Babysitting Bands

13

"After hearing both of your arguments, I have decided that sole physical custody of Copeland Lahmann-Bostwick will be awarded to Mr. Kellin Quinn Bostwick." The judge stated. I felt joy and relief flood my body and I felt Kellin tighten his grip on my hand. I turned to face him and he had the biggest grin I had ever seen on his face.

"Yes!" He shouted in celebration, making Copeland giggle. He picked her up off of my lap and hugged her so tight I was afraid he'd hurt her. "Oh, thank god you're mine!" He mumbled into her light brown hair which was starting to get long. Soon he put her down and locked eyes with me. "Come here." He said, pulling me into a hug. I hugged him back and whispered a congratulations to him.

"What? You can't do that! She's my baby!" Kate began screaming. Tears flooded her eyes and ran down her cheeks within seconds.

"Now, now, Katelynne, you didn't let me finish." The judge continued. Kellin and I exchanged worried glances and looked back to the judge, waiting for him to continue. "As I said; Copeland will be under the physical custody of Kellin. Katelynne, you have massive amounts of debt that must be taken care of before you are able to care for the child. However, you two will have joint legal custody. Katelynne will also have visitation rights when convenient for both parents and child. Kellin will be the primary caregiver." The judge explained. I smiled. I was hoping that the two would be able to find an agreement. I was never hoping that Katelynne would be prohibited from seeing Copeland, I could only imagine what that would do to her.

Katelynne sighed and nodded as she wiped her tears away. She had her head dropped and I reached over to her. I took her hand and squeezed it to get her attention. She looked up at me, somewhat surprised. After all this, my main concern would be getting our friendship back. The judge had left and we were free to go.

"Can we talk?" I asked, and she nodded slowly. I led her out of the room as Kellin filled out papers and watched Cope. I turned to her as we left the room and sighed. "Kate, I--" I started.

"I'm sorry, Brandy." She cut me off. She lifted her head to look at me. "I was being a bitch to you and it was unfair of me to treat you and Kellin like that because I was jealous. I put you in an awkward situation and I'm sure I stressed Copeland out too. I just..." She looked away from me and bit her lip in hesitation. I could tell she was ashamed of starting all of this. "I just want us to still be friends..." I smiled at her words and nodded quickly. I pulled her into a hug and sighed.

"Of course we're still friends, Kate." She hugged me back and I laughed to myself. "I'm sorry too. You know I never meant to steal your family right? It was my fault for getting involved with Kellin. He's your ex and I shouldn't have gone out with him without asking you first." I said as I pulled away from her, but she was just shaking her head.

"No, you can date whoever you want. You didn't steal my family, Brandy." She said as she wiped away tears. "You're like a sister to me. You are my family." I felt a lump form in my throat, and I couldn't help but let tears fall down my face. "It was stupid of me to think he would take me back anyway." I laughed at her and she laughed too.

"I love you, Kate." I said.

"I love you too, Brandy." The door to the courtroom opened and Kellin walked out smiling and bouncing an equally happy Cope on his hip. He walked up to us and put Cope on the floor. She ran up to us and hugged my leg.

"Mommy!" She squealed and I scooped her up. Kate looked hurt but turned to Kellin.

"Kellin, I'm really sorry...for everything. I shouldn't have taken Copeland away from you." She said, sighing. "I don't know, I just got jealous and messed everything up." Kellin nodded and looked down.

"I think we all overreacted a little. I'm sorry too. I was a little harsh on you, and I got between you and your friend. No matter what the judge had ruled, you know I never would have kept Cope from you, right?" Kate nodded, then paused and stepped forward slowly to hug Kellin. He tensed up for a second, but relaxed and hugged her back.

"Are we okay?" She asked. Kellin nodded and stepped back.

"Yeah, we're fine. How about we all just forget about this?" He asked and looked between Kate and I. We both smiled and nodded. Cope started squirming around in my arms and I put her down. She waddled over to Kellin and tugged on his jeans.

"Daddy?" She asked. He knelt down to her height and brushed some hair out of her face.

"Yes, Copeland?"

"Do you love her?" She asked, pointing to Kate. Kellin looked uncomfortable and looked to me. I just smiled and nodded to him. He sighed and looked up at Kate, smiling.

"Yes, Copeland, I do. Not as much as I love you and Brandy, but I do." He said. And I knew what he meant. It didn't mean he was in love with Kate, just that he forgave her. He meant everything was okay between them, and everything would go back to normal. That was how he would explain it to Cope.

Copeland looked back at Katelynne and hesitated like she was thinking. Then the biggest smile broke across her face and she ran up to Katelynne, hugging her leg as tight as she could. Kate, Kellin and I exchanged confused looks before Kate slowly picked up Copeland and they hugged each other. When they pulled away, Cope looked up at me.

"Now I have two Mommies and a Daddy!" She exclaimed. We all laughed at her but nodded.

"How about we all go out and get some ice cream?" Kellin offered. We all agreed and we walked downtown. Kate held Cope's hand as they led the way, and Kellin and I followed close behind. Kellin slipped his hand into mine and squeezed it. He leaned over and kissed my cheek and I smiled at him.

"I love you." I said. He chuckled and wrapped and arm around my shoulders.

"I love you too.

"I'm glad things worked out with you two." Kellin nodded as we watched Copeland and Katelynne swing their intertwined hands between them.

"Me too." He hesitated and looked back at me. "How about you come on tour with me?" He asked. I looked up at him, shocked.

"Are you serious?" I asked, and he nodded.

"As serious as I've ever been. You paid for it, so you should be our V.I.P. guest. Plus I kind of just can't live without you for eight months. What do you say?" I smiled and nodded.

"You know I'd love to." I said.

"You know I love you."

A/N: There's only one more chapter left guys!! Thanks so much for sticking with this story and sorry it took me forever to finish XP love you guys!!