AN: Yeah, I haven't forgotten about this one. I had MAJOR WB on it. But I
did it! All done with this chap. Cyber cookies to whoever can figure out
who Ry's hero is going to be in this fic!
Rylan sat nervously as Kevin went in to talk to the judge. After fifteen minutes he came out, spoke briefly with Julie, then went to ask Richie if he could sit by Rylan. Richie moved to the other side of Duncan silently. Twenty minutes later, Whitney came out of the judge's office and Brendan went in. Whitney still sat with Julie but made faces every time Rylan looked at him, getting her to smile a few times and even laugh once when he started mimicking everything Kevin did. After Brendan come out, Rylan's social worker took her half-siblings Mika and Tamara in. Mika was seven and Tamara was five.
"Isn't she a little old to have a five year old?" Richie whispered to Duncan.
"Isn't she a little young to have a twenty-six year old?" Duncan returned.
"She was seventeen when I was born," Kevin explained leaning over. "She's only forty-three."
"Kev, bro, dude, you can't honestly think Ry is better off with Julie," Richie said.
"Mom has her kids," Kevin told him. "She loves Lizzie but that's not enough for her. Lizzie was too little when it all happened; she might understand now, but she still feels the same way. If she wants to stay with you guys, I think she should. Look at her." Tessa had her arm around Rylan's shoulders and Rylan's head was resting on her shoulder. "If that's the way she wants things, that's what she deserves."
"That you, Kevin," Duncan said. "We were beginning to think we were out numbered."
"I can't speak for the twins, sir, but I think Lizzie has been through enough and should have things go her way for a change. I think you're up, Rich."
Mika and Tamara were once again crawling into the twins' laps. Rylan's eyes snapped into focus as Richie walked past her. Tessa squeezed her shoulder and kissed the top of her head.
"All will be fine, lapine."
Kevin watched all this then turned to Duncan. "Was he the other kid?" he asked nodding toward the judge's office.
"What do you mean?"
"The judge started asking me about the," Kevin swallowed in disgust. "The rape. He said there was another kid. Was it Richie?"
"Yes," Duncan answered after a moment. "But they don't like to talk about it."
"Understandable," Kevin acknowledged. "I didn't even know about it until now. They never told me and I was gone when it happened."
"Richie never told us either. It just slipped out one night. They haven't talked about it since. They like it that way."
"I don't blame them. I can't believe Mom didn't do anything about it."
"Don't get me started," Duncan snorted. "I can't believe she did and didn't do a lot of things. The last place Rylan should be is with her."
"Tell us how you really feel," Kevin smiled. "As much as I would love for Lizzie to be with Mom. if she's so adamant still. well, she's old enough to know what's best for herself."
"I hope the judge feels the same way. Washington CPS hasn't done the best job with protecting her."
"So I just heard." Kevin looked to his left at Rylan who was still clinging to Tessa. "If I had known, I would have taken her."
"Would the Marines have allowed that?"
"If they didn't, I would have made them," Kevin said simply.
"Ry." Rylan's head snapped up; Richie was standing in front of her. "Your turn."
Tessa gave Rylan's hand a final squeeze before gently nudging her out of her chair. "Petite lapine, be calm, be truthful, be respectful," she reminded the girl. "Show him all we've taught you."
Richie took Rylan's chair not wanting to talk to Kevin or Duncan and let Tessa hold onto this hand. He wasn't sure if it was for her comfort or his own.
When Rylan come out she didn't seem so scared anymore. She seemed very angry. Her face was red and her fists were clinched. She didn't look to Richie to get out of her chair, but simply took the seat he had previously occupied, folded her arms across her chest and glared at Julie.
"Rylan, you're being rude," Duncan whispered. "Just look the other way if you're going to glare like that." Rylan's expression softened and she shifted her gaze to her feet. "I'm sorry," Duncan apologized. "I didn't mean to snap at you. How did it go?" Rylan didn't say anything but kept her eyes focused on her feet.
The room went silent except for Kevin and Richie whispering to each other trying about Marine training as they tried to distract themselves for a while.
"What do you think, Lizzie?" Kevin asked. Duncan and Tessa had gone in and she had moved so Kevin was now seated between her and Richie. "Do you think he'd make a good Marine?"
"I think he'd make a crummy Marine," Rylan said. "He doesn't have the discipline."
"Oh, thanks a lot, Ry," Richie mumbled with a bit of a grin. "I suppose you think you'd do better?"
"No, I think I'd probably be worse than you."
"At least you have the honesty part down," Kevin said straight-faced, but in less than a second he was grinning.
They kept up the conversation and every now and then one of the twins would make a comment. Duncan and Tessa came back out both wearing expressions Rylan couldn't decipher. She glanced nervously at Richie who gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. Duncan and Tessa were talking quickly and quietly in French periodically shooting daggers through the closed office door where Julie and Brad were currently arguing their case to the judge.
Monica and the Kregson's lawyer were deep in conversation as well in their corner of the room. They looked up as Julie and Brad exited the Judge's office. Monica shot Tessa and Duncan an apologetic look and the Kregson's lawyer. Mr. Malcom was it? Gave a beaming Julie a wide smile. Rylan had the sinking feeling this was going to be a hard promise for Duncan and Tessa to keep.
Seemingly an eternity later the Judge Beal reappeared. He took a seat at the head of the table they were all seated around and cleared his throat. "I have yet to decide on a permanent answer. Since Ms. Fisher hasn't spent time with her mother in many years, I have decided to place the minor with her biological mother for a trial period of nine weeks."
"What?!" Rylan and Richie demanded at the same time.
"You said it yourself, judge, she hasn't seen her mom in years," Richie started.
"Isn't that proof enough she doesn't belong there?" Duncan finished.
"It is only a trial period," the Judge reminded them with a certain air of authority. "At the end of that period a permanent placement will be made."
"My clients want visitation," Monica put in quickly. "Unsupervised, weekly, out of the home."
"No," Julie protested. "They'll just brain wash her against me."
"I hated you long before I met them," Rylan sneered.
"Rylan!" Tessa and Julie scolded at the same time.
"There will be three weeks with no contact between the MacLeods and Ms. Fisher," Judge Beal announced. Richie tried to hide the smug grin that threatened to spread across his face as he reasoned that he was not a MacLeod and was therefore not included in the decision. "After that they may have bi-weekly visitation at Mrs. Kregson's discretion."
"What does that mean?" Richie asked Duncan under his breath.
"It means that it's up to Julie if we can see Rylan or not," Duncan explained quietly.
"What?!" Richie demanded for the second time. "She'll never let us see her!" he shouted accusingly standing up and pointing at Julie with a shaking finger.
"Richie, be quiet!" Tessa snapped pulling him back into his seat.
"You mean I don't have any say in this?" Rylan asked fighting to control her anger.
"You have had your say," the judge reminded her. "You all have. And at the end of nine weeks you will get to voice your opinion again. Now, I want Ms. Fisher packed and ready to move by six this evening. At that time a social worker will be there to take her to her mother's house. Your nine weeks begins tomorrow. You will be notified of the court date at a later time. Are there any questions?" he paused briefly. "Good. I will see you all in nine weeks." He got up and left.
Richie was the first to his feet. "I hope you're happy!" he yelled breaking the silence in the room. "How dare you think that you could do anything for her!?"
"Richie!" Duncan interrupted grabbing the boy's arm. "Shut up," he ordered sternly squeezing Richie's arm tightly when he started to protest. Richie's face contorted as he tried to hide the pain Duncan was causing. Duncan recognized the expression. "I'm sorry," he apologized quickly releasing his grip. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Richie answered turning to glare at Julie who gave him a smug smile and shrug that nobody else seemed to notice. "Bitch," he sneered.
"Richard!" This time it was Tessa's hand that gripped his arm. "Mind your language! Now, come, we have packing to do." Not loosening her grip she drug Richie out of the room.
Duncan stood and comfortingly took Rylan's shaking hand. "This is far from over," he said glaring Julie directly in the eye. "She's our daughter, not yours." As soon as his back was turned Julie gave her children a hug.
"See? Your sister is coming to live with us! Aren't you excited?"
The last thing Rylan heard before the door closed behind her was a small cheer coming up from her two half-siblings. "Brats," she grumbled.
"Hey," Duncan stopped walking and turned her to face him. "They have nothing to do with this. I know that you're mad right now. But you can't blame them. We're not trying to tear apart their family. We just want to keep ours together. I want you to promise me that you won't speak ill of Julie in front of them."
"I promise," Rylan answered.
"And MacLeods keep their word," Duncan reminded her before they went to catch up with Tessa and Richie who were angrily discussing the morning's events.
. . . . . .
"I don't want to go!" Rylan sobbed. Her anger had melted into sheer fear when Tessa started packing her suitcase.
"I know, lapine. We don't want you to go either, but we don't have a choice," Tessa admitted sadly as she folded Rylan's T-shirts.
"Can't we leave?" Rylan asked suddenly sounding full of hope. "Go to Paris? Or Scotland? Or somewhere? They won't find us; Duncan can take care of everything."
"Rylan, we are not running away from this. You have to-"
"Please?" Rylan begged discarding the stuffed bear she had been clinging to and positioning herself between Tessa and her suitcase. "Think about it, Tessa. Nobody will ever have to know what happened here. Richie and I can learn a new language or use accents. we can blend in real good. Julie won't be able to find us."
"Rylan, darling. Sit." Tessa and Rylan sat side by side on the girl's custom made giant purple bed. "We love you, you know that, non?"
"Yes."
"And you love us. Nothing will break this family. Aldius tried, other immortals have tried, and we will not survive all that just to be torn apart by the likes of that woman. I cannot promise you that everything will be perfect while you are gone. But I can promise that we will be here doing everything we can to get you back and to keep that woman away from us forever. I've already warned her that if she came near you again, I'd show her what a real mother can do. And I intend to do just that."
"Tessa!" Rylan sobbed as her composure once again left her. She wrapped her arms tightly around the French woman's waist and buried her face in her shoulder.
"Shh," Tessa soothed rocking her slightly. Richie opened the door and Tessa nodded toward the suitcase telling him to finish packing while she was busy.
Twenty minutes later Richie and Duncan were loading Rylan's bags in the trunk of the social worker's car while Tessa gave her last minute instructions.
"Be polite and be as nice as you can. Don't give them any reason to think we are a bad influence. Do as she asks. Don't ruin the little ones' opinion of their mother. Be nice to them, they have nothing to do with this. Be strong," she added wiping a tear from Rylan's cheek. "Crying will help nothing. No tears. Je t'aime."
"Je t'aime," Rylan whispered back.
"Rylan, it's time to go," the social worker announced gently.
"Be good, Rylan, I love you," Duncan said giving the frightened girl a strong hug,
"Watch your back, kid," Richie said with an attempt at a smile before hugging her as well. As her best friend he was pissed and trying to hide it, as her big brother he was pissed and didn't care who knew it. "Give 'em hell."
"Rylan?" The back door of the official looking sedan was opened and she got in. She stared out the back window until her family and home disappeared around a corner. She took a deep breath and turned to face the front of the car making a mental map of how to get from home to Julie's house. Hopefully if she needed to she could reverse the directions and get back without a problem.
Rylan sat nervously as Kevin went in to talk to the judge. After fifteen minutes he came out, spoke briefly with Julie, then went to ask Richie if he could sit by Rylan. Richie moved to the other side of Duncan silently. Twenty minutes later, Whitney came out of the judge's office and Brendan went in. Whitney still sat with Julie but made faces every time Rylan looked at him, getting her to smile a few times and even laugh once when he started mimicking everything Kevin did. After Brendan come out, Rylan's social worker took her half-siblings Mika and Tamara in. Mika was seven and Tamara was five.
"Isn't she a little old to have a five year old?" Richie whispered to Duncan.
"Isn't she a little young to have a twenty-six year old?" Duncan returned.
"She was seventeen when I was born," Kevin explained leaning over. "She's only forty-three."
"Kev, bro, dude, you can't honestly think Ry is better off with Julie," Richie said.
"Mom has her kids," Kevin told him. "She loves Lizzie but that's not enough for her. Lizzie was too little when it all happened; she might understand now, but she still feels the same way. If she wants to stay with you guys, I think she should. Look at her." Tessa had her arm around Rylan's shoulders and Rylan's head was resting on her shoulder. "If that's the way she wants things, that's what she deserves."
"That you, Kevin," Duncan said. "We were beginning to think we were out numbered."
"I can't speak for the twins, sir, but I think Lizzie has been through enough and should have things go her way for a change. I think you're up, Rich."
Mika and Tamara were once again crawling into the twins' laps. Rylan's eyes snapped into focus as Richie walked past her. Tessa squeezed her shoulder and kissed the top of her head.
"All will be fine, lapine."
Kevin watched all this then turned to Duncan. "Was he the other kid?" he asked nodding toward the judge's office.
"What do you mean?"
"The judge started asking me about the," Kevin swallowed in disgust. "The rape. He said there was another kid. Was it Richie?"
"Yes," Duncan answered after a moment. "But they don't like to talk about it."
"Understandable," Kevin acknowledged. "I didn't even know about it until now. They never told me and I was gone when it happened."
"Richie never told us either. It just slipped out one night. They haven't talked about it since. They like it that way."
"I don't blame them. I can't believe Mom didn't do anything about it."
"Don't get me started," Duncan snorted. "I can't believe she did and didn't do a lot of things. The last place Rylan should be is with her."
"Tell us how you really feel," Kevin smiled. "As much as I would love for Lizzie to be with Mom. if she's so adamant still. well, she's old enough to know what's best for herself."
"I hope the judge feels the same way. Washington CPS hasn't done the best job with protecting her."
"So I just heard." Kevin looked to his left at Rylan who was still clinging to Tessa. "If I had known, I would have taken her."
"Would the Marines have allowed that?"
"If they didn't, I would have made them," Kevin said simply.
"Ry." Rylan's head snapped up; Richie was standing in front of her. "Your turn."
Tessa gave Rylan's hand a final squeeze before gently nudging her out of her chair. "Petite lapine, be calm, be truthful, be respectful," she reminded the girl. "Show him all we've taught you."
Richie took Rylan's chair not wanting to talk to Kevin or Duncan and let Tessa hold onto this hand. He wasn't sure if it was for her comfort or his own.
When Rylan come out she didn't seem so scared anymore. She seemed very angry. Her face was red and her fists were clinched. She didn't look to Richie to get out of her chair, but simply took the seat he had previously occupied, folded her arms across her chest and glared at Julie.
"Rylan, you're being rude," Duncan whispered. "Just look the other way if you're going to glare like that." Rylan's expression softened and she shifted her gaze to her feet. "I'm sorry," Duncan apologized. "I didn't mean to snap at you. How did it go?" Rylan didn't say anything but kept her eyes focused on her feet.
The room went silent except for Kevin and Richie whispering to each other trying about Marine training as they tried to distract themselves for a while.
"What do you think, Lizzie?" Kevin asked. Duncan and Tessa had gone in and she had moved so Kevin was now seated between her and Richie. "Do you think he'd make a good Marine?"
"I think he'd make a crummy Marine," Rylan said. "He doesn't have the discipline."
"Oh, thanks a lot, Ry," Richie mumbled with a bit of a grin. "I suppose you think you'd do better?"
"No, I think I'd probably be worse than you."
"At least you have the honesty part down," Kevin said straight-faced, but in less than a second he was grinning.
They kept up the conversation and every now and then one of the twins would make a comment. Duncan and Tessa came back out both wearing expressions Rylan couldn't decipher. She glanced nervously at Richie who gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. Duncan and Tessa were talking quickly and quietly in French periodically shooting daggers through the closed office door where Julie and Brad were currently arguing their case to the judge.
Monica and the Kregson's lawyer were deep in conversation as well in their corner of the room. They looked up as Julie and Brad exited the Judge's office. Monica shot Tessa and Duncan an apologetic look and the Kregson's lawyer. Mr. Malcom was it? Gave a beaming Julie a wide smile. Rylan had the sinking feeling this was going to be a hard promise for Duncan and Tessa to keep.
Seemingly an eternity later the Judge Beal reappeared. He took a seat at the head of the table they were all seated around and cleared his throat. "I have yet to decide on a permanent answer. Since Ms. Fisher hasn't spent time with her mother in many years, I have decided to place the minor with her biological mother for a trial period of nine weeks."
"What?!" Rylan and Richie demanded at the same time.
"You said it yourself, judge, she hasn't seen her mom in years," Richie started.
"Isn't that proof enough she doesn't belong there?" Duncan finished.
"It is only a trial period," the Judge reminded them with a certain air of authority. "At the end of that period a permanent placement will be made."
"My clients want visitation," Monica put in quickly. "Unsupervised, weekly, out of the home."
"No," Julie protested. "They'll just brain wash her against me."
"I hated you long before I met them," Rylan sneered.
"Rylan!" Tessa and Julie scolded at the same time.
"There will be three weeks with no contact between the MacLeods and Ms. Fisher," Judge Beal announced. Richie tried to hide the smug grin that threatened to spread across his face as he reasoned that he was not a MacLeod and was therefore not included in the decision. "After that they may have bi-weekly visitation at Mrs. Kregson's discretion."
"What does that mean?" Richie asked Duncan under his breath.
"It means that it's up to Julie if we can see Rylan or not," Duncan explained quietly.
"What?!" Richie demanded for the second time. "She'll never let us see her!" he shouted accusingly standing up and pointing at Julie with a shaking finger.
"Richie, be quiet!" Tessa snapped pulling him back into his seat.
"You mean I don't have any say in this?" Rylan asked fighting to control her anger.
"You have had your say," the judge reminded her. "You all have. And at the end of nine weeks you will get to voice your opinion again. Now, I want Ms. Fisher packed and ready to move by six this evening. At that time a social worker will be there to take her to her mother's house. Your nine weeks begins tomorrow. You will be notified of the court date at a later time. Are there any questions?" he paused briefly. "Good. I will see you all in nine weeks." He got up and left.
Richie was the first to his feet. "I hope you're happy!" he yelled breaking the silence in the room. "How dare you think that you could do anything for her!?"
"Richie!" Duncan interrupted grabbing the boy's arm. "Shut up," he ordered sternly squeezing Richie's arm tightly when he started to protest. Richie's face contorted as he tried to hide the pain Duncan was causing. Duncan recognized the expression. "I'm sorry," he apologized quickly releasing his grip. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Richie answered turning to glare at Julie who gave him a smug smile and shrug that nobody else seemed to notice. "Bitch," he sneered.
"Richard!" This time it was Tessa's hand that gripped his arm. "Mind your language! Now, come, we have packing to do." Not loosening her grip she drug Richie out of the room.
Duncan stood and comfortingly took Rylan's shaking hand. "This is far from over," he said glaring Julie directly in the eye. "She's our daughter, not yours." As soon as his back was turned Julie gave her children a hug.
"See? Your sister is coming to live with us! Aren't you excited?"
The last thing Rylan heard before the door closed behind her was a small cheer coming up from her two half-siblings. "Brats," she grumbled.
"Hey," Duncan stopped walking and turned her to face him. "They have nothing to do with this. I know that you're mad right now. But you can't blame them. We're not trying to tear apart their family. We just want to keep ours together. I want you to promise me that you won't speak ill of Julie in front of them."
"I promise," Rylan answered.
"And MacLeods keep their word," Duncan reminded her before they went to catch up with Tessa and Richie who were angrily discussing the morning's events.
. . . . . .
"I don't want to go!" Rylan sobbed. Her anger had melted into sheer fear when Tessa started packing her suitcase.
"I know, lapine. We don't want you to go either, but we don't have a choice," Tessa admitted sadly as she folded Rylan's T-shirts.
"Can't we leave?" Rylan asked suddenly sounding full of hope. "Go to Paris? Or Scotland? Or somewhere? They won't find us; Duncan can take care of everything."
"Rylan, we are not running away from this. You have to-"
"Please?" Rylan begged discarding the stuffed bear she had been clinging to and positioning herself between Tessa and her suitcase. "Think about it, Tessa. Nobody will ever have to know what happened here. Richie and I can learn a new language or use accents. we can blend in real good. Julie won't be able to find us."
"Rylan, darling. Sit." Tessa and Rylan sat side by side on the girl's custom made giant purple bed. "We love you, you know that, non?"
"Yes."
"And you love us. Nothing will break this family. Aldius tried, other immortals have tried, and we will not survive all that just to be torn apart by the likes of that woman. I cannot promise you that everything will be perfect while you are gone. But I can promise that we will be here doing everything we can to get you back and to keep that woman away from us forever. I've already warned her that if she came near you again, I'd show her what a real mother can do. And I intend to do just that."
"Tessa!" Rylan sobbed as her composure once again left her. She wrapped her arms tightly around the French woman's waist and buried her face in her shoulder.
"Shh," Tessa soothed rocking her slightly. Richie opened the door and Tessa nodded toward the suitcase telling him to finish packing while she was busy.
Twenty minutes later Richie and Duncan were loading Rylan's bags in the trunk of the social worker's car while Tessa gave her last minute instructions.
"Be polite and be as nice as you can. Don't give them any reason to think we are a bad influence. Do as she asks. Don't ruin the little ones' opinion of their mother. Be nice to them, they have nothing to do with this. Be strong," she added wiping a tear from Rylan's cheek. "Crying will help nothing. No tears. Je t'aime."
"Je t'aime," Rylan whispered back.
"Rylan, it's time to go," the social worker announced gently.
"Be good, Rylan, I love you," Duncan said giving the frightened girl a strong hug,
"Watch your back, kid," Richie said with an attempt at a smile before hugging her as well. As her best friend he was pissed and trying to hide it, as her big brother he was pissed and didn't care who knew it. "Give 'em hell."
"Rylan?" The back door of the official looking sedan was opened and she got in. She stared out the back window until her family and home disappeared around a corner. She took a deep breath and turned to face the front of the car making a mental map of how to get from home to Julie's house. Hopefully if she needed to she could reverse the directions and get back without a problem.