And Child Shall Lead Him - Part 3

Tuesday evening around 8pm. Munch uses a swifter to clean the dust off the top of his bookcase while he rests Ayana on his hip. Ayana, determined to help uses a rag to dust off any dust on the shelf she can reach. A few small clumps of dust fall onto Ayana's head and she shakes them off. Munch watches her shake her head frantically then give him a look.

"What?"

Ayana sticks his tongue out at him and he just smirked. Cleaning this late at night is not something Munch usually does but tonight it was necessary, for tomorrow a representative from Child Services was going to visit to judge his way of living. They would decide if Ayana stays with him or not.

They finished up and his apartment was now spotless. Munch had always kept his home clean, just not this clean. His many books were alphabetized, everything with a surface was dusted, and every floor was vacuumed and mopped. They sat down, Ayana in his lap, both tired and ready for bed.

"Are you ready to go to bed Ayana?"

She shook her head, grabbed a coloring book and crayon from his coffee table and started to color on his stomach. Then she realized he had no stomach so she moved to his chest. Munch just watched her. He was amazed at how contempt she was just coloring on his chest. Will it always be like this? He wondered. He didn't think so. Soon there would be pre-school, awkward phrases, parent-teacher conferences, detentions, and boyfriends.

He blinked. Christ John, he said to himself, she's 3 years old. The worse is at least 5 years away. He looked to her again. For everything she's been through, her green eyes we're still filled with optimism. He grabbed her sides and lifted her up in the air. Dropping her crayons she squealed in delight.

"How do you do it Ayana?" He asked her, lowering her back to his eye level. "How do you remain so pleasant during all this adversity?"

She tilted her head to the side, looking to Munch a bit confused. Munch just laughed at himself for expecting her to understand what he meant. He hung his head and took a deep breath.

"What makes me suitable to raise a child…by myself?"

He muttered under his breath. Ayana lifted his head up with her little hands and smiled at him. She took off his glasses and put them on her face.

"You have your own"

He reminded her smiling kindly. He took his hand pushed a piece of her hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. Ayana rested her head on his chest and Munch held her tightly. Soon, the gentle pattern of his breaths and the soothing movement of his chest rising and sinking put her into a gentle sleep.

He watched her for a few minutes. He really couldn't believe just how much he had taken to the little girl.

"I've had wives who didn't have as much as an affect on me as you do Ayana." He said to the sleeping child. She just sighed and turned over to her side. Munch smiled humbly, put a hand on her back, stood up slowly, and took her into her bedroom. He laid her down, tucked her in, and kissed her forehead.

"'Night Munchkin, tomorrow is the big day." He said then walked out.

10Am. Munch walked out of his bedroom in his best Calvin Klein black suit and blue silk tie. He carried a lead ball in the pit his stomach knowing this day could change everything. He walked into Ayana's room; she was putting on her black Mary Jane's and wore a yellow spring dress. The color yellow had become his favorite color for her. Ayana looked up to him and waved her foot around with the shoe hanging off of it. Munch smirked and walked over to her, kneeling to her level.

"You look very pretty Ayana."

She nodded in agreement. He chuckled and strapped her other shoe on. Just then there was a knock on the door. They both looked to each other, they knew what today meant. He picked her up and they walked to the door. After a deep breath from Munch, he opened the door and smiled. A woman in her early 50's stood there holding a clipboard and briefcase.

"Mr. Munch and Ayana?" she asked.

"Yes ma'am."

"I'm Mrs. Adler; I'll be assessing your living conditions and relationship with Ayana today. I'll try to make everything quick and painless." She said with a kind smile.

"If only my ex-wives would have taken a lesson from you." He said with a smile.

For the next 45 minutes, Munch was on his best behavior. He was polite, friendly, warm, and did not use one once of sarcasm when talking to her. He showed her his kitchen and had to explain Ayana's love for healthy food. He showed her Ayana's room and had to explain why it was practically filled with toys. Munch had no problem spoiling her and he didn't care if everyone knew it. At one point they sat down at his kitchen table and talked over hot tea.

"Do you drink or smoke?"

"Smoke? No. Drink? Rarely."

"Good. Are you finically stable enough to raise a child by yourself?"

"I still have just about all my pension from working Homicide in Baltimore and I make decent money working SVU."

"So…If you wanted to, you could quit SVU and support yourself and Ayana comfortably."

Munch showed a little indigence.

"If I wanted to, I guess I could."

She nodded. "Ok, I think we're done here Mr. Munch."

"That was surprisingly easy."

"It usually is. I'll send my report to my superiors and meet with you again next week with a decision."

"Sounds good."

"It was nice meeting you Mr. Munch, goodbye Ayana."

Ayana waved and Munch showed Adler to the door. She left and Munch let out a huge sigh of relief.

"This calls for a day at the park. How does that sound?"

Ayana nodded happily and her and Munch headed out the door. They walked to Central Park, only about 3 blocks away from his apartment. Ayana ran for the slide the minute she saw it and Munch stood at the bottom ready to catch her. Ayana slid down, and then ran back up, and then slid down…it went on for sometime. Munch however received a shot of energy when he felt a pair of warm lips on his neck. A goofy smile washed over his face.

"Hello Casey."

Casey walked up besides him.

"Hello John." She watched Munch watch Ayana on the swing. "I got a call from Mrs. Adler; you have a meeting with her next Tuesday at 1:30pm. Then…it will be decided.

Munch looked to Casey; she could see an almost forlorn look in his eyes. She didn't see it much but she knew when it was there it meant he was truly scared. Casey put a hand on his shoulder.

"It's ok John. You're not going to lose Ayana. I'm pulling out the big guns for you. Anything she can say is a problem; I have a response for it. You just need to trust me."

Munch grabbed the zipper track of her long black jacket and pulled her in closely.

"I trust you Casey; I'm still a bit scared though. If I don't win this once my foster license is expired, she goes to some 3rd rate orphanage or even worse, back to Russia. I cannot let that happen."

"…and it won't John."

Munch found comfort in her words and comfort in her resting against his tall figure. A tug at his coat tails brought him out of his loving daze. He looked down and Ayana was there, she grunting importantly.

"What's up Ayana?" Munch asked her.

Ayana reached up for him urgently. Munch happily obliged and picked her up. He rested her on his hip, Novak smiled at the sight. For all the years she's known Munch she had never seen him so happy. She promised herself she would fight this for him…and only for him.

The week passed by quickly. Munch spent most of it practicing for any arguments coming his way. He knew what Adler was going to bring up…his work schedule. Monday night had come, Ayana was asleep and he sat on the couch thinking. Was he prepared to possibly give up his job for her? God knows his pension from Homicide and a partial pension from SVU would let them live comfortably as John became a doting father. He could…he would…at least he thought so.

Tuesday: Munch, Novak, and Ayana sat in chair around a large round table. The room was all white, almost blinding to the eyes, but Munch and Ayana sat coolly with their matching sunglasses. Mrs. Adler finally walked in. She sat down quietly and opened her file.

"Ok. I have run your information with my superiors. There's no doubt that you love Ayana and she seems to return that affection…"

Munch smiled.

"…but we are concerned about your work schedule and unwillingness to change vocations. If you can comfortably support yourself and Ayana, why not quit or find a job that will allow you to spend more time with her?"

Munch sweated a bit, Novak spoke up.

"Mrs. Adler, if Children Services were so worried about of time detectives spent with their children, you would be giving this speech to 85 of the force. It's not fair you single out Mr. Munch on this topic, especially when he's trying to give the child a better life."

Mrs. Adler nodded and scribbled a few things.

"Mr. Munch, do you have anything to add?"

Munch cleared his throat.

"If it's my work that you are worried about, then I will gladly quit as long as Ayana stayed with me."

Mrs. Adler nodded again then closed her book. She stood up and extended her hand.

"Congratulations Mr. Munch, you are officially the father and legal guardian of Ayana Munch."

Munch stood and shook her hand. The group walked outside, Munch swept Ayana off her feet and hugged her tightly.

"Congratulations John." Novak said.

"I never could have done it without you Casey." He said and kissed her cheek.

"I know" She smiled. "I left something at the station, care to drive me there?"

"Sure" He said.

15 minutes later they pulled up in front of the Station. Novak pushed open the doors to the squad room open…

"Surprise!" Everyone yelled out.

It took a second for Munch and Ayana to realize what's was going on. A giant banner reading "Happy Fathers Day" reached from one end of the room to the other. There we're presents placed on Fin's desk, and everyone was wearing party hats.

"Happy Father's Day Detective" Cragen said.

"How did you know I was going to be approved?" Munch asked suspiciously.

"Give yourself a little credit John." Stabler told him.

"Benson, the cake please?" Cragen asked her.

Benson hurried off into the evidence room and came back wheeling in a sheet cake on a cart. Munch, Ayana, and Novak walked up to.

"Happy Family Day John & Ayana!" Munch reading the inscription on the cake.

Munch looked a little teary eyed.

"Thought it was more appropriate then Adoption Day" Benson said softly.

Fin handed him a knife.

"Go on, Dad." Fin said with a smile.

Munch took the knife and sliced into the cake. Ayana reached down from his arms and stole a bit of icing on her fingertip.

"Good" Ayana said in Russian.

The room fell quiet. Munch looked at her.

"You speak Russian?" He asked her in Russian.

"Da" She replied.

"Of course, her parents were Russian immigrants. She understands English but doesn't speak it…Yet." He switches to Russian. "You will learn how to speak English my Ayana?"

Ayana nodded happily. "For you papa" She said.

"Cool, that's cute and all, but let's start handing out the cake." Fin whined.

"Pass out the cake John. I'll take Ayana" Novak said taking her and resting her on her hip.

Munch handed a plate to Novak. The sight of his two favorite girls made him smile from ear to ear.

Later that night: Munch had put the overly-tired, sugar-hyper Ayana in bed. He rested on his couch feeling complete, just about whole. He couldn't wait for the days to pass and experience fatherhood. A knock at his door made him jump. He stood up expecting Novak and a congratulatory snuggle. He opened the door and his heart sank. He knew this girl, he'd seen her before. He let out a sad breath.

"Natasha? Natasha Klept correct?"

TO BE CONTINUED!