Taeyong shakingly took a seat on the wooden bench that stood behind Johnny and Wendy: his pale face which he had concealed through a slight touch of make-up revealed a determined and calm expression.

He softly kissed Jisung’s head, the child sitting on his lap, face pressed in his chest as his youngest was way to sleepy for the early morning court session that was happening; if not because he was required to be here, Taeyong would have left him with Renjun, Jeno and Chenle who were staying at his Doyoung hyung’s house, hopefully having a good time with his hyung, Yuta and their kids.

The Japanese model had been angry at first when Johnny had asked him to not be present, but calmed down as Doyoung explained it was the best as for one any public figure assiting Taeyong could be seen as Taeyong delibaretly using them to hide or pressure the jury, and for two he and Doyoung were the kind of people that would be unable to sit still and endure accusations being thrown at their beloved one: it was better to stay at home then to havroc the court session.

Ten too had wanted to come; but his position as King (and that of a foreign country) didn’t allow him to attend the court for the same reason as International renowed model and deginer Yuta and popular Asian actor and MC Doyoung.

Instead the low-key Jaehyun, Kun and Winwin were seated on Taeyong’s right side; Jaehyun as he had enough knowledge of Law to actually be helpful and Kun as Johnny predicted that his medical knowledge could be of good use for this case. Winwin was there without any other reason as it was his family and there was no better moral support for Taeyong then his sworn-brother.

Mark sat on Taeyong’s left side: if not because the younger one had known of this situation, Taeyong would have preferred for him to stay with his dongsaengs, yet his son was awefully stubborn and not easy to fool: besides Taeyong needed someone for moral support and someone who could take over Jisung when he would be asked to come up in fornt of the jury. With Jisung drowsy state, Taeyong knew no other then Mark would be able to detach his drowsy son from his arms. At least that’s what Johnny had tried to argue when convincing him to allow Mark to come with him.

Taeyong had a feeling the advocate was very cunning so maybe there was another reason; nevertheless, he was too distracted to care about it know. Next to Mark stood Lucas, who according to Ten would allow Mark to feel more at ease in the audience: the little one had assisted plenty times his father at work, and was used to the justice court, as he was trained to be Johnny’s heir since little.

Johnny who stood in front with a stack of documents and folders neatly arranged on his table turned towards Kun to ask: “Were you able to contact with Dr.Yang Yang?”

Kun nodded; “Yang Yang is a righteous person. He couldn’t promise me to help, but he swore he would be unbiased and if there was any clue that would indicate Jisung being better off with us, he would peldge for our case.”

Johnny nodded: “That’s everything we could ask for. The advocate of the court is already bribed by them, at least we have the psychologe unbiased. As for the judges, one of them is an intimate friend of that vice president of JYP Corporation while the other is someone who has dealt with SM corporation may times; he should look at us rather favourably. The main judge is unbiased, though it was a close call as they first tried to apply this case at another judge who usually accepts bribes regularly. I still don’t get how you managed to get him to refuse this case.” Johnny eyes looked with admiration towards Jaehyun who merely snorted: “Such a petty trick, NCT would have been long gone if at every court case we would have dealt with a such sabotaged court. That judge likes to gambel a lot, its very easy to track all his black money and to expose it through Night Night News. He knows better then to risk his carreer by going against us.”

Wendy raised an eyebrow as it was actually very difficult to track and prove money acquired through bribery: that Lee Jaehyun always seemed so laid back, but his capabilities were not inferior then that of her boss. A true wolf in sheep clothing.

“Ge, don’t worry, we will beat those bad guys so hard they will never come to annoy us back again.”

Lucas grinned while he hugged his hyung’s arm, a confident look in his eyes and Mark’s cold face couldn’t help but reveal a tiny smile at his brother’s attempt to assure him.

Lucas may seem aloof and goofing all around, Mark knew that Lucas was exteremly smart. He just liked people to not notice it and more importantly he always tried to hide his bad feelings away from his closest kin.

Mark may not know anything about law or custodity battles, he was observant enough to conclude through his appa, dad, Uncle and Step-dads that this was no easy battle.

There was no way Lucas wouldn’t know it too, but he had only shown a confident and warm smile at his brother since the beginning, and Mark’s left hand caressed Lucas tight before patting it in a form of wordless thank-you. Lucas sighed inwardly: as expected of hyung, he had seen through his act.

Though Lucas was sure his fat father was the greatest lawyer on the world, he knew well enough that having a great lawyer didn’t meant for an automatic victory. He had heard (alright, overheard but ssssh) his parents discuss the case yesterday night and from what he understood with his experience and knowledge (he had a handsome face but he was the son of Johnny and Ten.There was no way he would be naïve or ignorant like most children his age), he had concluded that this would be a nasty battle. He gave it a 4 out of 10 to win this case with all their demands.

A 6 out of 10 to win with compremises (which wasn’t really the greatest result, as his fairy dad didn’t want to give up Jisung to them even for shared custodity after what happened between him and that women.)

And a 3 out of 10 to lose the case.

Lucas grimaced inwardly: he didn’t like those numbers at all.

He glanced briefly at the women who stood on the other side of the room, accompanied by a tall man who Lucas recognised thanks to his fathers papers as the vice president of JYP Corporation. Their advocates were two males, one Korean and one American. Lucas recognised the American advocate as Mr. Johnson, as he was a notorious advocate who had crossed path with his father more then a couple of times. He didn’t recognise the Korean one, but according to the overheard conversation of yesterday it seemed he was quite a rash personality.

Just as Lucas mused about certain arguments they would try to use against them, the three judges arrived, and everyone stood up.

“This case seems like a very long and complicated matter so let’s forgo all unnesseracy formalities and begin.” The main judge announced as he officially opened the court session.

Nancy was the first one that was called to sit in front of the jury, and just like Johnny expected, she started to act as a pitiful mother who had lost everything and just innocently asked justice. Johnny had to give it to her, she was not for nothing a renowed actress. Her sobbing and tears were truly heart wretching to the point Johnny would have loved to ask her if someone had died.

But he didn’t as two could play the game and he nodded at Wendy who stood up graciously to ask her questions.

“Mrs. Kim there are some details in your story which are quite vague to me, I wonder if you could give me some clarity on them.” Wendy asked with a genuine concerned expression.

Nancy narrowed her eyes for a slight second, but nodded as she continued to look pitiful, more then happy to explain.

“I can not imagine the pain you received when you heard of the mid-wife and your mother that you gave birth to a stillborn baby. But as painfull as it may have been at that time until you received news of your son’s whereabouts, I presume that you would have at least tried to visit his grave?”

Nancy clenched her teeth, but a little tear fell of her eyes as she responded with a broken voice: “I never did. I had no courage to face the pain, the loss and the sadness all over again.”

Wendy nodded with an understanding expression. “I see. But I presume that you would have at least known or inquired about where your son’s grave stood right?”

Nancy hesitated slightly before nodding. “I did.”

“What was your mother’s reply?” Wendy continued without hesitation.

“…” Nancy’s brain tried to come up with a response, and she then continued to sob as she responded with: “That he was buried next to my father’s tomb, here in Seoul.”

Wendy stared at her, and Nancy knew she had commited a fault. “Next to your father’s tomb?” she repeated again, as if to assure herself she hadn’t heard wrong; “The same tomb you visit every year during his memorial?”

Nancy knew she should deny this and she hastily replied: “I have not visited my father’s tomb since 5 years.”

Wendy blinked her eyes, continuing her confused act: “That’s strange. We interviewed your mother a couple of days ago. I was curious about your relationship with your father, as I wanted to see in what kind of family you grew up and if it could have any effect on you as a mother requesting your son’s custody. Your mother assured me you were the perfect daughter, filial and diligent. You visit your father’s tomb on every anniversary and never missed a single one.”

Nancy gritthed her teeth. “My mother doesn’t know about it. I couldn’t tell her about it either.”

Wendy nodded, as she innocently replied: “O I see. I must have heard wrong when she told me she accompanies you usually too.”

Nancy stayed silent as she glanced at her advocate who stood up: “Your honor, Could I ask why they are harressing my client on wherteher she visited her fathers tomb yes or no? It is irrelevant and only stresses out my client…”

“Who actually lied in front of the court despite her oath.” Wendy interrupted him as she looked at the judge: “Your honor, I tought Mrs.Kim was so distressed about her son that she would have at least known where her son was buried. Yet she didn’t nor did she look for it.”

“I didn’t want to know!” Nancy tried to defend herself, but Wendy only smiled as she said: “ For someone who didn’t want to know anything about her son, yet know applies for full custodity, taking him away from his family who knew everything about him….Doesnt your demand sound selfish?”

Johnny smiled; if she wanted to act like a pitiful mother, then he would rip her mask and portray her to the jury as an uncaring rutheless mother.

Taeyong breathed deeply in and out as he prepared himself to come up after Nancy. He slowly detached a now half awake Jisung from his chest, who whinned softly yet complied as Mark took him into his arms, burying his head into his hyung chest. Mark looked up at him and he could see his son slight worry and care in his eyes: Taeyong smiled brightly at him. “It will be alright Love. Dad will always protect you and your dongsanges, don’t worry alright?”

Mark nodded, eyes full of trust and love and Taeyong’s heart regained a sudden strength as he he ruffled his son’s hair.

“Fairy dad, fighting!” Lucas beamed at him, and Taeyong couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of his happy-lucky stepson. He gave him a fighting fist and smiled at Winwin, Jaehyun and Kun who all smiled back, eyes with a silent message that Taeyong was easily able to understand: “We are right here.”

“Mr.Lee you seem quite young for a dad, may I ask you how old you are this year?” Mr. Johnson asked as he tried to nonchalantly stand in front of Taeyong.

“I will be thirty in a couple of days.” Taeyong replied back, his voice controlled, face in a mask of cold beauty.

“Oh, Isnt your eldest son a teenager? May I ask how old you were when you became a father for the first time?”

“Objection your honnor!” Johnny calmly declared as he slightly glared at the advocate.

“Your honnor, I was just wondering if giving the care of my client’s son to a reckless teenager parent is the best choice of option.” Mr Johnson dramatically defended himself.

“Your honnor, if we follow his logic, then wouldn’t we stigmatise all young teenager parents as reckless? Not to mention that my client was a responsible parent, I would remind your honnor that Mrs Kim herself wasn’t that old when giving birth to her son. Doesn’t that make her also a bad choice of parent? Should I also stigmitise her because contrary to my client she was a single parent at that time, while my client had a stable relationship? Not to mention that my client was actually no longer a minor when having his eldest son?”

“Objection accepted.” The main judge nodded towards Johnny.

“Mr. Lee your advocate just declared you had a stable relationship with your partner. However, I understood from a source that you are a divorced man. When did your second divorce happen again?”

“Objection your honnor!” Johnny however was cut by Mr. Johnson: “When appointing child-care it is important to ensure a stable environment for the child Mr. Seo. I am just asking why a men this young is divorced twice already.”

“Objection rejected.”

“My second divorce is from a long time ago. I have been dedicated to my children since then. I do not plan to enter any other relationship till my youngest son enteres University.”

“Oh?” Mr. Johnson asked unimpressed: “I presume your previous relationship would have shaken your family quite badly then. How do your children react toward the non-precense of a second parent figure?”

Taeyong wanted to snort so badly but he kept his cold beauty face as he simply shook his head: “To answer your question; my exes and I have always broken things peacefully. They are pre