Lacy had just finished an early shift at the diner. She hurried down the street towards Michael's comic shop. She clutched her jacket close to her chest against the biting wind. Her messenger bag was firmly held under her arm so the wind couldn't catch it. She only had a little while until she needed to catch her bus to PIFA, but she wanted to show Michael what she had done. If he liked it, she would be pleased. If he didn't, then screw him. She knew this was some of her best work, and dammit, she was proud of it.

She pushed open the door of the comic store and quickly stepped inside closing it against the bitter wind.

"Michael?' she called when she didn't see him anywhere in the store.

Michael came out of his office. "Lacy?" he said. "What are you doing here?"

"I have something to show you," she said proudly. "I redid the drawings the way we discussed." She pulled out her sketchbook and laid the new sketches out on the counter.

Michael studied them carefully. He realized that Lacy had truly listened to what he had asked her to do. The drawings were exactly what he wanted them to be.

"These are … great!" Michael said enthusiastically.

Lacy let out the breath she had been holding. Maybe this could work after all. "You like them?" she asked wanting further reassurance.

"I love them. They're perfect!"

Lacy smiled. "Thank you. That means a lot to me."

"You did a great job," Michael repeated. He pulled Lacy into a warm hug. "I appreciate that you listened to what I asked you to do. Great work!"

Lacy smiled broadly as she stepped back from Michael. "I have one more thing to show you." She pulled another paper out of her sketchbook. "This is what I think Sateeena should look like."

Michael took the drawing and studied it. Sateeena wore a short costume of bronze colored clothing, an interesting contrast to the red of Zephyr and the midnight blue of Rage. Her outfit consisted of shorts and a top that had a high neckline and no sleeves. She had a slim but muscular body. She wasn't at all voluptuous like so many other comic females. She was rather androgynous in appearance which is what they had discussed. She wore a bronze colored mask that covered her eyes and gave her a look of mystery. Her hair was short and blond, but not as blond as JT. Long boots came up her legs and ended mid thigh. She was a very striking looking figure.

"She looks … very interesting," Michael said.

"That doesn't tell me very much," Lacy countered. She waited as Michael continued to stare at the drawing.

"I think she's exactly what we discussed her to be. You did a great job on the concept, and I think we have the makings of a very productive partnership."

"Thank you," Lacy said, and she meant that sincerely.

"I'm really looking forward to working with you, Lacy."

"That means a lot, Michael. Thanks again." Lacy smiled and shook Michael's hand. "I have to go catch a bus for school. I'll talk to you later." Lacy gathered up her sketches and was gone before Michael had a chance to say anything else. He watched her through the door of his shop. She ran to the corner and leapt onto the bus, just getting there in time before it pulled away.

Michael smiled to himself. He had himself quite the partner.

 

*****

 

Jennifer awoke in Seth's bed. He was leaning over her tickling her nose.

"What are you doing?" she laughed.

"Looking at the most beautiful woman in the world."

"I'm going to get a swelled head if you keep saying things like that."

"Then you'll soon have a gigantic head, because I don't intend to stop."

"Oh Seth, you are such a romantic. I'm just a woman. I make mistakes and I'll piss you off from time to time."

"Then I agree to being pissed off as long as you're around."

"You make this sound like a long term commitment." Jennifer watched Seth's face turn white. "You want it to be long term, don't you?" she asked quickly. They needed to settle a few things.

"I thought that was what you wanted to." Seth looked like some part of him had been stomped on.

"It is what I want," Jennifer declared. "Since I've met you, I can't imagine being with anyone else."

Seth's face relaxed and he smiled at her. "Neither can I," Seth proclaimed.

"So what are we going to do about this?" Jennifer asked holding her breath.

"I think we should get married."

"Married?"

"Isn't that the next logical step?"

"But we've only known each other for a couple of months."

"I feel like I've known you forever," Seth declared.

"I … I feel the same way, and it scares me."

"Scares you?"

"I don't want this to end, but I had one marriage that I thought was a good one until it all went to shit."

"That doesn't mean that ours would."

"How can you know that?"

"Because I'm not Craig Taylor, and I doubt that you're the same person that was married to him."

"I'm definitely not that mousy little housewife," Jennifer stated.

Seth chuckled. "Somehow I knew that. And I don't believe you were ever a mousy little housewife."

Jennifer smiled up at Seth. "But … I'm not sure I want to rush into a marriage, any marriage."

"I thought I had been taking it slow," Seth said with a frown.

"You did the courting thing just right. And sleeping together has been wonderful, but leaping into marriage just seems too much too soon."

"Then what if we get engaged instead? We can stay that way as long as you want. Long enough for you to decide if I'll make better husband material than your ex."

"I already know that you will."

"Then what do you say? Will you marry me, Jennifer Taylor, and be engaged to me as long as it takes for you to decide that I'm the only one you want to marry?"

"Yes, Seth, oh my God, yes!" Jennifer flung herself into Seth's arms and let him kiss her until she stopped worrying about where they were headed. Then he made slow, passionate love to her until they both had to get up and go to work.

 

*****
 

"I'm scared, Miss Melanie," Curtis said hesitantly. They were waiting outside the hearing room for their time in front of the judge. Curtis knew his life would change whatever the judge decided. But he also knew that he didn't want to go back. He wouldn't go back to the Hardigans, to the abuse and fear, to living on the streets. He knew he couldn't face any of that again. He had found warmth and comfort and peace at the clinic. That's where he wanted to stay … with Karen and Hunter and Nick. If only the judge would let him do that.

"You don't need to be scared," Melanie replied confidently. "We're going to do what's best for you. That's what we all want, the judge included."

Curtis nodded but he couldn't stop the knot of fear that clutched his stomach.

"Curtis," Karen said. "I'll be there to speak for you. If there's anything you have questions about just tell me and I'll try to get it cleared up for you."

"Okay," Curtis replied. His voice was small and weak.

"It's going to be fine," Melanie said squeezing his shoulder.

"I wish Alfred was here."

"You mean Matty?" Karen asked with a smile.

"Yeah, I guess I should call her Matty. I was sure she was a boy."

"Matty will be fine and so will you," Karen replied.

Curtis entered the judge's chambers along with Karen and Melanie. The judge, a stern but matronly looking woman, signaled that they should all take a seat. Curtis had a sinking feeling that his case wasn't going to go as easily as he had hoped.

"Mr. Samuels," the judge began as she looked up over the file in her hand that contained everything known about Curtis Samuels in his short fourteen year life. "Mr. Samuels, it says here that up until two years ago, you were an 'A' student, have an interest in biology and were a member of your school's book club."

Curtis nodded.

"It also says here that you've robbed at least six people at knife point. Your last victim, a Mr. Brian Kinney, was almost injured."

"Your Honor, if I may...," Melanie tried to interject.

"No, you may not, Ms. Marcus. I can read. Mr. Samuels, you appear to have many friends and advocates. None of your victims want to press charges, including Mr. Kinney. I have affidavits from all the victims. I also have statements from Dr. Raphael Angles and Hector Sanchez."

Curtis' eyes grew wide. He had no idea that his victims made statements. Curtis couldn't help the tears that began to flow from his eyes.

"Your Honor," Karen pleaded. The judge handed Karen a box of tissues.

"Curtis, may I call you by your first name?" the judge asked softly.

"Yes ma'am."

"Tell me, in your own words what happened."

It was over two hours later when Curtis, Karen and Melanie emerged from the judge's chambers. Before they left, Judge Schultz motioned for Karen.

"Karen, when things settle, I want the office of Child Services and the DA's office to reopen their investigation into the Hardigans. Notify the Treasury Department or the IRS, someone. The more they keep cashing those support checks for a non-existent child, the more rope they'll have to hang themselves. I don't want those people to remain in a position to ruin any more children's lives."

"Yes, ma'am," Karen said happily.

"Send back Ms. Marcus," the judge ordered.

"Your Honor, you wanted to see me?" Melanie asked as she knocked then entered the chambers at the judge's 'come in'.

"Yes, Ms. Marcus. Does the boy know that Dr. Angles and his partner are thinking about fostering the boy and of possible adoption?"

"No, ma'am. He doesn't. Things were so unsettled; we thought it best not to cloud the important issues. Curtis knows what he did was wrong. He wants to make amends and atone for his crimes. His victims even approved Dr. Angles' plan."

"Ah, yes, to work off his debt at the vet clinic. Very well, keep me informed and when they're ready, set up a meeting. I'd like to meet this doctor and his partner."

"Yes, ma'am!" Melanie left the judge's chambers very satisfied with the outcome. An outcome due in part to Brian Kinney.

 

*****

 

Brian arrived back at Edna's Treasures to find Justin painting in the sun porch. He stopped in the doorway to watch his husband create. He loved when Justin was absorbed in his craft. He watched the deft strokes Justin was making with the brush, the way he mixed a new color and added the little details that made his paintings so special.

"Sunshine," Brian said softly.

Justin stopped and turned with a big smile for his husband. "Hey. Did you get your issues taken care of?"

"Yeah, I'm not pressing charges."

"I knew you wouldn't."

"How did you know?"

Justin sighed as he wiped off his brush. "As much as I was worried about you and wanted the mugger punished, I knew that Curtis, being a kid, would grab your heartstrings."

"I don't have heartstrings," Brian protested.

"Says the guy who started the Jason Kemp Center in the first place."

"Well…" Brian began but he really didn't know how to refute what Justin had said. Maybe he did have heartstrings. Brian shuddered at the thought.

Justin smiled as he set down his brush and palette. "It's okay to have a soft side, Brian. Come into the kitchen. We'll have some coffee and you can tell me all about it."

"Okay," Brian agreed. Justin didn't seem too angry with him, and that was definitely a step in the right direction.

 

*****
 

"So I can stay at the Center?" Curtis asked. He wanted to be absolutely sure that he had understood what the judge had said.

"That's correct," Karen said as she walked beside the boy. She could swear he was a foot taller than when they had entered the hearing room.

"The judge was very impressed with you," Melanie said. "Good manners go a long way to convincing the judge that you mean what you say."

"I do mean it," Curtis said with a smile. "No more stealing or mugging. And I get to stay at the Center, right?" he asked again.

Melanie chuckled. "You get to stay there for now. Maybe someone will offer you a foster home or even adoption."

Curtis frowned. "Why would anyone do that? I'm too old. People want babies to adopt. And I don't want any more foster homes," he added adamantly.

"It wouldn't be a place like the Hardigans," Karen said gently. "We won't let that happen again."

"The Hardigans are going to have their own problems now that the judge has launched an investigation," Melanie informed them.

"They deserve it," Curtis stated. "Maybe the other kids who were there will be able to go someplace better too."

"We can hope," Melanie agreed as they walked out of the courthouse.

 

*****
 

"Hello?"

"Justin, it's Mel, is Brian home?"

"Yeah, sure, hold on." Justin made a face at Brian as he held the phone smothering it into his chest. "It's Mel," Justin whispered.

Brian rolled his eyes then stuck his tongue out in the general direction of the phone and of Pittsburgh.

"Take it," Justin whispered louder.

"No!" Brian whispered back, defiantly.

"Wuss!" Justin whispered again then steeled himself to speak to Mel. "Um, he just went to the bathroom, Melanie, can I take a message.

On the other end of the line, Melanie rolled her eyes then flipped her phone the bird.

"Tell the asshole that I hope he's constipated. But also tell him, thank you. The judge is allowing temporary custody of Curtis to Hunter and the clinic. I'll email Brian all the details later. And tell him I hope I didn't mess up his lap too much this morning, me not wearing any panties and all. Bye, Justin." Melanie snapped her cell phone off then burst out laughing.

Justin set the phone down on the counter then turned to face his most innocent looking spouse who was about to take a sip of coffee. Justin's eyes narrowed.

"Brian, something you want to tell me about this morning?"

"Um, like what? I went to the clinic to meet Curtis and Hunter and then I went over to Lindz."

"Uh huh. Did you by any chance see Melanie?"

"I seem to recall she was there."

"You seem to recall," Justin stated, keeping his voice calm and level. "And do you recall that she was half NAKED!" Justin shouted as he closed the gap toward his spouse.

"Now, Sunshine," Brian sputtered as he began to back pedal. "Justin, Sunshine, you know Melanie has nothing, not one thing that could possibly tempt me."

Brian stumbled over a nearby stool then made a break for their bedroom. Justin was hot on his heels.

Brian couldn't hide so he laid out on the bed ready to take his punishment.

"Playing the sacrificial lamb gets you nowhere, Kinney!" Justin pounced to tickle his spouse into submission. Brian laughed until his sides ached and the tears ran freely from his eyes.

Giving Brian a moment to catch his breath, Justin rolled to his side.

"Was she really not wearing underpants?" Justin asked with an exaggerated shudder.

"Yeah, just her robe and t-shirt. Oh shit!"

"What?"

"The t-shirt."

"What about it?"

"It was old, very old."

"Yeah, so?"

"Remember I told you that when we were in college, Lindsay would sometimes sleep in my t-shirts?"

"Yeah...oh you don't think? No. Really?" Brian nodded. "EIW GROSS!!!!" They both said together then laughed again until neither could breathe.