Tadashi anxiously paced the courthouse waiting to be asked to enter the court room. His heart was pounding madly in his chest and his palms where sweaty. The waiting was torture, and the room seemed to be getting hotter and hotter. He wanted to rip off his suit that felt like it was suffocating him so he could breathe properly. Tadashi glanced at his watch again, he should have been asked to go in ten minutes ago. What if he was at the wrong place and the police where sent after him and they took Hiro away forever? What if Fred got in trouble too for assisting him…
"Tadashi," Fred said, stepping in front of Tadashi and taking his hands. "You need to stop pacing before you make a hole into the ground."
Tadashi rolled his eyes and grumbled, "It's not possible to do that."
"With how much pacing you're doing you might find a way," Fred sighed, looking genuinely concerned. "What's wrong Tadashi? Why are you so nervous?"
"Why shouldn't I be nervous?" Tadashi snapped.
"I can't think of anyone else who could be a better guardian for Hiro then you," Fred assured squeezing Tadashi's hands.
"How do you know?" Tadashi mumbled, looking away from Fred. Tadashi felt Fred grab his face and forced Tadashi to look over at Fred, who firmly said,
"Because there is no one in this entire universe who loves Hiro as much as you do. You're willing to drop out of your dream college to raise him! You invented a heath care companion to help people! They should be begging you to keep him!" Tadashi doubted they would be begging him to keep Hiro, but Fred's words did bring a smile back to his face.
"Thanks Fred….that means a lot…" Tadashi mumbled a feeling of calm washing over him as he looked into Fred's eyes.
"You're welcome," Fred assured, his thumb caressing Tadashi's cheek. Tadashi wrapped his arms around Fred's waist and leaned in to kiss him. The moment their lips touched Hiro started making gagging noises. The pair pulled apart slightly and started laughing as Hiro said,
"Eww! Do you guys have to do that here?" Tadashi and Fred both burst out laughing, their foreheads pressing together.
"I thought you didn't mind me dating Fred," Tadashi finally said.
"I don't mind dating but kissing is gross!" Hiro whined.
"It's gross huh?" Tadashi asked, a smirk growing across his face.
"Yes!" Hiro whined. Tadashi suddenly dipped Fred who let out a shout of surprise that Tadashi cut off by pressing his lips firmly against Fred's. Fred let out a happy moan and tangled his fingers in Tadashi's hair. Hiro loudly made noises of disgust and covered his eyes. They broke apart laughing and Tadashi lifted Fred back up pecking his lips again.
Tadashi didn't know if he wanted to laugh or kiss Fred. Hiro's disgust maybe should have bothered him but Hiro's reaction was just too funny. And then there was Fred who was laughing as well and somehow made Tadashi's fears melt away. Tadashi pulled Fred close laughing and kissing Fred because right then and there he didn't want to think of anything but Fred and Hiro and how they could make him feel like he was floating.
"Tadashi Hamada?" A woman asked making Tadashi crash back down to Earth, back to reality. Tadashi reluctantly pulled away from Fred and asked,
"Yes?"
"The judge will see you now." Tadashi nodded his head as the woman gestured for Tadashi to enter and added, "Hiro will need to sit away from you while the judge is talking."
"Okay….can he sit in the court room?" Tadashi asked, gesturing over to Fred.
"Yes." She said. With that she took Hiro's hand and walked away. Tadashi and Fred reluctantly walked in, Fred sitting back in the main sitting area while Tadashi walked over to where the officer gestured for him to go. Tadashi was surprised to see Professor Callaghan, Heathcliff, Wasabi, Honey Lemon and Gogo join Fred and was even more surprised when Bubbles walked in and sat down next to Tadashi.
"Um…hello…" Tadashi awkwardly greeted.
"Good morning," Bubbles stiffly greeted. "I doubt this will take very long. It's usually pretty quick."
"That's…good?" Tadashi uncertainly said.
"No one wants to be here long and there are lot of trials that need to happen," Bubbles explained.
"Makes sense…"
"All rise for the honorable Judge Brooks." Tadashi stood as a surprisingly young woman with blond hair made her way up to the stand.
"You may be seated," Judge Brooks said as she sat down. "Mr. Bubbles, do you believe Tadashi Hamada can be a good guardian for Hiro Hamada?"
Bubbles slowly stood and said, "Yes I do. Though Tadashi and Hiro's living situation is…unusual I do believe that for now he has a stable job and has the means to care for all of Hiro's needs."
"Could you clarify these working conditions?" Judge Brooks asked. "Your notes where slightly confusing."
"I'm not sure how else to explain it other than a very rich man who lives in a very large house hired Tadashi as an on-site repairman somewhat like some hotels do."
"Can their really be enough work even in a mansion for him to be kept long term?" Judge Brooks asked.
"Surprisingly yes," Bubbles admitted. "It's strange but with a mansion as big as the one Tadashi is working in, I can see how their needs to be a lot of work done on it."
"Well, I do trust your judgement on this," Judge Brooks said. "But what about his aunt? Does she want guardianship of Hiro?"
"I spoke with her and she thinks it would be best if Hiro remained with his brother if possible," Bubbles explained and handed Judge Brooks some paperwork. "She didn't feel like she had time to come here physically with her working in the café. She did say though that if for any reason Tadashi could not care for Hiro she would be more than happy to take him or even both of them in."
Judge Brooks inspected the papers for a minute before saying, "These all appear to be in order. But, I would like to question a few people. Robert Callaghan would you please step up to the stand?"
"Of course," Professor Callaghan said, flashing Tadashi a smile as he walked past. He stepped up to the stand and Judge Brooks asked,
"Mr. Callaghan, is it true Mr. Hamada has a scholarship for your robotics program at San Fransokyo Institution of Technology?"
"Yes your honor."
"Has he been doing well in his classes since he started caring for Hiro?"
"Oh yes his work has continued to exceed expectations."
"Do you think Mr. Hamada is capable of handling raising a child, working and raising a child?"
Professor Callaghan had a sad smile on his face as he said, "Mr. Hamada is probably the best student I have ever had in my program. Not only is he the smartest but also the most dedicated. He loves robotics and he loves helping people. Somehow this brilliant young man was able to combine those two passions to create one of the most brilliant inventions I have seen in my entire time working as a professor. Despite all of his potential though he is willing to give all of that up if it means raising Hiro to the best of his ability." Professor Callaghan looked over at Tadashi with an apologetic smile on his face as he continued, "There was a part of me that wanted to tell you today that no he is not fit be Hiro's guardian, honestly this morning I fully intended to say so. But not only would that be a complete lie but very unfair to Mr. Hamada who loves Hiro more than anything. I believe any child would be lucky to have a man like Tadashi raising them."
"Thank you that is all," Judge Brooks said. Tadashi could have cried from happiness right then and there. His professor wanted him to keep Hiro. He could hardly believe he heard that. Tadashi didn't hear Judge Brooks call the next person to the stand, to excited to pay attention to the questions being asked until he heard Heathcliff say,
"Yes there was a small problem with some of the staff but it has been taken care of and will not be a problem in the future." Problem with the staff? What problem? How had it been 'taken care of'? Before Tadashi could even think about asking he was dismissed and Judge Brooks called Hiro up.
The woman who took Hiro away earlier helped Hiro up into the stand and the judge asked, "Hiro, do you want Tadashi to be your guardian?"
"Yes," Hiro said after hesitating for a moment causing Tadashi's heart to sink.
"It's alright if you don't," Judge Brooks gently assured. "We understand if you don't want to stay with him."
"No, it's not that," Hiro said. "I want my mama and daddy to be my guardians and Dashi to be my brother…but they're gone…"
"Are you worried Tadashi will stop being your brother?" Judge Brooks asked.
"Yea….Dashi will we still do brother stuff if you're my guardian?" Hiro asked. Tadashi glanced over at Judge Brooks who nodded her head.
"Of course buddy!" Tadashi assured. "All this means is that you'll live with me and I'll be responsible for taking care of you. I would never ever even dream, of taking mom and dad's place."
"Good," Hiro said, grinning. "Can I stay with Dashi then?"
Judge Brooks smiled and dismissed Hiro asking, "Does anyone have anything to add?" She paused for a minute but when the room remained silent she said. "Well then I hereby declare Tadashi Hamada as Hiro Hamada's guardian." Hiro cheered and raced towards Tadashi who could have fainted from happiness. He couldn't believe it; he was going to keep Hiro! Tadashi scooped Hiro up into his arms and hugged him tightly.
"I get to stay with Dashi!" Hiro exclaimed, giggling like mad. Laughing Tadashi kissed Hiro's cheek as the others ran over to hug Tadashi and Hiro. Somehow Fred managed to wiggle was way in so he was right in front of Tadashi and exclaimed,
"I told you, you had nothing to worry about!"
"You were right!" Tadashi agreed, leaning over Hiro to kiss him. Hiro made a noise of disgust, and Wasabi said,
"You're going to have to get used to that little man!"
"I thought you would have realized by now they do that a lot," Gogo added.
"Never mind! I want to go with Aunt Cass!" Hiro exclaimed. Smiling Bubbles said,
"Sorry kid, you're stuck with him for life."
"No!" Hiro melodramatically cried, slumping over in Tadashi's arm.
"Wow I didn't know you could joke!" Tadashi said with a grin.
Bubbles put on his sunglasses and said,
"I'll be checking in every few months to make sure everything is going well. Also you'll need to file paperwork if you chose to move."
"Of course," Tadashi said.
Bubbles slipped on his sunglasses saying, "Good day." As the three of them left the courtroom Tadashi couldn't help but agree. It was a wonderful day.