To say that Brielle was nervous was an understatement. She was almost shivering with anticipation as she waited at the University gate for Jack.

She was going to meet his daughter. What if she made a bad first impression and the little girl hated her? What if she compared her to Claire and thought Brielle was nowhere near as wonderful?

"I may not be as wonderful, but I would never hurt her..." said a small voice in Brielle's head.

Brielle broke into a cold sweat as she realized: She simply wasn't ready to be a mother. There was no way she was going to tell this to Jack. She wanted to try at least---for him.

Her cell phone started to ring..."I'm a barbie girl in a barbie world---" as several passerby's suppressed giggles.

"H-ello?" she stammered, breaking out of her reverie.

"Hi!" said a childish voice. "This is Vicky!"

"Vick-y?"

"Are you going to be my new mommy? I wanna see you! When are you coming?"

"I wanna see you too!" cried Brielle happily. Vicky wanted to see her! She wanted a new mommy! she had called her! "I'll be home real quick---in about twenty minutes okay?"

"Okay! I love youuuuu."

"I love you too darling." said Brielle her smile growing wider and wider until her cheeks hurt. "Bye bye."

"Byeee!" said Vicky excitedly. It was evident the little girl was overjoyed.

Her sweat dried up quickly as it dawned on her---no one was ever ready to be a parent...but when the time came, they would learn.

A majestic black car stopped in front of her, attracting envious looks from the other students waiting for their own transport. The sleek windows rolled down slowly and Brielle's heart skipped a beat as Jack's handsome face appeared.

"Hey." he greeted a cheery grin on his mouth. Oh how she wanted to kiss him.

"Hey." she said grinning herself.

Jack stepped out suddenly and embraced her. He turned her gently till her back hit the warm car's metal. There were whistles and catcalls as he kissed her passionately. His hands were everywhere, as were hers. They didn't seem to care that people were watching, or that it wasn't even a very romantic day. Her hands intertwined with his hair as he traced her jawline with his fingers. They were happy in their own little world.

"Ready?" he asked when they finally broke away for air. His new stubble tickled her skin as she regained her breath.

"Ready." she said as she opened the car door.

They were about to become a family.

***

Ted Wilson was having a hard time gathering details. Claire had been very thorough with her work. There were no records of her ever being admitted to a hospital three years ago.

"How'd the baby get delivered? Don't tell me she got it done in her home with a midwife?" he muttered as he rummaged through thousands of files. "She must have at least had a doctor---a gynaecologist, dietitian, therapist ---someone."

Ted Wilson grumbled loudly. He hated not having evidence. It made him feel incompetent and useless. He slumped down onto his chair and growled in anger. He had a gut feeling Jack Dixon was innocent, but he also felt that a lot of stuff didn't make sense. He couldn't explain how Vicky was Claire and Jack's daughter. There was simply no evidence except that of circumstance.

A DNA test would require Claire's permission. Not to mention she had filed a case that very morning siting her missing daughter.

The police were bound to show up at Jack's residence anytime within a couple of hours.

Ted sighed. There was no way his clients were going to get hauled into jail for kidnapping. He needed to show up before the police reached them.

Ted glanced at his watch, it was almost lunch time. Maybe Axky's wife wouldn't mind fixing him some lunch too. She was a pretty good cook and great with the kid.

"Leslie got pretty lucky." he said cracking his knuckles. His own wife had walked out on him twenty years ago, and he'd never had any kids.

"Ah well." he said as he shut his suitcase. "That little kid Vicky said she loves me. Maybe she'll think of me as her grandfather."

It is funny how a little love can make anyone's bitterness go away.

***

"What if they send me back?"

"They? You mean Jack and Brielle?" asked Axky in surprise as Vicky nodded. "They will never ever send you away love. We rescued you because we never ever want to let you go, okay?"

"What if they hate me?" she asked her lips trembling.

"They will love you, or Uncle Axky will kick their butt." he said ruffling her hair. She giggled.

"Wanna call them then?" said Axky pulling out his phone.

"Yes!" she said admiringly. "I love you Axky."

"I love you more." he said kissing her nose.

"No! I love you more." she protested.

"I love you more more more." said Axky with the toothiest of smiles.

"No! I love you more more more more!" she said baring all her missing teeth.

Paula smiled to herself as she set the pies in the oven. She sighed as she realized how wrong she was for a person like Axky. They would never work out together. He was carefree and fun loving and would make a great husband and father. Her head hurt as she realized that she couldn't give him any of the things he needed.

She thought of her medical reports once again and willed herself not to cry.

All she had was a future full of uncertainties and a past she could not change. She watched the rain pour down again as she wondered : maybe she should simply leave.

Just then, a familiar car pulled up in front of the house and Brielle came running up to the door. An equally excited, but more collected Jack followed her in.

Paula's face lit up with a smile. She couldn't leave just yet...

***

Jack could only stare as the same brown eyes looked back at him. They scrutinized each other from head to toe for over two full minutes. Axky, Paula and Brielle watched as the two finally met.

"Victoria?" Jack said finally. He felt weird as he got down on his knees for the second time that year.

"Daddy!" she exclaimed running up to him. He subconsciously opened his arms out to her and it surprised him how snugly she fit in. He knew in an instant, that he would never let her go. He held her close as tears fell down his eyes. Brielle clutched her hand close to her chest as she watched her fiance break down into the happiest tears of his life.

"Daddy why are you crying?" Vicky asked looking worried. She tried to wipe away the tears with her short little hands.

"I missed you so much." he said looking at her. He kissed her forehead, and her cheeks and hugged her again.

Vicky's own eyes brimmed with tears. "I missed you too! Mommy said I didn't have a Daddy, but I knew that wasn't true."

"It isn't." said Jack, smiling at her. His tears were gone now, as fast as they had come. He was no longer afraid or overwhelmed at the prospect of becoming a father. "So Vicky, ready to meet someone special?"

"My new mommy?" asked Vicky wide eyed.

"Yes." said Jack holding out a free hand to Brielle, who looked flustered. She got down on her knees too.

"My name is Brielle." she said looking at the beautiful little girl.

"Can I call you mommy?" Vicky asked eagerly.

"Of course." said Brielle as she hugged both Jack and Vicky, her arms holding everything she held dear in the world.

Axky was watching Paula closely as she dabbed at the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief. He quietly walked up behind her and embraced her.

"What was that for?" she asked cracking a weak smile.

"Lets get out of here." he said kissing her full lips. "We're done here, I think."

"But don't you want to stay?" she asked in surprise, twisting in his arms so her arms were pressed against his chest. Paula didn't know why she couldn't bear to look at the family in front of them anymore.

"Nah." said Axky squeezing her hands reassuringly with his own. "I want to be with you. Wanna go back to our own place?"

"Sure." said Paula gratefully. "But what about the pies?"

"Pies?" said Axky gleefully. It was incredible how he went from a mature, sexy, smoldering guy to giggling, happy-go-lucky kid. "You made pies?"

"Yes. And some apple tarts." said Paula tapping her chin.

"What they don't know can't hurt them." said Axky with an evil grin. "I say pack it up and lets scram."

"You're despicable." said Paula laughing as she extracted herself from his arms and went to the kitchen. She was going to take a couple of pies and tarts for Axky and leave the rest for Jack, Brielle and Vicky.

"There's the smile I was looking for." murmured Axky as he watched her load the paper bags, humming to herself.

***

"My little sugarplum." said Brielle sitting Vicky on her lap once again. "You look thoughtful, whats on your mind?"

Vicky giggled. "You're really pretty." she said shyly. "My mom said you'd look bad, but you don't."

"Is that so?" said Brielle grinning.

They both looked up as the doorbell rang. Moments later, Arthur came rushing in flush faced to inform them, "The police are here. They are looking for Victoria."

"What?" asked Brielle panicking. She held Vicky tighter.

"Don't worry." said Jack emerging from the bedroom clad in only a towel. It hung low over his waist and Arthur sighed in disdain at his abs. It was so unfair, why didn't he get such a ripped body?

"Ted WIlson is here too." said Jack combing his hair. "He said he has evidence to let us keep Vicky. I need to make a small appearance at court though. Arthur will you find me a crisp black suit? I need to get back to work after this is over."

"Sure thing boss." said Arthur grinning as he raced off to do what he was told.

***

"That asshole sent me a bloody notice? He filed a case against me, how dare he!" demanded Claire.

"Miss please settle down." said her assistant immediately, a timid woman in her mid twenties. "I'll call for the lawyer, he'll arrive in a few minutes."

"Shut up Rebecca." snapped Claire as she threw her handbag to the floor in rage. The contents clattered at the fall and scattered everywhere.

A little girl poked her head from behind the sofa, looking very scared, the cards fallen at her feet.

"It's all right Vicky," said Rebecca hurrying to pick up the stuff from the handbag. Rebecca looked at the child and smiled weakly. "Why don't you watch some tv?"

"More tv?" shouted Claire angrily as she kicked her heels off. One shoe crashed into a lamp and blew it out while the other ricocheted on top of the television, over Vicky's head. Claire sat down on the sofa and said in a steely voice. "I can't stand another minute of those horrendous cartoons. Send Victoria to bed immediately. I don't want her around."

"But Miss," started Rebecca rushing to take Victoria into her arms. The poor girl was so frightened she readily obliged. She looked like she was about to cry.

"Get her out of my sight!" said Claire tersely, and Victoria started crying. "Oh shut her up Rebecca. She just needs a spanking."

"Yeah so is this video enough?" said Ted Wilson irritably as he switched off the large makeshift screen outside Jack's house. The police men, media and child service commission standing in front of him at least had the decency to look slightly ashamed of themselves. "I can't believe such horrible treatment has been dealt out to a child for so long and neither of you parties have ever stepped in."

"Kidnapping is a serious charge, and Jack Dixon ---" started a female activist angrily as the media persons tried to pick up the hot news.

"We know lady." said the police officer with a sigh. "This guy is Ted Wilson. No way is our state prosecutor going to win against you. The video is proof in itself anyway. So just come to court with me right now with Mr. Dixon and tell the judge what you told me and he'll be free to go."

"Ms. Claire declared publicly that Jack Dixon is the father of her child and he has full right to seek custody when he has proof of Claire being an abusive mother." stated Ted Wilson airily. "My client and I will be at court in fifteen minutes."

"Yeah, alright everyone clear out." yelled an officer as he got inside his car and drove off.

***