A/N: Well, I guess I should say that I own Mr. Rosling (although he does not really appear until the end of the chapter). That is, he is my own creation, as well Mr. Peters and Judge O'Connell. As for the rest of them they're not mine, but it's fun to borrow them. I used a lot of foreshadowing in this chapter, proving that you can actually put things you learn in school to good use. Go ahead and review for this chapter, I would enjoy that. However, what I don't want is anyone saying how I am incorrect in some aspect whether legal or medical. I am not a lawyer or a doctor, and I based my writings on information I have picked up on the Internet from seemingly reliable sources. As I said in the previous chapter, I know nothing about anything. Go with that thought as you read the following chapter.

The next day, everyone was up bright and early. Although it was a Friday, no one was going to work or school so that they could show full support for Wilson. The line for the bathroom was almost down the staircase because they all decided to be nice and let Mary go in first. There was no hot water left and the whole house was a little edgy, but they tried as hard as they could to remain levelheaded.

Wilson walked downstairs from the attic bedroom into the upstairs hallway, past the bathroom queue, and into Mary's bedroom. She was looking through the clothes in her closet and didn't even here Wilson come in. Wilson stood in the middle of the room as massive quantities of clothing were flung in his direction, followed by a scream from Mary. She walked away from the clothes and was pleasantly surprised to find Wilson in the room.

"What do you wear to court?" she asked him.

"A dress shirt, dress pants, and a tie," he replied coolly.

"Normally that would be funny, but I'm too stressed out for jokes right now. I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off for ten minutes now."

"Then sit down a take a break. And, no offense or anything, but I doubt you're going to fit into anything in your closet."

"What are you saying, that I'm as big as a beached whale?"

"No, I'm just saying that I think you should go ask your Mom for something to wear."

Mary took Wilson's hand and the two of them walked to the other end of the second floor to her parents' room. Mary knocked on the door and a disheveled Annie opened it.

"Wilson, you look very handsome," she said when she saw him.

"Thank you Mrs. Camden."

"And Mary, here," she said thrusting a garment in her daughter's direction. "Don't forget to put on pantyhose."

"Mom, do I have to?" Mary complained.

"No, you don't have to, but it would be nice."

"Fine, then I'm not wearing them," Mary shot back. "They're too uncomfortable."

Annie rolled her eyes and shut the door as Mary and Wilson walked back down the hall.

"You do look nice," Mary said taking a good look at Wilson.

"Thanks. How did you mother know what you were going to ask her before you even said anything?"

"Haven't you ever heard of Mom ESP?" Mary said with a smile.

Wilson opened the door to the bedroom and started picking up clothes as he entered to make a path to the bed.

"There's no use in trying to clean it," Mary told him. "Lucy's going to be in here in two minutes and when she's done you'll be able to swim in piles of jeans and sweaters."

Mary slipped off her robe and stepped into the jumper her mother had given her. She struggled to find the zipper only to realize she couldn't zipper it herself. Wilson walked up behind her and helped with the predicament, kissing the back of her neck when he was done. Mary turned around and wrapped her arms around Wilson, and he did the same to Mary.

"I have a bad feeling about today," she told him.

"Why? Try to think positive."

"There's nothing positive about this Wilson."

Wilson pulled Mary in tighter and they both held each other for a while.

"I'm so scared," Mary confessed. "I don't want you to leave me. I know you keep telling me you're not, but for some reason I can't seem to believe you."

"Well then what can I do to make you more at ease with everything?"

"Not go today."

"I can't skip out on the trial, they'll arrest me and we won't get the bail money back."

"I know. And I hate to wimp out on you, but I really don't want to do this. I don't have the energy…I'm just so tired. I've never been this tired in all my life."

"Are you OK?"

"I think so. The baby has been kind of restless, though."

Then, as if on queue, the baby kicked. Mary took Wilson's hand and placed it on her stomach so that he too could feel the baby.

"It's amazing, isn't it?" Wilson said to her.

Mary didn't respond, she just pulled Wilson even tighter to her as tears rolled down her face. She kissed Wilson through his shirt as he caressed her stomach. Mary tried to get her mood swing under control as Lucy walked into the room. Lucy was both warmed and saddened when she saw Mary and Wilson together. 

"All right, break it up you two," she said after watching them for a few seconds.

"Sorry Luce," Wilson said, "I'll go so you can get dressed."

Lucy smiled at him. "Thanks."

Wilson walked out of the room and closed the door behind him while Lucy walked over to Mary. She stared at her sister questioningly, and then looked her straight in the eyes.

"Are you OK?" Lucy asked.

"Yeah, I'm just kind of hormonal. " Mary grabbed her dress shoes off the floor and went upstairs to find Wilson without another word to Lucy. As she reached the door, Mary attempted to wipe her eyes dry.

"Come here," Wilson said when he saw her. He pulled her in for a hug and she rested her head on his shoulder. "I feel so bad for you. Is there anything I can do to see you smile?"

"I don't know about smiling. But," she said running her fingers down his arms affectionately, "it would help me if you admitted that something can go wrong. You're overly confident and I don't want you to jinx it or something."

"I know that something could go wrong, that nothing is certain, and that I am being overly confident. I'm not going to leave you, though, and everything will be fine for you."

"If everything's not fine for you nothing will be fine for me. This could be the last morning for two months that can I hold you," Mary squeezed Wilson tighter, "or kiss you," Mary kissed Wilson's lips lightly, "or have you here with me."

Wilson sat down on the bed, bringing Mary down with him. "Let's talk about what you're going to do if I do go to jail."

"I'd sit around and cry for two months, and eventually one day I'll have the baby and then I'll cry even harder that you're not there."

"Is that what this is about? You're afraid I won't be there when you give birth?"

"That's part of it," she answered, "a big part of it."

"Then what's the rest of it? Tell me, I really would like to know."

"I already told you, I don't have a good feeling about today. I just know that something is going to go wrong and I love you so much that I don't want anything to happen to you."

"If, for whatever reason, I do end up going to jail, it's not like you'll be alone. You'll still have your parents, and Lucy, and Simon and Ruthie. They'll take care of you because they love you," Wilson stood up and tweaked Mary's nose, "almost as much as I do."

"I love you, too." Mary said standing up, "That's what makes this so hard for me."

Wilson put his arms around Mary and kissed the top of her head. "I know, I know," he whispered softly to her.

Simon walked to the door, and took note of Mary and Wilson's attire. Mary was dressed in the black jumper her mother gave her, and Wilson was donning black pants and a gray dress shirt. "Who died?" Simon asked, startling the couple.

"What?" Mary said looking up at him condescendingly.

"I was making a joke, since your both wearing black and all. You look like you're going to a funeral."

"Thanks Simon," Mary said rudely.

"Sorry. Anyways, we're leaving. Mom said to tell you that you two are going to be riding in the minivan with her and the rest of us are going to be in the station wagon with Dad."

"Why, does Mom want to talk to me or something?"

"Not that I know of. But we have to take two cards and they don't want the two of you riding alone."

"Thanks Simon," Wilson told him. "We'll be there in 2 minutes."

Simon left and Mary turned to Wilson and sighed heavily. "So this is it, we're really going to court."

"Yeah." Wilson looked around the room nervously. "Something tells me that when we come back up here things will never be the same."

Mary rolled her eyes at Wilson. "You're turning into me." Wilson smiled at her. "Come on, let's go."

In the car en route to the GlenOak courthouse, Mary and Wilson sat in the bucket seats of the hunter green Dodge Caravan as Mrs. Camden escorted them to their destination. The young couple held hands tightly, pressing their sweaty palms together as Annie attempted to make some small talk.

"Are you nervous?" she asked to no one in particular.

"Yes," Mary answered plainly.

"I'm sure everything will be just fine," Annie Camden said like only she could. She used her sweet tone of voice, making her statement loose all of its power.

"And what if it's not?" Mary asked. "What then?"

"I…uh…" Annie didn't know how to respond to that. Everyone had just assumed that Mary and Wilson would take care of the baby together and with a little help from the rest of the family things would just work themselves out. Now that Wilson faced the possibility of being gone for a considerable amount of time, not one Camden knew what was going to happen.

Mary put a hand on her stomach and looked over at Wilson. He mouthed the words "I love you" to her and she smiled. Still seven minutes away from the courthouse, Mary leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes tightly. Inside her head, an image played of Wilson being handcuffed and taken away from her. It wasn't the mental picture she had taken when Wilson was arrested the first time, this was a new one, and this was what Mary was afraid would happen at the trial today. Mary's fear was so strong that she could paint a picture of it in her mind told her something- that she was getting some sort of a prophetic insight into the future of her beloved. She opened her eyes, not wanting to look at the horrific scene a second longer, and looked at Wilson as tears formed in her eyes and her soul wept. Wilson put his arm around Mary, but this didn't seem to help her at all. She needed some way to release all of this fear and anxiety, a diversion from the present maybe. Unfortunately, Mary didn't think she was going to get one.

They finally arrived at court and pulled into the parking spot adjacent to the light blue station wagon. Mary, Wilson, and Annie filed out of the van and joined the rest of the Camdens and Mr. Rosling.

"Annie, so good to see you," Mr. Rosling said prior to speaking with the two people he was really concerned with. "Mary, Wilson, how are you guys doing?"

"We're a little shaky," Wilson replied earnestly.

"Oh, that comes with the territory." Mr. Rosling looked at Mary oddly. "Mary, are you feeling OK? You look a little pale to me. Do you want to sit down?"

"I'm…I'm fine. Just a little scared."

"What's the matter? Don't you trust me?" he said teasingly.

Mary smiled and Wilson wrapped his arm around her. "Are you sure everything is OK?" he whispered into her ear.

Mary nodded. "Don't worry about me. You just take care of yourself."

"That's not possible. I worry about you constantly."

"Oh do you?" Mary asked slyly.

Wilson kissed Mary's cheek in front of everyone and she blushed. No matter how much she loved him, she would never be fully comfortable with things like that.

After that, everyone walked inside and got themselves situated, putting their jackets on the back of their chairs and trying to remain as calm as possible. Mary and Wilson ducked off to a secluded spot near the payphones for a last minute conversation.

"Are you feeling any better about this?" Wilson asked.

"Not really, but I'm trying I really am," Mary said. "Do me one last favor before we go inside?"

"Anything."

"Hold me," she said getting closer to him. Wilson placed his arms around Mary one last time and she cried on his shoulder. "I'm sorry if I'm making you more nervous, but I can't help feeling this way."

"You go ahead and feel anyway you want to," Wilson said trying to level with pregnant Mary. "Just don't let your emotions get you so wound up that you go crazy."

"Isn't it to late for that?" she said with a sniffle.

Wilson smiled at her. He took her hand and the two of them walked over to the courtroom and stepped inside. Mary was taken aback by the setting. It was just like a set from a movie. There were dark mahogany walls, floors, chairs, everything. Even the area for the judge and the witness were made from a dark colored, rich wood. The trial was to begin in approximately three minutes, and Mary took her seat with her family as Wilson walked through the swinging doors and over to the defense area.

Mary sat down next to Lucy and tried her hardest to keep from crying.  As soon as she sat, Lucy picked up her hand.

"Don't worry," she said to her big sister. "If you can't have Wilson, why not have the next best thing?"

Mary smiled widely. "Thanks Luce."

Mary settled in her chair, trying to find a comfortable position. The bailiff walked out from a door in the far corner of the room and the entire place went quiet. "All rise, the honorable Judge O'Connell is presiding."

Everyone stood up, Mary following suit, as a short woman with red hair walked out and up to her space at the front of the room.

"You may be seated," she said after she herself had sat down.

"This is case number 1506, the city of GlenOak versus Wilson West. Mr. West, how do you plead?"

Wilson stood up slowly and carefully. "Innocent your honor."

"Very well. Does the prosecution have any opening statements?"

"No your Honor," said the prosecuting attorney, a man who appeared to be in his early to mid thirties. He had broad shoulders, dishwater blond hair, and blue-green eyes. Even Mary had to admit that he was a very attractive man.

"Ok Mr. Peters. Does the defense have any opening statements?"

"No you Honor," Mr. Rosling said.

"All right. Prosecution, you may call your first witness."

"For it's first witness, the prosecution would like to call Mr. Wilson West to the stand."

Mary's heart immediately went to her throat as she heard his name being called. She squeezed Lucy's hand tightly and felt like she was in a fog. The only thing that she could hear was Simon mentioning something about "pleading the fifth", the meaning of which Mary was uncertain, as Wilson made his way over to where the bailiff was standing.

He placed his hand on the Bible and Mary cringed, hoping he would not lie in front of God.

"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?" the bailiff rattled off like he must have done a thousand times before.

"I do."

As Wilson sat down, Mary experienced a sharp, stabbing pain in her stomach. She grabbed it quickly, attempting to breath through the pain. Lucy saw what she was doing and looked at her.

"Are you OK?"

Annie turned and looked at Mary as well. "Mary?" she asked compassionately.

"I'm fine now," she answered truthfully as the pain began to subside.

"Mr. West…" the prosecutor, Mr. Peters, started. "Is it true that you has sexual intercourse with Miss Camden on May 17, 1998?"

"Yes."

"And how old were you at the time?"

"Eighteen."

"And how old was your partner?"

"Mary was 15."

"Were you aware of her age at the time of intercourse?"

"Yes."

"Do you know what statutory rape is?"

"Now I do…before I had sort of a vague definition of it in my head."

"What did you think it was before?"

"I wasn't really all that sure. They only thing I was certain of is that it had to do with sex."

"No further questions you Honor," Mr. Peters said sitting down.

"Would the defense care to cross-examine the witness?"

"Yes your Honor," Mr. Rosling said. He walked over to Wilson and smiled. "Mr. West, were you aware that what you were doing was wrong?"

"At the time, no."

"So, tell me about your relationship with Miss Camden."

"Um, Mary and I have been dating for over a year now on and off again, at least 8 months steady now. I live in her house with her parents and brother and sisters."

"How do you feel about Mary?"

"I love her with all of my heart."

"Did your relationship change after you had sex?"

"Yes. I don't see how it would not."

"Would you say it changed for better or worse?"

"For the better. We're much closer now."

"Did you talk about having sex before you both went ahead and did it?"

"Yes, a little bit. We never really discussed what we would do if she got pregnant though."

"And what are you doing?"

"Well, I'm working and staying in school. I have a full scholarship to Crawford University. Mary is staying in school, too, but she has stopped for now because she is so far along. Mrs. Camden, Mary's mother, helped us put together a savings plan, and we're putting money aside so that we can take care of the baby when the time comes. "

"No further question your honor," Mr. Rosling said as he winked at Wilson and made his way back to his seat.

As Mary watched Wilson walk back to the defendant's chair, her stomach started to hurt again. This time, the pain was a little more intense. She grabbed her stomach quickly once more and Annie quickly noticed her daughter's frazzled state.

"Is everything all right?"

"I'm fine," Mary insisted, "really."

"For it's next witness, the prosecution calls Miss Mary Camden to the stand."

The entire Camden family, Wilson, and Mr. Rosling turned to face Mary, which didn't make her feel any better about having to testify. As she made the walk up to the stand and got sworn in, Wilson smiled widely at Mary. Her heart melted and she lost the ability to concentrate on anything going on around her. The prosecutor walked back and forth in front of her as a form of intimidation, and that caught her attention.

"Miss Camden…was Mr. West correct in saying that he was 18 and you 15 when you had intercourse?"

"Yes," she answered meekly.

"And that event resulted in an unplanned pregnant?"

"Yes."

"Were you sexually active prior to this act?"

"No."

"Did Mr. West pressure you into taking this next step in your relationship?"

"No, not at all. It was both of our decision."

"Have you had sex with him after May 17th?"

"Objection your Honor," Mr. Rosling said standing up. "That question is irrelevant."

"Sustained," said Judge O'Connell.

Mr. Peters looked disdainfully at Mr. Rosling. Just for that, the gloves were coming off. "Miss Camden, is it true that Mr. West already had a son from a previous relationship?"

Mary looked down at the floor. "Yes."

"Tell me what you know about that."

"Um, Wilson got this other woman pregnant. Then he married her, and she died giving birth to Billy. He raised him until about 7 months ago when his parents took him because they found out I was pregnant. Now they have custody over him." Mary smiled. "He was such a great father…he really likes kids."

"So you are saying that once you give birth Wilson would have fathered two children by age 18?"

Mary thought for a second before responding. This was not going like they planned. "Yes."

"Do you find that acceptable?"

Mary swallowed hard. "No."

"Does a good person in today's society father two children by age 18?"

Mary avoided eye contact with everyone as she thought up a good enough answer. The last thing she wanted to do was mess this up for Wilson. "Generally, no, but that is not the case with Wilson. He…" Mary stopped mid-sentence and grabbed her stomach once more, silenced by the pain. She closed her eyes tightly and started panting, finally giving into the notion that something could be wrong with her. "He…" Mary didn't have the strength to continue her sentence. The whole courtroom stared at her questioningly, awaiting her response.

"Please continue Miss Camden," Judge O'Connell said.

"He's…he's…" Tears started to roll down Mary's cheeks. "I'm sorry I can't, I'm in too much pain- my stomach and my back."

"How far along are you Mary?" the judge asked her.

"Seven months and a week."

"In that case, in my expert opinion as a mother of three myself, I would say that you're going into labor."

"What?!" Wilson screamed.

"Are your parents here sweetheart?"

Annie stood up. "I'm her mother your Honor."

"Good, good. I would take her to the hospital if I were you."

Mary looked up at Wilson as her stomach calmed down a little bit. He saw the look of utter terror and disbelief in her eyes, and all he wanted to do was run over to her and hold her in his arms. Annie went over to Mary and got her down from the stand, helping her walk out of the room. As Mary passed Wilson, she reached her hand out to him and briefly ran her fingers over his soft skin. They walked out of the courtroom with Lucy and Ruthie under Annie's wing after muttering a few words to Eric.

Wilson slumped back into his chair as the door closed behind the Camden women. "Seven months?" Wilson said to himself quietly. "She's early. Why is she so early?"

"Your Honor," Mr. Peters said, "with all due respect, you can't just let my witness go like that. She was crucial to my case."

"How many children have you given birth to?" she asked him.

"Well, none, but-"

"No 'buts' Mr. Peters. You are in my courtroom and we play by my rules."

Mr. Rosling stood up and approached Judge O'Connell. "Your Honor, the defense would like to ask for a recess."

Judge O'Connell pondered the request. "Normally, I would allow that, but that would just make it harder on yourself. Mr. West would just have to come back another day for what seems to be, in my opinion, an open and shut case. So, if we get through this as quickly as possible, I don't think you'll miss much."

"She was right…I am going to miss the birth of our child," Wilson thought sadly. "Great, just great."

A/N: I am restating this one more time so that there is no confusion:

I am not a lawyer or a doctor, and I based my writings on information I have picked up on the Internet from seemingly reliable sources. As I said in the previous chapter, I know nothing about anything.