This morning I woke up knowing exactly what today was.

July 28th, the day my parents died.

It still didn't feel like six years ago, it felt like yesterday.

I would never forget that day.

Ashton was still asleep when I got out of the bed and made myself some coffee. Just like how my mom did every morning when she was still alive.

I took my steaming mug and then went over to the window sill, moving back the curtain and taking a seat, letting my eyes wander over the city streets of London.

Going on tour was supposed to be amazing for me, but instead it had turned into this awful nightmare for this entire family.

I heard movement and looked to my left to see Ashton waking up.

He stretched before sitting up and looking my direction. He knew how I would be feeling today.

I watched him roll out of bed and pour himself some coffee before coming over to the window seat and sitting on the opposite side.

"Six years." He let out a sigh and I nodded.

"It feels like it was yesterday."

We were silent as I stared out the window but I could feel his eyes on me.

"You look so much like your mom." He practically whispered.

I gave him a half smile.

"I wish she was here for tomorrow."

"She will be there in spirit Carter." He assured me and I nodded.

"I've always wondered how my life would be different if they were still here. I've would've had a childhood, but I can't imagine now not being the one to raise Ender. It's weird."

"I still think about how I would've asked your dad for your hand in marriage...I was nervous enough asking Ender, imagine me asking your father." He said and I let out a laugh.

"He would have loved you. He would've wanted to go to your shows and have you over all the time to talk about music. I've imagined it like that."

"I would've loved that." He smiled at me.

The both of us then heard movement and looked to see Gracie sit up in the bed, her head scanning the room until she landed on us.

"Mommy Daddy!" She jumped out of the bed and ran over to me.

I set down my coffee and pulled my little girl into my arms as she climbed onto the window bench.

"What are you doing?" She asked us as she sat herself in my lap.

"We're talking about how Mommy looks like Grandma Megan." Ashton told her.

"Mhmm." Gracie looked up at me and nodded. "I look like Mommy."

"You do." He smiled at her.

"Do I look like Grandma Megan?" She then asked me.

"Yes you do." I smiled and kissed her cheek.

"Mommy, does Grandma Megan love me?" She kept looking up at me.

"Your Grandma Megan and Grandpa James love you very very much." I touched her cheek with my thumb.

"But they not here." She said so innocently.

"Well, just because they aren't here doesn't mean they don't love you." I gave her a little smile and she nodded before laying her head on my chest.

"It's a good thing you got your Mommy's looks and not mine." Ashton told her and I rolled my eyes before kicking his leg with my foot.

"Shut up she looks like you too."

"I look like Daddy?" Gracie asked.

"Mhmm. You have his eyes and his smile."

This made her happy.

I held Gracie while I sipped my coffee, a few minutes later Ender waking up.

"Hey bub." I gave him a little smile as he came over to sit with Ashton, leaning his back against Ashton's chest.

"I don't like today." He mumbled.

"None of us like today, End." I gave him a ghost of a smile.

"It'll be okay." Ashton put his arms around Ender to hug him.

"I miss them."

"I miss them too." I reached out for his hand which he took.

Knowing the fact that tomorrow was the day of the hearing made me so much more emotional and I felt like an empty shell the entire day.

I could see Ashton trying to keep everyone together but he still had the same hollow look in his eyes.

Gracie was the sunshine in all of the dark clouds that loomed over us.

She hugged me a lot since she knew I was sad and gave me plenty of kisses and smiles.

Ender and I decided to take a little bit of time for ourselves and went on a walk around a local park.

I bought us hot chocolates and then the two of us began to walk the circle around the lake.

"What is going to happen tomorrow?"

"Well, we will get there and talk to the judge, and then Ashton and I asked Ari and Luke to speak, then so will Holly, Amanda, you, Ann, me and Ashton."

"When do I have to speak?"

"I don't know." I sighed.

We were silent for the rest of our walk, finishing up our hot drinks before we went back inside.

Unlike the years before, instead of a depressing day leading into a new positive day, this one led straight into another depressing one.

We woke up in the morning not knowing what to expect of today.

After taking a shower I curled my hair and did my makeup, not too heavy but not too light.

Ashton shaved and fixed his hair before we went to get dressed.

Again, it felt strange watching Ashton put on dress slacks and a light blue button down under a grey suit jacket.

I went with a cream coloured dress that had elbow length sleeves and a modest neck line.

Then I had to wake Gracie and Ender up, taking Gracie to the bathroom to bathe her and then drying and curling her hair as well.

Ashton got Enders outfit together, him wearing a white button down tucked into black slacks and a navy blue jacket to go over that.

I had a light blue dress for Gracie and dressed her in that before making sure she had anything she needed.

Once we had her blankey, Mr. Carrots, and Ellie the elephant, we went downstairs to have breakfast.

Ann, Ari, and Jason would be riding in the car with us and the boys would be taking a separate one following us.

Harry had said he'd meet us there.

I didn't eat and neither did Ashton, Gracie obliviously and happily eating away at her biscuit while Ender kept giving her sad glances.

Ann, Ari and Jason met us downstairs where we waited until the boys got there. Everyone was dressed up, even the boys, and I smiled inside at how much they were putting into this. They loved Gracie as much as we did.

Everyone got into their designated vehicle and then we began to make our way to the courthouse.

"I feel like I'm going to throw up." Ashton breathed as he bent down to calm himself.

"Yeah." I squeezed my eyes shut tight.

As we pulled onto the street of the courthouse I looked out the window and suddenly sat up straight, shocked by the sight in front of me.

"Ashton!" I gasped and he looked up as well to the massive hoard of paparazzi and reporters.

"How did they know?!" Ashton looked beyond pissed off and I bit my lip.

This wasn't good.

Ashton yanked out his phone to call Mr. Jackson after we pulled up outside and the paparazzi began to swarm the two cars.

A few minutes Mr. Jackson came out with security who made a path for us and I opened my door to step out, unbuckling Gracie from the car seat and resting her on my waist.

Ender got out next and then Ashton who took Gracie from me, her blankey and stuffies in her arms.

"Just lay your head down." Ashton told her and she did as he said as we began to walk up the stairs, Ann, Ari, Jason, Luke, Michael, and Calum following behind us.

We walked up the marble stairs until we made it to the front door of the building.

Mr. Jackson and security led us to a conference room with a long table where we were able to sit, Harry trailing in behind Michael.

"This is even more of a nightmare than I thought." I sighed.

"I'm going to go find out what the deal is." Mr. Jackson said before leaving the room.

"What we do now?" I asked Ashton.

"I don't know, Car. I wish I had an answer for you but I don't know. My mind is in so many places right now."

I nodded.

Ari was reading over the notes she had taken for what she was going to say on the stand while Michael, Calum, and Luke talked with their heads close together.

Harry was giving me sad glances and Ann was holding my hand.

"Mommy what we doing?" Gracie walked up to me.

"We're waiting sweetheart." I leaned forward and told her.

"Why?"

"Because we are." Ashton moved and put his hands on her sides. "Now come give me a hug." She nodded happily at this and crawled up into Ashton's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Soon the door opened again and Mr. Jackson walked in.

"Without my knowledge the judge approved a request by Mr. Ramone to allow press into the courtroom."

"Are you serious?" Ashton scoffed.

"He said he would allow it, there's nothing I can do." Mr. Jackson looked miffed.

We waited for a few more minutes until it was time for us to enter the courtroom and the group of us left, Ashton holding Gracie up in his arms.

When we walked inside I could see the stand that we would be speaking at, reporters, and then a group of people who I immediately deemed Mr. Ramones legal team, because he was standing in the middle of them.

I had to literally bite my tongue as Mr. Jackson and security led us to our side, Ashton and I sitting down next to Mr. Jackson, Gracie now sitting in a chair beside me, Ender on the other side of her.

Ann, Luke, Ari, Jason, Michael, Calum, and Harry all sat behind us.

I felt Ashton elbow me and I looked at him to see him pull a small light blue box from his suit pocket.

"What is that?" I asked him quietly.

"I got something for Gracie." He said and he opened the box and opened a little pouch to show me a seashell charm almost identical to the one around my neck.

I gave him a smile and he copied it before putting it back.

"Gracie come here." Ashton said and she slid out of her chair to walk between us. "So Mommy and I got you a present."

"Present?" She gasped happily.

"Mhmm." He nodded and then handed her the box.

I moved in to help her open it and she grinned when she saw the charm.

"Mommy it's a seashell like your necklace!"

"I know." I smiled. "Do you like it?"

She nodded, a happy look on her face and I took off her fairy necklace and added the charm before clasping it back around her neck.

"Thank you Mommy, thank you Daddy." She hugged both me and Ashton and we each kissed her forehead lovingly.

"We love you." I smiled at her.

"I love you too." She said and I sent her back to her seat so Mr. Jackson could prepare us.

Gracie turned around in her seat so she could talk to Ann while Mr. Jackson ran over his key points and double checked on what we were countering Mr. Ramone with.

Ashton and I had gone over what we were willing to do or offer late at night when the kids were asleep, developing our demands.

I could feel Mr. Ramone keep looking at us and Ashton took my hand and squeezed it while keeping his head down, he noticed it too.

Finally the judge came in and after everything ceremonial was done, Charles Webber, Mr. Ramones lawyer stood up to officially say what Mr. Ramone was asking for.

"Mr. Ramone is asking for sole custody of Parker including establishing paternity on her birth certificate, and also child support from Mr. Irwin and Ms. Chase alongside compensation of emotional damages for the amount of $800,000."

Ashton's eyes went wide at this and he opened his mouth and I squeezed his hand harshly,
begging him not to say anything.

He sat down and then our lawyer Mr. Jackson stood up.

"My clients Mr. Irwin and Ms. Chase are asking to keep their sole custody of Parker Grace Irwin, are asking to keep their names as Gracie's parents on her birth certificate and keep their legal adoption of Parker in tact. They will not ask for child support from Mr. Ramone and if sole custody is not granted they seek joint custody of Parker Irwin."

The judge nodded and Mr. Jackson sat down.

"Mr. Webber who is your first witness?" Judge Moulder asked and Mr. Webber stood.

"Our first witness is Jacob Ailes, Mr. Ramones previous parole officer."

A man stood up and was led to the stand where he sat down, adjusting the microphone while Mr. Webber went to stand in front of him.

"Mr. Ailes can you explain why you think Mr. Ramone is ready to take on the care of his biological child?" Mr. Webber asked.

"Yes. Mr. Ramone was under my observation during his probation assignment due to his previous robbery charge where he was imprisioned for six months. During the nine months he was on probation I was able to see Mr. Ramone change into a very responsible and positive man. Even in the two years he hadn't been on probation I have remained in friendly contact with him and when he told me he had a child I was very excited for him." Mr. Ailes replied.

"Do you have any worries about Mr. Ramone handling a child due to his past?"

"No. I believe he is a changed man and is perfectly suited to care for a child."

"Thank you Mr. Ailes."

Next up was Robert Ramones mother who would be Gracie's biological grandmother and I heard Ann suck in a breath behind me.

Gracie whined next to me when she saw Mr. Ramone and his mother and climbed over into my lap, hiding her face in my hair.

I rubbed my hand up and down her back to soothe her.

Every few seconds you could hear the sound of a camera clicking and I could tell Ashton was getting annoyed.

Mrs. Ramone took to the stand and instead of being asked questions she gave a speech like most of our witnesses would be doing.

She looked almost exactly like her son, but Gracie looked nothing like her.

"Go ahead Mrs. Ramone." Mr. Webber nodded at her.

"My son Robert, has had a troubled past, I know, but he really is a changed man. When we found out who his daughter was we were all so excited, and he was too. She is his child and he has every right to be with her. I'm her grandmother, and I want to have that Grandmother and granddaughter relationship with her. She needs her real family. Yes, Ms. Chase may be her cousin, but she is not her mother."

At this I felt a stab of pain in my heart.

Ashton squeezed the hand he was holding a bit tighter.

"Robert is her rightful father, and Parker belongs with him." She then added and then was dismissed.

I couldn't help but notice that he only had two witnesses other than himself, and they both gave short statements.

Robert Ramone was up next and as he took the stand I kissed Gracie's head, feeling Ann put her hand on my shoulder.

Once he swore in he sat down, looking over at us and all I could give him was a look of disgust.

When he looked over at us he saw Gracie still curled up in my arms and I swore he looked almost angry.

"Being Gracie's birth dad is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I know I haven't been able to spend a lot of time with her, but I already love her. I know Abby would want her to be with me, her real dad, and to be with her real family. Mr. Irwin and Ms. Chase are children. They don't know how to care for children-"

"Neither do you, jack ass." Ashton said under his breath.

"Nor are they Gracie's real family. I know she needs to be with me, and so does everyone else. So please, I ask you to let me have my child. She's the only one I have."

"That's it?" I asked louder than I meant to and Calum shushed behind me.

Apparently neither the judge nor Robert Ramone noticed.

Mr. Webber stood up when Robert left the stand someone from the court rolled a projector screen into the room.

"We would now like to show you your honour some photos further strengthening the reason why Mr. Irwin and Ms. Chase should not be the legal parents of Parker."

Ashton furrowed his eyebrows at this and folded his arms across his chest, letting go of my hand.

The first photo that showed up was one of Ashton and I kissing, the one we had posted to spite Jenna. Yes, the picture was steamy, but there was nothing bad about it.

The judge looked in our direction and I heard Ashton scoff.

"So it's a crime for me to kiss my fiancé?"

"Mr. Irwin and Ms. Chase display clear inappropriate mannerisms in front of Parker who should not be subjected to such things."

It took everything in me not to go over there and slap that man.

"To give you another reason why they are clearly unfit to be parents, I would like to bring forward Ms. Chases medical records-" He handed a file to the judge, "and pair that with these photos." Pictures of me with the kids and Ashton in the hospital now appeared on the screen.

"Ms. Chase has been diagnosed with not only dissociative seizures but also epilepsy. She could have a seizure at any moment. How is she supposed to be aware and able to care for not only one but two children if she's constantly in the hospital for seizures?"

My jaw literally dropped.

How dare he?

"Mr. Irwin and Ms. Chase are not even married, are at the centre of constant reports of their relationship ending. They have subjected Parker to this media circus and I think this video alone will say everything I need to."

And of course, it was the video of Gracie yelling at the paparazzi and sticking her tongue out at him.  

After Mr. Webber ended his slideshow of pictures the judge dismissed the courtroom for lunch but Ashton and I took this time to fight fire with fire. We were going to use the photos of our family like Mr. Ramone had done to show why Gracie should be with us.

I was beyond angry and Ashton was too, leaving us to want to fight back harder than we ever thought we could.

Ashton was in the conference room refining what he was going to say while I sat with Gracie in the hallway.

I was wiping crumbs and sugar stains from her mouth when Robert Ramone and his lawyer walked by me.

"She's not a baby, she can do that herself." I heard him comment and I lost my polite persona.

"Excuse me?" I widened my eyes at him and he stopped in his tracks to turn and shrug at me. "If-God forbid- you become her parent, this will be you. No, she can't do this herself unless you want stains all over her skin and clothes. She's still a child, and when you're a parent you do things for them that they can't. You horrible man."

I stood, gathering Gracie in my arms and walked back into the conference room.

Ashton had to calm me down before we went back into the courtroom.

We were asked to present our first witness who was Luke.

He took his seat, swore in and then looked at Mr. Jackson.

"Mr. Hemmings, you've been friends and band mates with Mr. Irwin for several years, and you are also good friends with Ms. Chase and have babysat Parker. Can you tell us why you believe they are fit to take care of Parker?"

"Yes. Ashton and Carter are two of my best friends, and honestly they are the best couple and parents I have ever seen. They love each other and their kids a lot, and I've never seen either of them as devastated as they were than when they found out about this custody battle. Honestly we all were. Gracie is my niece, and she's seriously the sweetest kid. She is always so smiley and happy and makes everyone feel better when they are sad. Michael and Calum and I love her and the only reason they aren't on the stand right now is because they knew they would cry and I was the one who probably wouldn't cry but i'm over here tearing up and-" He stopped and took a deep breath.

Poor Luke.

"Gracie just needs to be with Carter than Ashton. She loves them so much and they love her like mad, she's their first child and everything they do revolves around those kids. Ashton has changed so much. He's a dad now, he just so mature and so focused on those kids and making sure he is the best dad he can be. He took parenting classes when he found out Gracie was coming to live with Carter so he would be able to help her, and when she got there he just went on and on about her. I was there the day Gracie called Ashton dad for the first time and he was so excited, so freaking excited because she was his...but she didn't have to call him dad for it to be offical because she was already theirs the second she first got there. Ashton and Carter are Gracie's parents, not Robert Ramone, and it needs to stay that way."

"Thank you Mr. Hemmings." Mr. Jackson nodded and then it was Ari's turn and she took her seat before adjusting her microphone and setting her paper down in front of her.

She tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear before beginning.

"My name is Aria Rodriguez and I am Carter's best friend of nineteen years. I have known her her entire life. I've seen her go through her grandparents deaths, her parents deaths, and her adoption of Gracie. Carter is the strongest person I know. She's been raising Ender alone since the day her parents passed away and never once have I heard her complain or ask for help. She raised Ender into such an amazing kid, and now she's doing that with Ashton by her side. When Carter and Ashton met it was one of the best things to probably ever happen to her. And then they got Gracie and everything just changed. I went to visit them the day after Gracie arrived and I could just see it in their eyes that they were already in love with her. I remember I had brought cupcakes, and Ashton was wiping frosting off of Gracie's face, and Gracie looked at him like he was her Dad, because from that very first day he was."

When she said that she looked at Ashton who was holding Gracie now and he smiled at her.

"One night, it was a like a week after Ashton and Carter got engaged, Gracie and Ender were spending the night at my house and the entire night all Gracie would talk about was that her Mommy and Daddy were getting married and about her Daddy- Daughter day with Ashton where they spent the day together. She told me about her favourite things Carter cooked for her and how Ashton was so silly and funny, and she was just so in love with them. I was also there the night that Carter surprised Ashton with Gracie's birth certificate. It was so sweet, he seriously cried because he was so happy. I mean...just look at them." She gestured towards us. "That's their baby, she's theirs and everyone knows it. She takes after them already, like she just smiles and looks so much like Ashton, and when she laughs or is sassy it's just like Carter. You can't deny that Gracie is Ashton and Carter's, and no matter what happens with Gracie, she always will be."

Ari left the stand and then Ann took her place.

"Daddy, look at Grandma." Gracie pointed at Ann.

"I know. Why don't you blow her a kiss." He smiled at her and Gracie did as he said, Ann smiling at Gracie.

"Ms. Irwin." Mr. Jackson nodded at her and Ann nodded back.

"Hello. I am Ashton's mother, Ann." She was about to speak again but Gracie's voice interrupted the courtroom.

"You Grandma!" Gracie giggled happily and Ann let out a laugh as Ashton shushed Gracie.

"Yes, I am Ender and Gracie's Grandma." Ann smiled. "My son and Carter are the parents of those two beautiful children that we all love very much, and they are absolutely wonderful parents. Carter has been raising Ender since he was Gracie's age, and she's done an amazing job. He's very well behaved, very smart and polite, and she's been teaching those same things to Gracie. She's very adamant about making sure they are on their best behaviour at all times, even at home, but she's very nurturing and those kids just love her to death. With Ashton...it's always a mothers dream to see her child have their first child, and he has. Ashton grew up without his father, and I know one of the reasons he is so invested in those kids is because he never wants them to feel like they don't have a dad. Ashton loves Gracie and Ender to the ends of the earth, and so does Carter, and so do I."

Ann was now on the verge of tears and I was there as well.

"Those are my grandchildren, and Ashton and Carter are their parents, and that's how it should always be. No one can love Gracie as much as Ashton and Carter, and she deserves that love, and deserves a family that wants her forever, not one that just now wants her. We are Gracie's family, and she is ours."

"Thank you Ms. Irwin." Mr. Jackson smiled softly and Ann left the stand. "Now I'd like to bring up Holly Baker, Gracie's original social worker to the stand."

Holly Baker who had been sitting behind our group made her way to the stand with a binder in her hands.

She took her seat.

"Ms. Baker, can you tell me when you first got involved with Gracie's case?" Mr. Jackson asked her.

"Yes. I became involved directly after Abby Young's death when Gracie was brought into my office."

"And you took her to Australia to live with Ms. Chase, an eighteen year old at the time. Why did you feel comfortable leaving her in the care of Ms. Chase."

"Well Ms. Chase has been taking care of a young child since she was thirteen years old and has gone throughout that process without any legal incident. Her home inspection was spotless, and so was her background check along with Mr. Irwin's, and I had no fears or concerns about leaving her in their care, and I still have none."

"Now there was an incident at Gracie's overnight visit with Mr. Ramone, and could you explain to me what happened?"

"Well there were actually many issues and I ultimately had to bring Ashton and Halle into my office where we stayed the entire night answering phone calls to say how to best help Gracie who was very upset. If I may add, it's very sad that the man who claims to be able to care for Gracie better since he is her biological father is unable to handle her crying." 

Next Amanda Lang took to the stand where she was asked to give her hour by hour report of Gracie's 24 hour visit that benefited us greatly.

It ranged from Gracie hiding behind the sofa, her refusal to eat or drink anything, her not allowing anyone to hold her, and when Mr. Ramone picked her up she apparently kicked and screamed.

When she said that part I thought Ashton was going to break the table he was gripping the wood so hard.

After that Amanda gave her report on our visit it was Enders turn to take the stand.

I squeezed his hand as he stood up and Ashton gave him a nod as Ender looked at him expectantly.

Ender took his seat at the stand and introduced himself before Mr. Jackson asked his first question.

"Now Ender, can you tell the court about Ashton Irwin. He's stepped up to help care for you and for Gracie, can you explain what that has been like for you?"

"It's been great." He said. "Ashton was my best friend before he started to date my sister. And I remember when he asked her out and they went on their first date that he was really happy and so was she. When he asked her to be his girlfriend he took me aside and asked me if that was okay with me if he dated her and I said yes because that meant I got to spend more time with him."

A collective chuckle passed through the courtroom and Ashton squeezed my hand.

"But as they started to date I could see how much happier and easier our life was. He makes Carter really happy, and she wasn't happy for a really long time. He was always there for us, even if he was far away. He came back to surprise me for my birthday and also when Carter hit her head. He was there the day Gracie arrived and I remember that he asked her if it was okay if he could pick her up so we could get out of the car and when she let him he was really happy."

Ashton squeezed my hand again.

"Then he asked Carter to marry him, and before he did he sat down with me and..." Ender shook his head. "He told me how much he loved her, and how much he loved me and Gracie. He said that he wanted to be the dad I didn't have anymore, and asked me if I would be okay with him asking Carter to marry him and I told him yes. He's been the best dad and friend to me and I'm really lucky to have him in my life."

"Thank you Ender." Mr. Jackson said. "Now, can you tell me a bit about growing up being raised by your sister Halle?"

"Yes. Our parents died when I was five,
and Carter took care of me ever since then. The court could have taken me away from her but they didn't, and I'm really thankful for that."

"What was that transition like for you?" Mr.Jackson asked.

"Weird." Ender said and a trace of a smile graced my lips. "She was learning how to be a mom and how to take care of a kid, sometimes we didn't have hot water or electricity because we couldn't pay the bills, but we eventually got the hang of it. She always made sure I was taken care of. I always had food and I never missed a day of school unless I was sick. She would even get me Christmas and birthday presents even when she didn't get any. And she would set aside money to get me things that I really wanted but knew they were expensive. She sacrificed her childhood so I could have one, and I will never be able to thank her enough, and I wish she was able to have that childhood that she didn't get to finish. But she's always been there for me and for Gracie, and I know she always will be."

"Thank you Ender." Mr. Jackson nodded.

"Wait, can I say something before I go?"

"Yes."

"Ashton and Carter are the best parents, and I'm not just saying that so we can keep Gracie. They love us and they love each other and they've made us a really great family. We aren't perfect, but we're good, and we love each other. When we are sick they drop everything to take care of us. They always play with us even if they are tired. They make sure we are happy and that we have all the toys and anything else we want or need. They make sure that I put school first and they help me with anything I need, and give Gracie and I the attention we need even if they are tired and stressed and have other things. They put me and Gracie before everything else, and I know I could go to
both of them about anything and they will listen to me and talk with me like I'm an adult. I know that they will always be there for me and for Gracie, and we both need them. Gracie has been through a lot and deserves the best parents in the world, and she has that with Carter and Ashton. So please don't take her away from us." He looked to the judge. "She's my little sister and I love her. She's made our lives better and she needs to be with her family, the one that loves her more than anything."

"Thank you, Ender." Mr. Jackson nodded at him with a soft smile and Ender came back to sit down next to me and I took him in a hug.

"I love you so much and I am so proud of you." I squeezed him tightly.

"I love you too." He smiled. I kissed his cheek before moving back because Ashton was next.

He kissed Gracie's forehead then handed her to me and Ann handed me her blankey and bunny since Gracie was close to falling asleep.

I tucked her into my embrace while Ash took to the stand.

He looked over in my direction as I covered Gracie up and placed her bunny beneath the blanket, kissing her head before whispering for her to close her eyes which she did, but not before kissing my nose.

"I love you." I smiled at the precious little girl in my arms.

"Love you Mommy." She kissed my nose again and I kissed her once more before she closed her eyes and snuggled into me.

I then looked up to Ashton who was watching us with a soft smile and a longing expression, and I noticed everyone else watching us as well.

"Mr. Irwin, go ahead." Mr. Jackson said and Ashton nodded and took a deep breath, his eyes locking with mine before he began.

"My name is Ashton Irwin, and I am Gracie's father."

He looked right at Robert Ramone when he said that.

"I am also Halle's fiancé and we have been together for about eight months, and I have been raising Gracie with her for four months, so since the day Gracie arrived." He paused and then let out a short laugh. "And since the day that little four year old girl with her big brown eyes and her chubby cheeks walked through our front door I just knew she was mine. She was the shyest but sweetest little thing, and every time I looked at her I could just see so much of Carter in her and she was just so beautiful."

He looked at Gracie who was asleep in my arms then back at Robert Ramone.

"You say you're her father, but you haven't been there for her like I have. You abandoned her. And now that she's with a family that just so happens to be in the media and has cameras around them constantly getting that little girls picture on the television, you decide to come back? You decide now, after four freaking years, that you want to be her dad? Four years. She's not your daughter. You don't love her. If you loved her you would've been there for her. Do you understand that you are letting another man raise what is biologically yours? How can you live with yourself? You should've fought for her a long time ago but you didn't, and now here you are still not even fighting for her. I didn't even make her yet i'm fighting for that little girl with every fibre of my being because I love that little girl more than anything!"

Ashton was getting emotional and I could see it all over his face. I knew Ashton, and this was one of the most difficult things he has ever had to do.

"You don't know her. You don't know why she says the things she says and does the things she does. And you haven't tried to know her. You don't know her favourite colour or her favourite dress. You don't know what cartoons she likes to watch or her favourite movies in order. You don't know the names of every single stuffed animal she has or why she wants to take as many of them with her as she can when we take her out in the stroller. You don't know what her favourite food is or why she is so obsessed with breakfast. You don't know how she likes her hair parted or why she loves getting her hair braided. You don't know her favourite songs or why she can only sleep if I sing her lullaby. You don't know what to do when she has a bad dream. You don't know what all of her little facial expressions mean or what her different cries mean and how to care for her. You don't know how to comfort her or make her smile and laugh or how to love her like I do because you're not her dad."

My heart was hammering in my chest and my eyes were blurry as I watched him pour his heart out.

"You haven't set up a college account for her or memorised her medical information. You don't know every mark or mole on her skin or every colour change in her hair because you don't care enough to know."

He shut his eyes for a moment.

"When you become a parent to a child, you start imagining what their life will be like. I've imagined her first day of school, and watching her graduate from high school and Carter and I dropping her off at college. Ive wondered if she is going to be a musician like me or a genius like her mom. I've imagined walking her down the isle at her wedding, and putting the fear of god into any boy that looks her way because if anyone hurt that little girl..." He shook his head.

"I look at her right now and I wonder what dreams are going through her head, and I know that when she wakes up she will tell me about them with the prettiest little smile while she touches her cheek with her finger and twists around." He smiled softly and then looked back at Robert Ramone.

"She may have your DNA, but she is not your daughter. You haven't made the effort to be her dad like I have. The thought of losing Gracie literally makes me sick, and I'll be damned if she is taken away from Carter and I to live with a man who doesn't even want her nor love her because of who she is and just wants her for the press and the money. Gracie is my daughter, and I love her more than you ever could. She deserves so much love, so much love from a family that wants her and needs her. That is my daughter, not yours, and she always will be Parker Grace Irwin."

As Ashton stood up he glared at Robert Ramone.

He came back over to me and sat down and I looked over at him with my eyes swelling with tears.

He turned to look at me and placed his hand on my back, moving in to kiss my head.

"Thank you." I breathed.

"I'm just being her dad." He whispered back to me and it took everything in me not to burst into a puddle of tears.

"Ms. Chase." Mr. Jackson said and I looked up at him, it was now my turn to take the stand.

"I'll take her." Ashton said and we gently moved Gracie into his arms, him kissing her head once she was settled. She moved her thumb to her mouth and snuggled her head into his chest.

"Daddy." She barely mumbled with her thumb still stuffed in her mouth and he smiled down at her.

"Yeah, I'm your dad."

I stood up and he reached up to squeeze my hand as I stepped away and made my way to the stand where I took my seat.

I adjusted the microphone and breathed deeply before beginning.

"I am Halle Chase, but I go by Carter, or according to Gracie, Mommy." I said and saw Ann smile. "This custody battle has been one of the hardest things this family has been through, and we're strong, but I don't know how we will be able to make it if we lose Gracie." I said and gulped nervously before looking at Mr. Ramone.

"Mr. Ramone, you say that we are inappropriate in front of our daughter but the last time I checked it wasn't a crime to kiss my fiancé. I can assure everyone that Ashton and I are not inappropriate in front of our children and we make sure of that. You say we put our daughter in dangerous situations but i'd like to remind the court of who invited the press into this courtroom. Ashton and our security team work very hard to keep us safe every time we step outside. We take our children's safety very seriously and there wouldn't be situations like the one outside the courthouse today if it weren't for your bad judgement on the safety of who you want to be your daughter. You say that because of my seizures that I am unable to care for a child. Well I can assure you that they don't enable me in any way. Yes they have caused me to be hospitalised on occasion, but they have also brought this family closer together. Ashton is more than capable of taking care of the kids when I am feeling unwell and I have faith that with my new diagnosis and medication I have been given that my seizures will be less."

I paused.

"I believe Ashton said everything that needed to be said, but as a mother i'd like to point out some things that this court might have overlooked. When Abby Young passed away she put in her will that Gracie be given to me. Mr. Ramone, the mother of your biological child gave custody to her cousin that she had never met, never spoken with, who lived halfway across the world. If she didn't want you to have custody of Gracie then, why should you be allowed to have her now. She has legally been mine since Abby's passing, and you have no right to disrespect Abby's wishes, whether Gracie has your DNA or not. And I think Ashton had a wonderful point when he said that if you truly loved and wanted Gracie then you would have been there for her four years ago. I find your timing very suspicious and believe you are suing us for all of the wrong reasons."

I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear and glanced at all of the people in the court.

"As you go after our money I'd like to remind you that you are tearing a family apart in the midst. You are trying to take away Gracie's chances of a safe and promising future and deny her of a family that loves her so much. We adopted Gracie because we are the best parents for her. You can't deny that. We've just absolutely fallen in love with Gracie, and we have so many hopes and dreams for her and now that's all being taken away from us and I am so scared that her future is being ripped away from her."

"In the hallway before we walked in here you told me that Gracie could take care of herself. She's four. Being a parent Mr. Ramone comes with responsibility. Being a parent means wiping sugar stains off your child's cheeks, cleaning them up when they wet the bed, pulling toys from a toilet when they flush them, hearing them scream and cry for reasons you don't understand, changing their outfits several times a day because they spill everything,
holding them for hours on end when they just want to be held, kissing them when they want to be kissed, soothing them when they get hurt or have a bad dream or whenever they just need to cry something out. It's listening to them even when you're exhausted and have a million other things to do and are stressed beyond belief, but they want to talk to you because you are their parent and they love you. And you do all of those things without complaining because that is your child and they deserve and need all of your attention and love."

I took a deep breath before saying my final statement.

"You, Mr. Ramone, do not love Gracie, and are unfit to be her parent. I know that Ashton and I are the best parents for Gracie, and I can't imagine not being her mother, that thought breaks my heart." I sniffled. "I love her so much. She's my little girl, and she needs to stay with Ashton and I because blood aside we are her parents...We're her parents."

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This chapter took me so long to write but I hope you enjoyed it.

The next one will be up much faster i promise!

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Much love xx-M