Chapter Ten

Saturday morning rolled around faster than any of them wanted. Emily and Richard had contacted one of their lawyer friends, Edward Cast, and he graciously agreed to present their case. Clara didn't know exactly what was going to happen but she knew who she wanted to be with.

As the entire family was waiting in the hallway of the Hartford courthouse, (James, Logan, and April included) Lorelai noticed Elise come in. Elise shot Lorelai a nasty look and entered into the courtroom ahead of them. Clara slid over next to Lorelai who slid her arm over Clara's shoulder compassionately.

"Oh, I wish I could let the air out of the tires of her car. Maybe it would make me feel better." Lorelai grumbled. Clara nodded in agreement.

"It's going to be okay, sweetheart…" Lorelai whispered, kissing Clara on the temple. Clara said nothing, but gave Lorelai a hopeful look.

"Mr. Danes, Ms. Gilmore, could I see two for a moment?" Mr. Cast inquired. Luke and Lorelai nodded as he led them over to a corner of the lobby.

"I need to inform you that Ms. Bennett has hired an extremely persuasive lawyer to assist her today. I am not sure what angles they will try to use but I need you to answer honestly at all costs. It will greatly affect the outcome of the trial." Mr. Cast told them. They both agreed as the family was let into the courtroom.

As they were seated, Elise glared over at Lorelai again as her lawyer, Todd Brown, sauntered over to them.

"Ms. Bennett wanted me to tell you, she couldn't herself because there was an emergency restraining order placed, that she is the mother of that girl and she fully intends on keeping that way."

"Aren't you a little old to be a go-between?" Luke stood up so he was eye to eye with Mr. Brown.

"Luke!" Lorelai hissed.

Mr. Brown straightened his tie and returned to his seat. Mr. Cast looked at Luke and chuckled.

"All rise!" the bailiff commanded as the judge entered the room.

She sat down and looked out at them.

"You may be seated." She said, reviewing the case statement.

"Well. This is neither the first time this has happened, nor it will it be the last. But it is the problem now. It is slightly more complicated since the child, or in this case, young woman, is actually old enough to emancipate herself. Apparently that is not her decision, or we have to deal with so, Mr. Cast if you would please go first." Judge Elliot began.

An hour later, that case was still going on.

"Clara, would you please tell the court the age you were placed in the Hartford Children's Center?"

"I was four months old, your Honor, according to the records." Clara replied meekly.

"You are sixteen years old now, correct?"

"Yes, maam."

"That is all. You may sit down, dear." Judge Elliot sent her back to her seat. It was Elise's turn to speak. She stood, her high heels clicking on the marble floor as she made her way to the stand. She touched Clara's shoulder as she passed and the teenager dodged out of the way.

"Ms. Bennett…" Judge Elliot warned. Elise apologized as she took her seat, after swearing on the Bible to tell the truth, nothing but the truth, so help her God. Clara was thinking God better help her, cause there was no way she was ever going to live peacefully with the mother who had abandoned her.

"Ms. Bennett, what was your reasoning for gaining custody once again of your daughter?" Mr. Cast asked, pacing the front of the room.

"I felt guilty all those years ago. Leaving her alone without anyone to care for her. Now that I have a steady job and a warm home, it's time for me to take care of my daughter the right way, now that I can." Elise was lying through her teeth.

"More like so she has a tax dependant…" Logan muttered to James within Clara's earshot. Instantly, Clara heard Logan groan. Rory had hit him in the shoulder. That made Clara feel a little better.

"Ms. Bennett, your bank statements are all here, pay stubs, etc. References from family and friends…There isn't a logical reason keeping you from regaining custody of your daughter." Judge Elliot stated.

Clara's jaw dropped. Elise was realized from the bench, a smug expression across her face.

"You can't do this! You can't let me go back with her!" Clara exclaimed, jumping to her feet. "She abandoned me! And for sixteen years I've wanted to finally have a home, with a family… so please don't take me away from MY family…" Tears poured down her face.

Lorelai wanted with all her heart to comfort her but she couldn't. She wasn't allowed to interfere.

"She's been brainwashed!" Elise declared.

"Council! Control your clients!" the judge ordered.

"Clara… make your final statement…" Judge Elliot looked at the teenager with anticipating eyes. Clara was now considerably calmer.

"Your Honor… Once people become a family, that's a bond that's hard to break. Someone shouldn't give up that right. If they do, then they are responsible for their actions… I love this family more than anything…" Clara replied.

"There will be a short recess in which I would like to Clara come into my chambers." Judge Elliot stood immediately, heading for her office. Mr. Cast was ready to follow when the judge stopped him.

"Alone…" she ordered.

"But your Honor…"Mr. Cast was shocked.

"I'm a mother too, councilman. I think I can handle a teenage girl..." That was all the judge said before escorting Clara into her chamber. Judge Elliot shut the door and turned to the teenager.

"Clara…I realize how hard this must be for you… but I need you to officially denounce your birth mother before the court, if that's what you want."

"I can't forgive her, your Honor. Deep down, I will always love her… but I know that I belong with the Gilmore-Danes … that I know in my heart."

Judge Elliot smiled for the first time that day.

"You're sure?"

"Positive." Clara answered.

"Then that is the decision I honor. Are you ready to go back out there?"

"Yes maam. Thank you so much."

The judge nodded before exiting the office while Clara returned to her seat. Luke and Lorelai looked horrified and far more worried than Clara had ever seen them. Maybe they thought the judge had yelled at her for her outburst. Rory had the same look on her face as well.

"Well," Judge Elliot started, "Clara has made her decision in privacy of my office. Clara, I will ask you once more. Which family do you choose to be with?"

"I choose to be with Lorelai and Luke, your Honor." Clara answered confidently. Lorelai and Luke held their breath. Elise smacked the table angrily and flew off her chair.
"You can't let her make that decision, she is a child!" Elise cried. Judge Elliot smiled as she kept going as the bailiff tried control Elise.

"I accept that decision, and by the State of Connecticut, I hereby declare Mr. Lucas Danes, and his wife, Mrs. Lorelai Gilmore-Danes… parental caretakers of Clara Paige Gilmore-Danes. Elise Bennett, your parental rights are terminated and any further contact without permission of Ms. Gilmore- Danes will result in arrest and possible jail time. Congratulations, Clara… you are free to go home with your family. Case closed!" The judge pounded the gavel as Clara sighed with relief. She felt as though a giant weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

"You can't get away with this! She's mine! I gave birth to her!" Elise proclaimed angrily. Todd Brown tried to escape from Elise's clutches while the bailiff tried to pry Elise of her lawyer. Mr. Brown looked terrified.

"Sorry, Elise…" he muttered before scurrying away from the courtroom. Meanwhile, Clara's family was making their way over in various ways. Logan, James, Luke, and April jumped the wall while the other rushed into the gate. Lorelai and Luke pulled Clara into their arms in a joint hug.

"Don't ever let go…" Clara begged.

"You don't have to worry about that." Luke chuckled swaying her back and forth in his arms. Lorelai kissed her daughter on the forehead as Rory approached. Clara turned to her sister and the two of them squealed in delight, jumping around. Rory's decorum returned as Richard and Emily made their way over. Emily took her newest granddaughter by the hands and smiled a truly genuine smile.

"Welcome to the family… finally," Emily stated as the whole gang cheered causing Clara to blush severely. "Everyone to our house for lemonade and cake!" The family chattered away as they headed for the exit with Mr. Cast. Clara turned back and walked over to Judge Elliot.

"Thank you… for all of this." Clara remarked. The judge smiled.

"Seeing how happy you are with them is enough assurance for me. I can't think of a better family…" she replied. Clara smiled over at them.

"Neither can I…" Clara beamed as she thanked the judge again and hurried off to Lorelai.

Once at Richard and Emily's, Clara was more vibrant and outgoing than she had been in a long time. She was more than just a live in, she finally had a legal family and that made her happier than anything in the world.

"Okay…" Richard announced. "Everyone has given their presents to Clara except her grandmother and me. So Clara, here is your gift." He handed her a small wrapped box and Clara opened it cautiously.

"Grandma, Grandpa! You really did get me a car!" she shrieked as she flew into their arms.

"It's out back by the pool house." Richard explained as Luke and Lorelai smiled at each other.

"Oh my gosh. Let's go." She grabbed Rory and James each by the hand and ushered them outside. Next to the pool, was a lime green Volkswagen Beetle.

"It's so perfect." Clara cried with happiness.

"Let's take it for a test drive." James suggested.

"She has to ask her parents first." Emily replied.

"Mom? Dad? Please?" Clara folded her hands and gave them the puppy dog eyes.

"Go, have fun. Drive safe." Luke answered. Clara hopped into the driver's seat as Rory, April and James climbed in. Logan even went along too, upon the insistence of his fiancé. He didn't really mind in all honestly but complaining to Rory was fun.

"It's lime-green…." He groaned as Rory shoved him in.

'Shush, Logan…" Rory warned. Clara giggled, starting up the car and pulling away.

"Thanks, Mom and Dad. She really loves it." Lorelai said.

"I hope she will enjoy it. But Lorelai, there is something we wanted to talk to you and Luke about." Emily led them back into the main house.

"Is everything ok?"

"We just were wondering what you planned to do with your house now that you have so many people." Richard inquired bluntly.

"Um…well we planned on living in it." Lorelai answered obviously.

"Lorelai, you can't be serious. That house only has two bedrooms and it certainly does not have enough room for visitors or even for Luke's belongings." Emily insisted.

"We just did a bunch of remodeling, it should just fine." Luke replied encouragingly.

"Well, if you aren't going to look into another home for you all, I suggest you add onto the back at least. Add a couple bedrooms, a dining room, maybe a den. I know how much you love your house, just think about it." Richard replied.

"We'll think about it…" Lorelai replied as the kids returned, ranting about the new car.

That night, after they had gotten home, Rory and Logan headed back to his apartment in New Haven, and April returned to her mother's. James started back to Luke's old apartment. (Luke agreed to let James move in there only if James promised not to have any overnighters with Clara.) After Clara, Luke and Lorelai arrived back home, Luke went to take a look at the garage.

"You know," he muttered to Lorelai, "we could convert the garage into like an annex for the house. We could add a couple bedrooms and hang out for the girls."

"Where would we park our cars?" Lorelai queried.

"Where do we park them now?" Luke gave her a look.

"That would be awesome." Clara noted.

"Well, I don't know. It would be an awful lot of money."

"Grandma and Grandpa's wedding present!" Clara exclaimed.

"But we would have to get a hold of Tom." Lorelai opened the doors to the garage. She walked in and smiled.

"We could always just stick her bed in here and leave it." Lorelai suggested. Clara rolled her eyes.

"There is one condition. " Luke replied sheepishly.

"What?" Lorelai knew where this was going.

"I kind of told Liz that we would let T.J. help on all of our remodels. "He mumbled. Lorelai's jaw dropped.

"Luke, what were you thinking?! Do you not remember the gaping hole in the front of my house the last we let him 'fix' our house?!"

"It can be like last time, Tom can oversee everything. It was a favor to my sister, Lorelai." Luke pleaded.

"Alright, fine. For Liz." Lorelai gave in.

The next morning, while Clara was working at the diner, Liz came in carrying her beading supplies. Luke greeted his sister with a hug.

"Hi Aunt Liz!" Clara gave her aunt a hug.

"Oh my gosh, Clara. You are so beautiful. Finally Luke has some prodigy. Well, girls, but he and your mom could get busy, you know…" Luke interrupted her.

"Please do not discuss that with her." Luke scolded as Lane pulled Clara aside

"So, I am curious. Are your parents even talking about having more kids?"

"Lane!" Clara exclaimed.

"Sorry, it's just Luke and Lorelai are like perfect together and they should pass that on to the next generation."

"Well, to tell you the truth. I have no idea." Clara realized.

"Aside from that…" Liz gave her brother a look before opening her bag. "Lane, Clara, I made some new earrings that I think you guys would love!" Liz set up shop at one of the unoccupied table. Clara and Lane immediately sat down to gaze at the latest creations. Luke sighed with frustration.

"You know this would be a great to come eat if there were actual waitresses to wait on the customers…" He noted.

"You want you waitresses to accessorize well, don't you, Daddy?" She gave her father the pout as she put a pair of crystal earrings to her ears.

"You both have five minutes…" he warned before returning to the kitchen. He had to laugh… she was turning into her mother already. But she didn't mind. He loved his Gilmore girls…

Luke discussed the remodel with Liz, who said she would inform T.J.

It was the next day after Clara got home from school when she found a very disturbing sight at her house.

The garage was completely…totaled!

Giant chunks of roofing were scattered over the front lawn, along with wooden scraps and random hardware. From her house next door, Babette came running.

"Clara, sugar. What's going on? I tried callin' the inn and Michel answered and he was bein' a snot as always. So I did not know what to do so I came over and frightened the guy off." Babette explained, out of breath. Clara was still shocked.

"Thanks Babette, I'll call." Clara assured her.

"Oh I gotta go baby doll. My cake is burning!" Babette ran back home, waving behind her as she did.

Clara pulled out her cell phone and dialed Lorelai's number.

"Hey honey, what's up?"

"You need to come home, now."

Lorelai's reaction was identical to Clara's.

"Oh, hey Lorelai." T.J sauntered up behind them with a giant sledgehammer in one hand and an ax in the other.

"T.J., what did you do?" Lorelai asked slowly.

"Well, Luke told Liz who told me, that you were going me remodeling your garage. Fancy idea, if you ask me." T.J. rambled.

"Get on with it." Lorelai encouraged.

"Well so I figured it would be okay if I started working on it. But one thing led to another. The next thing I know the garage was totaled and the batty woman next door, comes running at me with a frying pan." Lorelai stopped his rant.

"Thanks T.J. But we will be able to handle it now so you can go on home…. We will be fine. See you later." She said as she ushered him to his car.

"Let me know if I can help any. I am handy with the hammer." He called as he drove away.

"Wait until Dad gets home. He is going to be really mad." Clara muttered, staring at the place where the garage once stood.

"Tell me about it." Lorelai groaned.

( Author's Note: Hey guys hope you are enjoying! Don't forget to send me a shoutout about what you would like to see! And so much thanks to all the PMs I have gotten and all the wonderful reviews! Keep reviewing! :)