A/N: Thank you for the reviews and here we go with the chapter!
DISCLAIMER: Refer to previous chapter
Chapter Twenty-one: Verdict
Nina's hands were curled into tight fists on her lap. Her heart was racing like crazy but she kept her focus on Monty.
"No further questions your Honour," said Monty with a nod to the judge.
"Very well. Defence?"
Domonick's lawyer stood up and smoothed her simple black skirt.
"You rose to fame quickly with the World Wrestling Entertainment, didn't you Miss Clare?" began Domonick's lawyer.
"I guess so," replied Nina with a shrug, "I can't really decide that."
"You gained a rather big fan base the night after your debut, yes?"
"I-I don't know."
"It's a simple yes or no, Miss Clare."
"Objection!" spoke up Monty, "Your Honour, what is the relevance of this?"
"Your point Mrs Clark?" said the Judge.
"I am simply establishing the amount of people Miss Clare is in contact with through her well known position."
"Answer the question Miss Clare."
"Yes," sighed Nina, shooting a glance to Jon. Jon have Nina a reassuring nod.
"Have you personally contacted any of your fans?"
"No."
"Is Mr Von Itzstein the only person to have sent you messages on Twitter?"
"No. I get messages on a daily basis."
"So you are easy to get in contact with?"
"I guess. Most people of a celebrity nature are," said Nina with a frown.
"Were you aware of a message from user LuceLuvr88 being sent to you?"
"Yes. They sent me a message in the same nature as… as Domonick."
"So basically these are common happenings?"
"No," answered Nina surprising Domonick's lawyer, "If you had done your research properly you would have noticed that Domonick and that LuceLuvr88 were the only two to send me weird messages. Also, LuceLuvr88 only went the one, whereas Domonick persisted and in the end, shot me."
"No further questions your Honour," said Domonick's lawyer in a frosty tone.
Nina got down from the stand and took her seat next to Monty.
"Well done," praised Monty.
"Moving on," stated the Judge as Nina sighed in her seat, glad her turn on the stand finished.
The hearing continued until finally it was Domonick's turn. Before Domonick the court had heard from the head Detective, Nina's Doctor, the WWE Doctor, Shannon and Carole. They had also heard from Dominick's doctors.
Domonick sat in the stand staring at Nina the entire time.
Nina bit her bottom lip, focusing on her engagement ring.
"How old are you Domonick?" asked Monty.
"Twenty-nine," he said easily, "Older than Luce but age doesn't matter."
"Do you know Luce's real name?"
"Yes."
"What is it?"
"Nina Lucy Clare. But she is Luce now. That's what she is called on television."
"Did you follow Nina around?"
"Yes. Everywhere she went. I met her at signings. She was always nice to me. She would smile at me and she hugged me."
Nina gasped, her hand slamming over her mouth as the memory of when she originally met Domonick returned.
"You are amazing."
"Oh thank you."
"I can't wait to see you in action on Monday. I'm going to the show."
"Great! I hope you enjoy it. I'll be sure to be kicking some butt."
"You will dominate the Divas division. I know you will. I believe you will."
"Thank you. That means a lot," Nina stood and hugged Domonick.
Nina shook her head as her breathing became more erratic. Jon jumped up from his seat and leaned over the barricade.
"Nina, breath, babe."
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" yelled Domonick jumping up from his seat in the witness stand, "SHE IS MINE!"
"Order! Order!" yelled the judge hitting the gavel, "Thirty minute recess! Court is adjourned until two-forty!"
Jon jumped over the barricade as a screaming Domonick was led away.
"I met him before… I met him at Denver!" said Nina looking at Jon horrified as Monty came over worriedly.
"Shh, Ni… it's okay. You weren't to know."
Tears filled Nina's eyes and Jon helped her stand and lead her from the court room to get some fresh air.
Outside the court room Nina and Jon were bombarded by reporters, camera men and paparazzi. Jon held Nina close to his side as he pushed through them before security guards managed to get them away. Jon led Nina across the road to the park and found them a secluded bench.
"I met him… and I didn't remember!" said Nina looking up from the ground at Jon, "Does that make me a horrible person?"
"No. Not at all," reassured Jon as her entwined his fingers with Nina's, "The truth of our career means we meet a lot of people and we won't remember every face we meet. Yes, there will be cases where we remember special ones – like Connor… or a young lady who told me about the passing of her mother… but Ni, don't feel guilty for not remembering meeting that creep – he isn't worth remembering."
Nina nodded slowly and took in a deep breath as she met Jon's eye contact with her own, "I am so lucky to have you in my life."
"Yeah," grinned Jon, "I'm pretty awesome, aren't I?"
Nina laughed and leaned in to kiss him tenderly, "I love you, Jonny Good."
"And I love you, Ni-Ni Clare."
"Court is back in session. We will continue with the questioning of Domonick Von Itzstein," stated the Judge.
Nina sat silently in her seat as Monty resumed questioning.
"Did you intentionally follow Nina on her run on the 4th of April 2015?" asked Monty.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Domonick rocked back and forth in his seat and Nina finally looked up at him, her jaw tense as she waited for his answer, "I wanted to be with her. She was away from Dean Ambrose. I had to have her. I still have to have her!"
"Why do you have to have Nina?"
"She belongs to me and me alone!" yelled Domonick, "No one deserves Luce! No one but me! I am the right man for her!"
"Why did you shoot Nina?" asked Monty in a blunt tone.
"She tried to leave me. I didn't want to shoot her."
"Yet you did."
"Objection!" yelled Domonick's lawyer, "That is a statement, not a question."
"Withdrawn," said Monty, "Why did Nina try to leave you?"
"She was confused. We were going to get married."
"Have you tried to contact Nina recently?"
"No."
"Do you want to contact Nina?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"To plan our wedding. We are engaged still."
"No further questions your Honour," said Monty.
Nina gave Monty a smile as Domonick's lawyer questioned him.
"Domonick, do you think Nina made you believe she loves you?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"She smiled at me. She hugged me. She had her photo taken with me. I know she loves me!"
"Did Nina attack you before you shot her?"
"She hit me and pushed me."
"So you shot her in self-defence?"
"Objection!" shouted Monty, "Your Honour, Defence is asking leading questions!"
"Sustained. Ask non-leading questions."
"Domonick, why did you shoot Nina Clare?"
"I already said why. She tried to leave me."
The court broke out into murmurs and Nina thought she head a slight chuckle from Jon behind her.
"Silence!" ordered the Judge, "Do you have any more questions?"
"None," answered Domonick's lawyer.
"The Jury will now go and deliberate and once they have reached a verdict court will recommence. Court adjourned!"
Nina smiled thankfully at Jon as he handed her a glass of juice. They were both sitting outside their hotel room on the balcony, taking in the night sky view of Austin.
"Beautiful view," said Jon quietly.
Nina nodded as she sipped her drink, "It is."
"Babe, you know he will be found guilty. He dug his own grave in the end."
Nina sighed and looked over at Jon, "I know… I just keep having this niggling feeling that something will go wrong… or that somehow he will be found innocent."
Jon reached out and linked his hand with Nina's, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Nina smiled softly as her phone buzzed with a message from Monty. Nina picked her phone up and opened the message.
"The Jury has reached a verdict. Court will be back in session tomorrow morning at eight."
Nina tugged at her dark purple blouse and smoothed her already straight hair. Monty gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder before the Judge walked in.
"Be seated," instructed the Judge, "Court is now in session to hear the verdict from the Jury."
Nina sat down, sitting as straight as possible in her seat.
"Have you reached a unanimous decision?" asked the Judge, with everyone looking at the jury expectantly.
"We have your Honour," spoke a well-dressed young woman, "In the case of Nina Clare versus Domonick Von Itzstein, we the jury find Domonick Von Itzstein guilty of stalking, assault and attempted murder and recommend he be punished to the full extent."
Nina let out a cry of happiness, along with Jon and her friends behind her. On the opposite side a woman in her mid-fifties let out a cry of horror. Nina didn't look at the woman as the court settled back down.
"Domonick Von Itzstein, your crimes against Nina Clare were terrible. In all the stalking cases I have seen in this court room, this is one of the worst. Nina Clare is a young woman simply living her life and following a career many can only dream of. She has a bright future and your actions saw that nearly taken away from her," spoke the Judge sternly, "The evidence put forward in no way displays Nina Clare to have led you on in any manner. She displayed kindness to you, which she displays to all fans. Nina Clare acted out at you in self-defence the day you attempted to abduct her. Your shooting of her was a low act and saw her life nearly lost.
"It is in the best interest of Nina Clare, as well as society that you are sentenced to life imprisonment with no chance of parole. Case closed."
Nina jumped up and hugged Monty tearfully, "Thank you so much, Monty!"
"Anything for family," replied Monty pulling away to shake hands with Jon and Nina's friends.
Nina grinned at Jon as he stepped over to her and hugged her tightly.
"So… can we focus on our wedding?" murmured Jon as he pressed kisses to Nina's face.
"Tonight, we celebrate!" announced Saraya.
"I think we will be able to after tonight," said Nina with a smile to Jon.
Nina squealed as Jon pulled her out onto the club's dance floor. He pulled her body up against his as Nina laughed at his antics.
"You going to go all Johnny Castle on me?" said Nina as she clutched his shoulders, her body moving in time with Jon's.
"Maybe," he winked.
Nina grinned as they moved further into the middle of the dance floor, a thin glean of sweat covering their bodies. Nina and Jon's dancing grew more heated, their hands gliding everywhere on each other, with their lips dancing across the other's lips, jawline, neck – whatever form of skin they could find.
The feeling of the bludge in Jon's pants caused Nina to flash him a sly smirk as she teasingly ran a hand over it. Jon growled and lightly bit her neck before dragging her from the clubs dance floor, down a corridor and out a door into the warm night air. They were in an alley way and Jon pushed Nina up against a brick wall, pressing his body to hers as his lips connected with hers in a heated, fiery kiss. Nina lifted her legs up around Jon's waist, one of his hands sliding along her bare leg and up her hitched skirt.
"Someone will see," gasped Nina, tilting her head back as Jon trailed his lips along her neck.
Jon leaned back and looked around, "I doubt it."
Nina looked at him and fisted her hand into his hair, brushing her lips across his, "Then I want you. Right. Now."
Jon gave Nina a heated smirk as he undid his pants…
Nina kissed Jon softly on the lips and sighed, "I wish you could come with me now."
"I'll be there next week," replied Jon, "Besides, think of this as a big career opportunity. You have been given the responsibility to finalize all the details for the show."
"At least I will have Tennille with me," said Nina with a look over to where the woman she spoke of stood.
"Maybe we could risk a quickie in the bathroom," suggested Jon, his gaze becoming heated.
"Boarding call for Las Vegas to Brisbane, Australia," came a voice over the intercom.
Nina chuckled as Jon swore, "Trust me, at the end of the week it will be all the more better for us both."
"I suppose so."
Nina kissed Jon again and picked up her carry-on bag, pulling her ticket out, "I love you."
"I love you too. Have fun and stay safe."
"Always," replied Nina with one last hug and kiss before her and Tennille headed over to their boarding gate.
"Home time," said Tennille excitedly, "My Melbourne connecting flight is three hours after we arrive in Brisbane and then I meet you in Sydney for Sunrise on Wednesday, right?"
"That's the plan," nodded Nina with one last look over her shoulder at Jon and their friends.
"Hello!" cried Trudie engulfing Nina in a tight hug before Frank hugged her.
"Aunty Ni-Ni!"
Nina stepped away from her father and knelt to her knees to be hugged tightly by Elijah and Kai, "My two little men! Hello!"
"You home! You home" said Kai excitedly.
Nina grinned and laughed when she saw him wearing one of her Luce shirts.
"Is that Emma?" whispered Elijah spotting Tennille texting on her phone.
"It is but her real name is Tennille," replied Nina standing up, "You can say hello. She is my friend."
Tennille greeted Nina's nephew's happily as Nina greeted her brothers, Kylie, Jacob and Susie.
"I have something for you all," said Nina, "But they can wait until the barbeque tonight, alright?"
Everyone agreed and Nina said goodbye to Tennille with a hug before her nephews led her out of the busy airport and to the waiting cars.
Got here safe. Damn I miss you already. Cannot wait to hug you. XXX
Nina locked her phone and placed it on her bedside table and left her old bedroom at her parents' house and headed out to the kitchen. Trudie was preparing the salad and Kylie was slicing the onions. Outside Nina could hear her brothers, Jacob and Susie chatting away.
"Jay said Ewan was coming tonight," said Trudie with a smile to her daughter.
"Oh awesome. I'm hoping Reece comes. I miss him so much."
"I saw him the other day," said Kylie, "Him and that guy broke up."
"Oh… I didn't know," said Nina feeling terrible.
"Honey, you've had a lot happening. I saw Reece recently and he understands. He said you both text each other when possible," said Trudie.
Nina gave a nod and drummed her fingers on the bench, "Want me to do anything?"
"Show me your engagement ring!" ordered Kylie suddenly.
Nina laughed and showed her ring to both Kylie and Trudie.
"Wait here!" ordered Kylie running out the back and returning inside with Susie, though Susie was walking with her large pregnant stomach slowing her down, "We got you a gift."
Susie held up a wrapped gift and handed it to a stunned Nina. Nina carefully opened it and smiled.
"A wedding planner," whispered Nina before she hugged her two friends, "Thank you so much!"
"We are just glad that you are happy," admitted Susie, "I saw the chemistry between you and Jon the first time I saw you both together. I can't see you with anyone else, sweetie."
Nina smiled, "He does make me happy."
"We can tell," chuckled Trudie, "So let's talk weddings!"
Nina laughed as Kylie grabbed a bottle of wine from the fridge and the jug of orange juice.
Early Wednesday morning found Nina and Tennille arriving at Martin Place to appear on the Australian breakfast show, Sunrise. Nina had spent the last two days checking out the Suncorp Stadium and doing interviews at the radio station and with the Courier Mail. In between that she did fan signings and promoted the pay-per-view, which had sold out Tuesday night. They had crammed in an extra two thousand seats, making the stadium sell out well over fifty thousand.
Nina was in her Luce shirt and jeans, with Tennille in her Emmulation shirt and jeans also. Both got their makeup and hair done and at five past eight they were directed over to the couch.
"And welcome back," greeted Kochie, "Well it was recently announced that the WWE would be having a special pay-per-view in Brisbane called Australian Rules. The tickets all sold out last night, even with seats added to accommodate the demand. This is the first pay-per-view in Australia since the last one in 2002."
"Joining us now are two of WWE's Divas and who are both Aussies, please welcome Emma and Luce," spoke Samantha, "Hello."
"Hi," greeted Nina and Tennille in unison.
"So, you both must be excited for the upcoming show. How does it feel to be basically playing host to the WWE for this special event?" asked Kochie.
Nina and Tennille swapped looks and Nina gestured for Tennille to speak.
"It's pretty exciting. It's a chance for us to show just how big the fan base is in Australia. Plus we get to show off our country."
"Now you both grew up in Australia. Did you work the Australian wrestling shows?" asked Samantha.
"We did," nodded Nina, "But neither one of us crossed paths. We only met at my first visit to the WWE."
"I'm sure you both became fast friends."
Nina and Tennille giggled at that but nodded.
"So, what can we expect from the show this Sunday?" asked Kochie.
"Well, you will see me compete in a tag team match with Bayley against The Shields Paige and Charlotte and Nikki and Brie Bella," said Tennille, "John Cena will compete in a tables match against Bray Wyatt. The Shield's male members will face off against the male Faction members."
"Chris Jericho is in a triple threat match for the Intercontinental Belt against Daniel Bryan and Dolph Ziggler. Cesaro and Tyson Kidd compete to retain their tag titles against the Usos and I face Erin for my divas belt."
"Will you get your title back?" asked Samantha.
Nina leaned forward and smiled at Samantha and Kochie, "Oh you can count on it. Nothing will stop me from winning that match."
A/N: A shorter chapter I know, but I feel that a lot happened in this chapter. Please review if you want to read more!