Ocean Kisses

Custody

Doc pov

The anger built up inside me as I went through the footage from the security cameras I had access to. What I saw was beyond anything I could have imagined. Marissa's claims of being gone for just a minute were a lie. She had left Doccy alone, locked outside for nearly an hour. The thought of my son being left alone like that—vulnerable—made my blood boil. Sure, the backyard was fenced in, but that didn't mean he was safe.

The cameras caught every second of it—the moment she walked out the door and the way Doccy wandered around, waiting for her, confused. The footage even showed him starting to get anxious, pacing around, looking for a way out or for someone to come back to him. The worst part? The old man had shown up, creeping around the fence, approaching my son, and trying to coax him into the woods.

I felt my heart sink as I watched Ren step in. He wasn’t the type to back down from a threat, and he didn’t hesitate when he saw Doccy in trouble. He bit the old man hard, an unmistakable warning, forcing him to retreat. It was only then that I felt a brief relief, knowing Ren had acted swiftly and decisively.

But that wasn’t enough. This was bigger than just that incident. It wasn’t just about an old man creeping around or Doccy getting scared. It was about how Marissa had left him outside, how she had neglected him, and how she still couldn’t seem to care for him properly. She wasn’t fit to be his guardian, and I couldn’t stand by any longer and watch him suffer because of her careless actions.

The evidence was clear, and I wasn’t going to let it go. I had to fight for my son. I was going to get full custody. No matter what it took, I wasn’t going to let her control his life any longer. Doccy deserved safety, love, and care, and I was going to make sure he had that—no matter how much Marissa resisted.

Marissa's response was exactly what I expected—dismissive, defensive, and full of denial. She claimed I was "blowing everything out of proportion," as if what I had seen and what had happened didn’t matter. But the evidence was undeniable. The police, the court system—they all saw the truth. They agreed that I was in the right. It wasn’t just about the backyard incident; it was about how she had failed as a parent and the neglect she had shown.

The problem, however, came down to Ren. The courts didn’t understand him, and they didn’t know what he was. They didn’t have a record on him, which was both a blessing and a curse. They couldn’t track his history, and that left them hesitant. It was hard for them to trust something—or someone—that didn’t fit into their neat little boxes. They didn’t know what Ren was capable of, or how much he cared about Doccy. They saw him as just an unknown entity, which made them cautious.

The court decided that they needed time to observe how Ren interacted with Doccy, to ensure everything was safe before they handed me full custody. That was the condition. And Ren, ever the silent protector, allowed it. He wasn’t exactly thrilled by the idea of being under scrutiny, but he didn’t protest. He wasn’t the type to demand attention or argue with authority; he just accepted what was given to him, his loyalty to Doccy never wavering.

As the days went by, I could see the court’s observations. They noted how Ren stayed close to Doccy, never leaving his side. They watched as Ren would guide him gently, protect him, even when no one else was around. Doccy was more relaxed when Ren was nearby, and the two seemed to have a silent understanding, a bond that no one could deny. I could see that the court was slowly starting to come around, recognizing the trust and protection Ren gave to my son.

But the fight wasn’t over yet. I had to wait, but it was a step closer. Soon, I would have what I wanted—full custody of Doccy—and Ren would be part of that, no matter how much the system didn’t understand him. They had no idea how much he meant to us, but I wasn’t about to let that stop me.

I couldn't believe what the courts were doing—they tried distracting Ren, trying to separate him from Doccy, to see how he would react. It was frustrating to watch. Ren and Doccy had a bond that was undeniable, and to see them trying to test it in such a manipulative way was maddening.

Doccy, understandably, was scared. The whole situation was overwhelming for him, but I couldn’t help but notice that even when Ren was distracted, he was always watching Doccy closely, keeping a protective gaze on him from the corner of his eye. It was as if he could sense when Doccy was anxious. Despite being in unfamiliar territory, Ren kept a calm composure, only ever moving when Doccy showed signs of discomfort or fear.

It was honestly impressive. Despite the court's tactics, Ren remained his quiet, protective self. The courts didn’t know what to expect, especially since Ren had always been a figure of few words, preferring silence and action over talking. But in that moment, when Doccy was feeling vulnerable and someone unfamiliar approached him, Ren stood up, without a growl or any sign of aggression, but with a quiet and steady aura of protection. He moved towards Doccy, placing himself between him and the stranger.

I couldn’t have been prouder. It wasn’t just that he was being protective—it was how he did it. He didn’t lash out, he didn’t growl or snap; he just made sure Doccy was safe. It wasn’t aggressive or threatening, just calm, vigilant, and sure. That was the moment I knew the courts couldn’t ignore it anymore. Ren had done more than just protect my son—he had shown them exactly who he was. A silent protector, always watching, always there when Doccy needed him.

The courts were still observing, but I knew in that moment, Ren had proved more than enough. They didn’t need to test him further. I could see it in their eyes—they realized that Ren wasn’t just some unknown entity, he was family. And I was one step closer to making sure he stayed that way.

The most infuriating part of everything, though, was Marissa. It felt like no matter how much I did to make sure my son was safe, she was always standing in the way, trying to undermine every step forward. But what she had done next was beyond unforgivable.

Turns out, that old creep wasn't just some random stranger; he was her cousin. She had allowed him to live on her property without telling me, without notifying the court that he was anywhere near Doccy, a child she was supposed to be looking out for.

That was the mistake she made—the one that ruined any chance she had of keeping Doccy from me. The second we found out about her cousin’s presence on the land, the court couldn't ignore it. She had put Doccy directly in harm’s way without a second thought.

It wasn’t just negligent; it was reckless. She had put her own interests, and probably her own comfort, over the safety of her son. And the worst part? She didn’t even seem to think it was a big deal.

That was when everything shifted. The court didn’t waste any time once that information came to light. The moment they realized she had allowed a known threat to live right under her roof, without any regard for the danger it posed to Doccy, the decision was made quickly.

Doccy was placed into my care. Finally, after everything we’d been through, it felt like the court had finally seen things for what they really were. Marissa had lost her right to make decisions for Doccy, and I could only feel a sense of relief knowing that he would be safe now.

Ren, too, seemed to sense the shift. I could tell he was relieved as well—this had been a long, drawn-out battle for him, too. But the old man’s presence being removed meant one less threat hanging over us.

I looked at Ren, and for the first time in a long while, I could see the tension ease from his shoulders. For once, I didn’t have to worry about protecting him or Doccy from any more dangers. I had my son back, and I wasn’t going to let anyone take him away again.