Written in 63 minutes.

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Jason tugged at his tie, fighting the urge to yank it from his neck and shove it into his suit pocket. There was nothing he hated more than wearing one of these, but he knew that he was already fighting an uphill battle in family court with a judge who would, no doubt, be familiar with the name Jason Morgan from a lengthy police record. This was the one place where a judge probably wouldn’t be very impressed that he had many arrests, but only conviction — and that one had been a guilty plea.

Molly was waiting for him outside the court room, talking animatedly with Jake, clad in his own court room attire — sans the uncomfortable tie. Jason quickened his pace until he reached their side, unsure why his eldest son was there at all.

“Hey. Uh, I wasn’t—” Jason rubbed the back of his neck. “I wasn’t expecting you today. I thought there wouldn’t be testimony—” he said, looking at Molly.

“I’m not here for that,” Jake said. “Mom got called into cover a shift, and I knew…” He let out a little huff. “I knew she’d wanted to be here. Not that you need moral support—” He looked past Jason who turned to see Carly, Sonny, and Michael stepping off the elevator. Jason grimaced, but it wasn’t really the time for it.

“I’m always glad to see you,” he told Jake as the trio reached them.

“Hey.” Carly went to Jake, embraced him lightly, patting his shoulder. “I feel like you’ve grown another inch every time I see you, and you look more like your dad every day. Don’t you think, Sonny?” she asked, forcing a cheerful smile and looking at her ex.

“Uh, yeah. Yeah. Jason, do you, uh, have a minute—”

“No, I don’t.” Jason turned slightly, angling Sonny out of the conversation, focusing on Molly. “This is just a formality, right?”

Molly looked between Sonny and Jason with some concern, but then nodded. “I was just telling Jake, it’s really just to start the ball rolling. And honestly, we’ve already started behind the scenes. My mother—” She stopped, as if registering for the first time that she was arguing a case against Alexis, her own family. “She’s already filed for depositions this week.”

“I got served this morning,” Jake said, shifting slightly, edging away from Sonny.

“I got mine last week,” Michael told Jason. “Alexis isn’t wasting any time.”

“But it’s not going to matter,” Carly said, again with that bright smile that fooled no one. “Jason’s an excellent father. Michael will be able to testify to that, and you, too, of course, Jake.” She touched Jake’s shoulder. “And you know, I guess, your mother will do that, too.”

“The least she can do,” Sonny muttered, and Jason looked at him sharply. His friend’s cheeks colored slightly, but he didn’t retract his statement or say anything else.

“Anyway,” Molly said, forcing Jason to look at her. “The judge appoint lawyers for Danny and Scout, and get that started. I’m hoping Mom drops her case before they have to be interviewed.”

“She will. Alexis will see reason,” Carly insisted. She pursed her lips. “Though it would a first for her.”

Molly opened her mouth, maybe to defend her mother, then closed it, her eyes widening as she took in something behind them. Jason turned, his jaw clenching.

“Oh, you have got to be kidding me,” Carly breathed.

Ric’s smile was wide as he approached, Drew in his wake. “Well, hello. Molly, it’s so good to see you.” He kissed his daughter’s cheek. “Looks like this will be a family affair.”

—

“Alexis, will you just—” Diane caught up to her law partner and friend just before Alexis could reach the elevators in the courthouse lobby. “Can we have a conversation?”

“Why?” Alexis jabbed the button. “You’ve made it painfully clear where you stand. Against me.”

“Not against—” Diane pursed her lips, then tried again. “I am not against you, Alexis. I simply don’t agree that this is the best way forward—”

The elevators opened, and Diane followed Alexis and Kristina onto the car. “There’s still time to stop this.”

“Jason and Drew can stop this,” Kristina said, lifting her chin. “All they have to do is what’s best for Scout and Danny. Which is Mom.”

Diane fought the urge to shoot Kristina a malevolent look, choosing instead to step between mother and daughter so that she and Alexis were facing one another. “This is a bell you cannot unring. If you go in there and tell the judge you want full custody, he will order depositions and an investigation. Danny and Scout will be interviewed by family court representatives. They will be given guardian ad litems—”

“I’m familiar with the process—” Alexis interrupted impatiently.

“Alexis, I am trying to help you—”

“You’re trying to help Jason,” Kristina insisted. Diane whirled on her.

“And so what if I am? The man has done nothing but help you. He’s dug you out of every mess you’ve created, hasn’t he? Where’s your loyalty? Your gratitude?” Diane bit out.

“Where’s yours? My mother—”

“Stop it. Both of you.”

The elevators opened, and Alexis stepped out, then turned to face them. “No one is arguing, Diane, that Jason hasn’t played a pivotal role in helping my daughters. Kristina and Sam. But that does not make him fit to be a father to a son he scarcely knows—”

“You are going to regret this, Alexis. Mark my words. The day will come when you’ll wish you’d listened to me.” Diane touched her lips, then sighed. “But you won’t listen to me, that much is evident.” She stepped back onto the elevator. “You’ll forgive me if I don’t wish you luck.”

—

Elizabeth checked the time on her phone, then slid it back into her pocket. The hearing was due to start any minute, and she wished she there. But maybe it was for the best Jake had agreed readily to go in her stead.

“You’ve checked the time almost a dozen times,” Willow said, stepping up into the nurse’s station with a friendly smile. “Eager to be done?”

Elizabeth shook her head, then reached for another chart. “No, no, just…” She tipped her head to Willow. “I’m sure you know that Alexis is filing for custody of the kids. Their hearing is today.”

Willow bobbled the file in her hands, but caught it before it hit the counter. “Oh. Oh. Yes, I mean, of course. Michael, um, he mentioned it. Before he left. I think he was planning to go. You know, to show moral support for Jason and Drew.”

Elizabeth stepped next to the younger nurse, making a show of sorting through a stack of charts. “We talked about it on Thanksgiving, Michael and I. We’ve both been asked to sit for a deposition.”

“Right. He told me that, too. I know Michael hates this is happening, but I think he’s grateful to have an opportunity to stand up for his uncle.” Willow’s fingers tapped at the keyboard, her focus on the screen in front of her.

“Jason’s loved Michael like his own for his entire life. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for him.” Elizabeth folded her arms across her chest. “I’m glad he’s got Michael in his corner. I was surprised not to get anything from Drew. A deposition notice, I mean. I would have assumed he’d want someone to testify who’d co-parented with him. Even for a short-time.”

“Oh. He didn’t—” Willow looked at her. “He didn’t ask you?”

“Not yet. Maybe he hasn’t sent them yet. I know Jason hadn’t even made his list, but Alexis isn’t wasting any time. Did you get one from her?”

“No. I—” Willow bit her lip. “Drew’s been thinking about it though. He…asked me.”

“Did he?” Elizabeth nodded. “I suppose that makes sense. You live in the house with him, you see him with Scout. And you guys worked on the foundation together for a while. I guess you know more about Drew today than I would.”

Willow looked at her, eyes a little too wide. “What? What does that mean?”

“It means that you see him more regularly than I do.” Elizabeth tilted her head. “What did you think I meant?”

“N-Nothing.” Willow scooped up her files, hurried out of the station, almost crashing into Lucas in her haste to leave.

“Whoa—” Lucas lifted his arms, stepping out of her path. “Where’s she going in such a hurry?” he asked, coming over to the computer Willow had just left to begin his own notes.

“No idea, but I sure hope she does,” Elizabeth murmured, thinking of poor Michael and the audacity of Drew to ask Willow to testify for him. What would Willow think if she knew about Saturday? About the conversation Scout had related to Jake? Would she believe it?

“You look a thousand miles away,” Lucas said, pulling Elizabeth’s attention back to him. “Anything wrong?”

“No.” Elizabeth frowned. “Why do you ask?”

“Oh, no reason. I guess—” Lucas hesitated. “I went to Aunt Laura’s for dessert on Thanksgiving, and Lucky mentioned he was heading back to Africa. Cairo, I think he said.”

Elizabeth pressed her lips together, unhappily. “Laura said he was thinking about it. I didn’t know that he’d made a specific plan.”

“I think he’s waiting to hear back from Doctors Without Borders—” Lucas paused. “You really didn’t know? He didn’t talk to you about it?”

“What, did you think that because we share a son, he would have kept me in the loop?” Elizabeth smirked. “He hasn’t made me a part of his decisions in the last fifteen years, so why start now?”

“Elizabeth—”

“Did he talk about it with Aiden in the room? Does he know?” He hadn’t said a word to her about his father in days, and maybe Elizabeth should have seen that as a sign.

“No, it was while Aiden and Rocco were in another room with Kevin—” Lucas put a hand on her shoulder. “Hey, I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have brought it up if I’d realized you didn’t know.”

“It’s not your fault. It’s not. I just—” Elizabeth sighed. “I knew a long time ago Lucky and I weren’t going to have a happy ending, and Aiden is the only reason I can’t call the entire thing a mistake. I just wish I’d chosen a better father for my son.”

—

The judge leaned forward, her half-moon shaped glasses sliding down her nose to peer at those gathered in her court. “Let me see if I understand this petition correctly. Alexis Davis is filing for sole custody of her grandchildren, Daniel Edward Morgan and Emily Scout Quartermaine.” She glanced up. “And their fathers are objecting?”

“Vehemently objecting, your honor. Richard Lansing for Congressman-elect Andrew Quartermaine,” Ric said, rising to his feet. “My client has no intention of allowing his daughter to be raised by anyone other than himself.”

“Molly Lansing-Davis for Jason Morgan,” Molly said, hastily getting to her feet. “My client is also objecting. The children’s mother left custody to their respective fathers in her will.”

“Ah, yes, Samantha McCall. Passed away after a heart attack on October 31.” The judge shifted some papers. “My condolences for your loss.” She looked at Alexis. “The will is clear?”

“Yes, Your Honor.” Alexis rose. “My daughter did leave custody to Mr. Morgan and Mr. Quartermaine. But that does not mean she was right to do so. In fact, I currently have my grandchildren with me at my home where they have been for two days—”

“With my permission,” Drew snapped. “I allowed it—”

“My client was more than happy to allow his son to see his grandmother,” Molly interrupted Drew. “The children returned to the penthouse they’d shared with their mother prior to her passing, and it was…” She pressed a hand to her middle. “It was upsetting. Terribly so. Scout became inconsolable, and we all agreed that the best thing for them on that day was to spend some time with my mother—with their grandmother,” Molly corrected. “It was not, in any way, my client agreeing that it should be a permanent solution.”

The judge leaned back. “Richard Lansing, Alexis Davis, Molly Lansing-Davis. I take it that you’re all related?”

“My parents, Your Honor. Sam McCall is—was—my sister.” Molly lifted her chin. “I believe that the best choice for my niece and nephew is what my sister wanted. And we know, after you see all the evidence, you’ll agree.”

“I can see suggesting mediation would be futile as I see notice that Ms. Davis has already sent out notices of deposition.” The judge sighed. “All right then. I’m appointing guardian ad litems for the minor children and directing Family Services to begin their investigation. Let’s talk scheduling.”

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