After awhile they came inside to have some cake, lighting the candles on the cake then calling Janelle over to make a wish before blowing out the candles. Janelle seeing the flames from the candles becomes scared, Jennifer recognizing the look on Janelle's face immediately starts to reassure her that she was safe. Realizing that Janelle was staring at the burning candles Jennifer reaches around Janelle to blow out the candles then takes Janelle into her arms to comfort her.

"Shhh it's ok it's out the fires gone it can't hurt you ok."

Slowly Janelle turns her head to find the fire was gone just as Jennifer had told her and starts to relax into Jennifer's arms more.

Jonathan hearing Jennifer tell Janelle the fire was out and couldn't hurt her removes the candles and hides them then cuts and dishes up the cake to eat. When Janelle was ok again they sat down together to eat the cake. Just then the buzzer at the gate went off and Max said he'd get it.

Coming back into the room Max said, "Mr. H there's a package being delivered for Janelle."

"Ok Max thanks." Getting up Jonathan gets the door and signs for the delivery then taking one of the boxes walks back to the living room where he places it in front of Janelle to open.

Reaching out for the box Janelle puts it on the floor before opening it and finds a small monkey inside with a note. Picking up the monkey to hold and giving the note to Jennifer to read. Opening it Jennifer reads it aloud.

"Happy birthday Little Flower, I've sent you your best friend Sunshine, I hope she can help you feel better."

Putting the note down Jennifer looks to Janelle who only snuggles Sunshine closer. Then looking at Jonathan before pulling Janelle into her arms and whisper, "it's been a long day why don't you go upstairs and start the water for a bath then climb into bed, I'll come up in a while to tuck you in ok."

Nodding her head Janelle gets up still holding Sunshine and taps her leg for Shadow to follow starts walking upstairs for a bath.

After Janelle was gone Jonathan, Jennifer and Zofia discuss what happened with Malachi earlier. Just before Jennifer and Jonathan heads up to tuck Janelle in Zofia says goodbye and that she will call soon to see how things are going.

While Jonathan is seeing Zofia out Jennifer comes upstairs to see how Janelle is doing. Opening the door she finds Janelle on the floor getting Shadow and Sunshine acquainted. Smiling at the picture Janelle presented just stood there to watch for a few moments before disturbing her.

"Janelle, come on time for bed."

Turning from where she was laying and seeing Jennifer she smiles back and gets up to climb into bed taking Sunshine with her. Once settled in Jennifer leans down to kiss Janelle goodnight then pats Sunshine on the head before replying, "I guess you don't need me tonight, not with Shadow and Sunshine here to cuddle with."

Janelle reaches out to touch Jennifer's cheek letting her know that she still likes her very much. Just then Jonathan arrives at the door and asks, "So do I get to kiss Janelle goodnight to?"

At that both Janelle and Jennifer smile, moving back so Jonathan could step closer for his kiss from Janelle, they say goodnight and head for their own bed.

Wednesday around 11:00 am 2 police officers arrived at the office to see Jonathan. Stopping at Deanne's desk to make sure Jonathan was in and that they could see him.

"Mr. Hart will see you now."

"Thanks."

Jonathan stood to greet the officers as they came in.

"Mr. Hart, we have a court order here to pick up a girl known by her family as Autumn, but you call her Janelle. And to deliver her to her uncle and aunt."

"I'm sorry officers, I can't let you take her."

"You do know Mr. Hart that if you refuse to hand her over you'll be held in contempt of court and will be arrested."

"Then you'll have to arrest me because I can't hand her over, but before you arrest me may I have a few moments alone for a phone call?"

"I suppose we can trust you to not run, ok."

As soon as the officers closed the door behind them, Jonathan immediately calls home to tell Jennifer to not let anyone through the gates or go anywhere. And that he was being arrested for contempt of court for not allowing them to take Janelle away from them.

By Friday Jonathan's lawyer managed to get Jonathan a hearing where they had Janelle's medical Drs. and her psychologist testify why she couldn't leave the Harts at this time. The lawyer her uncle had hired asked that they be allowed to choose a psychologist to examine Janelle as well. Turning to Jonathan the Judge asks if he would allow this. Consulting with his lawyer standing up the lawyer makes a deal that Jonathan be released to go home before a psychologist will be allowed on the property to see Janelle.

Later that day after Jonathan had been home showered and changed into clean clothes and had some time to hold his wife and Janelle. The buzzer at the front gate sounded answering it only to find out that there were police officers with a psychologist, her uncle had found seemingly very quickly. Also to Jonathan it seamed very suspicious for them to arrive so soon, but having to let them come up pushed the button to open the gate.

"Mr. Hart this is Dr. Naomi Goodman."

"Dr. Goodman, any relation to Malachi?"

"Yes Mr. Hart I'm his sister-in-law my husband is his brother Isaac."

"And are you going to be impartial in this or do you already have your mind set to take Janelle?"

"No Mr. Hart I only care about finding out how Autumn/Janelle is at this point I will not make any decisions before seeing my patient."

"Ok then Janelle is out back with my wife I'll show you the way."

"Thanks."

Dr. Goodman and two of the officers followed Jonathan through the house to the back yard where Jennifer and Janelle were playing. When Jennifer saw a movement in the corner of her eye she stood up looking towards the door and seeing they had company walked over to greet them.

"Hello, I'm Jennifer Hart."

"Darling this is Dr. Naomi Goodman the psychologist her uncle sent."

"Oh, that was fast I thought we would have the weekend before he could send a Dr."

"Actually it would normally take at least 2 weeks before getting a visit from a psychologist. But being his sister-in-law I was anxious to see my niece again as well, so here I am."

"Oh, here let me introduce you to Janelle then you can talk to her or just sit and watch before making a decision."

Taking her over to where Janelle was playing with her pets Jennifer said, "Janelle, if you can stop playing for a few minutes there's someone here to meet you."

Janelle stopping what she was doing looked up to Jennifer smiling until she saw a stranger then got up as fast as possible to grab onto Jennifer for protection.

"It's ok Janelle she won't hurt you, she just wants to get to know you and I'll be right over there beside Jonathan ok?"

Not wanting Jennifer to leave yet tightened her hold and shook her head no.

Seeing this Naomi spoke up saying, "it's ok Mrs. Hart you can stay until Janelle feels ok about being with me."

Surprised at this Jennifer smiled knowing then that she was more concerned with Janelle than with what her uncle Malachi wanted.

"Is that ok with you Janelle?"

Nodding Janelle then tapped her leg for Shadow to follow as they walked over to a spot with some sun before sitting on the ground. Once they were settled Naomi asked Jennifer, "can you tell me how do you know what Janelle wants from you and when?"

"Well I suppose you could say I read her eyes."

"How is her schooling coming along can she write?"

"Yes she can write some but only here with Jonathan and I close for protection."

Then turning to Janelle Naomi asks, "Do you love the Harts?"

Janelle thought about it then looked at Jennifer before shrugging her shoulders. Still not certain what the difference was between love and like.

Smiling Naomi changed her question, "Ok then how about do you trust and like the Harts?"

Without hesitation Janelle smiles real big and nods her head. Then hugs Jennifer close.

Laughing Naomi asks more questions of Janelle and Jennifer seeing the bond between them was so much more than they even knew. Finally standing up Naomi thanked them for the nice visit shook Jennifer's hand then seeing Janelle put out her hand shook Janelle's hand to.

Turning and walking back to the house the police officer stepped out to ask, "well what did you find?"

"It's hard because I would like very much to have my niece returned to the family, but that girl is not my niece up here." Pointing to her head.

"Then your saying we leave her here?"

"Yes, we leave her here with the Harts who love her."

"I wish our orders were that simple, the Judge ordered us to serve Jennifer with a court order and take Janelle to her uncle no matter what."

"WHAT! You used me to get to Jennifer and Janelle."

"Yes, or the Judge used you to get us here."

Stepping up to Jennifer as she walked towards the house with Janelle one of the officers pulled out the court order and said, "Jennifer Hart I have a court order here for you to hand over the girl Autumn/Janelle to be returned to her family."

Closing her eyes Jennifer slowly nodded her head before yelling for Jonathan then turning to Janelle pulled her into a tight hug.

"Jonathan they tricked us look." Giving him the paper she was handed.

Looking at the paper Jonathan replies, "I guess we don't have a choice now."

"Yes we do, I'll go to jail and Janelle can stay with you." Turning to Janelle Jennifer tells her, "Janelle these men want to take you away from us, but I'll go with them and stay in a small barred room for a few days, while you stay here with Jonathan where you'll be safe ok."

Janelle shook her head and tightened her hold on Jennifer."

"I'm sorry Mr. And Mrs. Hart I didn't know about this."

"That's ok, it was just a matter of time before they served Jennifer with papers to give up Janelle. I'm only sorry for what this will do to Janelle."

Janelle watched as the men handcuffed Jennifer to be taken away she ran up shaking her head no and pulling Jennifer away from them. One of the police officers then told Janelle they had to take her or Jennifer. Looking at Jennifer and the handcuffs around her wrists Janelle put her arms out letting them know that she would go with them.

"Janelle, no you can't."

Janelle touched Jennifer's hand then her own, then reached up to touch Jennifer's face before touching her own where the scar was. Trying to tell Jennifer that she didn't want her to be scarred.

"But nothing bad will happen to me honest."

Again Janelle shook her head and put her arms out to be handcuffed and taken away. The police officers then removed the handcuffs from Jennifer but only guided Janelle to the car, getting in and driving away.

Arriving at the Hilton where Janelle's uncle Malachi was staying they escorted her to her uncles room. After handing her over they left feeling sick at what they had, had to do.

Malachi being so happy about finally having his niece Autumn he showed her to the connecting room where she would sleep with her aunt Naomi until he could legally take her home, hopefully Monday after the court hearing.

At 10:30am Monday morning everyone arrived at the courtroom, Jennifer who had been so worried about Janelle, tried to catch her eye as she limped by but it seamed Janelle was trying to avoid her. Jonathan had been watching closely and noticed that her aunts Hannah and Naomi was guiding Janelle.

Once everyone was seated the Judge asked, "Mr. Brown did you get a psychologist to examine Autumn/Janelle?"

"Yes we did your honor, but we would like more time for a proper examination."

"I really don't want this to drag out much longer Mr. Brown." Turning to the Harts and their lawyer the Judge asks, "And you Mr. Albright do you agree to a more thorough exam?"

"Your Honor, I know for a fact that the psychologist Mr. Goodman brought in has already come to a conclusion as to where Janelle should live, and I would like to call her to the stand."

"Ok get the Dr. up here and let's get this done."

Mr. Albright called Dr. Naomi Goodman to the stand. Once she was sworn in and settled he asked, "Dr. Goodman, are you by any chance related to Malachi?"

"Yes I am by marriage to his brother."

"And did Malachi try to help you decide in his favor?"

"Yes he did before I even saw Janelle."

"Ok, then after you saw Janelle what conclusion had you come to?"

"What I learned while at the Harts residence was, that it would be very detrimental to Janelle to take her away from Jennifer at this time."

"And how did you come to this conclusion?"

"When Janelle was with the Harts she was alive but frightened easily. When I say alive I mean she played, hugged, ate, even was learning to read and write again. But now look at her she's nothing but a shell, she doesn't eat, or sleep she just sits curled up in a corner.
]

"And how has Malachi handled Janelle's withdrawal?"

"Not good I've seen him slap her to try and get her to eat, he's yelled at and shaken her, then he's ignored her, and left her care to me because I'm the psychologist."

"So it's pretty evident that Janelle needs to be with the Harts specifically Jennifer to have a fairly normal life."

"Yes, very much so."

"Thank you I have no more questions."

Leaving the stand and going back to her seat beside Janelle, once settled the Judge asks, "Mr. Albright I'm curious were there any pictures taken of Janelle when she was brought to the hospital?"

"Yes there were."

"And do you by any chance have copies of them with you?"

"Yes I do."

"Bring them here I want to see them."

After looking at the pictures he turns to Malachi and asks, "Mr. Goodman have you seen these pictures?"

"No I haven't your honor."

"Here I want you to take a look at these, before I make a decision of who gets custody.

When the folder was placed in front of him Malachi opened it to find some very horrible pictures of a child who was so brutally beaten that she was unrecognizable. Then looking behind him to Janelle and seeing how she was now, compared to how she was at the Harts on her birthday, he was forced to accept the truth. Slowly hauling himself up and walking to the Harts, laying the folder down then saying, "I'm so sorry, I just wanted to have my niece back, I lost sight of what is best for her. Please forgive me."

Then turning to Jennifer he said, "Go to her she needs you very badly."

Getting up Jennifer goes to Janelle, taking the seat Naomi vacated next to her, pulling her into her arms to comfort her.

Meanwhile the Judge seeing this he tells everyone, "It seams everyone knows what the decision is but I'll say it for the record anyway. I find for custody of Janelle is to be given to Mr. and Mrs. Hart for 1 year and I'm assigning Dr Goodman as her psychologist to keep track of how Janelle is coming along. We'll reconvene next year October 10 at 10:00am to decide where and with whom Janelle will permanently live with. Courts adjourned."

After a few moments Jennifer with Jonathan by her side lead Janelle out to the car to take her home. While in the back seat with Jennifer on one side and Jonathan on the other with Janelle in between and wrapped in their arms. As Max was driving home Janelle slowly started becoming aware of her surroundings and hearing Jennifer's voice and feeling her arms around her, Janelle then wrapped her arms around Jennifer and cried out the fear and terror she had felt while in her uncles care.