Chapter #23 – A Parent's Love.

"Tell me Laura. Please. Tell me it wasn't you. Please." Jasmine said.

Laura simply ignored Jasmine and approached the stand, as she went through the procedure of testifying under oath.

"Prosecution, although this is your witness, I'd like to ask if you'd let the Defense question first. Is this okay with you?"

"Fine your Honor." Scott replied.

"Your Honor?" Laura asked.

"Yes?

"I'd just like to say that yes, it was I who brought Jasmine Cassadine here today." Turning to Jasmine, she continued. "You needed to see what you were doing to your sons, and I need to protect my sons as well."

Jasmine closed her eyes, breathing deeply and seething. She had to keep her cool.

Elizabeth however was visibly angry, her face extremely red.

"Thank you, Mrs. Spencer. Defense, you may begin." The Judge said.

"Mrs. Spencer, have you ever witnessed the defendant hurt her children in the presence of others?" Jasmine began quietly.

"No." Laura replied.

"Have you ever—"

"But I have witnessed it in my own presence." Laura added.

"What? No!" Jasmine exclaimed shocked.

"Yes, it's true. I walked into the defendant's hotel suite because my son gave me a key, and the look of fear I saw on the faces of those two little boys, the fear in their eyes. Their mother was a raving lunatic!"

"Objection! Your honor! This isn't true!"

"Objection overruled, let her speak please." The Judge said.

"I have never seen two children look more scared in my life. Their mother was yelling, screaming, throwing things. Whatever rage she held was directed at her two sons. She was smart though, she always acted caring and loving in front of others, especially her husband. But I saw the truth. And when she's not putting so much fear into her children, she's neglecting them. I want to cry just thinking of what she does to those boys when her husband is not around. Her husband who is my son, is always taking care of them. She never lifts a finger." Laura said.

"Objection, please your honor!" Jasmine cried.

"On what grounds?"

"Based on the grounds that it's a lie. Mrs. Spencer is under oath. She MUST tell the truth. Your Honor, you've heard the boys, myself and Ms. Webber testify. I would think that if anyone held the most weight with the court it would be my two little boys."

"Your Honor, if I may, the boys are only 6 years old. Clearly what they say must be taken with a grain of salt; young children always take things out of context." Laura said, repeating almost everything she said when she tried to bluff her way around the fight she and Nikolas had, (which Jasmine wasn't present for.)

"Mrs. Spencer, you said that your son's wife was neglectful to her sons. If I may ask, how so?" Jasmine asked carefully, realizing that she probably just sank any ship she had in winning this case.

"She clearly neglected her sons. She didn't realized they were in the room!"

"Your Honor, if I may add to this, Mrs. Spencer and I were in another argument, instigated by Mrs. Spencer herself, while my husband, brother-in-law, and Ms. Webber were out. I was quite neutral for the most part, but then I'll admit it did get a little heated. I was so caught up in trying to keep my stress level down, yet at the same time defending myself against her words and accusations I didn't realize my sons were in their room. For a few minutes in the span of that argument I thought they had gone out with their father. Hasn't anyone been so caught up in an argument, a conversation, or whatever and forget that someone else is around?"

"Hence you neglected your sons!" Laura spat.

"No!"

"Order! Mrs. Cassadine, I will take that into account, as should the jury." The Judge said.

"In addition your Honor, she lied to her sons, and is obviously a negative influence."

"How so?" The Judge asked.

"In that argument, when her sons came out, they asked why their mother was yelling if she didn't mean to yell before. She said she would try not to yell anymore. The boys don't deserve a mother like her. They deserve a mother who is loving and kind."

Jasmine glanced back at Elizabeth, feeling the world drop from under her feet.

"Defense?"

Jasmine shook her head, willing herself not to cry.

"No further questions, your Honor." She said in a low voice.

"Prosecution?"

Scott thought for a minute.

'If Laura Spencer's testimony is true, then we have what we want. Jasmine is guilty, the pictures only add to her guilt. However the jury must take into consideration the boys' testimony, Jasmine's testimony, and Elizabeth Webber's testimony… '

"No further questions your Honor." Scott said.

"Jasmine, see if you can call me up again. I want to contradict what she said." Elizabeth whispered.

Jasmine nodded.

"Does anyone have anymore witnesses?" The Judge asked.

"Your Honor, may I put a witness on the stand who has already testified?" Jasmine asked.

"Yes, you may."

"Then I'd like to call Elizabeth Webber to the stand once more."

"Ms. Webber, remember you're under oath." The Judge stated.

"Yes, I remember."

"Now Ms. Webber, it has come to my attention that you have more information contrary to Mrs. Spencer's testimony?" Jasmine asked.

"Yes I do. The day of that argument, I, my fiancée, my fiancée's father as well as the defendant's husband were all in another suite so we did not witness it. When we all returned I went to go check on the defendant, who was on bed rest. And DA Baldwin, before you ask, the defendant was indeed on bed rest yes, but as her doctor, I allow her about 10-20 minutes every other hour to walk around to keep her blood flowing. But when I went to check on her (her husband had invited everyone back for dinner that night,) her sons were sitting outside her door, like her bodyguards. I thought it was cute, and decided to humor them at the time. I asked permission, and they said I could enter. However, they also told me that their mother was hurting. I asked them where, and they said she was hurting in her stomach. As I examined the defendant, it was concluded that it was her children kicking, due to a little bit of irritation due to stress." Elizabeth said.

"Anything else?" The Judge asked.

"I've seen her interacting with her sons. They've asked questions that they weren't sure they could ask, but their mother handled it with dignity and kindness. She was gentle, loving, not an angry edge to her voice at all." Elizabeth replied.

"Prosecution?" The Judge asked.

"Ms. Webber, Mrs. Spencer said that the defendant acts lovingly to her children when in the presence of others. So how do you know for sure that what Mrs. Spencer says isn't true?"

"Because her sons are not afraid of her, like Mrs. Spencer said. Not even close. They love her with everything they have. They would die to protect her, even at 6 years old. You can see the love they have for her. In addition, as previously stated our loved ones are currently out of town. I have been with Mrs. Cassadine and her sons since they left—"

"When did they leave town Ms. Webber?" Scott asked.

"3 days ago. Anyway, I've been staying with Mrs. Cassadine and her sons since then, and have even left them alone at times. Mrs. Cassadine is a loving, wonderful mother." Elizabeth said confidently.

"No questions your Honor." Scott said, shaking his head.

"Defense?"

"No further questions either your Honor."

"Ms. Webber, you may step down." The Judge said.

"Any last witnesses Defense?"

"Yes, I'd like to call Anthony and Darien Cassadine back to the stand please."

"Again?" Scott asked, annoyed.

"Yes again." Jasmine replied.

They were brought in.

"Remember, you are under oath." The judge reminded them.
"Yes, we remember." The boys said.

"Boys, I'm sorry I didn't ask this of you before, but who is the bad man?"

"Um…can we say that? I know you, our mother doesn't like us to say his name, and we don't like saying it either." Darien asked.

"I thought you wanted us to protect Grandma Laura by not saying his name?" Anthony asked.

"I do, but she has to know. It's important."

"Are you sure?" The boys asked.

"Yes, I'm sure. It's okay. You can say his name."

"His name is Stavros Cassadine. He's the one who put the makeup on us." Anthony replied.

"I OBJECT your Honor! Stavros Cassadine is dead! She's clearly given them an excuse, however the excuse is deceased!" Scott roared.

"No, he's not dead. Honest." Darien said.

"Do you have any proof that he's alive?" Scott asked Jasmine.

"We have pictures." Jasmine replied.

"Do you have them with you?" Scott snapped.

"Well, no…I didn't know what to bring! I was uninformed about what this trial was about! Had I known, I definitely would have brought pictures of him!"

"Well you can't use it can you?" Scott said like a bully.

"Any further questions Defense?"

"No your Honor."

"Prosecution?"

"Yes, your Honor. I do." Scott said.

The way in which Scott said it sounded alarm bells in Jasmine's head.

"Anthony, Darien, how is this man related to you?"

"He's not." Darien said simply.

"Really? He's not?"

"Not to us, not in our lives." Anthony said.

"Okay, let me try a different question. Boys, who is your father?"

"Nikolas Cassadine." Anthony said.

"Is he really your father?" Scott said.

"Objection, your honor! He's speaking for the witness!"

"Objection sustained Mrs. Cassadine. Mr. Baldwin rephrase the question." The Judge replied.

"Okay…Boys did you know that there are different types of parents?"

"Yes..." Anthony said.

"What kind of parents are there?"

"There are biological parents and adoptive parents." Darien answered, not sure if he liked where this was going.

"You said Nikolas Cassadine is your father, correct? Is he biological or adoptive?"

The boys looked down; they knew they had to tell the truth.

"Nikolas Cassadine is our adoptive father." They whispered together.

Jasmine, although glad her children were telling the truth felt another stab at her heart. This was getting even uglier than it already was.

"I'm sorry could you repeat that, a little louder this time?" Scott asked.

"Nikolas Cassadine...is...is our biological father..." Darien said, knowing this wasn't good.

"So who is your biological father?" Scott asked.

"Please! Your Honor! Biological doesn't matter to us! Nikolas is our dad! No matter what! Please!" Anthony cried.

"Please answer the question boys." The Judge said.

It was obvious no one was going to believe them using Stavros' name so they decided to use the safer of the two names.

"Lucien Cane is our biological father." Darien whispered.

Jasmine let her head drop.

"I'm sorry boys, who?" The judge asked.

"Lucien Cane." Anthony repeated.
"Who would that be?" The judge asked again.

"Stavros Cassadine...The Bad Man...But Mr. DA won't let us use that name so Lucien Cane was the other name he went by." Anthony explained.

"But Stavros Cassadine is dead boys. He's not alive." Scott said.
"He is too alive...I'm sorry that you don't believe us, but we're telling the truth." Darien said.

The boys knew the truth about who their biological father was, and technically how their biological father related to their real father (Nikolas – adoptive or not he is their real father to them.)

"Any further questions Defense; Prosecution?"
"No further questions your Honor." Both Jasmine and Scott replied.

"Closing arguments?"

"I'll let the defendant go first." Scott Baldwin said.

"Your Honor, and members of the jury, please don't believe the DA or Laura Spencer's testimony. I know it's probably hard not to, but honestly. I would never, ever hurt my children. I love them too much. I'd die to protect them, and I know I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the love of and love for my sons. They are my heart, and my soul. They are my life. I can't live without them. I need them. Please. Please, I urge you to find a verdict of not guilty. If anyone has impact on your decision today, let it be the testimony of my own sons. Thank you." Jasmine said, tears already falling down her face.

"Prosecution, your closing statement?" The Judge said.

"Your Honor, members of the jury. I urge you to find a verdict of guilty! Clearly you see these pictures, in which I present to you again. Look at them…its is very sad, and disconcerting that a mother who claims to love her sons would do this. Clearly you heard the testimony of a witness who saw the defendant harm her children, who saw the fear in the little boys' eyes. You heard the testimony of Ms. Webber, however she didn't see anything wrong, because clearly the mother is a good actress. The defendant harmed her children and they deserve better! They deserve to be put into a loving home and this woman deserves to be in jail. Children can be impressionable, and easily succumb to other influences with a parental influence being the greatest of them all. The defendant must have trained them to act in her defense, when all those little boys wanted to do was tell the real truth, but were too scared to go home if they didn't tell her version of the 'truth'. Take into the consideration of the fast, but emotional outbursts of the defendant, the fierce tone in her voice. Please, put this monster away so she never hurts a child again. Put the child she's carrying into a loving home when he or she is born. Don't let that baby suffer the same fate their brother's have suffered through. Thank you." Scott said.

Jasmine locked eyes with Elizabeth as Scott was in the last quarter of his statement. Liz could definably read Jasmine's thoughts by looking right into her eyes...

'Liz! Oh God no! I can't loose my sons, or daughters! I can't! I won't make it otherwise. I can't get in touch with Nikolas. He has to know, but I couldn't bear to tell him that I lost any of our children. It's only been 3 DAYS and look where I am. I can't go 24 hours without him and not get into trouble…'

'You won't! Clearly the jury will take into heavy account the boys' testimony. You'll be fine, they'll be fine. You have to take deep breaths, and stay as calm as possible okay? I know you're scared, I am too. But you have to keep the stress down. Hell, I'll stress for you. We can do this. It will be okay.'

'But what if we can't…?' Jasmine silently asked, as the tears wouldn't stop.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. I urge you to take heavy consideration in all the testimony and evidence you have been made aware of today. Take into consideration of the words spoken today. Take into consideration of the two little boys who may or may not have suffered through this ordeal. Deliberation may begin. Court is in Recess." The Judge said.

The jury deliberated for about a half an hour.

Jasmine took 25 minutes of that time composing herself so she wouldn't break down in front of her sons.

The twins were brought back into the courtroom as Jasmine (resting on her knees) engulfed them into probably what was the biggest hug of any of their lives.

"Boys, um…I might be going away for awhile, maybe a very long time…I don't want to go, but I may have to."

"But you didn't do anything wrong! You're innocent Mama!" The boys cried.

"I know I am, and you know I am, and Papa and Aunt Elizabeth knows I am. But the people who we all spoke to today don't know that. So they have to make a decision on who to believe."

"Are they going to believe you?" Darien asked, as he and his brother cried.

"I don't know baby, I don't know. I hope so though." Jasmine said.

"They have to believe you! Gra—Lau—Mrs. Spencer was lying!" Anthony said, not knowing what to call his grandmother anymore. He didn't want anything to do with her anymore.

"If you're found guilty, are you going to jail?" Anthony asked.

"Yes, baby I will."

"But isn't that where all the bad people go?" Darien asked.

"Yes, it is."

"But you're not bad!" Both boys said.

"We know that boys, and if your mom is found guilty I promise you we will not stop fighting until we get her out." Elizabeth said, with some encouragement.

Continuing to hold her sons tightly, and closing her eyes just as tightly Jasmine held her breath as the Judge spoke.

"Members of the jury, have you reached a verdict?"

"Yes your Honor. We the members of the jury, in light of all evidence, cannot overlook and ignore those painful pictures despite the testimony. Taking everything into consideration as best as possible, we find the defendant guilty. It is our recommendation that her sentence be 10 years in prison." The Foreman said.

She couldn't speak, and could barley move. Jasmine only clutched onto her sons tighter as her world collapsed from under her, she was falling into a bottomless pit, with tears not willing to stop anytime soon.

"No, no, no, no…they can't take you away from me. No…please."

"It is my decision that the boys be returned to their biological father. Because Mr. Cane could not be present, a co-worker of his, Helena Cassadine will take the boys to their natural father. Jasmine Cassadine, I hereby sentence you to 10 years in prison. You will be eligible for parole in 7 years. Court is adjourned." The Judge said as she banged her gavel, and left.

Laura Spencer wasn't thrilled about giving two boys to Helena Cassadine, but hey, they weren't the next heirs nor biologically Nikolas' children so Laura wasn't too worried. But she'd make sure Jasmine got what she deserved. It would hurt Nikolas sure, but Laura was protecting her son.

"Come on boys, let's go to the nice lady." Laura said, as she approached Jasmine holding onto her sons for dear life.

"No! I won't let them go to Helena!"

"You don't have a choice in the matter. You're going to jail."

"Because of you! This is your fault." Elizabeth growled.

"Come on boys, let's go now." Laura said as she attempted to take the boys from Jasmine's embrace.

"NO LAURA! Let go of my sons! Let go! No let go! Let go!" Jasmine cried out as Laura tried to pry Jasmine's arms from around her sons.

"Laura please stop!" Elizabeth said.

"Bailiff! The prisoner is not cooperating!"

"Let go of the boys now!" The bailiff growled.

From behind Jasmine the bailiff grabbed her arms and was able to break the embrace.

"Hey! Back off! Can't you see she's pregnant?" Elizabeth yelled at the guard who let Jasmine go, as Laura took a twin by the hand and led them toward Helena. They tried to struggle, but Laura ended up picking up one of the boys, as the other was picked up by the bailiff who pulled Jasmine away. They were picked up so they wouldn't run toward their mother.

The last words she could hear her sons say as they were taken out of the courtroom shattered her heart.

"Mama!"

'No let us go! You can't take us away!"

"Don't! Stop! Mama! Please!"

"Mama! Help us! Don't let her take us away!"

"I LOVE YOU BOYS! MOMMY LOVES YOU! MOMMY WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU! NEVER FORGET THAT!" Jasmine screamed in a desperate attempt for them to hear her. She wasn't sure if they did.

Jasmine leaned back against the wall dividing the legal tables and the audience in the courtroom, sobbing her soul out.

"Elizabeth!" Jasmine cried out.

"Jasmine! Jasmine what, what is it?"

Jasmine glanced down….

"My water just broke…" Jasmine whispered barley audible.

(Author's Notes- Please Review! Thanks! –E.B.F.R.)