Chapter Seven- Morgan Barringer

A/N: I dont know if I'm going to have this whole " court" thing right. I'm only in high school, and my brother isnt in
law school just yet





The soccer game was taking place not far outside Peter's office, he could easily tell they were letting the
short girl get the ball. Shelby was chasing after her, but Ezra picker her up from under the arms and ran to the other side
of the fiels.


Shelby caught his gaze, leaving the game " hey" she was catching her breath, " what did Peter want?".


Scott handed her the birth certificate, she read through it, quickly smiling, " so she's yours?" he nodded,
" that's great" she hugged him, " how did Peter get this?".


" Elaine's lawyer".


She pulled away, " why don't I like the sound of that?" her expression went blank.


" The rest isn't better" he paused, " Elaine wants to start a custody battle for Morgan in court.
The judge would privatly review our case and decide where she'd be better off living, like who would be the better parent".


" Better parent? Scott, she abanded her at hotel, I mean what if you werent there, and since then
you've done nothing but try to protect her since she's been here. I saw the way you reacted earlier when she ran off. There's
no debate on who the better parent is".


Scott walked towards the wall of the building, " it's only because I'm eighteen. But I have the option if
giving up current custody to her".


She followed him to the dirt, " oh" they both remembered his threat to Elaine in the mall, " what are you
going to do?". He looked up at the game, where Ezra was still helping Morgan with the ball, Scott didn't answer, she didn't
really expect him too. Wrapping her arms gently around his neck, letting him rest his head on her shoulder.



" Maybe it's for the best, I don't know how to take care of a child" he told her.



" When it's your own, it comes naturally. She loves you so much, and you do too, that's all that
matters".


He sighed, " a week before she...came, you and I were talking about getting an apartment after graduation
and everything".


Shelby adjusted her hold on him, " why does that have to change?" he looked at her, slightly confused, " the
whole point of living together is being apart of each others lives, and if Morgan's a part of your life, then she'd be a
part of mine".



" She'd like that, she really would".


" The question is, do you want her in your life, full time?" she was not trying to convince his
decision, she wanted to make sure he made the right one.



He sighed deeply, " I don't want her to be with Elaine".



" Then there's only one way to prevent that, or at least try".


Scott moved away, Shelby let go. " Then I guess I'm going to fight for her".


Shelby watched him stand up, " what exactly do you have to do? Go to court?".


He shook his head, seeming a bit distant, " no, I would have to write a statement saying why I would be
better at full custody thatn Elaine, maybe it won't be as hard".


She smiled, " do you want me to help?" not like she would back out after being through so much.


Scott knew she wouldn't, and that in some way Shelby would always be there, no matter what. " No, I really
think it's something I should do alone".



How are you suppose to start a college fund for someone, when you've never been to college yourself?







After arriving back to the trailer post-dinner, Shelby suggested to Scott go for a walk, it'd help
clear his mind and she'd be there to put Morgan to bed. He started walking past Peter's backyard to the woods that
eventually led back to Horizon.




During class, he'd have enough trouble writing essays and reports. Those were easy subjects, well,
compared to this. He went from writing about the American Revolution and past presidants to a custody statement over a
child. His feelings for his daughter did not change after finding out he was the biological father. He loved her, and cared
about her like he did Shelby, with exceptions. It hurt, thinking that he may never see Morgan again when he hardly saw her
in the first place.


He heard footsteps running in in dirt behind him, fast. When he turned, Shelby nearly knocking them
both to the ground, " Scott, I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry" she screamed in a frantic.


Scott grabbed her elbows, " what? what happened?!".


Shelby was crying, stuttering as she panicked, " there was something outside and I went out there, someone
was throwing rocks at the trailer, and Ic ame back and she was gone, someone took Morgan!".


They both ran as fast as possible to the clearing. Peter was standing on the back porch when they
stormed past.


" What the hell are you guys doing?".



The door was open, Scott jumped the steps inside. The bed had been used, but it was empty. He
checked under the bed, in the closet, the bathroom, all empty. Then he noticed the sheet of paper near the pillow. Another
noce, the last one wasn't good, this one wasn't either.






The rapids almost killed you, maybe she'll be more lucky. Maybe not.