evermore {Taylor Swift AU}

~18~

Taylor's POV

"Most of you may know who I am, world pop star, and I figured out 4 days again that I was neighbors with the Fredricksons, at my house here in Rhode Island. One day I happen to be going for a drive at night because I was hearing loud bangs and I went to go see what it was at 3am. I noticed the lights would flicker and you would hear yelling not thinking of anything to seriously. The next day I went for a jog and I physically ran into Harley who seemed to be on the run, she ran the opposite direction and hit a tree, she fell to the ground, conscious but with double vision, she got up before I could speak, she said my name when I was helping her and that was it. Till later that evening I saw a boy, Julian Austin, running down the hill with his sister in his arms to the hospital 6 blocks from him. I got in my car and drove after him, I wanted to make sure he was okay and his sister. I sat hours and hours with him till the doctor came in, grade 4 concussion and memory loss, internal bleeding and throwing up... blood. From impact that wasn't hitting the tree, something didn't seem right to me. I stayed with them that night and drove them home. That following day I received a call from Julian he told me everything, he was trying to cover. They had escape plans and everything written out. They wanted me to help them escape. That day their parents were charged with illegal drug use, robbery and assault and battery, but that wasn't the case. The day after they were arrested them, they broke free in the middle of the night. Julian had texted me a video hours before hand of him and Harley dancing to one of my songs, which wasn't scary at the moment till at 3am, I received another text 4357. Now. Which meant help now. And I ran the 4 blocks between us. As you can hear in the recording you can hear James say "they got her bad" it was true, while recovering from the concussion, they thwacked her in the head with a metal chair, Julian and I have to pull her unconscious body out of a window. James almost didn't get out as you can hear but her did. She was rushed to the ER again, and put into custody of DCFS, and so was James, but Julian has been staying with us," I said.

"Thank you Ms. Swift you may be seated," she said banging her gavel.

"We're gonna have a 15 minute recess," she added and well all sat and exited the court room.

"Did you see my moms face?" Julian asked.

"What? No?" Joe and I said.

"She was higher than a kite," Julian said.

"And they let her in here? Ridiculous, not infront of my child she won't," I said.

"Court is back in session," the judge called as we all gathered in.

"On behalf of the court and the stands, Nancy Margo Stillman Fredrickson, and Frank Jared Fredrickson, 11 county's of child abuse and 20 years, with no bail. Jared Dustin Fredrickson and Justin Ross Fredrickson will have 1 and 2 years of probation, and 15 years do bail once they reach 18," the just banged their gavel, I hugged a sleepy Harley and we hugged Julian.

"Now our second case is Austin vs the court, Mr, Austin will you step to the stands," The judge asked and Julian went up. I see Justin smile and it wasn't at us. I turned around and saw my parents. I smile.

"Julian, you are here to be handed the custody of your youngest brother James?" The judge asked.

"Correct," Julian said.

"You're honor," I heard Joe say.

"Yes, sir?" The judge asked.

"Can I speak on behalf of Julian?" Joe asked and the judge nodded.

"Julian came to us 2 days ago, and the day Taylor met him and his siblings she knew they'd been so welcome in our home. Julian told us about his struggles and how James and Harley were the ones to help him out of it. He's mature and sober and he cares not only about his siblings but his family. On behalf of Taylor and I despite the age gap; Taylor looks at him like a son, I mean look at her now, the trust these kids have in her. The way Julian get safe in our home. That just shows you how much he cares and that bring James under Julian's care, wouldn't be any different," Joe said and I look at him proudly.

"You're such a dad," I whispered he smiles.

"Seconding this," I heard my parents in the back.

"In 4 days I've heard a month worth of stories about Julian and his relationship with James," I heard a voice and turn around and it's Selena.

"I don't think we need to hear from Julian, we got our answer from the court, on behalf of the court and Julian Daxtin Austin Fredrickson, we grant you 50/50 custody of James Jordan Austin Fredrickson," the judge banged the gavel and we all ran to eachother and hugged.

"Julian? You're really letting us take half," I said.

"He needs more then just me for family, not just a brother, but, a mom and dad," Julian smiled and hugged me.

"Case dismissed," the judge added.

"Now we just need this little one and we're home," I said. I turn around to my mom and dad while I hand Harley to Joe, gently but she wasn't timid. I hugged my mom, dad and Selena.

"She's? She's out? On Joe?" Selena said.

"I know, " I mouthed.  Taking a picture of the two.

Then Ashley came up to me.

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Hey y'all! I'm being generous and dropping this chapter early ;) so next update at 2.6k! Mwah Maesie 🩷