Ratchet's P.O.V.
It's been a rough nine days. Nightmares are back, but I think there's also a new nightmare; hearing the judge tell Jasmine she can never see her sister. The nightmares make mornings rough, even though the baby is still easy-going. Things are a little easier since we don't need to sleep for a week. I can sleep, but not all night.
"I hope your sister can recover," I tell the baby as I get her dressed, "I think she needs you as much as you need her. Everyone is trying to trick me into revealing your name, and they'll find out today."
I put the baby in a simple onesie, and we'll dress her for the party after the hearing.
Once she's asleep, I get ready and deal with Jasmine. I hate how terrified she is already.
I let her hug me and cry for a while before getting her to take a shower.
It's a rough morning before we need to go to the courthouse. Jasmine can't relax to the point I have to give her a small dose of relaxant.
"Everything will be ok," I assure her.
Florance's P.O.V.
I hate how anxious Jasmine is. I know the appointed judge and be tried to make a decision best for everyone — but of course, the child in the case is his top priority.
"All rise, the honorable Joseph Gray," bailiff Morris calls.
The judge takes his seat, and we all sit down.
"...now, this is a unique case as we are here to keep this baby from going into the system, but understand I must consider her potential guardians' capabilities to care for her, including mental health," he organizes his papers, "as I said, this case is different starting with how her potential guardians live in a military base which raises safety concerns along with what brought us here," I see Jasmine panicking more as Gray continues his opening statement, "now, Mrs. Duke, I am aware you are the baby's Guardian ad Litem?"
"Yes, your Honor."
"I understand two parties are looking to be the baby's guardians. Please explain."
"Your honor, we'd like Jasmine Graham and Autobot Ratchet to be her guardians; however, Mr. Damian and Mrs. Ryley Graham have agreed to help the couple as Mss. Graham is still recovering mentally from what she went through."
"Mr. and Mrs. Graham, please explain how you intend to assist?"
"We plan to advise the couple when they need it. While we can't give a precious answer, we will also take the baby when Ratchet believes Jasmine is struggling mentally, and it's in the best interest for the baby to stay with us for a while," Damien explains.
This explanation leads Ratchet to answer how often the baby would be at her aunt and uncle's home. I'm impressed by how Ratchet answered the question, even though it's hard to be specific.
"Very well; now William Lennox, Optimus Prime, and Prowl; this is a unique case. Jasmine and Ratchet living in a military base would be grounds to deny guardianship immediately. I have been informed Lennox's family would stay there from time to time. Please explain how you intend to keep a baby safe?" The judge asks.
Ratchet's P.O.V.
Scrap, has he been told about the attack on the soldiers? Sure enough, the judge brings up the attack on the guards and how we couldn't keep Jasmine safe. This increases Jasmine's anxiety, and I can take her out into the hall while the judge hears the others' arguments.
"Easy, we know how much they take security seriously, especially after what happened," I assure her.
It's too soon for another dose of the relaxant, but it seems her body burned through it quickly. I have her sit on the floor to try to calm down.
"Excuse me, the judge would like you two to return to the hearing," a femme says.
"Come on, let's go."
It turns out we missed everyone's arguments. This does not help Jasmine.
"This is a unique case," the judge starts as he organizes papers, "and my decision may seem unconventional, but," he steps down from his spot and towards us and sits on the chair beside Jasmine, "I can't take away your only close family. I am concerned about your mental health," he takes her hand, "because of the baby being in the medbay sick, and you have also been sick; I don't feel like I have enough evidence of your mental state to decline guardianship. I am ordering temporary guardianship for six months with monthly reports from Rung. Then we may get right to the adoption process."
Everyone but the baby smiles.
"This is good," I tell her.
With Jasmine's agreement, the judge returns to the podium to make the ruling official, adding Damian and Ryley can help us. We fill out the paperwork. The others go back to the base to set up the party, but Jasmine needs some time. I take the baby from Ryley as planned. I feed the baby and get her ready in the outfit we picked out.
"Cute little one; that dress is perfect on you."
Jasmine takes the baby from me as I sit on the other chair and put my arm around her.
We stay for a half-hour until Jasmine is ok. By then, Lennox asks when we're coming back to the base.
"Come on, let's give everyone else the good news and the name reveal they've been waiting for."
"She's ours," I tell everyone, "but we are under a trial. It's required, but no doubt we'll move on to adoption."
Everyone cheers, though there's still a long road ahead. Florence joined us for the party and will be the one Rung reports to and can be our lawyer for the adoption.
"Come on, tell us her name," Sideswipe begs.
"Her name is..."