"Rick, you need to slow down, way down. You've gone from kidnapping Matthew, to leaving town to demanding that we get married. You're giving me whiplash"

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Rick asked.

"I suggest we take things one step at a time. First, let's get through the upcoming hearing. Do you know when that is yet?"

"Next Friday" He swallowed hard.

"Next week. Ok. Rick, would you mind if I spent some time with Matthew beforehand? I don't want to step on your toes, but I'd really like to have a day with him if that is alright."

"So, you're not coming home then?" He removed his hand from her leg.

"Rick, I don't think that is going to solve anything, do you?"

Rick stood so quickly that Blake, unprepared for the sudden absence of a shoulder to lean on tipped to the side.

"Blake, there is nothing for you to solve. That is what you don't understand. I forgave you months ago for the small part you played in this Shakespearean tragedy. I fell in love with you not in spite of what happened with Meredith and Phillip but because of." He began pacing the floor.

"When Phillip started dating you all I could see was the woman who would become the first in a long line of women who would put ex in front of wife when it came to Phillip. You didn't care about anyone or anything but yourself. You needed the key to the executive washroom and made no apologies for it. Now, don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with wanting a career, Meredith didn't desire motherhood either until it was thrust at her. Do you know she wanted to terminate the pregnancy even before she knew I likely wasn't the father?"

Blake audibly gasped. "Rick, we never discussed that" He waved her off. It wasn't important now.

"My point is, that you on the other hand gave that all up when Matthew was born. You defended a motherless child over your golden ticket to endless alimony and the brass ring. Then, under no moral obligation you moved in and became the only mother figure that little boy has known and, in that process, I fell in love with you. Can't you see Blake, that is what matters. Not who knew about Meredith and Phillip and when. Not who convinced her to lie, which by the way is equally unimportant. She could have told me the truth at any time, but she chose to take the easy way out. You didn't hold a gun to her head to make her do that."

He stopped pacing. He got on his knees in front of her and laid his head in her lap. "Our baby will never replace Matthew. He will always be my first. He will always be my son, but Blake, I will love her just as much, and I will never have to worry about Phillip or anyone else swooping in to take her or you away. Please marry me."

Blake laid her hands on Rick's head. Her tears were clouding her vision. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest. "Yes" She whispered.

Rick lifted his head; tears were falling down his cheeks. "Really, you're sure. You're not just saying that so I will let you go eat your dinner. Oh my God, dinner. You're pregnant. You need to eat!"

"Take it easy there cowboy. The only thing that stays down is dry toast and ginger ale."

"Meredith had that same problem too…" He trailed off and waved his hands. "I'm sorry, that was stupid"

Blake took his hand in hers. "Rick, she was a part of your life. She is Matthew's mother. We need to be able to talk about her without feeling guilty when we do."

Rick kissed her hand and helped her stand, and took her arm in the crook of his elbow. "We better go join dinner. I imagine we're already the topic of conversation, why not give them even more to talk about?"

"I have a better idea. Let's go get Matthew and let's go home."

"That is the best idea I've heard in a long time."

During the week leading up to the hearing there was no more talk of kidnapping and or leaving Springfield. Blake moved out of her mother's guest room, and back into Rick's bedroom. Matthew was delighted to see her when he woke in the morning, and when she put him to bed at night. The three even sharing the same bed the night before the hearing just to be close together. Matthew spent the night with his foot firmly planted on Rick's chest, and a hand on Blake's arm. If anyone moved out of this alignment even in sleep, he managed to reconnect with the two people who loved him.

In the morning, Blake dressed him in a pair of dark denim jeans with a button-down shirt, and a pair of baby sized work boots. Rick put on his best suit, but his hands trembled so badly that he was unable to tie his tie. Blake chose a modest dress with a high neckline and long hem along with a high pair of boots. The only skin she showed was that on her hands and face. Rick carried Matthew into the court room in one arm while holding Blake's hand in the other. As instructed, he handed Matthew to the court appointed social worker when she arrived. Matthew immediately began to wail and reached out for Blake who took his hands in hers. She kissed each one and told him he was safe. He studied her face as much as he listened to her tone of voice and calmed to a dull whimper as the woman walked out of the room with him.

Rick went to the table and took his seat. Blake sat in the gallery where she was soon joined by her mother and Fletcher. "Hi Honey, how are you feeling?" Holly asked Blake.

"I'm fine, nervous of course. Is Daddy outside? I don't want him to exploit this for WSPR."

"He is darling, but you forget, I am the station manager. Everything that goes out goes through me first."

"Right, like that's ever stopped him before."

"Gilly's with him, she will keep him contained until I can get to him honey, I promise, and Fletcher is going to get the highlights out on the wire for the written press. It will be balanced, don't you worry"

The door to the courtroom opened, they could hear voices from the hall. Everyone in the gallery turned around to see Phillip and an unashamed Alan entering the room. Philip looked at Rick, before whispering something to Ross. When they took their seats, Phillip continued to look over periodically as if he too were equally as nervous. Alan however sat ram rod straight and simply stared at the empty box where the judge would preside. Soon enough, the bailiff and stenographer arrived and soon the court room was called to order.

"All arise" was announced when the judge arrived. "This court will come to order."

Blake was certain she was going to be sick, not because of the pregnancy but the gravity of the situation. She inhaled deeply several times to quell it. Rick too began a cadence with his fingertips. His attorney reached over and laid her hand on top of his to quiet him.

"As a reminder, all parties have been sworn in. This is the final hearing to determine paternity of the child currently known as Matthew Edward Bauer, and to determine permanent and legal custody of the same child. Does either party have any questions before we proceed?" The judge asked, looking from Ross and Phillip to Rick.

All parties affirmed 'no'

"Alright then, I have here two sealed and sworn lab reports. Copies of said lab report will be given to the attorneys of record following this case. Each laboratory acting on orders from this court performed the testing of the samples twice. The results have been sealed since that time, and we are only now learning of the results. I am going to retire to chambers as I would like to review them. Upon my return I will rule on the issue of custody. Are there any other issues that need my immediate attention?"

Ross stood and raised a hand. "Yes, Mr. Marler."

"Your honor, my client has requested an immediate amendment be made to Matthew's birth certificate once paternity is legally determined."

The judge looked over his glasses, pen poised in his hand. "What amendment is your client requesting?"

"Your honor, Mr. Spaulding would first like Edward to be stricken as the child's middle name, and in its place Granville added. Secondly, he would like Matthew's last name to be changed from Reade-Bauer to simply that of Spaulding. Finally, of course we would like to have Phillip Granville Spaulding listed as father. Thank you"

"Once paternity is established, I will address the birth certificate as well" The judge declared. "Any requests from your client?"

As Rick had none, the judge picked up the sealed envelopes and stood. "Please stay in the court room. I do not anticipate this to be a long deliberation."

Once the judge was behind his chamber door the gallery began to murmur.

"Can you believe the audacity of that man?" Fletcher asked glaring at Phillip. "He is going to do everything in his power to delete Meredith from his life. I should go give him a piece of my mind." Fletcher stood, but Holly grabbed at his hand.

"Fletcher, unless you want to end up in a jail cell, I suggest you sit back down"

Fletcher knew she was right, so he complied, folding his arms over his chest.

"I think I'm going to be sick" Blake announced and rushed out of the court room. The noise from the corridor spilled in as she exited through the heavy wood doors.

"I'm going to go make sure she is alright." Holly said following after her.

Fletcher grabbed her hand. "Hurry up. If the judge comes back before you come back, you won't be allowed back in."

Holly shook her head and quickly exited, allowing the noise pollution from outside to spill in again. Fletcher watched opposing council and Phillip who had their heads together. Every few moments Alan would interject something as well. Soon the bailiff and stenographer were back at their posts. Their faces gave away nothing. Fletcher looked towards the back of the court room, willing Holly and Blake to return, but his will wasn't strong enough.

"All arise" The bailiff announced. The chairs clattered against the marble floor and again when everyone was seated.

"The judge sat heavily in his leather covered chair. He folded his hands under his chin and took a deep breath, seeming to ponder all that had transpired. "I have sat on this bench in family court for over twenty years. In that time, I have presided over many cases. I have seen them all, from happy adoptions to a child who was so abused that they will never walk or talk again. This case, when presented to me appeared on the surface to be one that would grow contentious. I, like Solomon was tasked with determining whom a child belonged to. Fortunately for me scientific advances rather than the threat of a sharp sword allowed me to determine paternity beyond the shadow of a doubt. Still, someone is going to walk out of this courtroom today a bit more broken hearted. Gentleman, I can see that you both love this child that was brought into the world under extreme circumstance from his conception to his birth. He lost his mother, should he lose any more?"

The judge took a deep breath.

"Before I monologue further, please be reminded that the findings of this court are final. If there are any outbursts from anyone in attendance you will be arrested and held in contempt of this court. Do you understand?"

He did not wait for an answer.

"It is the finding of this court and two independent laboratories, Anker Diagnostics, and Allegheny Health Laboratories that in the case of Spaulding, Phillip and the minor child known as Bauer, Matthew that there is a less than 1% probability that the two are related. In the case of Bauer, Fredrick and the minor child known as Bauer, Matthew that there is a 99% probability of paternity."

Alan shot out of his chair, sending it clattering to the ground sending a ricochet through the courtroom. "Whose payroll are you on? Do you know who I am? I'm going to have your job for this miscarriage of justice. You're not going to be able to run for dog catcher when I'm done with you!" Alan yelled.

From the bench the judge silently indicated to the sheriff's deputy to arrest him. Alan was still loudly complaining as the deputy ordered him to turn around as he latched the hand cuffs around his wrists. "What are you doing? Get off of me you two-bit moron" He was still yelling when he was escorted out of the courtroom.

"My apologies to the court" Ross stood and said. "Your honor, if I may, might my client and I review the paternity test results."

The judge, rapidly losing patience said "You and your client will receive a certified copy of the results at the end of this hearing Mr. Marler."

"Very well, thank you" Ross sat down and whispered something to Phillip who simply nodded.

"As paternity has been established for Dr. Bauer, I am rescinding the weekly visitation that was afforded to Mr. Spaulding at the onset of this case. Legal and physical custody of the minor child shall remain with Dr. Bauer as is the rights afforded him as the biological father of Matthew Edward Bauer. Finally, as in the case of amending Mathew's birth certificate, it shall remain as filed in the department of vital records. Your request to amend said certificate, Mr. Spaulding is denied." The judge banged his gavel. "Please ask Mrs. Green to bring Matthew to the gallery to be reunited with his father. This hearing is concluded."

The judge stood and the bailiff called "all arise, this court stands in recess"