Part Four
Entertainment Tonight, a young woman is the host, the four girls, Melanie, Katherine, Ashley and Jane are seated arranged beside her, two on either side of the woman. "We're here to refute, point by point, the comments and statements made by the Titan boys in this afternoon's press conference. With me are the young ladies who have announced that they are each carrying a child fathered by one of the Titans. The first clip, please."
The fills with a shot of a talking head asking a question and Robin responding. The other three Titan boys are sitting on chairs in camera range.
"Robin, so you don't deny that you were at a beach party in the Hamptons a few months ago and met the young ladies who have leveled these accusations against you and your friends?"
"I don't deny that we were at a beach party last summer, no. There are pictures of us being there and we've already said that we were there for a charity event. I do deny, we all deny that we had anything to do with any of them being pregnant."
"Are you willing to be tested to prove that?"
"Yes, we all are."
In the ET studio the hostess turned to the girls, "Well, ladies, you just hears that; would you all be willing to undergo testing to prove that the Titans are the fathers?"
The girls exchanged looks then Melanie answered. "Sure, why not? We know what happened and even if the guys want to skip out, that doesn't change anything."
"But it sucks that they'd do that." Ashley looked like she might cry. "I mean, you play you pay, right? Garth, Aqualad, said that he'd be there for me, he promised and now he's...it just sucks, is all."
"Have any of you seen any of the boys since last summer?"
Katherine smiled, "I talked to Speedy last night, he called me and he sounded happy about the baby—surprised, but happy and he said he'd pay for everything."
"Really?"
"Absolutely, he's so incredibly sweet! I mean, he was surprised, sure, but as soon as he had a minute to kind of digest it, he was really happy. He was even saying that he hopes it's a boy so he can train him, teach him to be like the next generation of Titans; that would be awesome!"
Another clip was shown. "Robin, all of you deny knowing these girls?"
"Yes. We might have met them, been introduced in a crowd but that would have been the extend of it. I know I don't remember any of them, if they were even there." He looked at his friends. "Do any of you remember them?" There were three head shakes 'no'.
Back to the ET studio: "What about the boys assertion that they have no memories of meeting any of you?"
"'Sucks." Janie put her hand over her mouth. "I mean, it's not right but I guess they're just surprised like Kathrine said but I can understand it; they're all famous and they're gonna get lots of bad publicity when people hear what they did and how they want to just skip."
"Yeah, 'makes sense, even if it's a crappy thing to do."
"Guys, y'know?"
The host went on. "So, assuming that the Titans really are the father's, and assuming that they may not want to marry you ladies will you expect child support from them? Do you want them in the baby's lives?"
Janie nodded. "Of course, it's their right and it's like, they should want to help, right?"
Another clip. "If, by some chance the paternity tests came up positive, would you accept responsibility?"
Wally answered, "Of course we would, but we're not the father's so it's a non-starter."
"You're united on this?"
"It has nothing to do with being united, it's just a simple fact; we didn't get them pregnant and so we have nothing to accept responsibility for."
"So you'd be willing to submit DNA samples?"
"Of course." Robin, as always, was in charge.
"Girls, your reaction?"
Janie cried, the others going to her with hugs.
"You said that you'd all be willing to undergo paternity testing and so have the Titans and so did the boys and I've been informed that they've already given hair samples for that use. When would you agree to have your part the testing done?"
"I guess as soon as the babies are born, right?"
Host lady; "Are you aware that you could be tested now?"
Melanie. "Nh-uh. You have to get a sample from the baby when it's born. I learned that in health class."
"Actually there are two ways to be tested prenatally; you could either have amniocentesis* or CVS and have the results in about a week or so. You've all leveled some serious accusations against these boys, Are you girls willing to put an end to this? If you're right you deserve to have them contribute to their children and if you're mistaken they deserve to know that as well."
The girls looked at one another, hesitating until Kathrine asked, "What's CVS? Isn't that a pharmacy?"
The host smothered a smile. "Yes, but it's also a test; Chorionic Villus Sampling and can also gather DNA information.* Would you be willing to have either test—under a doctor's full supervision, of course."
Katherine took a beat too long and Melanie answered with "Of course."
"Well then, if you young ladies are willing, we can take you over to a geneticist right now, would that be all right with you? It won't take long."
The camera was on, the red light and lens staring at them and catching every expression and nuance. "Uh, okay."
Five minutes later, riding in a studio limo, the girls whispered to one another. "Christ, what are you going to do now?"
"They said it would be a week before we get the results. We have a week to figure it out."
"God, Mel, we're so incredibly screwed."
"Not necessarily."
*Amniocentesis: This test is performed in the second trimester, anywhere from the 14th-20th weeks of pregnancy. During this procedure, the doctor uses ultrasound to guide a thin needle into your uterus, through your abdomen. The needle draws out a small amount of amniotic fluid, which is tested. Risks include a small chance of harming the baby and miscarriage. Other side effects may include cramping, leaking of amniotic fluid, and vaginal bleeding. A doctor's consent is needed to do this procedure for paternity testing.
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS): This test consists of a thin needle or tube which a doctor inserts from the vagina, through the cervix, guided by an ultrasound, to obtain chorionic villi. Chorionic villi are little finger-like pieces of tissue attached to the wall of the uterus. The chorionic villi and the fetus come from the same fertilized egg, and have the same genetic makeup. This testing can be done earlier in pregnancy from the 10th-13th weeks. A doctor's consent is needed to do this procedure for paternity testing.
* * *
"Dick, I just heard that the girls have all submitted to paternity testing, we should know for sure in five or six days."
"Bruce, f'god'ssake—we already know, okay?" Annoyed, Dick took the stairs back up to the Manor three steps at a time.
Bruce didn't say anything, just turned back to the computer monitor. Naturally he believed Dick and trusted that the girl, Melanie, was lying. Wally was probably telling the truth as well, he was, after all, Wally. It were the other Titans he questioned.
TBC