Do you ever wonder why when you want a moment to last, just a few minutes longer, time runs out twice as fast? I have too. In fact that's exactly what I was thinking while I waited for Brandon's father to take him away from me.

Cristina, Brandon, and I were sitting at the kitchen table, stiff and uncomfortable next to each other. The whole room was quiet, except for the dramatic sighs let out by Cristina, every few minutes. I was about to tell her to shut it when my grandmother came tearing through the room.

"Judge Stevenson is here!" She said rushing to the door. We all sat a little straighter as a man in a blue suit walked through the door, a slight woman followed behind him. I squeezed Brandon's hand tightly as they walked into the room. He didn't squeeze back though, his hand just lay limp in mine.

"Hello all," the man said, smiling.

"This is Andrew Stevenson, and his wife Loretta," my grandmother explained. "Andrew, Loretta, this is my granddaughter Alyssa, and that's Brandon, and that young lady over there is Cristina." As she said each of our name's she pointed to us.

"Nice to meet you all," Judge Stevenson said. We all nodded in unison, but none of us said anything. Judge Stevenson stood there awkwardly for a moment before addressing Brandon. "Now it's been brought to my attention that your father has come to visit you? Is that right Brandon?"

"Yes," Brandon whispered.

"And he's asked you to come live with him again?"

"Yes," Brandon said, nodding.

"Do you want to live with your father?" The judge asked. At the question Brandon's head snapped up and his eyes widened.

"No, of course not. I want to stay here, with Mrs. Holt, and Alyssa," he said. The judge nodded gravely.

"Well, son I'll try to make sure that happens for you, ok?" He said, and when Brandon nodded he continued. "I believe it would be detrimental to let you live with your father. Especially giving his violent history. But seeing as a lawsuit was never brought up against your father for child abuse, there may be nothing I can do."

"What would happen if I did that? Sue my father I mean?" Brandon asked.

"Well, its hard to say. You'd have to go to court obviously. You could sue for a multitude of things from the actual child abuse, to emancipation."

"How would I do that, the emancipation?"

"Well first you'd have to hire a lawyer, and then that lawyer would file a petition on your behalf. Then you'd go to court, go before a judge and tell him why you think you are capable of being emancipated from your father. The judge would probably ask you to adhere to a few things, and if you can do that, and the judge thinks it's in your best interest to be emancipated from you father, he'd grant you emancipation. And that would mean you wouldn't have to live with your father or answer to him in anyway. You'd be legally an adult," Judge Stevenson explained. Brandon nodded, and seemed to be thinking the information over.

"All right," he said. "I want to do it. I want to sue for emancipation." I looked at him shocked.

"Shouldn't you think about it a little bit first?" I asked, surprised at his quick decision.

"I can't stay with my father, Alyssa. I won't, and this seems like the only way I can keep him away from me for good." He looked into my eyes, trying to make me understand.

"What'll happen though, if they grant you emancipation?" I asked. "Would you move out? Get your own apartment? Leave us?"

"I don't know," he said. "But I definitely wouldn't leave you." I nodded, because I wanted to believe him.

"So, how are we going to do this?" Brandon asked the judge. "I don't have that much money, I don't think I could pay for a lawyer."

"You don't have to worry about that. I have friend who's a lawyer, and I'm sure he'd work on this case pro bono," Judge Stevenson said. He fished around in his coat pocket, and pulled out a business card. "This is his card. His name is Larry Reddens."

There rest of us, my grandmother, Cristina, Mrs. Stevenson, and I, left Judge Stevenson, and Brandon to their discussion and quietly slipped out of the room. My grandmother led us all outside to the front yard where she had porch chairs, and a little antique table. Mrs. Stevenson and my grandmother gossiped about people I didn't know or care about. While they were chattering on, Cristina and I were having our own private conversation.

"He didn't even think it through! He just automatically agreed!" I said to Cristina. She rolled her eyes at me.

"Chill, he's a big boy, he can figure it out by himself."

"I know. I guess I'm just worried about him ya know?"

"I do, but I also know that you need to let him make his own decisions," she said placing her hand against my knee. I nodded. She was right, and I knew it. It didn't mean I had to like it though.

"You're right," I sighed.

"Aren't I always?" She said smiling at me. I giggled and smacked her arm.

"No, this would be a first!" I laughed.

Just then the screen door swung open, and out walked Brandon, and Judge Stevenson.

"So?" I asked.

"Well, I got in touch with Mr. Reddens, and I set up an appointment with him," Brandon said. "I'm meeting with him tomorrow to go over the details of the lawsuit."

"Oh. So you're going through with this?" I asked.

"Yeah I am. I think it's the best solution."

"If you're sure," I said. Brandon walked around to wear I was sitting and sat down right beside me. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders making me lean into him.

"I'm positive."

A/N: Finally!!! I'm alive! Heehee sorry it took so long I was having major writer's block with this story, but its up now so you can all rejoice!

Love ya,

Anissa