Disclaimer: Well since Brock left the WWE I now own him. That's why he
left. I own him. Yeah baby yeah!
AN Howdy! I would get a real big kick if you reviewed each chapter individually...It would make me giddy. Then I know what you like best and all that good stuff. Deal? OK Deal! ~audacious
++++
The next morning in court we had our own cheering section. Rick came prancing in and sat next to Brock, Kurt and even Taker, who had shown up for the festivities. Dorothy, Connor and Grayson sat across from them. Connor and Grayson both looked like they would rather be making mud pies. I knew how they felt. I smiled and gave them a small wave from the witness stand. It won me a big blown kiss from Grayson and a small shy wave from Connor.
Sarah's voice rang through the courtroom. "Please state your name for the record."
"Margot Anne Danials."
"And what is your relationship to Grayson?"
I shifted in the witness stand, "Biologically I am his aunt, but mentally, financially, and spiritually I am his mother."
"Objection your honor," Johnny shot up, "I –"
Judge Friday cut him short, "Sit down before you even start to try my patience."
Johnny sat down not even starting to look defeated.
Sarah shot me a smile and winked before she started up again, "Maggie, could you please tell the court how you came to be his mother?"
I smiled at Grayson who was waving at me. "Of course. My sister, Becca, became pregnant when she was 25. She was confused and didn't have any direction in life. She was unemployed, broke, and homeless. Mom and Dad promised to support her and give her what she needed, so she kept the baby, Grayson. A year after he was born, Mom, Dad and Becca were in a car accident involving a drink driver, and um" my voice wavered for a moment, "they were killed."
She smiled sympathetically, "I know this is tough but could you please tell us about the accident and the events that happened before it?"
I nodded, "Becca wasn't ready to be a mother even with all the help our parents gave her. She still wanted to go out and party and wasn't as responsible as Mom and Dad wanted her to be. She did start to grow out of that though when Grayson was about 9 months old"
"You took on a lot of the responsibility didn't you, when your sister couldn't?"
"Yes. I was 21 when she had Gray. I was balancing a full class load, working part time as a tutor, and taking care of Grayson when nobody else could. My sister often said that I should have been the one that had him. Sometimes it was hard to tell if she was serious or joking."
"Ok Maggie, could you please tell us about the night of the crash."
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, "The four of us were going to have a family night out and see a blues band across the river. I had just ended finals week and had graduated. Becca had actually remembered to hire a baby sitter for Gray. The sitter called and cancelled right before we should have been leaving so I volunteered to stay home." My voice struggled, "Becca had been working so hard at trying to be a good mom, so I wanted her." I wiped a tear from my cheek, "I wanted her to have a night out. I should have been in that car. Not her."
"So Maggie, you were 22, just graduated from college and now you are paired with a 1 year old. What was going through your mind?"
"Absolutely nothing. I was still in shock and went through the motions. I knew what I had to do and luckily everything just really fell into place. I adopted Grayson, hired a housekeeper, found a job, and paid the bills."
"Why did you adopt Grayson?"
"He's the only family I have left. I'm the only family he has ever known. He's my son." I simply ended with.
"Did you ever meet the plaintiff?"
"Yes my sister brought him home several times."
"And what did you think of him?"
Johnny Catonni sat up, "Objection, what does her opinion have to do with anything?"
Sarah laid it out, "Your honor if Mr. Catonni can slur my clients name all around this court room with fabricated stories and witnesses who have nothing to do with this, then my clients opinion is just as valuable."
"I agree," Came the reply from the bench, "you may continue."
I took a deep breath, "Jimmy was too put it plainly enough, not good enough for Becca. Then again, he's not good enough for anything. She changed when she was around him."
"How so?"
"She began parting more, drinking, some drugs. He was verbally abusive to her, threatening us if she ever left him. She wasn't the sister I knew anymore. Mom and Dad finally had it up to here and made her break up with him."
"And what did your sister do after that?"
"Becca kept seeing him on the sly. Hiding it from everyone. She had another guy that we thought she was dating, so we really didn't think twice."
"When did you find out that Becca was still seeing Jimmy."?
"When she called me from his apartment, crying. He had beat her up and she needed me to come and get her."
"How bad were her injuries?"
"She was 2 months pregnant with Grayson. She almost lost him." I closed my eyes being thankful that didn't happen. "He had dislocated her shoulder, broken some ribs, both eyes were black and swelled shut. She was a mess."
"And Jimmy did all this?"
"That's what she told police."
"Ok thank you Maggie, Your Honor I don't have any more questions."
The judge shifted in her chair, "Very well, Mr. Catonni you may begin."
He rose from his chair and buttoned up his suit coat. "Thank you your honor. So Ms. Danials, may I call you Maggie?"
I nodded.
"Can people change?"
"Yes I suppose they can. If they want to."
"Do you think its possible that in 5 years my client cleaned up his act?"
"Do you mean that in 5 years he changed from being an abusive drug addict loser, to a model citizen who pays his bills on time? I highly doubt it." I shot back.
Johnny changed his questioning quickly, "So you claim he beat up your sister?"
"I don't claim it. It really did happen."
"Where's the police report then? Hmm?"
I shot him a look, "Becca decided to drop the charges after Grayson was born. Why she did I have no idea."
"So it's just your word we are going by here? The word of a woman who is so vindictive that she would fabricate a story about my client?"
"Your Honor!" Sarah stood up, "I object to that statement."
"Sustained. Mr. Catonni. You may continue but watch it."
"Thank you. So Maggie, the night of the accident you stayed home. Were you home by yourself?"
I gave him a strange look, "No I was with Grayson and –"
"—And Brock Lesnar." He finished for me.
"Well apparently if you knew that, then why did you ask me?" I retorted.
"Is that the real reason you stayed home, just so you and Brock could have some," he made finger quotations in the air, "alone time."
I looked at him bewildered, "We weren't dating then. I was his tutor for psychology and his final was the next day."
"So you just happened to have him over that night? Weren't you engaged at the time?"
Sarah shot up, "Your honor I don't understand what this has to do with anything."
"I'm having my doubts as well. Mr. Catonni?"
"I have a point your honor I promise."
"Well then get to it." She fired back.
His attention turned back to me, "So Maggie, weren't you engaged at the time? To a Eric Nelson?"
"Yes I was."
"And you had Brock over a lot?"
"Yes we studied and were friends."
"Are you sure you were just friends? You weren't having your cake and eating it to?"
"Objection you honor!" Sarah flew up her cheeks were red, "Mr. Catonni has no point and is just running a slur campaign."
"Not in my courtroom. Mr. Catonni I recommend you get a new line of questioning."
He made a small face and continued on, "Did your sister know who the father was?"
"I never asked. I always assumed she didn't."
"Did your sister sleep around a lot?"
I shot him another look; this man was going to have a slim chance of reproducing if he kept it up. "She was a wild child, and had a lot of boyfriends."
He went for it and snuck one in "But you both slept around a lot."
Three things happened at once, I swore, Sarah yelled an objection and the gavel hit the stand all in one swift and furious chain of events.
Judge Friday had the final say, "I'm warning you sir that's the last."
"You are currently dating your "friend" Brock Lesnar? For how long?"
"For 3 months about."
"And you travel a lot with him."
"Yes it's my job."
"Separate hotel rooms."
"Yes."
He looked surprised, "Oh really? And why is that?"
"It seems to work out better that way. We both have different schedules, he wakes up early we, Gray and I, sleep in. That and I don't think being in the same room is a very good example for Grayson."
"Really." He looked skeptical. "So you and Brock haven't had sex yet?"
Sarah didn't even make it out of her chair before yelling an objection.
"Your honor I am only trying to prove to the court what kind of a role model Maggie is to my client's son. If he is to be put in the best place, don't you think it's relevant on how she lives her life?"
"It is and I suggest you keep it clean."
"Yes ma'am. Well Maggie? You can answer the question."
"Mr. Catonni, my son is 20 feet away sitting next to his 4 year old friend. I will not answer that."
"OK then, have you engaged in premarital relations? Is that more appropriate?"
I sat back in my chair and shot him a sly look, "If you want to talk premarital relations, let's talk about your client. I know my sister didn't marry him." I leaned forward, "And I also happen to know Grayson didn't come from a cabbage patch, stork or express delivery package. So, Mr. Catonni, answer me this, where did Grayson come from?"
There were noticeable smirks from Brock, Kurt and Mark; as well as one from Sarah who then quickly hid it and looked sternly at me. Rick gave a silent clap and wiggled gleefully in his seat
I put an angelic face on and gazed at Johnny Catonni expectantly.
"Some people change Maggie."
"Some do. You client hasn't." I finished for him.
"No more questions your honor." And he walked away.
AN Howdy! I would get a real big kick if you reviewed each chapter individually...It would make me giddy. Then I know what you like best and all that good stuff. Deal? OK Deal! ~audacious
++++
The next morning in court we had our own cheering section. Rick came prancing in and sat next to Brock, Kurt and even Taker, who had shown up for the festivities. Dorothy, Connor and Grayson sat across from them. Connor and Grayson both looked like they would rather be making mud pies. I knew how they felt. I smiled and gave them a small wave from the witness stand. It won me a big blown kiss from Grayson and a small shy wave from Connor.
Sarah's voice rang through the courtroom. "Please state your name for the record."
"Margot Anne Danials."
"And what is your relationship to Grayson?"
I shifted in the witness stand, "Biologically I am his aunt, but mentally, financially, and spiritually I am his mother."
"Objection your honor," Johnny shot up, "I –"
Judge Friday cut him short, "Sit down before you even start to try my patience."
Johnny sat down not even starting to look defeated.
Sarah shot me a smile and winked before she started up again, "Maggie, could you please tell the court how you came to be his mother?"
I smiled at Grayson who was waving at me. "Of course. My sister, Becca, became pregnant when she was 25. She was confused and didn't have any direction in life. She was unemployed, broke, and homeless. Mom and Dad promised to support her and give her what she needed, so she kept the baby, Grayson. A year after he was born, Mom, Dad and Becca were in a car accident involving a drink driver, and um" my voice wavered for a moment, "they were killed."
She smiled sympathetically, "I know this is tough but could you please tell us about the accident and the events that happened before it?"
I nodded, "Becca wasn't ready to be a mother even with all the help our parents gave her. She still wanted to go out and party and wasn't as responsible as Mom and Dad wanted her to be. She did start to grow out of that though when Grayson was about 9 months old"
"You took on a lot of the responsibility didn't you, when your sister couldn't?"
"Yes. I was 21 when she had Gray. I was balancing a full class load, working part time as a tutor, and taking care of Grayson when nobody else could. My sister often said that I should have been the one that had him. Sometimes it was hard to tell if she was serious or joking."
"Ok Maggie, could you please tell us about the night of the crash."
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, "The four of us were going to have a family night out and see a blues band across the river. I had just ended finals week and had graduated. Becca had actually remembered to hire a baby sitter for Gray. The sitter called and cancelled right before we should have been leaving so I volunteered to stay home." My voice struggled, "Becca had been working so hard at trying to be a good mom, so I wanted her." I wiped a tear from my cheek, "I wanted her to have a night out. I should have been in that car. Not her."
"So Maggie, you were 22, just graduated from college and now you are paired with a 1 year old. What was going through your mind?"
"Absolutely nothing. I was still in shock and went through the motions. I knew what I had to do and luckily everything just really fell into place. I adopted Grayson, hired a housekeeper, found a job, and paid the bills."
"Why did you adopt Grayson?"
"He's the only family I have left. I'm the only family he has ever known. He's my son." I simply ended with.
"Did you ever meet the plaintiff?"
"Yes my sister brought him home several times."
"And what did you think of him?"
Johnny Catonni sat up, "Objection, what does her opinion have to do with anything?"
Sarah laid it out, "Your honor if Mr. Catonni can slur my clients name all around this court room with fabricated stories and witnesses who have nothing to do with this, then my clients opinion is just as valuable."
"I agree," Came the reply from the bench, "you may continue."
I took a deep breath, "Jimmy was too put it plainly enough, not good enough for Becca. Then again, he's not good enough for anything. She changed when she was around him."
"How so?"
"She began parting more, drinking, some drugs. He was verbally abusive to her, threatening us if she ever left him. She wasn't the sister I knew anymore. Mom and Dad finally had it up to here and made her break up with him."
"And what did your sister do after that?"
"Becca kept seeing him on the sly. Hiding it from everyone. She had another guy that we thought she was dating, so we really didn't think twice."
"When did you find out that Becca was still seeing Jimmy."?
"When she called me from his apartment, crying. He had beat her up and she needed me to come and get her."
"How bad were her injuries?"
"She was 2 months pregnant with Grayson. She almost lost him." I closed my eyes being thankful that didn't happen. "He had dislocated her shoulder, broken some ribs, both eyes were black and swelled shut. She was a mess."
"And Jimmy did all this?"
"That's what she told police."
"Ok thank you Maggie, Your Honor I don't have any more questions."
The judge shifted in her chair, "Very well, Mr. Catonni you may begin."
He rose from his chair and buttoned up his suit coat. "Thank you your honor. So Ms. Danials, may I call you Maggie?"
I nodded.
"Can people change?"
"Yes I suppose they can. If they want to."
"Do you think its possible that in 5 years my client cleaned up his act?"
"Do you mean that in 5 years he changed from being an abusive drug addict loser, to a model citizen who pays his bills on time? I highly doubt it." I shot back.
Johnny changed his questioning quickly, "So you claim he beat up your sister?"
"I don't claim it. It really did happen."
"Where's the police report then? Hmm?"
I shot him a look, "Becca decided to drop the charges after Grayson was born. Why she did I have no idea."
"So it's just your word we are going by here? The word of a woman who is so vindictive that she would fabricate a story about my client?"
"Your Honor!" Sarah stood up, "I object to that statement."
"Sustained. Mr. Catonni. You may continue but watch it."
"Thank you. So Maggie, the night of the accident you stayed home. Were you home by yourself?"
I gave him a strange look, "No I was with Grayson and –"
"—And Brock Lesnar." He finished for me.
"Well apparently if you knew that, then why did you ask me?" I retorted.
"Is that the real reason you stayed home, just so you and Brock could have some," he made finger quotations in the air, "alone time."
I looked at him bewildered, "We weren't dating then. I was his tutor for psychology and his final was the next day."
"So you just happened to have him over that night? Weren't you engaged at the time?"
Sarah shot up, "Your honor I don't understand what this has to do with anything."
"I'm having my doubts as well. Mr. Catonni?"
"I have a point your honor I promise."
"Well then get to it." She fired back.
His attention turned back to me, "So Maggie, weren't you engaged at the time? To a Eric Nelson?"
"Yes I was."
"And you had Brock over a lot?"
"Yes we studied and were friends."
"Are you sure you were just friends? You weren't having your cake and eating it to?"
"Objection you honor!" Sarah flew up her cheeks were red, "Mr. Catonni has no point and is just running a slur campaign."
"Not in my courtroom. Mr. Catonni I recommend you get a new line of questioning."
He made a small face and continued on, "Did your sister know who the father was?"
"I never asked. I always assumed she didn't."
"Did your sister sleep around a lot?"
I shot him another look; this man was going to have a slim chance of reproducing if he kept it up. "She was a wild child, and had a lot of boyfriends."
He went for it and snuck one in "But you both slept around a lot."
Three things happened at once, I swore, Sarah yelled an objection and the gavel hit the stand all in one swift and furious chain of events.
Judge Friday had the final say, "I'm warning you sir that's the last."
"You are currently dating your "friend" Brock Lesnar? For how long?"
"For 3 months about."
"And you travel a lot with him."
"Yes it's my job."
"Separate hotel rooms."
"Yes."
He looked surprised, "Oh really? And why is that?"
"It seems to work out better that way. We both have different schedules, he wakes up early we, Gray and I, sleep in. That and I don't think being in the same room is a very good example for Grayson."
"Really." He looked skeptical. "So you and Brock haven't had sex yet?"
Sarah didn't even make it out of her chair before yelling an objection.
"Your honor I am only trying to prove to the court what kind of a role model Maggie is to my client's son. If he is to be put in the best place, don't you think it's relevant on how she lives her life?"
"It is and I suggest you keep it clean."
"Yes ma'am. Well Maggie? You can answer the question."
"Mr. Catonni, my son is 20 feet away sitting next to his 4 year old friend. I will not answer that."
"OK then, have you engaged in premarital relations? Is that more appropriate?"
I sat back in my chair and shot him a sly look, "If you want to talk premarital relations, let's talk about your client. I know my sister didn't marry him." I leaned forward, "And I also happen to know Grayson didn't come from a cabbage patch, stork or express delivery package. So, Mr. Catonni, answer me this, where did Grayson come from?"
There were noticeable smirks from Brock, Kurt and Mark; as well as one from Sarah who then quickly hid it and looked sternly at me. Rick gave a silent clap and wiggled gleefully in his seat
I put an angelic face on and gazed at Johnny Catonni expectantly.
"Some people change Maggie."
"Some do. You client hasn't." I finished for him.
"No more questions your honor." And he walked away.