackson whimpered. Lightning frowned as he thought. He knew what he had to do for his family. "I.. Will talk to Sally about it first then get back to you.. I need to talk to Sally about it."
Jackson's brows lowered. "What? What does Sally have to do with this? The two of you aren't even married!? Can't you do anything for yourself!?" Lightning sighed and turned away. Sure, maybe he was getting pulled around by Sally lately, but it was for her. He needed to gain her trust and be up front at all times. Lightning needed to keep Sally close and never risk losing her again. "I just.. I can't right now Jackson.. Let me talk to Sally and maybe we can schedule a day where we ca"-"No, forget it!.. I can't deal with this. That's exactly why I won't get married! I will not be someone's toy again! Cleo was enough for me!" Lightning glared and snickered kind of rudely before leaving. His phone was buzzing anyway. It was just Cal. Jackson heard the doors close. Good. He wanted to be alone again. Jackson sighed sadly. He was hurting and just taking it out on Lightning. He just wanted someone to go with him.
Lightning looked at his phone and answered "Cal.. What's up? I was just on my way down."
Yeah.. You're gonna want to get o my office immediately.
"Is it Francesco?"
No. Just get here before she does.
And Cal hung up. Lightning thought that was weird. All he could think of was Cruz. Lightning exited the elevator and began weaving through the students as he made his way to Cal's office. "Ooh!" Bumping right into one of the students! She dropped all her folder and papers everywhere. "I'm sorry. I was just in a rush.." Lightning admitted. He and the young woman knelt down and began picking up all her papers and folder. "Gee.. Should really watch where you're going you..." She paused and looked at him. It was Lightning McQueen Lightning and this young woman who was maybe a few years older than Cruz stared at each other. She looked.. Oddly familiar..
"Do I?.. Know you?" Lightning asked. The woman quickly grabbed her stuff and answered "No. We have never met thankfully." They stood up and Lightning could tell by the way she was dressed and her age probably.. She wasn't actually a student. She had on this white thing. I say thing because over it she had a blazer and you could see down between her breats to her right above her belly button. Her hair was cut short, brown and in an extremely short pony tail. Dark make up around the eyesz which were a nice shade of blue and tight black dress pants and shoes. "Something tells me you're not a student here.. Are you?" He asked. The woman brushed her pants a little and snickered answering "Oh god no.. No. I'm actually from.. Out of state.. Just here to claim some things." She had a deeper voice for a woman. It just wasn't raspy or girlie. Actually kind of bland and low really.
"Bye." She said quick and walked off. Lightning glanced back at her. She was new. He shook his head and continued down to Cal's office. He knocked before opening thr door and going in. Cal was at his desk and stood up immediately. "Good. You got here before her." he said with relief. Lightning shut the door and raised a brow. "Whose her? Cruz?" Cal shook his head. "No, no. Not Cruz. The attorney. She's coming from"- The door opened and it was that very same woman Lightning ran into. "Sorry I.. Had a hard time finding your office." she took one look at Lightning and rolled her eyes. "See you found it easily for having the brain the size of a pea." she griped. The woman slammed her papers and folder down on the table. Lightning glared at her and asked "Who exactly are you?" rudely. The woman sighed and fixed her blazer up before answering with her hand out to shake Lightning's hand.
"Dianna Swwann. Two ws, two ns. Attorney at law. Friends call me D. Deedee if I like you. So call me Miss Swwann. How you doing today Mr McQueen. Oh right.. That could be taken sexually with you right? That your thing?" She asked like it was a joke. Lightning and Cal just stared at her. So D sighed and got to the point. "You knew my father, the Hudson Hornet." Lightning stared at her like what the fuck. Then glanced at Cal. "Doc didn't have any children and definitely not a daughter." Lightning snarled. D chuckled and cocked her head a bit correcting "Well he did asshole. I'm his daughter. Brought the papers I need to prove it. So.. Shall we get to it or you wanna wait for your own attorney?" She crossed her arms and asked. Cal and Lightning stared at each other and just knew this was trouble. Pure trouble...