A/N Thank you all so much! We have so many things going on with the Grimes family, let's check in...
He loved coming home from work, coming home to her and to Carl and their home, and soon he'd be coming home to a new little person as well. He never thought he'd be so excited to have another child. He always thought he'd be fine either way, if Beth wanted a child great, if she didn't want one that was fine too. But now that they knew she was pregnant, it was hard to tell which of them was most excited.
But tonight he had other news he was bringing home to her, he hadn't wanted to tell her over the phone, it was too important for a phone call, and he needed to discuss it with Carl too. This was about their family, this was about the rest of their lives.
She was waiting for him when he walked in the door and man, he loved that, she always had that big Beth smile for him and open arms. "Hey Sweetheart, how's my beautiful wife?"
She hugged him, but seemed to almost be holding back, "What is it Rick, what's happened?"
He should have known she'd realize something was going on.
"Well how about you give me a kiss 'hello', I get my uni off and we go sit out on the porch and I'll tell you the news. And where's our son? He should join us."
"Oh alright but hurry because now I'm nervous. Carl is in the office, I told him he could have one hour of computer goof off time since its Friday. I think he and one of his friends are online together playing Minecraft. I'll get us each something to drink."
"Okay, I'll get changed and I'll drag him away from the computer," he smiled, and leaned in for a kiss to her cheek, "We'll be out in just a few. Don't worry Sweetheart, it's all good."
She'd gotten him a beer, Carl a coke, and herself her new favorite "pregnancy beverage" – cherry juice with a splash of seltzer.
By the time they were all out on the porch she couldn't take it anymore. "Okay Rick what is it because you're making me a wreck."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that, it's just such big news I wanted to share it with you two at the same time. I heard from our attorney this afternoon, the adoption hearing has been set for next Thursday at 2:00pm. We all need to be there and it's my understanding the judge will want to interview Carl alone in chambers, well except for the child advocate, she'll be there with him, but the judge will want to talk to you privately Carl, try to gauge your thoughts and feelings about everything. Are you okay with all that son?"
"Well yeah Dad, it's what I want too. Beth is my Mom - she's the real deal, she's here for me, I'm young, not dumb, I know who has my best interests at heart."
Beth started to cry and as always, it wasn't subtle, no one cried like Beth. "Sweetheart what, what's wrong?"
"I'm just overcome, Carl that's the most beautiful thing you could ever say to me."
xxxx
They'd spent the weekend with family, the Greene's, all the Dixons, Aaron and Eric, everyone was so supportive of this adoption, and so excited. Of course, they all also shared concerns that the full custody and adoption may not be granted.
No one at the Grimes home slept much Wednesday night. The next day could be either one of the happiest, or one of the most heartbreaking days of their lives. Beth prayed hard for the best thing to happen for all of them. Her faith was strong. What was unusual was she wasn't getting a single "vibe" or any feelings whatsoever about what was to come. She was in the dark as much as everyone else.
Rick was trying to have faith, he'd been attending services with Beth and her family long enough now that his own faith had been somewhat rekindled, but still he had concerns about so many things. He worried about Beth's delicate feelings, then he thought just how tough his sweet wife could be, the woman who had literally killed for him, then nursed him through a long recovery. But this was an entirely different scenario and he was worried.
He also had deep concern for his son. Carl had had his family torn apart by the divorce, been separated from Rick, then literally abandoned on their doorstep. Thank God Beth had been so warm, welcoming and loving with Carl. He truly had a home here; he finally felt "at home." There was love, stability, and something all kids complained about but secretly craved, discipline and routine.
They were 20 minutes early for court; they'd taken no chances on being late. Rick had been working so he was in his uniform, Beth was dressed in a pretty but simple dress, that did a good job of disguising that just barely-there pregnancy "bump." Carl was wearing fresh pressed jeans and a sport shirt. They hadn't wanted to "put on the dog" like they were just trying to look the part.
Beth's Mama and Daddy, Shawn, Maggie and Glenn, Daryl and Kathleen, Merle and Carol, Aaron and Eric, all were waiting outside the courtroom with them. One thing they had no doubts about, they were blessed with the best family and friends.
Their attorney smiled, "Well you couldn't look any more like the all-American family. Try to just relax and be yourselves, you're a great family. The birth mother has decided not to attend this proceeding, nothing could say, 'I don't care,' more clearly than that. I felt we had a great case before, now I know we have as strong a case as we could, and this judge is a good one."
Promptly at 2:30 the child advocate appeared in the hall, greeted them and took Carl to the judge's chambers, they were left to wait in the hall, worry about Carl, and worry about what was next. Despite the attorney's reassurances, they were nervous.
Daryl came over to Rick, clapped him on the shoulder and said, "I feel good about this brother, yer in the right." Rick nodded, "Thanks Daryl, this is so important to our family." It was Daryl's turn to nod in understanding. He went to Beth.
He squatted down in front of her, pulled her forward in a hug, and rested his forehead on hers. Neither said a word. When he finally pulled back, he kissed her on the cheek, and silently stood. She looked up to him, "Thank you Daryl, I feel at peace, we've done everything we can do."
Twenty minutes later the bailiff came out and asked them to come in the courtroom, just those involved were allowed in the court because of Carl being a minor. He was seated at the table with the advocate when they walked in.
The judge came in, they rose, and then were seated. Other than that, the atmosphere was informal. The judge asked Beth her reasons for wanting to adopt Carl, and she responded, "It's really quite simple, I love him, he is my son, my family. I consider myself his Mother. I'm not just his caregiver, I also show him the love, respect and attention children need, every day. I want Carl to live with his father and me where I know he's safe, protected and loved. I'm prepared to deal with all the responsibilities, all of the pleasure, and all of the challenges of being a Mother to Carl."
When she was done speaking Rick squeezed her hand, and Carl looked at her with a big smile, she smiled back. The judge did not miss the exchange.
The judge continued to ask questions of both Rick and Beth, but the proceeding was thankfully brief.
The judge excused herself for a few minutes to make her decision. Beth and Rick were holding each others hand so tight they were cutting off circulation, and they were both staring at Carl over at the next table.
The judge returned to the courtroom 10 minutes later, she read her decision, it was official, Beth was legally Carl's Mother, and she and Rick had full custody. All of Lori's parental rights had been rescinded.
Everyone headed straight to the Grimes house to celebrate the official "New" family. Rick and Carl ordered pizzas, the Dixon brothers brought beer, cokes, cherry juice and seltzer water, and the Greenes picked up a couple gallons of ice cream. The party was on!
The Following Friday
He could tell she was excited and nervous the minute he walked in the door. He drew her into a hug, smiled at her and said, ""Hi Sweetheart, did you have a nice day today? I sure did miss you."
"I missed you too Rick," and as he hugged her he could practically feel electricity through her skin. "What's going on Sweetheart? And where's our son?"
"Carl went to Billy's after school, he'll be home for dinner at 6:00. Can we go out on the porch and talk about something? I mean after you change and stuff." She was practically bouncing.
She was already out there with his beer and her cherry juice spritzer. "What's going on Sweetheart? You have my curiosity peaked."
"It's been so hard for me to keep this secret form you, I first knew for sure about a week before the adoption hearing, I didn't want to tell you then, there were so many other things to be thinking about and doing, and well it just didn't seem like the right time. And I'm hoping you're going to be as excited and happy as I am, but for a while I was so scared you'd be mad, but you always tell me I'm not supposed to worry about you being mad, so I tried not to, and I haven't even cried, except for tears of happiness." He loved it when she rambled on, it was like once that switch was flipped she just couldn't stop, he wanted to laugh, but he didn't dare, and he was really getting curious now.
"Do you want to try and guess what it is Rick?"
He nearly did laugh then, she was about to burst, "I just have no idea Sweetheart, what is it?"
"I suspected after the first six weeks, but it's very difficult, because, well, everything is still so small, and this is the first time I've ever been pregnant, so I was a little overwhelmed anyway, but then I was standing in the yard looking at the garden, and that's when I knew. There's just no doubt in my mind."
"Sweetheart," He put his hands on her shoulders, cocked that head, smiled his best smile at her and said, "Will you please tell me what you're talking about."
"Oh, of course, you're the first person I'm telling, well certainly, I sure wouldn't tell anyone else before I told you! That wouldn't be right at all, would it? Rick, it's twins, twin girls."
He was stunned, he pulled her into a tight embrace. "Are you sure Sweetheart? I mean, I know you get your signals and all but this, this is huge news, are you positive?"
"Oh yes, what is so amazing to me is, they've already formed a bond with each other. This whole thing is just fascinating to me."
He held her close, "Beth, there's just no one in the world like you. I love you so much, everything about you, your sweetness, you're positivity, your honesty, and your pure, pure heart. If you're happy with this, and I can see that you are, then I'm the happiest Daddy on earth."
A/N Oh my, my Brick twins! I hope you enjoyed it – next chapter we'll see about getting ready for babies, and getting Daryl and Kathleen married. Thanks for reading, please leave a review xo