Author's Note: Alright, in light of Tay and Malin's INCESSANT begging, pleading, and pestering, I am posting the NEW chapter to TSS! This one is all about the court case and everything. Forgive me if the court proceedings are different from the way they're supposed to be. I don't know much about court hearings, especially child custody cases, only what I see on Law & Order which I watch very rarely. Anyways, I hope you all like it! As always, please read and review!

P.S. - Thanks to everyone on for being so patient while I waited to post the new chapter until I got caught up on the OTH Central board after having all the problems! You guys ROCK!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. One Tree Hill and it's characters are property of the WB.

Rating: K+ to T

The Sweetest Sin

Chapter 17

A week later, they were back in court again. Lucas had given his testimony about caring for Krissy and helping Haley out over the years. Karen gave her testimony about Haley's parenting skills and other various subjects concerning Krissy as well as Lucas'. The judge had even called Krissy into her chambers to talk to her about Haley, Lucas, Karen, and her parents. Then the judge had called a recess for lunch and now they were back in the courtroom, awaiting the news of the verdict and whether they would be able to keep Krissy or not.

The judge walked back into the room, holding Krissy by the hand. Both Haley and Lucas made a sharp intake of breath and squeezed hands, realizing they were now only minutes away from hearing whether their lives would be torn apart or not. Krissy ran to Karen behind the swinging double doors, knowing she wasn't supposed to go near Haley or Luke when they were sitting there. Haley and Lucas both began to fidget in their seats, both anxious and terrified to hear the news.

Judge Williams began after a few moments of silence, "This case was a very unusual one. We don't get many of these in our courts; where the sister wants custody of a younger relative, but that is the case here. It was a tough decision to make. This little girl has two loving parents as well as a devoted sister and her sister's boyfriend, who all care for her deeply. And here is my decision. I hereby grant full custody of Kristina Summer James to the parents, Abigail and Steven James." She banged her gavel and everything else happened so fast. Haley saw Krissy kicking and screaming in Karen's arms as her mother tried to take her away. Them finally having hold of her and leaving the courtroom…

Haley broke out into a cold sweat. No, the judge couldn't do that. She couldn't let her parents have Krissy. They didn't know her, they didn't love her. "No! You can't take her! She's mine! She belongs with me," Haley screamed. She looked to her parents again and now her father was carrying Krissy and her mother was holding a baby in her arms. Haley looked down to her stomach, finding that it was no longer plump and round; she wasn't pregnant anymore. Haley's expression grew terrified. They had her baby. They were taking her baby away from her too. "Nooo! Give me my baby back! Give me Krissy back! You can't have them! Give them back to me! You can't take them!" Haley's parents ignored her and they walked out of the courtroom, taking Krissy and her baby with them, taking her life away. "NO! Nooo! Come back! They're mine! Noooo," Haley sobbed as she collapsed to the floor.

Lucas woke to screaming beside him. He looked over and saw that Haley was tossing and turning in her sleep, the sheets tangled between her legs, her body covered in sweat. She was having a nightmare. He gently shook her shoulder and whispered in her ear, "Hales, wake up. You're having a nightmare. Wake up baby." Haley shot straight up in bed, her eyes wide, placing her hands on her stomach, "No, you can't have my baby!" She was panting heavily. Lucas began to rub her back in soothing circles, trying to calm her down, "Sh, you're alright…it was just a nightmare…" Haley buried her head in his chest as she sobbed, "Oh Lucas, it was so horrible! They-They took Krissy and the baby away from us! The judge gave my parents custody of Krissy and-and they took my baby away from me, Luke!"

"Sh, they aren't going to take the baby away and they're not going to get Kris, I promise," he kissed her forehead as he lightly dragged his fingernails up and down her back, an act that had always seemed to soothe her. "Y-You don't know that. We could lose her, Luke. We could still lose her," Haley cried and he hugged her tighter to his chest. Tears of his own began to fall as he thought of losing his little girl. "I know," he whispered. They held each other in a tight embrace for several minutes as they both cried. "Hales, you need to calm down and get some sleep. You need to have as little stress as possible so you don't have another episode and we both know tensions will be high in that courtroom tomorrow," Lucas responded as he rubbed her stomach, finding comfort in feeling the small movements of their child. They positioned themselves back in the bed, both curled up together with Haley's back to Lucas' chest. Both pairs of hands were on her belly as Lucas continued with the gentle movements of his hands over her skin as Haley wondered in fright if they really could take their baby away once it was born. They had taken Kris away from her parents. Well, not really, their parents had abandoned them. "Sleep," Lucas whispered as he kissed her hair. She closed her eyes, trying to fight the fear churning within her. What if her parents really did get custody of Krissy?

Haley still lie there wide awake in bed after Lucas had fallen back asleep, thinking that Haley had drifted off as well. Thoughts and memories plagued her mind. The past three years with Kris. Thoughts of what could happen tomorrow. Haley wouldn't be able to live if Krissy was taken away from her; Krissy was her little girl. She was Haley's daughter in all senses of the word no matter what a thin piece of paper told them.

She knew she needed to get some sleep so she would be well-rested for the hearing tomorrow. She looked at the clock; well, today. She carefully rose from the bed so as not to disturb Lucas and walked to the kitchen to fix herself a cup of hot chocolate. It usually was able to calm and soothe her back to sleep. She stood at the island counter as she poured in the chocolate powder and added the hot water then absentmindedly stirred it as she stared at a photo frame on the wall near the entrance to the kitchen. Lucas was holding Krissy on his left hip and his right arm was wrapped around Haley's back. Haley had her left arm around Lucas' back and her right hand was on her stomach. The picture had only been taken about a month or two ago, right after they'd moved into the house. She sighed as she placed her hand on her belly and rubbed in a slow circle. "Glad you can sleep," she grumbled as she made her way to the living room and laid down on the couch, her head on the armrest.

She lay there for awhile as she started to cry, covering her face with her hands, the thought of losing Kris rising to the front of her mind again. A few minutes later, she heard a soft padding of feet. "Mommy," Krissy whispered in questioning. Haley quickly wiped away her tears and sniffled as she gestured her near. "Hey baby, what are you doing up? You should be asleep in bed," she replied as she helped her up onto the couch beside her. "I couldn't sleep. I had a bad dream," Krissy responded as she snuggled into her sister's arms. Haley stroked her hair and caressed her cheek, "What was it about?" "I dreamt that those people came and took me away from you and Daddy and Baby. I don't want to go with them Mommy. What if they take me away," she sniffled as her chin trembled and tears fell down her cheeks. Krissy had always been a bright child even for being nearly four years old. It amazed her sometimes how intelligent Krissy was. But this, this was too much for her. For her little girl to fear being taken away from the only parents she ever knew. "I don't know baby," Haley began to sob as she clutched the girl tight to her body.

The next morning was a solemn and quiet one. Haley had barely gotten a wink of sleep so she was already exhausted by nine in the morning after only having a few short hours of sleep. They all dressed in their formal wear; Haley wore a pair of pressed black slacks and a double layer mesh top with a maroon undershirt and the mesh top had pink flowers on it. Lucas wore a gray suit with a light blue dress shirt and a tie. Krissy was wearing a pink floral halter dress with a pair of white sandals and her light brown hair down in curls. Breakfast was eaten in silence and then they all got into the car to head over to Karen's house to pick her up.

They all arrived at the courthouse an hour early on orders of their lawyer just on the off chance that their case was called earlier than scheduled. Haley sat on a bench with her hands on her stomach and her eyes closed, trying to keep calm. The movements of her child from within always seemed to calm and soothe her. It made her feel better knowing that her baby safe inside her when outside there was a harsh, cruel world that would never hesitate at trying to break you down. A few tears slipped through her closed eyelids and slid down her cheeks. Lucas, who had been pacing the floor nervously, quickly rushed to her side and wiped her cheeks and eyes with the back of an index finger. "Sh, it's going to be alright," he whispered as he gently took her chin in his hand and met her lips with a tender kiss.

"Y-You don't know that," she replied shakily in a soft voice. "Try and be optimistic. Worrying about it will just make you even more stressed out and I don't want you to have another episode. And thinking negative about the situation doesn't help either," Lucas replied. "I can't help it Lucas! I'm scared! Don't you realize that in less than an hour, our whole lives could be turned upside down? We might lose Kris, Lucas, and I'm scared to death that we will. You didn't have that dream last night, Lucas, but I did. And it was so real. I know they can't take the baby away from us, but they could very well get Kris. I wouldn't be able to handle it, wouldn't be able to live if they got her. She's my life, Lucas. You are too, but she's my sister. We're a family. We just can't lose her Luke," Haley began to cry as she buried her head in her hands. Lucas wrapped his arms around her and held her tight for several minutes as he whispered comforting words into her ear. Ten minutes later, someone came out of the courtroom and called out, "Docket 1207, all parties are to report to the courtroom immediately. The judge has reached a verdict." Haley inhaled a sharp gasp as fear entered her eyes again. Her eyes began to water as she stood with the help of Lucas and whispered, "Moment of truth…"

Sitting there in the courtroom, Haley felt a strong sense of déjà vu overcome her more than anything. Everything was exactly as it had been in her dream. Her parents and Mr. Bailey were on the left and herself, Lucas, and Mr. Moore on the right. Karen, Keith, and Krissy sitting behind them in the first row and Jake, Peyton, and Jenny in the second row. Some of the other people who had witnessed Haley and Lucas' parenting were also there for support and had provided testimony, including Whitey. The judge had already entered and now sat at her chair, looking over her notes and the file on their case once more before stating her verdict.

Lucas could feel Haley tense up as she sat beside him, holding his hand in so tight a grip he feared she might break it. He lifted their clasped hands and lightly kissed her knuckles and placed his free hand on her stomach, rubbing in slow circles to try and calm her because he knew she was freaking out inside. He stroked the side of her hair and kissed her cheek, murmuring into her ear, "Sh, calm down. Everything will be alright." She shot him a glare and he could just see her saying what she had said before out in the hallway. Her glare softened and she rested her forehead against his. He titled his head up and pressed his lips to her forehead as he wrapped his arms tight around her, trying to instill some comfort in her.

The judge finally looked up from the files and took off her reading glasses, resting them on the desk in front of her, then clasped her hands together. "This is quite a situation we have here," she began slowly, "it is not often that we have a relative under the age of eighteen wanting to claim custody of a child. However, this is the case. I have reviewed this case, the court transcripts. I have heard all the testimonies from the plaintiffs, defendants, witnesses. And as with every child custody case, I have talked to Kristina as well. In child custody cases, I am bound by law to act in the best interest of the child while still adhering to the other laws. All rulings are final and cannot be revoked or changed. With that said, I will now state my verdict."

Haley and Lucas both gulped and Haley gripped his hand tighter than before, almost to the point of losing blood circulation. He placed his hand on her back and began to run his fingernails lightly along her back, another act that always seemed to soothe her, but nothing was working now. Nothing would calm her down right now other than hearing that Krissy was theirs. It scared him even more now to think about losing Kris because Haley would barely be able to survive without her. Haley would get depressed, eat very little, sleep less, not want to go out, not want to talk or spend time with her friends. Her world, and ultimately his, would fall apart. All of this could result to Haley losing the baby. He hoped with a desperate passion that the judge would give custody in their favor.

The judge stood as everybody else in the room waited on baited breath for her to speak. After looking around the court once more, Judge Williams spoke. "By the order of this court and in the best interest of the child, I hereby decree that sole custody of Kristina Summer James be given to the sister, Ms. Haley James and her boyfriend, Mr. Lucas Scott. Visitation of the parents, Abigail and Steven James, is subject to the discretion of Ms. James and Mr. Scott." Everyone on Lucas and Haley's side of the courtroom stood and cheered, smiling and hugging everybody else on their side of the courtroom. Haley and Lucas grasped each other in a tight yet loving embrace as tears fell down their cheeks and they kissed. Abigail stood from her chair, shouting, "This is an outrage! Kristina is our daughter! She belongs with us!" Judge Williams banged her gavel, "Order in the court!" Everyone quieted and sat down once again. "Mrs. James, I suggest you hold your tongue or I will hold you in contempt of court. As I stated before, all decisions are final and cannot be changed. Now I must continue with the rest of the verdict," she replied sternly as she stood again. "Furthermore, I find that Abigail and Steven James, on the account of abandonment, are guilty. They made no effort whatsoever to take care of their children. So now I am ordering that you pay in the amount of $50,000 for back child support to Haley James. Remember, Mrs. James, all decisions are final and cannot be changed," she glared at the woman as she rose to speak. Reluctantly, Abigail sat back down and stayed silent.

The judge banged her gavel, ending the proceedings and the case, "Court is adjourned." She then left the courtroom, her robe flowing behind as she briskly walked out of the room. Both Haley and Lucas' jaws hung open their eyes bulged wide as the information that had just been said tried to sink into their brains. "Fif-Fif-Fifty thousand dollars…" Haley stuttered as she trailed off. She slowly turned her head towards Lucas and he turned his to her, both staring at each other in shock. Haley then broke out into a wide smile as she shrieked, "Fifty thousand dollars Luke! We're set! That's enough for both of us to go to college and set up a college fund for Kris and the baby. We could…" She was cut off by Lucas pressing his lips to hers in a passionate kiss. "We did it," he grinned as he pulled away. Haley's smile broadened, "Yes we did. Kris is all ours!"

"Mommy! Daddy!" Krissy shouted as she pushed through the swinging double doors and ran to them. Lucas swooped her up in his arms and snuggled her, holding her close to his chest as he stroked her hair. She stayed like that for a few moments before she reached her arms out to Haley and her sister took hold of her, placing her on her hip, "Mommy! Grandma told me you won! That means I get to stay with you and Daddy and Baby!" "That's right sweetie. You're not going anywhere, you're staying right here with us," Haley hugged her tight, tears trickling down her cheeks as she kissed her sister's hair. "Mommy, why are you crying? We won, you should be happy," Krissy said as she looked up at Haley and saw her tears. "I am happy Kris; they're happy tears," Haley replied as she wiped the tears away with her hand. Karen, Keith, Whitey, and all their friends came up to congratulate them for several minutes. "Alright everyone! Celebration at the café so head on over there," Karen called out as she started to usher Lucas, Haley, and Krissy out of the courtroom. The people of the other party had already stepped out.

Haley stared at the empty seats of the table across from her with a trace of sadness in her eyes. Her parents had lost the only children they had. Haley placed her hands on her stomach, trying to find comfort. She didn't know what she'd do if Kris or the baby were ever taken from her. Kris almost had been taken from her, but in the end she'd won out. For a moment, she let a solitary tear roll down her cheek for them before wiping it away. What had happened to them? Where had the loving parents she'd known when she was five years old gone? She knew. Greed, money, power had claimed them, climbing the business chain as they traveled all over the United States and sometimes to other countries. Haley felt a hand on her shoulder and she turned around, finding Lucas behind her. He wrapped her in a strong embrace and she finally let go. She let loose all the frustration and sadness and guilt and all the feelings she felt for her parents at that moment. Lucas softly stroked her hair and kissed her temple murmuring comforting words into her ear. After several minutes, Lucas whispered softly as he rubbed her back, "Come on, let's go over to the café." She nodded and he wrapped his arm around her back, leading her out of the courtroom.

"Okay, nobody spike the punch! We've got a pregnant lady here," Peyton shouted as she poured both Haley and Lucas cups of the red fruit punch. "Peyt," Haley laughed. "Speech," Jake called out from one of the tables where he was playing with Jenny. The others joined in and Lucas and Haley stood in front of the small group of people that were so close to them. He saw that Haley was still a little choked up so he took the lead. "We want to thank you all for sticking with us through this trying time and offering your support and concern. It means so much to us and we probably wouldn't have Kris right now if it hadn't been for you all. Again, thank you very much," Lucas raised his cup as did the rest of the group. They all toasted and dispersed to talk to each other. A little while later, the stereo had been turned on and music played from the stereo speakers. A soft song began to play and Lucas walked over to Haley, offering out his hand, "May I have this dance?" Haley smiled and nodded as she took his hand and followed him out onto the dance floor that had been created.

Haley wrapped her arms around his torso and he around her waist as they began to move slowly in tune with the beat of the song. He kissed her forehead and she rested her head on his chest, closing her eyes. "I love you," she said softly. He pressed his lips to her temple, "I love you too sweetie." A few minutes later, both felt a tug on their clothing. "Daddy, Mommy, I want to dance with you too," Krissy stated as she held up her arms to them. Lucas scooped her up and placed her on his right hip. Haley cuddled close to them and placed her hand on Krissy's back, resting her head back on his chest. Lucas placed his hand on the side of her stomach, stroking it softly with his thumb and he bent his head to kiss the top of her head as they continued to move slowly to the song. All of the others smiled at the sight of the small family. Karen went behind the counter and grabbed her camera, snapping a picture of them as she smiled lovingly at the couple with their daughter.