Once I had descended the stand and took my seat next to Ashton, Mr. Jackson stood and. began to make his closing arguments.

He showed the judge the video of Gracie's interview with the social worker, recounted key points from Gracie's visit with Mr. Ramone, and then showed the photos and videos Ashton and I had chosen.

We chose sweet pictures of us ranging from us all curled up together in bed, from Ashton taking naps with Gracie, Gracie smearing a cream on my face from when we had our girls day with Ari, the one of her and Ashton standing at the counter brushing their teeth together and even the one I had taken a short while ago with Ashton holding Gracie up in his arms after her bath while she was wrapped up in her towel.

Then we showed private videos we hadn't shared on social media of Gracie just being her adorable self with us, like one Ashton had taken of Gracie while she was standing in front of him showing him a drawing.

"What did you draw a picture of baby girl?" He had asked her.

"You, me, and Mommy." She answered as she looked at her picture.

"Oh, can I see?"

She turned it around to show him.

"Wow, that's a good picture. I like how you made Mommy's hair blue."

"Mommy favourite colour blue!" She giggled.

"I know. You need to show Mommy the picture."

She nodded and then moved to lean against his legs, her head only able to reach his lower thigh.

He placed his hand on her head and she looked up to smile at him before he had turned off the video.

Judge Moulder nodded at everything at the end.

"We'll be back at nine tomorrow morning for the verdict deciding the custody of Parker Grace Irwin." He said and then dismissed the court.

Gracie was still asleep and we took her back to our conference room.

I went to use the restroom and I was walking back to the conference room when I heard someone call out to me.

"Ms. Chase!"

I turned to see Judge Moulder walking towards me.

"Yes, Your Honour?"

"I have a question about one of the notes you made in the outline of your demands. You said if you lose the case you'd like to pay for all of Gracie's schooling?"

"Yes." I nodded.

"May I ask why? Off the record."

"Education is really important to me, and I want her to get the best education she can. We already have college accounts started for both she and Ender, and I want to make sure she gets that higher education, whether she's with me or not."

"But you never went to college and neither did Mr. Irwin. I've had a peek at your academic records Ms. Chase and they are simply stunning."

"Thank you. And no I never went, I had to take care of Ender and Gracie and they come first."

He nodded. "And the other note..."

"Oh, yes. It was an idea Ashton and I had to make her just a little bit more ours if we do win."

He nodded again.

"Thank you Ms. Chase."

I watched as he left and then once he had disappeared I joined Ashton again.

We left the courthouse and hurried through the media circus outside and then got back to our hotel with a now awake and very hyper Gracie who needed to let some energy out.

"Do you want to go out for dinner?" Ari asked when we reached our room.

"I think Ashton and I just want to be alone with Gracie for now."

"I understand." She gave me a soft smile.

"But thank you for speaking, we appreciate how sweet you were."

"Of course." She hugged me and then left, taking everyone else along with her. We then played with Gracie for a long time until it was time for bath and bedtime.

We didn't know if tonight would be our last night with Gracie.

Ashton laid her down in our bed and I moved in beside her as Ender climbed in as well.

"Sleepover!" Gracie grinned as Ashton sat down and we laughed.

"Are we having a sleepover in Mommy and Daddy's bed?" He laughed and she nodded up at him cheekily.

The group of us got settled with both Ender and Gracie between us and we read them a story and Ashton sang his lullaby to Gracie before she was out and Ender soon followed.

"What do you think is going to happen tomorrow?" Ashton whispered.

"Our stance was so solid and we had so many more witnesses and testimonies...we are looking pretty good but we are going against her biological dad. He legally has every right to get custody of her."

Ashton nodded then took his phone from the nightstand and began to show me the titles of headlines from articles and reports about our hearing today.

ASHTON IRWIN GETS EMOTIONAL ON THE STAND

ASHTON AND CARTER BREAK DOWN IN THE COURTROOM

HARRY STYLES MAKES APPEARANCE AT COURT TO SUPPORT ASHTON AND CARTER

LUKE HEMMINGS TAKES TO THE STAND TO GIVE WITNESS STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF BANDMATE ASHTON IRWINS CUSTODY BATTLE

THE FIGHT OVER GRACIE: WHO WILL WIN?

I sighed.

"I don't know if i'll be able to sleep." I whispered.

"Me either." He said and I leaned my head on his arm.

We didn't sleep the entire night. The pure fear kept us awake and at three in the morning Ari texted that she was up and a few minutes later she and Ann came into our room, sitting on the other bed.

All of us just watched the kids sleep, Ashton running his fingers through Gracie's hair repeatedly for hours on end. He loved her so much.

At seven in the morning it was time for us to start getting ready.

Gracie began to stir as she laid on Ashton's stomach, and he lifted her up, carrying her around the room.

"She needs to wake up." He kissed the top of Gracie's head and finally woke her up.

We got her dressed in a light pink dress and white sandals before putting her white coat on over that.

I fixed her hair and then got ready myself, getting dressed in a salmon coloured dress with cap sleeves and then slid on a pair of tan heels.

I had to put a lot of concealer under my eyes to hide the bags and then curled my hair.

Ann helped Ender while Ashton and I focused on Gracie.

When it was time for us to leave we gathered into the car, arriving at the courthouse where we had to make our way through the mass of paparazzi.

Finally we were inside and we walked into the courtroom and took our seats.

My hands were literally shaking as I took Ashton's hand and his firm grip squeezed my fingers.

"I would tell you right now to relax and take a deep breath, but I feel like I am about to throw up right now, so all I will tell you, is that I love you and no matter what happens I will continue to love you and this family."

"Yeah." I nodded.

"She will always be ours, legally or not."

"Mhmm." I whimpered and he squeezed my hand even tighter as I tried not to cry. "I love you too."

"We'll be okay."

I looked over to see Gracie playing with Mr.
Carrots on the table and I placed my hand on her shoulder, bringing her over to me.

She climbed up in my lap and then Ashton brought her over into his, putting his other arm around her.

My heart started to beat even faster in my chest when I saw the judge enter the room and I sucked in a breath.

Judge Moulder sat down and I moved to rest my forehead on the temple above Ashton's ear that was on my side, my other hand reaching out for Enders hand which he took as he leaned on my side.

"Oh my god."

I felt someone behind me put their hand on my back but I squeezed my eyes shut.

"I have reached a decision on the Ramone versus Irwin-Chase case." Judge Moulder said. "After carefully reviewing all of the videos and photographs and listening to the witness statements yesterday I have decided who I feel should have legal custody of Parker Grace."

I couldn't stop shaking.

"On the appeal of changing the name on the birth certificate I have also reached a decision."

Ashton released a big breath.

"On the decision of the rightful family to take legal custody of Parker Grace, I have made the decision of giving custody to..."

The blood was rushing in my ears and I couldn't breathe.

"Please, God, Please." Ashton whispered.

The silence was deafening and I felt like the room was spinning I was so nauseous.

"Please." Ashton whispered again.

More silence. God why did this feel like it was taking forever?

Then the judge spoke.

"Mr. Irwin and Ms. Chase."

"Oh my god." I heard Ashton say as I felt my body collapse out of relief.

"Gracie." I moved and placed both of my hands on her cheeks, kissing her face too many times to count.

"Mommy!" I was able to hear her giggle through the cheering of our friends and family behind us.

"Oh my god." Ashton kissed Gracie's head. "Oh my god!" He then hugged me tightly against him, pulling away to kiss me before bringing Gracie up to hold her.

"Carter!" Ender jumped next to me and I hugged him as well, looking at him smile radiantly. "We get to keep her!"

"I know baby." I smiled and kissed his face as well before moving him over so Ashton could pull us into a group hug with him and Gracie.

"We hug!" Gracie smiled. She had no idea why we were all so happy but since her family was happy- she was happy.

"Yes, because we love you so much." I smiled at her and leaned in to give her another kiss.

Her arms were wrapped around Ashton's neck as he secured her to him with one arm, his other around my back.

"I'm so happy right now." He looked at me with the biggest smile on his face and tears in his eyes.

"So are we going to go through with our idea?" I asked him.

"If you still want to, I think we should."

"I want to." I nodded up at him and he bent down for another kiss, grinning against my lips.

"And on the decision on Parkers birth certificate, I believe the obvious and most sensible choice is to keep Mr. Irwin and Ms. Chases legal adoption in tact, which means keeping their names on the original birth certificate." Judge Moulder said and if I could smile any wider I would.

He smiled in our direction as he spoke.

"No!" I heard Mr. Ramone slam his hand down on the table but I ignored him, turning around to smile at Ann who took me in a hug.

Ashton handed Gracie to Ann who hugged Gracie and then passed her to Ari who wrapped her in a hug as well.

"Congratulations." I heard next to me and looked to see Harry standing next to me.

"Thank you." I smiled and hugged him before going back to Ashton and the kids.

"Let's go ask." I placed my hand on Ashton's chest. He took Gracie back up in his arms and I had Ender follow me as we walked up to Judge Moulder.

"About our other note on our file...can we go through with it?" I asked him.

"Well, I took the liberty of getting this approved and signed for you." He handed me a paper and Ashton and I looked at it, grinning.

"Thank you, Your Honour." Ashton shook his hand.

"She belongs with you." He smiled back and we thanked him again and then went back to our group.

"So we have a little announcement to make." I smiled as Ashton let me hold Gracie.

"You're pregnant?" Calum asked.

"No. Oh my god why does everyone keep asking that?" I looked up at Ashton as he just laughed.

"Well we aren't having a baby...yet," Ashton smiled, "But we have been discussing for awhile that if we were to win this case we wanted to do something to make Gracie even more ours so...."

"We got it approved and talked it over with this little one here," I smiled down at Gracie who smiled back up at me, "And now you are not looking at Parker Grace Irwin, you are looking at...tell them your new name Gracie."

"Darcy Grace Irwin." Gracie smiled at everyone and they cheered.

"That's adorable!" Ann grinned and hugged Gracie tightly.

"I can't believe this." I looked at Ashton who smiled before he brought me into his embrace. "I love you so much."

"I love you too." He tilted my chin up and pressed his lips against mine in a firm yet passionate kiss. "I want to cry I'm so happy. We have a daughter."

"We have the most beautiful daughter." I rested my chin on his chest, holding him close to me.

I was so entirely lost in my happy little world I didn't see the billowing anger of Mr. Ramone.

Eventually, we were escorted from the courthouse and went to Mr. Jackson's office where we had to fill out paperwork and get copies of everything before we could leave.

Judge Moulder had made it to where Robert Ramone could not file for custody, had no paternal rights, was not allowed to contact us or Gracie, and he had to maintain within 500 yards of our family. After that, Ashton and I decided to take the kids and Ann out for a private family dinner.

We somehow were able to get past all of the paparazzi outside and to a restaurant in downtown London, us sneaking into a table in the back.

After everyone had a drink Ashton clinked his glass with his knife to get everyone's attention.

"I would like to make a toast." He smiled. "To winning this hell of a custody battle, to my beautiful fiancé," He squeezed my shoulders," to my beautiful and amazing son and daughter, and to keeping the Irwin family in tact."

"I can toast to that." I smiled and clinked my glass against his. "To the Irwin's."

"To the Irwin's." Ann, Ashton, and Ender all said and we clinked our glasses together.

"Me! Me!" Gracie moved to sit up on her knees and we touched our glasses to hers as well.

"So Gracie, do you like your new name?" Ann asked Gracie.

"Mhmm. I love it." She smiled.

"When did you two decide that?" She asked us.

"A few nights ago." I looked up at Ashton. "I was reading Pride and Prejudice and I was telling Ashton about it and suddenly we got on the name of Darcy-"

"That my name." Gracie pointed at herself.

"I know that silly girl." I smiled at her. "And then we thought that if we would of had the chance to name Gracie that would have been one of our options and then I don't know...we just decided that if we won we would do it. But of course we asked Gracie if she would be okay with us changing her name and she was."

"Mommy." Gracie then crawled over into my lap and wrapped her arms around my neck so I could cuddle her.

"I love you." I smiled before giving her a kiss. "Darcy Grace Irwin you are my beautiful little princess, do you know that?"

"Mhmm. I love you." She gave me a toothy grin.

I gave her several more kisses and then she crawled over to Ashton who took her up in his arms.

"Do you know how much I love you?" He asked her as he smiled down at her.

"To the moon and back and beyond." She said, copying what Ashton always says to her.

"You're so smart." He grinned and began to tickle her tummy, Gracie giggling and squirming in his arms as he then attacked her face with kisses.

After we had eaten we made our way back to hotel where we opened our hotel room door to see all of our friends inside with balloons and streamers decorating our room.

"Congratulations!" They all cheered and we laughed as we entered, hugging everyone.

As I came to Luke I took him in a tight hug.

"Thank you for everything you said on the stand. Ashton and I will forever be grateful for that."

"I would do anything for you two." He hugged me back. "I'm so happy for you guys."

I kissed his cheek and saw him blushing heavily as I walked away and to Ari where she was standing next to a cake that had 'Darcy Grace Irwin' in pink icing across the top.

"This is precious, thank you so much Ari." I hugged her again.

I found Ashton and he lifted up Gracie in his arms the group of us walking over to the cake where we cut a slice, Gracie clapping happily.

I think she thought it was her birthday because she kept asking if it was but we just kissed and hugged her, so incredibly happy and overjoyed that we were able to keep her forever.

After the party had ended and our friends and Ann went back to their own hotel rooms Ashton and I tucked Gracie and Ender into bed before we got into our own.

"I still don't believe today happened." I curled up in the blankets as he still sat up.

"Me either. But i'm so freaking happy right now baby. I feel like running down the street and screaming at the top of my lungs."

"Well you are in your boxers right now and I don't think you want that caught on camera." I placed my hand on his thigh and he winked at me.

"You're so cute." He laughed and then took his phone before having me join him sitting up.

He had a photo of himself, Ender, Gracie, and I cutting the cake to celebrate our victory.

'The only words to describe the way we are feeling right now is pure bliss. Today we celebrated the fact that we get to keep our beautiful, smart, and amazing little girl at home with us forever. We are so incredibly blessed and thankful for our wonderful legal team that helped us and for our family, friends, and everyone else who supported us through this difficult time, but we are now able to celebrate the fact that she is forever ours. While we went through this process Carter and myself made a decision that if we won this custody battle we would do something to make our daughter truly ours, so tonight we were able to tuck in our little girl that (with her help and permission) we have officially renamed, Darcy Grace Irwin.
Gracie, we are so in love with you, and are so blessed to be your parents. I can't wait to be your father for the rest of my life, and your mom and I can't wait to see the beautiful woman you grow up to be. We love you Darcy Grace. We always have been and we always will be your parents.'

"I like that." I smiled up at him.

He set down his phone and we curled up into each other like we did every night, but this night felt more real...more alive.

We were both so ready to move on from this and to start living again. This family had been deprived of happiness for too long, and we needed to get that back, hold on to it, and never let go.

A few days after the custody battle had ended and celebrations and the hype around us had died down, everything began to return to normal.

Ashton had to start hitting the studio hard now since he had missed out on a lot due to the lawsuit, and was going to be spending all day recording.

I had finally gotten Ender back on a normal study schedule and he was now catching up on all of the schooling he missed while I had to catch up on my own work.

Ann, Ari, and Jason had gone back home to Australia two days after the hearing.

Ari had so much to do for the wedding and she was getting excited and now that this was over I was able to be truly excited for her.

I was feeling healthier due to my now being able to sleep, and had scheduled some much needed friend time with Harry and also Becca.

I had neglected them recently and I felt bad.

Everything was getting better.

Ashton had texted me during lunch saying that we would meet for dinner and I sent him back an okay with a little smiley face and he sent me a smiley face back.

It was stupid little things like this that showed me that we were back on track.

When it was time for us to meet Ashton we picked him up at the studio, him kissing my head as he got in the car.

"Hey baby." He smiled brightly at me and then sat down, leaning over to kiss Gracie who had her headphones in as she watched a movie. "And hello to you my little princess."

"Hi Daddy." She smiled.

"And my man, how was your reading test?" Ashton then asked Ender.

"I made a 94." Ender smiled proudly.

"Good job, bud. I'm proud of you." Ashton smiled at him as well.

We were taken to a dining district and we parked in a garage before walking to the restaurant.

Gracie held on to both mine and Ashton's hands and Ender held mine as we walked and I couldn't keep the smile off my lips.

At dinner Ashton told us about the stuff the band was working on and said he wanted us to come to the studio one day to see what he did which sounded fun.

I told him about fans now using the shops business email to try and contact us to which he rolled his eyes at but the important thing was that we were now happily enjoying life together.

After dinner we began the walk back to the car in the garage, Brad walking ahead of us. Ender and Gracie were holding hands in front of us, Ashton and I doing the same as we followed and I was about to make the comment of how adorable they looked as brother and sister when a hand was suddenly slapped over my mouth, blocking my air and I was yanked backwards, a scream leaving my mouth.

--

Gotta leave it on a cliff hanger ;)

but yay! they get to keep Gracie! (you guys didn't really think i'd let the other happen i mean come on)

Now it's time for more fun, more laughter, and of course more drama!

haha

I'll have the next part up soon!

Much love xx-M