"I know I haven't been present in her life since she was born, but I was hoping to make things right." Lily tells the judge. "I regret leaving my daughter behind and Spencer Reid didn't deserve to be forced to take care of the child he barely had time to process was going to be born."
Spencer bites his tongue, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose as he listens to Lily's speech, resisting every urge he has to yell and protest, knowing that won't work in his favor.
"I grew up, I got a job as a dental assistant, I met a nice man." Lily says. "We got divorced due to wanting different things in life. I came back to make things right with my daughter."
"Ms. Stark, it says here that you had an alcohol and drug addiction." The judge says. "You were arrested twice."
"Yes, your honor. It was a dark time in my life and I regret it. I've been clean for two years." Lily says.
"I've heard enough. Dr. Reid." The judge calls to the stand. Lily sits back down and Spencer stands at the podium.
"Your Honor, I have been the one raising my daughter since she was born. Lily abandoned her at the hospital two days after she was born. I've been there every step of the way and I take care of her. I make sure she goes to school, she's fed, I have a babysitter for when I need one. I only had two months to prepare before she was born, but I was ready to handle the new baby. I put a nursery in my home, I bought everything she would need, I read thousands of books."
"As an FBI agent with the Behavioral Analysis Unit, your job takes you away a lot on cases." The judge says.
"I-- yes, it does. But I'm not a neglectful parent or anything. When I'm home, she gets my full attention. I leave her with a trusted adult when I'm away, we talk on the phone when I'm on a case. I have a stable home."
~ ~ ~
"Now... you both make compelling cases... somewhat." The judge says, casting a small side eye in Lily's direction. "This is a long process, for everybody involved. So... until the next court date, Clara will remain in her father's custody." Spencer lets out a sigh of relief. "But..." His heart drops. "She will have supervised visits with her mother every weekend. No sleepovers, just one hour a day on Saturday and one hour a day on Sunday."
"Thank you." Lily smiles.
"Court dismissed." He bangs the gavel.
Spencer slouches a bit as his mind mulls over the decision.
"One step closer." Lily smugly smiles.
"Oh, relax. You get her for 2 hours out of 168. And those are supervised hours." Spencer sneers.
"Still one step closer." Lily points out, walking out with her attorney.
+++
"I don't wanna spend an hour with her!" Clara yells, stomping her foot.
"I know. I know." Spencer coos. "But you don't have a choice, baby."
"Why not?" Clara whines. "It should be my choice. It's my life."
"I know, I know. I know." Spencer rubs his face. "It just-- kids don't really get a say when it comes to this kind of thing. Especially when they're young."
"I deserve all the says." Clara states.
"I agree." Spencer says. "But the courts don't work like that. I'm sorry."
Clara's cheeks puff out, Spencer able to tell just how frustrated she is at all of this. Lily shouldn't be able to have the power to just walk in and flip both of their lives upside down.
"C'mere." Spencer sits down and pulls her onto his lap. He tightly holds her to his chest, putting her ear above his heart so she hears the steady rhythm.
"This is all really unfair." Spencer says, stroking her hair. "But we're gonna figure it out and we're gonna be okay. I promise."
+++
Clara sits on the table, picking at her ice cream, her head held in one hand.
"Do you not like your ice cream?" Lily asks.
"I like eating ice cream with daddy." Clara says.
Lily sighs.
"Sweetheart, I'm really trying here. I want to be a good mom." Lily says.
"Then you should've stayed." Clara grumbles.
"I just-- I wasn't ready for a kid yet, then. I mean, I was in my early 20s, I-I was supposed to be out partying and traveling. Not staying in with a toddler and tantrums." Lily says with a small scoff.
The supervisor, Emily Banks, gives the woman a side eye.
"Then I guess you should've used protection." Clara quips. Emily purses her lips, trying not to show amusement.
"Well, mistakes happen." Lily says. It takes a moment for the words to process in Clara's brain. The moment they do, her heart stings with the familiar pain she's had the past few weeks whenever she thinks about her birth mother.
"You don't try very hard." Clara remarks.
"I'm new at this. It's gonna take some time." Lily defends.
"Right." Clara rolls her eyes.
"It's also not gonna work if you're a brat." Lily says. Clara only responds by sticking her tongue out at the woman.
+++
"My precious girl!" Penelope grins, watching Clara walk into her Batcave. "Hi, my sweets." She holds her arms out, Clara walking to the woman, and letting Penelope squeeze the life out of her. "Oh, I missed you so much. I feel like I haven't seen you in forever."
"I've been busy." Clara says.
"Well, come here and tell me all about it." Penelope says, pulling the girl onto her lap. She grabs a mug full of lollipops and puts them in front of the girl, Clara immediately grabbing one.
"My mom's here." Clara says.
"Mm-hmm." Penelope nods, already knowing all about the whole custody situation.
"I don't really like spending time with her." Clara frowns.
"Is she mean?" Penelope asks.
"I guess not." Clara says, still frowning, though some hesitance in her eyes now. "If she is, it's not very outright. It's like when you're mean, but other people don't notice."
"She's passive aggressive?" Penelope asks.
"Sure." Clara shrugs. "I don't know. She called me a mistake."
"Oh, no, honey." Penelope frowns. "No, my sweet angel, you are anything but a mistake. You are the sweetest girl and your dad is beyond lucky to have you."
"But they weren't planning for me." Clara sighs.
"You were... you were an early miracle. You were a gift. You are a gift." Penelope states. "Believe me, the last thing you are is a mistake. I promise you we all agree on that." She kisses the girl's temple.
"Thanks." Clara mumbles, sucking on the lollipop.
+++
"Aunt Penny said you talked to her today." Spencer says, giving Clara a few pieces of pizza.
"Did she tell you what about?" Clara asks, panic flashing in her eyes.
"Maybe." Spencer admits.
Clara quietly groans, biting into her pizza.
"She only cares." Spencer reasons, leaning against the counter. "Honey, you're not a mistake." He tells her. "Were you planned? No. Do I regret you? Not at all."
"Lily does." Clara mumbles.
"Well, that's on Lily. That's her loss. She still doesn't know what she's missing." Spencer states. "And neither of us should care what Lily thinks because she hasn't been here. She doesn't get an opinion."
"Unless it's court ordered." Clara glares at her food.
"Yeah." Spencer mumbles, wincing. "But, really, that's the judge's opinion. Not technically hers."
"I wish the judge didn't think I needed a mom." Clara huffs.
"We'll figure it out." Spencer assures, rubbing her head.
+++
At the next court hearing, the judge had changed the arrangement -- Spencer has full custody, but Clara spends the weekend at Lily's place. From Friday after school to Sunday evening, Clara was all hers. Something the child dreaded.
Clara trudges behind her dad into the BAU, dragging her backpack. Spencer glances back at her.
"Don't drag that." Spencer chides, picking the backpack up. "I know it's depressing, but no need to take it out on your backpack."
"Can I go see Aunt Penny?" Clara asks.
Spencer sighs, his chest tightening at her dejected look.
"Yeah. Yeah, of course. Go ahead, baby." Spencer rubs her shoulder. Clara leaves the bullpen.
She starts to head to the Batcave, but is stopped by a familiar voice.
"Hey, Baby Genius." She turns around to Derek as he walks up. "What are you doing here?"
"Spending the last peaceful day at work." Clara says.
"Last peaceful day?" Derek's eyebrows furrow.
"I have to spend the weekend with Lily. She picks me up from school tomorrow." Clara says.
"Ah." Derek nods in understanding. "Still don't like her?"
"No. She's barely trying. I don't know why she cares so much." Clara grumbles.
"Mm. Well, how about you and I, we hunker down in my office. I got a personal laptop, we can put a movie on. I'll make you some popcorn, get you some juice -- or maybe even a soda." Derek suggests. "Hmm?"
Clara nods.
"All right. C'mere, princess." Derek picks her up, holding her. "Wanna make the popcorn first?"
"Sure." Clara shrugs.
"All right, then. Let's go." Derek rubs her back as he walks off.
~ ~ ~
Spencer goes to check on Clara, opening the door to Derek's office after quietly knocking. He stops when he finds his daughter asleep on her uncle's lap.
"Hey." Derek quietly greets. "She fell asleep to the movie. Think this whole thing's stressing her out."
"Yeah, it is." Spencer mumbles. "I just wish the courts could decide already. Or that she could get the final vote."
"It'll all work out." Derek assures. "Maybe not soon, but it'll work out, kid."
"I hope so." Spencer whispers.
+++
Clara walks out of her school, looking around for Lily. Not seeing her yet, she sits on the steps to the building.
Clara isn't sure how much time passes, watching the area get emptier and emptier. She sighs, wishing she could just walk home.
"Hey." She looks up as Lily comes running up. "Hey. Right on time."
"No." Clara gives her a weird look. "School ends at 3:30. I get out at 3:30."
"Oh." Lily mumbles, glancing at the watch that reads 5:30. "Well, everybody makes mistakes."
"Yeah, you've mentioned." Clara mumbles, getting up.
"Got all your stuff?" Lily asks.
"Yep." Clara sighs.
"Excited?" Lily grins.
"Nope." Clara shakes her head. "Lead the way, I guess. Can't go home, so..." She gives the woman an annoyed smile.
"Look, this isn't gonna work if you're a brat." Lily states, grabbing her arm.
"This isn't gonna work if you're neglectful." Clara retorts.
"It was only two hours. Put on your big girl pants and get a grip." Lily sneers.
"I'm 9. Do you know how dangerous it is to leave a 9 year old in the city?" Clara frowns.
"It won't happen again. Let's just go." Lily says, leading her off.