CHAPTER 16
The Social Worker

They'd all dreaded the day since they'd officially decided on all of this. Tony had dreaded it the most, as this was one of the meetings that would decide his fate. Now that he'd settled into calling Will and Sarah by the titles of Dad and Mom, Marie's visit meant everything. He loved it here, he loved the Lennox's and they loved him back. This was the first loving family and home he'd ever had and he couldn't loose it, period. That day in question, Tony and Will had been roughhousing in the yard over a game of basketball.

Ironhide himself watched with passive interest, being he enjoyed playing, but not watching the sport. Ironhide allowed Will the chance to play with his son though, without interference. After all, Will had often told him even before Tony came to live with him how much he hoped his second kid would be a boy. Of course he loved Annabelle, more than anything. But after being surrounded by girls in the house, Will definitely enjoyed the thought of spending time with a son around the house, hopefully for good.

Tony slowly ran out of breath after the third game, to which Will grinned slyly. "Want a break, kiddo?" Tony only nodded at Will, who settled an arm around his shoulder "Relax, Tony, this was supposed to be a stress reliever." Tony smiled, he nodded his head a bit "Why don't you go up and get ready, Tony? Marie is going to be here in less than half an hour." He stated, noticing the time "I'll be there in a minute." He added.

As Tony ran inside and Will wiped the sweat from his face, Ironhide stared at him. "I don't understand." Will looked over at his Guardian calmly "Why must this 'Marie' come and inspect your home? Are we not amply taking care of Anthony?" He asked, he tilted his head slightly "Should it not be as simple as signing a few forms and legally changing his name?" He asked.

"I wish it was big guy." Will frowned, he shook his head a bit "We love Tony, we take good care of him. But Social Services only knows what they know from those short expected visits." He shook his head "You see, we could put on a ruse in the time they gave us. But, this time, they gave us barely twenty-four hours warning. So we don't have time to do that." He added "They can see how he's actually treated, if that makes any sense." He added.

"It doesn't."

Will sighed, Ironhide was not going to make today very easy and he knew it. "Ironhide, just... Play nice today, alright? If you tick these people off, they could just tell Tony to go up and pack his bags." You could practically feel the intensity filling Ironhide right then "Relax, big guy, we're going to pass, you just have to take it easy today, alright?" He told him.

Ironhide rumbled his engines quietly, it was going to be hard for him to be calm. In fact, he wasn't sure he could even begin to pull it off, but he was going to try. Not for the social workers safety, but to ensure Tony would definitely stay with them. He shifted uneasily, this was going to be very difficult, but than again, they had always known that. "I promise to play fair, for his sake, not for hers." Ironhide noted "Even when I didn't like him, I really didn't like her." He added.

"Neither do I, Ironhide, but we have to pretend to love her." He gently rubbed his guardian's hood "Even you, Mr. Godfather."

Ironhide felt stunned at that word, he knew exactly what he meant. But Ironhide hadn't known he'd been named Tony's Godfather. Annabelle's had already been chosen before he came along, and he was certain those same one's would be Tony's. But him? "You've named me his emergency caretaker?" Ironhide asked, he noted Will's nod and smile "William-" He began.

"You've always wanted to be a Dad. And while this isn't exactly a 'Dad' deal." Will ran his hand along the mech's hood "It means you get to play the part of Dad without any of the responsibility." Ironhide felt his spark swell at that "Two strong, male role models are going to do him good." He added.

Ironhide couldn't believe it, sure, as Will said. He really wasn't going to be a 'Father' to Tony, but it was definitely the next best thing. He took a deep breath, and nudged Will a bit. "Thank you, William, I happily accept the role." Ironhide told him, calmly "Now go on, she'll be here any minute and being covered in sweat is the last thing you wish her to see." He added.

Ironhide settled himself slightly, cooling his circuits, and activating his holoform. For once, it was that of a clean cut, presentable man. Something Tony should have been flattered he'd used just to help him. The car made it's way up the driveway around twelve, and Marie stepped out looking like she really didn't want to be there. Will was out front to greet her almost at once. "Mr. Lennox, where is Mrs. Lennox?" Marie asked.

"Right here!" Sarah was quickly buttoning her top as she rushed out "I'm so sorry, I'm just running a little late. I worked a double graveyard shift." She added.

Marie simply invited herself right in, as usual, and while Ironhide knew not all social workers were like that. Well, needless to say, the cold woman really gave them all a very bad name. Ironhide shifted a bit, and started to head in after Will when the man stopped him. "Don't, Ironhide. Leave this to Sarah and I, okay?" Will told him, calmly "She'll only want to talk to us."

Ironhide paused for a moment. "If she so much as goes for the beer, I'm coming in." He stated.

For now though, he left the front door, and left the couple to it.

...

"So, the house all checks out." Marie stated loudly, as she seated herself in front of the family of three "Now, it's time for the interview. It's a simple formality, but it's in Ricky's best interest that we do this." Tony cringed as Marie forgot his name, AGAIN.

Sarah put an arm around him, as if to calm him down and kissed his head gently. Tony smiled, Sarah had a way of calming him down that even Will and Ironhide couldn't do properly. "Alright, throw it our way. We're ready for all of them. Whatever it takes to get Tony here the last name, Lennox." Will smiled at Tony and winked before he turned back to Marie "Fire away." he added.

"Alright, first things first. Why are you adopting him?" Will and Sarah eyed each other, then looked back at her "Let's face it, Mr. Lennox you're retired. This means since your wife is a nurse, you're the stay-at-home Dad here." Will nodded his head slightly "And as I understood, adoption was never your goal. Rather you entered the program to simply help children like you." She explained.

"We did, but..." Will held Tony's hand a bit to show the closeness they all shared "You can't fight love, m'am. The more he was here, the more we realized Tony was supposed to come to us." He looked at her, Marie stared solid-faced at him "Sarah and I knew within the first month that we wanted nothing more than to make Tony our own. A part of the family." He gently rubbed the boy's hand "I'm more than willing to be a stay-at-home Dad." He added.

"And what about his Father?"

"Tony told us that his Father was out of rehab. Only a little after he started calling us Mom and Dad, he explained what was going on there. We don't know why he was there or the whole story, still, but we know that." Sarah explained, looking Marie in the eyes "It won't be easy, at all. We know there's a chance he'll come looking. But we won't let him NEAR Tony without us knowing its safe." She paused "He won't tell us what it is about his Father, it's not our business to know until he's ready. But we'll also be as careful about it as we can be." She added.

"And if he wants Tony back?" Marie asked, Tony was relieved she finally remembered his name.

Will hesitated for a moment, his hand tightening on Tony's. Tony knew Will would never let his Father have him. He didn't know that his Father viciously beat his Mother, or that he was a drunk, but he did know the man scared Tony. "Then we're MORE than ready for a custody battle. We're not giving up Tony, he's going to be our son." Will was calm, but a bit dark in his reply "I won't let Tony go back to a man that I know scares him." He added.

"And you both love him just as much as your biological daughter?" Marie asked "Enough to be there for him, protect him, love him... Send him to college?" She asked.

"Of course, he'll be treated no different then our own daughter." Sarah was quick to answer this one "We already have a College Fund being worked out for Tony. It goes into affect the moment he's adopted." Sarah explained "Will of course, will, like a lot of Father's push his alma matter. But, when the time comes, we plan to sit down with Tony and talk it over seriously." She added.

"Dad and I were talking University of California, LA earlier." Tony added "That's his alma matter." He added.

Marie stared between the three of them, noting the happiness in their features. Marie smiled, she nodded a bit, and signed a paper. She looked between the three of them. "Well, it's a matter of what the state decides. But as far as I can see... You have my approval." She stood slowly, and both Will and Sarah stood as well "You're a wonderful family, and I'm sure Jerry will find it quite happy here." She added.

"Tony." Tony muttered.

"Oh, of course, wrote down "Tony" and said Jerry. Brain fart." Marie laughed.

A firm handshake among all of them done and out of the way, Sarah walked Marie to the door. Tony stood, and smiled at Will, then looked toward the window with wide eyes. "Dad, we may want to go tell Ironhide the good news." He told the former colonel.

"Why's that?"

"Because he's got half a third world army aimed at Marie's car."

Will rolled his eyes slightly. Subtle Ironhide, real subtle. Was all Will could think as he pulled Tony into a hug.

Inside, Tony could feel nothing but happiness. If all went well now, this really would be his home, for good.