Chapter 215 – Fiona Becomes the New Legal Guardian
Veronica Donovan immediately pushed back against CPS's argument.
"Your Honor, the report was anonymous and lacks substantial evidence."
"Frank Gallagher's signed relinquishment documents establish a lawful transfer of custodial priority."
"Miss Fiona Gallagher also has multiple community support statements, including testimony from neighbors and restaurant employees."
"While Child Protective Services followed standard procedure, this case involves an urgent need for family reunification."
"Under Section 2-27 of Illinois Child Welfare Law, the court may grant guardianship based on evidence of environmental and custodial improvement."
The judge slowly flipped through the documents before pausing in thought.
A moment later, he looked toward Fiona.
"Miss Gallagher."
"Would you like to say anything?"
Fiona stood up.
Her voice trembled slightly, but her eyes remained firm.
"I'm not a perfect person, Your Honor."
"But I'm their sister."
"I raised them."
"Debbie needs me to teach her how to cook."
"Carl needs someone to stop him from getting into trouble."
"Liam needs someone to hold him while he sleeps."
"And Ian and Lip…"
"They're good kids."
"They don't deserve to rot away in juvenile detention."
"Without us…"
"This family falls apart."
"But if they're with me…"
"…they still have a future."
"So please…"
"Give them back to me."
—
The courtroom fell silent for several seconds.
Finally, the judge nodded slowly.
"Based on the submitted evidence and testimony presented today…"
"This court approves the transfer of legal guardianship to Fiona Gallagher."
"The children will be returned within one week."
"Child Protective Services will continue supervision for a three-month observation period to ensure environmental stability."
"Court dismissed."
The gavel slammed down.
The moment the decision was finalized, tears immediately flooded Fiona's eyes.
She turned and threw herself into William's arms.
"Thank you…"
"Thank you so much…"
Veronica smiled faintly as she packed up the files.
"I was just doing my job."
"Now go bring your family home."
—
Truthfully, this had never been some major legal battle to begin with.
And William had quietly spent quite a bit of money behind the scenes.
Naturally, there wasn't much resistance.
After all—
The people courts truly made life difficult for were usually the genuinely poor.
—
One week later, outside 2119 North Wallace Street—
The Gallagher children finally came home.
Debbie Gallagher threw herself into Fiona's arms the second she arrived.
"Big sis! I missed you so much!"
She cried so hard her whole body shook.
Carl Gallagher tried acting tough like usual, but his reddened eyes betrayed him completely.
Liam Gallagher giggled happily while grabbing Fiona's hair with both tiny hands.
Ian Gallagher and Lip Gallagher had both lost a little weight during their stay in juvenile detention.
But the moment they stepped back onto the South Side streets and breathed in freedom again, both visibly relaxed.
Fiona looked at all of them standing there together and finally smiled.
A real smile.
But deep down…
She knew this still wasn't the end.
Frank was still wandering somewhere outside.
Monica was still locked away in a psychiatric hospital.
And William's constant "help"…
Was slowly making her more and more dependent on him.
Life went on.
And on the South Side, there was always another mess waiting around the corner.
But at least for now…
The family was whole again.
Fiona closed the front door and took a deep breath.
"Alright, kids."
"I'm making spaghetti for lunch."
"Let's celebrate."
—
Inside 2119, the smell of pasta slowly filled the air, mixing with the scent of beer and the noisy laughter of children.
The celebration quickly became lively.
Fiona carried plates back and forth between the kitchen and living room.
Debbie clung to her side, enthusiastically recounting her "adventures" in foster care—
Though she conveniently skipped over the miserable parts where she'd basically worked like child labor for an entire week.
Carl proudly bragged about the adult movies he'd secretly watched at his foster dads' house.
Meanwhile, Ian and Lip lounged on the couch drinking beer and mocking the bureaucrats at juvenile detention.
—
William sat quietly in the corner with a faint smile on his face as he watched the scene unfold.
On the surface, he looked like the dependable neighbor.
The hero who helped reunite the family.
But internally?
He was already planning his next move.
Fiona's dependence on him was growing deeper and deeper.
That pleased him greatly.
As for Debbie?
Listening to her cry about one lousy week of foster-home labor made him scoff internally.
Too light.
Way too light.
If she'd suffered a few more months, maybe it would've finally beaten some of the selfishness out of her spoiled little personality.
"William."
"Thank you for coming today."
Fiona walked over and handed him a beer, gratitude shining clearly in her eyes.
Leaning lightly against him, she spoke softly:
"Honestly…"
"I don't know what I would've done without you."
William smiled faintly and clinked his bottle against hers.
"It was nothing."
"Seeing all of you back together is enough for me."
He paused and glanced down at his watch.
"But I should head out."
"I still need to prepare for class tomorrow."
"Got lectures in the morning."
Fiona nodded and walked him to the door.
"Drive safe."
"I'll cook you a proper thank-you dinner another day."
…
After leaving 2119, William walked toward his AMG and got inside.
Once seated, he leaned back slightly and replayed the day's events in his head.
The Gallagher family had stabilized for now.
But only temporarily.
Frank still had twenty thousand dollars burning a hole in his pocket.
That old bastard would definitely stir up trouble again sooner or later.
And Fiona?
She'd continue needing him more and more.
Exactly what he wanted.
The AMG rolled through the streets as William drove toward Illinois Institute of Technology.
Tonight, he planned on sleeping at the dorms for once.
The car eventually turned into a quieter neighborhood.
Still near the South Side—
But noticeably cleaner than the core districts around the Gallagher house.
As he drove past, he noticed a moving truck parked along the roadside.
Several workers were unloading boxes and furniture.
A woman stood nearby directing them.
Something about her side profile looked strangely familiar.
William slowed the car and narrowed his eyes.
The woman looked to be in her early thirties.
Blonde hair tied into a ponytail.
Loose T-shirt.
Jeans.
Slim figure.
A calm, intellectual kind of beauty.
She turned toward the movers and called out:
"Careful with that box!"
"It's full of books!"
Her voice was crisp, though slightly tired.
Fuck.
It was her.
Blake Collins.
William immediately recalled the original storyline.
The infamous "peanut butter teacher."
The new South Side High teacher that Lip had pretended to be a high school student to seduce, leading to all kinds of chaos afterward.
And now…
She'd moved here?
A new neighbor?
Interesting.
—
William parked by the roadside, turned off the engine, and stepped out of the car.
Adjusting his expression into that of a friendly passerby, he casually walked over.
"Need a hand?"
"Looks like some pretty heavy stuff."
Blake turned toward him and gave him a cautious look.
Her blue eyes carried a trace of wariness at first, though she relaxed quickly afterward.
"Oh, thanks."
"But it's okay."
"They're professionals."
"Moving day's always a mess."
William smiled casually and leaned against the moving truck.
"New to the neighborhood?"
"This area's actually pretty decent for the South Side."
"I'm William Blake."
"I live nearby."
Blake nodded while wiping sweat from her forehead.
"Blake Collins."
"I'm the new English teacher at South Side High."
"Just transferred over from downtown."
William nearly laughed internally.
Perfect.
Almost instantly, a new plan formed in his head.
Just like Lip had done in the original story—
Pretending to be a high school student and getting close to her.
Why not?
Fiona's side had stabilized for the moment.
He needed a new distraction.
Something entertaining.
"What a coincidence."
"I actually go to South Side High too."
"Guess there's a good chance I'll end up in your class someday, Ms. Collins."
He paused briefly before deliberately flashing a slightly youthful, innocent-looking smile.
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