First things first, thanks to everyone who's been reading and telling me to keep updating, you're amazing and I love the feedback I get from some of you.
Secondly, CHAPTER 50! Oh yeah! That's right! And its gonna be an amazing chapter and you'll all love me for it!
Thanks everyone for the reviews!
To SkysFireLady15: Yes, couldn't you just see it, Rune taking care of Naomi for... hmm that's a little strange to think about.
Chapter 50
Rael was sitting several seats back in the courtroom, he was in a suit. Naomi couldn't think of a time she'd ever seen him, or any of the others who had showed up for the judge's final decision, dressed up in quite that fashion. Rune had even taken out his earrings and his hair looked like it had gotten to see a comb for the first time since she'd met him. She kept looking over her shoulder at them, but mostly at the woman sitting next to Rael.
Her hair wasn't nearly as blonde as Rael's and it fell in light waves down to just below her shoulders, her eyes were more hazel than green, but they were warm. She was wearing a sundress with massive purple flowers on it and a white sun hat with purple flowers as well. She had been looking at the doors where the judge would be coming in then she noticed Naomi's gaze, she smiled warmly and waved at her.
Naomi immediately turned around and wondered why she'd be willing to take in a kid who wasn't her own, or related to her in any way. She really wasn't listening to the arguments back and forth between lawyers and the judges but she could feel that most of the eyes were going from her to others in the room.
"Mrs. Tanners," The judge said, "Stand." Rael's mother stood and walked up between the two tables of the defense and the plaintiff. "You have filed a petition that you would be willing to take Miss Naomi McCoy into your family that is correct?"
"Yes your honor." Her voice was sweet and Naomi almost could describe it as ebony silk running over her ears. "My son attends school with Naomi and from what he's told me about her her mutant abilities are very similar to Rael's so it wouldn't be as difficult for my husband and I to cope with a second child with powers in our home."
The judge nodded to her, "And I see that Mr. McCoy," he motioned to Beast, "has asked for partial custody, meaning Naomi would remain with the Tanner's family, but he would continue to be allowed to visit and take his niece with him on occasions so long as the Tanner's give permission as well." He looked up from the papers to Rael's mother, "Is that acceptable for you?"
"Of course," She said, "But I do have one other request, but that I'll be taking care of at another time."
"Let's here the request." The judge said, "I've got other cases, but I'd like to get this one out of my courtroom as soon as possible."
"I would request a restraining order against Naomi's father, and possibly her mother as well if it's needed." Mrs. Tanner stated.
Naomi stood at the same time as her parents on the other side of the room, they all began talking at once, the judge called them back into order, "One at a time or I'll hold you in contempt of court." He pointed to Naomi, "You first."
She bit her lip then spoke, "I don't have anything against my mother other than she stood by and let what my dad do to me happen." She quickly then sat again, Beast reached over and gave her arm a little squeeze of understanding.
"This is absurd!" her father yelled, "This whole proceeding in bullshit, you're one of those mutant-lovers aren't you," He pointed an accusative finger at the judge, "This is all a scam leaning toward acceptance of those freaks!"
The ground tremored slightly sending her father back to his seat, Rune was glaring across the room, Naomi looked over her shoulder at him through narrowed eyes. "Sorry," Rune said loudly, "I don't like being called a freak."
"And you are?" The judge asked slightly surprised at the tremor.
"Rune your honor," he said standing, "I'm pretty sure there's a statement in there from me about Naomi when she first came to the school."
"Ah yes," The judge flipped through the pages, "It was a well written one I may add." He turned back to Naomi's father, "You're being taken into custody for contempt of court, as well as to face charges of domestic violence against a minor." The bailiff was putting him in handcuffs while the judge continued to speak and Naomi's mother watched in horror. " I judge in favor of the defendant, not because she is a mutant, but because from the evidence I believe that no one should be forced to go through the treatment that girl has lived through." There was a smattering of applause and cat-calls from the kids in the audience, the judge banged his gavel once then turned to Naomi. "Young lady you are released into the custody of Mrs. Riley Tanners, may the rest of your life be more pleasant than the one that you've had before now. Dismissed." With one loud bang of his gavel a cheer went up through the room.
Rune came up behind Naomi, wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek, "How does it feel to be free?"
Naomi grinned and cuddled back in his arms while everyone started moving toward the doors, "Refreshing."