McHay re-written

Chapter 4

Day of the Custody Battle

John-Paul POV

I woke up this morning having had not much sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about what Ste must be going through. I walked into the kitchen to make myself a coffee. I needed it. I sat on the sofa watching Harry Potter which was on E4. Matthew still wasn't up yet. I decided to let him sleep in since he didn't have nursery today and he didn't go to sleep until late as he decided to show me all of his toys. I heard to door open and close softly. I knew it was James so I didn't turn around.

"Missed me?" James said. He seemed happier. I turn around to see him smiling with a massive bunch of roses and a box of chocolate. I get up and walk over to him taking the flowers of him and smelling them.

"Thank you" I say to him giving him a kiss and going to put the flowers in a vase.

I was conflicted. I love James but I love Ste as well. The question is who do I love more?

"What's up? You look like you haven't slept." James says putting arms around my waist and pulling me into a hug.

"I ran into Ste yesterday while I was at the park with Matthew. Amy is going for full custody of Leah and Lucas today at 3." I say to him walking over to the sofa. James sat next to me and put an arm around my shoulders.

"Does he have a case?" James asks. I don't get why he is concerned.

"He does now. He found some stuff out yesterday and that will hopefully let him win" I say not going into too much detail.

"Even though he is your ex-husband, I hope he wins. I don't trust Ryan as far as I can throw him." James says. James works closely with Ryan as he is a police officer.

"I might give him a call later. See how he is." I say to James as he puts the TV on the news as Harry Potter had finished.

"Yeah. He might like that, tell him to let us know how he gets on." James says getting up and going into Matthew's room to wake him up since it was 10am. I get my phone out and ring Ste.

(A/n Italics is Ste Bold Italics is John-Paul)

"Hello?"

"Hey Ste, How are you feeling?"

"Nervous but hopeful"

"James was asking after you about it and we are both hopping you win"

"Tell James thank you. Do you want to meet later. I may either need a cry or the kids will need a hug"

"4pm at the park?"

"Yeah. The custody battle won't take that long"

"Should I bring James"

"Yeah why not. It would be nice to see you two."

"We will see you later then"

"See you then."

Ste hung up the phone as James walked back into the room carrying a sleepy Matthew and placing him on the counter to make breakfast.

"What did Ste say" James asks as he gives Matthew his breakfast and hands me another coffee.

"We are going to meet him at the park at 4pm so he can give us the verdict" I say to him.

"What about little mister here?" James says gesturing to Matthew.

"I'll ask Mercedes and see if she can take him for the day." I say.

"John-Paul, What did Ste find out?" James asks.

"Ryan has been abusing Leah and Lucas for a while. They have bruises all up their arms" I say, tears coming to my eyes again.

"Ste can win this. I have faith in him" James says

"How about we have lazy today" I suggest and James agrees.

That's exactly what happened Mercedes took Matthew to a zoo while James and I chilled until 3:30 when we walked to the park to meet Ste.

The custody battle

Ste's POV

This is it. Either I get to keep my kids or they leave forever. As I walk into the room where Amy and Ryan are waiting, I see a little side room where Leah and Lucas are playing with social workers. Ryan gives me dead eyes but Amy looks sympathetic.

"Hay versus Barnes custody trial, Room 3" We hear over the intercom. The three of us walk silently to the room where a judge is sitting. I sat on the side furthest from the door as I was the first to enter.

"Today we are here because Miss Barnes would like full custody with no visitations over Leah and Lucas Barnes," The judge starts, "Miss Barnes, what is the first point as to why you should have custody of the children."

"The first thing that I think is the biggest reason for all of this is the drug abuse. With a history of Cocaine and Crystal Meth, I don't think the children are safe with him due to this. Every time he is out, Myself and his fiancé are scared that he may turn up in a ditch after a bender gone wrong." Amy says, despite knowing I am a year clean.

"Mr Hay, Your response to Miss Barnes' Point" The judge says, turning to me.

"I admit I have had trouble with drugs in the past, but I am over 1 year clean and haven't had the urge to do any kind of drugs in the past year. The only drugs I take are clinic prescribed pills." I say looking at Amy.

"What pills do you take Mr Hay" The Judge asks.

"Only HIV Meds and pain killers as I had an operation recently and have been in a lot of pain since." I say very honestly.

"Thank you Mr Hay. Can you give a reason why you should have Sole Custody of the children." The judge asks.

Now I have to make a decision, do I go with the fake leukaemia and risk myself being dropped in it or go for the abuse the kids have suffered from Ryan. I made my mind up.

"Well, the children told me that they had been systematically abused by Mr Ryan Knight." I say and Amy's face dropped.

"Ryan is this true" Amy says turning to Ryan.

"Of course not. He is just making it up to win" Ryan says.

"Really, So how do you explain the bruises on their arms," I say showing the judge and Amy the photos, "I took these photos yesterday."

"Can anyone prove the children said this?" The judge said to me thinking it was fake.

"Yes I was with Mr John-Paul McQueen at the time when they told. We bumped into each other at the park." I say.

"Can we see the bruises on the children." Amy asks. The judge nods and goes to fetch the kids. Once he has left the room, Ryan turns to me.

"How did you even find out about the bruises." He said in a sort of shouting whisper.

"The kids rolled their sleeves up so they could play in the sand" I say. The judge walks back in with Leah and Lucas.

"Kids can you roll your sleeve up for us?" Amy asked them. They did. On their arms where big, black bruises. Amy broke down into tears. Ryan looked furious.

"Kids." Ryan said very sternly. The kids flinched and ran to me and jumped on my knees, burying their head in my neck.

"They are scared of you Ryan." I say stroking their backs to calm them down.

"I have heard enough. I think we should take a break so that I can think about who gets the custody of the children."

About 5 minutes later, we were called back in for the result.

The judge said "I grant sole custody to..."