Desperate Measures

Guin had to wait half an hour for Yellow Line to return. When he did, he held the door open, and in walked Red Tape, followed by Jack. "Have a seat next to your wife," he said, looking at Jack. He then turned to Red. "You, stand over there and keep your mouth shut."

As Jack sat down next to Guin, she wrapped her claw around his wrist and held on tight. She didn't know what was about to happen, but she wanted him by her side for it. Even if she would have to let go and be subjected to the process of being sent to an orphanage, or worse, to her mother, she wanted to make it clear that her intention was to stay by his side as long as she could.

Yellow Line sat down on the opposite side of the table and took a deep breath. "First and foremost, I'd like to extend an apology from the whole department. At least my regional branch, anyway. This never should have happened." He turned to Jack and tented his hooves. "Now, what you did was illegal. Forging a signature is punishable by up to twenty years in prison. However, the state is going to look the other way this time. I'm letting you off with a warning."

"What about your chum over there?" asked Jack, gesturing to Red Tape.

"An overzealous newbie. This was his first case, and if it turned out to be an exciting and lucrative case, it would have been a big first step. My first case, for example, was a pretty big deal. Four adopted foals were being used as drug mules. My second case was an upset mother of twelve who'd never heard of a condom, and was refusing to feed some of her children because she didn't want any more. I was promoted after that from being a detective to running task forces, so you can imagine how I managed to draw in a seat as regional director before thirty."

Jack squeezed Guin's claw when he heard about the mother of twelve, as if to instill in her the reason for wearing protection.

"Two homerun cases like that, and he wouldn't be a detective for too much longer. That's what he was hoping for. However, this wasn't a big case. It is now, but it wasn't at first. Jack, while I cannot approve of your methods for legal reasons, I want to commend your resourcefulness."

Jack raised his eyebrow. "Thank you?"

"I'm being serious," nodded Yellow. "If we overlook the forged signature and the strange laws that allow the two of you to marry, what we're left with is you accepting the responsibility of caring for young Guin, here, when you had no obligation to. You could have told her "tough shit" and walked away, and there's nothing we could do to stop you. Instead, you brought her into your home, gave her a place to stay, something to eat, and I'd like to believe that you're continuing to pay her tuition, is that correct?"

"It is."

"Good." Yellow leaned back. "Now, if you had adopted her, we all know it would have taken months, and she'd have to stay in our care until the paperwork went through. Even so, somepony would need to keep a close eye on that paperwork, and make sure it doesn't become muddled down the line. Even then, it's more likely that you'd end up adopting another donkey. I'm not dismissing the adoption process, as it's still something I believe everypony should consider, but when faced with a difficult situation such as she was, I think it was very brave of you to champion her escape.

"Now, I have every reason to believe that you're going to take care of Guin, and with most marriages, I wouldn't have to do this. However, as this was done with the intention of mimicking an adoption, I'm going to assign you a social worker from my office that's going to check in on you periodically. That is, they will make sure she is well taken care of. If Guin, or either of your biological children, is found to be in poor condition, an investigation will be launched, and if it is found that you are unfit to take care of your children, all of them will be removed from your care, regardless of their relationship to you. I hope I won't have to do that, so I'm warning you now."

"I will make sure of it," agreed Jack.

Yellow leaned forward and smiled. "Something that is noteworthy in all bureaucracy is that the focus on the paperwork treats everypony like they're the same cardboard cutouts. The paperwork always assumes that each party is the same until proven otherwise with more paperwork. It is because of that fact that unique individuals that have unique situations are either expelled from the system entirely because they don't fit, or are forced to stretch themselves thin to cover ground that should be covered by other ponies, but isn't. It should not be that we forget that our charges are ponies, too, and not just paperwork."

"We're not actually ponies, even," shrugged Jack. "I'm a donkey, and she's a gryphon."

Yellow nodded. "Either way..." He closed his clipboard and stood up. "In light of the testimony provided by your wife, coupled with your much-appreciated cooperation, the state has decided to dismiss all charges. We will be setting you up with a social worker, who will come out once a week for the first six months to ensure that you're managing. Saturday okay?"

"Saturday works," nodded Jack.

Yellow nodded. "You're free to go. If I may, go check on your kids. I know they're home alone right now."

With a nod, Jack hoisted Guin up onto his shoulders and left the room. Once they were out of the guard station, and far enough away as not to be heard, he looked up at her. "That was a very risky thing you did."

"If I did nothing, you'd still be in there," answered Guin. "I may be learning, but I'm not that good yet. Plus, without you, we have no income. How do I support a family with no job?"

"Still, you could have ended up annulling the marriage and having me arrested, anyway."

"Which still would have happened if I hadn't done anything." She wrapped her claws around his shoulders. "Besides, I didn't want to keep running..."