20 December 1994

He wasn't sure why he was so nervous. He had barely slept the night before despite the fact that, in comparison with the previous hearings, this one would be relatively straightforward. As he made his way up the interstate towards Hartford, he had reminded himself that things were going to work out in his favour. The kids had said that they were happy to stay with him in the city and the last time he had talked to Laura, she had resignedly agreed that they appeared to be doing well and that it was most likely not in their best interests to uproot them again. Evelyn had kissed him goodbye and told him that she would be thinking about him but that she was sure there would be no difficulty at all and that the judge would grant the final order with little difficulty.

So why was he still so nervous?

"Of course you can take the day off," Charles Webber, his superior, had told him when he had explained about the court hearing several weeks earlier. "We can have your classes covered and given it's almost the holidays, I doubt there will be many students turn up anyway."

"Thank you," he had said, feeling almost somewhat embarrassed to have to explain to anyone outside his immediate circle the intimate details of his life and yet unsure why that should be. Thousands of people all over the country went to court over their children every day. Why should he think himself so different? Why should he think that anyone would pass comment on it? His only reasoning was perhaps that if the judge granted him the final order, therefore cementing him as the custodial parent, it was like a tacit seal of approval on his efforts as a father. It was someone turning around and saying, "you're doing a good job. You're a good father."

The court was busy and as he settled himself outside the designated courtroom, he glanced at the paper he had bought on the way in, hoping to lose himself in the morning news. After a few minutes, however, he realised that he had simply been reading the same paragraph over and over again and, eventually admitting defeat, tucked it into his briefcase.

"Ben?"

Laura's voice jolted him out of his own thoughts and, looking up, he was surprised to see her approaching him alone.

"No attorney?" he asked, getting to his feet to greet her.

"There didn't seem much point in paying out, yet again, for something as straightforward as this should be," she replied evenly. "Hopefully we won't be here too long."

"Hopefully." There was a strained silence and he tried to think of something to say, something neutral. Their relationship could be so up and down at times and he was always wary of pushing it one way or the other, especially at times like this. "How's work?"

"Fine," she replied, taking a seat on the row of chairs. "What about yours?"

"Oh fine," he joined her. "Different, but good."

"I imagine it must feel strange lecturing to students rather than to a jury."

"It has its moments."

"How's Evelyn?"

"Oh, she's fine. She's prepping for a trial after the holidays. It's the first one she'll have done since she came home so she's a little nervous…" he trailed off, wondering if he had perhaps said too much. Conversation with Laura was usually limited to the kids and he felt uncomfortable bringing Evelyn into the dynamic.

"Well, going back to work can be a worrying time. I know how I felt starting at Bergdorf's and I haven't been through what she has." He glanced over at her, keen to see if there was ridicule or disdain in her words, but found none. "Have you fixed a date yet?"

"Uh…no. Not yet." In truth, whilst he had respected Evelyn's wish that they not marry until the spring of the new year at the earliest, he wished that they would talk about it more. The old-fashioned part of his personality wanted her to be legally his, wanted her in his apartment all the time, not just at weekends or the occasional night during the week. He was impatient and yet he was aware that pressuring her wasn't the best idea. "We'll probably talk about it more after Christmas."

Laura opened her mouth to respond, but the courtroom door suddenly opened and their case was called. He led the way into the room and took his seat on the right, Laura following suit on the left. Judge Norman was already on the bench and he smiled at both of them.

"Good morning Mr Stone, Miss Williams. No attorney today, Miss Williams?"

"No, your honour," Laura replied. "I'm happy to appear on my own today."

"Very well. Mr Stone, you're representing yourself as usual?"

"Yes, your honour."

"Splendid. Well, Mr Stone perhaps you could tell me how Peter and Pamela have been over the last twelve months."

Ben paused before replying, weighing up in his mind what he wanted to say and how he wanted to say it. "Uh, well…they've had their ups and downs, your honour, but they've continued to settle well at school, and they've made friends in the city. I managed to secure a larger apartment so that there's more space for everyone and…they seem to be very happy."

"Peter was a keen baseball player, if I recall correctly. Has he been able to continue that?"

"Yes, your honour, he plays for his school team and Pamela has developed a keen interest in art and we're doing our best to nurture that too."

"That's very encouraging to hear," the judge made some notes on the pad in front of him. "Miss Williams, do you agree that your children are happy in New York?"

"Yes, I do," she replied. "I won't pretend that it's easy not having them with me full time, but I see them every other weekend and whenever else they want to visit."

"And do you feel as though your relationship with them has improved after last year's difficulties?"

"Yes, we're close again, which is what I always wanted. I have a new job and I'm also currently single."

"Mr O'Reilly has not made a reappearance in your life?"

She pinked slightly, "No."

"I'm pleased." The judge turned back to him. "Mr Stone, are you still at the District Attorney's office in Manhattan?"

"No, your honour," he said, surprised by how regretful saying the words made him feel. "I resigned from my post in May and I am now teaching full time at Columbia."

"I see…and can I ask about your relationship with Mrs Burns?"

Ben paused again before replying. A year ago, when he had sat in the same courtroom and been granted temporary custody, he had had no idea of what would happen between them in the following months and yet, they were stronger for it, they had to be. "My relationship with Mrs Burns has had its moments, your honour. We…uh…separated for a brief period earlier this year, but we reconciled some months ago and are now engaged to be married." He glanced over at Laura, wondering if she would make more of it than was necessary, wondering if she would mention the fact that Evelyn had been in treatment. He found himself holding his breath, poised to articulate a reply if called upon. But she merely looked down at the table and said nothing.

"Well no relationship is perfect, Mr Stone, that's why we're here after all." Judge Norman paused. "If there are no objections from either side, then I'm minded to grant a final order awarding custody to Mr Stone as and until the children reach the age of eighteen." He looked at them both. "Do either of you have any objections?"

"No, your honour," Ben said quickly.

"No," Laura replied quietly.

"Very good, well then I shall grant custody to Mr Stone as requested. This order is final and can only be re-opened by a new application to the court." He looked at them both again. "I hope that I don't see either of you in my courtroom in this capacity again. Court is adjourned."

"Thank you," Ben said, once they were outside again.

"What for?"

"For agreeing to keep the status quo…and for not saying anything about Evelyn."

"Why would I?"

"I'm sure your attorney would have."

Laura shrugged, "What would have been the point? She's better now, you said so yourself and the kids love her…" she trailed off. "I'm past us hurting each other, Ben."

"So am I," he replied, finding himself surprised when she leaned in and kissed him briefly on the cheek. "Are you heading into work now?"

"No," she replied, "I took the whole day off."

"Me too." He paused. "Do you want to grab some coffee before I head back to the city?"

She smiled and nodded and, for a moment, he could see a flash of the old Laura, the one he had loved and cared about, the one he hoped could now be his friend as well as his co-parent. "That sounds great."