A week after anna and I had come home from the hospital a officer knocked on my door

"Melinda Halliwell"

he asks when I open the door, I frown

" Yes what can I do for you officer"

he hands me a piece of paper

"you have been served, you must attend court in two weeks time in regards of custody for miss charlotte Halliwell"

Im furious my eyes spark with danger

"Ill be there, thankyou officer"

I chocked out before I slammed the door in his face I walk numbly back to my room and check on anna then I go pick up charli and hold her close to me she smiles and burries her head in my chest and says her first word

"Mommy"

I smile and laugh and hug her tighter I vow to myself that ill never let him take her away from me

"I love you charli girl"

I say as my mom walks in

"hey hows it going"

I put charli in her play pen

"Oh well charli just said her first word mommy, and I just got served jared is taking me to court to get charli

I collapse on the bed mum sits beside me

"that scumbag"

I give her a look

"Sorry mel, but I promise he won't get charli alright I promise"

"How do you know that mom this isn't a magical problem we can't use magic this is a legal problem"

mom smiles and puts her arms around me

"Hunny we have had legal problems before and we know the law and you won't lose charli"

I sigh

" I hope your right"

The next day

Exhausted anna's been fussy and charli keeps crying every time I try to feed or settle anna down, mom, chris or wyatt have succumbed to coaxing her away with promises's of a story or a orb show (chris's speciality)

Shes only one but geez my girl has a set of lungs on her, anyway the next day I expressed some milk for anna and left her with mom and went to see about a lawyer so I can make sure that lying cheating sob will never lay a hand on my babies

I walk into jack mc Carter and Kline and say

"Can I please speak to one of your best lawyers"

the snotty receptionist states

"Im sorry ma'm all our lawyers are currently busy do you have an appointment"

I get annoyed

"Listen I have a week old daughter and a year old daughter at home and my Ase hole of a ex husband has just served me with papers saying that hes applying for custody and theres no way hes taking my babies so you get me to talk to a lawyer NOW"

she gives me a glare

"Take a seat over there and ill see what I can do"

she says more kindly

An hour later, I had told my lawyer Riley Kline what was going on, she promised me I wouldn't lose my children if she had anything to do with it, I thanked her and set up an appointment for the next day so I could give her all the information on hared that I have so she can work up a defence.

"Thankyou so much ms Kline my children mean the world to me"

she smiles and says to me

"Ill try my best to make sure you don't lose your children"

"Thankyou so much ill see you tomorrow"

I head out the door thinking I got lucky for once and I smile and head home

Mean while at the manor my babies were causing havoc my mother was yelling

"Got her"

clutching charli and scolding her as she gives my mom angel eyes and she chuckles despite herself

"Charlotte Halliwell you think after raising your mommy and uncles that angel eyes is gonna work on my I don't think so"

Charli giggles and holds up her arms and utters

"Gama"

Mom laughs and hoists her onto her hip and takes her to the nursery and puts her in the play pen and goes to anna

"Hey baby"

she coos and checks her diaper

"Looks like someone needs a nappy change"
and then suddenly jared appears in the room and comments

"Oh isn't that sweet, is that melindas bastard child?"

mom turns stands infront of the babies and says

"Leave now before you get hurt"