Not many reviews that last chapter. Anyway here is another. Happy reading and please review!

Momma Vs. Mother

"Can you please state your name for the court please?," Alfred said.

"My name is Haley James," she said. Her eyes the connected with Nathan and she could see just how nervous he was about this entire thing. He was biting his lips and his leg was nearly jumping through the roof with a nervous jitter. She warmly smiled at him and then focused her eyes back to Alfred.

"Miss James, how do you know the defendant?"

"Umm, we're friends. We were in a relationship for nearly a year. We share children together."

"You share children? Would those children be Daniel and Matthew Scott?"

"Yes, I'm their mother," she confidently added.

"Interesting. And how long have you been their mother?," he continued.

"Almost a year. Things didn't work out for Nathan and I but our priority remains the same. We both love the boys and we want the very best for the both of them."

"Miss James in that year, have you ever heard anything about the boys biological mother? Was she around? Did she visit the boys, perhaps? Anything to give you a clue about her feelings?"

"No, she was never mentioned. Never once did she come around to see them. The boys don't even know her."

"Objection. Please strike that last question from the record," Fred said. "Miss James is making her own opinions on what the children know, your honor."

"Your honor, this is not her personal opinion. It's the truth," Alfred jumped in.

"Your honor, they've never mentioned her, not once. I'm the only mother they've only known," Haley swore.

"I allow it," the judge said.

"Thank you. You can continue Miss James."

"I loved them from the minute I saw them. Nathan is an amazing father and a even better man. This court would be crazy to take them away from him. I know personally that he loves the boys with all of his heart. He doesn't deserve what's happening. It's so unfair after everything he's been through."

"I ask you Miss James. Do you plan on remaining in the children's life?"

"Yes. I'm their mother and that'll never change. I love them like you wouldn't believe. Both boys mean the world to me," she choked up.

"That'll be all Miss James."

"Mr. Banks would you like to cross examine this witness?," the judge asked before releasing Haley from the stand.

"Oh do I," he lecherously smiled.

Haley inwardly shivered getting the same skeeved out feeling Brooke had gotten from the slime ball. The man was clearly a person without scruples and Haley couldn't understand why he was being so lowball in his tactics. She had no idea what was about to come courtesy of the sketchy lawyer.

"Miss James, how did you meet the defendant?," Fred asked.

"I told you. We were in a relationship for nearly a year."

"No, I mean how did you meet him? Where did you meet him?," he inquired knowingly.

Her eyes flickered nervously over to Nathan. His face stood awash in fear and in no way did he want her perjuring herself on the stand to protect him.

"I...uhh, the hospital," she quietly murmured.

"Odd meeting place Miss James. Were you both there for medical reasons," Fred pushed.

"No," she reluctantly responded.

"Then how did you come to meet? Why were you both at the hospital?," he wondered.

Haley had a feeling that this man already knew and she hated where this line of questioning was leading. No where good, that's for darn sure.

"I had a small accident."

"Really? So Nathan came to visit you there? A good friend, perhaps. That's very noble of him visiting an injured friend."

"I guess," she nearly wanted to cry. Her eyes were welling with tears and she wanted to get out of there.

Fred walked over to his seat and picked up a large envelope. He then walked back over to Haley and stood tall.

"I want you to take a look at this ma'am," he handed it to her.

She looked at the packet confused before looking back of at Fred.

"What is this?," she asked.

"I'd like to know the answer to that myself counselor," the judge said.

"This your honor are documents detailing the exact account of the witness's injury report. Miss Haley James went missing from her private yacht almost a year ago after falling overboard. She nearly drowned."

Nathan swallowed hard knowing what was coming. Alfred began hectically whispering in Nathan's ear trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

Both Lucas and Brooke sat with trepidation on both their faces. This wouldn't be good if the court found out how Nathan tricked Haley for so many months.

"She suffered severe amnesia. Her family searched and worried for many months before anyone could find her. They didn't know if she was dead or alive for many months. Nine, to be exact."

"Objection your honor. This has nothing to do with my clients ability to raise a child," Alfred complained.

"This just shows how incapable of a parent the defendant is your honor. His character, his low moral standard. It's plausible evidence."

"Continue," the judge said. "I'll allow it."

"Were you with Nathan for all the time you were missing Miss James?"

"Yes," she answered

"Did you know him before that day you saw his face in the hospital?"

"I did." It technically wasn't a lie.

"Oh really? How, may I ask?"

Oh no, she panicked inside. She tried keeping her face neutral. She didn't want that ass to see he was getting to her.

"He did some work on my boat. His company-Scott construction. He owns it with his brother."

"So you were involved with the guy who did some work on your boat. Sounds like the thing romantic movies are made upon, huh?," he snarked.

"Not really."

"Tell Miss James, is that really all to the story? Because I have here a file this thick on your injuries, diagnosis, and such. It says that you had a severe case of amnesia and that you were released into the custody of your husband, Nathan Scott."

"I-I...," she stuttered looking panicked to Nathan.

Lucas and Brooke looked on helplessly.

"Your husband? I had no idea that you were married to our defendant here."

"I'm not. It wasn't like that," she automatically tried to defend.

"Wasn't like what Miss James? Because it seems to me that someone is lying here. Is he or isn't he your husband?"

"Well, no," she answered. "He's not my husband."

"Then why does these papers state that your husband Nathan Scott picked you up from the facility? Please explain that, will you."

"He didn't mean any harm," she desperately started on a tangent. "He just wanted to take care of me, give me a home. Please your honor," she turned to the judge. "Don't take the boys away from him. He loves them so much and I love them. Nathan's a great father. He doesn't deserve losing the boys for anything," she started to cry.

"Miss James, pull yourself together," the judge implored.

She continued crying pushing her face down into her hands. Not only was this embarrassing but she was ruining Nathan's chances of keeping custody of the boys. She was devastated.

Nathan was fuming. This jerk not only tried to make him look like an unstable fool but now he had Haley up on the stand crying. He wanted to choke the living shit out of that moron.

"Alfred, do something," Nathan said. He was getting pissed off. "This is not acceptable. He's making her cry. I never would have to agreed to have her testify if I knew that this was gonna happen. Get her down, now!"

"Calm down, Nathan," Alfred said. "Don't let them see you sweating. We don't want to give the judge even more reason to doubt what a competent father you are. Please just relax."

"You want me to relax when he's harassing her up there? We did not agree to this. I should fire your ass right now," he huffed out.

"Stop it you son of a bitch!," Nathan stood up yelling at Fred. He had to protect Haley from this witch hunt. "Leave her alone!"

"Order in the court!," the judge yelled banging his gavel. "Sit down Mr. Scott. This not some football game where you can yell out anytime you feel like it. Mr. Banks control your client!," he implored. The judge was beginning to lose his patience.

"We're sorry your honor," he quickly tried to apologize. He pulled Nathan back when it was clear the man was close to charging toward the other lawyer. "I got this, Nathan. Please sit down! I know it seems bad but I beg you not to blow your top in here. We're gonna win," he confidently said.

Gia sat across the room smiling cockily. This was going exactly how she and Fred planned and she was sure her boys would be in her custody once this entire thing was over. No way was Nathan gonna win now. Not only were they proving how unstable he was, they were proving to the judge that he also had a violent streak that could prove dangerous to the children.

"I'd like to call a recess. I advise you all to settle yourselves. Miss James, will you step down. Court will re adjourn in one hour," the judge spoke.

Haley shakily walked down from the stand. Nathan was immediately at her side pulling her fragile frame into a hug.

He couldn't believe this guy was stooping so low and it angered him inside to see Haley getting the brunt of it. He could handle whatever mud they slung but Haley didn't deserve this. She'd already been through so much and she didn't need some slime lawyer making things worse for her.

"I'm so sorry, Hales," he comforted. "I don't know what he was thinking. You don't have to do this. I won't be upset," he swore.

"It's ok," she whispered out. "I would do anything to make sure that you keep our boys. I'm the one that's sorry."

"Hey, hey, no," he caressed her face gently. "This is my fault. Please stop blaming yourself. The guy was being a complete ass. I'll have Alfred pull you from the witness list before this goes any further. I can't see you hurting this way, Hales. Not after everything. No way in hell."

"Isn't this cute?," Gia snidely walked over to the couple. "I would've never taken you for the sentimental type, Nate," she laughed evilly.

"Get the hell away from us, Gia. What do you even want?," he asked. His patience for her was very short now. Her lawyer crossed a line and it did nothing but poss him off even more.

"You know what I want, my children. You had to make things hard on yourself. We could've avoided it all if you'd just let me see them, be in their life. You wanna do this the hard way, fine. Have it your way. But soon you'll be the one without them."

Haley stared wide eyed at the woman who was becoming a thorn in their side. The nerve of her wanting Matty and Daniel after she walked out and abandoned them.

"You're not getting them," Haley suddenly spoke up. She seemed to have a renewed sense of energy. Her mood quickly shifted from pain to protective and Nathan could see the spark light in her eyes. "They're our kids and no way will any judge gonna allow them to be removed from a loving home to live with a whore like you," she spit. "I guarantee it."

"Oh, kitty has claws." Gia smirked. "Look here little miss flavor of the month, they're my children and sooner or later you're going to realize that you have no claim to them."

"No claim? I've been in their life for one measly year and I've been a better mother than you could ever hope to be. I'm their mother and I love them and nothing you say or do will change that. No court in their right mind will give them to you. It doesn't matter how low you sink or what tactics you and your crummy lawyer use, it's not happening. Why don't you just go about your miserable life and leave us alone."

"She's feisty, Nate. I'll give you that," she smirked at Nathan. "I really hope you'll still be as confident when you lose."

"She's not a flavor of the month. I love her and the boys love her," he insisted.

Haley looked at him with love in her eyes as he declared his feelings for her to his ex wife.

"But you wouldn't know anything about that kinda love. The kinda love that burns in your soul with every waking breath. She's the kinda woman that most men dream of and she's been a wonderful mother to the precious children you walked out on. So do us all a favor and get out of our life, Gia. You ruined any chance of having a relationship with those boys. So just stay the fuck away for good," Nathan said pulling Haley away. He held her protectively at his side as they made their way out of the courtroom and away from Gia.

He was done with the conversation and quite frankly, Gia wasn't worth his or Haley's time and energy anymore. The woman was nothing but a irritating little nuisance at this point. He had far more important things to worry about in his life these days.