A quick heads up, I've only been to the children's court of Los Angeles and so my descriptions are of what I saw there. Let's have an imagination people its fiction.

Harry

I woke up the day of Oliver's first birthday and looked over to find an empty bed. Used to being next to my wife, I stood up and went to the bathroom, then down the hall towards the kitchen where Marlene was talking to Oliver.

"We have to go to the court today but when we're done we have cake and Jeff will come over." I looked into the kitchen and watched as she sat with him and fed him breakfast.

The thought of returning without my son put a lump in my throat. I knew I would win but what if I didn't? What if I had to share custody, I would probably have to go back to England.

"Ma ma ma eh eh!" Oliver's voice brought me back from my thoughts.

"Yes we are eating eggs, say eggs." He giggled.

"Eggs!" He said making me smile big.

"Good job cutie, I'm so proud of you." She sniffled.

"Mama," He said to her. "No no no." It was quiet for a while and then she spoke.

"Why are you just standing there?" She turned to look at me. "Join us."

"Just admiring my wife and child." I shrugged walking over to sit beside them. I gave Oliver a kiss and then Marlene leaned in for a kiss on the lips. "I want to talk to you because I can tell you've been acting weird for a while." She didn't say anything, but the past few days before she'd do anything with Ollie, she would ask. "Marlene I want you to legally adopt Oliver." She turned to me and stared at me for a minute.

"What?" Her voice cracked.

"When I win sole custody, I'm going to begin the process to make you Oliver's mum legally." She stayed quiet. "That is if you would like to," I said quickly.

Tears spilled over her eyelids as she began crying leaning into me covering her face.

"Mama." Ollie looked at me as if to scold for making her cry.

"Mama's crying because she loves you, baby." Marlene's hands went around my torso as she sobbed. "Hey look at me?" She sniffled and pulled away to wipe her tears. "I know I've said shit about me being his parent but the reality is that I'm scared. I didn't want him to get attached to anyone, but you are his mum Marlene." She nodded. "And I want you to be his mum permanently okay?"

"Okay." She began crying and leaned into my chest again.

*

A few hours later, dressed in our best outfits, we drove to the court where we met with the lawyer Tom Preston. Marlene introduced herself as she held Ollie in her arms. She dressed Oliver in a cute little sailor outfit telling me he's not on trial so he should look cute.

We went over the game plan, as the attorney liked to call it, as we waited for Emily to show up. "They have a lot of money, their lawyer is good, too good for a case like this." He sighed. "But all we need is facts, Marlene I did an extensive background search on you in case they tried to be smart." Marlene gulped. "Can you explain why you were arrested at seventeen?"

I looked at her in shock. I remembered her brother mentioning something like that before we started dating.

"Shoplifting a pair of sunglasses at the mall." I smiled teasing her for her petty crime making her roll her eyes.

"Okay great that was the only red flag I saw." It was quiet as we waited by the judge's door where there was another case going on in the courtroom. I looked around and noticed a few people with their children waiting as well. I also noticed a few fathers sitting alone, probably here for child support issues. The blue and green walls with pictures of families and animals couldn't make this place any less depressing.

Children get taken away here and also become part of families. It was sad yet happy at the same time.

I looked down the long path to the entrance and noticed Emily's mother and a small ugly looking man beside her. Behind him, who I can only assume is the lawyer, wasn't Emily but her father.

"Christ." They reached us and the two lawyers exchanged a handshake. I was being stared down by Arnold Peterson.

I didn't say anything just turning to Marlene who held Oliver staying as calm as she could. We entered the courtroom and I smiled as Ollie's eyes landed on a giant duck in the corner of the room. Marlene sat beside me and held him in her lap. The judge looked over at the baby and smiled. "Case number?" The lawyers came up and the older judge put his glasses on and looked around the room. He pointed to Marlene. "Is that the mother?"

"No that's the father's wife." The judge nodded and wrote something down.

"Alright before we start I would like to remind everyone that Oliver Edward Styles is an infant and with that in mind all voices are kept low. Anyone yelling or cursing will be kicked out of my courtroom or held in contempt. He is not on trial, he's too adorable in that cute sailor outfit." Marlene tapped my foot giving me a side look as if to say she told me so. "Where is the boy's mother?"

"Not here your honor her flight was delayed." Her lawyer said. "Both her parents are here for support." The judge didn't seem pleased with his answer.

"My question is why isn't the mother in the state with her child? It says here she's currently unemployed as well. Was there a reason or what?" He asked him a bit annoyed.

"The mother, like Mr. Styles, is from England. The two moved here when they were still together. She went home for a family event." He lied through his teeth.

"And the child was born in California, correct?" The judge asked quickly.

"Yes, sir."

"So the child is from here and has been living here for the past year and in that time how many times has the mother seen the child?" He looked at their lawyer.

"According to the mother she's tried at least a dozen times to contact the father-"

"Objection that is a lie, the father of the child hasn't changed his number in the past year and hasn't received any contact except for last month when she physically assaulted him."

I turned to look at Marlene who was feeding yogurt to Ollie. Clearly, she was trying to keep calm.

The fight went back and forth between the lawyers about certain dates and topics. "The mother has a history of abuse, pictures of Mr. Styles after she attacked him." He gave the lawyer a folder that made the judge shake his head.

"Miss Peterson agrees to take anger management classes." Their lawyer offers.

"And as for her drug addiction?" My lawyer interferes.

The judge hits his gavel against the wood on his podium and silences the two men. "Mr. Styles, could you tell me what you want out of all of this?" The judge asked me after telling the lawyers to be quiet. It was my turn to talk.

I looked at him and thought for a second. "I want my son to be happy, safe, and to have a normal childhood. His mother has an illness of addiction and I know he is better with me. I'm willing to let him see her as long as she's sober with supervision." He nodded.

"And your wife seems to love Oliver and wants the same for him?" I nodded. "Bring me the child please?" Marlene stood and walked over with Ollie in her arms. Ollie laid his head on her chest and began crying as she tried to hand him to the judge.

"Ma ma ma! No no no!" He cried.

"It's okay look Ollie he has a duckie." He looked over and smiled at the duck.

"He's very adorable." The judge said kindly taking him. Marlene stepped down and walked back over. "Well taking into consideration the fact that the mother didn't bother showing up and lied about her flight getting delayed even though her parents are here. She abandoned the child at the hospital, is a drug addict who lives off of her parent's money-"

"Oh for god's sake he's a fucking idiot!" Addison blurted out.

"Get her out of my courtroom." The man on the stand spoke calmly to the police officer. The police officer grabbed a hold of her and took her outside. "It is obvious the child belongs with his father, I will be granting you sole custody of the child." He made it official and smiled down at the baby. "Where's your daddy?" Ollie giggled.

"Dada!" He clapped his hands.

"Mr. Styles, this child, like all children, are sent from above and should be taught values and good morals." I nodded watching as he signed the document and handed Oliver back to me. "Happy birthday Oliver."

We walked out of the children's court and down the steps towards the car. My lawyer turned to us and smiled."Congrats, call me when you decide about the adoption and I'll get the paperwork started for you." I thanked him and watched as he walked away. From the top of the stairs was the sound of arguing.

"Arnold, do not get involved-"

"Shut up Lee!" a deep voice boomed behind us. We all turned around to see Emily's father charging down the steps towards me. His lawyer behind him. This man is an idiot if he thinks he's going to threaten or beat me fifty feet from ten cops. "You son of a bitch!" He came up to me and grabbed me from the collar of my shirt.

"Let go of me!" I pushed him off.

"You are going to be sorry for doing this to our family! Better watch yourself Styles." He said lowly walking away.

"Asshole!" Marlene called after him making him angrier.

*

Marlene

Harry Edward Styles was so sexy, but nothing made him sexier than holding a baby with his reading glasses on.

He read over some instructions to set up a play set outside. I bit my lip watching as he took off the glasses and walked over outside to the back yard. He had set up a blanket on the grass for Ollie, and a chair for me to sit and watch him. Today was a bit warmer even though the sun was being covered by a cloud.

The play set was a gift from Mitch for his birthday and for him winning the custody battle. With the view of Harry shirtless and slightly sweaty, it felt like it was my birthday as well.

"Daddy!" Oliver screamed to catch Harry's attention.

"What's wrong, baby?" He asked him. Oliver not being able to talk began babbling to him. "Really?" Harry said shocked, playing along with him.

I smiled at Ollie and wished so bad that he would stay small forever. He wouldn't have to grow up and deal with all the bullshit of the world or horrible people.

I started feeling sad, yes I was his mama but I've never felt the feeling of having a baby. I was too early my first time to feel it.

I stood up and went to lay down beside Oliver who grabbed his bottle and got comfortable beside me. We both watched as Harry set up the basic frame for the swing set. Ollie looked up at me through his long lashes with his pretty green eyes as if he was looking into my soul. "You are so cute, I have the urge to squeeze you so tight." he giggled.

"Mama." He pulled the bottle out of his mouth.

"Yes cutie, I'm your mama huh? I love you." he looked at me for a while as if he was thinking.

"Wuv you!" I heard Harry drop something and we both looked over.

"Did he just say I love you?" I nodded. "Say it again." He ran over and laid beside us.

"Ollie, I love you," I said to him. "Are you like daddy and going to say thanks?" I teased making Harry poke my boob.

"Wuv yooouu!" He sounded like he was singing.

We both kissed his cheeks making him giggle. There was nothing more beautiful than his laughter.

*

Later that night Harry had gone to sleep while I sat reading beside him. It was a sexy book that Wendy had recommended to me and boy was she right about the steamy sex scenes.

I bit my lip thinking of Harry taking me in the shower, steam surrounding us and the sound of his hips slapping against me made me feel some type of way.

I put the book aside and shut the light off, cuddling into his side. We didn't have work in the morning so I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I woke him up for some midnight sex. I gently touched his arm and tried to wake him. He rolled onto his back but began breathing a bit weird.

"Baby?" I ran my hand down his torso and gently scratched his tummy, something he really enjoyed. "Harry?" I said a bit louder, moving my hand up to his neck. It wasn't rough, just simply hand caressing the soft skin like I always have.

His eyes opened and he jumped up out of the bed. "No! Stop!" He fell down on to the floor. I sat up turning the light on catching his attention. He seemed relieved to see my face. "Jesus! DON'T DO THAT!" He raised his voice standing.

"What did I do?" My voice is small. "I was trying to wake you up."

"Well- just stop." He turned to go to the bathroom leaving me there alone.

"Harry?" I called after him standing to walk over to the bathroom. I knocked on the door and he quickly opened it, tears in his eyes. "What's going on?"

He wiped the tears and leaned in to hug me. "I was dreaming, and I was laying on the couch when she began hitting me. She took the baby Marlene." He began to sob and shake his head quickly.

"She's not going to do that baby, you can't be scared of her anymore, or her parents." He looked up at me and nodded but I could tell something else was bothering him. "I would never hurt you, you know that right?" I put my arms around his neck and he hugged me tightly.

"I know." He sniffled letting me take him back to bed.

The next morning we woke up and Harry seemed distracted to no end. In fact that entire week he seemed upset. It wasn't until Friday when the building we work in had a gas leak, and we were all told to go home, that we had a few hours alone. "We should go pick up Oliver." He insisted.

I sighed. "Can we just go out to lunch, just the two of us?" I felt selfish but at the same time, I needed alone time with him as well. We wouldn't be with him anyway if today was a regular day, why not spend some alone time?

We made it to the car and he began driving towards the daycare.

"Marlene he shouldn't be there longer than he has to."

"And I shouldn't be getting the cold shoulder from my husband," I said back quickly. "You know what forget it, drop me off here and go pick him up I need to be alone." What irritated me was that he actually pulled over and put the car in park.

"Go ahead then." He didn't look at me.

"You're not even going to try and stop me-"

"What do you want from me, Marlene!?" He yelled at me causing a sharp pain in my heart from the way his voice boomed in the car. "Please tell me, do you want me to put all my attention to you now that I have sole custody, we still have a child to raise!"

"I know that, but it wouldn't kill you to have one meal with me and talk to me." He leaned his head against the steering wheel. He didn't say anything so I nodded slowly grabbing my purse opening the door to get out of the car. I began walking South, the opposite of where he was going. I walked quickly towards a familiar place seeing a woman I knew well but haven't seen in a while.

*

Thank you for reading. Xx

-k