Amelia

Chapter 27

Melissa's POV

"Last court date. Are you ready?" Chris asks Melissa walking into the bedroom.

"I've never been more ready for something." Melissa says, tying off the bun she been working on. She needed everything to be perfect, especially today. Melissa leaves her bedroom and walks downstairs and into the living room.

"Leah, sweetheart, did you eat?" Melissa asks the toddler wrap in her blanket. Leah nods, not taking her eyes off the tv.

"Mom, when's Amy coming home?" Leah asks Melissa.

"Soon, I hope." Melissa responds. "Alright, what do you say we get your shoes on so you can go by Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Chyler." Leah nods, smiling. Chyler and Jeremy had promised to take her to a carnival and that's the only thing Leah has been thinking about since she found out.

Leah runs down the hall and into the foyer. Leah grabs her black sneakers and puts them on.

"Daddy, can you help me tie my shoes?" Leah asks Chris as he walks into the foyer.

"Of course." Chris responds. He walks over to Leah and helps tie her shoes.

...

The whole court room goes quiet as the judge bangs his gavel. Melissa turns to look at Kimmy. A sense of hatred fills her body because of the things Kimmy has put her family through.

"I would first like Kimmy Larson to take the stand." The judge announces. Kimmy, with an annoying smirk plastered on her face, walks up to the stand. She settles herself into the chair before the judge asks his first question.

"Ms. Larson, what are your living conditions like?" The judge asks.

"Well, currently I'm living in the Sunset Towers, but I am planning to move to an actual house in the next couple months." Kimmy explains.

"Do you believe that the Sunset Towers is a suitable living area for a four year old girl?" The judge asks.

"Yes, I believe it is." Kimmy replies.

"Alright, next question. What would you say your relationship with Amelia is?" The judge asks. Melissa had to resist a snort. 'She hadn't properly seen Amelia in years.' Melissa says to herself.

"As you know, I haven't properly spoken to Amelia in a few years now an-" the judge cuts her off before she can continue.

"Then how do you know she wants to live with you?" The judge asks.

"I don't know. I'm just assuming it would be better for her to be with her blood family." Kimmy says. Melissa sucks in air, trying not to blurt out a sarcastic remark. Chris grabs her hand and squeezes it reassuringly.

"That's all I need to hear. Will Melissa Benoist now come to the stand." The judge blurts out. Melissa pops out of her seat and walks up to the stand. The judge asks almost the same questions to Melissa as he did to Kimmy. Melissa had been looking out upon the crowd, paying attention only to her answers she would give the judge. That was, until she say a head of blonde hair that belonged to a little girl. Not just any little girl, her little girl. It took every ounce of self-control she had not to dash over to Amelia.

"Thank you Ms. Benoist. We have one more speaker for today. Would Amelia Larson come to the stand." Melissa carefully gets off the seat and walks back over to her seat. She looks up at the stand to Amelia. Amelia waves to Melissa and blows her a kiss. Melissa blows a kiss to Amelia, smiling wide. Amelia was in a beautiful floral dress, her blonde hair was straightened. She looked like something right out of a fairytale.

"Hello Amelia." The judge says.

"Hi." Amelia responds, smiling.

"I have a very serious question to ask you. Are you ready?" The judge asks gently. Amelia nods. "Alright, would you rather live with Melissa or Kimmy." Amelia has no hesitation with her answer.

"Melissa." Amelia responds. It felt weird to Melissa to hear Amelia not call her 'mommy'.

"Why would you like to live with her?" The judge asks.

"I want to live with her because my sister lives with her and she's my mommy. Why would I want to live anywhere else?" Amelia answers, melting Melissa's heart.

"Alright, thank you very much Amelia." The judge says. Amelia gets off her chair and walks back to her grandmother. "My choice is quite clear, as I hope many of you know already. Due to all the answers I was provided and Amelia's input, it would be idiotic to remove Amelia from her living situation. Melissa Benoist has won full custody of Amelia Shea Larson." The judge announces, pounding his gavel.

Melissa and Chris give each other a hug. Melissa was overjoyed to have her daughter back.

"Mommy!" Amelia screams, running into her mother's arms. "I missed you so much." Amelia says.

"I missed you even more." Melissa says, wiping tears from her eyes.

...

"Leah is going to be so excited to see you!" Melissa says, helping Amelia out of her car seat. Melissa, Chris, and Amelia had taken Melissa's mother out to eat. They were just now going to pick up Leah. Melissa grabs Amelia's hand and Chris wraps his arm around Melissa. They walk up to Chyler's door and knock.

"Just a minute." Chyler yells from inside the house. She soon opens the door.

"Hi Auntie Chyler!" Amelia yells.

"Well hello, little lady." Chyler says, hugging her niece. "Hey, how about you go say hi to your sister." Chyler says. Amelia nods and runs inside.

"Congrats guys." Chyler says, giving Chris and Melissa a hug. The three walk inside and Amelia and Leah run up to them.

"Mommy, can we sleep over at Auntie Chyler's tonight?" Amelia asks.

"I don't think that's a good idea." Melissa says.

"Please mommy?" Leah and Amelia beg at the same time. Melissa looks over at Chyler and she nods.

"Alright, but I'm picking you guys up at 10:30 tomorrow." Melissa says. "I have Amy's suitcase in the trunk you can use those clothes for tomorrow." Melissa says.

...

"Hey Melissa, where are you?" Chris asks.

"TV room." Melissa responds. Chris walks into the room, seeming almost nervous.

"What's wrong?" Melissa asks, concerned.

"Nothing, everything's fine." Chris says.

"Can I tell you something?" Chris asks her.

"Anything." Melissa says, shifting so she's looking at Chris.

"Ever since I met you, I've known you were someone I wanted to spend my entire life with. From your amazing personality to your dedicated love to the girls, you are more than perfect. Look, I know there'll be tough times. I guarantee at one point, one of us is going to want to get out of this thing. But I can also guarantee that if I don't ask you this, I will regret it forever, because I know, in my heart, you're the only one for me. Melissa Marie Benoist, will you marry me?" Chris asks getting down on one knee. Melissa stays there frozen, shocked by his question. Chris begins to become nervous, wondering if he did anything wrong.

"Yes." Melissa replies.