Ted felt like Christmas had come early this year. He held the documents close to his chest, as though they were the most prized possession in the world. This was partly true as the papers were worth a few million dollars at least.

His suitcase hung limply from his other arm, as he charged through the streets towards the red bricked building. Several camera's flashed all around him and Ted was reminded of the time before he was disgraced. He allowed himself a smirk, fame had always been a fickle thing.

The paparazzi clamored after him, asking for a statement, demanding answers, or simply pleading for a comment. Ted didn't oblige any of them. He was going to hold a press conference that evening, and he planned to answer all the questions then.

Ted was wearing his best suit paired with his favourite tie. Who care'd that they were horribly mismatched? It didn't matter if the suit was too tight or the fact that his socks were different colours, the only thing the press would be talking about would be the verdict he'd elicit.

He spotted Jack and Brielle standing at the gate waiting for him, anxious looks on their faces. They were both dressed in formal clothes, worry emanating through their tense body language. Brielle looked at Ted quizzically, wondering why on earth the man was grinning when Jack might be sent to prison.

Ted beamed at her as he strode into the large room, full of people. The jury were all seated and the judge was ready. Claire and her lawyers were seated to the left, all of whom snorted and scoffed at the sight of Ted.

Jack bit his lip nervously, as Brielle gave his hand a final squeeze.

"Good luck Jack, Ted." she said softly as she took a seat a little farther away from them.

Ted nodded at the young couple. There was no way he would allow the miscarriage of justice.

They would begin in exactly five minutes. Ted was going to thoroughly enjoy his return to court.

Ted Wilson was back.

***

Dixon Senior and his new wife were barely in time for the final verdict. Heidi was a mess, looking disheveled and harried with worry. Even if she had met him late, Jack was still her step son.

She looked at her husband and prayed that the truth would prevail and she could see Jack and Brielle get married. Her god daughter Trisha, had chosen to accompany them as well.

"I bet that Jack is a sneaky little bastard." said Trisha on more than one occassion. "How dare he do that to Claire! He deserves to rot in jail. Just because he's a millionaire, he had no right to ruin someone's life."

While Trisha had been tactical enough to not say these things in front of Jack's father, she made amply sure that Heidi heard every word. What made the situation messy was the fact that Claire and Trisha were best friends. Heidi sighed. She couldn't expect Trisha to side with Jack, not when she had been so close to Claire all these years.

The three of them took their place at the end of the courtroom as most of the seats weere already full.

Dixon Senior looked smug as he noticed the wide grin on Ted WIlson's face. He knew right away that his son was innocent. Ted was, after all, known to be a stickler for honest clients. He cast Heidi a reassuring smile, while resisting the urge to stick his tongue out at Trisha. When he married Heidi, he knew that he'd have to deal with her loud mouthed god daughter as well. But what was love without a few sacrifices?

***

Axky was pacing up and down the street in front of the courthouse. Paula was sitting on a bench by the pavement, twitching her thumbs and praying. They hadn't been able to muster the courage to sit through the hearing. Axky was so antsy throughout the day that Paula had decided to stay back with him and keep him company.

"Paula?" said Axky finally slumping down beside her. He looked worried as he caressed her hands and gripped them tightly. "Do you think I'll need to hack into prison security and get Jack out illegally?"

Paula smiled and shook her head. "Of course not. Ted promised us Jack will be free to go. Let's trust him okay?"

Axky swallowed painfully. He kissed the corner of her mouth just as a silver flash went off behind them.

"I think they're coming out now." said Axky turning around. Paula looked up and sure enough, Jack and Ted were striding out, a smile plastered to their faces. Brielle was close behind, happy tears streaming down her cheeks.

The papparazzi were circling them like flies, clicking pictures left and right, almost blinding them with the constant flashes. Reporters rushed in to get first statements and reactions. Jack and Ted spoke with practiced ease and promised a press conference later.

Axky hugged Paula tight as he felt her wet tears on his chest. "Paula? Why are you crying?" he asked gently.

"Axky, if Vicky isn't Jack's daughter, will they take her away?" she choked out between sobs. Axky felt his heart clench at the thought of anyone taking Vicky away from them but shook his head confidently. "No one will dare to do such a thing."

Paula gave him a watery smile. Just then a tiny figure came jumping up towards them, her arms wide open, clearly expecting a hug.

"Paula!" the little girl, dressed in a pink frock said flinging her short arms around the older woman's neck. "Don't cry, everything's okay now. Except that I came to know that Claire's not my mother."

Paula lifted the child into her arms and kissed her cheeks. "We all love you Vicky. You don't need to worry at all."

Vicky nodded. "But they said that I'm an orphan that Claire picked out because I looked similar to Jack and herself. If I am an orphan will they send me back?"

Paula fought the overwhelming desire to simply take Vicky home and never let anyone find her again. Thankfully Axky came to the rescue.

"Hey Vicky," he said merrily pulling her cheek gently. "I hear you're a free lady now. Good to have got rid of the wicked witch finally eh?"

"Axky!" said Vicky happily. "I missed you!"

"Oh princess, I missed you too." he said taking her into his own arms, where Vicky clung to him.

"Axky?" she asked quietly, her voice so low that only he could hear her.

"Yes princess?" he said amusement in his eyes.

"Will you and Paula be my mom and dad?" she said nervously. "Its just when the judge asked me who I wanted to stay with if I could, I asked if I could stay with you both. I like Jack and Brielle too, but, but you and Paula liked me even when I was someone else's kid." Do you---do you still like me now?"

Axky kissed the little girl's forehead. "We love you Vicky. Legally you are supposed to stay with Jack, but you'll always get to see us. Pinky promise I'll always be around if you need me."

The young man and lady elegantly linked their littlest fingers in a pact.

Brielle and Jack finally reached the scene. Brielle hugged Paula and said, "Jack's been cleared! That horrible woman adopted Vicky and tried to incriminate Jack. They've given her at least ten years in jail for fraud, child abuse, defamation and false accusations."

Jack looked thoughtful at the sight of Paula and Axky, with Vicky in his arms. He cast his old friend a grin. "Say Axky, you ready to be a Dad?" he said with a smirk.

Axky faltered in his speech. "Wh-what do you mean?"

"Well we've been thinking," cut in Brielle, a smirk on her face as well. "Maybe you and Paula would like a new addition to your family?"

Paula felt the blood rush up to her face, as she looked at Axky, her hopefullness reflected in his own warm brown eyes.

"Would you like to be parent's to Vicky?" asked Jack, despite already knowing their answer.

"We would love to." said Paula, tears streaming down her face. "We absolutely adore Vicky. Are you sure---?"

"We're positive." said Brielle as Jack nodded. "We've seen how you behave and interact with Vicky, and we think you guys will make amazing parents. As for me and Jack, I think we're more of the fun aunt and uncle type. I still have a semester left before I graduate and Jack's got some crucial business targets for this year. We want a family soon, but for someone as lovely as Vicky, we also want her to have the best. And right now, Jack and I will not be good enough for her."

"That and Vicky said she loves you guys." said Jack leaning in to give Vicky a tiny kiss on her forehead. "And honestly, her opinion is all that matters."

Axky couldn't help the barrage of tears that escaped his eyelids right then. He had a daughter, right there in his arms, his fiance was hugging him and right then everything else seemed to disappear. He was the happiest man in the world.

"I always knew I'd be back as the number one defense attorney." boomed Ted Wilson's gleeful voice over the microphones. "Even though some idiot almost derailed my career." he added with a pointed look at Axky.

He sighed, Ted was the happiest bloke that day, Axky was perhaps a close second.

"So what do you say we all grab a meal and celebrate?" suggested Paula and everyone agreed. Axky heard a hungry rumble in his stomach and realized how lucky he was to be marrying her.

***

Jack need to make a couple of calls to Raul and Sebastion, so he stepped out of the crowded restaurant to talk in peace. He had just finished, and was heading back when a sobbing Trisha ran into him.

"I'm so sorry Jack." she said immediately. "I didn't know that Claire could be --- could be such a bitch!" she said between choked sobs. "Despite that you and Brielle trusted me enough to organize your wedding---"

"Actually we only agreed because of your relationship with Heidi. That, and well Brielle insisted." said Jack tersely turning to leave.

"I'm sorry." said Trisha, looking straight at him. "But I would never have let you and Brielle down. When I said I had the perfect wedding planned, I meant it. I made a few bad decisions in the past choosing my friends, but if you will, please could you still let me do your wedding?"

Jack sighed. He had done his research on her anyway. It turned out she was a pretty good organizer and had several successful celebrity weddings to her credit. "Okay."

"Please give me a chance----" continued Trisha before realizing that Jack had already agreed. "Um thanks! I'll send you my designs for the theme and the prefered colours----"

Jack rubbed his temples and tuned her out. He'd done his part. Trisha and Brielle could sort out the nitty gritty details.

Frankly, he didn't care if Brielle was wearing magenta or if he was wearing green. As long as they got married and had the opportunity to spend the rest of their life together, nothing else mattered.

****

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