"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

No, Sulley wasn't sure at all at the time as he covertly lead Jake down the hallway of his apartment building. So far, at least, no one had noticed them which was a relief as he opened the door and lef Jake in.

Sulley hadn't really changed anything since Mike had moved out. The place still had the same furniture, the same smell, heck even the same paint and carpet. Jake seemed to take it in quietly as Sulley shook his head. "I'm sure it'll be fine," Sulley pointed out. "I can even help you brainstorm what you'll tell your parents when you get back. I'm sure they are worried sick."

He noticed a visible change in Jake's physical demeanor at his words. Was it something he said? "Somehow I doubt my foster dad even noticed I'm gone," He admitted softly. "He's uh... Kind of, distant."

Oh. If Mike knew about this he was definitely laughing right now. Sulley rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and tried to not look embarassed. "Oh, uh... Sorry kid, I didn't realize," Sulley finally found his vouce fo give a reply. "So, you're in foster care then?"

"Since I was like six, yeah," Jake replied as he had a seat in a nearby chair. "Don't look at me like that either. I'm sure you guys see lots of us every day."

It was true, after all, they did deal with kids from all walks of life. The doors changed when a kid moved so it made it easy to follow their kids after all. Sulley made his way to the kitchen as he tried to figure out what to say next. Most of their food was edible for humans but he didn't know whether he was a picky eater like Boo had been.

Jake didn't do much, Sulley noted as he prepared some mac and cheese. He just sat in the chair quietly and seemed to observe his surroundings. He had a feeling neither of them really knew what to say to the other, but Sulley digressed. When he'd finished, he took a spoon and brought it over.

"I figured you're probably hungry," Jake took the bowl carefully. "Your body will think it is anyway. Time is reversed here, it's night here but back home for you it's morning."

Jake managed a: "Thank you."

Two seconds before scarfing at it like it was his last meal. Sulley took a step back, shocked. He'd never seen anyone eat with such ferocity outside of the movies and it made his stomach twist. Jake acted like he hadn't eaten in a long time and it made him take extra notice of how thin he was.

Abuse was a word familiar to both monsters and humans. Sulley had even had a friend in his childhood taken away from his home due to it. And the way he ate? It looked like he'd been starved. "Slow down, you'll make yourself sick," Jake stopped and looked up nervously. "When was the last time you ate, Jacob?"

"It's Jake. No one calls me Jacob," Jake pointed out before looking down a bit. "I had like a piece of toast at breakfast."

"All day?"

"They were out of funds in the lunch room," Jake pointed out. He looked flustered that Sulley was trying to pry. "I'm fine."

Sulley frowned and headed back to the kitchen. Jake followed his movements as he continued to eat. Sulley on the other hand, pulled out two more boxes of mac and cheese. He met the boy's eyes and made one thing clear: "Eat as much as you want. Just say the word," He pointed out. "I can do some grocery shopping after work tomorrow."

Jake's eyes were filled with skepticism. Perhaps he wasn't used to that kind of kindness. But Sulley would make damn sure by the end of this he was. Jake was a person, a living being, and no living creature should go hungry - especially because of money.

"Can I ask you a question?" Sulley nodded at the comment. "You said they used to think we were toxic? What would have happened to me if I came... Before?"

Sulley didn't really want to say. Kids like Boo had it easy as she had been so young. But older kids... "Nothing good. Once you were above a certain age and you were smart enough - they said you could knowingly kill a monster with s single touch. But times have changed... You have me to thank for that," He admitted. "Once I introduced laugh energy, the CDA and government restructured the way we look at you kids. Now they're just concerned with keeping our world secret, not with spreading disease or widespread panic."

"What did they want to do with me now?"

"Solitary containment. Probably convince you it was all a dream. Don't really know how it works," Sulley admitted. "In your case if you agree to keep quiet you'll probably keep the memories now - but be under watch. But if they think you're a threat..."

"Then they'll kill me."

"No!" Sulley laughed. "They invented a way to wipe your memory once we return you. We're monsters, Jake. But we're not monsters."

Jake nodded, but gave a small smile before holding up the empty bowl. Sulley simply smirked and put in another bowl. Maybe this wouldn't be awful he figured, it seemed ok now he told himself.

"I have to go to work with you!?"

Well, that niceness had ended the next morning hadn't it? Jake had slept through the night after a second bowl, but as Sulley gave the news he didn't appear happy. Sulley really hoped, with the annoyed expression growing on the boy's face, that Mike would be over sooner rather than later with clothes for him.

"So what? It's not like you'll be hanging in my office all day," Sulley pointed out, trying to make it sound great. "Two of my favorite Jokesters are going to show you around. Maybe even give you some behind the scenes."

Jake looked thoughtful, as if he were considering the good and bad. But after a moment, he decided to comment back: "It isn't the monster that visited me first, is it?" He asked with a grimace. "No offense, dude had a hard time making me laugh. The girl was better... That one that came last was better.

Yeah, Sulley had noted that looking over his file too. Reed Notor had been a new jokester when assigned fo Jake, and while he had gotten better... He had always been his toughest customer. Then he'd been assigned Dory Tanks, and she had given up. They'd finally found one guy Barry Truman before he'd started, and while he'd finally hit the sweet spot, he had just retired.

"No, no, and no," He told the teen. "Their name's are Tylor and Val. Technically it's their day off, but I called in a favor."

Val had jumped at the chance while Tylor seemed OK with it. Tylor typically could be roped into anything by Val though, and this was no exception. Jake shrugged and decided to reply with a simple: "I mean cool, I guess," He was decidedly less enthusiastic with his next reply. "I'll try not to embarass you, but no promises. Especially if anyone looks super cool."

Oh great, that's just what Sulley needed to hear right now, he thought. However a knock at the door distracted him instead as he headed over to let Mike in. "Mikey! Just in time!" He said to the smaller monster who was trying to keep a grip on the pile of clothes he brought. "Jake, come try something on so we can get going."

He took the clothes from Mike who breathed a sigh of relief. "Who knew it was going to be so hard to find clothes for a kid with one head, two arms, and two legs," He groaned. "How'd last night go?"

He handed the clothes off to Jake and decidedly told him: "Go ahead while I talk to my friend," Jake nodded, and stared for a long moment. "Hey what's wrong?"

"I can't accept this," Jake offered. "This is way too much..."

Sulley gave Mike a look, which the tiny green monster returned. Clearly that was a pretty good answer to his question. "Kid, it's our fault you're in this situation. Don't sweat it," He encouraged. "Go make sure they fit."

Jake looked like he was going to argue, but after a moment just nodded with hesitation and stepped into the spare bedroom. "So... What was that about?" Mike asked. "Kid looked like I'd just handed him solid gold."

Sulley crossed his arms and decided to keep his voice down. "He's a foster kid, and a pretty abused one it looks like," He explained honestly. "Kid wolfed down the food I gave him yesterday."

Mike's eye widened. "Abused? And no one reported it?"

To who? Sulley thought glumly. It was sad to think but it wasn't like they could just ring up human CPS and report it. "To who? Our CPS doesnt do this stuff. And no one at the CDA is gonna ring their CPS." He pointed out honestly. "All we can do is make him comfortable while he's here."

Mike nodded uncomfortably, but his frown didnmt leave his face. "Well... That bites," Mike murmured. "Is he at least nice?"

Sulley shrugged. "He's really guarded. Hasn't talked much. Kind of hard to tell," Sulley pointed out. He quickly stopped it when Jake stepped out now in a simple black t-shirt and a pair of ripped jeans. "Nice! Good job, Mikey."

Mike looked like he was going to say more, but Sulley stopped him with a look. They could, and would, talk about this later. Right now, there wss nothing either of them could do and he didn't want to upset the kid. So he was going to play this cool.

Even then he knew that playing it cool wouldn't last.

FOUR MONTHS LATER

Unlike a human court, this Monster Court was different.

In the human world, there would be a lot more paperwork, Sulley assumed. He probably had mountains of it at social services. There'd be a lot of fanfare, his original social worker, and who knew what else. But given no one in the human world actually knew he'd taken Jake and their low communication with the other side? It was going to hopefully be a quiet affair.

After all, Sulley had effectively abducted Jake from the human world. He had completely new records here, and a clean slate. Otherwise Sulley knew this wouldn't be happening as fast as it was. While they differed from human foster care in that their foster care wasn't nearly as brutal. They still worked as slow with this stuff as humans did usually.

He was sure part of fast-tracking was to get all the insanity our of the way. But that was just fine by him.

Jake had a social worker on their side, of course. A short, plump purple monster named Eddie who had taken the case for Sulley where others weren't as eager with the challenge. Since they'd gotten him, however, he hoped he wouldn't be the only monster willing. After all, if Sulley had his way this boy wouldn't be the only human the monsters saved from languishing in the human realm.

But he tried his best to keep his mind off that as they stepped into the courtroom. Jake kept close while Mike and Celia took seats at the back. Family court was small, Sulley noted. Everything inside was a dark purple, and seemed to give off an intensity. But he somewhat relaxed when he saw Eddie waiting for them.

"This should be an open and shut affair," Eddie assured him as they took a seat at a small desk at the front. "Given your age and the circumstances, you may have to answer some extra questions, Jake. Don't worry, they shouldn't be too prying - Judge Bartley just wants to be sure this placement is the correct one."

Sulley bit back a snarky remark, knowing it wouldn't help. He and Jake belonged together, anyone who spent five minutes with them knew that. The kid had thrived beyond what even he expected under his care. This would happen, he told himself. "They wouldn't take me from Sulley, would they?"

"Only if they think you're better off in the human world."

Sulley did make a comment then: "And I'd go with you then too. Find some monster commune, raise you there," He assured Jake, setting a paw on his shoulder. "But we don't have to worry about that."

Not for the first time, Eddie remarked: "I'll pretend you didn't just suggest kidnapping him."

Sulley snorted. "I already kind of did, right?" Twice, actually.

Their chatter stopped as a large, horned monster entered the room. The reputation of Judge Bartley proceeded him, with his friendly and dimpled face. But his towering presence even made Sulley feel small. The nearby Balif spoke his peace as they all stood. "You may be seated," Bartley spoke like something out of a kid's cartoon. "Well, I almost wondered if we'd make it this far. Jacob Oliver Green and James Patrick Sullivan. I think you're my first two celebrities I'd had through here."

He nodded his head slightly before adding. "I don't want to make this a media circus. I know how hard you've worked for this," The judge told Sulley seriously. "But given the unusual circumstances I do have questions. I am familiar with Jacob's case now. Through letters written in defense of your case and Edward's research."

Jake leaned closer to Sulley, nerves obvious again. "Jacob I want to start by making this clear. You are fourteen years old. Old enough to have a say in your future," He explained rather honestly, looking Jake in the eyes. "So I'll ask you this hard question only once: is this adoption truly your desire? Have you no hesitations about living in our world? Or perhaps not desire a human family?"

Sulley held his hand again, but this time it was because he felt the gentle touch of Jake's hand. He nodded at his son encouragingly as Jake hesitated. But when he found words he spoke from the heart:

"I lived with six foster families, and in four group homes your honor. The human world had their chance; people tried," He managed, though Sulley could tell he was trying not to get emotional as he said it. "Living with Sulley may be... Different. But he was the first person since I went into care who ever said he loved me. That actually... Cared."

His grip tightened gently as Jake looked down and continued. "A part of me doesn't think I deserve that. It's hard to think that I'm worth all this trouble, when you're labeled "unadoptable" or a "problem child," Tighter. "But I think I'm getting better about it. Because if you took me away from Sulley... I don't know who I'd be or where I'd end up."

When he looked up, Sulley could see Jake had indeed begun to cry. It must have been hard to open up like this he figured. "Thing is I love him too. Whether he's human, or monster," He finally finished. "I just want to be a Sullivan. To finally know I share my name with someone who loves me back."

Bartley seemed to be moved by the sentiment, to Sulley's relief. After a moment he nodded his head and noted: "Spoken wiser than your years," He pointed out. "It'll be a hard road for you, the first human citizen of Monstropollis..."

"I'm ready, your honor."

He nodded his head, and then turned his attention to Sulley. It seemed like an eternity before he said something, but finallt he spoke firmly. "And what say you, Mr. Sullivan?" He asked. "Are his obervations accurate?"

Sulley held his breath a moment, worried he may choke up too. "Your honor, four months ago this kid came to me at my lowest," He admitted with great honesty. "And I thought I was crazy, really crazy. Most people would say I was playing with fire."

He stood for what he had to say next, and addressed his son. "Jake, you weren't ever my plan, I thought after Boo it was all over - I'd put human kids behind me," Jake was silent, but Sulley continued. "But you've shown me that I was wrong. I've screwed up in my life, more times than I can count. Failed out of scare school, expelled from college, heck - I spent most of my life scaring you kids for a living."

He stood Jake up then. "But taking you in was the best thing I ever did. You're smart, funny, and kind of a pain in the neck," Jake laughed a little at that before he turned him around and hugged him to his fur from behind. "And I coudn't want him more if i tried. This is just paperwork to me, your honor. My heart already adopted him a long time ago."

A silence fell over the procession as Bartley and Eddie exchanged glances. "Mr. Sullivan, approach the bench," Sulley did, still holding Jake and saw the paper in his hand. "If you'll please sign here..."

Sulley had never been happier to sign his name to something than he was in that moment. As he finally finished, the judge once again stood with a gavel firmly in his hand. "It is by the power vested in me that I grant full paternal custody to James Patrick Sullivan," He announced loudly. "From this day forth, he will be recognized as the parent of Jacob Oliver Sullivan."

A single bang of the gavel and it was done. "Congratulations to you both."

In that instant, Sulley was scooping the boy into his arms again. Pulling him in for the tightest hug he could muster. They'd made it, he told himself. Jake was his. He was Jake's. History had been made in that moment, but all he cared about was holding him tightly.

And he never wanted to let go.