It had been 7 months since the trial began. They had two court dates before this. This would be the final one. Things kept going back and forth as both sides tried to find a loop pole. Elaine tried contacting everyone in her family, but no one showed up, they wanted no part in this. Not even her husband showed up to support her. Everyone would give a testimony and the jury, if there was one, would decide. Dan and Serena stood in front of the court house.
"I'm getting huge!"
"Well this is what happens when you're pregnant." Dan replied flipping through the paper.
"Don't be smart Dan. There's the judge, I wanna talk to her. "
"Don't do something stupid." Dan replied as Serena walked away.
"Excuse me, judge." Serena yelled.
"Yes."
"Why did you favor her?"
"Ms. Van der Woodsen, this case was decided to go to trial before I got it. Elaine is powerful, it means good press. If I really had the choice you would of won."
"So she paid you off?"
"No. Someone higher up thinks it will be great publicity. Plus your past plays into this. You both were in jail. You did drugs, drank quite enough and were involved in fraud. Dan was involved with a teacher. The stakes are high against you."
"That's not me anymore. All that stuff was in my past."
"Everything you do follows you, whether you like it or not. With a baby it is even more crucial to have parents that we know can give it everything it needs, not just monetarily. If you're not that same person, prove it to the new judge and you'll be fine."
Everyone took their seats in the courtroom. They awaited as the judge remained in her office. Serena sent Dan to get her something for her stomach. The bay kicked all morning. Serena felt as if she was being hit with bricks. She just wanted this whole thing to be over with. Blair gave Serena a quick kiss on the cheek and sat behind her.
"How's my little niece doing."
"She's good. A little nervous, she's been kicking all day."
"She's ready for me to spoil her rotten. Where's your family?"
"They couldn't get a flight in. Luckily they let them submit in written testimonies. We need all the help we can get."
Just as Serena got the sentence out the judge came in. She sat in her chair and pushed her wavy hair out of her face. She shuffled a few papers around before calling Blair to the stand. Dan, Serena and Elaine would follow.
"I have known Serena all my life. No one deserves to be a mother like she does. She is the most caring person, and Dan will be a great father. These two are practically like the Brady Bunch, only with better fashion sense." Blair said with a smile.
"I know I have a few things against me on my record, but that says nothing about me now. I have a very good job so I can support my family. I practically help raise my sister. I know what it takes to raise a child, more importantly I know that this child is apart of me, and I can't go on if you take it from me. I know it takes more than money and power to raise a baby. I of all people, know what power can turn people into. I come from Brooklyn, I had to provide for myself when my family couldn't. Serena and I will love this child and provide for it, but please don't take her from us....Cause if you do, I won't be able to go on." Dan said as he cleared his throat.
"These two children don't know what it takes to raise a child, they are still children themselves. I am no saint, you all know that, but my child was taken from me and I could do nothing to stop it. Serena knew all along he was sick and refused to let me know. You don't make descisons for yourself when you're older, you make them for the good of your children. And whose to say that she is ready to have that kind of power. I know what it takes to love a child, I can love this child." Elaine protested.
"I have made mistakes in my life. I never said I was perfect. But this child deserves to be with me and Dan. It's real parents. This child never asked to be born, it wants love and protection, not all this drama. This baby means everything to me. And if you take her away, you'll be killing the chance for her to ever know any form of happiness. She will always wonder where she came from and why we had to leave. She always wonder what she did wrong, and even though she did nothing she will always feel that guilt, that she could of changed things." Serena began to cry. "Please don't take my little girl away from me."
Serena tried to get up from the stand. She suddenly felt dizzy and sick. She lost her balance and missed the step. She fell to the floor. Dan ran up to get her. He held her hand and kept yelling as 911 was called. "It's too early! It's too early." Dan shouted. He tried to wake Serena up but it was no use. He picked his hand up and saw traces of blood coming out from inder Serena.