James and Melody are at their meeting with their attorney to start the step parent adoption process. Melody tells their attorney, Avery, the same story about her ex that she told James and also tells her that she hasn’t been in contact with him for in over a year and hasn’t tried to contact her since Deter was born 4 months ago. She asks how long it will take for the adoption process to be final.

Avery - Well before going any further you must find your ex and get him to give up is parental rights, which shouldn’t be too hard if he hasn’t talked to you in over a year.
Melody - The problem is I have no idea where he is. The last I knew was he was dating a friend of mine and has since broken up. I can try and get a hold of my friend and ask her where my ex is.
Avery - Go ahead and call her.

Melody dials Kaylee’s cell phone number hoping she is there.

Melody - Hey, I hope you can help me.
Kaylee - What do you need?
Melody - Do you know where Ian is?
Kaylee - He moved to Florida. Why do you need to find him?
Melody - As you know he sexual assaulted me and I ended up pregnant. He left me the minute I told him I was pregnant. Since then I met someone else, had my son, and got married. I want my new husband to adopt my son since he has been more of a father to him then Ian ever was. James has been in his life since before he was born.
Kaylee - I would be glad to help you and James. If you need me to testify in court on your behalf I will.
Melody - You will? Thanks
Kaylee - Of course I will.
Melody - Thank you for your help.
Kaylee - No problem

They hang up and her and James continue with their meeting.

James - So did she tell you where your ex is?
Melody - He moved to Florida.
Avery - Then it should be easy to track him down.
Melody - (Looks on his Facebook page) It says on his Facebook page he’s in Miami.
James - Great, so we can go down and find him.
Avery - I suggest you go with Melody, James, if he indeed has this history of violence towards women. I would hate for him to hurt Melody when it appears she’s pregnant.
James - What do you say babe? Want to head to Miami when we’re done here?
Melody - Sooner the better. I just want this done with.
Avery - Call me when you get back to town and will continue.
Melody - Alright, thank you.

James and Melody shake Avery’s hand. They head home and start packing so then can spend the weekend in Miami to track down Melody’s ex Ian. It’s now the weekend and they’re in Miami at their hotel. They decide to walk the streets to see if they can find Ian. They ask a girl at a bar near the hotel if she’s seen him. She says yes and gives them his address. Turns out he did the same thing to her as he did to Melody and Kaylee. She gives James and Melody her number and will be willing to testify against Ian. They thank the girl who’s name is Lola for her help. They track down Ian’s house and knock on the door. He answers the door.

Ian - Oh it’s you. What do you want you slut?
James - Don’t call her that.
Ian - Who the hell are you?
James - I’m her husband.
Ian - Didn’t waste anytime huh?
Melody - Cut the crap Ian and let us in.
Ian - Fine you have 5 minutes to tell me what the hell you want.

They go inside for awhile.

Melody - If you care, which I doubt you do, 4 months ago I gave birth to our son.
Ian - You’re right I don’t care and I’m not giving you any money for your accident.
Melody - I would never ask you for your damn money. I’m here to ask you to give up your parental rights to Deter.
Ian - Why should I do that for you?
Melody - So that my husband, James, can adopt him cuz he’s been more of a father to him then you’ll ever be.
Ian - If I give up my rights will you get the hell out of my house?
Melody - Yes, we will leave. Sign the papers.

Ian signs the papers and then James and Melody leave. They go back to their hotel room. They spend an extra day there and then go home on Sunday. They get back to Nashville. It’s now Monday. Melody calls Avery while James is out at the gym.

Avery - Do you have good news?
Melody - It was relatively easy.
Avery - Great, I’ll stop by your place to talk to you and James about what’s next.
Melody - Ok

Avery and Melody hang up. A little while later Avery heads over to James and Melody’s place. James comes home at the same time.

James - What are you doing here Avery?
Avery - Here to talk to you about what’s next for the adoption process.
James - Well then sit down.
Avery - Alright if your ex gets the papers back to you in two weeks the adoption process should be final in 4-6 weeks. As it takes awhile for the new birth certificate to be processed. Plus a child services worker has to come to the house to see how James is with Deter.
James - Sounds fair
Melody - Got a text from Ian saying he’s mailed the papers.
James - That was fast. So you won’t have to go to court now?
Avery - Ian will have to come to here for court to officially terminate his rights by a judge. So I would have friends and family who can testify on your behalf that James will be a better fit as a father to your son.
Melody - No problem we have people willing to do that.
James - Sooner the better since training camp starts next week.
Avery - Alright if you can get Ian here by the end of this week we can get this done faster.
Melody - Great, thank you Avery.

Avery leaves when James grabs Melody’s arm and pulls her close to him. James then lays on top of Melody. They begin to kiss and tearing each other clothes off. James starts kissing gently biting Melody’s neck. She begins to moan when James starts kissing others parts of her body.

Melody - Oh James. Oh god James.
James - Oh Mel. Oh god baby.
Melody - Oh god that feels so good.
James - Oh baby you are so sexy.
Melody - Oh James I want you so bad.
James - Oh Mel baby I want you so bad too.
Melody - Oh yeah right there.
James - Oh baby I love you.
Melody - Oh James I love you too.

The sex continues until Melody orgasms. James gets off of her. Melody lays her head on James’s chest. James smiles when he wraps arms around her.

James - (Gives Melody a kiss) I love you so much.
Melody - (Sighs) I love you too James.
James - I can’t believe Deter is going to be my step son soon.
Melody - And he deserve a dad who will be in his life. As long as you never leave us.
James - I would never do that to you two.
Melody - I know you would never do that.
James - I love you and Deter too much to want to hurt you.
Melody - I know you do and I love you too. Deter does too even if he can’t say it.
James - I know he loves me. He giggles any time I’m in his nursery with him.
Melody - (Smiles) He knew that night we were cuddling at my apartment in Raleigh before he was born that his mommy was in love with you.
James - I believe that’s why he was kicking my hand that night as if he was saying “I love Mommy’s new boyfriend.” You ok honey?
Melody - I’m just really tired.
James - Then lets go to bed.
Melody - Sound good to me.

James and Melody grab their clothes and head up stairs. They go into their bedroom and get ready for bed. While Melody is getting ready for bed James goes into Deter’s nursery to check on him. He picks him up and goes over to the rocking chair and starts rocking him as he gives Deter a bottle. James gently burps Deter and puts him back in his crib. He leans forward and kisses Deter on the forehead and tells him how much he loves him. He leaves the nursery and goes back into the bedroom. He sees that Melody is already asleep. He lays down on the bed beside Melody and wraps his arms around her so that they’re spooning with one another. He’s asleep a short time later until the next morning. It’s now the end of the week. They’re in court to get Ian’s paternal rights terminated. The judged agrees to terminate his rights. The judge tells James that he may adopt Deter if he passes the home evaluation next week. The judge will have a child services worker visit the house to see if James is fit to be a father to Deter. James agrees to the judges terms. A week passes and it’s now for James to be evaluated.

Notes