xp_logs | [Log] Adrienne, Tandy, and Uncle Michael: Monday Afternoon (Reply)

Tandy is called back to Adrienne's classroom where her Uncle and Adrienne tell her what their plan is.

Tandy made her way back to Adrienne's classroom but was taking her time, trying to think of reasons why she was called back. She was still struggling with play catch up with her two weeks of missed classes - totally not her fault. "Hi Ms Frost you wanted to see me?"

Adrienne cut off her conversation with Father Michael with a snap of her jaws and turned quickly when she heard Tandy's voice. "Uhh, hey. Yeah. Your uncle and I were wanting to talk to you. About your guardianship situation."

"Uncle Mike?" The teenager looked at her Uncle in shocked, the thoughts of the homework not yet turned in vanished. Her skin started to glow at the thought of the guardianship, what her mother wrote in the will. "Oh."

"Hi Tandy," Michael replied standing up as his niece entered the room, "Perhaps you'd like to sit down for this?" he asked indicating one of the other chairs in the room.

"You should be the one to tell her; it was your idea, after all," Adrienne muttered under her breath to Father Michael.

Tandy looked between the two adults, "What is it? Tell me. Is there a way to change it?"

"We can't change your mother's will," Michael began, "But obviously there is no way anyone could even conceive of your father being a suitable guardian. We've talked to some lawyers," he continued indicating Adrienne, "and it appears we can challenge your mothers will concerning your guardianship."

"We're... uhh..." Okay, no going back now, Adrienne thought to herself, "we... your uncle and I... we're going to apply to be your legal guardians. If... if that's okay with you, I mean," she added nervously.

"YES!" She blurted out and without skipping a beat. "Anything to change it and I will love you forever! What do you need me to do?"

Michael couldn't help but smile at the change in Tandy's demeanor, "Nothing really, all we have to do is file with a judge for a change in guardianship. I'm assuming you agree then?" he asked his niece with a smile.

"How long does that take?" The teenager looked at both Adrienne and her Uncle with the 'you-are-seriously-going-to-ask-me-that' look. "Of course I am agreeing. I don't want him to wake up and think he can just take me again to her! I don't want to see her again, ever."

"Well, it might take some time," Adrienne admitted. "It'll take between sixty and ninety days after we send in the paperwork for the request to be considered officially 'filed'. Then there'll have to be an investigation into Tyler, your uncle, and myself. There would be a hearing, and possibly a trial, if Tyler happens to wake up and challenge the request. But," she added, trying to be optimistic, "as soon as the request has been filed, the legal wheels start turning, which means that even if Tyler was to wake up, he wouldn't have any authority to make decisions for you anymore. Not until the custody case is resolved."

"Well Alice woke up two months after I...put her in that coma. And those men that attack us stillhaven't woken up yet...that I know of..." Tandy trailed and looked down at her hands, wondering if Nathan would suffer the same. She wasn't sure what her daggers did to someone who had similar powers. "I don't think his old job would let him near anyone..."

"It doesn't matter," Michael said compassionately "What's important is you;re safe now. Nathan can't get you anymore, and I assume the school won't let him anywhere near you if he does wake up. You can just relax and focus on enjoying school without the weight over your head." As much as she could anyway, if Michael knew his niece she wouldn't be able to put he worries aside entirely; but he would do everything he could to help her.

"Yessss, enjoying," Adrienne added, jokingly drawing out the confirmation. "And by enjoying, we mean doing all your homework and eating all your greens and not watching too much tv and all that other stuff."

Tandy started to play with the ends of her hair, "Yes...homework. And I already like veggies so that shouldn't be a problem."

"And the not watching too much TV?" Michael asked arching one eyebrow.

"I don't watch T.V. I watch movies."

Adrienne rubbed her hands together diabolically. "And soon I will have the legal power to scold you for doing so when you have outstanding assignments in your coursework." She added an evil laugh to the comment.

"I am working on them..." Tandy looked away from Adrienne and looked over at her uncle. "When are you guys going to apply?"

"As soon as we get done here," Michael replied. "I told the lawyer to wait for my phone call before submitting the paperwork. All he needs is to get it in the system and it'll be started."

"Then what are you waiting for...call call!"

"Do I now have the authority to tell her she has to use the magic word?" Adrienne inquired to Father Michael.

Michael waited for a moment, adopting a pensive look as he thought about the question, or appeared to at any rate. "You know I do believe that you do," he told Adrienne trying to hide his grin, "go ahead."

Adrienne just grinned back at him and straightened up, standing in front of Tandy kind of awkwardly. "I've never been anyone's guardian before. Should we hug or something?"

Tandy smirked at Adrienne before giving her a hug. "Thank you...both of you. You probably just gave me the best Christmas present ever."