Chapter Four
Review Response:
Mudd1- I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter and I hope you like this one as well!
Alexa- I hope you enjoy this chapter! It's a long one!
Katie- Hang in there and I guess you'll find out what happens in the coming chapters!
V- I'm sorry if you don't want it to be a Cecilia/Robbie story but as you will find in this chapter it does center around them..but please don't give up on this story because of that!
RosieRuth- I'm sorry to say that the kids will not end up with Lucy/Kevin...But I guess you'll have to hang in there for the rest...As for Lucy's pregnancy I guess you'll just have to hand in there!
The next morning Robbie arrived at the condo just as everyone was finished eating breakfast, "I thought I could ride with you when you drop the kids off at school and then I thought we could go see Chandler, since you aren't back in school yet." Robbie suggests.
Cecilia nods, "all right, I guess we need to get a jump on this, before the Camdens can even petition."
Once they had dropped Ruthie off at the high school and the twins off at the elementary Cecilia directed the an toward the church, they still went to the same church every Sunday but it still seemed weird to go to Chandler's church, not Eric's.
When they walk into Chandler's office he looks mildly surprised to see them, "Robbie, Cecilia, how was the trip?"
"It was all right." Robbie responds as he and Cecilia take seats.
"What brings you here then?" Chandler asks right away.
Robbie and Cecilia exchange glances and Cecilia finally states, "the Colonel and Ruth have decided that they want custody of Ruthie, Sam and David."
Chandler nods, "I see. How does everyone else feel about it?"
"Matt and Mary support it Simon and Lucy don't. And Ruthie wants to stay with Cecilia." Robbie responds for the both of them
"Did you tell them that?" Chandler asks.
Cecilia nods, "they know everything but the Colonel and Ruth insist that I am to young to do this. But I am doing this, it's working out fine, everyone is happy. The kids are getting good grades, they eat well, we spend time together...I don't know what more they would want besides having their parents back."
Chandler nods, "I know, I've seen you with them on Sundays you all look so put together. Listen, there's a man in our church Bruce Green, he is a custody lawyer and he could probably make time to see you."
"Could you set that up?" Robbie questions, "because we would really appreciate it."
Chandler nods, "hang on just a second. Quickly flipping through a roll-a-dex and finding the number he wants he dials quickly and in a low tone explains the situation and then finally hangs up. "All right I've set you up with an appointment, Bruce is very busy but he says he has time to fit you in at 2, it's his lunch break but Eric helped his family through a hard time so he wants to repay that."
"Thank you so much Chandler." Cecilia hugs Chandler before she and Robbie leave.
"I can't go." Robbie states as they walk to the car.
"What?" Cecilia had never considered the possibility that she would have to go there alone.
"I have to work, but listen it shouldn't be to hard to explain the entire situation to him and then I will meet you for lunch, sound all right?" Robbie offers.
Cecilia nods, "all right, Peter is coming over for dinner so why don't you stop by around 5:30, after you get off?"
"All right I will see you then."
"So that's the story." Cecilia leans back in the chair as she judge Bruce Green's reaction.
He'd been taking notes through the entire time and finally he looks up and gives Cecilia a comforting smile, "I could give you a long winded explanation as to why but I'm going to be honest with you, the grandparents have a better chance of gaining custody."
Cecilia nods her head slowly, "we kind of figured that."
"Only because you are younger, a student, single and you have no financial income that is provided to you by the siblings or your parents. But, that doesn't mean we aren't going to try, Reverend Camden fought for me and my family when we needed it most and now I know I can repay that, I want to do the case pro-bono. But I know you have to pick the kids up from school and I have other appointments to keep so check with my secretary and she will make an appointment with you as soon as possible."
Cecilia nods defeated, "thank you."
Cecilia wasn't even sure where she was going until she reached Robbie's office, tears streaming down her face she quickly hurries through the office and reaches his door quickly, "Cecilia! What's going on?" Robbie quickly shuts the door behind Cecilia and gently guides her to the couch.
Cecilia takes a deep breath and states, "Mr. Green doesn't think that we really have a chance of winning, I mean he said he'd try but he says because we are so young, and I'm a student and not married and no financial income they'll most likely grant custody to the Camdens."
Robbie gently rubs Cecilia's back, "its all right, we will think of something."
Cecilia nods reassured by Robbie's words, "I should go, if I don't leave I'm going to be late in picking up the twins and it will make me late in picking up Ruthie and then she'll think something is wrong...I'll see you at 5:30, right?"
Robbie nods, "do you need me to bring anything?"
Cecilia shakes her head, "thanks, but no, we went grocery shopping yesterday."
Dinner was unusual, usually it consisted of a lot of conversation on everyone's part, but the twins were grumpy at each other and Robbie and Cecilia were mostly lost in their own thoughts so it was up to Peter and Ruthie to carry on the conversation.
"We're going on a field trip." Ruthie states for the second time before she catches Cecilia and Robbie's attention.
"Oh really, where?" Robbie questions.
"The science center, it's an all day trip." Peter responds.
"They need chaperones..." Ruthie states looking back and forth between Robbie and Cecilia.
"We asked my mom but she can't get off of work." Peter adds.
"When is it?" Cecilia asks.
"Next Friday, from ten to three." Ruthie responds.
"I can do it, I have classes until 10 on Fridays but I can leave a little early." Cecilia states, "why don't you get the forms from your teacher."
"Thanks Cecilia!" Ruthie and Peter both exclaim.
Cecilia glances around and noticing that everyone had finished eating she begins collecting plates, "are you guys finished with your homework? Paris is going to be here in 45 minutes and if I remember correctly you promised her that you would have your homework done."
"We're almost done." Peter promises.
Robbie helps Cecilia collect the remnants of dinner and they both head into the kitchen Ruthie following closely. "What's going on?" Ruthie asks once they are in the confines of the kitchen.
Cecilia sets the plates down in the sink and responds, "we'll talk later, not right now though, not while Peter is here, and Robbie and I haven't really gotten a chance to talk."
Ruthie nods, "all right, but after Peter leaves?"
Cecilia nods, "probably."
Ruthie nods satisfied, "all right, Peter and I will be in my room finishing homework."
Cecilia nods, "door open."
Ruthie nods also, "I know."
"Why don't we go outside and talk?" Robbie suggests.
Cecilia nods, "let me just get the boys set up with a movie and I'll be out."
Several minutes later Cecilia joins Robbie on the front porch, "what are we going to do?" Cecilia asks.
"I have a weird idea." Robbie states slowly obviously unsure of his idea.
"A weird idea is better than no idea." Cecilia points out.
Robbie takes a deep breath, "you love those kids as much as I do, right?"
Cecilia gives Robbie a weird look, "of course I do!"
"I guess I'm just delaying the statement of my idea."
"Robbie you are making it sound like we are going to take the kids and run away to Mexico or something."
Robbie shakes his head, "no, but something nearly as drastic. I think we should get married." Cecilia opens and closes her mouth stunned and Robbie continues on. "I know it sound crazy, I do really, and I know it must seem like I haven't really thought this out. But I have, I mean I have been since you came into my office...and I know it sounds weird but..."
"We promised Ruthie we would do everything we could to try to keep her here." Cecilia finishes.
"Exactly!" Robbie exclaims, "and we don't have to do it, it was just an idea I had..."
"It's the only idea we have." Cecilia takes a deep breath, "all right, I'm in."
Thirty minutes later Paris had picked up Peter and the twins, Ruthie, Cecilia and Robbie were all sitting in the living room the three youngest in the room had their attentions directed at the two older ones.
"Did you guys come up with a plan to keep us here?" Ruthie asks.
Cecilia nods, "we have. How would you guys like it if Robbie moved in with us?"
"Doesn't Robbie all ready live with us?" Sam asks.
"Yeah, he's here when we go to bed and he's here when we wake up." David adds.
"Robbie doesn't live here." Ruthie responds, "he lives at the hotel down the street."
The boys exchange glances and shrugs, "so."
"Let us explain." Robbie responds, "Cecilia and I want to get married."
"But we wanna marry Cecilia." The twins echo immediately walking over to Cecilia and planting themselves between her and Robbie and Ruthie who are on either side of her.
"Why don't you guys go play?" Cecilia suggests.
The boys nod, "all right."
"What's going on?" Ruthie questions as soon as the boys are out of the room. When Cecilia and Robbie finish explaining Ruthie states, "this feels like cheating."
Robbie and Cecilia exchange glances and Cecilia responds, "then we don't have to do it this way if you don't feel right about it, we don't want to compromise your feelings of right and wrong. And either way we are going to fight this."
"Are you sure that you guys want to do this?" Ruthie asks.
Cecilia and Robbie nods, "we wouldn't have come to you with this if this wasn't what we wanted. We want to be a family." Robbie responds.
Ruthie wraps her arms around both Robbie and Cecilia soft tears running down her cheeks as she wraps her arms around Cecilia and Robbie, "I love you guys, thank you."
Review Response:
Mudd1- I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter and I hope you like this one as well!
Alexa- I hope you enjoy this chapter! It's a long one!
Katie- Hang in there and I guess you'll find out what happens in the coming chapters!
V- I'm sorry if you don't want it to be a Cecilia/Robbie story but as you will find in this chapter it does center around them..but please don't give up on this story because of that!
RosieRuth- I'm sorry to say that the kids will not end up with Lucy/Kevin...But I guess you'll have to hang in there for the rest...As for Lucy's pregnancy I guess you'll just have to hand in there!
The next morning Robbie arrived at the condo just as everyone was finished eating breakfast, "I thought I could ride with you when you drop the kids off at school and then I thought we could go see Chandler, since you aren't back in school yet." Robbie suggests.
Cecilia nods, "all right, I guess we need to get a jump on this, before the Camdens can even petition."
Once they had dropped Ruthie off at the high school and the twins off at the elementary Cecilia directed the an toward the church, they still went to the same church every Sunday but it still seemed weird to go to Chandler's church, not Eric's.
When they walk into Chandler's office he looks mildly surprised to see them, "Robbie, Cecilia, how was the trip?"
"It was all right." Robbie responds as he and Cecilia take seats.
"What brings you here then?" Chandler asks right away.
Robbie and Cecilia exchange glances and Cecilia finally states, "the Colonel and Ruth have decided that they want custody of Ruthie, Sam and David."
Chandler nods, "I see. How does everyone else feel about it?"
"Matt and Mary support it Simon and Lucy don't. And Ruthie wants to stay with Cecilia." Robbie responds for the both of them
"Did you tell them that?" Chandler asks.
Cecilia nods, "they know everything but the Colonel and Ruth insist that I am to young to do this. But I am doing this, it's working out fine, everyone is happy. The kids are getting good grades, they eat well, we spend time together...I don't know what more they would want besides having their parents back."
Chandler nods, "I know, I've seen you with them on Sundays you all look so put together. Listen, there's a man in our church Bruce Green, he is a custody lawyer and he could probably make time to see you."
"Could you set that up?" Robbie questions, "because we would really appreciate it."
Chandler nods, "hang on just a second. Quickly flipping through a roll-a-dex and finding the number he wants he dials quickly and in a low tone explains the situation and then finally hangs up. "All right I've set you up with an appointment, Bruce is very busy but he says he has time to fit you in at 2, it's his lunch break but Eric helped his family through a hard time so he wants to repay that."
"Thank you so much Chandler." Cecilia hugs Chandler before she and Robbie leave.
"I can't go." Robbie states as they walk to the car.
"What?" Cecilia had never considered the possibility that she would have to go there alone.
"I have to work, but listen it shouldn't be to hard to explain the entire situation to him and then I will meet you for lunch, sound all right?" Robbie offers.
Cecilia nods, "all right, Peter is coming over for dinner so why don't you stop by around 5:30, after you get off?"
"All right I will see you then."
"So that's the story." Cecilia leans back in the chair as she judge Bruce Green's reaction.
He'd been taking notes through the entire time and finally he looks up and gives Cecilia a comforting smile, "I could give you a long winded explanation as to why but I'm going to be honest with you, the grandparents have a better chance of gaining custody."
Cecilia nods her head slowly, "we kind of figured that."
"Only because you are younger, a student, single and you have no financial income that is provided to you by the siblings or your parents. But, that doesn't mean we aren't going to try, Reverend Camden fought for me and my family when we needed it most and now I know I can repay that, I want to do the case pro-bono. But I know you have to pick the kids up from school and I have other appointments to keep so check with my secretary and she will make an appointment with you as soon as possible."
Cecilia nods defeated, "thank you."
Cecilia wasn't even sure where she was going until she reached Robbie's office, tears streaming down her face she quickly hurries through the office and reaches his door quickly, "Cecilia! What's going on?" Robbie quickly shuts the door behind Cecilia and gently guides her to the couch.
Cecilia takes a deep breath and states, "Mr. Green doesn't think that we really have a chance of winning, I mean he said he'd try but he says because we are so young, and I'm a student and not married and no financial income they'll most likely grant custody to the Camdens."
Robbie gently rubs Cecilia's back, "its all right, we will think of something."
Cecilia nods reassured by Robbie's words, "I should go, if I don't leave I'm going to be late in picking up the twins and it will make me late in picking up Ruthie and then she'll think something is wrong...I'll see you at 5:30, right?"
Robbie nods, "do you need me to bring anything?"
Cecilia shakes her head, "thanks, but no, we went grocery shopping yesterday."
Dinner was unusual, usually it consisted of a lot of conversation on everyone's part, but the twins were grumpy at each other and Robbie and Cecilia were mostly lost in their own thoughts so it was up to Peter and Ruthie to carry on the conversation.
"We're going on a field trip." Ruthie states for the second time before she catches Cecilia and Robbie's attention.
"Oh really, where?" Robbie questions.
"The science center, it's an all day trip." Peter responds.
"They need chaperones..." Ruthie states looking back and forth between Robbie and Cecilia.
"We asked my mom but she can't get off of work." Peter adds.
"When is it?" Cecilia asks.
"Next Friday, from ten to three." Ruthie responds.
"I can do it, I have classes until 10 on Fridays but I can leave a little early." Cecilia states, "why don't you get the forms from your teacher."
"Thanks Cecilia!" Ruthie and Peter both exclaim.
Cecilia glances around and noticing that everyone had finished eating she begins collecting plates, "are you guys finished with your homework? Paris is going to be here in 45 minutes and if I remember correctly you promised her that you would have your homework done."
"We're almost done." Peter promises.
Robbie helps Cecilia collect the remnants of dinner and they both head into the kitchen Ruthie following closely. "What's going on?" Ruthie asks once they are in the confines of the kitchen.
Cecilia sets the plates down in the sink and responds, "we'll talk later, not right now though, not while Peter is here, and Robbie and I haven't really gotten a chance to talk."
Ruthie nods, "all right, but after Peter leaves?"
Cecilia nods, "probably."
Ruthie nods satisfied, "all right, Peter and I will be in my room finishing homework."
Cecilia nods, "door open."
Ruthie nods also, "I know."
"Why don't we go outside and talk?" Robbie suggests.
Cecilia nods, "let me just get the boys set up with a movie and I'll be out."
Several minutes later Cecilia joins Robbie on the front porch, "what are we going to do?" Cecilia asks.
"I have a weird idea." Robbie states slowly obviously unsure of his idea.
"A weird idea is better than no idea." Cecilia points out.
Robbie takes a deep breath, "you love those kids as much as I do, right?"
Cecilia gives Robbie a weird look, "of course I do!"
"I guess I'm just delaying the statement of my idea."
"Robbie you are making it sound like we are going to take the kids and run away to Mexico or something."
Robbie shakes his head, "no, but something nearly as drastic. I think we should get married." Cecilia opens and closes her mouth stunned and Robbie continues on. "I know it sound crazy, I do really, and I know it must seem like I haven't really thought this out. But I have, I mean I have been since you came into my office...and I know it sounds weird but..."
"We promised Ruthie we would do everything we could to try to keep her here." Cecilia finishes.
"Exactly!" Robbie exclaims, "and we don't have to do it, it was just an idea I had..."
"It's the only idea we have." Cecilia takes a deep breath, "all right, I'm in."
Thirty minutes later Paris had picked up Peter and the twins, Ruthie, Cecilia and Robbie were all sitting in the living room the three youngest in the room had their attentions directed at the two older ones.
"Did you guys come up with a plan to keep us here?" Ruthie asks.
Cecilia nods, "we have. How would you guys like it if Robbie moved in with us?"
"Doesn't Robbie all ready live with us?" Sam asks.
"Yeah, he's here when we go to bed and he's here when we wake up." David adds.
"Robbie doesn't live here." Ruthie responds, "he lives at the hotel down the street."
The boys exchange glances and shrugs, "so."
"Let us explain." Robbie responds, "Cecilia and I want to get married."
"But we wanna marry Cecilia." The twins echo immediately walking over to Cecilia and planting themselves between her and Robbie and Ruthie who are on either side of her.
"Why don't you guys go play?" Cecilia suggests.
The boys nod, "all right."
"What's going on?" Ruthie questions as soon as the boys are out of the room. When Cecilia and Robbie finish explaining Ruthie states, "this feels like cheating."
Robbie and Cecilia exchange glances and Cecilia responds, "then we don't have to do it this way if you don't feel right about it, we don't want to compromise your feelings of right and wrong. And either way we are going to fight this."
"Are you sure that you guys want to do this?" Ruthie asks.
Cecilia and Robbie nods, "we wouldn't have come to you with this if this wasn't what we wanted. We want to be a family." Robbie responds.
Ruthie wraps her arms around both Robbie and Cecilia soft tears running down her cheeks as she wraps her arms around Cecilia and Robbie, "I love you guys, thank you."