"Everyone, this is Nicomaine Mendoza, my fiancée." Alden announces. Everyone looked at each other. In a few moments. Everyone busted out laughing.

Maine and Alden exchanged looks but did not crack a smile. Everybody is still laughing. They just stood there waiting for their friends to get done with their laughter.

Molly has a shock on her face. It dawned on her. The way Maine was pacing early this morning holding a ring was because of this. She saw that ring from Alden two weeks ago when he dropped Aleck at their house to hang out with Egay and Utoy. She overheard her mom and Alden talking about a proposal and that ring caught her attention. So, he gave it to Ate Maine. She smiled inwardly.

"Kuya Mike! Aren't you going to do something with these dummies here?" Molly stood up and spoke. Her brows are glued together in anger.

"Yeah I'd like to know when they are going to stop laughing at serious matters such as this." Everyone stop laughing ang look at Luisa. Maine was surprised herself too.

"I thought you were at the clinic." Maine asked.

"And missed this? No way." Luisa went straight next to Big Mike and kissed him on the cheek.

Big Mike was shocked at Alden's declaration but wasn't able to laugh or say a word. He was staring at Maine then at Alden, then back to Maine. He was trying to make sense of what he had heard. But was more serious at his fiancée who just showed up right now.

"Be serious, Alden." Said Big Mike as he wrapped his arm over Luisa's shoulders. Alden just chuckled.

"I am serious." He said squarely. Glancing at Maine with so much love.

"Ay Putang..." Conrad wasn't able to continue with his words because a binder flew across the room and almost hit him.

"CONRAD!" Luisa yelled.

"I already said to watch your mouth, Tuico! There's a kid here!" Alden was furious. "If you can't get a hold of yourself, just shut up, okay." He added. He didn't like to hear cursing around Periwinkle. Alden may curse inwardly or in his thoughts but cursing out loud is not in his style.

"Sorry. But no, seriously, fiancée?" Conrad can not contain himself, he got closer to them.

"Alden, I know you. You don't see her that way." Allan approached them and put his arm over Conrad's shoulders and squinted his eyes.

"I agree, too." Cisco echoed from the left side and leaned on Conrad, sizing up Alden.

"You need to cut the bull." Bernie sat on the edge of the table in front of Alden, next to the three hovering idiots. Alden smiled and glanced again at Maine, she smiled.

"Ahweh!" The four chorused.

"Do you guys think I was joking? With Maine standing here? And like you said, I don't see her that way." Alden was appalled but at the same he's understanding them. The funny part is, Maine was just standing next to him holding in her laughter. He's so amused.

"You're in on it, too, huh Maine?" Luisa can't help but ask. "Maybe this is just a joke, like that show practical jokers." Luisa raised her brows and looked around hoping that she was right. Everyone nodded.

"Okay. where's the camera?" Ruben, who wasn't even part of the conversation, butted in. "I've seen this on TV before. It's a prank show... Huli Ka! That's the one." He added on. Everyone nodded in almost unison in agreement that maybe it was just a big prank joke.

Maine and Alden remained silent. His arms behind her and the other carrying Periwinkle and Maine playing with Wink. Then everyone fell in complete silence watching them.

"I don't think he is joking guys." Leon became serious. He looked at Maine. "She's not laughing. She's not mad either. But you can tell that there's something." Maine looked down and when she looked back up she brought her hand up to show them the ring.

"Deyyam!!!" Allan, Cisco, Bernie and Conrad chorused.

"Shit!" Big Mike uttered under his breath but still loud enough for him and Maine to hear it.

"Babe! You language." Luisa elbowed Big Mike.

"HOW?!" Ruben asked out loud, I mean, yelling out loud.

"Is the story behind it important?" Maine finally said. With Alden's excitement and uncontrollable giddiness, he pulled Maine for a hug and kissed the side of her head. Periwinkle did the same to Maine but on the cheek.

"Thank you." He whispered. Thanking her for finally saying something.

"No, thank you." Maine said looking up at him. He can't help himself so he kissed her forehead. He won't kiss her on the lips because he has Periwinkle in his arms.

"Hihihi. Daddy kissed Mommy. I kiss Mommy, too" Periwinkle said giggling as she kissed him on the cheek, too, then kissed Maine again.

"Oh holy flood!" Leon can't contain himself. "I freakin' knew it!" He knew this would happen someday but he didn't see it coming this fast.

Leon had seen the looks that Alden has been giving Maine since day one of last year. He's angry but his eyes are deceiving him. Alden thought that he was mad or upset at Maine but Leon knew it was the opposite of it but just couldn't figure it out yet. But now, It is all clear.

"We have to go." Molly spoke up. Alden turned to her and saw her smiling and teasing eyes. He chuckled. His arms are still around Maine's shoulder and she's smiling, too.

"You can stay here. We may not have anything to do today." Maine said, crossing her fingers. "Just stay, please." Maine's eyes are begging Molly.

"Fine." She replied. Maine hugged her.

"Thank you." Maine whispered. Molly sat back down on Maine's chair. Alden pulled a chair for her.

"Sit down here. I'll get Nene." Alden gently ushered Maine to the chair he pulled for her next to his.

"I can sit down by my desk. I still have to read the reports, since I haven't been here for a while." She said pointing at her desk.

"Are you sure?" They converse like it was the most normal thing they do, no growling, no snarling, no side glaring, no contemptuous comments, no harsh words... nothing. Just a simple conversation between two normal people and everyone is just watching them, gawking and speechless.

"Yeah. Don't worry about me. Come on. We've done this before." She smiled at him and it melted his heart.

"You need to slow down on the smile." He said whispering at her.

She turned to look him in the eyes. He held his breath and smiled. Maine was taken back to see the fire in his eyes. She held her face trying to hide the redness of it. Seeing what Maine was trying to hide he smiled which turned into chuckles then to laughter.

"I hate you." She said quietly but enough for Alden to hear it. He laughed more.

"I know you do." He said sweetly but still laughing his heart out. "Stay there. I'll get something to eat." He added and kissed her forehead.

"Oh damn! Did hell freeze over?" Bernie asked, not believing a single thing he's seeing. "I can't believe it. They are actually an item." He added. They glanced at each other.

"Well, I guess, we have a wedding to plan." The only phase that left Big Mike's mouth. He himself was taken by surprise, too. He pulled Luisa in a back hug but continued watching the FirehouseSerye unfold in front of them.

TWO weeks passed. Everyone is busy with work. The firehouse, somehow cooperated with what was going on. No fire, no alert, just a little back up emergency medical calls. The hospitals we're busy because of a dengue outbreak in one of the barangays close to the urgent care unit.

While all that was going on, Luisa gave Maine a leave of absence to take care of her case, Periwinkle's adoption/custody case. She's fighting for Periwinkle's custody.

Maine hates the court drama. She doesn't want to be here but she has to. Alden and Aleck are here, too. Well, he has to. Most firemen are there too, to show support.

Allan showed up clutching a thick folder, he has very important evidence that will throw this case filed by Ms. Ortiz against Maine. She is really stirring the hot pot. Everyone's hoping she won't get burnt.

Big Mike and Luisa insisted that he and Aleck both need to show up today since he is requesting the court's help to make him Periwinkle's legal guardian. As the only living and present blood relative, he has the right to ask the court to drop the case and award Periwinkle to him or to Maine.

If he only knew then that Periwinkle was his niece, he never had waited for the children's services to step in. What makes the situation worse is that Ms. Ortiz was fighting tooth and nails against Maine adopting Periwinkle? They are all thinking, what was her vendetta against Maine? Maine only stood her ground that first night they met at the hospital because it was needed.

"Your honor, may I request your humble courtroom to have Ms. Maine Mendoza be removed out  since she is not related to the child in question." Maine looked up to Alden then to Lucile then to the judge. She shook her head and just smiled. She did not wait for the judge to say a word. She slid out of the people's pew to step out but Alden held her by the arm.

"You honor. I know I don't have any knowledge of the courtroom etiquette, but I think Ms. Mendoza has the same right to stay as everyone here on my side." Alden said, which made Maine stops on her tracks. She glanced back at Alden. He was looking straight in the front to the judge. She caught Ms. Ortiz's demeanor, her brows furrowed and her mouth gaped.

"Why is that Mr..." The judge left his words hanging since he wasn't introduced to everyone. Everything that he has in front of him are all documents with names but no faces.

"I apologize, your honor. I am Engr. Alden Benitez Richards." Short and sweet. The judge nodded.

"Why is that Engr. Richards?" Judge Castañeda asked. Looking Alden straight in the eye.

"You see, your honor. I need Ms. Mendoza here for moral and emotional support since she's my fiancée. I hope it is not against the law, your honor." The judge smiled and gave Maine the nod.

"You may remain seated, Ms. Mendoza." Judge Castañeda declares. Lucille Ortiz was not happy but kept her peace.

In a little moment, Jessica, Luisa and Gerald walked in the courtroom and sat behind them.

"And who are they?" Judge Castañeda inquired. Alden's council turned around and saw them sitting down, he smiled.

"They are the professional witnesses, your honor. Dr. Luisa Hidalgo, MD, Pediatrician/General medicine at Emerald City Urgent Care Clinic, Dr. Jessica Nuñez, MD, Psychiatric department Emerald General Hospital and Gerald Marquez, Registered Nurse of Emerald City Urgent Care Clinic." Atty. Carasco introduced. They stood up one by one as they were being introduced.

"Proceed." Judge Castañeda declares.

It was a thorough deliberation. Alden brought all his evidence to show the court how he is related to Periwinkle. Aleck was with them, too. Aleck was the key to proving that they are related to each other as their mother's sons. Good thing Alden thought of getting a DNA test, brother to brother and Aleck to Periwinkle.

Lucile Ortiz is putting on a good show saying that Maine and her group refuses to release Periwinkle to them when asked for it. Each professional witness was called and each of them have their own findings and record to show the court the reason why Periwinkle stayed in the hospital's care, and eventually under the care of Maine, who happened to be Alden's fiancée.

Maine was not scared or nervous at all, she was more mad than anything else. So, when Judge Castañeda finally asked her to sit on the stand, she obliged. She wants to put this woman in her right place.

Maine told the judge her side of the story that night which coincides with Luisa's and Gerald's statements. After all the questions and answers and cross examinations were done, she was told to step down from the stand and go back to the people's pew.

"Your honor, may I take the stand?" They were all surprised to see Allan raising his hand to the court.

"What is it that you have there?" Pointing at the thick folder he was carrying.

"It's a compilations of different evidences showing that Ms. Mendoza's gut was right not give the child in question to Ms. Ortiz that night, as per health care provider's advised." He slowly slid out of the people's pew to the front. Allan quickly handed the folder to Atty. Carasco as soon as he gets in front of him. Atty. Carasco opened and read it right away, then smiled.

As promised, Allan did his little investigations, he found out a few anomalies, and he documented all these with pictures, videos and voice recorded interviews of the group home staff.

Lucile Ortiz will bring every child assigned to her, either she gets them from the child's family or from the court or from the hospital or wherever may it be, to stay in that group home.

"Councils, please approach the bench." The judge's voice may sound scary but it also has that fatherly tone to it.

Both councils approach the bench. Alden's council, Atty. Daniel Carasco handed the folder to Judge Castañeda. He took his time to read the files and see some of the photos and CD. He handed the CD to his bailiff to put in the player.

In the video, it shows the place is in a lower than a substandard environment and it doesn't have an adequate supply of water, they were always short of food. In short, it needed a whole lot of help than she led on.

The outside looked nice, so as the lobby and her office but past that? It was a mess. The bedrooms they use to show the government was just a prop, nobody stays there or sleeps there. The children will stay in a bunk house in the back that looks like a storage and well guarded by three scary men.

Alden held Maine's shaking hand and glanced towards her. He sees controlled anger, staring at the TV monitor. He squeezed her hand. That's what broke her eye contact from the TV. He was about to say something when he heard the judge speak.

"We will take a one hour recess and we will reconvene at exactly 11:00 am." Judge Castañeda stood up and carried the folder and CD with him.

Alden and Maine glanced at each other. Lucile is showing her horn and fangs by arguing with her council in an insulting manner.

In a few moments, before everyone leaves the room, they noticed six policemen went inside the courtroom. They couldn't find Lucile Ortiz anywhere.

As they were outside by the lobby, a few more moments later, four of the policemen came out of the courtroom, then split in twos. They all exchange glances, wondering what happened.

On one side, Molly came with Sonia and Aling Alita. Good thing that Periwinkle was with Molly and her family since she is only almost five, the court does not allow it. Good thing that they didn't, she didn't have to see the ugliness of the video shown inside.

"Hi, baby." Alden greeted the little girl.

"Hi, Daddy." Periwinkle greeted him giggling. "Look what I got." She was showing him a little periwinkle flower that they found on the plantar outside.

"Is that for me?" He asked. She giggled and shook her head.

"This is for Mommy, silly Daddy." Periwinkle giggled some more. He laughed.

"Well' I guess we better give that to Mommy then before it wilts." He uttered glancing at Maine. But before Maine could move closer to them, they saw Periwinkle float out of Alden's arm to Lucile Ortiz's fierce arms.

"You messed with the wrong person, Mendoza!" Lucile screamed, then she pulled the gun and pointed it on Periwinkle's head.

Everyone fell in shock. Lucile is very angry, she is going crazy. Maine and Alden can see that in her eyes. Lucile Ortiz was gone.

"Lucile put the gun down!" Alden yelled, angry, and panic stricken but still trying to talk to her calmly.

Maine on the other hand wants to just pass out. She's way past panic, she's in shock. She forgot all the self-defense and hand combat she learned from the fast.

"Oh God, please help us. Don't let her hurt Periwinkle. Alvin, Irma, if you're listening, your daughter needs you. Please save her." Her mind went to a total opposite direction. After she said those words, for some odd reason, she found courage to speak.

"Lucile, please, don't hurt her. She's just a child!" Maine tried to reason out to her calmly. She's on the verge of tears.

"She's just a child?! So what if she's just a child?! I was just a child, too, Minny. But nobody gave me a chance to be a kid!" Lucile was very angry.

"Minny?" Maine mumbled. She stepped back as she had just recognized her. A heavy hammer slammed on her chest when she finally realized who Lucile was. There was only one person who called her by that name. It was...

"Oh my God. Lainey?!" Maine uttered in surprise. Her tears flowed down her cheeks.

"Lainey?!" Everyone repeated in unison.

"Who's Lainey?" Luisa asked, confused.

"Hi, sister. Yes, it's me." She mockingly uttered. Maine froze. She can't breathe.

"SISTER?!"

__________
End of TPA 26: Sisters

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💖 ~ Ms J ~ 💖
05.07.20

The Periwinkle Affair
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August 26, 2019