When they said that looks couldn't kill, they'd obviously never taken a look at Matt's ex-wife, who was battling for custody for Zacky's child.
Zacky had point blank refused to let Linzee come anywhere near the courthouse, so Brian had offered to go and pick up Keira from the hospital, taking his new favourite niece with him. Zacky had been hesitant, seeing as the last time the three of them had been in a car- they were all nearly killed, but Matt had convinced him that Brian wouldn't hurt the two of them second time around.

Adrienne, Zacky and now Matt's lawyer, was sat with the two men right across the table from Val and her lawyer. She had dark red hair, wore Pantera t-shirts under her suits, and was around the same age as Zacky and Matt. She'd been nothing but nice to Val and her lawyer- but they had other ideas.

Val had an icy cold glare that was not only directed at the man she once loved, but the man she'd dumped a baby onto. She was trying to stir up drama, Adrienne had said, but Zacky would get full custody seeing as legally, Linzee was his child.
It didn't matter who's uterus it had come out of- she was Zacky's daughter now.

"Alright, let's get this over with- it's almost as pointless as the case about who got which half of the grapefruit" Adrienne muttered, earning herself another dirty glare from Val and the two lawyers got their papers out, ready to make battle.
"Mrs Sanders, you've filed for divorce from your husband, as well as custody of a child that legally doesn't even belong to you anymore, as her legal guardian is Zacky. The divorce process, I've been through a hundred times- but asking for your baby back? Isn't that a little much?" Adrienne began, and Zacky could begin to see what the two of them had in common.

Subtlety was not really their strong points.

Maybe he should've set Brian up with Adrienne.

Val whispered something into her lawyer's ear, and Zacky rolled his eyes. Trust her to make this all about her.
"My client says she cites the divorce on unreconcilable differences. The child however, came out of her womb, therefore she should have a right to legally be her guardian, as the parent"
"Really Val? You're gonna let this big-shot lawyer use all these fancy words so you can get what you want? Why can't you just talk to us?" Matt suddenly burst out, making Zacky and the two lawyers jump slightly.

"Give me back my baby- let me have my life back! Linzee belongs to me- she's my fucking daughter, why shouldn't I be the one looking after her?" Val yelled back, not even bothering to uncross her arms as she argued. Zacky was in dire need of a stiff drink, but he knew he'd have to hold it together for the rest of the meeting.
"You left her on Zack's doorstep once- what if you do it again because you can't cope? Face it, Zacky is going to be a way better parent to this kid than you'll ever be!" Matt cried back, making Val open her mouth in indignation. She looked like she'd been slapped.

"I gave birth to her- I think I can be a parent, Matt. I don't see Zacky spending nine hours in labour that little bitch into the world- so I should be able to take care of my own kid!" Val almost screamed, and this time it was Zacky who yelled back at her. Fuming, he was almost ready to start punching someone.
Her mother had called her daughter a little bitch. Linzee hadn't done anything wrong- in fact she was just caught in the middle.

"Don't you fucking dare call my daughter that. Legally, I am her guardian and seeing as you're such a shitty parent, Val, I think that's the way it's gonna stay!" Zacky shouted, slamming his fist against the table.
"Not if I can help it. She's mine- Zacky, there's no way in hell that judge is going to let you keep her!"
"Then I'll see you in court, bitch" Zacky hissed and got up, storming out of the room and into the corridor. As soon as the door had slammed shut, he started to kick at the walls, hoping something would collapse under his punches.

He needed to feel something crumble, so he knew he wasn't the only one falling apart.

"Zacky, come on. You need to go home" Adrienne had a hand on his shoulder, and Matt was holding him back from destroying the wall anymore. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and thought of his daughter. His girlfriend. His best friends. They weren't going to let her be taken away by someone who wouldn't even care about her half as much as Zacky did.
"I need to get alcohol in my system. Oh, and Adrienne?" Zacky asked, suddenly finding himself a little calmer than he had a few minutes ago, and the lawyer turned around, one eyebrows stuck up questioningly.

"I want you to come with us. There's someone I want you to meet"

***

"99 hookers sitting on the wall, 99 hookers sitting, put a gun to their head, get a blow job instead, 99 hookers sitting on the wall..." the three of them heard Brian singing happily to a grinning Linzee, who probably didn't even know what half of the words meant.
"Really, Brian? I bring the lawyer back, and that's what we find you singing to my kid" Zacky announced as he stepped into the living room, watching Brian shrug and pick up Linzee from the carpet, handing her over to Zacky.

"She's not my kid, Zee, I can corrupt her in whatever I choose to" he announced, waving over at Adrienne, who blushed shyly and waved back.
"Keira's napping in your room, and she's been out for a while- you might wanna go check on her" Brian said, heading towards the kitchen, but not before Zacky stopped him.
"I know you don't want to be set up, but I think you should ask Adrienne out. You guys have a lot in common- I think you'd like her" he whispered, and Brian snuck a glance at the lawyer, who was talking to Matt.

He nodded, and as Zacky handed Linzee to Matt, promising he'd be back in a few minutes, he started to walk up the stairs, hearing Brian say to Adrienne,
"I promise you, I'm not always like that around kids"
Zacky rolled his eyes, and wandered along the hallway to his bedroom, where Keira was apparently sleeping. When he opened the door, he saw her curled up on the sheets, one of his dogs at her feet. It looked like she was wearing black fluffy slippers.

"Wake up baby" Zacky whispered softly, giving Keira a soft kiss until he felt her move. As soon as she'd opened her eyes, and gotten adjusted to the sudden change in lighting, she smiled, and leant down to kiss him again.
"Hey, honey. Did you guys sort out the whole lawyer thing? Brian told me it was pretty dirty work" she asked, but Zacky grinned, pressing a finger to her lips.
"Don't worry yourself about it, baby. If I can help it, Linzee will be mine forever. It's just a matter of proving to the judge that I'm a fit parent"
"You're an incredible dad, Zacky- it would take an idiot not to realise that"

He smiled, and got up off the floor, slipping onto the other side of the bed and wrapping his arms around her waist, giggling when his dog woke up and bounded over to him, licking his face excitedly.
"Ew, boy, get down! I'm trying to have a romantic moment here, you're killing the mood!" Zacky laughed, as the dog hopped down from the bed and padded off to find somewhere else to explore.

"We'll get through this Zacky. I'm not leaving your side till this is over" Keira announced, and already Zacky could see her eyes were flickering closed, a sign that whatever pain medication she was on was making her incredibly tired.
"I know we will. Now try and get some sleep, baby, you're exhausted" he said quietly, kissing her cheek and unfurling himself from her side.

He was a good Dad. Now if only the judge, and the state of California would believe him.