Later

Frank lies on the couch, trying to read the paper, but his mind races. Mary comes sprinting into the room and leaps on top of Frank crushing the newspaper into his chest as Tyler is in the kitchen making a grilled cheese sandwich.

"Research and development has come up with a brand new Fred cheer, and they asked if I would run it by you...S-O-C-K-I-T, sock it to me, Freddy. Soooooooooccck it! Chii chii, chii, chii." Mary exclaims as she hold out her arms at the end.

"Tell R and D they have a winner." Frank adds in.

"That's exactly what I said." Mary says as she jumps off and runs down the hallway.

"S-O-C-K-I-T, sock it to me, Freddy. Sooooooocccck it! Chii, chii, chii, chii. Soooooooooocccck it! Chii, chii, chii, chii." Mary chants down the hallway as Tyler comes out with a plate with her grilled cheese sandwich.

"Are you sure she's not on crack?" Tyler asked him as she leaned her head onto his shoulder as he wrapped his right arm around her.

"At this point, I'm going to say yes." Frank says as Tyler splits her sandwich with her Dad as he takes his half and eats it. 

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Frank enters the restored lobby of a 1920's masterpiece of a hotel. Frank enters, and sees his mother seated at a table, receiving the check from a waiter. They make eye contact, and after a moment, she holds out her hand to offer him a seat. Frank approaches and sits.

"Well, your lawyer made me look like a monster and mine made you look foolish. At least yours is cheap." Evelyn says as she holds out the bottle of wine as an offer as he refuses.

"You sure? Willamette Valley? No? Ah, well." She gathers up her things.

"There's still time for you to do the right thing." Frank says.

"I am doing the right thing." Evelyn says.

"Please, mother." Frank says.

"Oh, now, it's please mother, somebody drop the balloons." Evelyn says as Tyler crosses her hands over her chest as she is giving her grandmother a heavy dark glare.

She honestly doesn't see the whole reason why she always has to be here.

Later

"Do you have even a moment where you consider -- it's Mary's life." Her dad retorts as he isn't as excited to see his mother like Tyler is to see her.

"Frank, I'm exhausted, and it's out of our hands now anyway..." Evelyn says.

"She has the right to..." Frank says before his amazing mother interrupts him

"She is a child..." Evelyn says as Tyler mocks her as she stuck out her tongue at her grandmother.

"A right to her own destiny." Frank argues.

"Ha. If you want to know why the country is currently circling the toilet, everything you need to know is in that sentence." Evelyn says before she turns to the Hostess. "Thank you." She says as the three of them exit.

"She's a human being, she's not a commodity." Frank says as he defends his niece.

"We're all commodities, grow up." Evelyn seethes at her son.

"Let her be a kid. If later she chooses..." Frank says before his amazing mother interrupts him for like the millionth time.

"Chooses? Chooses? She has a gift..." Evelyn says not seeing the problem.

"I'm not sure she does. Not in your hands. Not with your track record." Frank says.

"Oh, here we go again. Past or present, son. Pick a generation and stick to it." Evelyn says.

"You're ready to pick up right where you left off. You haven't learned from your mistakes because in your mind, you've never made one."

"He has a point..." Tyler says before her grandmother gives her a nasty look which doesn't faze Tyler.

"I know you're incapable of change..." Frank says.

"At least! At least I'm doing what I'm doing under the courage of my convictions. You, you on the other hand, are blowing in the wind. 'I'll just go to Florida, and hope it all works out' there's a plan. Let me tell you something, no one in that courtroom today was convinced by anything you said, not a damned word of it, least of all you." Evelyn says as Tyler looks down at her feet as they walk.

"But, hey, I know a great idea. Let's let Mary decide what she wants to do. Let her have cake for breakfast. Then she can follow in your footsteps and purse a field where every novel idea was hashed out two thousand years ago, then teacher it at the fifth best college in Boston." She says as Tyler looks at her Dad as they're holding hands because he knows how Tyler gets around her grandmother. 

Maybe he's glad that they've never really seen each other until she comes to pay a visit a couple weeks ago. "You started this, you did. Every chance you get, you make some underhanded, accusatory comment about Diane, as if I've had no loss, as if I have no feelings about it, well I'm fed up. Understand? Fed up. You don't know what or how I feel. Have you lost a child? Have you? I lost both of mine on the same day."

"What do you call this?!" Frank exclaims as Tyler flinches at hearing her father say that. Mainly because she hadn't seen it coming.

"She's not your child! She never was your child. When are you going to get that through your head?" Evelyn says as Tyler listens intently at what they're saying.

"It's out of my hands, and it's late and I'm, I'm done with this." Evelyn says as she turns and starts to walk up the marble staircase.

"I wish I could hate you. It's not for a lack of trying." Frank says as she stops and turns around. "I always end up feeling sorry for you." He adds.

"Me. Pfft." Evelyn says.

"You don't have the goods yourself, do you, so you ride the coattails of children. You attach yourself to other people's talent, forgetting that it's the shark people want to see, not the remora."

"Been rehearsing this, have you..." Evelyn says.

"Shut up for once second and let him talk." Tyler snaps at her grandmother as Frank doesn't try and stop her. He is letting her say these things to her grandmother because it's either Evelyn hears it from Tyler and or from him. He has so much built up anger and resentment of his mother that it could possibly make another him but his evil/dark twin.

"You're a bottomless put of narcissism, Evelyn, elbowing your way into importance by association. And for it, you will sacrifice everything, and everyone. And that is tragic, to me." Frank says.

"'Minds rarer than radium?' What a crock. It's all about you. It's always been about you. It will always be about you. You selfish, bitch." Tyler adds as Tyler is about to lunge at her grandmother but Frank holds her back as she is struggling in her father's arms.

To him and Tyler's utter disbelief, Evelyn takes a bow, a deep theatrical, royal bow. She looks up at them, claims victory with her eyes and then turns her back and walks up the stairs.

"She pisses me off." Tyler mutters under her breath.

Next morning

Frank got up and slowly started moving around the house to get himself ready for the day, as he walks towards Tyler's door, and knocks on it knowing that she's going to hate him later as she is most definitely not a morning person. She prefers waking up at noon.

"Ty, wake up." Frank says as he opened her door wide enough to get his hand through it and then he turns on the light to wake her up.

"I'm up geez." Tyler says as she almost falls off the bed in the process. 

"Good, now get dressed we have to go." Frank says as Tyler gives him a look.

"Do I have to? I mean you're just suggesting I get dressed, that doesn't mean that---" Tyler says as Frank gives her a look as she groans before starting to get dressed.

"Five minutes and go." Frank says, as Tyler turns around as she has her arms on her hips. 

"What? You're timing me now? That's new!" Tyler yells at him as she gets dressed in random clothes that she can find then she gets her mascara and walks out of her room.

Little bit later

"Now wait a minute, go back who sat down with who?" Frank asks as Tyler puts on her mascara as she's using her phone camera as a mirror.

"It was me, Stokes, and Judge Nicholas." Greg Cullen says (Frank's attorney).

"Why would Nicholas be there?" Frank asks.

"Because Stokes and I could agree that water's wet, but unless Nichols approves, there's nothing. So listen...Mary would be placed in a fostering situation...." Cullen says as Tyler slowly looks up at the man when he said 'fostering situation'.

She honestly thought that her life up until this point stops dead in it's tracks as her life feels silent that she could possibly hear a pin drop. She looks up at the man like she had just gotten caught doing something and she knew that she would be screwed for the rest of her life. She stares at him as in her head it's just the two of them. 

Mary is...leaving?
Woah, this is new.
I don't wike it.

"No, no, no..." Frank says as he starts to freak out about this as Tyler stays silent.

"Frank, listen. The foster family is not only top notch, but in Tampa, twenty-five minutes door-to-door from you. She attends the Oaks, great school. On her twelfth birthday, she goes back to court and can decide then where she wants to live, and with who. Not what you want, I know, but not bad. Now listen, if you say no to this, then we walk into court and Nicholas is going to do his thing, and I can name you fifty outcomes that aren't as attractive, not remotely."

"That doesn't help with the situation." Tyler seethes at the man as she is still processing what is happening as she realizes that this is more important than her putting on makeup.

"But why would they....they think that they're going to lose." Frank says.

"Yes, they do." Cullen says as Frank stares at the man and then it dawns him.

"You think we're going to lose."

"Wow, no faith either, thanks." Tyler says sarcastically as she goes back to do her makeup.

"Yes I do."

Later
Tyler's POV

Frank and Greg Cullen are on one side. Evelyn and Aubry Stokes are on the other as Nicholas is at the head of the table. At the other end of the table is David and Val Larsen, who are the foster parents that's going to foster Mary.

"Well, folks, I don't see any reason for this to not move forward. Mr. and Mts. Larsen, your references are exceptional." Judge Nichols says as he turns to Amanda Dobson (or Draco Malfoy as Tyler calls her).

"Judge, I have worked with this family in the past, and have always seen the fostered child thrive in the environment." Amanda says as I roll my eyes at her.

"So the state is on board?" Judge Nichols asks.

"We are, your honor." Amanda says.

"Well, we've got some coordinating to do, and everybody's got to sign some stuff, but it appears we're concluded. Just let me say one last thing....a lot of hurtful things were brought up in court because you folks couldn't fix this yourselves. Going forward I except you to be civil at the moment, as that is, truly, in the best interest for the child." Judge Nichols says as I scoff to myself. 

As if I'm listening to you. You can't tell me not to listen and be civil to my fucking grandmother. Some whacko you are, dude.
Listen here buddy, I'm a teenager and I'll scar you with....nevermind.

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Evelyn and Dad are face to face as Dad has dead eyes. Go for you Daddy. Look badass. (I'm sorry I couldn't help it).

"I've been thinking a lot about the word compromise. Depending on how you see it, it can be good or bad. On one hand, good, challenging school. On the other..." She says as I mock what she's saying. "...Schlubby, vanilla foster people. They can watch sitcoms with her, take her to Olive Garden, teach her 'irregardless'." She says as she sees Dad's glare. "I'm sorry, I'm angry with you. And you, with me. In a perfect world, it would cancel out, but, then again, probably not. Probably not."

"We both lost, but Mary won...even if it is compromised." Evelyn adds as she gets nothing but more of the dead stare that's I'm guessing is looking badass.

"Yes. Yes. Well, then. Goodbye, Frank." She adds as Dad watches her walk to the exit, where she met by her waiting attorney.

Third Person's POV

Aubry Stokes opens the door for her, as she looks again at the Larsen's. "What do we know about these people, really?" Evelyn asks.

"Well, the state does a..." Stokes says before Evelyn interrupts.

"No, I mean what do we know about them, really?" She asks.

"I've got a guy who can look into them." Stokes says.

"I'll be you do." Evelyn says as they exit. 

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Bonnie sits at her desk, numb with sadness. Roberta sits on the floor in the middle of the room, as she weeps. Tyler texts Jeremy the status of what's going to happen to Mary, as he offers her to stay at the house if she wants which she accepts.

Mary's desk is empty as Bonnie's eyes move just slightly to the right as she sees a crying Justin who covered his face with his hands as he hides his tears. Bonnie rises, as she walks to him as she kneels, and embraces him.

Tyler doesn't know how to feel about this, as this feels foreign and strange without a child bugging her, as she thinks that this is going to take a toll on her, as they've grown up together. Even if some of the memories of her and Mary aren't the greatest, it still counts, as she sadly gets up and starts packing up a suitcase.

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Frank kneels in front of Mary, as she is the same height that Tyler was when she was that age. "There's no need to cry, I am only twenty-five miles away..."

"Please don't leave me here, please." Mary says as Tyler tries not to cry at seeing her cousin about to leave for the first time in her life to some place where she doesn't even know.

"Now, you are going to go to a much better school." Frank says as Tyler stands behind her father.

"I don't want to, I want my crummy school. Please."

"Mary, there is no way out of this, I'm sorry."

"...and you have Fred." Frank says.

"We love cats, Mary." Val says as Tyler looks up at the woman. 

"Can you see they're having a moment, shut up." Tyler seethes at them as the woman is taken aback at Tyler's comment as said Tyler flips off Val.

"Once a month, you get to come back and stay with me and Roberta..." Frank says as he tries to reason with Mary.

"I want you and Roberta now!" Mary yells as Tyler bites the inside of her cheek.

"And in a few years, if you want, you can come back..." Frank says as Tyler fiddles with something behind her back as she has a 'I'm sorry, about this' present for Mary. She may not be the type of person who gifts Mary, unless she is being forced upon her life and or if she doesn't she gets grounded.

"I want to stay with you! You promised..." Mary says as Tyler knows that she is starting to get upset.

"Mary please..." Tyler says as she's on the brink of tears about this as she doesn't care if her makeup is smudged at this point.

"But you promised. Why are you leaving me here?" Mary asks him.

"He had no other choice." Tyler softly says which makes Mary look up at her cousin, with sad tearful eyes, as Tyler gets down on one knee.

"You know why, we've been over this. We've been over it. I have to do what the court says." Frank says as he looks at Mary as Tyler is right beside him, as her eyes are getting glossy to where she almost can't see out of them.

Frank looks up as David nods to the door. "It's best." David says as Frank tries to give her a hug but she pushes him away.

"No! Nooo!" Mary yells as Tyler could feel her heart break as she watches what's happening as she is at a lost of words.

"We'll call you." Val says as Frank begins the long walk to the car as Mary horribly wails as Tyler gets up and makes her way towards Val.

"Um, uh..." Tyler says as she clutches what she's holding tighter as it's a cellphone for Mary, but she can't bring herself to give it to Val. 

"I'm sorry." Val says to Tyler as the girl looks at her with a tearful glossy eyes as her lip is just about to quiver as she nods her head as she makes her way out of the house.

Mary appears in the window. "Don't leave me! Frank! Tyler! You said I'd stay with you, you promised! No! Please don't leave me here, come back, don't leave me! No! No!" Mary screams as she gets pulled from the window as Frank and Tyler walk into the truck. 

When they drove away from the house, Tyler clutches the phone box in her hand as her hand becomes shaky as it takes everything in Frank not to cry with her. They both are stubborn of their emotions as it's rare of them to let out their emotions. Tyler felt everything all of her emotions that she's been bottling up for so long just be set free.

"Why?"

"Ty..."

"Why did she have to take away Mary?"

"Ty..." 

"W-w-w-wh-why?" 

"Mary had no other choice, that's what the court said."

"You think I don't know that! Don't they see the problems that they just caused! No, they don't. They're causing that little girl so much fucking problems, that she won't be able to fucking function on her own!" Tyler yells as she threw the phone box in to the back of the truck as there was a crack sound but neither of them seemed to care.

"Ty..."

"Don't, Dad." Tyler says as Frank looks at her before looking away as he knows how she feels about this. They may have not had the greatest relationship but they both do care about each other. He knows that Tyler didn't mean some of the things that she said, but he isn't going to say anything as Tyler has a temper and it's not good.

"I'm sorry." Frank says to Tyler as she turns her head to the window and looks at all the families with children, as it makes her feel guilt in her chest. Frank focuses on the road, as he lets Tyler be, knowing that she doesn't want to talk at the moment. He knows that this won't be easy for her. Tyler has always been one of those people who doesn't like anything changing in their lives, they stick to something and they want to keep it forever without changing.

This is what she felt like when she got news that she had to move with her father after her mom died. She didn't want to but that's what the court said, and it took Tyler a while to open up to her father. She didn't start opening up to her father until she was almost ten, which was eight years ago. May 18th to be exact of the date. What's happening to Mary right now is starting to feel like deja vu.

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hope you like this chapter!
❤️