Thanks to: Monoculus, endymion015, kc4mesweetie, lilly-rain

Anyone else this chapter? That would be very nice and appreciated.

Sorry about the wait, as usual.

Past Mistakes and Present Problems

Chapter 14- Seven Days And Counting

One week, that was all that was left. One freaking week, and they still had nothing. In exactly seven days, Freddy Jones and Summer Hathaway, would be fed to the dogs. And not just dogs, court dogs. Unforgiving court dogs that didn't know Freddy and didn't care whether or not he went to jail, who just wanted to get on with their day so they could get home to their families. People who's lives revolved around ending others.

They had explored every option, calculated every turn, wracked their brains; and yet they were left with the same conclusion: It was impossible. How do you solve a case as ridiculous as this one? How is it possible to prove he wasn't involved in the pregnancy of a minor until the child was born? Why was Michelle pushing and pushing for this to happen? How, how, how, why, why, why?

Summer and Freddy could not stand to be within five feet of each other without arguing about what should be done. Their lives were different, and yet completely the same. Freddy never expected one crazy dance around an apartment to change much, yet he felt it had. Then that damn phone call with Stuart had to ruin it. At first Freddy was optimistic it wasn't him, but later when he had confronted Summer about it, needing to know, she admitted it was. Since then, Freddy hadn't approached the topic, and neither had she, but he assumed she was still seeing Stuart when she wasn't seeing Freddy.

Often, Summer would find herself waking up from a terrible nightmare about showing up in court ninety minutes late, or with no pants on, or with no shirt on, or showing up with neither. Regardless of the details, the main idea was the same: Summer Hathaway, invincible lawyer, wasn't fully prepared for this case, and certainly expecting a loss. She began biting her nails at the thought. This is bad, very bad.

"Biting your nails is a terrible and disgusting habit." Freddy lightly informed Summer as she yet again slaved over paperwork.

With this statement a silence was left in the room with the exception of the tapping of Summer's pencil against the small café table at the restaurant. With each passing second, the tapping got faster and faster until Summer's hand was a blur against the table. Freddy raised his eyebrows, amused, and shot a look at the nosy onlookers from surrounding tables as they stared, annoyed at Summer.

"She's trying to keep me out of jail, okay? She's a little stressed so why don't you all fuck off, alright?"

A mother nearby made a concerned gasping sort of noise only a concerned mother could make, and quickly scooped up her children and left the café.

With a roll of his eyes, Freddy whispered to Summer "Some people can be so unbelievably rude."

Freddy was surprised to see Summer fold up the papers and laugh at his comment. He waited a moment and watched as she placed a tip on the table and left the café. He jogged to catch up with her and eyed her expectantly.

"…Well?"

"…Well, what?"

"Well, are you finished? Did you figure it out?" Like a child, Freddy bounced on his feet, hopeful.

"Sort of. At least, I think I might have, but not exactly in a conventional way. It doesn't really involve court, or me at all. It's kind of all you, and I'm not so sure you're gonna go for it."

Uh-oh. It's never good when someone admits something like that, especially to Freddy. Because anyone who knows him knows he'll go for just about anything, ranging from one extreme to the next. This couldn't be good.

"Okay, just lay it on me, you never know, I might do it. I'm pretty intent on staying out of jail."

Summer looked thoughtful for a moment, weighing her options. She could use the Band-Aid effect and just say it quick and run, or she could be slow, precise and give Freddy more time to think. She opted for the former and blurted, "I-think-you-should-talk-to-Michelle."

As she took off down the road, laughing in spite of herself, she heard Freddy yell, "ARE YOU SERIOUS?"

Unfortunately, time has taken it's toll, and Summer's no longer as fast as before she had a child, (not that she was ever very fast to being with) and Freddy quickly caught up with her. She winced at the level his voice was at as he yelled "Summer, you're crazy. I know you haven't slept much these past few days, but really, this suggestion is too much."

"Why Freddy? You married the woman for Heaven's sakes! I think you can handle calmly speaking with her for a few minutes, and just explain how preposterous this accusation is!"

"Summer, in case you don't recall, she's crazy. Although presently, she's seeming a little less crazy than you, regardless, I cannot be in the same city as her, let alone the same room!" With this statement, Freddy threw his hands in the air and leaned against a nearby tree, waiting for whatever remarkable thing Summer had to say next.

"Freddy, I understand you two rushed into a marriage and, obviously, it turned out sour, but this is your only option. Do I need to explain the concept of jail to you? Do you not get the whole solitary confinement deal? I know you constantly need entertainment, and being in jail, I'm not so sure you're going to be getting that. And with the evidence we have now, or lack thereof, you will be in jail in seven days, alright? So you should talk to Michelle. You need to talk to Michelle. If not for you, which is something I could not fathom considering your selfishness, at least for Rae. The poor girl just got her father, or at least somewhat, and now you want her to lose him again because he's too much of a coward to face his crazy ex-wife? Honestly, I expect more from you, for all the shit you talk, but you can't walk the walk?"

Freddy stood against the tree with his eyes bugged out. "Wow…that was one hell of an inspirational speech. Like, seriously, I'm almost convinced."

Summer made a loud sound of impatience "How can you not be? What else is holding you back, Freddy? Because do you realize that with the loss of this case, and your being sent to jail, and Rae losing her father, if that stuff's not enough, my reputation will be tainted. I'll walk down the street, and people will think 'There goes that Summer Hathaway, the worst lawyer in the Big Apple, can't even solve a simple case like that Jones vs. Green one.' Help me, Freddy! I'll do almost anything, within reason!"

Freddy appeared to be considering his options when he spoke up with, "You know most people who would recognize you on the streets would be native New Yorkers themselves, and I've never met one person who has lived here their whole lives refer to it as 'The Big Apple.'"

"Freddy…" Summer was using the voice she uses whenever Rae did something bad, which was an extremely intimidating voice, Freddy noted. Her eyes widened dramatically and her red lips formed a sort of pout.

And then, Freddy continued to stare at her lips, realizing what Summer had said to him.

"Anything?" He asked just to clarify.

"Within reason," she added, a little louder then need-be.

"I'll think about it in exchange for a kiss." He waited for the blow-up, and was not disappointed.

"Freddy! Seriously, this is serious!"

"Summer! Seriously, I'm being serious! I think it's very fair and reasonable. And actually, very chivalrous considering things we've done together in the past! Don't you know babies don't just grow on trees?"

Of course, not surprisingly, Summer didn't appreciate Freddy's humor. She eyed him warily and seemed to consider him.

"Just a kiss?"

"Just a kiss."

"And you'll really, really think about it? Good and hard? And thinking about it is like doing it, right?"

"It's as good as done, honestly."

"Okay…well." She quickly walked over, closing the space between them, and pressed her lips lightly to his. Within three seconds, it was over, leaving Freddy's lips to feel warm, but also aching.

"Wait, what?!" Freddy called after Summer's retreating back.

She turned back and winked, "Get the job done Freddy, and you might get the rest of your prize."

A/N So, this was terribly hard to write. I've been suffering from extreme writers block until now, but good news: 1 to 3 chapters left, and they're completely-ish planned out! Plus, it's summertime; so expect more frequent updates (hopefully!) I loved the end of this one, and finally Freddy and Summer share a moment! Exciting, right? Anyway, I'm seriously sorry about the wait, and I hope everyone enjoys the chapter and they review! Thanks for reading!

Anniee