castaways

~24~

*six months later*

"Time!" The volleyball coach yelled as the match timer beeped loudly. Jay shot hailey the proudest glare, almost as if he had just won the lottery.  Hailey chuckled as jay jogged down the bleachers, "we won, dad! We won!" Hazel jumped into his arms, burying her face into his neck. Jay smiled and swung her around until she was facing hailey, "I'm so proud of you, haz" he planted a gentle kiss onto her temple.  She smiled and looked up at him as he set her back down, her cheeks still flushed a rosy colour from the game, and her hair still plaited to the side. 

                "Mom, we won!" She turned around and bolted towards the bleachers.  Hailey chuckled and opened her arms, "you guys did so well" she enveloped her daughter in a tight hug. Jay smiled as Will joined him, "she's got a bright future" the red head clutched his pop corn, "you sound like an old man" the brunette chuckled, "well I am an uncle" will shrugged and smiled as hazel waved down at him from her seat next to hailey.  Jay smiled, "but yeah, you're right. She has got a bright future. I think she mentioned something about having a chat with you as well" he sipped on his beer.  Will furrowed his brows, "me? Why? What did I do?" He raised his eyebrows.  Jay chuckled, "nothing that I know of. I think she's starting to think of her future career that's all" he shrugged whilst watching his fiancée and daughter laugh at each other.

"Yeah? She thinking medicine?" Will smiled proudly. Jay nodded, "she mentioned whatever dr Crockett does the other day" he sipped on his beer. Will smiled, "trauma surgery. I'll have a chat with her soon" he nodded. Jay shook his head in amusement, he knows how long his brother has been waiting to push medicine onto someone.  Jay smiled as hazel jogged down the steps, "I gotta change now, but I'll meet you back in here" she smiled.  Jay smiled back, "no problem" he waved her off.  Will smiled, "how'd you even get yourself into something like this" he signalled to the fifteen year old as she wandered away, "I have no idea, but I'm happy I did" he smiled at hailey.  Will nodded, "I'm leaving before I interrupt some serious mingling" he huffed as jay began walking towards hailey.

"We're doing a good job with her, huh?" Jay smiled down at the blonde as she stood up with his arm wrapped around her, "we are" she smiled back, "she's a lucky girl" jay puffed his chest up. Hailey laughed before smacking his arm and walking down the bleachers, "I say we go out for a meal tonight, talk about the thing to haz..." hailey sighed heavily.  Jay nodded, "yeah, sure..." he frowned slightly as the pair sat in the bottom row to wait for their kid. 

                   A few hours later, the three found themselves sat in their favourite diner awaiting their meals. Jay looked at hailey and flashed her a confirming nod, "haz listen honey, we have something important we need to talk to you about..." hailey spoke up, almost stopping hazel from explaining how she shot her winning point in the game today. Hazels expression slowly dropped, "is everything okay?" She put her drink down. Jay nodded slowly, "yeah, we're all good. We always will be. We just have something serious we need to discuss with you. Okay?" He smiled weakly. Hazel slowly nodded, hesitant to hear what they have to say.

                  "We had a letter today, it says that your aunt may has appealed to take full guardianship of you. Do you know what that means?" Hailey tapped her foot anxiously. Hazel nodded, "she wants to take me away from you both" she pointed her finger at the pair slightly, confusion written across her face. Jay nodded, "in a way, yes..." he sighed. Hazel furrowed her brows, "surely she can't do that? I haven't talked to her since I was like 6, and she lives in Boston..." she shook her head. Hailey sighed, "the court says she's legally allowed to appeal, due to blood relation" she nodded sadly.  Hazel shook her head, "don't I get a say in this? Can't I tell them I wanna stay with you guys? I don't wanna leave..." she began rambling, resulting in jay placing a grounding hand on top of hers.

                  "That's what we need to talk about, this is all down to you. The court said this is your decision, you get to choose. We just wanna make sure you're happy with us, and you don't feel like you'd be better off with your aunt" hailey smiled sadly.  Hazel frowned, "I'm staying with you guys. End of debate" she shook her head, taking a sip of her sprite.  Jay shot hailey a small smile, "unless you guys are sick of me, then you can send me away..." hazel smirked slightly.  Hailey chuckled, "not at all, you'll always be our girl, haz. Always" she smiled.  Hazel smiled too as their food finally arrived, "I wanna stay with you" she nodded one last time, just to make herself clear.  Jay smiled, "good" he handed her the salt. She smiled and nodded before sighing, who does aunt may think she is?