Can you write something about Drake and Gos bonding?
(I’ll do you one better, anon. How about FATHER/DAUGHTER BONDING)
(as always, I’m open to requests for more, or just requests in general)
“You ready?” He asks her, not even sure of his own answer as he bends to fix her hair and press a kiss to her cheek.
Gosalyn squirms away from his fussing, grabbing his hand to keep it still, “Of course I’m ready! It’s not like I’m worried they’ll say no, or anything.” She smiles back with the same nervousness as him, “They won’t. Right?”
Drake gives a smile right back, shifting his bag full of papers from one shoulder to the other so he can pull her into a hug, heart beating out of his chest as he hears a clearing of the throat from beside them. He looks to find the guardian ad-litem gesturing for them to enter the courtroom. Gosalyn holds him even tighter, and he takes a deep breath as they walk forward together into the most important moment of their lives.
He wishes he could say the woman that sat in the Judges’ seat looked friendly and sympathetic. He would be lying. The judge looked just as scary and all-powerful as those he saw in his drama shows, sitting stiffly with glasses perched upon her beak as he was ushered to hand over his documentation he’d brought with him. Then, he was sat at the counsel table with a glass of water. Gosalyn sat at the table across the walkway from him, the guardian in the attorney’s seat beside her.
There was silence for a few minutes as the judge read over all of the documents, and Drake made note of every time she seemed to pause and take note of something she was reading.
Would his income be enough? Did she think Gosalyn would be happy with him? Would she deny him based on the sole factor of being a single parent?
“Drake Mallard.” She eventually spoke, causing him to jump and cough around the sip of water he had just taken. He stood, wincing as the chair scraped awkwardly against the ground and he came to stand beside the table.
“I see here you are looking to adopt nine-year-old Gosalyn Waddlemeyer. May I ask why?” She peers down at him from the judges’ seat, and his eyes flit over to Gosalyn before going back to her.
“Well...I met her one day while I was out, and she just stuck with me. She was energetic and rambunctious, and the smartest little girl I’d ever met. And she needed a family, and I...I wanted to give her one. Maybe not a big one, but anything’s better than nothing.” Drake inwardly cringed at himself, hands clasped together tight enough to turn his fingers slightly red.
“...Uh-huh. And you swear that you will care for her to the best of your ability?” The judge questioned, one eyebrow raised as he looked between him and Gosalyn.
“I swear.” He said in a rush, heart swelling with hope as he began to grin, “I just want to give her a home.”
He could hear sniffling behind him, and he turned to see Gosalyn rubbing her eyes and the guardian rubbing her back comfortingly. The judge gave a soft frown, gesturing for them both to come stand, “Miss Beltsville, is Miss Waddlemeyer alright?”
“I believe so, Judge. Just a little overwhelmed.” The guardian gave a tight smile, leaning down to whisper to Gos. Drake’s heart plummeted. Was she rethinking things? Was she sad that he wanted her, and not some nicer family with a big house and tons of siblings to play around with?
“Come join me up here, Gosalyn.” The judge soothes, scooting her chair back slightly. He watches as Gos shuffles her way, hesitant, up to the judge’s seat, and then looking down at him with a smile that could blind anyone. The judge hoists Gosalyn into her lap, which Drake sighs at- she wasn’t the touchy-feely type, he knew, and she was already looking uncomfortable.
“Tell me, Gosalyn. Would you like to be Mr. Mallard’s daughter?” The judge asks her, and Gosalyn immediately nods.
“And you want him to be your dad? You’re okay with it just being you two?” The judge asks, looking at the guardian when Gosalyn hesitates, and Drake’s throat closes in anxiousness.
“Well...a mom and dad would be nice. But, he’s really sweet and I like him a lot more than the children's home director.” Gosalyn explains, “And it used to be just me and my grandpa, so it’s not that different, really.” She gives Drake another smile, this one small and tentative.
“That sounds very nice. Do you have a nice room in Mr. Mallard’s house?” She asks, to which Gosalyn visibly brightens.
“Yeah! It’s got all these cool posters and wallpaper, and I’ve got new skates and a hockey stick to practice with-” She rambles on for a while, the judge looking more and more amused.
“That’s wonderful, dear.” She sets Gosalyn down from the chair, nudging her gently towards Drake, “Why don’t you go stand with the others as I get this sorted out?”
She races down the stairs and to his side, and Drake’s hand finds hers quickly, both of them squeezing the other’s hand tightly, unwilling to let go as the judge picks up her pen and uncaps it.
“By my honor as a judge of the city of Saint Canard, I now declare you, Gosalyn Mallard, legal daughter of Mister Drake Mallard.” Her pen gives one last sweep before she smiles and stamps it with her seal.
Drake’s ears fill with the sound of Gosalyn squealing and his arms are suddenly full of her. His daughter. He was hugging his daughter.
His eyes fill with relieved tears as he falls to kneel at her height, scooping Gosalyn into his arms and squeezing her tighter, laughing in relief.
Gosalyn sighs out, trembling as she buries her face in the juncture between his shoulder and neck, “Hey, Dad?”
And oh, his heart soars at that. He lets out a chuckling sob, wiping his eyes clear as he pets the back of her hair. He realizes all at once that he’d be able to do her hair every morning now, just as he had done that morning. Well, every morning she let him.
She pulls back to look at him, her eyes shining with tears even as she grins cheekily, “Can we go get ice cream to celebrate?”
Even the judge laughs, as Drake stands and rolls his eyes playfully, “Of course we can. All the ice cream you want.”
And they turn, walking out of the building to go get their first ice cream as father and daughter.
