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TITLE: Hacker Confidential
AUTHOR: Laragh
CHAPTER RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: Willow, Tara and any other characters from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise belong to Joss Whedon, FOX, ME and a whole host of other entities, none of which are me.
SUMMARY: AU, set in contemporary setting. A lot of W/T fluff and some semblance of a storyline.
SPOILERS: AU fic, so at most minor references or pieces of dialogue
FEEDBACK: Yes please
Chapter 103
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“Are you the Rosenberg-Maclays?”
Both Willow and Tara – who was carrying JJ in his carrier and had a diaper bag over her shoulder – turned from where they were standing outside the courthouse at the sound of the new voice and Willow nodded.
“Yes, I’m Willow, this is Tara. Are you–”
“Hallie. Hallie Rocha,” the woman greeted them with a smile, shaking Willow’s hand, “Your family lawyer.”
“We can’t thank you enough for taking the case,” Willow replied warmly, “Really, we know it’s all pretty sudden.”
“And for getting us a hearing so quickly,” Tara added, “I work for the OCFS, I know these things normally take weeks at the very least.”
“Well this is being classed as an emergency hearing,” Hallie replied, “And Anya is the one who convinced the judge to slot you in, so your thanks should be going to her.”
“Really?” Willow asked, turning to Tara with a surprised look, “She didn’t tell us that. She just said a hearing had been called for this morning. Which was like ‘whoa’ since it’s only Monday morning and we called her on a Sunday afternoon. Judges don’t usually work Sunday afternoon’s do they? We didn’t like, make him or her cranky by pushing to get this hearing, did we? What if–”
“Honey, shush,” Tara said, switching the carrier to her other hand and putting her hand on the redhead’s shoulder, “It’s okay.”
“It’s normal to be nervous,” Hallie offered kindly, “But don’t worry, Judge Cotton has been around for a while. She's a very nice and very fair judge.”
“She’d want to be with a name like that,” Willow laughed nervously.
“Judge Cotton...” Tara spoke up, mulling the name around in her head, “I don't think I know her.”
“Like I said, she's very nice,” Hallie reassured.
Tara looked nervous for a moment.
“Do you know whether she has a more...liberal or conservative view on things?”
Willow's eyes widened in terror.
“Oh my god, you think we won't get him 'cause we're gay?! I-I didn't even think of that. I-I thought...”
Hallie quickly put a hand up in front of her and shook her head.
“That won't be an issue with her.”
Willow exhaled in relief and Hallie pointed towards the courthouse before walking ahead and into the building. She led them over to a small bench and sat down, indicating for the other two to sit as well. They did and Tara put the carrier on the floor.
“This is him?” Hallie asked, peering into the carrier at the sleeping baby.
“This is him. JJ,” Willow confirmed, with a smile and a glance downwards, “Anya said it was okay to bring him with us. We both took the day off work but we didn’t want to just leave him with a sitter, not so soon.”
“You can bring him in,” Hallie smiled, before adopting a business tone, “So you know we’re petitioning for temporary custody today pending an adoption application. The judge may or may not ask you to give testimonies, but if she does, all you’ll have to do is recount the details of how the baby got into your care. I have all the paperwork and references in here.”
“That sounds good,” Tara nodded, before looking at the lawyer, “Do you work cases like this a lot, Hallie?”
“I work a lot of cases on abused and neglected children,” Hallie answered, “I like to think I can hear the cries of wronged children and try to help them.”
Willow smiled and turned to look at her wife.
“I like to think that about Tara, too.”
Tara blushed and JJ chose that moment to start to whimper in his carrier. Tara reached down and picked him up, cradling him against her chest as his sobs got louder.
“That’s his hungry cry,” Willow said, rooting through the diaper bag Tara had put on the floor and taking out the compartmentalised Tupperware box she’d turned into a makeshift formula holder, along with a bottle that already had water in it, before turning to Hallie, “Sorry. Just one second.”
“No problem,” Hallie replied as Willow tipped the powder into the bottle and began to shake it.
“Here you go, little man,” Willow said softly, handing the bottle to her wife.
Tara brought the bottle to JJ's mouth.
“Eat up, good boy.”
“You’re wonderful with him,” Hallie commented, smiling, “You’ll be excellent parents once all this legal stuff is dealt with.”
Willow and Tara shared a loving smile for a moment before Willow focused back on Hallie.
“The legal stuff,” she started, “Anya talked us through it, but you have a better knowledge when it comes to family court. Do you think it’s at least likely that things will go in our favour? I don’t think we’ll cope if we have to give him up.”
“We’ll fight to the death before we let someone take him,” Tara said in a serious tone, before smiling down at the baby, “He’s our boy.”
Willow had to smile at the protective ‘Momma Bear’ instinct her wife was displaying and saw Hallie was about to speak before a young man walked up to them, addressing the lawyer.
“You’re up.”
***
“Court is called into session.”
Judge Cotton, a woman in her mid-fifties with shoulder-length blonde hair and a warm face banged her gavel before locking her fingers together, a hint of a smile on her face.
“This is a bit of an unusual case. It’s not often I’m approached for temporary custody for a child from a non-family member. Especially a child so young.”
Willow – who was sitting between Hallie and Tara, with JJ in his carrier at their feet, at the small desk in the small courtroom, the only other people besides them and the judge in the room being the clerk and court reporter – paled when she heard that but Hallie just smiled.
“Your honour, this is an all-round unusual case. The child in question was abandoned at a Safe Haven point last Friday, after which he was placed in the custodial care of Tara Rosenberg-Maclay, one of the petitioners, as an agent of The Office of Children and Families, after it became clear that no foster services were available that were equipped with enough capabilities to care for a newborn.”
“Yes, I read the report,” Judge Cotton replied, though not harshly, “And I’m right in assuming that OCFS are petitioning the court for the termination of parental rights for the child’s natural parents?”
“Correct, your honour, which is why we’re applying for temporary custody until an adoption application can be filed, following that termination.”
“I see,” the judge nodded, looking through the papers she had in front of her, “And I see that the local OCFS branch support this claim in its entirety and are confident in leaving Baby 4192–”
“JJ,” Willow interrupted without thinking, “His name is JJ.”
The judge smiled at that and nodded.
“Let the record reflect that Baby 4192 will be referred to as ‘JJ’ from now on. OCFS are confident in leaving JJ in the custody of the petitioners. I’d like to hear testimony from...” Judge Cotton leafed through her papers, “Tara Rosenberg-Maclay. Could you approach the witness box please?”
Willow turned and gave Tara a smile of support, squeezing her hand, which she’d been holding underneath the table. She was secretly thankful that Tara had been the one called up, since she knew her wife had been in family court multiple times before and would at least know the appropriate manner in which to speak to the judge.
Tara accepted the silent show of support from her wife before she stood up and confidently walked across the courtroom and into the witness box, sitting on the seat there and facing the judge.
“Can you state your name and age for the record please?” Judge Cotton asked.
“Tara Rosenberg-Maclay, 25 years old.”
“Thank you,” the judge smiled, “Can you detail the events that led up to b– JJ being placed in your care?”
“Of course,” Tara nodded, taking a deep breath before she began to recount the story, “Last Friday I received a phone call from Buffalo General Hospital telling me an infant had been abandoned there, since they were a Safe Haven point.”
The judge held up one hand.
“Your occupation is as a social worker in the local OCFS branch?”
Tara nodded.
“Yes, your honour,” she replied, clearing her throat nervously for a moment before continuing, “I relayed the information I had received to my supervisor, Stephanie Peterson, and she asked that I collect the infant. I went to the hospital and collected him and the necessary paperwork before returning to the OCFS offices. The hospital had checked their records and there was no record of his birth, so no other family members could be contacted.”
Judge Cotton nodded along as Tara spoke.
“And at what time did this all occur?”
Tara thought for a moment before speaking.
“Between the hours of 1.30pm and 2.15-2.45pm.”
The judge looked off in thought for a moment
“So by 2pm last Friday, May 21st, social services had assumed custody of the infant.”
Tara nodded again.
“That’s right.”
“Okay,” Judge Cotton replied before smiling again, “Please, continue.”
“Right,” Tara responded, placing her palms flat on her knees to stop herself from fidgeting, “Well on my return to the offices, it had been discovered that of the emergency foster care homes, none were available to bring a newborn into their house. The next option was a group residential home, but I felt that they wouldn’t have the capabilities to care for a newborn.”
The judge inhaled for a moment, her eyes narrowing just slightly.
“Our state homes provide excellent care for children in need.”
“I agree wholeheartedly, your honour,” Tara hastened to reassure, “I know our system would be a loss without them. But given the special requirements presented for the care of a one-day old child, I didn’t feel those requirements could be met without at the very least being to the detriment of the other children in the home.”
Judge Cotton gave the barest hint of a smile, but her eyes seemed happy by that answer.
“Go on.”
Tara visibly exhaled that she hadn’t pissed off the judge and glanced over at Willow who smiled in support. Tara smiled back and focused back on the judge.
“When it became apparent that placing him in a residential home would be the only option available, I offered to assume his care until such time as an appropriate home could be found for him.”
Judge Cotton raised an eyebrow,
“That goes over and beyond your call of duty, Mrs. Rosenberg-Maclay. What prompted you to make such an offer?”
Tara was stopped from responding as a shrill cry suddenly echoed throughout the room. Her head shot to the side as she saw Willow scramble to pick JJ up and cuddle him close to her. The redhead was about to stand up and leave the room when JJ let out a small gurgle and stopped crying, falling asleep in Willow’s arms.
The judge watched the scene play out, a mixture of fascination and esteem flashing in her eyes before focusing back on Tara when the baby had settled fully.
Tara kept watching her wife with JJ for a moment before Willow nodded towards the judge, her eyes wide and Tara snapped to attention, looking back at Judge Cotton.
“Sorry,” she said, clearing her throat, “Can you repeat the question?”
Judge Cotton waved a hand dismissively.
“Quite alright. I asked what prompted you to offer to take the infant into your care?”
“Um, well...” Tara was at a loss of what to say for a moment before she decided to speak from the heart, “To be honest, your honour, I felt a connection to him. I’ve been told I have a tendency to get too involved in the cases I work on, and I’d be lying if I said that that probably wasn’t the case, but this was different. I can’t say I brought him back to my home, to our home, with the intention that I would be in family court fighting to keep him just three days later, but both myself and my wife fell in love with that little boy. You said before that you don’t usually get cases for temporary custody from non-family members, but, your honour...we are his family. We may not be linked to him by blood, but he’s a member of our family now.”
The judge listened to Tara’s impassioned plea, that small hint of a smile never leaving her lips and nodded to herself.
“Alright, thank you, Mrs. Rosenberg-Maclay. You can return to your seat.”
Tara exhaled slowly and stood up, wiping her hands against her skirt as she made her way back to her seat, stroking the top of JJ’s hair, since he was now asleep back in his carrier before re-taking her wife’s hand.
“You did great,” Willow whispered, squeezing the blonde’s hand.
Tara gave a small, weak smile and Willow just squeezed her hand again.
“Okay,” the judge’s loud voice reverberated loudly throughout the room a moment later, “I don’t think I need to take this into deliberation.”
Tara sighed dejectedly; if the judge had made up her mind already it probably wasn’t in their favour.
“It’s evident that a deep bond has been formed with the child over this short but obviously influential time. I’ve read over the financial records you provided and can see you both hold steady government jobs. I’ve also observed, albeit only for a short time, how you interact with the infant. I can see no reason why it isn’t in the child’s best interest to stay with the women who have been caring for him. So,” Judge Cotton smiled down from the bench, “I hereby grant joint temporary legal and physical custody of the infant in question to Willow and Tara Rosenberg-Maclay, pending the termination of the parental rights and an adoption application by the aforementioned women. I also order a document be drawn to note the infant’s name until such a time as an adoptive birth certificate can be produced. Good luck with your adoption application, ladies. I have no doubt you’ll be successful. Case dismissed.”
The judge stood and left though a back door as Willow and Tara both stared after her for a moment, their mouth’s hanging open until the redhead snapped to attention and turned to Hallie.
“Did she say...? Does that mean...?”
“He’s yours,” Hallie replied, smiling widely, “Congratulations.”
“He’s ours,” Willow repeated quietly, before turning to Tara, eyes wide, “He’s ours!”
“I heard,” Tara said in a whisper, a tear rolling down her cheek before she wrapped her arms around her wife, “He’s ours.”
Willow squeezed the blonde tightly before moving her head and kissing her firmly, trying to convey the flurry of love and emotion going through her.
Tara cupped the redhead’s cheeks and kissed back for a few moments before pulling back and glancing down at the carrier, a mirth-filled laugh escaping her lips.
She leant down and picked the baby up, cradling him between herself and her wife and watching as his eyes fluttered open.
“You hear that, little man? Not that you weren’t already, but now you’re officially part of our family.”
Willow grinned wildly at the blonde’s words before speaking herself.
“We’re not just the two nice ladies who were taking care of you anymore, JJ. Now we’re your mommies.”
Tara’s breath caught in her throat again.
“Mommies...” she whispered quietly, almost to herself, gazing down at JJ, “I’m your Mommy.”
“You wanna be Mommy?” Willow asked with a laugh, “Okay. How ‘bout you call me Momma, JJ? Not that you’re gonna be speaking for a while, but still. I’m your Momma. Yes I am, little dude. I’m your Momma.”
Willow cooed down at the baby who let out a small squeal, but it appeared to be a happy one. They were disturbed from anymore family interaction as the clerk walked towards them.
“Could you follow me please? I have all the necessary documentation I need you to sign.”
“Oh, of course,” Tara replied, wiping the last of the stray tears that had been falling from her eyes and putting JJ back in his carrier.
The couple stood up and Willow grabbed the handle of the carrier as Hallie finished putting all her papers back in her briefcase. The three women – and JJ – followed the clerk into a small room in the back where Willow and Tara signed all the paperwork that was handed to them.
“And what’s the child’s full name?” the clerk asked, as he stapled two pages together and put them in the ‘completed’ pile, “A notarised addendum will be added to all of his files until the adoptive birth cert is drawn, like Judge Cotton explained.”
“Oh, we haven’t...” Willow started before turning to Tara, “What about Jacob? I mean, we’ll be calling him JJ obviously but for official stuff.”
“Jacob,” Tara said under her breath before she gave a half-smile and nodded, “Jacob. I like it. Yea. Definitely, Jacob.”
“And a middle name?” the clerk asked, oblivious to the fact that he was disturbing a moment between the couple.
“James?” Tara asked her wife, “In keeping with the ‘J’ theme.”
“Jacob James,” Willow grinned, “JJ. Perfect. Do you like that, hun?”
Willow ran her finger down the baby’s nose, who stayed peacefully sleeping.
“Well he’s not arguing,” Willow said with a laugh before turning back up to look at the clerk, “His full name is Jacob James Rosenberg-Maclay.”
“Excellent...” the clerk said under his breath, before pushing a piece of paper towards couple, “If I could just get both of your signatures on the designated lines there...”
Both women signed their names at the place the clerk was pointing before he pulled it back and smiled.
“You’re free to go. And you’ve got an adorable little boy.”
“We know,” Willow replied, a permanent grin attached to her face, “But thank you.”
“No problem,” the clerk smiled, giving a wave as everyone went to leave, “Nice to see you again, Hallie.”
Hallie waved back and followed the new family out of the courthouse until they were standing on the stairs outside again.
“Hallie, we can’t even begin to thank you,” Tara said to the lawyer, “Words can’t even describe...”
“You were the one who won the judge over,” Hallie smiled, “But I am happy to be of service.”
“What’s the situation now, Hallie?” Willow enquired, “Where exactly do we go from here?”
Hallie transferred her briefcase from one hand to the other.
“Well temporary custody lasts for 90 days, but we can have your adoption application ready to lodge as soon as the termination of parental rights has been granted, which should be sometime this week. Given the special circumstances and the fact that you work for the OCFS, Tara, we should be able to push the application through as soon as possible. I’ll do everything I can and keep you informed, but neither of you should be worrying about anything but spending time with JJ.”
“Thank you so much, Hallie,” Willow replied, “We owe you everything.”
“No problem,” Hallie smiled, “I’m delighted I was able to help your family in any way possible. I better go, I have to be back in court at 10am, but I’ll call you as soon as there’s a new development.”
Hallie departed with a wave and a smile as Willow turned to Tara, shaking her head in disbelief.
“Tara, we’re parents.”
“I know,” Tara replied, her smile beaming, “Willow, we have so much we need to buy. A stroller for one, my arm is killing me.”
Willow giggled and relieved her wife of the carrier as Tara stated talking again.
“We’re gonna need to get him a bunch more onesies, some nice outfits too and one of those proper bottle sanitizers instead of just using boiling water and some toys, he needs some proper toys. And one of those carrier things, you know that you attach to the front of your chest, otherwise our arms will just fall off. We’re gonna have to convert one of the spare rooms into a proper nursery, with a crib! He needs a crib! Obviously he’s going to be sleeping in our room for a while, but he’ll grow out of that Moses basket quickly. A changing table, all of our towels are going to be ruined otherwise–”
“The babbling is clearly starting to rub off,” Willow said to herself before putting her spare hand on her wife’s arm, making her stop talking, “We’re gonna have to look into taking some parental leave, but I think it goes without saying we’re taking the rest of the week off of work. It’s not like we’re gonna get a chance for any other holidays this year, so we may as well take some holiday time now. We’ll get everything we need. The room next to ours is painted blue, so we’ll get Jesse and Xand to help move the bed out of there and put a crib in. We’ve got enough supplies at home to get us through the next day or so, so tomorrow we go shopping and buy him whatever he needs. Today, let’s just be a family together. Okay?”
“Okay,” Tara nodded, exhaling slowly, her body and mind still completely shocked by everything that had happened, “That sounds good.”
Willow smiled and moved her hand down to entwine it with the blonde, then glanced down at the baby.
“Come on, JJ. Let’s get you home.”
Last edited by Laragh on Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Very cute!
And his full, full name is revealed in this chapter!
that just set it up to confirm.... niciiice. Halfrek and the actress' name combined....
Kidding, of course! I thought it was pretty darn good! 
