Forget Me, Not Chapter 5

Offroads POV

“All rise,” the bailiff called as the judge entered the courtroom. “The honorable Judge Phupha residing,” Offroad watched as the judge took his seat.

“You may sit,” he called as the entire courtroom sat. On the left side of the room sat Offroad with his Lawyer behind him were Poon, Diamond, Film, his mother, and surprisingly his father. On the right side sat Daou, his 2 lawyers and behind was his friend Geler, Joong, and his father, and a woman Offroad was assuming was his mother. “Saechua vs Jindatawheepol for custody rights involving a 5-year-old Chance Danupol Jindatawheepol. Counselors care to explain as to why with paternity being established by this court this can not be solved in mediation?” The judge asked. Offroad had been served court papers for joint custody of Chance less than 24 hours after the confrontation between him and Daou. He immediately called his father and mother freaking out. He had been ordered by the court to bring Chance to a DNA center for the court to establish paternity for Daou. He felt like he was in the process of losing his son.

“Because your honor,” Daous’ first lawyer stood. “The defendant kept the child from my client fully knowing the paternity of the child and now wishes to flee the city with the child now that my client is aware.”

“Your honor,” Offroads lawyer stood now. “My client just wishes to return to his home in Hat Yai with his son, a son who doesn’t know his other biological parent, who now asking for overnight visitation.”

“Which my client is entitled to. Your honor, we just want the child to remain in the city until a custody agreement can be made and implantment that satisfies my clients parental rights to his child, if the other parent wishes to leave the city that badly my client is fully prepared to take the child full time.”

“Over my dead body!” Offroad shouted no longer being able to contain his anger.

“Mr. Kantapon, you will remain respectful in my courtroom.”

“Sorry your honor,” Offroad bowed his head.

“Your honor even you have to agree it’s absurd to leave a child with a man he does not know in a strange place he does not know.” Offroads lawyer interjected.

“The defendant has family in the city the child is close with and can be left with.”

Offroad pulled on his lawyer’s suit to make him bend over sideways to him. “I’m not leaving without my son.” His lawyer nodded.

“Your honor, my client will not leave the city without his son. I believe it is in the party’s best interests to keep things amicable to allow my client to return to Hat Yai for the time being as he is willing to agree to supervised visitation and obey any other court orders.”

“Please don’t let him take my son from me again!” Daou pleaded with the judge. Offroad could hear the raw emotion in his voice. Offroad didn’t want to keep Daou from getting to know Chance. But he didn’t want to be in this city any longer; he wanted to go home.

“You will also contain yourself Mr. Pittaya.” The judge said, giving him a stern look. “Have a seat.” The judge said waving his hand to the lawyers. “Mr. Kantapon,” the judge called to him as his lawyer motioned for him to stand.

“Yes, your honor?” Offroad said standing.

“Are you against Mr. Pittaya getting to know his son?”

“No,” Offroad said truthfully. His lawyer cleared his throat. “Oh sorry I mean no, your honor.”

“Are you against visitation then?”

“No, your honor but I don’t wish for overnight visits just yet,” Offroad said.

“And how do you think this man will ever come to know his son if you are 13 hours away?” The judge asked. Offroad swallowed, letting the silence answer for him. “You may take a seat,” the judge waved to him to sit down. “Mr. Pittaya,”

“Yes, your honor,” Daou said, standing quickly.

“Have you ever met your son formally, does this child know who exactly you are?”

“Well no-”

“So please explain to me how you think a child would feel being ripped away from his birth father and placed into the home of a man he does not know?” The judge questioned him.

“But it’s not my fault,” Daou pleaded. “Your honor,” he added after his lawyer cleared his throat.

“Yes, I can agree with you on that.” The judge signed. “Take a seat,” he waved to Daou who promptly sat. “Here is what we are going to do,” Offroad held his breath as the judge spoke. “The child must remain within a 50-mile radius of the home of Mr. Pittaya unless agreed on by both parties.” Offroad heard Daou cheer loudly. It was quickly silenced by his lawyers. “Mr. Pittaya will be granted visitation rights but under no circumstances will I force a child to spend the night in a strange place with ultimately a strange man. And until the child feels comfortable around the plaintiff the defendant or an agreed 3rd party will be with them on all visitations.” The judge leaned over his desk giving Offroad and Daou a stern look. “We will come back here in 3 months’ time where an agreed upon custody agreement will be written and signed for my review. Case adjourned.” He said with a bang of his gavel.

Offroad stood feeling defeated but happy he wasn’t forced to hand his son over. Offroad didn’t want to be cruel to Daou. He didn’t want to rob him of any more time with their son but he didn’t want to lose him and all Daou wanted to do was to take.

“You okay?” Poon asked. Offroad nodded, hugging his friend.

“Do you think you will be okay planning the visits or do I need to submit it to his lawyer?” Offroads Lawyer asked him as he packed up his briefcase.

“If I need you I’ll let you know,” Offroad said, thanking the man for his time. He wanted to try and do this as civilly as possible and he knew the more lawyers were involved the less civil it was going to be. Offroad and his people excited the courtroom first. He made his way over to the side of the building where he spotted Jo playing with Chance.

“How did it go?” His stepmother asked him as Chance rushed to him for a hug. Offroad just gave her a half smile.

“Chance,” Offroad said, stooping down to his son’s level. “You ready?” Last night he had spoken with his son that today after daddy’s meeting he was going to meet someone really important.

“Yeah!” He exclaimed. Offroad gave him a big hug and then took his hand and began to walk his son down the hallway he had just come. He saw Daou and his people and lawyers standing there by the elevators with their backs towards him. Offroad knelt to his son once more.

“Okay buddy, here is the deal,” Offroad said, taking his son’s hands in his. “Remember how daddy told you you have another daddy out there he was just lost?” Offroad asked his son and his son nodded.

“Did you find him?” His son asked, his smile growing wide.

“Yes, are you ready to meet him?” Offroad asked as his son eagerly shook his head yes. “Okay let’s go find him,” Offroad whispered to his son trying to hold back his tears. He stood, took a deep breath and took Chance’s hand. He walked over to the group and tapped on Daou’s back lightly. Daou spun around immediately locking eyes with Offroad. “There is someone who wants to meet you,” Offroad said, clearing his throat. Daous’ eyes dropped down and immediately lit up. He dropped to his son’s level.

“Hey there buddy,” Daou said with a smile growing across his face. Offroad felt Chance squeeze his hand. “Can I give you a hug?” Daou asked, holding his hands open Offroad watched as Chance looked up at him questioning whether it was okay or not.

“It’s up to you baby,” Offroad whispered to him. He felt his son’s hand slip from his as he stepped into Daou’s hands as they quickly wrapped each other in a tight hug. Daou stood holding their son, Offroad could see the light reflecting off tears that were falling as Daou kissed the side of Chance’s head.

‘Thank you,’ Daou mouthed to Offroad as he hugged his son tighter. Offroad nodded, swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat at the sight before him. He felt he wasn’t owed any gratitude. Daous last words to him in the conference room had him realizing how much he had fucked up. Daou was right. He had robbed him of his choice out of a fear that stemmed from his mother robbing his father of his choice. He owed it to his son and to Daou to make this right.

——-

Daou POV

Daou eagerly stood at the entrance to the park as he awaited the arrival of Offroad and their son. After being able to hug his son at the courthouse yesterday Offroad had asked if he would like to join them at the park today to which he happily agreed to. He knew when he got the lawyers involved this was going to get difficult but he was happy with the judge’s decision and he was even happier that Offroad was seemingly being civil for the moment. He knew that when asked for 50/50 custody including the overnight visits Offroad was going to freak out which he had but he just wanted to be in his son’s life as much as possible.

“Hi!” He heard a tiny voice yell as he saw Chance pulling Offroad behind him. Offroad was in a park of design-printed shorts, a shirt and a light button-up with his long hair pulled into a bun on the top of his head. He is still beautiful Daou thought quickly, shaking the thoughts from his head now definitely wasn’t the time for that.

“Hey, buddy!” Daou yelled, kneeling down and extending his arms for a hug that his son happily gave him.

“Daddy said we can get ice cream after this if you want!?” Chance asked him with a big smile that resembled his.

“Oh course!” Daou said standing up and taking the little boy’s hand in his. “Are you ready to go play?” He asked as his son nodded eagerly.

“Have fun, I’ll be right here,” Offroad said, pointing to the bench not too far away from the playground.

“Come on!” Chance yelled as it was now Daou who was being pulled.

Chance was the energizer bunny who kept going and going. Chance talked a few other kids into playing with his and Daou and Daou was the dinosaur and had to chase them around. By the 6th round he needed a break, he had about crawled over the bench Offroad was sitting as he handed him a bottle of water.

“Thank you,” Daou said as he chugged the entire thing. “He always like this?”

“Yeah,” Offroad laughed watching his son play with the other children now. “He loves the outdoors and the water.”

“Oh I have a pool with my condo,” Daou said before thinking. “If you or him ever want to use it,” he said, his words trailing off.

“Thank you for the invitation,” Offroad cleared his throat. “Oh, I have something for you!” Offroad said, digging into his bag and pulling out a small picture album, handing it to Daou. Daou opened it and flipped through it, seeing pictures documenting Chance’s life for the past 5 years. “I have videos as well I can send you,” Offroad said in a small voice.

“Thank you, I would like that,” Daou said smiling at the pictures of Chance in the bathtub.

“Daddy!” Chances’ voice yelled from the back end of the playground. Daou watched as Offroad quickly shot up out of his seat and he raced to the sound of Chance’s voice Daou quickly on his heels. They rounded the corner to see Chance’s leg was somehow stuck between two bars.

“Oh my Chance,” Offroad gasped as he quickly climbed up the side of the playground with impressive speed to get to Chance. “What did I tell you about doing this?” Offroad said as he began to work to shimmy Chance’s leg from the bars.

“Sorry Daddy,” Chance said, holding onto Offroad as he continued to try to work his leg free. “I thought I could fit.” Daou couldn’t help but laugh as he also scaled the side of the playground.

“I’m glad you find this funny,” Offroad mocked his laughter.

“I used to do this all the time when I was a kid,” Daou laughed as he took over the efforts that Offroad was attempting. “See there is a trick to it,” Daou said as he pushed on Chance’s leg just in the right spot to pop it free. ” Wahla,” Daou said.

“Thank you,” Offroad sighed, hugging their son. “Don’t do it ever again or no more ice cream!”

“Yes, daddy.” Chance stood on his leg but quickly hissed in pain and yelled as his knee buckled. Daou caught him as he started crying.

“Please tell me your car is near?” Offroad asked, standing himself. Daou nodded trying to console his son. “You got him?” Daou nodded again as he began to follow Offroad off the playground. “To the hospital,” Offroad sighed, gathering their stuff.

“Tell daddy I still want ice cream,” Daou felt his son whisper in his ear through his little sobs. Daou chuckled.

“If you promise to be a brave boy for the doctors we will get you all the ice cream you would like,” Daou informed him as they made their way to his car. This wasn’t how he pictured his son’s first play date going but he wasn’t mad at it the longer he got to stay with him the better. Even if that was sitting in a hospital.

….

“A few days of rest should fix him right up.” The doctor said as Daou felt a wave of relief wash over him.

“Yay, can we go get ice cream now?!” Chance called from his hospital bed looking at Offroad with hopeful little eyes.

“Baby it’s almost 8 pm and you haven’t had dinner,” Offroad sighed, rubbing his head.

“Okay then you take me,” Chance said, turning to Daou. Daou very much so wanted to give in to the request but he could feel the glare coming from Offroad.

“Sorry buddy your daddy is right but I promise next time okay?” Daou said as the little boy sighed and held out his pinky. Daou looked confused.

“You have to pinky promise him now,” Offroad laughed. Oh, Daou thought and quickly hooked his pinky with the boys. “Now if you break the promise your finger will fall off.”

“Don’t want that now do we?” Daou said, tickling the boy’s stomach causing Chance to burst out laughing.

“I’ll let the nurse get your paperwork.” The doctor said wave bye to Chance. Daou felt the doctor’s eyes linger too long on Offroad before he exited. Daou didn’t want to make a scene but also didn’t like it. For all that doctor knew Offroad was his Omega.

“Can you pull the car around to the front so we don’t have to walk too far?” Offroad asked, gathering their belongings once again.

“Yeah of course.” Daou nodded with his words and exited the room as the nurse was coming in with paperwork. Daou decided to stop by the counter and go ahead and pay the bill.

“Can I help you sir?” The polite nurse asked behind the counter.

“Yes, I would like to pay Chance Danupol’s fees please,” Daou said, pulling out his wallet and card and waiting for the total.

“I’m telling you, just wait, the hottest omega you have ever seen is about to walk out of 206.” Daou heard a voice say behind and turned to see his son’s doctor standing just a few yards behind him with another doctor. Daou felt his alpha rising to the surface.

“318, sir” the nurse called Daou and handed her the card without looking, keeping his eyes locked on the doctor’s. “Sir? Sir?” The nurse called, finally pulling Offroad’s attention away from the doctors. “Sign here and here is your card.” Daou signed the receipt and grabbed the card, shoving it back in his wallet. He walked back towards the room as he saw Offroad exiting carrying Chance and the bags.

“Oh that was quick,” Offroad said, surprised to see Daou back so quickly.

“I realized you had too much to carry,” Daou said, grabbing his son from Offroad and the bag as well.

“If you’re gonna carry him, at least let me carry the bag,” Offroad said, reaching for the bag.

“I’m fine,” Daou waved him off. “Let’s go,” Daou said, placing his free hand on Offroads lower back ushering him down the hallway.

“Wait the bill,” Offroad said as they approached the counter. Daou made direct eye contact with the doctors standing there waiting to see Offroad as he leaned down to whisper in his ear keeping his hand on his lower back.

“Took care of it,” He whispered. The doctor’s eyes grew wide as they pretended to be looking at something else. They had no clue what he had whispered in Offroads’ ear but he made it clear to the 2 alphas that this omega was 100% off-limits.

“Oh,” Offroad said, not even flinching at the fact Daou’s mouth had just been right next to his ear. “You didn’t have to,”

“He is my son,” Daou could repeat those words a million times a day and they would never get old.

“Thank you,” Offroad said, smiling up at Daou. Daou breath caught in his throat. This was the first time Offroad had truly smiled at him, and my god it was breathtaking. He got them settled into his car and drove to a quick drive through ordering them all food before taking the long way to the address Offroad had given him. He walked with Offroad into the building as he carried a now sleepy Chance and he carried the bag. Daou was trying to find the right time to ask about the next visit but they were at the door sooner than he realized. “Oh can you get my keys,” Offroad asked, pointing the bag. No sooner did Daou start looking for them did the door open to reveal Poon.

“Hey I heard you,” Poon asked, reaching for Chance but quickly dropped his hands looking at Daou who hadn’t realized he started growling.

“It’s okay,” Offroad said, side eyeing Daou. “Baby say bye-bye,” Offroad turned his back to Daou so he could see Chance’s face as he gave a small wave. Daou gave him a kiss on the head. Offroad turned back to Poon. “Can you put him in the bed?” Offroad asked as he transferred Chance over to Poon.

“Uncle Poon, I hurt my leg,” Chance said as he flopped against Poon’s chest.

“I heard,” Poon said, wrapping the boy tight in his arm and disappearing into the condo.

“Are you with him?” Daou asked, handing Offroad’s bag over to him.

“As in I live with him? Yes. Are we romantically involved? No.” Offroad, grabbing his bag from Daou. “Though I guess I’ll have to start looking for a place of our own. I can’t share the bed with Chance anymore. He kicks,” Offroad chuckled.

“I have a few empty condos in my building. If you would like to look at them.” Daou said, offering the solution. He really didn’t know if there were any condos but he would build one if he had to.

“Thank you, I may look into that.” Offroad smiled. “Well, I’ll see you at the office on Monday.”

“See you,” Daou waved as Offroad disappeared into the apartment, shutting the door. Daou turned and headed for the elevator. That was right, they did have the merger to finish. Things had been tense in the office since their showdown in the conference. Maybe he should bring like, donuts or something to ease the tension.

“Daou!” Offroads voice called as Daou turned to see Offroad running down the hallway. “You forgot this,” Offroad said, handing him the photobook from the park.

“Oh thank you,” Daou said, smiling at the book he couldn’t wait to go through it.

“And here,” Offroad said, handing him a piece of paper. “Text me later I’ll send you the videos. My phone is dead or otherwise I would just have you enter your number in.” Offroad laughed. “And thank you again for today.”

“I feel like I should be the one thanking you,” Daou said, putting the paper in his pocket.

“I’m not owed any thanks,” Offroad said, looking down at the floor. Daou didn’t like that so he quickly pinched Offroad’s chin with his thumb and pointed finger drawing the boy’s head up to look at him as Daou stepped in closer.

“Thank you,” Daou whispered gently as his eyes locked with Offroad’s. He felt his alpha side pushing for him to claim, to take the omega right there in the hallways and the way Offroad eyes were glazing over as his scent grew stronger had Daou feeling like he would mind if he did. Daou began to lower his head wanting to taste the boy once again.

“Offroad?” A voice called from their door causing them to spring apart. Poon glanced his head out the door. “Chance is calling for you.”

“Coming!” Offroad called to him. “Right, I’ll see you later. And thank you again.” Daou nodded as the sound of the elevator arriving went off. Daou watched Offroad walk back into the apartment throwing a wave over his shoulder and he walked in once more. Daou knew he was going to be in trouble with that omega, but as he smiled to himself he didn’t mind, not one bit.