Ocean's POV

It's been two weeks since Michael came to see DJ and even though I proved to my mother I was able to take care of DJ by myself (that she knows of anyway) for a whole day and night, she's still been very much in control of everything. She lets me take him to the park on Saturday's but only for and hour and she insist on coming with me. Every now and then she'll let me bathe him or feed him. And it kills me having to get permission to do anything with my own son, but I know if I don't go along with it she could kick me out and stop me seeing him. Michael and I have been going to parenting classes like Jason said and taking regular drug test (which are always clean) we're also saving up to get our own place. Jason told us it's going to be a long process and even though we want to try and get him back now, we know we won't so we've been doing everything he told us, which is why I've been going along with what my mother wants.

I get up around 6am and sneak downstairs to get breakfast for DJ. And tiptoe into his room so not to wake anybody. "Good morning sleepy head" I whisper and he starts stirring.

After I've finished feeding him I quickly clean him up and head downstairs to wash his bottle then sneak back into my room before everyone starts waking up. About an hour later I hear everyone downstairs but wait a while longer before going down to join them.

I go into the kitchen and my father is reading his morning paper while my mother tries to feed DJ "I'm sure he's coming down with something" she says and my father rolls his eyes "he's fine he's just being fussy" he reassures her "he's been off his food for days"

"He doesn't look ill to me" I smile sitting at the table "he not ill. He's a perfectly healthy boy. I've told her a million times" my father points out "and he's still waking up during the night. He hasn't slept through a whole night for almost three weeks"

"If you want I could take him out for the day...let you get some rest" I offer and she shakes her head "he's needs his rest. Maybe another time"

"It's you that needs the rest" my father sighs "I really don't mind taking him out for the day" insist. After a lot of hesitation she finally gives in. "Ok, but not all day. I want him back here by lunch time" she says sternly. She gets him dressed and I quickly head out before she changes her mind.

**
Carson's POV

"You really need to stop taking over. How do you expect her to be able to look after him herself if you don't let her do anything" I say sternly to Jessica. "Incase you've forgotten we have custody of Duncan. Protective services didn't take him away from her for nothing"

"They took him away because of Michael not Ocean" I point out and she shakes her head "Ocean is just as much to blame. She knew what Michael was like yet she still stayed with him in that house knowing what he was capable of"

"But she's not with him anymore. I don't see why your wearing yourself out taking care of a child that doesn't even belong to you when you can just sign the papers and hand him back"

"Because she won't be able to care for him by herself and I know as soon as I sign those papers she'll be straight back with Michael and there's no way I'm letting that happen"

"He's not your child! Ocean's his mother and she should be the one looking after him" I snap "I'm fully aware of that!" She snaps back "then maybe you should stop acting like it and taking over all the time! She's never going to be able to look after him herself if you keep doing everything for her all the time! At the end of the day. Ocean is the kids mother and as far as I'm concerned the sooner her and that half breed little brat are gone the better!" I snap leaving the room before she has a chance to say anything else.

I really don't understand why Jessica is acting this way. And why she refuses to just sign the kid back over. Ocean made her choice when she decided to become a little slut and spread her legs for the first guy her payed her any attention. I really couldn't care less if she goes back to Michael or not. Jessica's always going on about how badly he treated her but she chose to be with him and if he beats her who cares? She most likely deserved it anyway. I just wish I beat her more myself when she was younger maybe that way she wouldn't have turned out to be a filthy little whore with a half breed for a kid. And the sooner their both gone the better. She's brought nothing but shame and embarrassment to me just like that disgusting fag of a brother.

****
Michael's POV

As soon as Ocean told me her mother let her have DJ for awhile I was straight out the door. I know it's risky to keep coming back to my home town to see Ocean and DJ but she only has him for 3 hours and I don't want to miss a single second of any family time I can get with them.

I met Ocean at the park and as soon as he saw me DJ smiled putting his arms out to me. "So what's been going around here these days?" I ask while pushing DJ on the swings. "Well I heard Ray got arrested"

"Good riddance" I chuckle slightly "have you spoken them?" I mumble "I see them in the streets sometimes but we never talk. Have you?" I shake my head "nope! And I don't intend to"

"Their still your parents" I sigh shaking my head "they stopped being my parents the second they threw you out into the street because of what I...."

"It's in the past" she cuts me off "I know I've said this a million times but...I really am sorry" I mumble "you don't have to keep apologising. were sick and needed help" she smiles through pursed lips "and you got that"

"I have something for you" I smile changing the depressing subject. "What's this?"

"It's for you and DJ" she shakes her head "you don't have to give me money"

"I want to. Like I told you before. Just because I can't be with you all the time doesn't mean I'm gonna stop providing for you both" she's about to speak but I cut her off "it's getting cold . Let's go get something to eat" I smile picking DJ up from the swing.

**
We go to a café a little further away so there's less chance of us getting caught "I haven't been to this place in forever" Ocean smiles sitting at the table. "Last time we were here you peed your pants" I chuckle "oh ha ha" she rolls her eyes sarcastically. "Mmm Mmm" DJ babbles sitting in his high chair "What are you trying to say?" I chuckle smiling at him "Mmm Mmm" he babbles again "he'll be saying his worst words" Ocean smiles excitedly "I'm sure he's trying to say Mamma"

"What about Dada" I coo at him and he starts laughing. "Mmm" he babbles sternly at me "It's Da...Da" I say a little slower "can you say "ma...ma" Ocean smiles and once again he babbles "Mmm Mmm"

"So it's like that huh?" I pout playfully. And he starts giggling.

"I um..I wanted to ask you something" I mumble to Ocean "Jermaine's not gonna be home again this weekend and I was wondering if..."

"I'm really not sure" she says hesitantly "I'm not gonna make you do anything I swear" I tell her softly "we can just hang out and watch a movie or something" she's about to speak and I cut her off "I'll keep my hands to myself...unless you want me too" I say putting my hands up playfully "I can't promise you anything" she sighs "but you'll try?" She nods smiling through pursed lips "I wish you come too" I sigh feeding DJ some more lunch. "We have to go" Ocean says quickly "your not in labour again are you?" I smirk and she rolls her eyes playfully "obviously not. We have to get back. My mother will flip of we're late.

*****

Jessica's POV

I'm about to call Ocean and as I'm dialling she walks through the door. "I thought I told you to be back by lunch time!" I snap taking Duncan from her. "I'm sorry. I was just letting you have a break"

"Well he's due his lunch" I say taking Duncan into the kitchen. "Um..mom would it be ok if I stayed over at Sarah's next Saturday?" She mumbles coming into the kitchen "I don't see why not" I smile and she smiles back and leaves the room leaving me to give Duncan his lunch.

I don't really like the idea of her staying out all night but her being out of the house and doing her own thing makes things so much easier. Carson keeps telling me I should let Ocean do more with Duncan because she's been acting more like a sister to him rather than a mother, but that's exactly what I want. He doesn't know I've been purposely trying to keep Ocean out of the way because I know what he's like. If I tell him that I'm not planning on handing Duncan back he'll flip out. Even though he says he still wants nothing to do with either of them, I know once he starts spending more time with Duncan, he'll start bonding better with him and soon enough he'll love him just as much as I do.