Here is another chapter. I didn't expect to have written another one so quickly. I think there will be two more chapters of this story. Anyway, the OC Amy is KagamiPINKAgrestes, the OC Chuck and the mentioned OCs Everett and Aaron are mine. Everything else is Disney's. Please review, they are greatly appreciated. I hope you all enjoy.
Life Will Get Better: Chapter 8
While Mal loved teaching, she also enjoyed summer vacation. It freed up some of her time to spend with Everett and her friends. Summer also meant that she and Chuck were going to finish up their divorce. That is why Mal with her lawyer, Ms. Phillips, and Chuck with his lawyer, Mr. Radcliffe, were sitting on opposite sides of a long table in a conference room.
"Well, it is all settled that my client will pay Mal monthly alimony checks. The only thing left is the child. My client is requesting full custody." Mr. Radcliffe explained.
Mal was shocked. That was unexpected, even from Chuck. Mal thought of Amy, Evie, and Lonnie who have all made it very clear that they think that Everett should never be around Chuck again. She doesn't really know what caused her to do this, but she leaned over to her lawyer and whispered something.
"Then we'll be seeing you in court gentlemen, because my client will be going for full custody as well." Ms. Phillips said.
"So be it." Mr. Radcliffe agreed.
They all started to gather up their things and leave when Mal walked up to Chuck. "So much for not trying to destroy your son's relationship with his mother." She reminded, remembering when he had recently told her that.
Chuck gave a small smile. "I could say the same thing, Mal."
Mal was angry and just wanted to rant to someone, so she drove to Bookaholic's Fantasy. Amy was up on a ladder putting away some new books when Mal came in and shouted. "He is so infuriating!"
The sudden loudness spooked Amy a bit, but she had managed to not lose her balance and fall. "Well, that at least clears it up on who it is you're talking about. What did Charles do this time?"
"Of course he would have the nerve to try and take my son away from me. It suits him so well, I should have seen it coming." Mal ranted, ignoring Amy's question, yet answering it at the same time.
"Whoa, whoa, slow down for a minute." Amy ordered. "What's going on?"
Mal sighed. "Chuck has asked for full custody of Everett."
"So? What did you do?" Amy inquired, feeling the anger bubble inside of her.
"I did the only sensible thing I could do." Mal responded. "I requested for full custody as well."
Amy was relieved and a big smile formed on her face. "You know how I feel about Chuck and that he doesn't deserve Everett in his life. I will be behind you at every step of the way, and I feel safe in saying that the others will be as well."
Mal hugged Amy. "Thank you."
"No problem." Amy assured her, relishing in the loving moment she was having with her sister.
Later that night, Amy was in her apartment getting ready for Lonnie and Evie to arrive. They have had weekly meetings ever since they came up with Operation ROLL all of those months ago. Even though Ben and Mal are once again a couple, although not officially, the ladies still would meet up and discuss the blossoming relationship.
"What is so important that you have to tell us?" Lonnie asked once she and Evie got there.
"Mal came here after her meeting today, and informed me that that idiot Charles is trying to steal Everett from her." Amy told them.
Evie gasped. "No! That's a low blow, even for him."
Amy made a face of disbelief. Because of Mal's marriage to Chuck, she hadn't seen her sister for years. What would stop him from doing the same to Everett?
"What happens now?" Lonnie questioned.
"Mal is going for full custody as well, so it will be a battle for sure. But we, now with the successful conclusion of Operation ROLL, can start with Operation Save Our Favorite Nephew Everett, or SOFNE for short. We will do everything in our power to make sure Mal gets custody of her son." Amy explained.
"Everything that is legal, that is." Evie added. "Meaning no magic spells."
Amy rolled her eyes. "Fine, I won't turn Charles into a dog or anything else, even though I think it would be for the better."
"Good. We'll make sure that Everett stays with us this time." Lonnie said.
About a week later Mal and Ben were on another one of their lunch dates. Now that school was out for the summer, they couldn't eat in Mal's classroom, so instead they enjoyed lunch in the shade of the royal gardens.
Since he became friends with Mal once again Ben was almost like a new person. It was like he had been reborn. He was healthier and happier, and he only had Mal and his other friends to thank for that.
That afternoon Ben could tell that something was off with Mal. She seemed distracted, not in the moment. "Mal." Ben called out to her. She looked over at him, having been brought back to reality. "You okay? Are you nervous about tomorrow?" He wondered.
Mal nodded. The next day was the beginning of Mal and Chuck's court case. How could she not be nervous? "I'm worried about what could happen. I've already lost one son, I don't want to lose another one." Mal answered.
"I understand, but there's nothing to worry about. I may have just met Everett and I never got the chance to meet Aaron, but from what I've seen, you are a wonderful mother. There is no reason why a judge would choose to give Chuck full custody." Ben reassured his girlfriend.
"You're right, thanks Benny-Boo." Mal thanked. After that, Mal felt better, and went on to enjoy the rest of her afternoon with Ben. She would just have to wait and see what happens.
The next day found Mal, Chuck, Ms. Phillips, and Mr. Radcliffe in the courtroom waiting to begin. Ben, Amy, Evie, Doug, Lonnie, Jay, Carlos were all sitting behind Mal, there to support her through it all. Chuck, on the other hand, did not have such a large group of people with him, but Chad and Audrey were both there.
The judge entered the room and took her seat. "This is not how I thought I would be spending my summer, but here we all are. Today starts the custody case for Everett Adam Charming." The judge told them. "To set some things straight, I will be deciding what I think is best for the child. I expect everyone to remain respectful to each other while here." The parents and layers nodded in understanding.
The judge continued. "You can call witnesses to testify if you'd like. Either of you can testify, but your lawyer should advise you of the possible risks and benefits first. I'll probably ask to hear from the child, get his opinion. So if there are no further questions then we shall begin."