My Heaven And My Hell

He's Back5/13/05

Nikki's POV

It's been couple days since I've seen Jenny and the other part of my family. I'm eager see them. It would be sweet to have all my kids always under one roof. It's never gonna happen though.

Getting out the car I can already hear the kids. How does she get any novels written? I walk in to find six children running amuck. Gunner trying to wrangle them. Gunner sees me and sighs happily. The rest see me and chill. Jenny usually keeps a gentle hand over the rowdiness.

"Where's your mother?" I ask.

They all point upstairs. I take to the stairs to see what's up with Jenny. I know this month is difficult for her and it is his birthday today. Then at the end is the day he died. With all the drama it's been harder for her this year. The door to her office is open so I just walk in. She sits quietly. Her hands in her lap. Her eyes staring forward at nothing. I'm worried as I approach she does finally focus on me. I take her hand gently.

"Is something wrong Jenny?" I ask softly.

"Yes." She whispers.

"What?" I urge.

"John has filed for custody of Mary. He's being backed by a Father's rights group. They are preparing to get nasty." She says and hands me the papers.

I pull a spare chair and read.

"He's asking for child support and doesn't even have custody yet." I mutter. I'm pissed this fucker has got to be crazy to think he has any chance in hell.

"I'm just blow away. He hasn't tried to see her in years. Now they are trying to say I have to many children to properly give her the attention an autistic child needs." She's no longer shocked. She's angry. Which is so much better then she was a few minutes ago. I always thought we were doing great. Where the children were concerned we were always in agreement. They needed us both. We made every decision towards making that happen.

"The court date is next week on the 19th. I'll be with you." I take her hand. "Let's go downstairs now and save Gunner." She smiles and gets up to follow me downstairs.

Jenny's POV

I follow my lover down to the living room where seven of our kids are hanging out.

"Jenny I think we need a bigger house." He smirks and rubs my tummy.

"Maybe" I sigh.

"Daddy!!!" Mary and Elisa squeal in unison and grabbed Nikki's legs. He laughs and peals them from his legs and picks them up.

"Where's Frankie?" Elisa asks.

"She's with her Mama today." Nikki answers her.

"I miss her when she not here." Mary sighs softly. Her speech has improved so much. She rarely leaves out words unless she's upset.

"I know you do sweetie." He says and kisses her cheek.

He sits with them in his recliner and just holds them.

I know this is just a money grab for John and his greedy family. Mary doesn't even know he exists. I had really wanted to keep it that way. Nikki is the only father she knows and all the gossip mags say she's his. We never corrected them. When someone had brought it to my attention years ago. I had asked Nikki how he wanted to deal with it. He just laughed and said his wife already thought he was an asshole. What's one more reason.

I sit on the couch with the kids as they watch TV. I'm still to worried to care to watch. It's not that I'm worried about him taking her really. I know a really amazing lawyer. Who just happens to be a friend. I met him and his sweet wife at a charity dinner for homeless children. They also adopted one of my fosters. I just worry for Mary stress is hard on her. Both Nikki and I try to keep her life peaceful. Even Donna makes the effort when she's around. Mary has a way of endearing herself. Especially when her sisters are with her making her feel comfortable. Some people have thought they were triplets. They are so close in age. It pissed off Donna and Nikki didn't help by laughing. But everyone keeps the peace around the kids. Now John the prick comes around and wants to disrupt her world. If I thought he wanted her and was doing this out of love. I might react different. He's got another thing coming if he thinks he's gonna get passed this Mama bear.

Looking over at Nikki I see Mary has fallen asleep against her Daddy's chest her fingers twined around his hair. I can tell by the way they are breathing Elisa and Nikki are asleep too.