*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter they were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much*
A Couple Weeks Later:
"How are you feeling?" I ask my wife as we are sitting in the hallway of a courthouse in Atlanta, Georgia so that she can testify in front of a grand jury so that we can see if they will pursue sexual assault charges against Mack and Jordan.
"I don't know," she says looking at me with her beautiful dark brown eyes. "I'm kind of nervous. What if they say there's not enough evidence to indict them? This has happened before."
"That time was different, I am sure Mack's father used his money to pay off a few people," I say, "but I don't know how they can't find enough evidence to move on with the indictment. There is a video of them raping you while you were unconscious not to mention the hospital report and the rape kit, it's all there in black and white and anyone that doesn't see the evidence does not have any right sitting on a grand jury."
"How do we know that Mack's father isn't throwing money around again?" she asks nervously. I rub her back softly. "That's what I am worried about."
I shake my head and say, "Hayden, there's no way his father is paying off the grand jury or the police department again. You got this and it's about time that Mack got what he deserves and justice finally gets served."
"I hope so," she lets out a breath.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"Well, Mack could be indicted today but it could months or years before this even goes to trial," she says, "I don't know. I don't have a good feeling about this."
"I think everything will be okay," I say to comfort her. "You got this and the persecutor has this one in the bag. I promise you everything is going to be okay."
"I hope so," she says with a soft smile. "It's actually kind of crazy we ended up back here in Atlanta on our anniversary. Choosing you was the best decision I ever made."
"Mine too," I smile before I kiss her lips softly. "I love you, Hayden."
"I love you too," she says with a soft smile before she's called to testify.
I kiss her lips softly before she stands up to go testify in front of the grand jury. I am a little nervous for her. I know talking about what happened is a little hard for her. I know that she's been having nightmares about it once again as it is coming back up in her mind. I feel so deeply for her but I am proud of her for pursuing the charges again. I just hope that they find enough evidence to indict Mack, he's been too slick and too cocky since he got off before. I hope this time he doesn't get off. I watch Hayden walk into the courtroom as I sit outside waiting for her. My phone starts to ring as I see that it's my mom calling me. "Hey, Mom," I say with a smile as I answer the phone.
"Hey, Roman, how are you?"
"I'm okay, just dealing with life," I say, "things have gotten so hectic lately. Football season just started so I am traveling all over the place, dealing with Shea and her nonsense. I can't wait till that's over and now Hayden is testifying in front of grand jury to see if Mack will be indicted on sexual assault charges. It's never ending and preparing for the boys to arrive."
"It sounds kind of hectic," she says, "so how is everything going with Shea?"
"It's a mess, Nova has heard way too much about things she shouldn't even have a clue about. Apparently Shea made mention about wanting my money and Nova heard her. She also heard her say that my past is going to fuck me over. I don't even know what that means but it doesn't sound good. This is getting ugly really fast and I don't like it. I just want it to be an amicable custody battle, I don't want it to be ugly for Nova's and Kylynn's sakes."
"Well, you know my thoughts on Shea," she says, "she's always been about that money. Are you truly surprised that she's still about the money?"
"Not at all, it's like she sees dollar signs and now that I am the head coach for the 49ers she knows I am making a lot more money now and so she wants the girls and wants a lot in child support. She wants to uproot the girls back to New Orleans," I say. "They are finally settled in at home in San Francisco and they love their new school. I don't think it's fair to ask them to uproot their lives just so Shea can get a little extra money."
"So she's making it difficult? She's always been a bitch, Roman."
"I know," I say shaking my head, "it was my biggest mistake marrying her because she had Nova. We could have raised Nova together without being married."
"I agree with you there, what is your lawyer saying?" she asks.
I let out a breath and say, "He said that since Shea has gone against the current custody agreement by slandering me in front of Nova that she has a pretty good chance of losing this battle. I'm offering a lot to her. I want the girls full time for school and allowing Shea summer vacations giving me a week or two with the girls to take a family vacation, holidays and spring break. She wants the girls full time, have me get the girls over summer break and alternate holidays and on top of that she's asking for $5,000 a month in child support. I think that's a lot."
"She's crazy," she says. "She's absolutely crazy and let me guess Nova doesn't want to go back to Louisiana with her mother?"
"Neither of them do," I say. "It's just not a good environment. They were with her most of the summer and we just got the girls back into our routine and the rules they have with us not to mention Nova's mouth has been off the charts since she came back from Shea's house. I don't know what will happen if the courts reward Shea with custody. I can't lose my girls. I love them so much! They are my entire life. I love my girls more than anything, I love when I come home from being out on the road with the team to see their smiling faces, I live for their hugs when I come home from work and I live for my daddy daughter dates with them and if she gets them I will lose all of that," I say.
"You know, Roman," she says, "you have ALWAYS been a great dad, you have always loved those girls and taken care of them, you have always made them your top priority and you have always been there for them. The judge is going to see that and you know you're going to win custody. If I remember correctly Shea has never really been in to being a mother and her and Nova their personalities are conflicting."
"Tell me about it, I think she has gotten better as a mother but I know she has never really been into it. She just looks at them as dollar signs," I say.
"I know she does but don't worry about her. The judge is going to see that you are an amazing father, everything you have done for them and there is no way that the judge cannot award you custody."
"I just hope everything goes in my favor," I say as I see Hayden coming out of the courtroom. "Mom, I have to go. I love you."
"I love you too. Bye, Roman," she says.
"Bye," I say as I hang up the phone before I stand up. "How did it go?" I ask her.
"Well, it was something," she says. "I think it went well. They are recessed right now to make a decision, they just asked me what happened and I told them what I know and remember. They had seen the video, they were presented with the medical records that showed that I had a sufficient amount of roofline in my system. Things are looking pretty good."
"That's good," I say, "I was just talking to my mom."
"Aww, that's great, I can't wait till she comes to visit. I love your mom."
"And she loves you too," I smile. It's the truth my mom loves Hayden. They have such a good relationship. I think Hayden may talk to my mom more than I do and I am pretty sure they talk to each other on daily basis. It's great to see them have such a great relationship compared to whatever my mom had with Shea. "We were talking about the custody hearing coming up next month."
"Oh that," she says rolling her eyes. "Shea is a real piece of work. I can't believe she said all that stuff in front of her daughter. Who does that? Children should NEVER know of any grievances between their parents. It doesn't matter how you feel about your child's father or mother that is your opinion and you should respect them in front of your children because when you rip them apart in front of your child then your child is going to start thinking negatively about their own father or mother. And not to mention that the child may feel bad for having some type of affection to that parent. If anything despite the craziness of our marriage and how we came to be we should be working together to raise these girls and get along. In the end we all have the same goal for Nova and Kylynn and that is to make sure they are loved, happy, healthy and successful in life, that's what matters. I am willing to put my differences aside with Shea so that we can work together to give those two girls the best life they deserve. If you and I were ever in that position, if we were to get a divorce I would be doing my best to make sure that Roman and Luca have the best relationship with you, I would swallow my pride, co-parent properly with you and accept any woman that would come into your life and theirs have a good relationship with her and you so that we can effectively raise our kids together. I love Nova and Kylynn like they are my own kids and I have been in their lives for so long I only want what's best for them."
"First, you're absolutely right about that," I say agreeing with her, "no matter how my mom felt about my dad she always made sure he was a part of my life, made sure they worked together so I could have a good childhood just like I would love to do with Nova and Ky but Shea just wants the money. Second of all you and I would never be in the same position that we are in with Shea because I'm not letting you go, you're stuck with me for life, Hayden. You should know this by now," I smile.
"I know," she smiles, "I was speaking hypothetically. I went through too much to have you. I'm not letting that go and I love you so much."
"I love you too," I smile before I kiss her lips softly.
We wait for the verdict for about 30 minutes before the persecutor comes out and let's us know that they are going to continue on with the case and that Mack is being indicted on sexual assault charges there was enough circumstantial evidence to pursue the case. It's a breath of fresh air. I wrap Hayden up in my arms as she hugs me back, "we're getting closer," I smile.
"I know," she says with tears in her eyes. "I just hope they don't take too long to take this to trial."
"I hope not either," I say with a smile. "This is the best news all day."
"It really is," she smiles before she kisses my lips softly. "Thank-you, Roman for being here for me and supporting me."
"I will ALWAYS support you," I promise.
LATER THAT NIGHT:
Hayden and I walk into Ormsby's Bar hand in hand with a smile on our faces. "It's hard to believe this is where it all started," she says.
"I know. I can't believe that it all started here in this bar. I never would have thought that the night I met you at the bar that we would be here today, married and having twin boys. We have come so far since that night."
"We really have," she says as we are seated. "As much as I hate Atlanta for everything that happened to me, the one thing I love about Atlanta is everything it gave me which is you and my life with you."
"I wouldn't trade my life with you for anything, Hayden," I smile at her as the waitress takes our drink orders instantly. "I honestly didn't know what real love was until I met you. I will be honest with you. I thought that night was just going to be a one night stand then a few weeks later you showed up in my Philosophy class and I was shocked."
"I think I was pretty shocked to have you as my professor," she smiles. "What made you choose me? What made you fall in love with me?"
"Nearly everything about you," I smile, "you are absolutely beautiful. You're beautiful inside and out. You're so intelligent and you have such a caring heart. I would have been a fool to let you go. Even though we didn't start the best way I know that we are going to finish the best way. What made you fall in love with me?" I ask.
"You're just an amazing guy. You're smart, articulate, gracious and seeing you with Nova and Ky really melted my heart. You were and are amazing," she says making me smile.
"You know what I always loved about you?"
"What's that?" she asks looking over the menu. "Sorry the boys are starving."
"It's okay," I smile. "You know I am not perfect yet you treat me and tell me I am, you always bring out the best in me. You make want to be a better person every day. You always make me want to be better than I was the day before. You never expected too much from me, just my love for you. That's one thing I have always loved about you."
She smiles at me and says, "because Roman you ARE perfect. You're perfect to me and perfect for me. Never think you are anything less because you're not. You make me want to be a better person too. You accept me as I am, my flaws and all. You even gave up so much for me."
"I would give up my entire world just to make you happy," I say with a smile. "You are my entire world and I love to make you happy."
"You make me happy all the time, I love you so much, Roman."
"I love you too," I say with a soft smile as they bring us our drinks and we give them our food order. "This has always been my favorite place."
"Mine too," she says, "it's hard to believe I walked in that door 6 years ago getting ready to start my senior year of college, meeting you and then after I graduated from college this is the same place you asked me to be your wife. So many memories here."
"I know," I say smiling at her, "and now you're pregnant with my sons, we're married and I have my dream job. Until you I always thought I would be teaching Philosophy the rest of my life but I gave up my coaching job and teaching job to be with you and that was the best decision I ever made. I have made so many mistakes in my life but creating my girls was not one of them, falling in love with you is not one of them, marrying you is not one of them and creating our sons with you is not one of them. I still can't believe we got pregnant so fast."
"I thought we would at least have a year or maybe 6 months at the least but that honeymoon did me in and that's when it happened," she smiles, "sometimes life doesn't work the way we want it to but the way it's supposed to and apparently it was time for us to get pregnant. I am grateful for it even though at first I was surprised and not incredibly happy about it but I wouldn't trade getting that positive pregnancy test for anything now. It's been so amazing carrying these tiny lives inside of me. I can't wait until they make their appearance in the world."
"Me either," I say with a smile. "Even if they choose to come on the day of the Super Bowl. I'm living for it," I say making her smile. I love this woman so much and I know that I didn't make the wrong choice with her. She's everything to me and I am so excited for our life together. "Because we all know the 49ers will be in the Super Bowl."
"We'll have to see about that one," she smiles. "Our future little NFL All stars," she smiles.
"Or anything they want to be," I say, "they don't have to be NFL all stars as long as they are happy in whatever they choose to do."
"I'm glad to hear that," she says. "Do you ever think about having more kids after Roman and Luca?"
"I don't know," I say, "what about you?"
"I think we could do 1 or 2 more, we definitely have the house for it and the money for it. I wouldn't mind having a little girl with you," she smiles, "but I wouldn't mind having more boys with you either."
"Well, we'll have to think about that one after Roman and Luca are here and I am getting old."
"You're not that old," she says, "and I'm still young yet don't forget I am still in my 20's we have a lot of baby making years ahead of us."
"I know we do," I smile, "I mean us having a little girl together wouldn't be too bad; little Kennedy," I suggest.
"Oh so you have thought about it and she already has a name?" She smiles.
"Yes, I may have thought about it Kennedy Reigns, goes perfect with Nova, Kylynn, Roman and Luca," I say, "but I'm sure that won't happen for a while."
"Definitely not, birth control for 2 years after Roman and Luca are born then we'll discuss having a little Kennedy," she smiles, "plus I have some plans in my life that I want to do before I consider having another baby and I want to enjoy the boys."
"What kind of plans?" I ask.
"You'll see," she smiles as they bring us our food. "Roman, we've come so far but we have so far to go together."
"I agree with that," I smile at her.
*A/N: So what did you think? What do you think about Mack being indicted on Sexual Assault charges? What do you think of Shea's wants for custody? Do you agree with Hayden that no matter how a parent feels about the other parent that the child or children should not know about it? What do you think of how far Roman and Hayden have come? What do you think Hayden's plans could be? Please review and thank-you for reading.