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Date Posted: 07:29:31 12/31/14 Wed
Author: Nettie
Subject: Life Goes On - Lily Series

Hello there, I was going through some files and surprisingly I found I had written more than half of the next instalment. I must have written it not long after I finished posting the last instalment as I don't recall writing much in 2014. So, after a particularly difficult year, I thought I would end it by trying to get this story done for those few people who are still waiting.

The entire story is available on fanfiction with the same user name and title.

I thought I would post the last chapter, just to re-set the scene.

Happy New Year to you and yours. Here's hoping it's a much brighter one!

---------------
Life Goes On = Moving On 5/5 repost



January 11 dawned late as a wintry blast blanketed Bellevue in snow and the heavy, overcast skies made all below look bleak and miserable. This was in stark contrast to the mood within the MacKenzie Rabb farm as the excitement of day took hold of all its residents, well, nearly all. Sleep had been at a premium for many; Jessie and Lily had chatted and giggled their way through the night desperate for the day to come and the judge to declare them sisters. They could not wait to return to school with their family status official.

Aidan had barely slept either. Up to use the bathroom a few times in the night, he had inadvertently woken Mattie and Colin. When he had used it for the third time in less than two hours Colin got up to check on the lad's welfare. Nervous, excited and filled with a dozen other emotions, Aidan just couldn't settle. He had been desperate for this day forever; not just being adopted by this particular family but by being out of the home he had shared with his grandparents. Long before he had turned up for Thanksgiving 14 months previous, he had dreamed of living anywhere other than where he was. He was desperate to live with his mother and sister and, given the turn of events, he just felt incredibly blessed Veronica and Jessie had found these remarkable people and that they loved him. Alas, he also felt incredibly nervous that something would go wrong today. He'd had a dream that his grandfather had turned up and dragged him from court and back to New York. He'd had another dream that his grandmother had done the same thing. A third dream was that they were all standing before the judge and that Harm and Mac had simply changed their mind.

Mac's primary cause of disturbed sleep was her husband and not for the reasons she enjoyed. Tossing and turning, Harm found sleep fleeting and resisted his wife's attempts to hold and caress him. It had gone two when Mac had turned over and flicked on the bedside lamp. Pushing herself up to a seated position, she pulled the covers off her husband's face.
"What's going on?" she asked quietly. "Why can't you sleep?"
"I was sleeping. You just woke me up," he said, rolling to face her.
"You're lying," she corrected. "You have been tossing and turning and won't even let me touch you. So, I'll ask again, what's going on?" When Harm said nothing, Mac continued. "Is it the kids? Are you having second thoughts about...?"
"No!" he interjected. "Definitely no second thoughts about the adoption."
"Then do you feel sick?" she asked, placing the back of her hand on his forehead.
"No, gorgeous, it's not that," he said, taking her hand and kissing it.
"Harm," she said shaking her head. "It's 0208. I don't have the inclination to ask you a dozen questions. Please just tell me."

With a moan and a sigh, Harm pushed himself up to be seated alongside his wife. Silently, he reached out and took both her hands in his and felt her pulse increase.
"Had a phone call today...yesterday," he said, looking down at their entwined hands. "And I was going to tell you...was just going to do it after the adoption. We've been looking forward to this day and I didn't want anything to spoil it..."
Mac freed a hand and used it to guide her husband's face towards hers.
"Tell me," she said gently.
"Sturgis called," Harm said, his eyes locked on hers. "He wasn't sure whether we knew or wanted to know but apparently Webb has been ill over recent months – cancer. He said he had cause to go to Langley and ran into Webb who was there finalising things. Said he looked pretty sick...pale, thin, frail...effects of the disease and of the treatment regime."
"Oh," Mac said quietly. While she had often wished the man dead, and meant it, she knew cancer was a bastard of a disease and she was reluctant to wish it on anyone.
"Yeah, oh," he replied just as quietly. "After the incident with Harry I would have gladly killed him myself," Harm continued. "But it came as a bit of a shock when Sturgis told me."
"Yeah, I can understand that," she agreed. "Did Sturgis know the prognosis?"
"He thinks it's terminal," Harm all but whispered. "Webb didn't say as much but Sturgis said you could see it in his eyes."
Shaking her head, Mac looped Harm's arm around her and snuggled close. "I'm at a loss as to what I should be saying...thinking..."
Nodding, Harm increased his grip on her. "There's more," he said and Mac looked up at him. "Apparently, Webb asked Sturgis whether or not he thought we would be receptive to seeing him. You know, as a part of him putting things in order."
"And what did Sturgis say?" Mac asked, sitting up once more.
"That he was nobody's go-between and it was up to Webb to find out for himself," Harm explained, watching her closely.
"What would your answer be?" she asked, moving to sit cross-legged. "Would you be receptive to seeing him?"
"Would you?" Harm countered, his eyes locked on hers.
"I honestly don't know," Mac replied. "My first inclination is to say no. Where Webb is concerned I don't trust him one iota. If it's true...the cancer...then that's sad for him, but a part of me thinks it could be a con and we both know that's not beyond him."
"Yep, they were my thoughts too," Harm concurred, nodding slowly.
"Then another part of me thinks that if he is dying, then what sort of person am I to deny a man his dying wish," she said, thinking back to the issues surrounding the death of her mother.
"Yep, thought about that one too," Harm concurred once more.

It was another 30 minutes of quiet, stilted conversation before they decided nothing would be resolved at that time of the morning and they should try and sleep in preparation for their big court date.
"Grandma's making Grams' famous choc-chip pancakes for our special family breakfast," Lily announced as she flung her parents' door open. "And she's wondering why you guys are the only people not up and dressed."
"We're coming," Harm said, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "We were just talking about how special this day is."
"It is," Lily agreed. "It's like the day mommy had the twins all over again. Except this time you're not fat and going oooh and ahhh or calling dad rude names."

Mac laughed as Lily disappeared down the stairs once more. "She forgot to mention no morning sickness or stretch marks this time either."
"And no sardine and pickle cravings," Harm added, pulling on his robe.
"Or the ..." Mac began before the intercom interrupted.
"Grandma says breakfast is ready now," Jessie announced. "And that she's not responsible if they're all gone before you get down here."

At 1045 the extended MacKenzie Rabb family gathered in the foyer of the court. Dressed in their Sunday best, Trish spent her time adjusting collars and smoothing sleeves to make sure everyone was presentable. Jessie had been desperate to walk into the courtroom using her frame but the weather conditions outside were slippery and made her unsteady so Harm had insisted on the wheelchair. However, Frank had doubled back and collected the walker for the child to use inside the courthouse.
"You haven't said much this morning, Aidan," Harm observed as he wrapped his arm around the boy's shoulders. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, dad," he said with a nod. "Just anxious, I guess."
"Well, before long it will all be over and..." he replied. "What?" he asked when he noted Aidan's distraction.
"Do you think there's any chance my grandparents will turn up and stop the adoption?" he whispered, not wanting Jessie to hear him.
"No, I don't," Harm replied. "I don't believe they have been notified. After Children's Services granted us permanent care of you, there has been no need to contact your grandparents. Why? Do you think they will?"
"No," he said, shaking his head. "At least I hope not. I just want this so much and I'm scared something will go wrong."
"You just take a few deep breaths," Harm said, rubbing his back. "This will all be over within the hour, you just wait and see."

11:00am came and went with no sign of the family being called into the courtroom. 11:30am came and went too.
"Aren't they going to do it, Aunty Mac?" Jessie asked from back in her wheelchair, the wait too long for her to stand.
"I'm sure they will," Mac reassured her. "They must be running behind. It happens at times."
"What happens if they don't get to us today?" she questioned and lots of little eyes fell upon her.
"If, and that's a big if, they don't get to us today, they will reschedule our case. That means they will give us a new time and date to come back," she explained taking Jessie's hand.
"But...but..." she started, her lip quivering and eyes filling with tears.
"Hey, hey, Jess," Mac said, pulling the child from her chair and sitting her on her lap. "It'll be okay. I'm sure it will be."

Catching the scene between mother and newest daughter, Harm padded over and crouched down in front of them as Lily sat in the wheelchair and wheeled up and down the foyer.
"What's happening?" he asked, caressing Jessie's face.
"Jessie's just a bit anxious," Mac answered for her. "With the delay and all."
"Well, I was just about to go see how much longer we'll be," he replied. "Because the troops are getting restless," he added, gesturing towards the twins, Frankie and Kenzie. "Back soon."

Finding a clerk, Harm asked the pressing question and after a quick phone call, Harm was asked to wait in a small interview room. His concern grew when Alexis Lucas from Children's Services joined him and shut the door.
"What's going on, Alexis?" Harm asked, quickly getting to his feet.
"Cormac Murphy," she replied bitterly. "I have no idea how he found out about the adoption but he contacted the office yesterday and wants to stop proceedings."
"What?!" Harm growled. "He can't do that!"
"He won't be successful," Alexis replied, "But he has the right to be heard."
"So where is he?" Harm asked, hoping he wouldn't turn up in the foyer before he got back.
"Caught in the traffic snarl caused by the weather," Alexis replied. "Given the sensitive nature of these particular circumstances, the judge has given him until midday to appear."

Meanwhile, Lily was busy occupying herself with the wheelchair as Jessie remained with Mac and Frank and Colin corralled the youngest family members. Wheeling too close to the automatic doors, Lily tried to reverse before realising it was a man coming in who had activated the doors. There was something familiar about the man and she smiled at him.
"Hello there," the man said, and Lily wasn't too sure what she should do. True he looked familiar and true she had smiled at him first, but she had been taught the concepts of stranger danger well and talking was another matter. Still, she figured she was safe in a courthouse, particularly as her family was scattered around.

"Hello," she replied, wheeling out of his way.
"You do that well," he said stepping away from the door.
"Lots of practice," Lily replied, knowing she used the chair frequently when Jessie was doing other things.
"I guess so, Jessie," he replied and Lily's eyes widened. Now she knew why this man looked familiar.
"What are you doing here?" she yelled, catching the attention of all.
"Shh, Jessie," he said waving at her to get back in the chair. "Sit."
"You don't even know who I am!" Lily shouted as the other adults approached.
"I didn't think we'd ever see you again," Trish said sharply and Cormac Murphy couldn't help but take a small step back. "I hope you realise you are not welcome here at all."
"They are my grandchildren," he said gruffly. "I have every right to be here."
"You gave up that right when you failed to even acknowledge Jessie," Frank said, taking up a position between his wife and the newcomer.

Not at all sure what to do, Aidan took off down the hallway where he had seen Harm go earlier. Rapping loudly on the first closed door he came to, Aidan pushed open the door, relieved to see Harm.
"He's here! He's here! Please don't let him take me. Please...please," he begged his hand clamped on Harm's arm.
Not needing to be told just who 'he' was, Harm was out of the room quickly, closely followed by Alexis and the security officer who was stationed nearby.

Stopping only to scoop up a sobbing Jessie who was still sitting on the bench Mac had left her on, Harm made his way over to the group.
"Mr Murphy," Alexis said, trying to diffuse the growing tension. "I'm Alexis Lucas from Children's Services. I have just informed Mr MacKenzie Rabb of your intention to stop today's proceedings."
"No!" cried Jessie, clinging tightly to Harm. Aidan came and stood alongside them.
"For what benefit?" Mac challenged. "Why do you want to stop the proceedings?"
"I am not discussing that in this forum," he replied gruffly. "And, contrary to your personal opinion, I am not answerable to you."
"You can't possibly have the children's best interest at heart," she continued, trying very hard to control her emotions.
"Mrs MacKenzie Rabb, we will leave the questions to the judge," Alexis said quietly. "We don't want to jeopardise things by saying the wrong thing out here."
As much as Mac didn't like it, she conceded that perhaps Alexis was right; she definitely didn't want to give the man any grounds to stopping the adoption.

The original plan had been for the extended family to sit in court to witness the proceedings. After all, it had been long thought that this would just be a rubber stamp effort. Now that things were taking a nasty turn, it was decided that only Harm, Mac and the two children in question would go into the courtroom. The rest would go to the cafe across the road and wait as patiently as possible.

With matters pertaining to family law, particularly in cases which were meant to be straightforward, like this one, Judge Eldon Agar tried to keep things as informal as possible. It was often difficult circumstances which brought families before the court and he did not wish to traumatise youngsters any further by using formal, cold practices.

Having apprised himself of this case prior to today's proceedings, he had anticipated it as simple and clear-cut. However, when his clerk informed him of Cormac Murphy's attendance, he had reviewed the case once more prior to entering the courtroom.

With years of law behind them, Mac and Harm were both on their feet the moment the door opened and Judge Agar quickly waved away the gesture.
"Please be seated," he said as he took his own chair. "Now, this matter is the petition of Harmon MacKenzie Rabb and Sarah MacKenzie Rabb to adopt Aidan Cormac Murphy and Jessie Anne Murphy."
"Yes, sir," Harm and Mac replied in unison, each with a child tucked under an arm.
"Aidan and Jessie, from my reading of your case, you have endured so much. I offer you my sympathies on the loss of your mother," he continued as he removed his glasses.
"Thank you, sir," Aidan replied while Jessie just nodded.
"Now, Mr Murphy," he said, putting his glasses on once more and adjusting the papers in front of him. "I don't think I am the only one here who has been surprised by your attendance today. If my reading of the case presented by Children's Services is correct, then you have had nothing to do with your grandchildren since the week of the fire, some 14 months ago. Is that correct?"
"Yes, your honour," he replied, his voice much weaker than Aidan had heard before.
"In fact, you have never acknowledged young Jessie as your grandchild, have you?" Judge Agar stated.
"Um, no, your honour," he said quickly. "But I raised the boy for 10 years. Fed, clothed, educated him. Tried my hardest with him."
"I am aware of that," he said, flicking through the file. "It is also my understanding that Aidan had expressed his wishes to remain with his mother prior to the fire. Is this your understanding too, Mr Murphy?"
"That's what I was told when I went to collect him," he said with a nod.
"So, I have to ask why, after all this time, you are attempting to stop the adoption of one child who means nothing to you and another who does not want to live with you?" the judge asked and Mac held her breath.
There was silence.
"Mr Murphy, do I need to ask the question again?" Judge Agar asked and Cormac shook his head.
"My daughter, Veronica, was the about same age as Aidan when she left," he said, "Never saw her much after that...Don't want the same thing to happen with Aidan and I guess, if I have to, then I will have her as well."
"Jessie! Jessie! My name is Jessie!" she shouted, standing up and facing the man; neither Harm or Mac tried to stop her. "I have a name! You don't care about me at all...you don't even know me! You thought it was me in the wheelchair out there and it was Lily. You always told mom I was punishment for her sins, didn't you?" she asked but didn't wait for an answer. "Well, your punishment for your sins is that you don't get Aidan and you don't get me. You don't get a family because you don't deserve it! Aidan and I deserve a family who loves us and who wants us and who treats us good. Aunty Mac and Uncle Harm do that. They take care of us. They feed us and buy us clothes. They make sure we go to school and do our homework. Aunty Mac does all my physio with me. She takes me to all my doctor appointments and holds my hand when they inject me. When I cry because the exercises hurt, Aunty Mac cries too and she says she's really sorry but I know it's not her fault. Just like I know it's not mine that I have cerebral palsy. My mom loved me very much and I loved her too and I miss her and I cry when I think about her sometimes and as horrible and terrible and sucky that the fire and mom's accident was I got my brother back and now I get two more brothers and three sisters and a brother-in-law and a nephew and grandparents who love me, who really love me."

Exhausted she slumped back onto the bench and was instantly embraced by all.
"Aidan, do you have anything to add to your sister's comments," Judge Agar said quietly trying to wipe a tear away.
"Sir," Aidan said getting to his feet. "I think Jessie summed it up pretty well. Not that Grandfather would ever say it here but I bet he only wants me back to do the work around the house not because he loves or misses me. I know it's your decision, sir, but there's no way I am ever going to live with them again. If you decide I can't live with Aunty Mac and Uncle Harm then I'll live on the street, I'll runaway...I'll...I don't know what I'll do. I lived there for ten years and hated it. Not just not liking it but hating it. I prayed every night that I could live with mom and Jessie. Prayed that I could live anywhere else and then finally two Thanksgivings ago I got that chance. Mom was so happy that I wanted to live with her and I promised her I would help out and try not to be a burden...but ...well, you know what happened with mom. I'm just so lucky these two amazing people took Jessie and I in and love us like they do."
"Fine," Cormac growled, throwing up his arms.
"Would you like to retract your objections, Mr Murphy?" the judge asked, knowing it wouldn't make a difference.
"Whatever," he said before turning to Aidan. "You are an ungrateful brat!" he spat.
"That will be enough," the judge said sternly. "The adoption of Aidan and Jessie Murphy is approved."
'Yes!" Jessie shrieked before bursting into tears, Aidan hugged her tightly.
"Your Honour, am I able to get compensation?" Cormac dared to ask.
"For what?" Judge Agar replied sharply.
"For the costs of raising the boy for 10 years," he said. "It didn't come cheaply, you know?"
"You raised your grandson," he said in disbelief. "You are not entitled to be compensated for that. Where did you expect the money to come from?"
"She...Jessie ... has money...a trust," he said, pointing to the child.
"That was it all along, wasn't it?" Mac said, getting to her feet. "Oh, sorry, Your Honour," she said when she realised what she had done.
"Go ahead," he said with a nod.
"You didn't want the kids at all, you found out about Jessie's fund...that's why you wanted her as well...to control that money," she said, glad Jessie had a grip on her hand, the hand she might otherwise use to strike the man beside her.
"I am not answerable to you!" he snarled.

Harm reached out and grabbed Mac's other hand, not wanting the matter to get out of hand. "Well, whatever your motives, Mr Murphy," Mac said sharply. "You will never see your grandchildren again or their money and that is something you will have to live with for the rest of your days. These two are amazing kids and you and your wife will never know just how much you have missed out on." Stopping, Mac drew a shaky breath. "Your Honour," Mac continued, trying to refocus. "We have also petitioned the court for the changes of names for both children."
"Yes, I see that," he said with a nod. "Are the children in agreement?"
"We picked them, sir," Jessie said proudly. "And we get to be MacKenzie Rabbs and call them mom and dad and everything."
"And it takes away the connection to those people," Aidan said, pointing in the direction of his grandfather. "And lets us remember our mother."
"Mrs MacKenzie Rabb, I think you summed things up perfectly," Judge Agar said. "Mr Murphy, these are two fine children and your life will be all the poorer without them."

With the wait at the cafe excruciating, the family had already assembled in the foyer by the time the case was over. No one had a chance to ask the outcome as Harm opened the door with a broad grin.
"Introducing Aidan Ronnie MacKenzie Rabb," he said proudly, as the lad passed him by. "Our son!" It was in much the same way he had announced the birth of Lily and the twins, Frankie's announcement had never been made due to the precarious health of his mother.

There was a round of enthusiastic cheers and claps as Aidan was embraced by members of his new family, all very excited that this day had come.
"And, introducing Jessie Veronica MacKenzie Rabb," Harm said, taking the child's hand as she let go of her frame. "Our daughter!"
"And my sister! Finally!" Lily shouted as she ran over to embrace Jessie.

As Jessie was welcomed to the family, Harm slipped his arm around Mac and kissed her head.
"How are you feeling, mommy?" he whispered while still watching his family celebrate.
"Wonderful," she replied, reaching up to kiss him. "But I definitely think we have enough children now and that our family is complete."
"I think so too," he replied. "But there'll always be room for more grandchildren," he added looking at Mattie. "And if they follow our lead that could be a lot of little feet," he added gesturing to his offspring.
"A bit like 'As I was going to St Ives..." Mac said, and Harm looked at her curiously, the reference lost on him. "You know, 'As I was going to St Ives I met a man with seven wives and every wife had seven sacks and every sack had seven cats and every cat had seven kits. Kits, cats, sacks and wives how many were going to St Ives?'"
"I don't get it," he said, not in the frame of mind to do the calculations.
"Well, you and I have seven kids, if they have seven each...that would be 49 grandchildren...and if those 49 had seven each that would be...um..." Mac paused as she calculated the number. "343. And if..."
"I get it...I get it..." Harm said with a laugh. "Who'd have thought it, hey? You and me and hundreds of descendants ... and all going where? St Ives?"
"Actually, the answer to the riddle is one...there's only one going to St Ives," she explained as his arms surrounded her.
"St Ives, Bellevue, Timbuktu... I don't care where we are going so long as we're going together," Harm said before planting a soft kiss on her lips.
"Ditto!" she replied, kissing him back.

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Replies:

[> A wonderfully happy ending to this chapter, maybe one day you will pick up your magic pen again. Wishing you and yours the very best 2015! -- JoyZ, 09:18:10 12/31/14 Wed [1]


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[> Hello Nettie and a warm thank you for this continuation Thank you for your good wishes I wish you and everyone on this board an happy new year to you and your families -- Laurence, 09:21:47 12/31/14 Wed [1]


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[> Beautiful Nettie.. Happy New Year to you and Molly -- Beth, 11:50:20 12/31/14 Wed [1]


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[> Thank you so much for this chapter! Happy New Year! -- Debbi, 22:43:43 12/31/14 Wed [1]


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[> Wonderful Nettie Happy New Year -- Bev uk, 07:46:01 01/01/15 Thu [1]


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[> Good time to revisit HBX! What a treat! Thank you Nettie! -- Longtime Lurker, 07:04:34 01/03/15 Sat [1]


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[> Hi, Nettie! It so good to read more of this story. I hope we'll read more from you soon. -- Cookie, 20:31:50 01/03/15 Sat [1]


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