can't change what you don't know

she's a kid god damit

*three days later*

                   It had been a tricky past few days, cassie had caved into jays wishes and let Tatum stay with him until the court hearing about who gets custody was over but he knew the chances of him gaining full custody of his kid was slim.  The pair had grown really close and hank had permitted jay to take the time off until he was sorted since it was all getting rather stressful.  Cassie strolled into the living room with some black jeans on with a formal white blouse and jacket since today was the day before the official court hearing and Cassie had to give her opinion on who she wanted to stay with. 

                 Jay also had a suit on so he could look professional, "you feeling okay?" He nodded since the kid looked a little washed out.  Tatum nodded and jumped onto the stool opposite him, living with her dad felt like the most natural thing ever, "yeah, I just don't know what I'm meant to say to them" she looked down.  Jay smiled and grabbed her hand, "tell the truth honey, if you wanna stay with me then that's fine with me but if you wanna stay with your mom that's also fine with me..." he started but tatums wide eyes cut him off, "I wanna stay with you..." she shook her head and squeezed his hand. Jay smiled and nodded, "then that's all you have to say, that you want to live with me" he rubbed her cheek slightly. Tatum smiled back and nodded as she but the tears back, she was quite frankly scared for today...

                   The drive to the court room was nerve racking, jay and Cassie had already given their statements and they was sorted but it was now only Tatum who needed to give her say, "I'm proud of you Tate" jay smiled before they got out of the car.  As jay walked towards the entrance with his kid by his side, Tatum grabbed onto his hand, he looked down and smiled but held her hand back as they walked down the hall. He was disgusted when he saw Cassie stood there in a business dress and blazer too, "I didn't know you'd be here today" he sighed but remained calm for Tatum. Cassie shrugged, "well shes my kid too" he scoffed and crouched down to look into tatums eyes, "just tell the truth honey" she smiled and punched her daughters cheeks. Tatum looked down and squeezed jays hand a little bit so he squeezed it back.

The pair were sat down a chair away from Cassie for a few minutes until someone called for Tatum to come in, "be brave" jay kissed her forehead. Cassie went to give her a kiss too but Tatum left before she could stand up. As Tatum disappeared into the room Cassie scoffed at jay, "so you've turned my kid against me now?" She ignored him. Jay shook his head, "I said nothing to her, it's her decision and I'm not gonna make it biased, I wouldn't do that" he scoffed back.  Cassie laughed, "of course you would, she's my kid, I've looked after her for 13 years, she should come back to me" she shook her head.  Jay huffed, "she's our kid, and if you'd told me about her before now, I would've been there for her. She's a kid god damit so let it stay that way" he warned her.

                Tatum sat down on the chair in front of 5 scary adults in suits, "so miss Walker, we're here to discuss the legal guardianship arrangements between your mother and father, do you understand what I'm saying?" A man smiled weakly.  Tatum nodded and gulped, "good, if you don't understand a question take your time and ask me to repeat it okay? We need your honest opinion" A woman smiled.  Tatum smiled back and nodded before the questioning began.

'given the current situation, which parent do you feel the closest to?' - My dad

'which parent have you known the longest?' - My mom

'Which household do you feel the safest in?' - both, but I prefer my dads

'do you feel comfortable in both living conditions?' - yes

'is there any reason we should doubt the parental care of either parent?' - no?

                   After a gruelling half an hour of questioning which she answered truthfully, the adults let her go, she didn't know what to feel anymore.  Did she say the wrong things? The right things? If her dad loses this battle is it her fault?  She walked out to see her mom and dad sat in complete silence, "how'd it go baby?" Cassie stood up and gave her child a hug. Tatum accepted the hug since she didn't fully hate her mom, after all she has raised her for her whole life so far, "alright" she shrugged but the second Cassie let go of her Tatum walked over to jay. Jay placed his hand on tatums shoulders, "you wanna go home?" He smiled down at her. Cassie rolled her eyes but remembered the deal they had made, "yeah" Tatum nodded and smiled back.

As soon as the pair got into the car, Tatum broke down, "Tate? Oh sweetie come here..." jay scooted over in his chair and pulled her into a hug. Tatum cried into his shoulder, "what if it's my fault I have to live with mom?" She sobbed. Jay shook his head, "nothings gonna be your fault sweetie, I promise you that whatever happens tomorrow is not on you okay?" He planted a kiss on her hair. Tatum sobbed but nodded, after she had calmed down a bit she sat back up, "even if you have to live with mom, I'll still be granted the right to see you every week" he wiped the tears away from her cheeks. Tatum smiled and nodded, she didn't realised that before hand so that made her feel a bit better.