Chapter 35

Six Months Later…

APOV

Today is the day. It's the final day of court for Elena. I'm as big as a house and am trying to find something that doesn't look hideous. I stand in front of the mirror flustered and annoyed. Christian walks up to me from behind, puts his arms around my ever-growing belly, and gently kisses my neck. "Baby, you look beautiful. Take your time, we have three hours until we need to be there."

Leila's trial has already ended. She turned state's witness against Elena and took a plea. She will be spending at least the next fifteen years in jail without a chance for parole. Elena has pretty many charges against her. Her lawyer tried to have some of them dropped but the judge wouldn't allow it. Then, she tried to plead she was under duress due to the financial burden Christian placed her in when he got rid of the salons. The judge also threw it out. Her lawyer is some expensive hotshot so I'm sure he'll try and pull out all his tricks.

We get to the courtroom and I barely fit through the aisle to my sweet. Christian is guiding me with his hand on my lower back. My stomach is now so big I can't see my own feet. We find our seats and sit down. The press coverage has been ridiculous. It's the perfect gossip magazine article, the Prince and Princess of Seattle, about to have their first baby, victimized by a jealous hag.

The bailiff comes in. "All rise for the honorable Judge Lowry." It's a struggle, but I manage to stand. The judge walks in and takes his seat at the bench.

"You may now be seated." They begin the closing arguments. They started them yesterday but each has some more time today. Once they finish, the jury gets sequestered to come up with the verdict on all charges against Elena. This is the part that can be long. The judge calls a recess while the deliberations happen.

Christian, ever the doting husband, helps me out of the courtroom and past the media. "Ana, you need to eat something. You haven't had anything since this morning."

"Christian, I'm not hungry. My back hurts and I'd like to lay down." Those seats aren't comfortable on a normal day let alone when you're eight months pregnant.

"OK, baby, let me talk to my dad and see if he knows how much time we'll have." I sit down on a bench with Sawyer and Taylor beside me. Since I've been pregnant both of them have become more protective of me. And Christian wouldn't have it any other way.

A few minutes later Christian comes back. "My dad said they think it could be awhile. I've got us a suite at the Westin. He said he'll call when the jury is ready to return."

"OK, good. I just want to lie down for a little bit."

"You can lie down but you must eat something before we come back here. What do you want? I'll have the order put in a while."

I sit there thinking and then it hits me. "I want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and some macaroni and cheese."

He looks at me with his gray eyes twinkling and gives me a secret smile. "Whatever you want is yours." We get to the hotel and up to the suite. I go into the bedroom and lie down on the bed. Christian comes in, takes off my shoes, and begins to massage my feet. I fall into a deep sleep.

Two hours later I feel a soft brush against my lips. "Ana, baby, it's time to go back. Do you want to come or stay here? You don't have to go if you don't want to."

"No, I want to see this." I get up and put my shoes back on, and in ten minutes we're back at the courthouse. The judge is at the bench, we're all seated, and the jury has just walked in.

"Will the jury foreperson please stand? Has the jury reached a unanimous verdict?"

"Yes, your Honor."

The bailiff takes the paper with the decision on it and gives it to the judge. It seems to take forever for him to read it to himself.

The judge looks up and reads the verdict. "For the charge of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute the jury finds the defendant guilty, for the charge of harassment with intent to do bodily harm the jury finds the defendant guilty, for the charge of stalking with intent to instill fear the jury finds the defendant guilty, for the charge of aggravated assault in the 1st degree the jury finds the defendant guilty, for the charge of aggravated kidnapping in the 1st degree the jury finds the defendant guilty, for the charges of disorderly conduct the jury finds the defendant guilty, for the charge of sexual assault the jury finds the defendant guilty, for the charge of illegal possession of a firearm the jury finds the defendant guilty."

I gasp. She's been found guilty on all charges. Suddenly Elena cries out, "Please, no! I didn't do anything wrong!"

The judge bangs his gavel, "Counsel please keep your client quiet." The lawyer whispers something in Elena's ear and she nods her head.

The judge looks up, "Elena Lincoln, you have been found guilty of all charges presented to you. You are remanded back into custody to await sentencing." Elena leaves handcuffed and her feet shackled. Her roots are growing out and her wrinkles are getting deeper. She doesn't need to look beautiful where she's going. Court is adjourned and we wait to leave the courtroom.

Finally, she's out of our lives. And, in about six weeks we are going to become a family of our own. Christian is holding my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. I look up to him, "I love you, Christian Grey."

He smiles back down at me, "I love you, Anastasia Grey."

THE END