Role Reversal
"Nathan?," Alfred walk toward him and Haley sitting just outside of the court room. Lucas and Brooke had went off in search of coffee and the two parents sat silently alone.
"Yeah," he answered. He wasn't exactly thrilled with Alfred for allowing Haley to be browbeat on stand but after a few moments to digest it all, he was now calm thanks to the support of the woman he loved.
"The judge is back in his chambers. We resume in a few minutes. I'm not sure if you'll be going back on the stand. But if so, are you ok with this, Haley?," he turned his attention to the woman.
"Yeah, let's do this," she smiled weakly at Nathan. "I'm not going to let them intimidate me anymore."
"You just speak the truth Haley. I didn't want to go there but I think it's time we fight fire with fire," Alfred said steadfast in his decision. He tried keeping things cordial but it was very clear that Fred was down in the gutter trying to pull Nathan's integrity with him. They didn't call him a shark for nothing. No more playing Mr. Nice Guy.
"What are you going to do?," Nathan asked.
"I don't want you to worry...either of you. I'm gonna take care of it. All I need is for the both of you to remain cool, especially you Nathan."
"We can do that," Haley said. "Right?," she asked of Nathan.
He clenched his teeth and wrapped his other hand around her arm. "Yeah, I'll do it. Anything to help us win, Alfred."
"Thank you. I'll see you guys back in there," he said walking away to attend to his ringing cell phone.
Haley turned completely toward Nathan on the Woden bench. She took his hands and looked up at him with a serious look on her face.
"I need something from you," she said.
"Anything," he warmly smiled clenching her hands tightly.
"I need you to calm down and let things happen in the court room."
"Haley-" he interrupted. He wasn't gonna let these people hurt her.
"No Nathan, please. I don't want anything ruining your chances of winning. I promise you that I can handle it. Just be quiet and let Alfred do his job. Can you do that?," she wondered.
He sighed shaking his head in defeat. How could she ask this of him? Of course he knew the importance of staying calm but that God freaking lawyer was pushing his limits concerning Haley. It was just more evidence of the amazing woman he loved. She would take everything they threw at her, good or bad- just so that he could keep his boys.
"Ok Hales, I'll stay calm. But just so you know, I hate this. I hate that he can do that to you. It's not right. It's just really unfair."
"Unfair or not, he's trying to win a case, Nathan. We know that. You can't fault the man for trying everything he can. He knows he's on the losing team," she smiled caressing his face.
"You're remarkable, do you know that? I don't know what I do without you, Hales," he kissed her hand.
"You don't ever have to worry about that. I'm not going anywhere," she swore. "We're gonna keep our boys and nothing Gia tries will change it, Nathan."
"Let's get back in there," he sighed. Might as well go face the hell again while he was partially calm.
They walked back into the court room together. Haley one again took her seat behind Nathan when Brooke and Lucas came waking in and sitting next to her.
Nathan took his place next to Alfred and the judge proceeded to sit in his chair.
"I know that things got a little tense before the break. I'd like to warn both counsellors to keep things above board before we proceed with this case," the judge said. "Mr. Banks will you call your next witness."
"Yes your honor. The defense calls Lucas Scott," Alfred said.
Lucas gave Brooke's hand a gentle squeeze then proceeded to the front of the court room.
Haley nervously looked over to Brooke and she could see the worry on her face. They both were secretly thinking the same thing. Hopefully that jackass Fred Willis wouldn't try to hound Lucas like he had done to the both of them.
"Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?," the bailiff asked.
"I do," Lucas said taking a seat.
"Mr. Scott," Alfred said.
"You can call me, Lucas," he interrupted.
"Lucas, what is your relationship to my client here, Nathan Scott?"
"He's my brother and my very best friend," Luke said.
"So, you would say that you have the closest relationship you can have with someone with him. Been around him your entire life?"
"Yes. We've always had a vey close family. Nathan's been attached to my side the minute he was born. It was great to have a little brother to look out for. I was super happy when my parents brought him home for the very first time. I always wanted a brother," Luke smiled.
Nathan smiled looking at his brother. He felt those exact things about Lucas too. They were blessed to have one another. It made Nathan super grateful that Daniel and Matty had each other the same way him and Lucas had each other.
"I ask you Lucas. Were you there when Gia Scott walked out of his life- abandoned her children?," Alfred asked.
"Objection your honor!," Fred stood. "Counselor is leading the witness."
"I'll rephrase then. What was life like for your brother when Gia Scott walked out on him?," Alfred asked.
"He was devastated. For a while there we didn't know if he'd ever recover. My wife and I were worried sick. My parents were a mess trying to comfort him though it all."
"What made Nathan come out of this funk, Mr. Scott?"
Lucas smiled happily before answering. "The boys. It was crazy. One day he was just different and happy and moving forward. He told me that living a good life is what he needed to do because he had two little boys relying on solely him now. He's been a wonderful father and role model since. I don't know a better example of a great father. The boys are lucky to have him."
"Thank you, Mr. Scott," Alfred sat down.
Fred stood up and walked over to Lucas. He put on his usual swarmy looking smile and began to question him.
"Mr. Scott, was your brother ever a less than stellar parent?"
"No, he's always been great. Even when things weren't going great in his own life, he made sure that the boys were always his focus. He made sure they were happy and loved and always the priority of his life."
"I ask would you say otherwise if he wasn't your brother?," Fred asked.
"I wouldn't because it's the absolute truth," Lucas swore.
"That'll be all your honor."
"Please step down Mr. Scott," the judge said.
Lucas got down off the stand and went to his seat next to the girls. That wasn't so bad.
"Mr. Willis call your first witness."
"I call Gia Scott," Fred said.
Gia walked over to the stand confidently. She placed her manicured hand down on the bible and swore nothing but truth.
Right, Nathan wanted to laugh. That woman wouldn't know truth if it slapped her in the face.
"Ms. Gia Scott," Fred made a show prancing in front of her. "Will you please inform the court of why we're here today."
"I would like to regain sole custody of my two children. Or at least joint custody."
"Really? And why haven't you've had some parental rights in all of these years Ms. Scott?," Fred asked.
"I was very young when I became a mother and I wasn't quite sure that I was equipped to handle such a big thing in my life during that period of time."
"And now you think that you are?"
"Yes, I am. I've grown so much over the years. I've learned to keep a steady job, be responsible, pay bills. My life has completely changed and I'm a better person because of it. I'm fully capable of being a good mother now. Back then I didn't believe I was able to manage such a thing because I had a lot of growing up to do on my own."
"Do you think that the court should trust you with such a responsibility even though you have proven less than steady over the years."
"I do. People change and I've done a lot of that over the years. We all may mistakes and I shouldn't be punished for that my entire life. I just need a second chance with my children. They deserve to know their mother and I deserve to know them in every way."
"Thank you Ms. Scott. That'll be all your honor," Fred said taking his seat.
"Counselor," judge Harding addressed Alfred.
Alfred stood up and walked toward Gia.
"Ms. Scott, why did you leave your family again?," Alfred asked.
"I told you, I wasn't ready to be a competent wife or mother during that period of my life," Gia stated.
"And you are now?"
"Yes, I am."
"Objection your honor," Fred stood. "We've been through this I don't understand why the counselor is repeating what was already put on record for the court," he complained.
"I have to agree counselor. What is the point of all of this?," he questioned.
"Just trying to establish some things your honor. This woman here wants rights to the children she abandoned many years ago. I want to know why she thinks she's entitled to such a thing when she hasn't wanted one in all of this time," Alfred said.
"You may continue," the judge nodded.
"Thank you your honor. Ms. Scott, why weren't you interested in your children's well being during this time?"
"Because I needed to get myself together,"she answered.
"I can understand that," he walked around making a show. "But never one phone call, maybe a birthday card or two, anything to show that despite being away from them, you cared?"
"Well, I didn't think it would help," she excused.
"It wouldn't help. Any little thing helps a child know they're loved Ms. Scott. You went on with your life and not once did you look back. You didn't show an ounce of concern for those boys and now you want the justice system to rip them from the home of their one loving parent. Don't you!"
"Um," she stuttered. "I made a mistake. They're my kids."
"No, Ms. Scott, they're his children," he pointed to Nathan. "That man has been there for everything. When they were sick or sad or happy. It was my client being there to see them through."
"Because he wouldn't let me."
"Oh cut the crap. You've come around demanding this man let you see his children out of the blue and you think he'd be ok with that?"
"He can't keep me away. I'm their mother!," she shouted angrily.
"Some mother, huh? You've been M.I.A for years. You can't lay claim to children who wouldn't know you from any stranger on the street."
"They will," she promised. "I love them."
"Love? You want to own them. They deserve to be in a stable loving home. That's not with you."
She stood up angry and began pointing her finger. "You won't get away with this...neither of you," she eyed a smirking Nathan. "These are my kids. I gave birth to them. They're mine damn it!," she yelled. "I wanna raise them."
"Order!," judge Harding boomed banging his gavel loudly. "Ms. Scott get a hold of yourself. This will not turn into a circus!"
Fred sighed shaking his head frustratingly as he watched his client fall apart on the stand.
Nathan smiled thrilled at her insane reaction. This was just like Gia to act like a crazy person if things weren't going her way.
Haley and Brooke sat shocked at the turn of events. And Lucas looked just as smiley as Nathan was looking.
Gia took her seat and the judge looked livid.
"I warned you all, I will not have some crazy scene trying to upstage one another with insults. They're are two children whose lives I am concerned with. One more outburst and I'll dismiss this case and turn it over to the state to be mediated and only then will I make a decision. Mr. Banks, are you done questioning this witness?"
"Just one more thing your honor, if I may."
The judge nodded his okay for the lawyer to continue.
"One final question," he turned to Gia. "What makes you think the court should award you custody over my client?"
She sighed biting off the urge to roll her eyes. "I just need a second chance," she barely replied.
"Thank you," Alfred said taking his seat beside Nathan. They immediately started whispering something and Alfred seemed pleased.
"Ms. Scott will you step down," the judge said. "Anymore witnesses Mr. Willis?"
"No, we rest our case," Fred stood bowing his head as a show of respect to the judge.
"Mr. Banks?"
"We rest too your honor."
"I call recess for further evaluation. I'll ask everyone to reconvene when I have a decision. Court dismissed," he banged his gavel.
Everyone stood up happy to be done with it all.
Haley walked around the partial and quickly hugged Nathan. "You did amazing," she proudly smiled. "Thank you so much Alfred," she shook the lawyer's hand.
"My pleasure Haley. Nathan, I'll give you a call when I hear something," Alfred said placing his papers into a briefcase.
Nathan nodded shaking his hand and then Alfred left the court room.
"How are you feeling?," Brooke cheerfully hugged him and Lucas hugged Haley.
"Glad it's over," he sighed. "I just hope the judge didn't buy Gia's load of bull."
"He didn't bro. Have faith."
"Yeah," Nathan said letting himself smile. "Thank you all for being here and everything else. Sorry about the whole lawyer thing, him trying to make things look bad and all."
"We have your back, Nathan. We all love the boys."
"Haley's right B.I.L," Brooke smiled happily.
"Bill? You forgot my name now, Davis?," he laughed.
"No silly. Brother in law, that's you," she laughed and Haley started giggling beside her.
"Geesh, I always forget that I'm related to you."
They all laughed and started out of the court room to go home.
Nathan couldn't wait to get home to see his boys. The day was hell and nothing was better for his mood than to see those two little beautiful faces smiling back at him. He couldn't wait.
