So glad you guys like the Mr. H drama! The fic definitely won't be all baby-centric... Lola has some interesting storylines coming up soon too. I do plan to show some more of their parenting struggles though, thanks for pointing out that it would make the story more realistic. Nice to see some of my old regular reviewers back. As always let me know what you think xx

Trial and Error: Part 2

Miles stood at the stand, his hands shaking so much he felt like they were about to fall off. He thought back to Zoe's trial sophomore year, when he had asked Winston to lie under oath to protect his relationship with Maya. Goddamn, he was selfish back then, he thought to himself. This situation was different though-- there was no easy answer, no clear-cut way to protect his family.

"Mr. Hollingsworth," the attorney said, clearing his throat, "is it true that you've been addicted to drugs?"

Miles tugged at his collar, sweat dripping down his neck. "Well, er, yes," he admitted. "But I've been clean now for... for months. I don't do any of that anymore."

The attorney nodded skeptically, pursing his lips. "And have you ever relapsed?"

"Once or... or twice," Miles stammered, not making eye contact.

"And you've used cocaine before, correct?" the attorney continued.

Miles gulped. "Yes, but--"

"So then it wouldn't be a stretch to say you could've... perhaps... stored these drugs at your father's, maybe?" the attorney said.

"What?" Miles snapped.

The other attorney stood up. "Objection!" she said. "Insufficient evidence."

The judge sighed. "Sustained."

Miles locked eyes with his father's attorney. "I don't know how to make this any clearer to you," he said, gritting his teeth. "I. Don't. Do. Drugs. Anymore." He slammed his fist on the stand angrily. Calm down, calm down, he told himself.

"And you seem to have a history of impulsive behavior," the attorney continued. "Expelled from boarding school. Hit and run. A couple of suspensions. And don't you have a baby as well?"

Miles frowned. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Yes or no?" the attorney said. "Do you or do you not have a child out of wedlock?"

"Yes, I have a one-month old daughter," Miles snapped. "But what does that prove?" He glanced at his dad. "Unlike some, I'm actually a decent father."

The attorney crossed his arms. "Would you say you have a good father?" he asked.

Miles looked into the stands. He glanced at his mother's nervous face and the twins' blank, solemn expressions. And then he saw Lola, looking the most scared of all. She was so young. She was right-- she couldn't raise Hope on her own. She needed Miles. He needed to put his daughter first here.

Miles looked down. "No," he said quietly.

The attorney bit his lip. "And why is that?"

Miles looked at Lola again. "He-- he's never been there for me. For any of us." He sighed. "He abused me. He slammed me against a wall a few times. He threw a coffee mug and my brother and me... Why do you think our mother threw him out?"

The attorney asked the court to bring forth two exhibits. "These pictures suggest otherwise," he said. He handed Miles the family portraits they took two years ago during the campaign, along with the pictures the press took of them out for golf that one time.

Miles just shook his head, almost laughing. "These pictures don't tell you anything," he said. "If we're so close, then why has been living in a separate apartment for almost two years? Why does the press never see him out with me or my siblings? Why didn't he give me any financial help for the baby?" He took a deep breath. "Look," he said. "I'm not a perfect son. There's no denying that. But those drugs aren't mine." He made eye contact with his dad, who looked nervous. "I would never jeapordize my child like that."

The attorney merely nodded. "No further questions at this time," he said.

Miles took his seat next to Lola. She hugged him so tight, he thought he was going to burst open. "I'm so proud of you," she whispered.

His mother got up just then. "Excuse me," she said, walking out the door.

Miles let go of Lola's hand. "Hang on," he muttered, getting up. He ran after his mom. "What are you doing?" he cried in the hallway.

Mrs. H didn't look at him, tears streaming down her face. "He's going to go to prison," she sobbed frantically. "He's going to go to prison or he's going to kill you or me or--"

Miles grabbed her shoulders. "Hey, hey, easy," he said, trying to calm her down.

Mrs. H still cried. "Why didn't you just say the drugs were yours?"

Miles just shook his head. "Because that's not the truth," he said. "You know it's not." He looked his mom in the eye, hands on her shoulders. "Listen to me," he said firmly. "Whatever happens to dad, we will get through this. Together."

Later that afternoon, Miles, Lola, Frankie, and Hunter all sat in the courthouse awaiting the verdict. The twins had both been called to testify-- Frankie didn't say anything negative about Mr. H, but she maintained that Miles was clean and sober now. Hunter, to Miles' surprise, admitted that his father had thrown a coffee mug at him and Miles a couple of years ago. But he refused to say he was a bad father.

"God," Hunted muttered. "Just when I thought our family couldn't get any more screwed up, our dad might be going to prison."

"We don't know that for sure," Frankie said quietly. She sighed, resting her head on Lola.

"It'll be okay, you guys," Lola tried to reassure them. She squeezed Miles' hand tightly.

Mrs. H came in. "They're about to issue the verdict," she said tensely, motioning for them to join her. They filed into the room one by one, beyond nervous.

"After careful consideration," the judge announced, looking to the jury. "The court finds Mayor Miles Hollingsworth the second guilty of two counts drug possession and embezzlement. We conclude that there is insufficient evidence to prove bribery and extortion." He paused. "I sentence Mr. Hollingsworth to five years in maximum-security prison, beginning today, eligible for parole in two years..."

Miles' heart nearly stopped. He just sat there, completely frozen. He had no idea how he felt. On one hand, his father was finally out of his life for a few years... on the other hand, his father was, well, out of his life. Even though it was a huge relief for Miles, he also knew it would be devastating for his family.

Frankie and Mrs. H both started to cry. Hunter just looked completely numb, staring off into space.

Miles got up and excused himself, needing to catch some air. Lola followed him.

She hugged him tight. "He's gone, Miles," she whispered. "He can't hurt you anymore."

"I know," Miles whispered. "I know." He fell into Lola's arms and collapsed on the floor sobbing.