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24 - Couch

**A FEW WEEKS LATER**

I was walking into the courthouse, I knew why I was here, and I was not happy about it.

I wasn't even sure why being here was needed. The judge ruled on this that the paternal mother could have not rights over her child and the new adoptive parents did but now the county was looking into my adoption process because the birth mother was wanting her daughter back.

I knew where I needed to go. I didn't want to be here, I didn't want to go into that courtroom, and I didn't want to have to see who I was going to see.

I walked in and saw him sitting at the table for the county. He saw me and quickly looked away. Andy was the one working for the county and I saw the adoptive parents sitting across the aisle from him at the other table. I picked a neutral seat in the back knowing I needed to stay neutral and impartial to everything.

The case got underway, and I finally heard my name called. I walked up to the front of the court room and was sworn in. I sat down and Andy was the first one to question me.

"Mrs. Barber..."

"Melanie." I said coldly.

"Fine Melanie..." Andy said, "What can you tell me about the night the child was taken away from its biological mother?"

"Well, I wasn't there in person but all I have are the case file and report from police."

"What did those files and reports tell you?" Andy asked.

"That the child was living in filth. Trash everywhere, drug paraphernalia, the daughter had seemed like she hadn't been bathed in a few days, possibly a week." I stated.

"But again, you weren't there to see all of this..."

"No of course not, I never go and pick up the child they are brought to the group home, and we make our assessment from there." I stated.

"How long after the child being picked up did you go to the group home to see the child?" Andy asked.

I knew that he knew the answer. He was with me in the middle of the night when I got the call and since he didn't want me going alone, he drove me to the group home and waited in the car.

"I was called within hours. They wanted me to come and assess the child and see what we could do because she was acting out the minute she got there." I explained.

"Melanie, can you tell me how soon after she was placed in the group home did the mother come in and release her parental rights?" Andy asked.

"The next day, after her daughter was taken."

"Did she seem in the right state of mind?" Andy asked.

"I can't answer that, I had never met the woman before and didn't know the right state of mind for her." I explained.

"But if you had to guess?" Andy asked.

"I can't give you that answer."

"Just a quick guess, was she in the right state of mind?" Andy asked.

"Objection, badgering." The other lawyer stood up. I glared at Andy.

"Move on with your questions Mr. Barber." The judge said.

"Now Melanie, can you tell me how the child was once she met the Marcus Family?" Andy asked.

I smiled as I started talking about how happy the child was in her new home with her new family. A family of a mother and a father who loved her, wanting nothing but the best for her.

Soon I was off the stand when the other lawyer decided to not ask me any questions. I was rubbing my stomach when I walked off the stand and Andy noticed me grimace slightly as I did. I walked out of the room and was getting ready to leave the courthouse. I just wanted to get home and relax.

Before I could I had to pick up Jacob from school and Faith from daycare.

I walked into the daycare to get Faith and she was so excited to see me.

"What did you do in daycare today?" I asked as she held my hand as we walked to the car.

"I colored a picture of the baby. I made a family portrait." She excitedly said as we walked to the car. I got her buckled in the back and then we headed to the high school to pick up Jacob. We waited in the pick-up line as Faith bounced in her seat, excited to show Jacob her picture.

Once we got home and Jacob had seen the picture, they were sitting at the dining room table doing their homework, well Jacob was doing homework and Faith was coloring another picture for Andy to take to work since he requested one a few weeks ago.

The front door opened, and Andy walked in.

"Hey dad." Jacob said as Andy walked over and kissed the top of Faith's head.

"Hey guys. How were school and daycare?" Andy asked.

I heard the kids talking about their day as I prepped dinner.

"And how was your day?" Andy asked coming over to me and kissing my cheek, placing a hand on my stomach and rubbing.

"Shit, if you must know the truth. Had a lawyer badgering me on the witness stand." I said and Andy groaned.

"If you would have just answered..." Andy said, and I groaned.

"An answer I didn't have?! How would that have gone over Andy?" I asked, not noticing I was raising my voice until I heard Jacob take Faith from the room.

"Hey, I don't want to fight about this. I'm actually more worried about the wince you gave getting off the stand." Andy said and I groaned.

"I'm fine, Baby Barber decided to pick that exact moment to kick me right in the bladder. I think they are already taking your side." I said and Andy laughed but shook his head.

"I'm sorry I badgered you. I shouldn't have done that, I knew you didn't know the answer, but it was the only defense I was going to have." Andy said and I sighed.

"She doesn't deserve rights Andy. She gave them up, she gave up her daughter and I did what I had to do to get her in a good family." I said and Andy half nodded.

"I know, trust me I do but no one in Lynne's office would take this one."

"Not Tiffany the office whore?" I asked. Andy groaned and then snickered.

"Not even her." Andy said and I just sighed and looked at him,

"If you call me on the stand again, don't badger me or you will know how it is to sleep on the couch." I said and Andy chuckled gripping my hips and pulling me flush against him.

"Would you really make me sleep on the couch?" Andy asked nuzzling his face in my neck and I moaned.

"You're lucky don't make you sleep in the couch tonight." I said, Andy kissed my neck.

"What if I promise to do that thing you love? You know with, the one with my tongue..." Andy whispered in my ear, and I sighed, becoming jelly in his arms.

"Play fair Barber."

"I am, what do you say, am I on the couch?" Andy asked pulling away from my neck.

I leaned in and brushed my lips to his, "You can come to the bed, do that thing I love then enjoy the couch." I quickly kissed him, laughed and then walked away to get started on dinner and Andy stood there laughing.

Jacob walked back in with Faith when they heard Andy and I laughing. He and Faith started setting the table as Andy took over cooking, so I didn't have to do much. I love nights like this when the Barber family of 4 came together so easily. Would it be the same with 5?