Stolen Innocence
Epilogue
Posted: June 4, 2004
Disclaimer: see previous parts.
Author's notes: Well, here is the very last installment of Stolen Innocnece. If you have not yet fulfilled your daily quotient of Ashleigh- ness, then check out A Day With Daddy, and Other Short Stories if you have yet to. I am currently in the writing stages of a story about Buffy's daughter, though that won't be done for some time. Please check out other stories of mine, if you have yet to. If you are looking for kid-ish fics, try Divine Interference, with Buffy's baby daughter, named Dawn, or Is Daddy an Angel, a story about Buffy's trials to get her kidnapped daughter back, named Kathy.
That's about all I have to say, I know this is more of a plug for my other stories, but in my world, fanfic and reviews are what makes the world go round.
I also just want to thank you all for sitting down and taking the time to read this. I am very proud of this story, and I hope that you enjoyed it. I also want to thank all of you that have reviewed the last chapter, because when I really needed them, you were there to give them to me! Thanks!
Reader Responses:
agno3singer: I'm glad you liked it. And let me just say, if Spike gets anything or not, that will be another story, that you probably won't get out of my muse without strangling her. She doesn't really like to put the good Spike in a good light. Now, Evil Spike, that's another story... About the hide/side part, I'm not exactly sure what you're talking about, but thanks for brining it to my attention. Eventually, I'll go check out what you mean.
Thanks for reviewing, and more than that, reading!!
Five by Five: You read the whole thing in one day? I know that it's probably not that hard, this isn't that long, but...wow! Thanks! And I'm glad you thought I kept everything pretty much in character and whatnot. I was really worried about how to get everyone in there, especially Xander and Willow, my two favoritest characters two write, besides Dru. Sadly, she just didn't fit into this story, but oh well.
And about the swearing, if you're talking about Angel and his...'f bomb', or whatever you want to cal it either last chapter, or the chapter before, then, yeah, it might have been over the top, but I felt it was necessary. He was majorly stressed, you know?
Thanks so much for your long review!
Gigil13: Thank you for reading. I'm glad you liked this story, and the Day with Daddy stuff. And I just want to point out, as long as there are readers, I will keep producing the highest quality stuff I can.
Willow Fireheart: Thanks. Like I've said before, I'm really happy with this story. And I'm so happy that Angel is human as well. I knew that it was going to happen, but I had a hard time coming up with HOW.
Ok, what's with the people pouting about Spike? Yes, he deserves someone, everyone does, but can we just say YAY! for Buffy and Angel first? Ok, so maybe all of you have, but still...I think that someone should curse Dru with a soul, and then she and Spike cane be together. I love her crazy ass-ness!
And yes, teachers at the ultimate of evils, even worse than demons and vampires. We have to read The Adventures of Huck Finn in like...less than two weeks. It sucks. First I should start reading it, though...sigh
Thanks for your review!!!
BAShipper: Thanks for your review. I know you've been here since the first chapter. Did I forget to mention your, may I say, LOVELY screen name in my rant about people not reviewing? Sorry bout that. You are a good reader, and good reviewer. Everyone is! And another sad vote for Spike. I should keep track of this!
Thanks for reviewing!
Thanks so much for reading, and here is the last instalment of Stolen Innocence to wrap everything up!
EPILOGUE:
"All rise. The Honorable Judge McKinley presiding." The judge walked into the room, his gown flapping around him.
He squeezed her hand comfortingly, as she took a shaky breath, This was it.
"Your honor, we come before you today to agree upon the custody of the minor Ashleigh Melinda Summers," Charles addressed the judge.
"You realize, councilor, that you are taking on one of the largest, and prestigious law firm in the country, correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then you may proceed."
PAGE BREAK
(I still haven't gone and emailed ff.net about this problem!! I want my page separators back!!!)
"Miss Jones, why did you hand over the custody of your child of one and a half years of age to your employers?" Charles asked, with a confident air about him.
"They, ah, threatened me," was her response.
"How so?"
"They said Hank, my boyfriend at the time, and Ashleigh's father, and I would loose our jobs if we didn't comply."
"There was an investigation going on at the time, correct?"
"Yes. Ashleigh had...gone missing, and we were under suspicion for being neglective parents."
"Who found Ashleigh?"
"Holland Manors."
"And did you know Mr. Manors before he found your daughter?"
"Yes, he was Hank's boss. He ran the department we both worked in."
"Thank you. No further questions, your Honor." He walked to their table, taking a seat.
"Miss Jones, how did Ashleigh get out of your third story apartment?" the other lawyer asked, standing.
"I-I was in the shower, and Hank was working late."
"So she was unattended, for say, half an hour?"
"No, more like five minutes."
"But she was left unattended, correct?"
"Yes," she hung her head, "but-"
"Would you say that by having the qualified team at Wolfram and Hart raise your child, she would no longer be left unattended?" he interrupted her.
"I'm not a bad mother. I just want what's best for her. That's all any mother wants, for her child."
"Are you saying that by handing the legal guardianship of your daughter over to Wolfram and Hart, that is what's best for your child?"
"That's what I thought at the time, yes."
"No further questions, your Honor." The lawyer sat down, smug.
"Does the plaintive have any more testimony?" the judge asked.
"Yes, your Honor. We would like to call Miss Buffy Summers to the stand."
He squeezed her hand as she stood. She walked up to the stand, head up high, and sat down, back straight.
"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"
"Yes," she nodded.
"Miss Summers, what is your relationship to the minor in question?"
"I am Ashleigh's half sister, by our father," she answered.
"How long have you known about the minor?"
"Her name is Ashleigh!" she said harshly, then composed herself, "I've known about my sister for about four months now."
"And why do you seek custody?"
"She deserves to be with the people who love her, not a large corporation who had many children already in their care." She was still bitter that they hadn't been able to get all of the children away from the firm, though a few had gone home.
"How did you first gain knowledge of your sister?"
"I learned of her through my other sister. She was visiting my ex, and helping him organize files."
"Thank you. No further questions, you Honor."
"Miss Summers, is it true that you kidnapped the minor in question, from her legal guardians?"
"Yes."
"And what is your current occupation?"
"I recruit members for a prestigious company in England."
"And what would the name of this prestigious company be?"
"It's really a non profit organization, almost older than your law firm. The organization is called the Council of Watchers. We have over 5,000 members currently, spread across the globe."
"You used to go to Hemery high school, did you not?" "Yes, for my freshman year, and the first three semesters of my sophomore year."
"You were kicked out of Hemery, correct?"
"Objection, your Honor. What does this have to do with the topic at hand?" Charles stood from his seat.
"I mean to prove the capability of the witness, in raising a child," the lawyer looked at the judge.
"Proceed."
"Yes, I was expelled from Hemery," she knew the next question.
"Yes, and you were suspect in the murder of another teen, on the grounds of Sunnydale High School, correct?"
"Kendra, a dear friend. Yes, because I was found leaning over her body. They never found the weapon, nor the murderer, and I was never accused."
"And you were expelled from Sunnydale High School that same year, correct?"
She sighed, "Yes. My ex-boyfriend was on a killing spree, and I was too busy trying to stop him to jump through the hoops the principal at the time wished me to. It didn't help that my mentor and best friends were attacked, one had his arm broken, one ended up with a serious concussion, one was kidnapped, and one of my close friends, a teacher at school, was murdered in the upstairs hallway. Oh, and the principal was an impotent nazi with a bug up his butt the size of an emu." A snigger came from the back of the courtroom.
"You were a missing person for three months, were you not?"
"Yes. I loved my boyfriend, with my heart and soul, and when he decided to try and kill me and my friends for sport, after killing him in self defense, being expelled from school, and being told by my mother she never wanted to see me again, that little hell hole of a town really didn't have much going for it."
"And at your graduation, the principal, mayor, and many guest and students went missing, and the school was," he paused for dramatic effect, "blown up, correct?"
"Yes, after I came home, on my own free will, enrolled in school once more, passed all my make up exams, got a 1460 on my SATS, graduated with my class- "
"Just answer the question!"
"Yes, the mayor, principal and many of the attending student and adults went missing, and the school was blown up. But if you are trying to accuse me of that, you have no proof."
"You also dropped out of college, did you not?"
"Because-"
"Yes or no, Miss Summers. Did you drop out of college?"
"Yes." Her eyes smoldered dangerously.
"Then why do you feel you are capable of raising a child?"
"Do you promise to let me finish my answer, without interrupting?" she snapped back.
"Miss, just answer the question," the judge stepped in.
"I feel I am not only capable, but entitled to raise my sister because each and every point in my life that you've mentioned, the worst points in a list of many good times, all have explanations. During Hemery, my parents had recently gotten a divorce, and I wasn't handling it well. At that dance, a rival school broke into our school, tried to seriously hurt our sports teams, and rape our cheerleaders.
"Kendra was my dear friend, and I had left her, when I went to deal with my boyfriend, with my two best friends, among others, so I could try and talk my ex-boyfriend from murdering the whole town. When I finally got something out of him that wasn't half-cryptic, he told me he had already sent his boys to kill her, and my other friends.
"I already told you my explanation of why I ran away. The short version is, my mother found out I had slept with my boyfriend, and he was a mass murderer. She told me, literally, if I left that house, which I needed to, to save the world, yet again, she never wanted to see me again.
"I came back from LA, after helping a girl get back on her feet, and away from her abusive boyfriend," she sent a prayer up to Ricky, "and her life on the streets, and she currently runs a homeless shelter, right here in LA.
"I was allowed back in school, and I passed all of my make up exams. I was later awarded the award of Class Protector at Prom, for my community service helping battered teens at school.
"I dropped out of college when we found out my mother had a brain tumor, and she died unexpectedly, to raise you younger sister, then 15.
"In 2003, I was given a counselor job at the new Sunnydale high school, despite that I had yet to graduate college. I saved a young woman, named Cassie, from an attempted murder, only to have her die in my arms from an unexpected heart complication.
"When the previous Council of Watchers was blown up that same year, I took in over 20 girls from all over the world that was under the Council's protection, to protect them from a heinous and needless death by the same psychopath that had murdered their families and mentors.
"Why do I feel I deserve to raise my own sister? Beside the fact that I'm family, and I have her mother's blessing. Besides the fact of the condition that I found her in because your hired hit men harmed 20 of the girls still under my care, shot my fiancé three times, murdered two girls, harmed my other sister, shot me right in front of her, and kidnapped her from the only loving people she had ever known, how about the stories she told me, after I rescued her? About being locked in a small, white, concrete room, with nothing but a bed, with white sheets, only being allowed to use the bathroom three times a day, only getting two meals, that weren't even nutritious, how about the fact that the man put in charge of her molested her?" There was a collective gasp from the courtroom, "Why do I deserve custody of my sister? Besides loving her unconditionally, giving her a life where she can be just a normal kid, with normal parents, I would never hurt her. I would kill myself before thinking about harming her. And trust me, I've died twice, I know the risks by now."
Even the lawyer seemed shocked as he told the judge, "N-No further questions, your Honor."
As Buffy stepped from the stand, the courtroom burst into chaos. Amidst it all, she sat down beside him, and he took her hand into his lap.
"ORDER! ORDER!' the judge slammed his gavel down. He waited for silence before continuing, "I call a three hour recess. I would like to see Ashleigh Summers in my chambers immediately. Court is dismissed."
"Sir!" Buffy rushed up to the bench, "Ashleigh is petrified of being alone with a man. She is even uneasy around my fiancé, whom she was enamored with before Wolfram and Hart kidnapped her."
"Very well, Miss Summers. You will be allowed to stay, as long as you don't inhibit the child in any way."
"Thank you, your Honor." She nodded, and rushed out to collect Ashleigh.
PAGE BREAK
"After hearing the testimony, and speaking to the child in question, I find for the plaintiff," he hit his gavel on his bench.
"Court is dismissed." The bailiff started.
Buffy and Angel sat there in stunned silence for all of two seconds. Then they were up and hugging each other, kissing each other, and Angel even picked Buffy up and swung her around. Buffy kissed Gunn's cheek. And then Dawn, Faith, Willow, Xander, and Wesley were over the barrier, hugging and kissing each other. With Wolfram and Hart's track record, and not knowing of Ashleigh's abuse, they had never expected to win, no matter their testimony.
And then Amanda brought Ashleigh over, and Buffy scooped her up into her arms. Her real mother came over and congratulated them. She and Hank had broken up soon after Ashleigh had been taken, and she knew she couldn't raise a child on her own. And working for Wolfram and Hart, she knew many of the things that went bump in the night, and knew Buffy would take care of her baby girl. Angel, now that Wolfram and Hart was cut off from their Senior Partners, was trying to repair the firm. He wanted Alicia to come and work at the LA branch, and she was trying to transfer over.
"Does this mean I'm going to live with you?" the girl asked her oldest sister.
"Well, that's what you wanted, right?" Ashleigh nodded, "Good." Ashleigh hesitated a moment, before leaning towards Angel, holding her arms out to him. He took her.
"You're too big to pick up," he teased.
"No, I'm just the right size," she smiled at him, "C-Could we go home now?"
"Of course," Buffy smiled, "Party at our house, and even one eyed wise crackers are invited," Buffy laughed, as she let Xander bear hug her. He picked her up and she squeaked, making everyone laugh.
Everyone started towards the exit, Dawn and Faith lagging a behind a bit. Walking and using her ankle had done more damage than Dawn could have imagined, and she still had a slight limp.
"I don't think I've ever seen B so happy."
"Not since before demons and darkness and death,"Dawn agreed.
"Job well done," Faith held up her hand, and Dawn gave her a high five.
"What are you two planning back there?" Buffy called, from where she was waiting for them, by the doors.
"Nothing, B," Faith said with a straight face.
"If her new mantra is want, take, have, I will so kick your ass," Buffy said as they caught up with her, "We already went through that phase."
"B-uffy!" Dawn moaned, as the two older women laughed.
"Come on, Buffy! Hurry up!" Ashleigh called, still in Angel's arms, from where the gang was waiting at the end of the hall.
"I'm coming girly!" She called, jogging to catch up to her new family.
END
Epilogue
Posted: June 4, 2004
Disclaimer: see previous parts.
Author's notes: Well, here is the very last installment of Stolen Innocnece. If you have not yet fulfilled your daily quotient of Ashleigh- ness, then check out A Day With Daddy, and Other Short Stories if you have yet to. I am currently in the writing stages of a story about Buffy's daughter, though that won't be done for some time. Please check out other stories of mine, if you have yet to. If you are looking for kid-ish fics, try Divine Interference, with Buffy's baby daughter, named Dawn, or Is Daddy an Angel, a story about Buffy's trials to get her kidnapped daughter back, named Kathy.
That's about all I have to say, I know this is more of a plug for my other stories, but in my world, fanfic and reviews are what makes the world go round.
I also just want to thank you all for sitting down and taking the time to read this. I am very proud of this story, and I hope that you enjoyed it. I also want to thank all of you that have reviewed the last chapter, because when I really needed them, you were there to give them to me! Thanks!
Reader Responses:
agno3singer: I'm glad you liked it. And let me just say, if Spike gets anything or not, that will be another story, that you probably won't get out of my muse without strangling her. She doesn't really like to put the good Spike in a good light. Now, Evil Spike, that's another story... About the hide/side part, I'm not exactly sure what you're talking about, but thanks for brining it to my attention. Eventually, I'll go check out what you mean.
Thanks for reviewing, and more than that, reading!!
Five by Five: You read the whole thing in one day? I know that it's probably not that hard, this isn't that long, but...wow! Thanks! And I'm glad you thought I kept everything pretty much in character and whatnot. I was really worried about how to get everyone in there, especially Xander and Willow, my two favoritest characters two write, besides Dru. Sadly, she just didn't fit into this story, but oh well.
And about the swearing, if you're talking about Angel and his...'f bomb', or whatever you want to cal it either last chapter, or the chapter before, then, yeah, it might have been over the top, but I felt it was necessary. He was majorly stressed, you know?
Thanks so much for your long review!
Gigil13: Thank you for reading. I'm glad you liked this story, and the Day with Daddy stuff. And I just want to point out, as long as there are readers, I will keep producing the highest quality stuff I can.
Willow Fireheart: Thanks. Like I've said before, I'm really happy with this story. And I'm so happy that Angel is human as well. I knew that it was going to happen, but I had a hard time coming up with HOW.
Ok, what's with the people pouting about Spike? Yes, he deserves someone, everyone does, but can we just say YAY! for Buffy and Angel first? Ok, so maybe all of you have, but still...I think that someone should curse Dru with a soul, and then she and Spike cane be together. I love her crazy ass-ness!
And yes, teachers at the ultimate of evils, even worse than demons and vampires. We have to read The Adventures of Huck Finn in like...less than two weeks. It sucks. First I should start reading it, though...sigh
Thanks for your review!!!
BAShipper: Thanks for your review. I know you've been here since the first chapter. Did I forget to mention your, may I say, LOVELY screen name in my rant about people not reviewing? Sorry bout that. You are a good reader, and good reviewer. Everyone is! And another sad vote for Spike. I should keep track of this!
Thanks for reviewing!
Thanks so much for reading, and here is the last instalment of Stolen Innocence to wrap everything up!
EPILOGUE:
"All rise. The Honorable Judge McKinley presiding." The judge walked into the room, his gown flapping around him.
He squeezed her hand comfortingly, as she took a shaky breath, This was it.
"Your honor, we come before you today to agree upon the custody of the minor Ashleigh Melinda Summers," Charles addressed the judge.
"You realize, councilor, that you are taking on one of the largest, and prestigious law firm in the country, correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then you may proceed."
PAGE BREAK
(I still haven't gone and emailed ff.net about this problem!! I want my page separators back!!!)
"Miss Jones, why did you hand over the custody of your child of one and a half years of age to your employers?" Charles asked, with a confident air about him.
"They, ah, threatened me," was her response.
"How so?"
"They said Hank, my boyfriend at the time, and Ashleigh's father, and I would loose our jobs if we didn't comply."
"There was an investigation going on at the time, correct?"
"Yes. Ashleigh had...gone missing, and we were under suspicion for being neglective parents."
"Who found Ashleigh?"
"Holland Manors."
"And did you know Mr. Manors before he found your daughter?"
"Yes, he was Hank's boss. He ran the department we both worked in."
"Thank you. No further questions, your Honor." He walked to their table, taking a seat.
"Miss Jones, how did Ashleigh get out of your third story apartment?" the other lawyer asked, standing.
"I-I was in the shower, and Hank was working late."
"So she was unattended, for say, half an hour?"
"No, more like five minutes."
"But she was left unattended, correct?"
"Yes," she hung her head, "but-"
"Would you say that by having the qualified team at Wolfram and Hart raise your child, she would no longer be left unattended?" he interrupted her.
"I'm not a bad mother. I just want what's best for her. That's all any mother wants, for her child."
"Are you saying that by handing the legal guardianship of your daughter over to Wolfram and Hart, that is what's best for your child?"
"That's what I thought at the time, yes."
"No further questions, your Honor." The lawyer sat down, smug.
"Does the plaintive have any more testimony?" the judge asked.
"Yes, your Honor. We would like to call Miss Buffy Summers to the stand."
He squeezed her hand as she stood. She walked up to the stand, head up high, and sat down, back straight.
"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"
"Yes," she nodded.
"Miss Summers, what is your relationship to the minor in question?"
"I am Ashleigh's half sister, by our father," she answered.
"How long have you known about the minor?"
"Her name is Ashleigh!" she said harshly, then composed herself, "I've known about my sister for about four months now."
"And why do you seek custody?"
"She deserves to be with the people who love her, not a large corporation who had many children already in their care." She was still bitter that they hadn't been able to get all of the children away from the firm, though a few had gone home.
"How did you first gain knowledge of your sister?"
"I learned of her through my other sister. She was visiting my ex, and helping him organize files."
"Thank you. No further questions, you Honor."
"Miss Summers, is it true that you kidnapped the minor in question, from her legal guardians?"
"Yes."
"And what is your current occupation?"
"I recruit members for a prestigious company in England."
"And what would the name of this prestigious company be?"
"It's really a non profit organization, almost older than your law firm. The organization is called the Council of Watchers. We have over 5,000 members currently, spread across the globe."
"You used to go to Hemery high school, did you not?" "Yes, for my freshman year, and the first three semesters of my sophomore year."
"You were kicked out of Hemery, correct?"
"Objection, your Honor. What does this have to do with the topic at hand?" Charles stood from his seat.
"I mean to prove the capability of the witness, in raising a child," the lawyer looked at the judge.
"Proceed."
"Yes, I was expelled from Hemery," she knew the next question.
"Yes, and you were suspect in the murder of another teen, on the grounds of Sunnydale High School, correct?"
"Kendra, a dear friend. Yes, because I was found leaning over her body. They never found the weapon, nor the murderer, and I was never accused."
"And you were expelled from Sunnydale High School that same year, correct?"
She sighed, "Yes. My ex-boyfriend was on a killing spree, and I was too busy trying to stop him to jump through the hoops the principal at the time wished me to. It didn't help that my mentor and best friends were attacked, one had his arm broken, one ended up with a serious concussion, one was kidnapped, and one of my close friends, a teacher at school, was murdered in the upstairs hallway. Oh, and the principal was an impotent nazi with a bug up his butt the size of an emu." A snigger came from the back of the courtroom.
"You were a missing person for three months, were you not?"
"Yes. I loved my boyfriend, with my heart and soul, and when he decided to try and kill me and my friends for sport, after killing him in self defense, being expelled from school, and being told by my mother she never wanted to see me again, that little hell hole of a town really didn't have much going for it."
"And at your graduation, the principal, mayor, and many guest and students went missing, and the school was," he paused for dramatic effect, "blown up, correct?"
"Yes, after I came home, on my own free will, enrolled in school once more, passed all my make up exams, got a 1460 on my SATS, graduated with my class- "
"Just answer the question!"
"Yes, the mayor, principal and many of the attending student and adults went missing, and the school was blown up. But if you are trying to accuse me of that, you have no proof."
"You also dropped out of college, did you not?"
"Because-"
"Yes or no, Miss Summers. Did you drop out of college?"
"Yes." Her eyes smoldered dangerously.
"Then why do you feel you are capable of raising a child?"
"Do you promise to let me finish my answer, without interrupting?" she snapped back.
"Miss, just answer the question," the judge stepped in.
"I feel I am not only capable, but entitled to raise my sister because each and every point in my life that you've mentioned, the worst points in a list of many good times, all have explanations. During Hemery, my parents had recently gotten a divorce, and I wasn't handling it well. At that dance, a rival school broke into our school, tried to seriously hurt our sports teams, and rape our cheerleaders.
"Kendra was my dear friend, and I had left her, when I went to deal with my boyfriend, with my two best friends, among others, so I could try and talk my ex-boyfriend from murdering the whole town. When I finally got something out of him that wasn't half-cryptic, he told me he had already sent his boys to kill her, and my other friends.
"I already told you my explanation of why I ran away. The short version is, my mother found out I had slept with my boyfriend, and he was a mass murderer. She told me, literally, if I left that house, which I needed to, to save the world, yet again, she never wanted to see me again.
"I came back from LA, after helping a girl get back on her feet, and away from her abusive boyfriend," she sent a prayer up to Ricky, "and her life on the streets, and she currently runs a homeless shelter, right here in LA.
"I was allowed back in school, and I passed all of my make up exams. I was later awarded the award of Class Protector at Prom, for my community service helping battered teens at school.
"I dropped out of college when we found out my mother had a brain tumor, and she died unexpectedly, to raise you younger sister, then 15.
"In 2003, I was given a counselor job at the new Sunnydale high school, despite that I had yet to graduate college. I saved a young woman, named Cassie, from an attempted murder, only to have her die in my arms from an unexpected heart complication.
"When the previous Council of Watchers was blown up that same year, I took in over 20 girls from all over the world that was under the Council's protection, to protect them from a heinous and needless death by the same psychopath that had murdered their families and mentors.
"Why do I feel I deserve to raise my own sister? Beside the fact that I'm family, and I have her mother's blessing. Besides the fact of the condition that I found her in because your hired hit men harmed 20 of the girls still under my care, shot my fiancé three times, murdered two girls, harmed my other sister, shot me right in front of her, and kidnapped her from the only loving people she had ever known, how about the stories she told me, after I rescued her? About being locked in a small, white, concrete room, with nothing but a bed, with white sheets, only being allowed to use the bathroom three times a day, only getting two meals, that weren't even nutritious, how about the fact that the man put in charge of her molested her?" There was a collective gasp from the courtroom, "Why do I deserve custody of my sister? Besides loving her unconditionally, giving her a life where she can be just a normal kid, with normal parents, I would never hurt her. I would kill myself before thinking about harming her. And trust me, I've died twice, I know the risks by now."
Even the lawyer seemed shocked as he told the judge, "N-No further questions, your Honor."
As Buffy stepped from the stand, the courtroom burst into chaos. Amidst it all, she sat down beside him, and he took her hand into his lap.
"ORDER! ORDER!' the judge slammed his gavel down. He waited for silence before continuing, "I call a three hour recess. I would like to see Ashleigh Summers in my chambers immediately. Court is dismissed."
"Sir!" Buffy rushed up to the bench, "Ashleigh is petrified of being alone with a man. She is even uneasy around my fiancé, whom she was enamored with before Wolfram and Hart kidnapped her."
"Very well, Miss Summers. You will be allowed to stay, as long as you don't inhibit the child in any way."
"Thank you, your Honor." She nodded, and rushed out to collect Ashleigh.
PAGE BREAK
"After hearing the testimony, and speaking to the child in question, I find for the plaintiff," he hit his gavel on his bench.
"Court is dismissed." The bailiff started.
Buffy and Angel sat there in stunned silence for all of two seconds. Then they were up and hugging each other, kissing each other, and Angel even picked Buffy up and swung her around. Buffy kissed Gunn's cheek. And then Dawn, Faith, Willow, Xander, and Wesley were over the barrier, hugging and kissing each other. With Wolfram and Hart's track record, and not knowing of Ashleigh's abuse, they had never expected to win, no matter their testimony.
And then Amanda brought Ashleigh over, and Buffy scooped her up into her arms. Her real mother came over and congratulated them. She and Hank had broken up soon after Ashleigh had been taken, and she knew she couldn't raise a child on her own. And working for Wolfram and Hart, she knew many of the things that went bump in the night, and knew Buffy would take care of her baby girl. Angel, now that Wolfram and Hart was cut off from their Senior Partners, was trying to repair the firm. He wanted Alicia to come and work at the LA branch, and she was trying to transfer over.
"Does this mean I'm going to live with you?" the girl asked her oldest sister.
"Well, that's what you wanted, right?" Ashleigh nodded, "Good." Ashleigh hesitated a moment, before leaning towards Angel, holding her arms out to him. He took her.
"You're too big to pick up," he teased.
"No, I'm just the right size," she smiled at him, "C-Could we go home now?"
"Of course," Buffy smiled, "Party at our house, and even one eyed wise crackers are invited," Buffy laughed, as she let Xander bear hug her. He picked her up and she squeaked, making everyone laugh.
Everyone started towards the exit, Dawn and Faith lagging a behind a bit. Walking and using her ankle had done more damage than Dawn could have imagined, and she still had a slight limp.
"I don't think I've ever seen B so happy."
"Not since before demons and darkness and death,"Dawn agreed.
"Job well done," Faith held up her hand, and Dawn gave her a high five.
"What are you two planning back there?" Buffy called, from where she was waiting for them, by the doors.
"Nothing, B," Faith said with a straight face.
"If her new mantra is want, take, have, I will so kick your ass," Buffy said as they caught up with her, "We already went through that phase."
"B-uffy!" Dawn moaned, as the two older women laughed.
"Come on, Buffy! Hurry up!" Ashleigh called, still in Angel's arms, from where the gang was waiting at the end of the hall.
"I'm coming girly!" She called, jogging to catch up to her new family.
END