Chapter 111

Olivia, Rafe, Natalia, and Ava sat across the table from Mel and Doris in the small room they had decided to meet in before the third day of the trial began. Sam sat in a chair in the corner and Phillip and Beth sat together against the wall behind the Spencer-Rivera family.

"Alright, today Olivia and Rafe will be our final witnesses as of now. Are the two of you ready for this?" Doris began.

Olivia swallowed thickly and nodded. "Y-Yes. I'm more t-then ready to get that b-bastard out of our l-lives."

Natalia squeezed her hand. "Calm down honey. You can't get all worked up before you take the stand." She kissed her temple and then turned to face their lawyers. "What did you mean 'as of now?'"

Doris cleared her throat. "Today, Rafe will go first. We want to end with Olivia so that her testimony is fresh in the jury's mind's before Mr. Carter begins with his witnesses." She looked over at Phillip. "That's why I've asked you to join us this morning. I'm assuming you got the subpoena demanding your presence as a witness for the defense."

Phillip nodded. "I did, and I can assure you that I will not play into Frank's game. He will not get away with this, especially not by playing on Olivia's past."

"Th-thank you P-Phillip." Olivia said as she turned slightly to see him.

"Good." Doris started. "I know you two have buried the hatchet so to speak, but I need to know you're not going to let old hurts come into play here. I know you and Olivia have a, complicated, past, to say the least, and I need to know with certainty that all of that is behind you."

"Doris, I won't do anything to hurt Olivia or her family again. I made many mistakes in the past, hurt her in unforgivable ways, but I am, and will continue, to do everything I can to make that up to her. You don't have to worry about me."

Olivia met his eyes. "To q-quote a w-wise man, I'd say, w-we both caused each o-other a lot of p-pain." She smiled softly at her ex-husband who smiled back and reached out to rub her arm before they both returned their attention to Doris.

"Anyway, after the defense goes through their witnesses, we get the chance again. If Mel and I feel it necessary, we have a surprise witness or two we'll be bringing forward. We're hoping that it won't be required, but it's always good to have an ace in the hole." Doris explained.

Olivia looked at her friend skeptically. "Who?" She asked sternly.

"Olivia, a surprise witness it just that, a surprise."

Olivia turned her attention to Mel. "Mel, W-who?"

Mel glanced at Doris, and then met Olivia's eyes. "Olivia, I want to tell you, I do, but it's better this way, if no one knows."

Olivia went to refute but was silenced by her wife grabbing her arm and gently turning her to face her. "Honey, stop, if Mel and Doris think it's best that we don't know, then…" her voice trailed as she gave her wife the 'no nonsense' look that always silenced her.

"Fine." Olivia huffed.

"Good. Now, Ava, you also received a subpoena, we've talked about what they will most likely ask you. Are you ready?"

"Yeah." Ava squeaked out. She didn't want to take the stand, especially not for the defense, but she didn't have a choice.

Olivia reached out for her daughter and Ava quickly went to her mother's side and lay her head on her shoulder. Olivia stroked through her hair and kissed the top of her head. "It's okay b-baby. We've dealt w-with what happened b-back then, talking about i-it isn't going to change t-the past, but it a-also isn't going t-to change where we are n-now. I l-love you Ava, and I w-will be forever g-grateful that you forgave me."

Ava tightened her arm around her mom and did her best to stop her tears. "I love you too mom. And I do forgive you. I know you would never hurt me."

Rafe leaned into Natalia and whispered into her ear. "What are they talking about Ma?"

Natalia patted his hand and glanced at her wife and daughter before turning back to her son. "They have a… convoluted, past."

Rafe was still confused but knew he wasn't going to get much more now; he would just have to wait for Ava to take the stand. He kissed his Ma's cheek and then stood. "Ma, I want to go speak with Buzz, I saw him in the hall when we came in, he looks pretty rough."

"Okay baby, I think we're about done here anyways." She stood as well and motioned to Phillip and Beth to follow her out after kissing both Olivia and Ava. She knew they could use a minute. Doris and Mel took the hint and also followed Natalia out into the hall.

After a few moments, Olivia and Ava emerged, both drying their eyes and cheeks while Ava held tight to her mother to help her walk. Olivia had her cane but chose to lean into her eldest for the time being. Soaking up the love she could have never known. Natalia smiled at them and took up her wife's other side. Rafe joining them as they passed he and Buzz in the hall. Phillip, Beth, Doris, Mel, and now Buzz and Lillian walked behind them as they entered the court room, each with their heads held high.

As soon as everyone was seated in their proper spots, the judge came in and court was called to order once again. Frank was brought in and then Doris and Mel were asked if they had any further witnesses.

Mel stood and straightened her blazer. "Yes your honor. The prosecution calls Rafael Spencer-Rivera."

Rafe stood and kissed first his Ma and then his mom, whispering into her ear that he loved her before he walked to the witness stand. After being sworn in, Mel came to stand in front of him. "Good morning Mr. Spencer-Rivera."

"Morning ma'am."

Choosing to take a different tactic this time, Mel decided to only question Rafe about the night in question, leaving any questions about his past with Olivia to the defense. She knew Frank knew a fair bit about how Rafe originally felt about Olivia, but she also knew that she and Doris had prepared Rafe well on how to answer. "You were in the home on the night in question, we're you not?"

"Yes ma'am, I was. My mother, Olivia, and I were packing to stay at our hotel, The Beacon, before we headed to Chicago for the grand opening of our new hotel there."

"And why were you staying at The Beacon instead of in your home?"

"Well, my mothers' had been away on business earlier that week, while they were gone, Frank had gotten out of jail on bail where he was for the previous crimes against my family. My sisters and I ran into him while getting dinner one night. My baby sister, Emma, was terrified. Frank wasn't very pleasant at that encounter, and my mother's decided it was best if we stayed at the hotel until it was time to head to Chicago because we have a security team there."

"So, you and your family were fearful of Mr. Cooper, even before the attack against you mother, Olivia?"

"Yes ma'am. He had made threats and hurt my Ma before then. Emma had already started having nightmares and I could tell my Ma was worried, even though she tried to hide it."

"Your Ma, Natalia, was worried, but not Olivia? Why not?"

"Have you met Olivia? She's not scared of much." Rafe sought out his moms eyes for a second before he looked to the floor. "At least, she didn't used to be."

"What do you mean by that Rafael? She didn't used to be?"

"Um, well, mom, Olivia, since I met her, she's always been this force to be reckoned with. Usually, she's the scariest person in any room. She has this air of confidence, like she just knows that no one can take her down. She'll get whatever she wants without much effort on her part. There's no one she's afraid to go up against, and as long as I've known her, only one person has ever bested her."

"Oh?"

"Ma." A small smile ghosted his face as he thought of how easily his Ma could get her way with his mom. "Ma is super stubborn, and probably the only person in Springfield crazy enough to go toe to toe with Mom." His smile faded and his eyes focused on his hands in his lap. "That is, until Frank. He got it in his head that mom was forcing Ma to be with her and after that night, all the fight in mom seems to have left. When I look at her, she's so scared. I never thought I'd ever see that. She tries to hold it together, for me, and Ava, for ma and Emma, and for Uncle Sam, but it's there. When you really look at her, that fear is there."

"Can you tell us what happened that night Rafael?"

Rafe took a deep breath, his eyes moved from Frank to his mother's before he cleared his throat and began to tell what he could remember from that night. "Mom and I went to the house to pack. My ma and sisters stayed at The Beacon. When we pulled up, I had this eerie feeling, but mom said it was probably nothing and we went inside. I went down to my apartment in the basement to pack for myself and then I went to pack for Emma."

"And where was Olivia during this time?"

"She went up to get a suitcase together for Ava and then for her and ma. When I finished packing mine and Emma's bags, I took them out and loaded them in my truck, then I went to look for mom. When I got back upstairs, Ava's suitcase and the garment bag with our dress clothes for the grand opening were in the hall, so I took them down as well, figuring mom was in her room packing her and Ma's things."

"Then what did you do?"

"I sat on the couch and waited for mom to either come down or call me to get her bags."

"You didn't go upstairs?"

"Not then no. I knew it would take her a little while. I mean, she owns like more clothes then a mall, and since we were going to our new hotel, I knew she would take a while to figure out what she and ma would wear while we were there. Mom always says that your clothes say a lot about you. They are a person's first impression of you. She was very specific when she told me what to pack for myself since we were meeting our new staff. I just figured she would let me know when she was ready."

"And did she ever call for you?"

"No." Rafe shook his head as tears welled in his eyes that he willed not to fall. "I…" he took a deep breath and looked over to his moms. Olivia gave him a nod of encouragement and held her wife's hand a little tighter. Rafe nodded back and looked up at Mel. "I heard a loud noise from upstairs. I ran up there but I couldn't get in her room cause the door was locked."

"Did you think someone was in the house at that point?"

"No, mom had a problem with her heart before Thanksgiving and I was scared that something happened with her heart again and she collapsed. When I couldn't get into the room I started to panic. It didn't make any sense that the door was locked, but I couldn't really think at the time." His eyes glazed over as he became lost in the memory. "I yelled for mom. I kept screaming, but no answer came. I ran at the door but it wouldn't budge. That's when I called 911. I was so scared that something happened with her heart and she was going to die. I didn't know what to do." Tears were streaming down his cheeks as he finished telling the beginning of the night that would always be one of the most terrifying things he ever lived through.

Mel touched his arm when she realized he was still lost in his memory. "Rafael, Rafe!" He finally shook his head and came back to the present. "What happened after you called 911?"

"Um, I don't really remember. I was scared. I think I leaned against the door. I remember the operator stayed on the phone, then I heard sirens. I ran downstairs to open the door. It was weird because Detective Mallet was with them. I didn't know why, but I didn't really care. I just wanted them to help my mom."

"We heard in temporary Police chief A.C. Mallet's statement that he just had a gut feeling that he needed to be there when he heard the call. Is it usual for an officer to come when a call is made about your mother?"

"I don't think so. I was never there when an ambulance was called before, but a lot of the town knows about moms heart condition, so I guess maybe it's normal."

"Alright. So, what happened once detective Mallet and the paramedics were on the scene?"

Rafe went through everything he could remember. He told of he and Mallet running at the door to Olivia's room, how they found it blocked by the dresser and the absolute fear that overtook him when he saw Frank, holding an unconscious Olivia in front of him with a gun held to her head.

"How did you feel then Rafe? When you saw a gun pressed to your mother's head?"

"I was terrified. Every encounter I ever had with her ran through my head all at once. I was afraid that it was going to be the last time I saw her. That I would never get to tell her again how much I loved her, how much I needed her. And then I was angry. I was so mad." Rafe once again became lost in thought as his eyes once again glazed over and he starred straight at Frank. "How could you do that? You claimed to love my Ma, to care about me. You were the police chief. How the hell could you do that to someone we cared about and claim to love us." Rafe had started screaming and the judge slammed down his gavel as the crowd started to mumble amongst themselves, watching Rafe get so worked up.

"Order. I will have order in this court room." The room silenced and Rafe shook his head, bringing himself back to the present as the judge looked down at him. "Are you okay to continue young man?"

"Yes sir."

"Can you keep yourself from having another outburst like that?"

"Yes sir, I'm sorry sir, I guess I just spaced out for a minute. I promise, it won't happen again." He wiped angrily at his eyes, he didn't want to cry, not here, in front of all these people, and not in front of Frank.

"Alright, but one more outburst like that and it will be the end of your testimony."

"Yes sir."

"May I approach the bench your honor." Doris asked from where she stood behind the prosecution table.

"You may."

Doris squeezed Olivia's shoulder as she passed on her way to the judge. She leaned in close so only herself and judge Anderson could hear. "Your honor, if you would allow Mr. Spencer-Rivera just a moment with his mother's, I think it would help to keep him grounded so he can continue without getting lost in his own head again."

"We cannot stop the trial every time someone gets a little upset Mayor Wolfe."

"I know, I do, just let him hug Olivia, thirty seconds, that's all."

"Fine, I'll allow it. But she comes to him, and this is a onetime thing Doris. Don't try to make a habit out of it."

Doris only nodded as she turned and headed back to the table, she whispered into Olivia's ear and then helped her to stand and walk to the witness stand so she could quickly comfort her son. After a slow walk, with Olivia leaning on both her cane and Doris, they made it and Olivia gripped the side as she walked to the opening at the back. Rafe flung himself around her and held her tight whispering over and over how sorry he was.

Olivia rubbed his back and kissed his temple. "It's o-okay my son. You're doing so g-good. You're almost d-done okay. But I n-need you to d-do me a favor, can y-you do that?" Rafe nodded and she continued. "Don't look at F-Frank baby, just pretend he's not h-here, okay? If you feel yourself sl-slipping away, you look at m-me, or at you M-ma or sister okay. We're a-all right here b-baby."

"Okay mom. I can do it."

"Good b-boy. I love y-you bub." She kissed his cheek one more time and then slowly made her way back around to Doris with Rafe still clinging to her hand.

The jury watched, most of them with tears in their eyes as Olivia had to forcefully pull her hand away from her son and slowly walk with Doris and sit beside her wife who was also crying. She reached for her wife's hand and leaned in to kiss her softly.

Mel swiped at her own eyes and then turned back to Rafe. "What happened after you and detective Mallet made into the room?"

Rafe continued to walk them through what he remembered and how he felt. He explained how Frank kept telling him how horrible of a person Olivia was and how he had to get her away from his ma. He talked about Frank refusing to listen to himself or Mallet, and then the entire court room, including the jury, gasped when he explained how Frank turned the gun on him and demanded he come to him. Told him that Olivia wasn't his mom and that he was going to help Frank take Olivia.

"Were you afraid for your life at that point?"

"No. I knew Frank wouldn't hurt me. Ma would never forgive him and he knew that. I was really scared that he was going to kill my mom though. He was dead set on keeping her away from me and ma at any cost."

"Can you explain to us how Frank was able to be detained?"

"You know, I'm still not really sure exactly how it happened. Mom had woken up while he was talking and she gave me this look. I knew that she wanted me to distract him, so I started telling him he was right. That mom was bad and she didn't love us, that my Ma didn't really want to be with her and how if he let her go we could all be together and leave her to be alone. I told him we could even take Emma since ma had adopted her and the hotel since mom made ma half owner. Then all the sudden Frank was on the ground and mom had her heel in his junk and the gun pointed at his chest. She was like a freaking superhero or something. She head butt him I think and stomped his foot. I'm not really sure, it all happened so fast. Mom really wanted to shoot him, but she looked at me and handed the gun to Mallet. Then she passed out again. I guess the adrenaline wore off and the effects of her injuries were too much for her. The paramedics loaded her in the ambulance and I rode with her to the hospital. I don't remember much after that until I woke up with her in a hospital bed."

"Thank you Rafe. I have no further questions."

Mel took her seat and the judge faced the defense table. "Cross examination Mr. Carter?"

Mr. Carter stood and straightened his suit jacket before glancing towards Frank and stepping up to the witness stand. "Hello Mr. Rivera. Could you tell us how long you've known Olivia Spencer?"

"It's Spencer-Rivera." He all but spat at the man. "And I've known of her for about three years, but I didn't really get to know her until late 2008 when I went to prison."

"And why exactly were you in prison?"

"Objection! Relevance?" Doris yelled.

Mr. Carter faced judge Anderson. "I have a point your honor. I promise."

"I suggest you get to it quickly Mr. Carter. Objection overruled."

"Thank you. What were you in prison for Mr. Spencer-Rivera?"

"I shot the late distract attorney Jeffery O'Neal."

"Why would you do such a thing?"

"My father had passed away and Jeffery was going to ruin his good name as an officer."

"And how exactly did your father die?"

"He was hit by a car after running a stop sign?"

"And where was he headed when this occurred?"

Rafe's blood began to boil as he pieced together where this was going. Doris and Mel had warned him that his past with Olivia would be called into question, but it was still hard to keep his anger in check. He remembered his moms words and searched out her eyes. When their eyes locked, he calmed almost instantly. He could see her love starring back at him and he knew nothing he said would affect their relationship now. They had moved beyond the past. She winked at him and he took a deep breath and continued.

"He was on the way to hospital."

"For what purpose?"

"He had received a call that Olivia was dying. If they didn't find her a heart fast, they weren't sure she would make it through the night."

"And who's heart does she now have."

Rafe locked eyes with his ma then. "My Ma gave her my father's heart."

"How did you feel when you found out that your mother had given your fathers heart to Mrs. Olivia Spencer-Rivera?"

"I was upset."

"Why?"

"Because, back then, we didn't get along. I didn't like her very much."

"Again, why?"

"She had tried to steal my dad from my ma. She had hurt my ma and I just didn't like her. I thought that she felt like she was entitled to whatever she wanted and that other people's feelings didn't matter much to her. I know now that I was wrong. She's…"

"Do you blame her for your father's death?"

"No, I don't."

"You never blamed her? Never thought that if it wasn't for her you would still have your father?"

Again, Rafe sought out Olivia's gaze before answering. "I did then yes, but I know now that it wasn't her fault, it…"

"And did you not run from capture?"

"I did but I want to finish…"

"And when you returned, did you mother even tell you she was seeing Olivia?"

Rafe turned to face judge Anderson. "May I finish answering his last two question?"

"Mr. Carter, I've warned you before, do not ask question you do not intend on letting the witness answer completely. Go ahead Mr. Spencer-Rivera."

"First I would like to say that yes, when my mom first had her heart transplant, I blamed her. I was seventeen and I had only had my father for a year. I was going through a very hard time in my life and I needed to blame someone for all the crap. NOW, I know it wasn't her fault. My father was a good man who was trying to be there for his friend so she wouldn't die alone. It's not her fault he was speeding and ran a stop sign and it's not her fault that a kid with only a driving permit hit him. It's also not her fault that he was a match for her. Back then, I hated her and I blamed her, I felt that if it wasn't for her my dad would still be here, but now, well now I know that he would have wanted his heart to save her. He tried everything in his power to get her a heart. I hate that my father isn't here. I wish he was every day, but I'm so thankful that Olivia IS here. That she became my mom, and as a bonus, I get to have a piece of my father too. I mean, it's her heart, but it's kind of like a part of him is always with us.

As to your second question, yes I ran. I was seventeen and scared. My father's ex-wife told me she could get me out of the country and I took the opportunity and ran. I regret that decision now. I should have been a man and turned myself in. I can't change what I did back then, but I paid for what I did in prison and am still on parole for it. I'm not that scared kid anymore. As for your third question, no, my mother didn't tell me she was seeing Olivia when I came back, because at the time, she wasn't."

"Did she tell you when she did start dating Mrs. Spencer-Rivera?"

"Objection. None of this has anything baring on the events in question." Mel was the one to object this time.

"I am simply trying to show that Mrs. Natalia Spencer-Rivera herself was ashamed of her relationship with Mrs. Olivia Spencer-Rivera. So ashamed in fact, that she didn't even tell her own son and my client was simply trying to save Natalia Spencer-Rivera from a life and relationship she didn't want. Even if his means were a little extreme."

Natalia went to speak but was silenced by Doris's hand over her mouth and a shake of her head. "This is what they want Natalia. Let it play out." She whispered.

"Get to your point Mr. Carter. And quickly." Judge Anderson said with a bit of annoyance in his voice.

"Answer the question Mr. Spencer-Rivera." Mr. Carter continued.

"No, she didn't tell me. She and I have very strict beliefs. She was afraid of how I might react given our religion and she didn't want to risk me ending up with a longer prison sentence if I did something stupid. Given how I acted when my father died, I can understand her fear of telling me something so far outside of our religious beliefs."

"And after your release? Did she tell you then?"

"No sir, she didn't. She wanted to wait until I was settled. I was having trouble adjusting to life outside of prison. To say it bluntly, I was being an ass to just about everyone and again she worried I couldn't handle another huge change in my life."

"How did you find out about your mother's relationship with Olivia?"

Rafe took a deep breath; he was starting to see red at this line of questions. It had nothing to do with what happened to himself or his mothers and it was frustrating to have to rehash a time in his life that he is ashamed of. He hated himself for how he acted back then. He caught his moms gaze once more, and again, there shining back at him was all of her love for him plain as day to see. Turning his face back to the attorney, he answered the question.

"I saw them during an um… intimate moment on our front lawn."

"And how did you react to learning of their relationship?"

"Not very well. I was confused and angry. I knew ma and Olivia had gotten close. Mom and Emma almost always came with Ma to see me when I was in prison. I knew mom and Emma had moved into the farmhouse when ma bought it, but it was hard to see them like that. I was raised in the catholic church and homosexuality is frowned upon. I couldn't understand why my ma would go against our beliefs like that."

"How did your Ma react to your disproval of her relationship?"

"At first she fought for her and mom. She kept telling me how great mom was and how much she loved her. How much they loved each other and how good their relationship was. How happy she was and how God was love and it was the church that had a problem with homosexuality and not God."

"At first? Was there a time when that changed?"

"Yes sir. Frank had been telling me a lot of bad stuff about Olivia's past, as well as other members of the community, plus what I knew of her. I didn't take the time to get to know who she really is and instead judged her on rumors and stories of her past, not who she is now. I refused to except her and ma and one day I told my Ma she had to choose between me and Olivia."

"How did your ma take that?"

"That was the first time she faltered. She didn't really say that she questioned her relationship with my mom, but I saw it in her eyes that day. I hate to say that I caused a part of her to wither and almost die when I told her she had to choose. What I didn't know was that I wasn't the only one berating her about Olivia. As a result of that conversation, ma left town for several weeks."

"Oh? She was questioning if she should really be with another woman?"

"I can't say what was going through her mind when she left. I'm not her. What I can say, is that she left a letter for Olivia. One she didn't receive until my ma was already home. I took it from their room and read it, and then I hid it from Olivia. In the letter, ma made sure that mom knew she wasn't leaving her. She just needed some time. She had to figure out how to make things right for me, herself, Olivia, and Emma. She wanted our family; she just needed some time to figure out how to get through to me. She wrote her a letter every week she was gone, but I kept them all. I wanted Olivia to think ma just left. I wish every day that I could go back and undo that mistake. My ma never quit loving my mom, not even for a second. I blamed mom for ma leaving, but it was my fault she left. I told her she had to choose but giving up either of us would have been giving up a part of herself, and ma couldn't do that. No one should have to live feeling like a part of them is missing."

"And what happened when your ma returned?"

Rafe almost smirked. Frank hadn't known about the letters, and although he knew some of what happened when Natalia returned, he didn't know everything. "She came and told me that she wasn't going to leave Olivia. That I was an adult and I was always welcome as a part of their family, but if I didn't want to be a part of it, then that was my choice. She wasn't walking away from me, or choosing mom over me, she was giving me the choice to be a part of their family or not."

Mr. Carter stood there for a moment. His client had told him he wasn't sure exactly what happen when Natalia came back from her retreat, but they hadn't guessed this. He held up a finger indicating he needed a moment and walked to Frank, whispering in his ear.

"What do you want me to do Frank. That answer doesn't go well with my next question."

"Skip to him enlisting."

Eric nodded and walked back to the witness stand. "Is that why you enlisted in the army? To escape the life your ma was choosing?"

"Not at all. I decided to enlist while my mother was gone. I knew with my record it would be hard to get more than a minimum wage job and I wanted more for myself."

"And how exactly did you get out of your contract with the military?"

"Some papers I failed to sign. I could have still signed, but after talking with mom, I decided to stay here and spend some time with my ma. Give Springfield a real shot."

Eric shook his head. He hadn't expected that answer either. There was nowhere else he could go with the questions Frank had wanted him to ask. "No further questions." He sighed and went back to the defense table where Frank scowled at him.

Doris stood and addressed the judge. "Before you dismiss the witness, I have just one more question for him."

"Go ahead Ms. Wolfe."

"Thank you your honor." Doris walked to stand in front of Rafe. "What happened with Olivia that made you decide to stay instead of join the army?"

Rafe held back a smile as he realized exactly what Doris wanted from him. "Well, uh, when ma came back, mom wouldn't even talk to her, she had been so hurt when she left, partly because I kept those letters and she really thought ma just left. Anyways, even though mom was mad at my ma, and I was being really crappy to her, she still tried to help me, like she always had. I mean she always kept money on my account in prison, and she paid for lawyers behind ma's back, and just a bunch of stuff. She called me to her office one day and she made me a deal. I had given her the letters from ma by that point because I hated seeing my ma so sad without mom. I really wanted mom to read the letters and at least talk to ma. She said if I agreed to stay here for at least six months, spend some time with my ma, that she would read the letters and actually talk and listen to ma and what happened when she left. I agreed. She also gave me a job at her hotel with the chance for promotions so I wouldn't be stuck in some dead-end job. She gave me a shot at a career. One I'm proud to say I am making the best of and have moved up in the company. I'm now the assistant to the General Manager."

"Thank you Rafael. No further questions."

Judge Anderson had to hide a smile of his own. It was very smart of the prosecution to make sure the story the defense had started was told in its entirety. He nodded at Doris and then looked to Rafe. "You may step down son."

Rafe stepped out of the witness box and quickly walked to his mother's hugging them both and kissing their cheeks. Both women held him tightly until Olivia winced in pain and the three separated so Rafe could take his seat. Ava leaned forward and placed a hand on his should which he quickly grabbed and held almost painfully. The judge called for an hour recess for lunch and the Spencer-Rivera family stood and slowly exited the court room. Members of the community and Phillips security team filling in on all sides so they could make it their vehicle without being swarmed by the press.

Once they were safely in their SUV, Natalia leaned over the console and tilted her wife's head up so she could claim her lips in a heated kiss. This kiss was a whirlwind of emotions. Rafe's testimony had done a number on the entire family and Natalia needed the familiar touch of her wife's kiss to keep her grounded before Olivia herself took the stand and detailed that horrible night once more. For once their children didn't make fake grossed out noises at their display of affection. They both just leaned into each other and soaked up the love radiating from their mothers.