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Chapter Text

Mack's father pulled into the McDonalds© parking lot about a mile or so from their home; as he eased into a parking
space marked 'disabled' Flint called out "UhUh, G'anpa! Mommy said don't eat no McDonalds©! His twin sister began
to cry. "It's OK babies-Grandma and Grandpa say it's OK; come on."

At the counter Grandpa Thomas picked up Flint; Grandma Lilla lifted Yadira up and asked both children what they
would like to eat: "Happy Meal©? Frenchie Fry?"

(Both at once) "Nooo, Gama-Mommy said don't eat 'Donalds!"

"It's OK," insisted Thomas. "We don't even have to them...ice cream?"

"No McDonalds©!" Yadi whimpered.

Grandma Lilla tried one more time: "Get two Happy Meals©, Lil"-

Both children sobbed "MY. MAMI. TOLD. ME. DON'T EAT NO MCDONALDSSS!!"

Disgusted the MacKenzies left the fast food joint and drove home; as soon as they were released from their car seats
the twins rush to the door and ring the doorbell furiously; Uncle Ruben opens up and they run straight to Elena and
Mack: "Mami; Papi...mis Abuelos nos dieron 'Donalds pero...pero Flint y yo no um no la comimos 'Donalds Mami !"

"What'd they say?!" Lillan MacKenzie demanded.

YoYo graced her in-laws with an exasperated glare after exchanging looks with Mack. He took a deep breath before saying
"Ma; Pop...Elena doesn't allow them to eat fast food and you tried to give it to them even after they told you that they are
not allowed to."

"Don't worry about that ever happening again!" Mrs. Mackenzie snapped. "Brats!"

********

"Don't worry about that ever happening again!" Mrs. Mackenzie snapped. "Brats!"

********

Mack watched his parents stomp huffily toward the guest house before joining his mate in their bedroom. "Mack ya no empiezas !"

"Son abuelos, Mi'ja-tu sabes ."

Translations-

Mami; Papi...mis Abuelos nos dieron 'Donalds pero...pero Flint y yo no um no comimos 'Donalds Mami-Mommy, Daddy:
my Grandparents tried to give us 'Donalds but we don't eat it.

Mack ya no empiezas-Don't start Mack.

Son abuelos, Mi'ja-tu sabes-They're Grandpas; you know the deal.

Chapter Text

The Family Court Baliff stood and announced "ALL RISE! The King County Superior Court, courtroom 614-A, Family Law
proceeding will come to order; Judge Lola Carmichael presiding."

"Please sit down," said Lola, taking her own seat. "Who do we have to lead off, Ms. Kansky?"

"Case Number 993-KC-23-DeLuca vs. Bishop, Your Honor. Hearing to decide custody."

"Thank you. Attorneys your appearances for the record, please."

Before Emily could stand Lola motioned for the heavily pregnant Latina to remain seated. "Emily Lopez for the petitioner,
Judge."

"Ms. Lopez...not long before the blessed event, hm?"

Emily beamed and rested on hand on her very large belly. "A little less than a month, Your Honor."

Lola smiled as well. "You'll let me know if you require a break. For the respondent?"

"Travis Montgomery, Your Honor."

"Nice to see you again, Mr. Montgomey. I'll hear the petitioner first."

Emily began by explaining that her client is an OBGYN who despite chairing the Obstetrics of a major hospital shares the
responsibilities for the department with a co-chair. "Unlike the respondent, my client has much more control over her
availabilty. Ms. Bishop has little to no say in HERS. Her duty tours can last between 24-48 hours."

Responding to Lola's nod Montgomery stood and started his argument. "It is accurate Your Honor that Ms. Bishop lacks
the same freedom to control her duty hours as Dr. DeLuca however I have her assurance that she intends to fulfill her
duties to the minor child. She's more than willing to settle for shared custody and amend her response to visitation on
the days she's off shift."

Lola said "Let's recess so that I have time to consider your arguments"-

"Excuse the interruption, Judge Carmichael... may I approach?"

Lola said, "You are?"-

"Eli Stern, Judge..may I approach?"

"I don't see an appearance for Mr...STERN on today's docket," Sherry told Lola. As Stern started to walk into the 'well'
she admonished "STEP BACK until the Judge agrees that you may approach Mr. Stern !"

It's fine, Ms. Kansky. Make it quick, Mr. Stern."

"The child's father had not been part of this proceeding Judge and he now would like to BE a part of them."

"Who is the client?"

"JACK GIBSON, Judge."

Montgomery stood. "Judge Carmichael; Mr. Stren waltzed in on the cusp of arguments with this ...last second addition to
a case already docketed."

Lopez added: "I second Mr. Montgomery's point, Your Honor. This...this Hail Mary after submissions"-

"Take your seats, Ms. Lopez and Mr. Montgomery. MR. STERN: is your client in the building?"

"He is, Your Grace-pardon me-Your Honor."

"John (Finch) will you pass Mr. Stern's papers to Ms. Kansky, please." After scanning the documents Lola said "I'll see the Counselors
in chambers; we're in recess until 2 p.m." (gavel bangs)

Carmichael, Sherry, Sara Castillo, and the attorneys gather in the Judge's cloisters; at Lola's direction Emily made her case that
the addition of Gibson's case to the current proceedings is too late; "I agree, Judge" added Travis.

"If I may, Judge; with the dockets already bursting with cases still not adjudicated pre-COVID this is actually a boon for the HOJ''s
over-taxed-"

"Alright, Mr. Stern...you make valid points about the court's backlog of cases. For that reason, I am granting your request to
present arguments on Mr. Gibson's behalf and your anticipated opposition is noted for the record Messrs. Lopez
and Montgomery. That's all. And Mr. Stern: either your client is here at 2 p.m. or we will continue without him."

*continued*

Chapter Text

October 2022: "Let me get this straight...just before we reunited you spent some time in the other guy's bed...do I
have that right?" His tone was VERY abrasive.

"YES, OK? And you're being very mean about it."

"Aside from that: you decide that you're 'tired of fighting me, your dad, and this one that one, and the other one and
just kiss you'...you came from his bed that morning to MINE less than eight hours later?"

"I-I guess," she whispered.

He snickered. "You guess." To the ceiling fan, he said "She guesses !"

"Alright; OK! YES I went to your bed directly from his! You don't have to keep saying it: I get it: I'm A WHORE! How much
longer before you're finished shaming me and I can GO??!"

"OK. You're expecting a baby whose paternity is a question mark and I should be happy; thrilled ...WHAT, exactly?"

---Present Day---

Carina DeLuca said "The baby's progression is excellent; we are twelve weeks in and I am very happy with his development. You
can see his arms and legs moving-THERE!-you can see his little sex organs have begun to differentiate and by the end of this
month, all parts of his body will be formed. At this point, he weighs around three ounces. He will continue to gain weight and
length, although the majority of the physical growth occurs in the later stages of pregnancy. Any questions?"

"No. Thank you. By the way...how's that going with um Maya?"

"Not so well, however...I am over it, to be honest, but thank you so much for asking."

In the car neither said anything until Andy finally blurted "The baby's yours and that's verified. And still I'm being punished
which I DO NOT FUCKING GET"-

"Yes-you are the injured party here, Andy as you always are! Fuck this!"

He made a left and Andy said "I'm sorry Robert. I haven't said that and I'm just realizing that that's mostly why you're so
pissed off. It was thoughtless of me to let it go this long and I am sorry."

Sullivan simply said "OK. I had almost given up on you ever saying so but thanks. We can go forward now."

(continued)