thanks for all of the reviews, dreamer 3097, Ann, HorsesRmyFriends, crushie, and musicfreak1107 :) i love reviews!!! GASPETH, ITS THE LAST CHAPTER!!!! Hope you all like it :)

Chapter Ten

Gabriella smiled happily to herself as she sat down in her designated seat in the courtroom. By listening to Mr. Evans chatting to his wife, she had confirmed her suspicion that Ryan was not married. There was no possible way she could lose this case. Now was her chance to get back at that jerk for trying to ruin her career!

She was surprised at Ryan's face when his "clan" entered the room. It was strangely calm and self-assured. But he had no reason to feel such confidence, as there was no room to lose for her.

As soon as the renewed trial was started up, Mr. Jassek called Ryan up to the witness stand.

"Tell me, Mr. Evans, are you or are you not married at this very time?"

"I am not," Ryan answered, and Gabriella smiled victoriously. She had won.

"So there is not a mother-like influence in Lillian's life right now, or no guarantee of one?"

"No sir; I believe there is a certain guarantee of a mother for Lillian." Gabbi bolted up to strict attention in my seat. What?

Mr. Jassek thought the same, but kept his composure. "How can we be sure that there is a one hundred percent assuredness that Lillian will have a mother-like figure in her life in the near future?"

"If I may?" Ryan asked permission from the judge, who granted it. Ryan walked over to the table he was sitting at, picked up an envelope, and handed it to the judge. "I am currently engaged," the entire courtroom began to buzz with excitement, "to Ms. Kelsi Samantha Neilson"

Gabbi's jaw dropped as the judge considered the papers. There was no way this could be happening…she had the case in the bag, didn't she? She looked to her lawyer for support, but he gave none.

"The papers are legal," the judge said, a smile creeping over his face. "I sentence that Mr. Ryan Evans keeps full custody of Lillian Gabriella Evans. Court it adjourned.

The noise from the defensive table was deafening. Kelsi threw her arms around Ryan and pecked him on the cheek while Ryan balanced the cheering Lilly on his opposite hip. The lawyer was shaking hands with a glowing Ryan, and Tabitha was standing nearby them all, beaming at everyone.

Gabriella slowly stood up and began to walk out of the room quietly with her lawyer, still stunned. Ryan separated himself from the rest of the group, Lilly still in his arms, and ran over to meet her. They stared at each other in the doorway for a minute.

"Well…" Ryan sighed at last, smiling at her.

"Well," Gabbi agreed, allowing herself to smile. "You deserve it, Ryan. You really do, and I wish you—and Kelsi—the best of luck"

"You still are allowed visiting rights, you know," Ryan said quickly. "And you can have a 'girls' day' with Lilly once or twice every month; if that's okay with you, Captain"

Lilly gazed hard at her mother for a moment, and Ryan put her down on her feet. Gabriella squatted down next to her, and gently took her tiny hand.

"I apologize for not caring more about you from the start," she said seriously to her daughter. "I heard a wise person once say that we always make up with the people we love." She smiled up at Ryan, and he smiled gently back. "Friends?"

"Friends," Lilly agreed, shaking her hand and giggling.

"Friends?" Gabbi asked Ryan, standing up and extending her hand. Ryan chuckled.

"Friends." Propping Lilly up on his hip, he gave Gabbi a side hug and hurried back to his waiting fiancé, who kissed him deeply on the lips before pecking Lilly on the forehead.

Gabriella smiled at the scene she might have at one time been a part of. But she was happy for Ryan, and that was what really mattered. He deserved Kelsi, full custody, and the fun life ahead of him. She had made her own choice, and would get the consequences. She would still have a daughter, but not do her injustice by keeping her all to herself and not paying her enough attention. This was the way things were supposed to be. Laughing, Gabriella Montez walked happily out of the buzzing courtroom; glad to be alive.

Kelsi and Ryan were married on May 21st the next year, with Tabitha was the , Gabriella one of the , and Lilly got exactly what she wanted to be; the flower girl. The two lovers were married in a small chapel outside of Albuquerque and were showered with pink, red, and yellow rose petals as the ran out of the sanctuary, enormous smiles covering their faces. But before the newlyweds climbed inside their waiting limo, they posed with Lilly outside of the petal-covered chapel.

"Gabriella," Kelsi said suddenly, looking angel-like in her flowing white dress. "You need to be in this too; you're one of the family"

And so, with Kelsi and Ryan wrapping one arm around each other, Lillian standing in front of them, and Gabriella kneeling next to her, the laughing, small family smiled for the camera.

Later, the camera man could be heard telling Tabitha, "Wow; isn't this just the very picture of love?"

The End

Well, it's finally over –sobs- It seems like I've been working on this one for forever, and it was such fun writing!!!! I'm such a sucker for sappy, happy, cheerful endings (and I didn't expect this chapter to be quite so short; sorry!) I know you are wondering why I went out of my way to make Gabriella such a jerk and then make her all nice. Well, Gabbi still doesn't want kids, but she still loves Ryan and Lilly. So I decided to make her all nice and satisfied with her life.

So what did you guys think about the whole story? Thank EVERYONE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO stinking much for all of the reviews, they always make my day!!!! Keep an eye out for my other stories Love you all!