*Author's Note*

Thanks for reading, faving, following, and reviewing.

Since Billy, Robert E., and Mariah are mentioned in the first scene I decided to finally give them face claims.

Billy McCoy: Richard Madden

Robert E. Hatfield: Patrick Flueger

Mariah Wolford: Marina Squerciati

(Yea I know the last two are Ruzek & Burgess from Chicago PD. They made a cute couple til the show writers broke them up a few seasons back. Can't stand Ruzek with Upton, but anyways enough of that lol.)

Defying Gravity

Novella POV:

After getting served, by my husband of all people, I left my uncle's office with my brother. Me and Moses were silent as we got into his truck and pulled out of the parking lot. Hell, the only noise in the cab of his jacked-up Chevy Avalanche was the music flowing out of the radio speakers. We drove out of Pikeville in silence. Well, we drove out of state in silence. The silence wasn't broken until the Welcome To Mate Creek sign came into view whenever my brother spoke up with, "Go easy on Cap. Him servin' you's part of his job, he's not doin' it to hurt you."

"I know, Moses." I sighed, not wanting to be bothered with him giving me good-hearted advice. I know he means well, but I just don't want to hear it.

Looking at me he dropped the bomb of, "I'm meetin' up with Betty, Robert. E, and Mariah for dinner. Double date type thing."

I arched one of my thin auburn brows at him. "That's nice, but isn't Mariah the girl your best friend, Billy McCoy, had his eye on?"

"Yea, but she's with Robert. E instead of Billy." Moses answered, pulling his pack of Reds from his shirt pocket. Pulling one out and shoving it into his mouth, quickly lighting it, he went on to explain, "She can't stand Billy, but he can't get that thru his thick skull."

"Sounds familiar…" I let out in a low flowin' sigh while my brother stuck his pack back into his pocket, taking a drag off his smoke. Hell, Billy must've learned his dating skills from Tolbert. They both wanted a woman they couldn't have, one that was with a Hatfield too boot.

Cracking his window, he nodded, "Yea, I think it's a trait with the redhead McCoys." Tolbert had ginger red hair while Billy had auburn red hair, so it wasn't a stretch to think that they had the stereotypical redhead fly off the wall temper. Thank good I didn't have that cursed temper considerin' I got copper red hair. I just got a low tolerance to bullshit problem.

I just silently nodded at my brother's remark. He didn't say anything else, just continued to drive. Moses didn't speak until we reached my house and that was only to say, "Well, here ya are, sissy. Home sweet home."

"Thanks for the ride, Mo." I told my brother, opening the truck door and sliding on out.

"No problem." He simply said as I slammed his door shut.

As I walked up the path to the large cattle stockade gate that blocked off my driveway, I heard Moses barrel down the road, his tires squealing as they burnt rubber 'gainst the road; leavin' tread marks behind. I just shook my head at my brother's race car like driving skills. Quickly, I opened the cattle gate, walked thru it, and then shut it. With every step I made towards my house I felt anger simmerin' inside of my chest. I just couldn't believe that I got served by my own husband. As I stepped up onto the front porch I felt as if my summons was burning a hole thru my handbag. That's how heavy it loomed on me; my soul.

I entered the house and shut the door only to be greeted by my husband's voice echoing from the living room with, "Babe, you home?"

"Of course, I'm home. Who else would be unlockin' our front door and waltzin' in?" I sarcastically spat as I walked down the hall and into the living room.

"Somebody's a bit testy." Cap pointed out from his spot on the couch. Lookin' at me as I took a seat next to him he asked, "Have a bad meetin' with your uncle?"

"My meetin' was fine, well up til I got served by my husband." I spat out, narrowing my cornflower blues at his wifebeater clad chest. My look was so intense I'm surprised he didn't combust into flames Carrie style.

"Oh, so you're upset 'bout that?" He asked, his head cocking to the side as a tiny look of surprise shined in his mix matched eyes.

"Of course, I am." I spat out bitterly. Shaking my head, I scoffed, "Damnit, Will, you're my husband and you served me to testify for you knowin' that I'm on the defensive team."

Sitting up ramrod straight he turned 'round to face me head on with the deep toned speech of, "I told ya long time 'go to quit the case cause I didn't want you gettin' hurt, but you're too stubborn to quit. I need you, the ex-wife, and the mistress to testify for characterization." Taking my hand in his, he gave me a thin upturn of his lips, while assuring me, "It's nothin' 'gainst ya, babe."

Too bad his assurance didn't work. Snatching my hand away from his faster than as if I was pullin' it away from the hot handle of a cast iron pan, I told him in a high-pitched snarl, "Bastard, you know everythin' that happened with me and Tolbert and now you're going to dig it up in the courtroom."

His face went cold and hard as he spat out a bit roughly, "Yes, so don't even think 'bout purgin' yourself cause like ya said I know the truth."

"Hell, maybe my uncle was right 'bout you. Maybe you marryin' me's just a ploy to win the damn case." Came tumbling out of my mouth before I could even think better of it. Sad to say, but that's kinda what it looked and felt like right now.

"Don't you dare say that fuckin' shit to me. I married ya cause I'm in love wit'cha and we're havin' a baby." I just gave him a deadly cold look with my cornflower blues, findin' it hard to believe a goddamn word he said cause it didn't feel like he loved me at the moment since he was puttin' winning before me and my emotional state. Cockin' his head at me he asked in a deep, biting tone, "Since ya brought it up, why'd ya marry me for?"

Why did I marry him? Hell, that cocky cold jerk knows why. I let out a long sigh before revealing my honest feelings of, "Cause I love you and even tho it ain't too smart of me I can't stay away from you. It's like I need you just like I need air to breathe and that's terrifyin'."

My husband nodded, his icy eye and its milky twin softening slightly. "Good, so we both married outta love."

"Just, leave me be for a while. I need time to wrap my head 'round the bullshit stunt ya pulled on me." I told Cap, my shoulders shaking a bit as I pushed myself off of the couch.

"A'ight, just get your shit together in time for your reunion on Saturday night." What a jackass.

Snappin' my head to look at him I ordered, "Don't talk to me like that, fuckin' jackass."

"Remember, I'm your jackass." Cap waggled his brows at me, trying to play his cute, but cocky card. Yea, that ain't workin' at all tonight.

"I'm goin' upstairs to get changed." I told him before leaving the room. He didn't say a word, guess he thought better of it cause he knew I wasn't in the mood for his shit tonight.

The next few days were a bit rocky for me and Cap. Turns out my foul mood about bein' served didn't disappear, but lingered instead. Hell, the tension in our house could be cut with a butter knife, that's how thick it was. Tonight was my dreaded high school reunion, that I could care less about, so I had to swallow my pride and at least act like I wasn't still a bit resentful towards my husband.

I was in the bathroom putting on my makeup while Cap was in the adjacent room puttin' on his black tie to go with his classic black suit. "Ya look beautiful in that dress, babe." He complimented with a smirk.

Oh, now he was trying to butter me up. I honestly didn't find anything special 'bout the Ross clearance rack dress I had on. It was just a black and wine color block tank dress, which I had to wear a black shrug with so I wouldn't get chilled by the fall weather, so I didn't think it was somethin' to make me look like a model in.

Lookin' at my husband via the mirror I scoffed, "Don't try to flatter me tonight. Let's just finish gettin' ready, go to the reunion at the Pikeville Hotel, and try to act like we're not havin' marriage problems."

"But, Nova, we're not havin' marriage problems. You're the one that's havin' a problem with bein' served and with your job in general. Problem got nothin' to do with our marriage." Cap told me as he sat on our bed, putting on his loafers, after putting on his suit jacket.

Oh my god, is he that stupid? He can't be, he went to one of the best colleges in the county. I just shook my head at him before finishing up my makeup.

"Ready to head on out t'hell?" Cap asked, sittin' on the edge of our bed, as I walked out of our bathroom.

Nodding, I sighed, "Yea, let's go."

Damnit, I have a feeling that once we get to the reunion all of my old classmates, especially Nancy Phillips, are goin' to smell the tension 'tween me and Cap like a shark smells fresh blood in the water.

I felt my stomach doin' flip-flops as Cap pulled the truck into the large parking lot of the Pikeville Hotel. The lot was packed, but a few spots were still open. Hell, I really didn't want to deal with hundreds of like-minded people that were gonna shit a brick once they saw me with Cap. Hell, just my part of the slide show alone was going to give everyone a heart attack and send them to the cardiac floor of the Pikeville Medical Center.

"Don't be nervous, tonight'll be fine." Cap told me, takin' my hand in his and brushing his thumb 'gainst my knuckles, after parking our black Ram.

"I'm not nervous." I quickly told my husband, who's arched brow look told me that he thought I was in denial. "Let's just go inside, say hi, mingle for a bit, and then leave." I told my husband, snatching my hand out from under his and grabbing my black clutch from its spot on the seat next to me.

"Yep." Cap popped his tongue 'fore opening up his door.

We exited our truck at the same time, my heels clinking on the pavement mingled with his loafers smackin' 'gainst it as we stood by our doors. Hell, we even slammed them shut in unison too. I took a deep breath 'fore walking down the lot towards the entrance of the large hotel. Cap was right by my side, his hand gingerly resting on the small on my back, despite the strain that was still on us; our marriage. I felt like I wanted to throw up whenever we reached the door and Cap opened it, usherin' us inside. Whether it was from nerves or the pregnancy I wasn't sure, but I do know that I'm gonna be on edge the entire night while my husband seems cooler than a cucumber.

Right at the entrance of the hotel ballroom where the reunion for the '08 class was taking place was a sign in table being run by a woman that I vaguely remembered as being a one of the cheer captains. Let's just say that the last decade hasn't been too good for her and that she lost her slim cheerleader's body, instead looking more like Toby Walters from that movie Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion. Dear lord, I hope she's not as cheerful and annoying as the woman from the movie. I don't think I can handle that tonight. Not after how the past few days of my life's been a three-ring circus shit show.

"Welcome. Tickets please." The brunette, who's name tag read Ellenor Walter-Prye greeted us with a smile as we stepped up to the sign in table. Cap produced the tickets from his pocket and handed them to her, without saying a word might I add. Looking between us, Ellenor grabbed a couple of name tags and a sharpie. "Well, Novella Landon, I see it's true that you're married to ADA Cap Hatfield." She remarked uneasily, but in an airy tone, as she wrote down our names on our name tags.

"Yea, we've been married for a couple weeks now." I told her with a tight smile on my face. Gosh, the more I looked at her the more I wanted to stick her on an episode of What Not To Wear. Not to be mean, but her dress looked like a pink polka dot nightmare straight from a '50's sock-hop. God, I hope the dress didn't have a felt black poodle on it, if so I was gonna die laughin'.

"We're also expectin' our first child. Roughly 7-weeks 'long too." Cap bragged, causin' Ellenor's brown eyes to pop out of her head as she handed us our nametags.

"Oh, congratulations." She told us a bit fakely as we took the backs off of our nametags and stuck them onto our chests.

"Thanks." I politely told her while grabbing my husband's trash from him, placing it along with mine into the trashcan by the table.

Cap just nodded at her 'fore placin' his hand on the small of my back and leading me to the open ballroom door just yards away. Dipping his head low to my ear he told me in a slight chuckle, "Bet everyone's gonna shit their pants when they read our nametags. ADA Cap Hatfield and Novella Landon-Hatfield."

"Yea…" I let out in a long drifting sigh as we scanned the room for a table. I noticed that all of the tables were draped in white cloth and had a crimson runner on them. Also black sparkly balloon weights sat in the middle of each table and had red, black, and white balloons strung up on them. Eh, seems like the reunion committee went all out with the school colors.

I noticed that in the front of the ballroom was a large projection screen that had the class slideshow playing. There was roughly 250 people in my graduating class and I was an L so luckily my part of the slideshow hadn't played yet since the person being shown was Mike Idlewood. According to his slideshow, that was set to Bruno Marz's The Lazy Song, he ended up a loser with no front teeth that lived in his mama's basement. Nice…

"There's an open table over there." Cap told me, pointing out a table that wasn't too far from the open ballroom floor.

"Okay." I nodded, causin' my husband to lead us over to the open table. As we got closer to the table, I noticed that there were a bunch of red, white, and black party favor bags layin' on it. Great, we get to bring home souvenirs from this event. Just what I need…

"Hmm, goodie bags." Cap mused as we reached the table.

"Yea, I'll grab a couple for us and shove 'em in my clutch." I assured Cap, taking a seat in my chair after he pulled it out for me.

Kissing me on the temple he told me, "I'm gonna go get you a Sprite and me a bourbon."

I just nodded, causin' him to take off to the bar that was on the other side of the room. Even tho I was upset with him, he still managed to do something sweet to tug at my heart. I know that getting us drinks is a simple gesture, but it meant a lot since for the past few days we've been at each other like cats and dogs. I let out a small sigh before grabbing some of the favor bags. Curious to see what was in them I opened one up and snooped around in it only to find a red koozie with a white panther, Pikeville High's mascot, printed on it with the words PHS 10 YR Reunion framing it in a curve. Also, there were some sliver kisses candy with PHS themed stickers on the bottom along with a tacky keychain. It was tacky cause it had a cheesy quote of 'Nothing is as comfortable as an old friend.' on it followed by Class of '08 on the edge of the chain. Yea, well, I can think of plenty of things that are more comfortable then an old friend I hadn't seen in years. Um, like my lounge clothes and resting on my couch or in my bed watching Netflix. Hell, I felt crappy and didn't even want to be here. Shaking my head, I tossed the bags into my clutch and shut it.

After a few minutes Cap returned to our table with our drinks. "Anybody come over to say hi yet?" He asked, placing our glasses on the table before taking his seat next to me.

"No, but a few people walked by and stared at my name tag with wide-eyes." I told him, grabbing my Sprite and taking a sip of it.

"Eh, reckon you bein' Mrs. Hatfield's more then what these folks can handle." He mused, taking a long sip of his bourbon on the rocks.

"Reckon so." The less people to bother me the better. Hell, I didn't really want to be here, but kinda got talked into it by Vera and Levicy while dress shopping for my wedding. Blah…

I don't know how much time had passed, but so far, a few people dropped by our table to say hi. Like Cap said, everyone seemed shocked to learn that I had married Tolbert's mortal enemy. Nobody seemed to push on why it didn't work out with Tolbert, but everybody we talked to seemed to be curious about how I met Cap. That story my husband told over and over again with such adoration in his deep rolling wave of a voice. Just hearing him go into detail 'bout the day we met was enough to melt my bitterness that I was harborin' in my heart.

Right now, we were alone at our table; waiting for people to drop by since we weren't runnin' around the ballroom to mingle. Suddenly the slideshow landed on me, causing me to nearly choke on my Sprite as I saw a split screen picture of my senior portrait and my wedding portrait with the name Novella Landon-Hatfield boldly printed right under it along with my senior superlative of Most Likely To Get Married First. Dear god, if everyone didn't already know that I was Mrs. Hatfield then they do now.

Cap let out a deep chuckle. "Damn, you weren't bullshittin' me when ya said everyone had you and Tolbert as some Notebook shit."

"Yea, well, clearly that superlative was wrong since it seems I was the last one in the class to get married." I laughed, a real genuine one, as I replied to my husband's remark. Seems that this reunion I was dreading is bringing me closer to my husband, cutting the days long tension that's been looming over us.

Picture after picture of the last decade of my life flittered across the screen as the song Defying Gravity from the Wicked musical soundtrack played. Yea, I think that was the slide show editor's zinger towards my choice to marry Cap. Oh well…

"Oh, I see the traitor came with her one-eyed gorilla after all." Nancy McCoy cackled as she, Bad Frank, Ransom, and Mary appeared at our table right as the pictures of my relationship flickered on the screen.

"You McCoys are all the same. It's always one-eyed gorilla, one-eyed ape, or fog-eyed. Nothin' original. How 'bout cue ball, ever think of that?" Cap sarcastically smirked at Nancy, letting her know that her rude name callin' wasn't affecting him like she thought it would.

Cutting all of them a nasty look I tilted my head while asking in an edgy tone, "What'd ya want? I know it's not to be friendly cause none of us are friends."

A deadly sweet smile appeared on Nancy's face as she told me, "We just thought we'd stop by and remind you that the jury selection for the trial starts Monday."

"I know that, so what's the real reason you're here? Maybe to toss out sweetly lined veiled threats?" I deadpanned, letting the woman I once considered a friend a lifetime ago know that I knew her game; knew she was up to no good.

Before Nancy or anyone else in her group could utter a word a mischievous look crossed my husband's face as he looked at Bad Frank and asked, "How's the James Brothers' pyro technician doin' these days? Still missin' ain't he?"

Bad Frank's brows rose up on his high forehead, giving away that he realized Cap was tellin' him that he knew who torched our cars and had dealt with them. Bad Frank tried to compose himself, but the shock was still evident on his face as he said, "ADA Hatfield, you're a demon for everythin' you've done." Really, ain't that like that pot callin' the kettle black? Looking to me he added, "I hope you're able to work 'gainst your husband to procure freedom for Tolbert and Pharmer since you've made that damnin' deal for Bud to walk."

A Nancy pounced on me, or perhaps both of us, with hateful look in her black eyes and a shrill shriek of, "How could ya do it? Make Bud flip on his own brothers?"

"I didn't do anything, Bud heard Cap's offer and decided to take it." I honestly told Nancy, hoping that answer would be enough for her and make her take off to go bother somebody else.

"Oh, I bet it was that simple." Bad Frank snickered while at the same time Nancy shrieked, "Liar, you two backed him into a corner til he took that deal."

"We did no such thing." I defended our actions while at the same time Cap spat out, "We're not weasels and manipulators like ya'll are."

Ransom just stood by like a clueless asshole while Mary looked a bit uncomfortable to be watching me and Cap having a passive aggressive spat with Nancy and Bad Frank. Oh god, I knew coming to this reunion was a bad idea.

Moses POV:

I was loungin' on the couch of the place I'd just moved into. My roommate, Jim Vance, was sittin' on his over stuffed easy chair, that was held together by various patch jobs of duct tape, with his faithful mutt-hound dog Mr. Howles sleepin' by his side on the floor. How I ended up movin' into the grumpy ole bear's spare room's a simple story. I talked to him 'bout maybe rentin' a cheap house since I knew he flipped and rented property out. The gruff mountain man ended up makin' me a deal, I could rent out his spare room as long as I bought the house, he was almost done remodeling. He showed me pics of the place he was renovating and I thought it was nice, so I jumped at his offer. Anything was better then livin' with Uncle Perry or at the Kings Hotel.

We were watching the special ABC premier of Stars Wars: The Force Awakens whenever a commercial break came on. The commercial to air first was Judge Wall's campaign ad. I think the commercial turned out good, so did Jim since he spit out a wad of tobacco into his spittoon 'fore remarking, "Wall's ad looks good. Lots of people on Kentucky's side of the Tug ought'a vote for him."

Yea, both sides of the Tug used the same tv station so that's why the entire Tug River Valley saw the same ads and whatnot.

Before I could open my mouth to reply to Jim Vance my phone started ringin'. "Shit, bet it's Uncle Snakey-Perry." I groaned, grabbin' my phone off the nearby coffee table the was an arm's length 'way.

"Hell, boy, that's a good name for that shyster. He's a bonafide snake." Jim chuckled, leanin' back in his chair as his round belly jiggled, as I looked at the caller id on my phone.

"Shut up, Jim." I ordered, earning me a wave off from him, before answering my phone with a simple, "Hey, Uncle Perry. What's up?"

"Don't great me so flippantly, Moses Federick Quincey. You know why I'm callin', you were on Judge Hatfield's campaign ad." My pissed off uncle spat at me, his slick voice heavy with distress.

"Yea. I was in the commercial with my girlfriend, Betty Hatfield. Remember, I told ya I started seein' somebody from Mate Creek and was movin' there to be closer to her."

"What? You're with Devil Anse's daughter?! Oh god, not you too. What's wrong with you and your sister, shackin' up with Hatfields?"

"Nova ain't shakin' up with Cap, they're married." I reminded my uncle in a smartass voice before going on to say, "And I'm not shackin' up with Betty. We've only been datin' a couple weeks or so after meetin' up at sissy's weddin'." In a low whistle I let out, "Hell, I don't gotta death wish." Devil Anse didn't play when it came to his daughters, if I wanted to keep myself from gettin' nuetred like a pound puppy I had to be respectful to Betty and not take it so fast with her. I didn't mind tho, she was a nice girl and I enjoyed being with her, plus she still had her senior year she needed to finish up and I didn't want to put a monkey wrench into that.

"Of course, you were at that god forsaken weddin'." He groaned, no doubt rollin' his eyes dramatically at me too. Letting out a long-exasperated sigh, he asked, "Then if you're not with her where did you move to, the hotel over there?"

"Nah." Quickly feel off my tongue like snow rolling down a cliff. Before he could ask where I bluntly, but honestly, told him, "I'm crashin' with Jim Vance for a while til ya give me all my college fund money so I can buy a house."

"What, have you gone completely mad?!" Uncle Perry shouted so loud that I had to hold the phone away from my ear or I'd go tone deaf or some shit like that.

Jim Vance was dyin' laughing on his chair. Damn, he was havin' a joyful fit doublin' over on his chair and smackin' his chubby knee in amusement. Glad he found this funny, cause I didn't. Hearing my uncle whine always annoyed me.

"I'm very disappointed in you, Moses." My Uncle Perry tssked in disapproval. "I expect you to be in court on Monday. Goodbye." He coldly told me before hanging up.

"Well, that went well." Jim sarcastically scoffed, shakin' his head at me as the movie started up again on tv.

"Hey, it could've been worst. Trust me, that was Uncle Snakey-Perry bein' nice with his hissy fit." I told my roommate, tossin' my phone onto the coffee table before making myself comfortable on the old lumpy afghan covered couch. "Oh, ain't tonight that reunion for Pikeville High?" I asked, cranin' my head a bit to see Jim from the loungin' position I was in on the couch.

"Yep." Jim nodded, poppin' his tongue. Spittin' out his tobacco into his spittoon he mused, "Bet Cap and Nova are givin' everybody there a stroke."

"Hell, yea they are." I agreed, pullin' my pack of smokes from my pocket. "I'll find out what went down when I pick her up Monday mornin' for court." I told Jim, pullin' a cigarette out and sticking it into the corner of my mouth. "She can't ride with Cap cause ya know, different sides and all that jazz." I mumbled out as I flicked on my lighter, makin' the end of my cigarette glow a reddish orange as I lit it up.

"Hell, boy, I'm ridin' long wit'cha. I ain't passin' up a chance to hear 'bout that shit show." Jim announced, a bit too gleefully in his crotchety voice might I add, as I shoved my pack of Reds pack into my pocket and took a drag off my smoke.

Lettin' the first cloud of smoke billow out of my lungs and thru my mouth like a chimney I simple nodded, "Okay."

Oh hell, Monday should be interesting. Can't wait for it to come 'long.

AN:

Hope everyone liked this chapter. I had planned to do the jury selection in this, but I ran out of room. Oh well, that's what the next chapter is for.