A/N: I'm switching the point of view from first person the third person. I'm sorry that it took SO long to update but I have been really busy for the past few weeks. Hope you enjoy the chapter!
Chapter Five
Day 1 of the Trial
It was two months since Brooke came back and nothing was the same in Lia's life. Somehow the tabloids got a hold of the court papers concerning the custody. The next day she found her picture on the front of a magazine. The copy still lay on the their coffee table.
'NBA Star Lucas Scott and Actress Brooke Davis Begin a Bitter Custody Battle For Their Daughter'
Most of the details of the story were wrong. It was reported that Lia had run away from her mother to live in Tree Hill with her father. None of the other papers seemed to care about getting the facts right, all they wanted was to get an interview with one of the people involved. The media was relentless and the day after the story broke there were cameras stationed across the street from their house all day.
The paparazzi followed Peyton around through town while she ran errands and car-pooled Jack, Peter, Timmy and Brynne to camp and the nursery. Lucas and Brooke were used to having reporters follow them because they were famous after all. But for Lia it got to the point where she couldn't leave the house. On a date with Grant some photographers caught them kissing inside a restaurant and somehow they turned that into a story about her being pregnant. For once Brooke, Peyton and Lucas all agreed on something and quickly dissolved the rumors together. After that Lia and Grant decided it was best not to be seen in public together. Of course reports of a breakup surfaced soon after. They still talked online and over the phone to maintain their relationship through all the unwanted fame and recognition.
However, today all of them would be obligated to leave the house together because it was the first day of the custody hearing. Peyton dressed the children in their best clothes in order to make a good impression for the judge. When they walked out the door they were greeted by the flash of the cameras just like every morning.
The courthouse was surrounded by all types of media including reporters from the major news stations. Luke parked the car and the family began their journey into the courtroom. As they came around the corner Brooke stepped out of her lime. She posed for the cameras and put on quite a show. That's when it hit them that the case was not only about custody but about how much publicity Brooke could get from it. That only made Peyton want to win the case more. They ignored her and made their way into court.
Lia, Peyton, and the kids took a seat in the first row of benches. Lucas sat at the table on the right side of the judge with his lawyer Ruth White. She was relatively young but she graduated from Harvard University at the top of her class. He hired her right after Brooke filed for custody because she specialized in family court cases. Brooke's lawyer was Vincent Crowe. He was older and somewhat more experienced. He didn't have the prestigious credentials like Ruth but he had created quite a reputation for himself by winning all types of high profile cases for celebrities. This would be his first custody hearing. That was what Peyton and Luke felt would give them an edge over Brooke.
"All rise for the honorable Judge Taylor." The bailiff instructed as the judge entered the courtroom in his robe. He called the court to order and both lawyers presented their cases.
"I would like to call my first witness, Peyton Scott, to the stand." Ruth White announced.
"I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God." Peyton swore with her right hand on the Bible before taking her seat in the witness box.
"What happened on the night of August 27, 2004?" Lucas's lawyer began the questioning.
"Brooke showed up at the door and she was obviously pregnant and in labor." Peyton testified.
"How did that concern you and Mr. Scott?"
"Lucas and Brooke had been dating for a few months the year before and when they broke up she left town. When she came back that night we both realized that she left town because she was pregnant with my husband's child." She explained. It was painful for Lia to hear Peyton admit that she wasn't really her mother.
"What happened next?"
"We drove to the hospital and early the next morning Brooke gave birth to a baby girl that she named Lia Jordan Scott." Peyton said. "We were all exhausted so we went to sleep and when we woke up Brooke was gone. She had left Lucas and I to raise the Lia on our own. From that point on I vowed to treat her like she was my real daughter."
"After that time did Brooke make any effort to contact her daughter?" Ruth asked.
"Not until she came back two months ago." She responded.
"No further questions." Ruth White stated when she was satisfied with her testimony.
"Thank you Mrs. Scott, you may step down." The judge excused Peyton. Lucas was called up to testify next and he explained the same thing. Everyone thought that it was looking good for Lucas so they went to Karen's Café to have an early celebration.
Lia sat at a table and looked after Jack, Peter, Tim, Brynne and Paige. She was happy to be separated from the adults because they were still discussing the hearing. It was hard for her to hear her parents talk about the situation in front of everyone. The worst part was listening to them tell the judge how her real mother just left her in the hospital after she was born. Overall Lia was happy with how things were going as well. It seemed like the judge would give Lucas and Peyton full custody and she could go back to life as she knew it. Her thoughts were interrupted by a sharp cry from the adult's table.
"Haley are you okay?" Nathan knelt down next to her.
"I think this is it. The baby is coming." She gasped while holding her stomach. She had been due four days earlier and they were expecting her to go into labor at anytime.
"I have to bags packed at home. Lucas can you go get them and meet us at the hospital?" Nathan asked as he scooped Paige up from her seat and helped Haley up from her chair.
"Sure. I'll see you in ten minutes." Luke agreed and everyone left for the hospital to await the arrival of a new family member.
Chapter Five
Day 1 of the Trial
It was two months since Brooke came back and nothing was the same in Lia's life. Somehow the tabloids got a hold of the court papers concerning the custody. The next day she found her picture on the front of a magazine. The copy still lay on the their coffee table.
'NBA Star Lucas Scott and Actress Brooke Davis Begin a Bitter Custody Battle For Their Daughter'
Most of the details of the story were wrong. It was reported that Lia had run away from her mother to live in Tree Hill with her father. None of the other papers seemed to care about getting the facts right, all they wanted was to get an interview with one of the people involved. The media was relentless and the day after the story broke there were cameras stationed across the street from their house all day.
The paparazzi followed Peyton around through town while she ran errands and car-pooled Jack, Peter, Timmy and Brynne to camp and the nursery. Lucas and Brooke were used to having reporters follow them because they were famous after all. But for Lia it got to the point where she couldn't leave the house. On a date with Grant some photographers caught them kissing inside a restaurant and somehow they turned that into a story about her being pregnant. For once Brooke, Peyton and Lucas all agreed on something and quickly dissolved the rumors together. After that Lia and Grant decided it was best not to be seen in public together. Of course reports of a breakup surfaced soon after. They still talked online and over the phone to maintain their relationship through all the unwanted fame and recognition.
However, today all of them would be obligated to leave the house together because it was the first day of the custody hearing. Peyton dressed the children in their best clothes in order to make a good impression for the judge. When they walked out the door they were greeted by the flash of the cameras just like every morning.
The courthouse was surrounded by all types of media including reporters from the major news stations. Luke parked the car and the family began their journey into the courtroom. As they came around the corner Brooke stepped out of her lime. She posed for the cameras and put on quite a show. That's when it hit them that the case was not only about custody but about how much publicity Brooke could get from it. That only made Peyton want to win the case more. They ignored her and made their way into court.
Lia, Peyton, and the kids took a seat in the first row of benches. Lucas sat at the table on the right side of the judge with his lawyer Ruth White. She was relatively young but she graduated from Harvard University at the top of her class. He hired her right after Brooke filed for custody because she specialized in family court cases. Brooke's lawyer was Vincent Crowe. He was older and somewhat more experienced. He didn't have the prestigious credentials like Ruth but he had created quite a reputation for himself by winning all types of high profile cases for celebrities. This would be his first custody hearing. That was what Peyton and Luke felt would give them an edge over Brooke.
"All rise for the honorable Judge Taylor." The bailiff instructed as the judge entered the courtroom in his robe. He called the court to order and both lawyers presented their cases.
"I would like to call my first witness, Peyton Scott, to the stand." Ruth White announced.
"I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God." Peyton swore with her right hand on the Bible before taking her seat in the witness box.
"What happened on the night of August 27, 2004?" Lucas's lawyer began the questioning.
"Brooke showed up at the door and she was obviously pregnant and in labor." Peyton testified.
"How did that concern you and Mr. Scott?"
"Lucas and Brooke had been dating for a few months the year before and when they broke up she left town. When she came back that night we both realized that she left town because she was pregnant with my husband's child." She explained. It was painful for Lia to hear Peyton admit that she wasn't really her mother.
"What happened next?"
"We drove to the hospital and early the next morning Brooke gave birth to a baby girl that she named Lia Jordan Scott." Peyton said. "We were all exhausted so we went to sleep and when we woke up Brooke was gone. She had left Lucas and I to raise the Lia on our own. From that point on I vowed to treat her like she was my real daughter."
"After that time did Brooke make any effort to contact her daughter?" Ruth asked.
"Not until she came back two months ago." She responded.
"No further questions." Ruth White stated when she was satisfied with her testimony.
"Thank you Mrs. Scott, you may step down." The judge excused Peyton. Lucas was called up to testify next and he explained the same thing. Everyone thought that it was looking good for Lucas so they went to Karen's Café to have an early celebration.
Lia sat at a table and looked after Jack, Peter, Tim, Brynne and Paige. She was happy to be separated from the adults because they were still discussing the hearing. It was hard for her to hear her parents talk about the situation in front of everyone. The worst part was listening to them tell the judge how her real mother just left her in the hospital after she was born. Overall Lia was happy with how things were going as well. It seemed like the judge would give Lucas and Peyton full custody and she could go back to life as she knew it. Her thoughts were interrupted by a sharp cry from the adult's table.
"Haley are you okay?" Nathan knelt down next to her.
"I think this is it. The baby is coming." She gasped while holding her stomach. She had been due four days earlier and they were expecting her to go into labor at anytime.
"I have to bags packed at home. Lucas can you go get them and meet us at the hospital?" Nathan asked as he scooped Paige up from her seat and helped Haley up from her chair.
"Sure. I'll see you in ten minutes." Luke agreed and everyone left for the hospital to await the arrival of a new family member.