() Thanks for the review and for enjoying the story. You'll have to wait and see to figure out who wins!
Tessie: Haha sorry for the tension the waiting has caused you but I had to end the last chapter on the cliffhanger, it will only make this trial more worth reading. Finn and Quinn have gotten their happy ending and Puck and Santana, who knows. What I can say though is that at any moment, everything these characters know could change. One thing from the past might just affect all of their lives for the future⦠How's that for a cliffhanger?
Okay so the trial is beginning. Before it starts I just want to say a few things. I realized after writing that this may not be a typical custody hearing. I didn't know much about how the legal proceedings would go down so I kind of mimicked just a regular court case. I apologize for any inaccuracies, but hope you all still enjoy the chapter.
"Sir please state your name for the court," Santana asked when she addressed Finn for cross examination.
"Finn Hudson," he said.
"What is your relationship to Quinn Fabray-Hudson?"
"She is my wife," Finn said. He wished he could tell the court of how much he loved her and how great a mom she is but the lawyer advised him to keep his responses succinct and to the point.
"And your relationship to Noah Puckerman?"
"We were best friends in high school," Finn said as he looked at Puck. "We're not anymore."
"And your relationship to the minor child Beth Fabray-Hudson?" Santana asked.
"She is my step-daughter," Finn said, "and my adoptive daughter."
"Your honor let the record show that Mr. Hudson is not the biological father of Beth," Santana said.
"Objection," Finn's lawyer said. "What does paternity have to do with this line of questioning?"
"Your honor I am just trying to prove that Mr. Hudson is not the child's biological father and that the child does have a biological father who wants to be in her life," Santana said.
"I'll allow it," the judge commented, "but make sure you get to the point quickly Ms. Lopez."
Santana nodded and then continued questioning Finn. "How long have you known the minor, Mr. Hudson?"
"I've known Beth since before she was born. I was her mother's boyfriend when Beth was conceived," Finn said. Now was the time he wished he could lie in court. If he didn't watch as many law shows as he did and didn't knew that perjury could get him jail time he would have.
"So you were dating the child's mother when she conceived the baby but you aren't her father?" Santana asked.
Finn hated this. Santana already knew all of this. Why did she have to bring it up in court? It is not like any of it would help Puck's case, Finn thought. It couldn't could it?
"Puck got her drunk so she slept with him," Finn began.
"Objection," Santana said, "speculative."
"Please answer the question with facts and not speculation Mr. Hudson," the judge instructed.
"I'll ask again, you were dating Mrs. Fabray-Hudson but Beth is not your daughter?" Santana continued.
"No, Quinn cheated on me with Puck," Finn reluctantly admitted.
"Let the record show that Mrs. Fabray-Hudson was unfaithful to her then boyfriend," Santana commented.
"Objection," Finn's lawyer yelled, "relevance?"
The judge waited for Santana to explain. "I am clearly trying to establish a pattern for Mrs. Fabray-Hudson's behavior."
"I'll allow it," the judge said, "but you are towing a fine line Ms. Lopez. Please get to the point."
"Of course," Santana said before the questioning continued. Santana forced Finn to recount all of the memories of the past. She made him relive the moment he found out the truth and his relationships. All of it was to make Quinn and him look bad as parents but Finn didn't see how it would work. Then again, he wasn't a lawyer like Santana was. She knew exactly what she was doing and why.
"Mr. Hudson, were you involved in raising Beth from when she was a baby?" Santana asked.
"No, I uh, I actually wasn't," Finn answered defeated. He knew where all of this was leading.
"When did you become involved in raising Beth?" she asked again.
"Beth was nine months old when her and her mom moved in with me," Finn answered.
"Mr. Hudson do you currently occupy a job?" Santana asked.
"Relevance?" Finn's lawyer objected.
"Judge Robbins I am just trying to establish the child care situation," Santana pointed out.
"I'll allow it," Robbins said. "Please answer the question Mr. Hudson."
"Yeah I work during the day when Quinn goes to school, but my mom watches Beth when that happens," Finn quickly added pretty certain he knew what direction Santana was taking the questioning.
"Is your wife home alone with Beth?" Santana asked.
"Yeah whenever she doesn't have class she is home with Beth," Finn said unsure of how her being home would help Puck's case. It was a question he was actually willing to answer. Things were looking good, Finn thought.
"No further questions your honor," Santana said as she sat down and as the judge instructed Finn that he could step down from the witness stand.
"I think that went well baby," Finn said as he took his spot next to Quinn. "I don't know why Santana was trying to prove that you would be home with Beth though. I think that helps our case more than theirs though right?"
"Yeah, I, I think," Quinn responded. She wasn't as sure as Finn though that it would help. Quinn had a feeling that the questioning was just a means to an end and she was foreshadowing that the end would not be good. Puck had a trump card, Quinn remembered. The only thing that she wasn't sure of was if he would use it.
