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After her lunch, Regina was forced to sit in the small room until it was time for them to reconvene. The officer led her down the hall in the chair and she was helped to her feet. When the door was open and she was walking toward her seat, she glanced up and the flashes caused stars to dance in front of her vision. She went weak for a second before the officer caught her and sat her down.
Jeremy leaned over, "Are you alright?"
Regina nodded, "Just a little dizzy but nothing I can't handle. I want this over."
The court officer raised his voice, "All rise for the honorable J. Knight." The room rose and Jeremy held on to her arm to keep her steady. When the room was seated, the Judge adjusted the microphone.
"I have taken the time to go over the documents that the defendant and the state have presented. I understand there were child endangerment charges filed. I'm going to address that issue first, is that alright Mr. Trulane?"
The man briefly stood, "Yes, your honor." When he settled back into his chair, Regina took a deep breath.
The judge turned a few pages and rested his elbows on the papers and linked his fingers. He turned to the press, "Ladies and gentlemen as I stated this morning, this is not a trial. I'll be rendering my verdict on these matters today and they are final. I do not want to hear any outbursts, is that understood?"
Members of the press all mumbled agreements and sat back seemingly holding their breaths. Judge Knight turned to the gallery. "The same goes for this gallery, I know many people want to hear what I have to say, and you might not like it. I don't want any outbursts, or you can spend the night in a cell. Now," he began.
He pinched the papers in between his fingers and thumb and handed a stack to the court officer. The court officer handed the papers to the state. The same thing for Regina's legal team, all papers were given to each side. Regina looked over at the state lawyers and they looked upset. It gave her hope that this might turn out to be okay.
Knight cleared his throat, "Now, I've presented my findings to each legal team. Will the defendant rise?"
Jeremy stood and held out a hand to help her up. Regina held on to his arm tightly and looked at the judge. Mumbles and whispers could be heard in the gallery. "This is my only warning. I want quiet or you can leave now." He paused until the room quieted again. "Mrs. Thompson would you like to make a final statement before I read my verdict?"
She swallowed, "Yes, your honor." You could hear a pin drop at the silence that engulfed the room.
"You may proceed," he said.
Regina was led to the center aisle to a podium that separated the room, she cleared her throat before stepping up to the microphone. She gripped each side of the wood when Jeremy took a couple of steps back. "Your honor, I didn't know who Simon Thompson was when I married him, what he was. When I learned of it, I anonymously sent the police in California a warning but because there was no proof, nothing was done."
She glanced at the media who had microphones lifted and bright lights that had spots dancing in front of her vision. The dizziness and nausea enveloped her, and she had to take a few deep breaths before she continued. "When I had the opportunity to get out, I took it. I admit that I didn't think twice about the identity I was using. I only wanted to keep my son safe. Each time Simon found us, I had to run. I didn't know what else to do."
She could feel the tears coming but didn't want to cry for the press. Instead, she ground her teeth until the feeling passed. "I take full responsibility for the money that I spent, but I didn't take more than we needed. I used my own money to survive when I could. But the money ran out and I had to survive. So, I did take out credit cards on two of my identities to make ends meet."
The judge was staring at her with no emotion and it made her nervous, so she looked off to the side to avoid eye contact. "Your honor, I intend to pay them back. I took care of my son and put him first. He never went without clothes, a meal, or his schooling. I put him in therapy when he suffered from night terrors and anxiety. I worked hard to shield him from trauma, but I could only do so much. I want to apologize for all the trouble that I caused but if I'm being perfectly honest, I'd do it again to know that we were safe. I'm ready to face the consequences for what I've done." Absently, she rested a hand on her belly.
The judge was going to speak until she said, "One more thing if that's alright." He nodded to let her continue. Regina mustered her courage and turned her head slightly to face the media head-on. "My name is Sabrina Thompson not Simon. I had nothing to do with the vile things he did. I didn't help him, I didn't know what he was doing, and I would never be a part of it. I've suffered more than anyone here knows, and I deserve to put this behind me. Thank you, your honor."
Jeremy led her back to her chair where she stayed standing. Judge Knight said, "Thank you for your candor, Mrs. Thompson." Regina held her breath, her heart was pumping overtime.
"This case is slightly unique for me. I've dealt with my fair share of abuse victims but never one quite like this. I wanted to stay objective and hear what you had to say before I rendered my verdict." He picked up a stack of papers. "In the charge of child endangerment, I'm finding you not guilty." Regina felt her eyes fill and her stomach flutter. Her hand gripped Jeremy's.
"It's clear that you took care of him and provided for him, I looked through the records and the financial reports and the majority of the items on my list were purchased for him. In charge of identity theft, I'm going to find you not guilty." He glanced at the media who leaped forward with flashes and started swiftly writing in their notebooks.
"Let me explain that to you. You did not acquire these identities, you did not create documents, and you did not falsify them physically. Therefore, according to the law, I can only find you not guilty."
Regina glanced at the media who were writing notes and exchanging glances. "In the charge of fraud, I find you guilty. According to the law, you are guilty of misuse of identification and did knowingly use identities to obtain confidential information, property, and services in another person's name. This includes credit cards; legal documents issued by the government and is listed as a Class D crime." He paused and looked at her. "I'm sympathetic to your situation and know that based on medical records what you've endured."
Regina wanted badly to turn around to see Henry's face. To look at Roland and Robin and to see how this was affecting them. But she needed to be brave for herself first. "I'm fining you $2,000 as defined by the law and ordering you spend 32 additional days in your current federal facility. I'm granting you leniency for time served and your horrific ordeal that you've come out of. You are ordered to pay $6,256.32 to victim number one and $8,954.22 to victim number two for the use of their identities and repayment of the credit cards you charged."
Regina wanted to fall and cry to hear that she as being fined and only spending a month longer in jail. She was ready to hear a year or longer. Taking a breath, she watched him afraid to look away.
"I'm also fining you a total of $2,482.69 to paid to the department of child services for reimbursement of gas, hours spent on visits, and supplies used while working on your case. That brings the total to…" He flipped the page and scanned until his finger stopped, "$19,693.23 and you will have 5 years to settle those debts. You are free to set up a payment plan with my office upon your release. If you find you are struggling to make payments, that can be addressed. Do you have any questions?"
Regina couldn't speak, but Jeremy asked, "Your honor, will you be rendering your decision on whether name changes will be granted?"
Knight pulled out a stack of papers, "I suppose we can do this now since it's in this stack. I'm granting the name change of Samuel Thompson to Henry Mills. Upon the release of Mrs. Thompson from her sentence, I'll grant her name change to Regina Mills. Until then, they'll be hanging on to the names they were given. Is that agreeable?"
Jeremy nodded, "Thank you, your honor."
"I've read my verdict; the defendant will be granted an hour with her family before returning to the facility to serve her sentence. I wish you luck, ma'am. If there aren't any other matters, all verdicts so ordered." He banged his gavel and relief flooded her.
The court officer raised his voice, "All rise," and Knight exited the room. As soon as he left the room, the media started walking toward Regina. Before they could get to her, she was led to a back room and cuffed to her chair. The door shut and she cried herself empty in relief.
Robin held onto Henry's hand and ushered the boys out the exit before the media could get to them. A female journalist seemed to be shouting at them and following behind them, but he kept ongoing. Lucky for him, her heels stopped her from keeping up. He turned down the alley and saw the officer holding the door open where he was instructed to report upon the end of the hearing.
Robin pulled out his wallet and showed his Driver's License to the officer, "I'm Robin Locksley."
"Follow me," he said in a gruff voice.
Robin held onto the boys as they were led down an empty hallway. The walls were white, the floor a black flecked linoleum. The door they stopped in front of was dark. The officer used the key to slide it in the lock and turn it. The lock sounded in a big clunk. "You have one hour, no bathroom breaks." He opened the door and they were ushered in. When the boys stepped into the room, Robin followed. The door shut behind him and much like the time he was locked in a room with Regina, the familiar feeling slid through him. The hair on his neck rose and his throat felt thick.
The boys ran to Regina who was sitting in a wheelchair near a table. There were tears in her eyes when she reached up and hugged them both. The boys were asking questions too fast and on top of one another to get a straight answer. Regina seemed to attempt to answer them as quickly as she could. Robin stood back and watched them interact. Henry was holding her hand and Roland was sitting in her lap. Love filled his heart and he knew he had to make her his.
An idea was taking root when her eyes shifted from Roland's to his. A tear slid down her cheek when she said through trembling lips, "I really thought I'd be in here a lot longer." His legs felt like lead, rooted to the floor, his tongue was tied. He shrugged. What could he say? She was sitting there with her boys by her side, a growing belly, and her face was glowing.
He finally found his words, "I hoped and prayed it wouldn't be. Thirty-two days is nothing, right boys?"
Henry frowned, "I wish you could come home and see what we've been working on."
Robin took steps toward her and settled in a chair, "It's a surprise, remember?"
"Oh, right. Sorry," he said.
Roland smiled, "I won't tell you, but I promise you'll love it."
Regina laughed, "Oh, is that right? What are you hiding?" Her eyes were dancing with joy, her lips curved.
"You'll have to wait and see. God, you're beautiful. How are you feeling? You looked a little sick when they brought you in. Nerves?"
"I get dizzy sometimes and I've been sitting in this chair so long, it hit me out of nowhere. I'm fine, I promise." She took his hand and squeezed it.
"Boys give us a minute," he said. "Go sit over there while I talk to your mom."
Regina tried to ignore that he'd said that to both boys, but she felt flutters in her stomach. They moved to the wall and sat down. Henry initiated a game of bubble gum and they were distracted.
Robin moved her wheelchair and his chair to the other end of the room. He sat in front of her, "How are you feeling about all this?"
"Robin, I was terrified of it being a lot worse. I'm glad it's over. One more month and I can get out of here. I'm not sure what we're gonna do."
"You let me worry about that," he said. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. "I missed you. How's our girl?"
Regina smiled, "Good. I'm not sick anymore. The doctors say she's healthy and active."
"Active, huh?"
Regina moved one of his hands to her belly and he grinned. It felt like the baby was tap-dancing on his hand. "What does that feel like?"
"About what you feel, I guess. Unless she kicks my bladder, I'm fine. It feels wonderful. Robin, thank you for taking care of Henry." He looked up to see her face turn serious. "I mean it, I hated knowing he was in a stranger's home. Knowing he's with you, I feel better. I know you'll take care of him."
Robin licked his lips and took a breath, "He's mine now, Regina. I'd never let anything happen to him." He used his thumb to wipe a tear from her cheek and placed his lips where they fell. "Don't cry, honey. It won't be long, and you can come home."
They held onto each other and talked about what would happen when she left the jail. Regina told him of plans to get a house and raise Henry on her own. He admired her for having the courage and the strength to start over. They talked about how they'd make it work with the new baby and ideas Regina had to build their lives together. While she went on about what she wanted, he smiled to himself for the future he was already planning.
At the end of the hour, Robin and the boys said their final goodbyes and were led out the alley as they'd entered. Robin was glad to know the media didn't hang around. On the drive back, he glanced in the rear-view mirror at the boys. They weren't talking and had solemn looks on their faces. As they drove into Camden, he made a detour and drove to the pier. "Where are we going?" Henry asked.
"I want to stop here and sit," he said as he put the car in park. They walked own to the dock and sat hanging their legs over the side. The air smelt of salt and the day's catch. A few boats were on the water in the distance, there were a few people working on a motor a hundred yards away.
"Can I go see Mr. Marco?"
"Go on but don't get in his way," he said to Roland's back as the boy disappeared around the boat. Henry stood to follow, "Wait a minute, Henry. I want to talk to you."
"I'm fine," he said. "My mom will be home soon."
"I know, that's not what I want to talk about."
Henry sat down and waited patiently.
"A lot's been going on with your mom. Too much to mention and I don't expect you to tell me all the trouble you've been through. Maybe in time, you'll feel comfortable. But I've been thinking," he said. Robin turned to him, "You mean a lot to me and so does your mom. I know that I said I'd bring you to the house but before I do that, I have some conditions."
"Conditions?" Robin sighed to see the fear in his eyes.
"Yea, I have a couple. First, I love your mom. I'm sure you know that and we're having a baby. I want to…" He hated that he felt so insecure asking a boy to marry his mother. It was ridiculous but under the circumstances it was necessary.
"Are you going to marry her?"
Robin turned and met his eyes, adult eyes, not a child's. It turned his gut to see the boy look like a man. He clenched his jaw, "I want to if she'll have me. What do you think about that?" He held his breath as he watched Henry pick up a rock and throw it on the water. He gazed off watching a boat or a bird, Robin couldn't tell.
"I guess you'll have to ask her, but I'd be okay with it," he finally said after a long silence.
"I appreciate that. But before I can think about asking her, I have something to ask you first."
"What?" This time his eyes were that of a child. Like the boy, he knew he was, the boy who liked superheroes and marshmallows. The boy who stayed up later than he was supposed to read his comic books or sneak extra spoons of sugar in his cereal. The boy he so desperately wanted to make his.
"I love you too, Henry. I guess I want to be someone you can count on. I know I take care of you, but I want you to turn to me like a…"
"Dad?" he finished.
"I know, I'm not your father. I know that you don't know me well enough to think of me that way, but I was hoping in time you might." It felt like a rat was eating away his gut, sweat was accumulating at the base of his neck, his fingers were damp and tingly. "What I'm trying to say is that I'd like to…well, if your mom says it's okay, I'd like to adopt you, maybe you could have my name." Suddenly his mouth felt dry and he yearned to down a gallon of water.
Henry turned and met his eyes, held. "Do you mean it? You'd be my dad?"
"Well, I…" he swallowed. "I don't know how you look at me, but I can tell you that I feel like you're already mine."
Robin watched him look down at his pants and pull at a loose thread. It was agonizing to wait for his head to raise and for an answer. When Henry finally raised his head, there were tears in his eyes that terrified Robin to the core. "You promise never to hurt me or my mom?"
The tension suddenly broke and relief flooded him, he took his hand, "I swear it. I'd never lift a hand to you or your mom."
Henry nodded, "Okay. I guess you can if you promise."
Robin took him into his arms and hugged him tight. "I'll take care of you and you'll never be scared again. I promise."
