Time; Don't Let It Slip Away

...And Brutal

Dyfs is actually in our fucking hotel room right now… They're actually fucking here because of Jack Motherfuckin' Carey

"Hello." I tried not to seem as angry as I was. "I'm sure you understand that this is a big mistake. Jack Carey has been harassing my family for weeks now, and his making a call to you guys is an act of defiance for me telling him to lawyer up. I'm pressing charges on him for the harassment."

"We understand, but we also take our job very seriously." The man stepped in. His voice was as cold as eyes, and his eyes… Well they were at the point of liquid nitrogen. "When we're called, it's because a child's welfare is in grave danger. When an infant's parents are drug addicts, that's considered very grave danger." 

"Look," I grabbed Alaska from Steven's arm and held her extremely close to me. "This is my baby… my flesh and blood. I'll do anything it takes to prove that I am a damn good mother. I'll take some stupid drug test, I'll testify in a court, hell, I'll even do back flips and jump through hoops if that's what you want. Alaska is everything to me, and I wouldn't have had her if I knew that Steven or I would possibly put her in any sort of danger-"

"Mia…" Steven warned, taking a step to my side.

"No! Steven!" I turned to him, getting very angry. "This is bullshit! Just like you said earlier; 'when you're famous, you become a dart board for other's fears, doubts and insecurities.' and that the tabloids will make up anything just to get their money. I'm not gonna have some sleezey reporter tell a bunch of lies about us, and have my daughter taken from me as a result!" 

"Okay, ma'am." The woman stepped in, with her frizzy blonde hair falling infront of her pale green eyes. Swiftly, she stuffed it behind her ears, and continued whatever she was about to say. "We understand that this may hurt you, but we do have to go through this. It's protocol."

"Like I said, I'll do whatever it takes." my voice was cold and harsh as I looked down at my daughter. 

Her blue eyes were filled with a mixture of wonder and fear, almost as if she knew what was going on. 

Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks as a loud cry reverberated out of her little vocal chords.

"Don't worry, little Gypsy." I cooed softly, kissing her forehead and rocking her back and forth in an attempt to calm her down. "I won't let them take you. I won't let them."

She continued crying loudly, causing the Dyfs workers to watch me skeptically. 

I walked over towards, and sat down on, the couch while holding her close. As I continued to rock her into a calm state, I sang the lullaby Steven made for me.

"Rockabye sweet lady, Gypsy Blue. Ooh the nightengale's singin' her song in the rain. Hush a bye sweet lady, soft and new, ohh don't you cry, the wind she's a callin' your name." 

As I sang softly, she calmed down, slowly then all at once, falling asleep in my arms. 

"Now, how did you know she was upset, maybe she was hungry, or needed a diaper change." The man interveened. "See, these are the things we need to evaluate you on. You need to know how to take care of a child."

"That's the thing though, it's all a guessing game. Alaska is 3 months old, as of today. The only way she's able to communicate is through crying, and the little grunts she makes. Cognitively, she's not developed enough to put together a coherent string of sounds to form what we call English." I retorted, making a very valid point. "Can I ask you something, Mr.-?"

"DePascale."

"Mr. DePascale?"

"Of course."

"Do you have any kids of your own?" I asked, trying to prove a point.