The motion of the car rocked the baby to sleep. Lewis a little while later. And eventually Gillian too. Cal drove closer to Manassas with a heavy heart. They hadn't heard from, nor contacted, Kiera in the ten days since the baby had been born. They had just established a routine with her. Cal finally got to enjoy some time with her over the weekend without feeling like he was death warmed up. She was adorable, tulip red mouth, little button nose, dark eyelashes and hair. She was tiny, delicate, and Cal wanted nothing more than to kiss her and tell her he loved her. He just couldn't do it. Not yet.

In the boot of the car was a day bag for the baby. One for Lewis too. Similar, but slightly different supplies. And the book of memories Cal had made for Kiera. It contained the photos he had taken at the hospital and the other keepsakes he had stashed. Gillian told him he was a very sweet man when he had explained what he was working on.

As they entered the city Cal nudged Gillian awake gently. "I need my nagvigate- a," he told her in apology.

"Sure," Gillian reached for her phone and brought up a map. She guided him to the courthouse. "Can you see them?" She asked once they had pulled up.

"No," Cal responded. But he was more worried about parking the car without hitting anything right now than whether he could see Kiera and Melissa or not. Neither of the children stirred in the back once they car's engine died. Cal got out and went around the back. He slung Lewis's bag over his shoulder and then went to pick him up out of his seat. The toddler woke slowly as he was moved. He looking around, probably wondering where the hell he was. Gillian similarly slung the baby's bag over her shoulder and then lifted her entire car seat out of the back.

They moved inside the court building, walking at the pace Lewis set, and found the family court room. Their lawyer was waiting there for them. They shook hands in greeting. Then as a group they slipped into the back quietly while a case went on in the front. Cal indicated to Lewis that he should remain quiet. They took a seat on the left side of the room. A few minutes later Gail approached. "Hi guys," she greeted warmly. "Hi Lewis."

He buried his head into his father's shoulder. Gillian asked if Kiera was there yet. Gail said she hadn't seen her. She asked how everything was going. She even asked if they had changed their minds. Gillian answered 'no'. Cal felt his stomach pang with nerves when she asked if Gail had had any contact with Kiera. Gail said she had made a phone call to see how she was doing but she hadn't heard anything else. That didn't make it a good sign. She could still walk through the doors today and change her mind. She could take the baby with her in less than half an hour. It made Cal feel sick with the anticipation. He wondered if they should have called her themselves. If she didn't show today for the hearing the proceedings would go ahead anyway and the relinquishment would go through. It would be better if she showed up to speak on her own behalf. You know, in a perfect world. Of course, if Cal was writing this story he would have it turn out so very differently than it had. Easier. Not a different result. The journey slightly different. But then again, isn't the journey what made him who he was today, what made he and Gillian solid?

Kiera arrived ten minutes later with Melissa. She gave a tentative wave and took a seat in the aisle, near the middle, further up from them. There was nowhere to sit close by. Gillian leaned towards Cal. Cal dipped his head towards her and waited for her to speak. "Did you get a read?"

"So it's all right for me to read people when it suits your purposes?"

"Yes," she whispered back. "And?"

"Would it make a difference if I said it wasn't healthy for you to rely so heavily on a fleetin' facial expression, that there's more to the story than that and for me to get a more accurate read I'd have to go ova there and have an actual convasation?"

"No."

"Hard to tell. No signs of guilt. Small self comfortin' gesture. Genuine smile."

The case in front of them ended. The judge banged his gavel to assert his final decision. The courtroom got noisy. Their case number was called. Their lawyer got up to move into the court area. Cal and Gillian fought their way through the bustle of the crowd. They sat behind their lawyer on the opposite side to where Kiera's lawyer represented her. Lewis was more awake now and looking around. He pointed out an interesting man across the aisle. Melissa came to sit next to Gillian and the baby. Kiera turned just once to give them a tight smile over her shoulder. Cal wished he had the chance to take her aside and ask her if she wanted her baby back. Anything would be better than this antagonistic anticipation.

The judge brought the court to business. He asked Kiera questions about her decision to give the baby up for adoption. He asked if the appropriate legal documents had been signed and filed. Her lawyer asserted they had. Cal felt Gillian's hand on his wrist. Her fingers tightened around the scar on his flesh painfully while the judge asked her if she still wanted to relinquish. Kiera affirmed that she did. Cal just about leapt out of his chair. His heart thumped wildly. He felt Gillian beam next to him. He didn't dare look at her. He was pretty sure if he did he wouldn't be able to contain his excitement.

"What about the rights of the birth father?" The judge asked next. "Is he present today?"

"I am sir," a voice spoke up from behind Cal's left shoulder. He turned his head to see a young man stand a few rows back across the aisle. Dark hair, tall, baby faced.

"I see your signature on the paper work."

"Yes sir."

"You are also willing to relinquish?"

Cal's stomach went back to its nervous wait.

"Yes sir I am," the young man confirmed. Cal couldn't remember his name. He couldn't remember ever being told his name. The birth father took his seat again and the judge perused a paper on the desk in front of him.

The judge asked if there was a petition for adoptive parents. The Lightman's lawyer spoke up about their submission. The social worker's report was admitted to the court. Gail spoke on behalf of the Lightman's, stating they were successfully raising one child and were doing well with the ten days in which they were taking care of the baby girl. The judge asked Kiera if she had any objections. She stated firmly that she did not.

"I don't see any reason why the baby can't remain with the Lightman's," the judge announced. "I hereby sever the parental rights of the birth parents..."

Cal zoned out. Gillian's hand was so tight on his wrist it was hurting him. He shifted it out of her grasp, taking her hand within his instead and dared to look at her. He could she was barely containing her emotions. She looked like she was either about to break into a smile, or burst into tears. Probably both given half the chance. He leaned towards her and whispered in her ear, "Just like that." He gave her a smile.

"Ooh look!" Lewis pointed out loudly. He was indicating something behind him.

"Hey Lewis," Cal spoke softly in the quiet courtroom. He brought a finger to his lips; the universal and American Sign for 'quiet'. Lewis didn't particularly feel like being quiet. Now that had woken fully from his short nap he was enthusiastically energetic. Cal thought he might have to leave with him. But the judge declared everything above board and banged his gavel and the courtroom was in noise again. It was over. Just like that.

They got up and followed Kiera outside. Gail shook hands pleasantly. The lawyers shook hands and departed. And that left the Lightman's and their new daughter with Kiera and her mother's friend, Melissa. Before anyone could say anything the young man from the court approached, the birth father. "Hey," he seemed awkward.

"All right," Cal offered his hand and introduced himself, then his wife and his son. Cal shifted Lewis to his other hip. At least when he was being shy he wasn't being noisy or trying to run away.

"Blair," he introduced himself.

"It's nice to meet you Blair," Gillian offered. Blair said hello to Kiera and she returned the greeting. Slight awkwardness. "Shall we?" Gillian turned to Cal.

"Right," he agreed. "Why don't we go somewhere to say goodbyes?" He suggested gently and carefully.

"You're welcome to use my place," Melissa volunteered immediately. She turned to Blair. "You too. Would you like a ride?"

He politely accepted and the three of them wandered off together. Cal noted to himself that through the entire exchange Kiera had her eyes on the baby. They would wander away to greet someone or smile but would always drift back. Cal and Gillian turned towards their car without saying a word. Gillian put the little girl in the backseat while Cal fought Lewis into his. He distracted him with a banana before putting his bag in the boot again. The memory book stared up at Cal before he closed the door.

"I had this bad feeling she was going to change her mind," Gillian confessed as soon as Cal had slipped behind the wheel.

"I was nervous," he offered. "As all hell."

"I could tell. You get very straight faced when you're nervous," she gave a lightly teasing smile.

"I guess it's all official now though. You have a daughta."

Gillian's teasing smile morphed into that beam Cal had been expecting earlier. Then she did burst into tears. Cal leaned over and pulled her into a hug. "It's all ova now," he told her feeling a weight he didn't even remember being there lift off his chest. Hopefully the entire last twelve months were behind them now. New York; Cancer; Adoption.

But then he said that at the end of every drama they went through.

Melissa pulled up behind them in a dark blue station wagon and waited for them to back out of their park, so they could follow her home to her place. Gillian wiped her eyes and they pulled on seat belts. Cal pulled out of the park slowly. Wholly shit it was official! He had another daughter! Gillian finally had the little girl she had been waiting her entire life for. Kiera couldn't change her mind now. It was done. She couldn't take that little girl away from them. Now it was their turn to up hold their end of the deal.

"Gone!" Lewis announced. The yellow peel of the banana sailed over Gillian's shoulder to fall into her lap.

"Hey," she turned startled.

"Don't look at me," Cal retorted.

Lewis laughed from the back seat. "Trouble," Gillian muttered under her breath, placing the banana peel in the gap under the stereo, while Lewis clapped his hands and kicked his shoes against his car seat.

"Your son," Cal grumbled.

"Your son," she shot back.

PJ

Melissa lived in a unit in the middle of a row of eight. The Lightman's parked on the road and went through the same dance of getting their children out of the car. Cal unbuckled Lewis and led him around the car to the safety of the sidewalk, then let him race over the grass. Cal grabbed both bags from the back and the book before locking up the car and following Gillian, who carried the baby's car seat up the path to Melissa's home. She was waiting for them by the front door and welcomed them in congenially. She pointed out that the living space was just through there and that they should make themselves at home. She shut the door behind them and followed them through and offered to make them a cup of coffee. "Maybe a biscuit for the little one?" She meant Lewis but was asking Gillian.

"Yeah that's fine," Gillian gave a smile in response. She sat on the end of the couch. Cal sat slightly off the middle. He put Lewis between them, who stared at Blair sitting across the small room in an armchair. Blair gave him a wave and a smile. Lewis continued to stare. Gillian produced a baby's bottle of water and the little pack of powdered formula from the baby's day bag. "I'll just," she started as she got up. The baby wasn't awake yet and crying but ten days was enough time to 'sense' when she was due for a feed.

"Yep," Cal responded he understood. He picked a piece of banana out of Lewis's hair. He dug into Lewis's bag and found a baby wipe in a travel pack. Lewis tried to fight his administrations off. "You know if your mutha knew I hadn't cleaned you up she'd have a fit," Cal told Lewis while thinking of a few conversation starters to break the ice with Blair, who was folding his hands over on themselves, a sign of self-comfort. He was sitting forward in his chair like he was about ready to bolt for the door. Cal found a plastic bag in Lewis's kit and tucked the dirtied wipe inside it. The house smelt slightly of lemon cleaning products, like Melissa had been expecting them, or at least planning on volunteering her home to them all along.

"So Kiera said you're in medical school?" Cal guessed as he finished stashing away Lewis's mess.

"Yeah I was pre-med. I've just started at John's Hopkins."

"That's really impressive," Cal complimented. At least they knew she was going to be smart. And good looking because the young man across from Cal wasn't hard on the eyes. Cal pulled a book from Lewis's bag and handed it to him.

"Oooh!" Lewis grabbed it excitedly.

"Kiera was telling me you guys have a successful business finding liars?" He said it as if he was dubious that was legitimate.

"Well, it's more about readin' body language," Cal finally sat back. "Facial expressions, gestures, vocal stress, choice of language... We can determine from that whetha someone is hidin' somethin' or whetha they're bein' truthful."

Blair nodded. "Sounds like interesting work."

"Where did Kiera get to?" Cal asked casually.

"Oh she just went to freshen up."

What Blair didn't add, or have to, was that she was upset and was taking a moment to compose herself again.

PJ

"Hey, do you mind if borrow a pot?" Gillian announced she was in the kitchen.

Melissa turned, saw the baby's bottle and formula and nodded. "Of course." She retrieved a pot from the cupboard beside the stove. "Help yourself," she indicated Gillian should use the tap.

"Is she awake?" Kiera asked from the doorway.

"Not yet," Gillian answered with warmth. She finished filling the pot and put it on the stove to boil. "But she's due for a feed soon." It was obvious Kiera had been crying and Gillian fought the urge to go over there and give her a hug. She measured out formula and fastened the nipple onto the end of the bottle securely before shaking it up. "So how are you doing Kiera?" Gillian asked when it was clear no one else was going to make conversation. Melissa busied herself with coffee cups, milk, sugar and a plate of biscuits.

"I'm fine," she responded but not entirely convincingly. "How are you guys doing?"

"We're good," Gillian responded sincerely. She checked the pot to see if the water was boiling yet.

"Can I get you anything else?" Melissa offered.

"No I've got everything I need thank you," Gillian responded.

"Help yourself," Melissa indicated Gillian should make her coffee. Once she had she took the tray into the living room for the boys. Gillian leaned against the bench as she sipped her coffee.

"I almost changed my mind," Kiera spoke up.

Gillian just about dropped her cup. She covered the movement by checking the pot again.

"It was really hard to leave the hospital."

Gillian nodded and made sure her expression was kind again instead of shocked. "I can't even begin to imagine how hard that would be."

"But you can can't you? The first baby you adopted?"

Gillian felt her insides turn icy. Cal. Bastard.

"I know it's really personal but it just makes things easier for me knowing that you've been through what I'm going through," she looked up at Gillian uncertainly.

Gillian gave her a reassuring expression. "It's ok," she told her. She dropped the bottle in the water and came to stand next to the young woman. She recognised a need to connect when she saw one. She placed a hand on Kiera's shoulder. "It was incredibly difficult giving that little girl back. But I hope you didn't stick to your decision because of that."

"I didn't," Kiera shook her head. "But like I said to Cal, I just feel really comfortable around you guys. And the more I know about you and the more time I spend with you, the more I feel like maybe you could understand me."

Gillian rubbed Kiera's shoulder lightly, reassuringly. "We do understand you." Kiera gave a brave nod. "Would you like to feed the baby?" Kiera gave her a worried expression. "I'll help you."

PJ

After the bottle had heated Gillian tested it on the inside of her wrist. "Does it take this long every time?" Kiera asked.

"Uh huh," Gillian responded. But she explained breastfeeding was demanding in its own way too. And she gushed on the inside that she could actually talk about the experience! She had had a baby boy! And now she had a little girl too! She had given up all hope of that ever happening after she and Alec had split up. But then she had found Cal. Cal had given her hope and so much more.

When they went back to the living room the baby was all ready starting to grizzle. "Perfect timin'," Cal told her. He had moved over a cushion on the couch so he was sitting at the end and was leaning forward to rock the car seat gently. Blair was nursing a cup of coffee. Melissa was reading to Lewis, who was sitting in her lap, chiming in with words, or sounds, and turning the pages.

"Grab a seat," Gillian instructed Kiera. She sat cautiously next to Cal on the couch. Cal scooped the baby out of her chair without a word of objection or question and Gillian was grateful that he knew what she was thinking without having to explain it to him in front of everyone else. At least she didn't have to argue with him outside of work.

"Here," Cal placed the baby in Kiera's arms. He showed her how to hold the little body with the support of one arm, the hand holding the neck and head. Gillian passed Kiera the bottle. She showed Kiera how to make sure the baby had a good mouthful of it, that her lips were turned outwards and that she wasn't getting any air.

"It's so much more complicated than I would have thought," Kiera noted.

Cal got up. "Here Blair, swap."

Blair got up startled. Cal took his seat and Blair took an uneasy one next to the mother of his child. It didn't take him long to gaze down at the baby in awe. Gillian took a seat on the other side of Kiera to monitor. For a while the only sound in the room was Melissa's gentle voice as she read to Lewis. Then Kiera started to ask questions about how long feeding took and other things relating to the little girl. Blair burped the baby afterwards and Cal joked that they could get the next dirty nappy too.

"What's her name?" Kiera blurted. Blair looked uncomfortable and moved to hand the baby off to Gillian again. Cal looked at Gillian and she looked over at him.

"We haven't named her yet," Cal answered.

Melissa volunteered to take Lewis down the road to a local park once the reading session was over. Blair decided he was going to head off too. Melissa volunteered to give him a ride to wherever he needed but he declined. He could walk to a bus stop and go from there. Melissa pointed one out to him before she left.

"Um, I just want to say thanks everyone for letting me be here today," Blair stood awkwardly.

Kiera gave him a warm smile. Cal gave him a nod; seemed like a nice young man.

"Of course," Gillian spoke. Kiera got up to walk him out. Cal looked over at Gillian. He was asking how much longer they were going to be. Gillian mouthed half an hour at him. He nodded. That was fine. Lewis would probably last half an hour at the park. And half an hour would be enough time for Kiera to say her farewells.

"I might go down to the park too," Cal started to get up.

"You don't have to leave," Gillian told him.

"It feels like the right thing to do." He gestured around him. "Space. You know?"

Gillian gave a nod and came to stand in front of him. "I know," she murmured, then gave him a quick kiss. "Half an hour?"

"Sure."

"Unless I text you otherwise."

"Sounds like a plan."

So when Kiera came back into the room Cal announced he was going to the park as well. Kiera didn't object to that too much and he knew he had read the situation correctly. He strolled out into early Autumn afternoon sunshine and wandered on down to the street

PJ

Cal hugged Kiera tightly. She was crying lightly. "Thank you darlin'," he murmured close to her head. He gave her a kiss on the cheek and another squeeze and then let her go.

Lewis approached next with his arms wide. "Awww," he wrapped his arms around Kiera's knees. Kiera bent to his height to give him a hug. "Kiss," Lewis offered. Kiera turned to give him her cheek. Lewis did something complicated that looked a bit like he had licked her, then withdrew and pointed, "wet."

"Thanks Lewis," Kiera responded.

"Now get in the car," Cal told him. He reached out and wiped Kiera's cheek with his sleeve when she straightened up again. She laughed lightly through her tears. Cal stroked her chin. "Take care all right? Talk to you late-a." She gave a nod and Cal went to make sure Lewis was clipped into his seat properly. Then he waited behind the driver's wheel. Gillian also gave Kiera a tight hug in farewell. Cal could see her murmuring something to the young woman too. Kiera nodded her head emphatically. Gillian gave her the book Cal had made. They both looked over at him suddenly. He gave a little wave. The two women talked briefly again and then Gillian approached. She got in. "Wave Lewis," Cal instructed. "We're leavin' now."

Lewis strained forward in his seat to see Kiera. He waved enthusiastically. Once Gillian was clipped in Cal asked, "Ready to go?"

"Yeah," she nodded. Cal pulled away from the curb slowly, giving the horn a little toot.

"Beep beep!" Lewis echoed from the back seat.