Julian's POV

Julian's office

A week had passed since Brooke had been released from the hospital and my mother had moved in with us. I had feared that they would argue again because my mother liked to order around, but so far everything had gone smoothly and I hoped it would stay that way. Justin had become dear to our hearts that we could no longer imagine a life without him. And for him we had become something like 'surrogate parents'. So far we hadn't heard from our lawyer and I didn't know if it was a good or bad sign in case of a possible adoption. When I entered my office that day, my dad was already awaiting me.

"Hey, Julian! Nice to see you again," he said with an ironic undertone in his voice.

I walked around my desk and sat down. Only with difficulty I could suppress a comment on his reproach. "You know that a lot happened in my private life," I said irritably. "But now I'm back. Any news?"

"I heard your mother is living with you now," he said, ignoring the comment before.

I frowned. "Yes, she does, but what does that have to do with the new project?"

"Nothing." He shrugged. "I just thought I could drop by sometime."

I looked at him in surprise. "Sure," I nodded in agreement. "You can visit anytime."

"How is the adoption going?"

I was beginning to suspect that my father didn't intend to talk about business matters. His questions were too private for that. "Not good," I replied hesitantly. "So far, the lawyer hasn't contacted us. I expect a call from him every day."

"I might be able to help you," he suggested. "I have to fly to L.A. for a few days, and then I could go by your lawyer and ask him how far he has come with his investigations."

I could only stare at my dad. For years he hadn't been interested in my life, and now he wanted to help me with the adoption? "That's... really nice of you," I stuttered.

His mouth twitched slightly. "I guess you're wondering why I'm doing this? Well, maybe it's because I'm not getting any younger and this may be my last chance to make things right I screwed up back then."

My stomach suddenly knotted. "You... you don't mean to tell me you're going to die, do you?" I asked worriedly. I was relieved when he started to laugh.

"Oh, just because I mentioned 'last chance'?" He shook his head. "Don't worry, son, I'm in good health. It's just that I'm a little jealous of your mother at the moment, that she's got such good contact with you again." He grinned sheepishly. "I can't tell you how happy I am for you and Brooke, that you're becoming parents now. And I also know how much the little boy means to you. I just want to help."

I felt warm inside as I heard the words coming from my father's mouth. For many years I had been waiting for this moment. "When are you going to L.A.?" I asked.

"The day after tomorrow. It's about our project to make a TV-series out of the book. I want to meet with a person in charge of a TV station who might be willing to buy the rights to the series and then broadcast it."

"Wow!" I exclaimed in surprise. "Isn't that a little early? I mean, we haven't even started filming yet. Not to mention that we still need to re-cast some of the roles."

"These are just the preliminary negotiations," he said reassuringly. "We don't sign anything yet. But it can't hurt to 'stretch out our feelers'. If they like the concept, we've already won a lot."

"I'll fly with you," I decided spontaneously. "Then I can kill two birds with one stone. I would like to talk to the lawyer myself, and I would like to see Markham again, too."

"You want to go straight into the lion's den?" He asked skeptically.

I nodded. "I have to try everything. Justin belongs to us, to me and Brooke. And I'll do anything to convince the lawyer that Markham is incapable to raise a child."

"Maybe it makes an impression on the lawyer if I'm with you." He grinned sheepishly. "If he sees that your parents support you, he might be more willing to give you the boy." He frowned questioningly. "Markham lives alone?"

I groaned inwardly as I thought back to what Justin's father had told us back then. "He has changing acquaintances," I told my father, rolling my eyes. "You know what that means, right?"

He cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Yes, that's obvious. But why does the lawyer want to grant him custody? Such a guy is totally unsuitable for raising a little boy. "

I nodded. "Yes, I know, and that is exactly what we have to prove."

"Then that's settled," he said firmly. "But can you just leave home like that?"

"Mom is here to take care of Brooke and Justin," I reminded him. "And Haley and Peyton are helping too. It doesn't make a difference if I'm there or away for a couple days."

"Then clarify that with them and contact me. As I said, I fly the day after tomorrow. Let me know, then I'll book a seat in the plane for you. I'll await your call. See you, Julian!"

He patted my shoulder and left my office. Although I had told my father that it wouldn't be a problem leaving Tree Hill for some days, I knew Brooke wouldn't take the news lightly. It was bad enough for her that she couldn't leave the house. If she found out that I would go to L.A. without her to settle things with Markham and the lawyer, she would feel even more worse. Sighing, I got up and left the office to drive home.

Julian's POV

Law Firm, Los Angeles

A few days later

I was incredibly nervous when we entered the law firm and at the same time relieved that my father was accompanying me this time. The lawyer had called and had told us that there were news and I couldn't wait to find out more about it. But when we entered the office, we realized that the lawyer wasn't alone. Tom Markham was also present and looked up as we entered.

"Mr. Baker? You already know Mr. Markham," the lawyer introduced him.

I nodded, my throat suddenly tight. He looked different, which was probably because he had used a razor and had shortened his hair by more than half the length. The similarity with Justin was now undeniable. "This is my father, Paul Norris," I introduced my companion after I had cleared my throat. "He is here to support me."

"Well, it looks like it won't be necessary," said the lawyer, looking at Justin's father. "That's right, isn't it, Mr. Markham?"

I looked puzzled between the two back and forth. "What does that mean?" I asked suspiciously.

"Mr. Markham is willing to give up custody," said the lawyer matter of factly. "He has also signed the form, which will allow us to initiate the adoption process. Since there is no one else who could have a claim on the boy, this will be a mere formality."

I sat there stunned, unable to understand what I'd just been told.

"Does that mean that my son just has to sign a few papers to make the boy his son by law?"

I looked up when my dad asked that question and gradually realized that we had won. Justin would come to us, to Brooke and me. We would be a family.

"Can I go now?" Markham jumped up before the lawyer could reply.

Something was wrong. I felt that very clearly. And when Markham ran out of the office, life came back to me. "I'll be right back," I shouted to the lawyer and ran after him. I caught him just before he could get in his sports car.

"What do you want?" He hissed at me and looked at me with a scowl.

"What happened?" I asked, frowning. "The last time we visited you, you wanted to apply for custody of Justin. Why did you change your mind?"

He laughed bitterly. "I didn't change my mind," he said mockingly. "I really wanted to give him a home. But as you can see…" He gestured with his hands. "I simply failed."

"Failed?" I echoed confused.

"They were at my place," he finally confessed. "The people from the adoption agency turned everything upside down and eventually found that it was not 'suitable for children'." He snorted contemptuously. "These old maids have no clue what a child really needs!"

He was angry. I could clearly get this from his allegations. But there was something else that made me thoughtful all of a sudden. "You really wanted him to live with you, right?" I asked cautiously.

He shrugged. "He's my son. Wouldn't you want to have your son with you?"

I was on the verge of telling him that he had offered Chelsea money for an abortion. But maybe his feelings had changed now that he knew he had a son. "I'm sorry," I said and I meant it honest this time.

"Oh, really?" He said mockingly. "I don't believe you. You got what you wanted. So take the boy, and leave me alone!"

He turned away to get in his car as I quickly pulled the DVD out of my jacket pocket on which I had burned the movie with Justin. "Here!" I held it out to him. "You asked me for a copy back then. I want you to take it now and keep it as a reminder."

He hesitated for a moment before finally reaching for the DVD. "Thanks," he muttered, looking into my eyes one last time before he got in his car and drove off.

With mixed feelings, I went back to the law firm and entered the office. "He told me everything," I told the lawyer before he could ask me a question. "That wasn't fair."

"What do you mean by 'fair'?" He asked confused.

"He didn't give up custody voluntarily, he was accused not to be 'worthy' to raise a child," I said.

"Well, I don't know why you care about that, Mr. Baker. You should be glad that things went so smoothly. Most adoption procedures usually last much longer. And I informed you how we check on potential candidates before we grant legal custody."

I raised my head and looked at the lawyer thoughtfully. I knew all of this and I should be happy that we won. But I couldn't forget Markham's last look, which he had given me. Maybe it was because I would become a father myself soon, that suddenly I had the feeling that I had taken a father away from his child and vice versa.

"Mr. Baker? "

Interrupted in my thoughts, I looked up when the lawyer approached me. "What?"

"Can we go over the adoption papers now?"

I nodded mechanically. "Does my wife have to sign, too?"

"We'll send her the papers, she signs it, and then she just sends it back to me." The lawyer smiled. "As I said, it's a mere formality. Since the boy already lives with you, not much will change for him. Surely it would have been easier if an adoption agency in Tree Hill had taken over the adoption case. But Justin Cherney was born in Los Angeles. So the laws of California and not of South Carolina will come to fruition." He cleared his throat before continuing. "The signed papers then go to court, and eventually the adoption is legalized by judicial decision."

"Thanks for all you have done." I held out my hand to the lawyer and looked at my father, who had followed the conversation as a bystander.

"What happened out there?" He asked as we had left the office.

"I don't know," I murmured, sighing. "I know Brooke won't understand this, but I just feel sorry for him," I confessed.

"Yes, I thought so." He nodded. "When you came back you acted odd. What did he say to you?"

"It's not what he said, but rather how he said it," I replied. "He had just learned that he had a son and was willing to take him in to be a father to him. And then someone just decides over his head that he is not worthy enough to be a father."

"Believe me, Julian, that was for the best. For Justin, Brooke and also for you. Forget him and be glad that you got the permission to adopt the boy. And now we should hurry. In an hour we want to meet with the managing director of the TV channel to talk with him about our series."

When my dad patted my shoulder and then walked to the car, I followed him slowly behind. I tried not to think about Markham anymore, but how happy Brooke would be about the news that Justin would soon be a part of our family. With this positive thought in mind, I got in the car and drove off.