WOW, I'm so very flattered! 22 reviews for one chapter! Thanks so much everyone!
I'm very sorry for the delay. But University started again with the 1st of March and unfortunately I haven't got so much time for writing any more. I try my best to update regularly although! I hope you understand!
About my question for a love interest for Ella. Wow, there are so many different opinions out there. Some people say Jess, some Tristan, Dean, Logan, somebody else. I'm not really sure yet what I'm going to do or when. But I think in chapter 16 or so I will introduce Ella's new guy. We will se.
Snych14: Thank you Synch. Well, yes you are right a story isn't without a love interest. Well Ella and Dean will be a little difficult because the story takes place in season two and Rory and Dean are still together. I will bring back and introduce him to the new Gilmore Girl. Thank you for reviewing.
roywthepoodles: Thank you so much once again. Your review made my day too :-). Your idea about Tristan is definitely one to consider. Thanks for the suggestion. Keep on reading.
SephoraGirl13: Thank you SephoraGirl! Well, I'm really not sure, who she should date yet, but thanx for the hint.
lukeandlorealilove: Hey, thanks so much for your regular reviews! I'll leave the lobsters out from now on :-). Thanx for your opinion about a love interest for Ella. I'll consider it.
caitymonkey123: Thank you so much for the review! Great idea about bringing the abuse into a love story. I'll think about it. Thanks. Keep on reading.
Tonje: So, finally update. Sorry for the delay. Thank you so much again. And thanks for your opinion. I'll see what I can do :-)
Allyria: Thanks Allyria. I felt so flattered when I read your last review. Gosh, everybody has a different opinion about a love interest :-). But thanks for telling me yours but I can't promise anything because I don't know myself yet. Thank you again!
gottalovethegilmores: Thank you so much for your review. Yes, you a right that they have, as you put it the whole "my childhood sucked" angle in common. Thanks for the idea. I'm not sure yet however. Everbody has a different opinion, that makes it really hard. But really thank you for the suggestion.
Hanna: Thank you Hanna!
JavaJunkie22: Here the update! Thanks one again. I feel so flattered!
crystal: Hey, wow 4 reviews in a row! Thanks for liking it so much. So you think I should pick jess? Well, it's so hard to pick someone now. Because there are so many different opinions out there now. I hope I won't dissapint anyone. Mmmm...what I think? Well, Jess would be okay because they have as you said a bad past in common. I think Tristan could also be interesting because he has this wild side, the total opposite of Ella. She could be a good influence on him. Or I go with someone totall different. I reall don't know yet. Thanks again for your reviews!
TOOKY CLOSE PIN: Thank you so much for liking it! I feel reall flattered. And she is done sitting on the porch. Sorry that this was a little confusing. Here, finally the update. Keep on reading!
Marisa: Thank you so much for reading and reviewing. It means a lot! I'm glad you like so much. Well, as I said, I'm really not sure what to do with a love interest yet. Hope you'll like it though. Keep on reading. Thanks again
GG-fan-till-the-day-I-die: Thank you for reviewing and your opinion on a love interest. I'll see what I can do :-).
kasluvsg1: Thanks so much for you review! I'm so flattered! NOt sure yet whom I'm going to choose for Ella. Hope you like it though. Thanks again.
AthleticCharmedOne: You really don't have to be sorry :-). I'm just glad you reviewed. Doesn't matter when or where. Thank you so much for you regular reviews. I feel soooo flattered!
vicky: Thanx Vicky! I'm really glad you like it! And thanks so much for your opinion. I'm still very undecided. But nice idea about Collin and Finn. Keep on reading. Thank you again and sorry for the long delay.
jennalynn: Thank you jennalynn. Sorry about the POV thing. I changed it in this chapter. Thanks for telling me. Here, finally the update.
LukelovesLorelai: And last but not least, also thank you to you. And yes I agree, Lorelai and Luke belong together :-). Thank for reviewing. Keep on reading
Chapter 14:
Lorelai's POV
Taunting darkness weighted on the outlines of my tired body as I desperately tossed and turned from one bed side to the other. Only the red flashing numbers of my alarm clock served as a reminder on the earliness of the hour. Once again, I turned around in frustration, to come face to face with 4:00 o'clock in the morning. I sighed grumpily, as I gave my alarm clock an angry kick with my left hand. I pulled the blanket above my head to blind out the unnerving blinking numbers. For a moment, I cherished the peacefulness, I seemed to have finally found, but once again was caught up by my own thoughts. Hunting thoughts about today's approaching events, that would definitely go down in history as the Gilmore's Black Wednesday.
Yes….today I would have to face the people, who had kidnapped my daughter and prevented her from having the life she deserved. I would meet the people, who were scrupulous enough to push their granddaughter away like a piece of dirt, who sold her without batting an eyelid. Could someone really be that superficial and shallow minded as to simulate the death of a baby, only to preserve his esteem and reputation in society? Francine and Strobe Hayden indeed were such people. They would stop at nothing as the past had shown. They wouldn't make stop of committing a crime, nor would they make halt of destroying their own granddaughter's life. And what for? Because they feared what people could think about them? That people could talk behind their backs?
Another swift glance at the clock made me once again aware that I would have to face them in about three hours. I imagined hundred different ways, how I could make them suffer as much I had suffered all those years long. Compared to the loss of a child one would mean that there wasn't such a thing as an appropriate and equivalent punishment. But as deviously and unimportant it may seem for an ordinary person, there was no bigger punishment for Strobe and Francine as to destroy their status and name in their precious high society circles. That's what I was going to do. I would drag the valuable Hayden name through dirt. I would spread news of their criminal deed throughout Hartford's high society and I already knew the perfect person to help me. My mother. Who was more perfect for the job than Hartford's first lady, Emily Gilmore?
These thoughts of revenge gave me a slight feeling of solace but I still didn't really feel better or was less frightened of today's following events. I made a last attempt to find some sleep and peace but there was no such chance. I constantly saw Strobe and Francine in front of my eyes, laughing hysterically and victoriously into my face. And I saw the terrible man, who had hurt my little daughter, both physically and mentally, so much. Though I had no idea what he really looked liked, for me he was the personified evil. A pitiful, character lacking, disgusting little man.
I quickly opened my eyes to shake away these terrible images inside my head and decided, now that I was already awake, I could also go down and have a cup of coffee. I tiptoed down the stairs so that I wouldn't wake Ella, who had her room just next to mine. My worries however, were unfounded because as soon as I had reached the last step, I was met with no other but Ella sitting on the sofa in the living room.
"What are you doing down here?" I asked completely surprised as I studied my newly found daughter sitting on the couch with a book in her lap. She looked dead tired, with dark circles below her eyes and an exhausted expression on her face.
"I'm studying!" she answered, while a yawn escaped her lips.
"Studying?" I asked incredulously.
"Sweets, it's 4 o'clock in the morning! As much as I support yours and Rory's passion for studying, don't you think this is a little extreme?"
"I…I…I didn't study" she admitted sighing, while burying her head in her hands. "I couldn't sleep. I constantly have to think about today" she said, while running one hand through her curly hair and with the other massaging her left temple.
"Oh Honey" I sighed, as I rushed over to her side to embrace her in a tight hug. Soothingly, I stroked her tousled hair and rubbed gently over the small of her back, like one would do with a small child.
"Are you afraid?" I whispered into her hair, as her body relaxed more and more in my arms.
"Yes" she admitted shakingly.
"What of?"
"That…. when I will leave the house today… I won't come back home with you again," she whispered, while clinging to me tightly.
"What?" I asked incredulously, as I grabbed her shoulders gently to search her eyes for some answers. Her eyes were different. They, once again, had nearly lost their spark, like the first time we had met. Fear, anxiety, worry and insecurity could be found instead.
"Why do you think you won't come back?" I asked, while shaking my head in disbelieve.
"I don't know. I'm afraid that….that Hank will get custody of me!" she said with a pained expression.
"Sweets!" I said unbelievingly. "This is ridiculous! This not going to happen! Do you hear me! This man will go straight into prison after the process. You don't have to worry about anything. You don't have to worry about anything ever again." I told her, while gently holding her face in my hands.
"And besides… do you really think I would allow something like that? Before that happens I would grab Rory and you and run off to Russia or Kazakhstan or Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan or something like that" I said jokingly.
"This disgusting man has hurt you so much" I started anew, this time more serious. "I swear…after this process today, you won't have to be in the same room with him ever again. You will never see him again!"
"You… really don't have to worry. 'Cause once you have a Gilmore girl in your life, you won't get rid of it ever again. And that's a fact" I said with a wink, while looking straight into her sapphire blue eyes. "Alright!"
"Alright?" she said, while giving me an obviously relieved smile. Once again, she embraced me in a tight hug, sighing tiredly. "But if we really have to run off to another country, I would rather prefer the Caribbean or the Seychelles. Somewhere, more Mediterranean" she chuckled lightly and I was glad she was back to her old self again.
"Whatever you want, Hon" I said, stroking her hair. "Whatever you want."
"I wished the day would already be over" Ella suddenly said, after a moment of pleasant silence.
"I know…me too" I replied, as I rested my head on the back of the sofa. "But you know, there is something positive about this day.
"Really? What?"
"When this day is over, a whole new life will start for us. We close the old chapter, and start a complete new one. We can finally start our life together. Rory, you and me" I explained.
"And Luke" Ella suddenly said out of nowhere.
"What?" I stammered perplexed.
"Luke. You like him, right? A blind person could see that he is totally in love with you and you with him" Ella said with a wink.
"I…I…ahm" I continued to stammer, completely unprepared by this sudden question.
"Luke is a huge part of yours and Rory's life! Right?… For what I have witnessed so far he is like family for you…. and it may sound ridiculous, because I have known Luke for such a very short time…. But…. he probably is the closest thing I ever had to a father figure in my life. And I know that Rory thinks the same way" she went on.
I listened closely to her words, as she talked about Luke with this adoring glowing smile on her face. I knew she was right. Luke was and had always been like family for Rory and me. All those years all long I had been to blind to realise that Luke indeed was the one I could always rely on. That he was besides Rory the only person, who had always been there for me, no matter what. He cared for me and most important he cared for my daughters, like a real father. Not like Christopher, who showed up twice a year for birthdays, who had never been a real part, a real father figure in Rory's life. Secretly, I had always known that Luke was more of a dad for her, than Chris would ever be. But in some ways I guess I still dreamed of the perfect little family. Mother, father, daughter, a golden retriever, matching tracksuits…the whole package. Today, however, I knew that this was never going to happen. Not with Christopher. But perhaps Luke would make my picture of the whole package real instead.
"You are right" I finally admitted after a moment of silence, in which I frantically tried to suppress the obvious truth. Yes….Luke meant a lot to me. I may even love him… The hurt in his eyes, when he practically admitted his love for me, wouldn't leave me alone any more. It hunted me down. In my sleep and during the day. I replayed the situation over and over again, and every time I came to the same conclusion: I was standing like an idiot in front of him, not answering, not saying a thing.
"Yes, you are right" I said again, this time with more confidence. "Luke has always been there."
"Then tell him" Ella ordered me strictly. "He won't know how you feel, as long as you don't tell him."
I slowly nodded, letting the meaning of her words sink in.
"You know, for a 16 year-old, you know a hell of a lot about relationships, Mrs. Freud." I said amused by the seriousness of her words.
"Three episodes of the "Bold and the Beautiful" and you will be as wise as I am" she said jokingly with a smile I learned to love over the last weeks. A smile that could light up a room.
"Honestly? You watch soaps?" I chuckled.
"Of course. You learn a lot about everyday life. You learn how to act in certain situations. Like, when your mother is pregnant with the baby of your boyfriend, and you are pregnant with the baby of your mother's boyfriend at the same time. Or how, you should react when your sister, who died in a plane crash, suddenly stands in front of your door. Or…."
"Alright…I get the sarcasm now" I laughed. I hadn't laughed in days and it felt like a huge liberation.
"Sarcasm is the golden rule of becoming a Gilmore girl. You are on the right path, congratulation." I said with mock seriousness. "You know what I desperately need right now?"
"Coffee!" she said more like a statement than a question.
"You got it, bucko. You too?" I asked, as I got up from the sofa, stretching my arms tiredly into the air.
"You have to ask?" she said, while rolling her eyes dramatically.
"I'll be right back"
Ella's POV
Several minutes after Mom had left the living room, I suddenly heard a light knock on the front door.
"Who could that be?" I wondered surprised. "Who would knock at five in the morning?"
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. Mom, who was busy in the kitchen, obviously hadn't heard the knock, so I simply decided to answer the door myself.
Quickly, I combed my fingers through my hair, put on my slippers and tied up my bathrobe, to make myself as presentable as it was possible at 5 a.m. I expected Babette or Moray to stand outside, wanting to borrow oil for Apricot, who probably stuck once again in Moray's piano. Instead, a 30 something man, with light brown hairs, blue eyes and a motorbike jacket on, stood on the veranda.
"Yes?" I asked, while studying his face closely. I was sure I hadn't seen him before, but something was familiar about him.
"Who are you?" he asked me, seemingly perplexed by my appearance.
"Who are you?" I countered, not wanting to give my name to some stranger.
"I'm Christopher," he said hesitatingly. "I'm Rory's dad."
"Oh" I gasped, as the realization of who was standing in front of me, hit me completely unprepared. This man was my father. My biological father. I was stunned and for a moment, neither he nor I said a word.
"I….I'm Ella. Or Avery. Whatever you want" I finally broke the uncomfortable silence.
"You…are… Avery?" he said shocked. " Wow….I…oh wow…I don't know what to say. I clearly didn't see that one coming" he stammered nervously, his eyes fixed on me. He mustered me from head to toe, his eyes making quick, frantic movements.
"So….this means…you are my father, right?" I tried to lighten up the situation.
"I guess so" he nodded.
"I guess so?" I thought. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Hey, who are you talking to?" the voice of mom, suddenly broke the uncomfortableness of the moment.
"Christopher?" she gasped in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"Ahm…..well….the trial of my parents is today, right? I was just on my way to Hartford, and I thought I pay you a little visit," he explained, scratching his forehead nervously.
"Right….. and not because you wanted to meet your daughter?" she said with an unnerved undertone in her voice.
"Ah…yes…sure…this is also the reason" he quickly added.
"Well come in" Mom indicated him, while shooting me a questioning look.
"I'm surprised, you are up so early. I expected you to tar and feather me for coming by so early. I really didn't expect anyone to answer the door" Christopher explained, while positioning himself on the sofa.
"I couldn't sleep" Mom answered shortly.
I closed the door and followed her into the living room. I really didn't know what to think or how to act in a situation like that. I just had met my real father for the very first time in my life, but it seemed like the most normal, ordinary every day thing. Shouldn't this moment have been something very special and magical, like the first time I had met Mom, Rory and Luke? I really didn't know. But I knew that it should have been more than:
"This means…you are my father, right?
"I guess so"
"I didn't imagine meeting my father to be like that. I mean…I never really imagined meeting my father. But if I had, than it definitely shouldn't have been like that. The moment lacked all kind of emotions and feelings.
"So…" Christopher interrupted my thoughts.
"So?" Mom said.
"This is weird, hah?" he started, while playing nervously with his fingers.
"What?" Mom asked expectantly, with raised eyebrows.
"Well, my parents….in court…!"
"Mmmhhh…" Mom grunted in return.
"I just hope they'll get out of this whole ordeal?" he laughed nervously, obviously startled by Mom's behaviour.
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Mom asked vigorously, with a sudden dead serious expression on her face.
"Ahm…I….what's the matter Lore?" he asked uncertainly.
"What did you mean by saying: I hope they'll get out of this ordeal?" she asked again, the mood of the situation getting colder and colder from any minute.
"That my parents won't go into prison of course. Or what do you mean?" he asked confused.
"Say this again" Mom practically spat into his face. "Look into my eyes and say this again."
"I don't understand Lore?"
"Tell me you don't mean that?" she said, her voice shaking with anger.
"I…" Chris opened his mouth but decided to better not say anything any more.
"Damn it Chris" Mom shouted. "Your parents have kidnapped Ella, their own granddaughter…. simulated her death…. bribed a doctor to tell me that my baby had died…..and you honestly tell me that you want your parents to come away without any from of punishment. Do you even have the slightest idea how I felt when I had to learn that I had lost her. Do you know how I felt all those years long? 16 years I thought she is dead" she pointed frantically into my direction.
"Your parents gave her into an orphanage. She grew up with an abusive, alcoholic man, who had mistreated her, her whole life long. Several weeks longer and she may have been dead by now." Her voice nearly broke by this last words.
Angry tears stormed down her cheeks as I listened to her words. I was stricken by the hurt and desperation in her voice, while the incredible disappointment on her face nearly made me cry. Like frozen, I stood in the middle of the living room and continued watching frighteningly the interaction between my mom and father.
"Lorelai…what exactly do you expect from me? Do you want me to hate my parents? Do you want me to wish that they should go into jail?" Chris asked angrily, while jumping up from his sitting position.
"Yes…Chris… that's what I expect from you" Mom yelled furiously. "You never had a problem with disliking or hating your parents before. And now…that there is a real reason for hating and despising them….now you stand up for them? What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing's wrong with me. You are the one, who started to scream here like an idiot" he
shouted.
"Damn it Chris. She is your daughter too" mom pointed at me vigorously. "And you didn't have the courage to come here and get her to know earlier?"
"I better go now. You don't know what you are talking about any more" he said.
"Oh, I know exactly what I'm saying. You know….for the very first time I see things very clear" she said more calmly.
"All those years…I stood up for you in front Rory. I thought up excuses why her dad wouldn't come for her first school day or school plays and all the other important things you have missed in her life. But you know what….you weren't worth it. She deserves so much more than you. You are a lousy father and you don't deserve two such wonderful daughters like Rory or Ella. You really don't!" she said resentfully.
"I don't want you in our lives any more. And now…leave my house or I forgetful myself!" Mom ordered him coldly, while pointing her hand to the door.
"Lore…"
"Go" she spat angrily.
For a moment Christopher's eyes met mine and I could see regret and hurt in it. But I couldn't bring up the tiniest bit of pity for him. It was his own fault and I indeed wouldn't miss him in my life. I had Mom, Rory, Luke, Sookie, my grandparents and the whole bunch of Stars Hollow citizens and that was enough. I didn't need him, nor did Rory.
Without any further words he left the house, banging the door behind him soundly.
Mom sighed heavily as new tears made their way to the surface and sprinkled down her cheeks. Carefully, I approached her and searched her eyes questioningly. I tightly wrapped my arms around her to give her comfort and solace.
"Do you hate me now" she snivelled.
"What? Why should I hate you?" I asked perplexed.
"Because, I banned your father out of our lives, without giving you the chance to get him to know?" she said with a pained expression.
"First of all, I could never hate you. And second, I would never question your decisions. I really don't need him in my life. I have you and Rory and that's enough. I don't need anyone else…"
"Nor do I" Rory's voice suddenly interrupted the moment, as she rounded the corner into the living room, in her pyjama.
"Have you….?" Mom started.
"Yes I have heard you. Every single word" she finished her sentence.
"I'm sorry" Mom whispered sadly.
"No, Ella's right. You don't have to be sorry. It was the right thing to do. I can't believe dad would say something like that. I wouldn't have believed it, hadn't I heard it with my own ears."
"I love you guys so much" she sobbed, while embracing us in a tight hug.
"Love you too" Rory replied.
"I love you. You both" I said for the very first time in my life. It had flown out of my mouth uncontrollably but I didn't regret it, because it had felt like the most normal, perfect thing in the world. And although, today's following events still overshadowed our constant happiness, the moment couldn't have been more perfect.
Lorelai's POV
"Do you swear to tell the truth? The whole truth? Nothing but the truth? So help you God?"
"I do" I nervously answered the judge's standard question, which probably everybody had heard before in some kind of cheap Hollywood movie.
The process had been really long and strenuous so far. It was 10:30 by now and another one and a half hour still lay ahead. Strobe and Francine had been anything else but cooperating so far. I had furiously listened to their words and point of view from the first row of the court room and hadn't it been for the calming presences of Rory, Ella and my parents, I probably would have shaken the truth out of them violently by now. However, I knew that they wouldn't get far with this uncooperating attitude, for the evidence and burden of proof was too obvious and indisputable as they could talk themselves out of their deed. In the end they would pay for their actions, I was sure about that. Not even the best lawyer in the world could prevent them from escaping their rightful punishment.
I was the last one and at the same time main witness to give my testimony in this process for today, before the jurymen would finally decide the outcome of the trial.
"Your full name please!"
"Lorelai Victoria Gilmore" I answered the defenders question, as I glared evilly at him.
"What the hell was there to defend?" I asked myself, as I played nervously with the bracelet around my wrist, that Rory had given me before the trial, to bring me luck. "The case was as clear as daylight! Wasn't it? So what was there to defend?"
"You are the mother of Avery Elizabeth Thompson, right?" he continued his questions.
"Avery Gilmore and yes I'm her mother" I corrected him with an unnerved angry undertone in my voice.
"According to my sources her name is Thompson. You are not in custody of her yet, which means you are not her legal guardian" he read unaffected and coldly from the huge pack of files in his hands.
"But she will be soon" I shot back, my voice vibrating with fury.
"We will see"
"Could we please continue with the inquiry" the voice of the judge suddenly echoed through the court room.
"Of course" the defender quickly said, before continuing his intriguing questioning.
"According to my sources, you got pregnant at the age of sixteen and gave birth to twins the same year, of 1984?"
"Yes….. But what does this have to do with…" I started, confused by the development of the questions, but was interrupted immediately.
"Just answer the question please" he ordered me, while I looked helplessly over to Rory, Ella and my parents, who all gave me encouraging, cheering smiles and thumps up.
I took a deep breath, and swallowed down the terrible nervousness, which swept throughout my body, and once again concentrated on the man in front of me.
"Bringing up a child at the age of sixteen, I imagine to be a very difficult task?" he started again, after a short silence, in which he had studied the notes in his hands.
"I don't understand" I answered in confusion.
"Please, just answer the question" he demanded once again.
"Yes…I guess…it is, but…"
"Thank you" he interrupted me again.
"Isn't it true that you ran away from home with your baby at the age of sixteen?" he continued to hammer me with his torturing inquiry.
"Yes" I finally answered after a long pause, in which I desperately tried to come up with all sorts of explanations, but decided to better not say anything any more, for I could already foresee the reaction of the defender.
"And isn't it true, that you refused to marry the father of your babies, Christopher Hayden, son of Francine and Strobe Hayden?"
"Yes" I sighed in defeat as my gaze met Chris' for a moment.
"Isn't it true Ms. Gilmore, that Francine and Strobe Hayden, indeed planned a future for you and their son. They wanted you to be part of their family. They wanted you to marry their son, and on that way guarantee you a carefree future. All they wanted in return, was a little bit of honesty!
"That's a lie" my father's roaring voice suddenly rang throughout the court room. "Strobe never wanted Lorelai and Christopher to get married. They were against it from the very beginning."
"Silence" the judge banged down his hammer soundly. "Mr. Gilmore! Please, sit down, or I'll have to escort you out of the court.
Dad slumped down in defeat, while shooting me an excusing look. This wasn't how I imagined this trial to be. It indeed wasn't.
"They expected a little bit of honesty from you" the defender repeated his last sentence. "Isn't it true Ms. Gilmore, that you lied to them about your pregnancy? Isn't it true, that you haven't told anyone that you indeed were pregnant with twins"
"Yes" I whispered inaudibly.
"Pardon me?"
"Yes" I desperately answered again, while swallowing down the tears that threatened to surface. Suddenly I was afraid. I was terribly afraid. Not about the outcome of the trial or of Francine and Strobe or the defender, but I was afraid that they would take Ella away from me. That they would refuse to give me custody over her and that I would loose her once again. An incredible fear crept throughout my body as I considered this dreading possibility. The speed of my breathing increased while my heart pounded uncontrollably. Panic rose up in me and my body was like paralysed as my breathing got more and more difficult. I couldn't bear loosing her again. This simple thought made my body shake like an erupting volcano, like a dreading earthquake, like thunder and lightening altogether.
"Ms. Gilmore? Are you alright?" the judge suddenly asked me concerned. "Do you need a break or a glass of water?"
I shook my head no, as I desperately tried to control my body and the speed of my breath. For a moment I closed my eyes and tried to gather myself. I tried to suppress the dark, overshadowing thoughts that were responsible for my current condition. I quickly let my eyes wander over to my family, who watched me with concerned faces.
"You alright?" Ella mouthed, and I could tell that she was just as scared as I was. The fearful expression on her face and uncertainty in her eyes, finally made me snap up from my state of self-pity and rigidity.
No….I wouldn't give up so easily. I wouldn't give up without a fight. The price was too high as to give up jut like that. I had to be strong for the sake of my daughters. With these new thoughts I concentrated once again on the trial.
"So… you admit that you have lied about your pregnancy because you wanted to deliberately hurt Francine and Strobe Hayden?"
"No! This wasn't the reason" I shot back angrily with my knew found strength and courage.
"I was afraid to tell the truth because I exactly knew how they would react. They were outraged and furious when they learned about my pregnancy. They blamed me for destroying Christopher's future and they only agreed to marriage because they had been afraid what a child out of wedlock, as they would call it, would do to their status and prestige in society. That's the only thing they are concerned about. Their status in their precious high society circles and what people could think about them. They have never been concerned about me or the baby. And would they have known about me being pregnant with twins, I don't even want to know what they would have done. They are cold-hearted, shallow-minded, superficial people and they disliked me from the very beginning…."
"This is ridiculous" Strobe cried as he jumped up from his seat. "She doesn't know what she is talking"
"Mr. Hayden! Take a seat! The next one, who interrupts the trial will be imposed with a 500$ fine. This is a court room…no circus" the judge said demandingly, while banging wildly with his hammer.
"Ms. Gilmore. Honestly! Haven't you been secretly relieved when you learned that you only had to take care of one baby and not of two? Isn't it so, that Strobe and Francine Hayden have done you a huge favour in giving up the baby for adoption? Honestly, Ms. Gilmore, do you really think you could haven taken care of two infants at the age of sixteen? Do you really think you could have guaranteed your children a decent future?" the defender asked me.
That was it. Enough was enough. My whole anger and fury exploded inside my body in an instant of a second.
"How dare you! Who do you think you are!" I screamed uncontrollably.
"Ms. Gilmore. Please!"
"No! You honestly tell me that taking a baby from its mother and giving it up for adoption is a favour! Do you have the slightest idea what it is like for a mother to loose her baby. Do you know how I felt when the doctor…" I pointed frantically over to the man beside Francine and Strobe, "…told me that my daughter had died due to complications?"
"Ms. Gilmore" the judge tried to interrupt me again, but I didn't care.
"And how dare you say I couldn't guarantee a future for my children! Yes, I was young but this doesn't make me a bad parent….Do you call, growing up with an abusive man, a decent future?..."
"This circumstance will be handled in another trial" the defender quickly said.
"Ms. Gilmore" the judge banged the hammer wildly, which silenced me for a moment.
"May I say something" Rory's voice suddenly pierced through the room.
"And you are?" the judge asked.
"Rory Gilmore" she said shyly. "This is my mother and Avery is my sister"
"Go on" he waved his hand for her to talk.
"Yes… my mother was sixteen when she had me and my sister…" she started, while I listened closely to her words.
"…and as she had said….this doesn't make one a bad parent. My mother is the most wonderful, loving and caring person. She filled my life with love and warmth, security and compassion. I have never missed anything in my life. My mother enabled me a future others would dream about. I attend one of the best private schools in the whole country. I'm a straights A student and after High School I will attend Harvard and study Journalism. I live in a great house, in a great city. I have great friends and people I can always rely on. And do you know, who I owe all of this? Yes…my mom. You don't call this a decent future? With all due respect….but this is simply ridiculous. One thing however, overshadowed our life. The death of my sister. There was always something missing….she was missing.
My whole life long, people told me I shouldn't become like my mom. That I shouldn't get pregnant so young? But you know what? There is no other person I would rather become than my mom. She is the person I'm looking up to. She is my guidepost for everything."
"And wouldn't it be for these people over there" she pointed her finger over to the defendants. "Than Avery, wouldn't have suffered so much pain all those years long," she ended her speech.
"Thank you" the judge said and indicated her to take a seat again.
"No further questions" the defender said, while I quickly wiped away the tears, which Rory's words had caused.
"May the jurymen, please, retreat now and adjudicate a decision" the judge finally ended the inquiry.