Caitlin won't stop crying. She insists that Trey's her son, that she gave birth to him. Sean's refusing to comment. He doesn't want to say anything to hurt his sister but Ricardo's already been questioning him and he's on the witness list for Annie's trial. Cole told Bette Caitlin's been inconsolable since Social Services took the baby away. He has that stunned look, the numb grayness that comes from losing a child. I remember seeing that look in the mirror after Olivia miscarried.
I can't imagine being kept from the death of my own child for a year as Cole has been. When I look at him I actually feel pity for the poor boy. He's lost everything in one sweep. His wife, my precious daughter, didn't have the strength to tell him she'd lost their baby. She bought a baby and used my money to do it. Amazingly I can't bring myself to feel pity for her. It's as if the light I shone on her face has gone out in my heart.
I can't bring myself to look at her as Olivia and I take our seats across from her in the courtroom. Olivia's been quiet all morning, but she's clinging to my hand. Her clothes are back in my house and watching her get dressed this morning in my bedroom was balm to my heart. She's back and it makes the months we spent apart seem like a nightmare.
But she's pale, worn out by the mess these proceedings have become. Caitlin suing for custody of Trey was the final straw. I can still feel the way her hand clamped down desperately on my arm when the judge told us we'd have to wait for the results of the paternity test before our son would be released to us. I don't understand how she can still be so nervous. What doubts could she still have?
Perhaps it's because she can't believe her own memories. Olivia's eyes still turn to foggy whenever anyone mentions that day. She lowers her head to my shoulder as the judge begins the hearing. I slip my arm around her, whispering to her, "It'll be over in a moment Liv. He'll be coming home with us. Forever."
Olivia can't say anything. Her hand flies up to her mouth and I reach up to touch her cheek. "It'll be all right. Don't worry about it."
Judge Galway settles into his chair and arranges his glasses on his nose. "This is the conclusion on the custody hearing of one minor child, Armando James Deschanel. This case is tied to a criminal case still under prosecution the particulars of that case make this very delicate for all parties concerned." He looked over the findings of the court appointed laboratory one final time before looking up at the crowd.
He clears his throat and lowers his gaze to my ex-wife as she shifts uncomfortably on the bench next to me. "The word of one party against another is often the forefront of any legal battle, but never is it more hurtful than in a custody case. But no matter the cost, it is the only mission of this court to provide the best possible home for this boy."
"I can find no fault with the way he has been treated in his current home with Mr. and Mrs. Deschanel, nor can I find any reason he wouldn't live equally well with Mr. and the first Mrs. Richards. That makes this case come down to the laboratory results."
Olivia's fingers dig into my arm and I transfer her grip to my hand. I wish I could make her less upset, share with her the confidence I have that our son will come home.
"The facts of the criminal case pending against Annie Douglas Richards will depend greatly on the findings of our lab that I have before me." The graying Judge Galway took a sip of water and continued. "Due to the close genetic ties between Olivia Richards and her daughter Caitlin Richards Deschanel, the only way to determine the true parentage of this young boy was to compare the potential fathers Gregory Richards and Cole Deschanel. "
Olivia's whole body is trembling next to me but I know it'll all end as soon as the Judge announces that he is my son. She's just carried away by the stress of it all and she's never been able to separate her body from the pain in her mind. I concentrate on the Judge, but I touch her cheek again, reminding her I'm never leaving her side again.
"The DNA evidence was decisive. Gregory Richards is a 99.7 positive match to this little boy. It is the belief of this means Armando James Deschanel was born, stolen and falsely declared dead as Gregory Richards Jr."
I'd be out of my seat in joy, but Olivia's grip on me is too tight. I kiss her head and let her collapse into my chest. She doesn't have to listen, the Judge's final verdict will be etched in my mind forever.
"With that evidence, it is the opinion of this court that the child will be returned to his biological parents, Olivia and Gregory Richards. Since they are divorced, a second hearing will convene tomorrow to determine a shared custody between them."
The gavel comes down as Caitlin starts shouting unintelligibly. The bailiff grabs her to keep her back from Olivia and I. Bette pats my shoulder and offers her congratulations. "When she's listening again, tell her I always knew you'd get back together."
Bette leans down and to my great surprise kisses my cheek and whispers to me alone, "After you got your head out of your ass and realized you needed her." Her hand slaps lightly across my cheek and she smirks at my shock. "That's so you never forget."
She touches Olivia's hand and whispers something to her that actually earns a pause in her tears. "I'll see you both, and the little guy later at home." Bette smiles warmly, bringing that light that's so strong within her. She too seems to have accepted that our home is together once more.
The courtroom keeps clearing around us. Sean sit down next to me with a shy grin. "Is mom okay?"
I lower my head, coaxing Olivia up to meet our elder son's eyes as I kiss her tear-stained cheek. "I think she's going to be fine."
"Oh Sean-" And that's all she can manage. Our son takes over, telling her how great it's going to be to have little Gregory back home.
I stand, rubbing Olivia's shoulders as I watch Cole come towards me. His hands are in the pockets of his suit and he looks lost. More lost than I've ever seen him. I meet him part way, giving him the privacy of a solo conversation.
"Cate and I have a lot of Trey's-" He runs his hand through his hair suddenly deflated. "Gregory's- his stuff, umm- do you want me to send it over?"
For an insane moment it hits me that I've won. I've finally broken up Cole and Caitlin, but I no longer care. In fact, Cole's almost better off without her. It's ironic really, all that time I spent trying to convince Caitlin not to trust him- Cole's the more trustworthy one.
"You can bring it over whenever it's convenient for you. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you." I don't even believe I'm saying it. I've invited Cole Deschanel to my house but I couldn't be happier if I tried. My son is coming home to me.
Behind me Olivia's cry of joy can only mean social services have given her our son back. "Excuse me." I tell him as I turn away.
Turning towards me with tears streaming down her face, Olivia's never looked more radiant. Our son, my namesake, catches a curl of her hair in one chubby fist and waves the other at me. He's too young to know he's the cause of her tears, but he lights up with a smile as I hurry towards him. He's still grinning at me as I surround them both with my arms.
Sean's still here, and for the first time in his life, I let him see me cry. All that wanting, all the emptiness is gone. My heart has reasons to beat again, reasons that I crush to my chest.
An eternity later, Gregory Jr, Tommy as she's started calling him on the walk down to the records office, is sitting happily balanced on the counter as Olivia and I fill out his paper work.
"Last chance to change your mind." I tease her as I fill out a new birth certificate for our son.
Olivia beams at him and shakes her head. "He's Gregory Thomas Richards, aren't you darling?" Our son sucks his fingers but he never takes his eyes off of her. His adjustment seems to be the least painful of all.
I sign the birth certificate and pass it to Olivia with a pen. She signs it and starts to hand the pen back to me but I push her hand back. "One more thing to sign Liv."
She tilts her head at me, confused as I place the marriage license on the counter in front of her.
"Assuming you'll take me back." I reach for her hand and plant a kiss on the back of it. "It will eliminate the need for a second custody hearing."
Olivia gulps back the tears that are threatening her barely dry eyelashes. "Oh Gregory-"
I sign my name with a flourish and set my pen down. "I love you."
She sets down the pen I gave her and picks up my personal gold leafed one. Her elegant signature finds a home just above mine. "I love you too."
Bette clears her throat from the doorway, grinning as she announces her part in my little surprise. "I brought a judge and two witnesses. Moi and-"
Sean peaks shyly around the door. "Me."
Olivia hands me Gregory Jr and runs to hug our oldest son. "Oh darling, you don't know how much this means to your father and I-"
Meeting my eyes over Olivia's shoulder, Sean gives me a serious look. "I think I do. I really think I do mom."
Bette reaches for the baby and takes him as she passes the marriage license to Sean. "John Hancock on there cupcake, then you can give these two their rings back."
Sticking his hand in his pocket, Sean sheepishly opens his palm to reveal our original wedding rings. "Rose stole 'em for me."
Olivia's a wreck, but I'm only a notch away. She hugs Bette and then hugs Sean again, probably would have hugged the judge to if I didn't grab her away and pull her to the center of the room.
"I understand you've both done this before." Judge Wolsten looks over our just completed license and sets it aside. "Are you both ready to do this? No one knows better than the two of you what kind of commitment you're getting into."
"This is the right thing to do." Olivia answers for both of us as she takes my hands.
"Do you, Gregory Richards, take Olivia to be your wife, to laugh with you in joy, to grieve with you in sorrow, to grow with you in love and from this day onward share your life with her?"
Olivia mouths "I love you" and I nearly lose my composure completely.
"I do." Falls from my lips and seals my promise. I wonder if I can live up to everything we hope, but the love in her eyes promises she believes in me.
"Do you, Olivia Blake Richards, take Gregory to be your husband, to laugh with you in joy, to grieve with you in sorrow, to grow with you in love and from this day onward share your life with him?"
"I do." Olivia can be so beautiful when she's crying. "I most certainly do."
Judge Wolsten smiles and takes the rings from Sean. "As you exchange these rings, remember these are a symbol of your wedded life together, a commitment to be held sacred between you."
Sacred is something I've avoided in my life. I'm not a religious man, but if I had to find one place to have faith, it's in her. Our rings slide home, symbolizing the emptiness that's gone now.
"Before these witnesses and by the power invested in me by the state of California, I pronounce you husband and wife and wish you the best of luck in your life together." Judge Wolsten steps back to sign our marriage license and Olivia and I stare at each other.
How can one sum up a lifetime together? How does the complicated mass of experiences that define two people become something as simple as two bands of gold and two tiny sentences tossed across a little office of records?
Olivia must be able to see my mind run off without me because she starts to laugh. "You're forgetting one very important part of your surprise-"
"What?" I ask dumbstruck by her as she rising up on her tiptoes.
"This." Melting her lips into mine, Olivia answers all of my questions. The life of two people is even simpler than a marriage ceremony. It's in a kiss, a look across a crowded room that says more than the most lengthy of novels. It's our children, the way she knows what I'm thinking by the set of my shoulders, the way I can tell her mood by the way she enters a room.
"Oh-" I whisper softly as I hold her against me. "That-"
She gives me the tiniest of nods and devours my lips as she reminds me just one of the myriad reasons I love her beyond reason, beyond my doubts and beyond fear.
