Authors Note- And the battle begins. Now for a different subject, do people
really want to know the baby's gender before its born? What do you all
think it's going to be?
Chapter Twelve- "As long as Lilly means more"
"That has got to be the dumbest plan I've ever heard, and I know dumb plans".
Elise groaned, throwing herself on the apartment couch, "you can't go see her now. Trust me, when she's in labor, she won't care. She won't even be able to keep you away".
That was her plan, have Seth revealed to Summer only at the time of the baby's birth. "Are you a professional at this or something?" but he couldn't agree with her.
She shook her head, then paused for a brief moment, "you know, she filed for custody termination papers. You sign them and then have no legal right to the baby".
"And she really expects me to sign them?".
"Hormones probably. Don't worry about it, she's going to have them delivered in New York, and you're not there".
Seth picked up an empty picture frame from the small table next to where he was sitting and began to fondle with it, "so I should just stay hidden in here until she has the baby?".
"No, you can go out. Just wear that disguise I gave you, like if you were going to court".
"I already told you, I'm not going to sue Summer".
Elise nodded, "yeah I know. But I meant for the custody battle, remember Ryan and Marissa's mom".
"Oh right, when does that start?".
"Today".
It was hard enough explaining death to a five year old, but if Ryan hardly understood court situations himself, it'd be impossible to clarify this one to her. There was no easy way to tell Lillian that she may not be living with him for much longer, so he didn't. And he wasn't going to, unless he really had to. He knew that power Julie Cooper had, and he knew that he had small chances against her.
The judge ordered Lillian to be under the supervision of a social worker while court was in session. When arriving at the court house, he only told her that he had to work. And she believed him. Good thing she didn't see Julie on the first day, or she may have figured it all out.
Christine Fortum, the most high powered on the west coast, was representing Julie. However, that didn't worry Ryan as much as Julie was hoping it would. Since he was still too inexperienced to represent himself, he went the with attorney who, in his eyes, was beyond Christine.
And Sandy was the first person Ryan saw when entering the court room. Kirsten, Jimmy, and a thinner Hailey were sitting along the bench that was on the left side of the room behind the gate. They all greeted one another.
"I never knew an environmental lawyer could do custody battles" Ryan said.
The two shook hands, "they don't consider there to be much of a difference. And if they did, then I'd retake any exam for this one".
"That really means a lot".
"As long as Lilly means more".
The main doors opened, and they all turned to see who was entering. Christine, then Julie, Caleb, and finally Caitlin, Marissa's younger sister. She and Caleb sat down opposite Kirsten, Hailey, and Jimmy. Julie and Christine proceed to their table on the other side of the gate.
"We better get going" Sandy suggested, leading Ryan to their own table that were in front of the two podiums.
A woman dressed in a security guard uniform entered through a door across the room, "all rise for the honorable Judge Wobash".
As they stood up, Sandy leaned towards Ryan and whispered, "I hear this judge is a softie for cute guys".
"Well then I'm in trouble" Ryan muttered.
An older, strict looking woman wearing a long black robe entered the courtroom and stepped onto the highest podium. "You may be seated" and she sat down herself.
The security guard handed a small stack of papers to the judge, "case number four, six, eight, zero- custody decision of Lillian Abigail Atwood".
"She has your last name" Sandy whispered, "that's a pro".
Ryan glanced over to where Christine was whispering to Julie, "Julie has money, that's a con".
Judge Wobash fingered through the papers, "it's quiet the situation here- father against grandmother
"If you want to consider Ryan a father". Julie muttered enough so there was an echo. And if you want to consider Julie and grandmother.
The woman cleared her throat, "Mrs. Cooper, how long have you known Lillian?".
"Five years" she said proudly, "since the day she was born".
"And you Mr. Atwood?".
His glands suddenly became swollen, "seven months" was no match to birth, even when he said it. A muffled giggle from Caitlin erupted behind them.
"You honor" Christine began, "my client has had more interaction with the child than her own father".
Sandy shifted forward in his chair, "in all fairness, Ryan was never aware of his daughters existence until seven months ago. There wasn't anything he could have done". Ryan appreciated how Sandy referred to Lillian as ' his daughter' rather than ' the child'.
"Unfortunately that can be used against him" Wobash claimed.
Ryan felt a sharp pain travel down his spine when that was said, and Sandy saw it in his eyes. "Your honor, Marissa Cooper's will states in black and white that should something to her, she wanted her daughter to be with Ryan, the father. My client is biologically connected to Lillian Atwood".
"As is my client" Christine commented, "DNA is not an issue here".
Judge Wobash stepped in, "correct. The custody of any child is not passed on biological relations, the decisions are based on what is best for the child, or any child. Now, Mr. Atwood, since Lillian is currently under your care, please describe to me what life is like with her".
Ryan politely shrugged, "what would you mean by that?".
"What is your daily routine with her?".
Messed up for right now. "I get up with her in the morning, make sure she's fed and dressed. She goes to school, I go to work, Marissa's dad and his wife take her for a few hours in the afternoon, but we have dinner together every night".
Wabash leaned forward on her podium, trying to look him directly in the eye, which was difficult to do in her position. "What about in your free time Mr. Atwood? What do you and your daughter do then?". She immediately knew as he hesitated, "you don't have free time, do you Mr. Atwood".
"My career does limit the amount of it".
"Your honor, Mrs. Cooper does not have a career, so she would have a stable amount of time for a young child such as Lillian".
Stable time did not make Julie a stable person. And she didn't need any job living off of Caleb.
But none of this was going to pass here.
Chapter Twelve- "As long as Lilly means more"
"That has got to be the dumbest plan I've ever heard, and I know dumb plans".
Elise groaned, throwing herself on the apartment couch, "you can't go see her now. Trust me, when she's in labor, she won't care. She won't even be able to keep you away".
That was her plan, have Seth revealed to Summer only at the time of the baby's birth. "Are you a professional at this or something?" but he couldn't agree with her.
She shook her head, then paused for a brief moment, "you know, she filed for custody termination papers. You sign them and then have no legal right to the baby".
"And she really expects me to sign them?".
"Hormones probably. Don't worry about it, she's going to have them delivered in New York, and you're not there".
Seth picked up an empty picture frame from the small table next to where he was sitting and began to fondle with it, "so I should just stay hidden in here until she has the baby?".
"No, you can go out. Just wear that disguise I gave you, like if you were going to court".
"I already told you, I'm not going to sue Summer".
Elise nodded, "yeah I know. But I meant for the custody battle, remember Ryan and Marissa's mom".
"Oh right, when does that start?".
"Today".
It was hard enough explaining death to a five year old, but if Ryan hardly understood court situations himself, it'd be impossible to clarify this one to her. There was no easy way to tell Lillian that she may not be living with him for much longer, so he didn't. And he wasn't going to, unless he really had to. He knew that power Julie Cooper had, and he knew that he had small chances against her.
The judge ordered Lillian to be under the supervision of a social worker while court was in session. When arriving at the court house, he only told her that he had to work. And she believed him. Good thing she didn't see Julie on the first day, or she may have figured it all out.
Christine Fortum, the most high powered on the west coast, was representing Julie. However, that didn't worry Ryan as much as Julie was hoping it would. Since he was still too inexperienced to represent himself, he went the with attorney who, in his eyes, was beyond Christine.
And Sandy was the first person Ryan saw when entering the court room. Kirsten, Jimmy, and a thinner Hailey were sitting along the bench that was on the left side of the room behind the gate. They all greeted one another.
"I never knew an environmental lawyer could do custody battles" Ryan said.
The two shook hands, "they don't consider there to be much of a difference. And if they did, then I'd retake any exam for this one".
"That really means a lot".
"As long as Lilly means more".
The main doors opened, and they all turned to see who was entering. Christine, then Julie, Caleb, and finally Caitlin, Marissa's younger sister. She and Caleb sat down opposite Kirsten, Hailey, and Jimmy. Julie and Christine proceed to their table on the other side of the gate.
"We better get going" Sandy suggested, leading Ryan to their own table that were in front of the two podiums.
A woman dressed in a security guard uniform entered through a door across the room, "all rise for the honorable Judge Wobash".
As they stood up, Sandy leaned towards Ryan and whispered, "I hear this judge is a softie for cute guys".
"Well then I'm in trouble" Ryan muttered.
An older, strict looking woman wearing a long black robe entered the courtroom and stepped onto the highest podium. "You may be seated" and she sat down herself.
The security guard handed a small stack of papers to the judge, "case number four, six, eight, zero- custody decision of Lillian Abigail Atwood".
"She has your last name" Sandy whispered, "that's a pro".
Ryan glanced over to where Christine was whispering to Julie, "Julie has money, that's a con".
Judge Wobash fingered through the papers, "it's quiet the situation here- father against grandmother
"If you want to consider Ryan a father". Julie muttered enough so there was an echo. And if you want to consider Julie and grandmother.
The woman cleared her throat, "Mrs. Cooper, how long have you known Lillian?".
"Five years" she said proudly, "since the day she was born".
"And you Mr. Atwood?".
His glands suddenly became swollen, "seven months" was no match to birth, even when he said it. A muffled giggle from Caitlin erupted behind them.
"You honor" Christine began, "my client has had more interaction with the child than her own father".
Sandy shifted forward in his chair, "in all fairness, Ryan was never aware of his daughters existence until seven months ago. There wasn't anything he could have done". Ryan appreciated how Sandy referred to Lillian as ' his daughter' rather than ' the child'.
"Unfortunately that can be used against him" Wobash claimed.
Ryan felt a sharp pain travel down his spine when that was said, and Sandy saw it in his eyes. "Your honor, Marissa Cooper's will states in black and white that should something to her, she wanted her daughter to be with Ryan, the father. My client is biologically connected to Lillian Atwood".
"As is my client" Christine commented, "DNA is not an issue here".
Judge Wobash stepped in, "correct. The custody of any child is not passed on biological relations, the decisions are based on what is best for the child, or any child. Now, Mr. Atwood, since Lillian is currently under your care, please describe to me what life is like with her".
Ryan politely shrugged, "what would you mean by that?".
"What is your daily routine with her?".
Messed up for right now. "I get up with her in the morning, make sure she's fed and dressed. She goes to school, I go to work, Marissa's dad and his wife take her for a few hours in the afternoon, but we have dinner together every night".
Wabash leaned forward on her podium, trying to look him directly in the eye, which was difficult to do in her position. "What about in your free time Mr. Atwood? What do you and your daughter do then?". She immediately knew as he hesitated, "you don't have free time, do you Mr. Atwood".
"My career does limit the amount of it".
"Your honor, Mrs. Cooper does not have a career, so she would have a stable amount of time for a young child such as Lillian".
Stable time did not make Julie a stable person. And she didn't need any job living off of Caleb.
But none of this was going to pass here.