Mr. Irwin|A.I.

•16•

Ashton

"Wow, I don't think I've ever seen you in a suit." Michael chuckles.

"Shut up man, Lacey is meeting her birth parents tonight. We have to go to court first to get approval. It's a very big day for her." I say.

"Remind her that we're here for her. I know things might not go fantastic with her parents" Calum says and I nod.

"Thanks guys. I should be going, I have to meet them at their house and we're going together." I say and they nod.

"Well do what we can, rehearsing without you which is nearly impossible" Luke chuckles.

"Yeah, but you guys can do it. There are a few slow songs I'm not apart of much." I chuckle back before saying bye and leaving.

I get in my car and drive half an hour to Lacey's house, wondering how she must be feeling right now. She's about to meet the parents who gave her life 19 years ago, and I'm sure she has a lot of emotions traveling through her thinking about it. Once I arrive, I walk up to the door and knock, seconds later it's opened to Lacey. She immediately wraps her arms around me.

"Thank you. Thank you so much for being here." She whispers.

"You know I wouldn't miss it for the world. You have my support, always will." I whisper back and I feel her nod.

"Alright lovelies. We better get going before were late." Viv says as we all pile into a car.

As we ride to the court house, Lacey lays against my shoulder. I wrap my arm around her, rubbing her arm.

"I love you" I whisper before pressing my lips to her temple.

"I love you too" She whispers back.

We arrive at the court house after ages it seemed like. I open the door for Lacey and hold her hand as we walk into the large building. We go through the security check before entering the wing of the court house we need to be in.

"They're not gonna be here are they?" Lacey asks hesitatant for an answer.

"Of course not. They won't even know you're coming until we arrive at the house, but I can promise you that we have people to make sure they're completely sober before you arrive." Viv tells me.

"Thank God." I mumble under my breath.

We sit in the waiting area for what seems like forever until we are finally called into the court room. Becca, Viv and Lacey take a seat where we're told as I sit right behind them in the crowd.

"We are here today to get the rights for Lacey Adams to be able to spend time with her birth parents is this correct?" the judge asks.

"Yes, your honor that would be correct." Viv answers.

"From the records I have received, it looks like Amelia and John Russell have been sober for the past year, so that just leaves the question. Lacey Adams, would you like this to be a one time thing or reoccurring?" the judge asks and I swallow hard.

"Um, I'm not quite sure at the moment your honor. I haven't ever even met my birth parents yet so I guess it depends how the first time goes. But only once, for sure." She answers, her voice shaky.

"Okay, I'm going to cut this short since they have been sober for a little over a year I don't see any problem with you not being able to see them. That's all, good luck to you all" the judge says and we all walk out.

"With the judges permission, we can go see them now or we can wait a bit if you'd like." Becca tells lacey.

"I think I wanna go now. Get it over with." She answers and her foster parents nod.