A/N Yes, I know I suck, I suck immensly, you all probably want to kill me for the long amount of time between updates. I am really truly sorry about the long wait, but I had severe writer's block about this story. :(
Thanks to all Reviewers!
Disclaimer: I only own Sofia, and all the bad guys.
"All right, the custody hearing begins tomorrow; let's go over your testimony shall we?" Tony Russo questioned Frank and Joe who were seated in chairs in front of his desk.
Frank and Joe opted to stare back at him sullenly rather than responding aloud.
"Alright, if the Judge takes you into his chambers to talk alone and he asks you about your recent kidnapping what do you say, Franklin?" Tony asked watching his grandson through narrowed eyes.
"I was kidnapped by some common thugs for ransom and, my Grandfather," Frank spat out the word 'grandfather' as though it were a swear word. "Found me, and brought me back to his house, he definitely was not involved in my kidnapping."
"Good, and what happens if you don't stick to that story?"
"Sofia will regret it." Frank replied mechanically.
"Correct," The mob boss replied. "And what do you say if the judge asks you who you would rather live with, Joseph?"
"I want to live with my Grandfather because, forget this, I refuse to say this. I REFUSE." Joe exclaimed.
"Tsk, tsk, Joseph, I'm disappointed in you, I can't say I'm surprised, however." Their grandfather replied in a mocking tone. "Listen to me very carefully, you will say that you prefer to live with me because you never felt safe with your father or else you will find yourself without a girlfriend." Tony watched the look of horror flash across Joe's face. "Oh, yes, I know all about your darling Vanessa, and if you so much as step one toe out of line you will be returning home to her funeral. I've stationed some of my most reliable men in Bayport, they await my signal, if they here you've failed to cooperate then your Miss Bender will find herself very, very dead."
"Fine." Joe spat out through gritted teeth. "I'll say whatever you want."
"Very good." Russo replied smiling benevolently at his youngest grandson. "Now let's continue, Franklin, if they bring up your marriage to Sofia what do you say?"
"It is customary in my family for the heir to get married at seventeen years old, Sofia and I are very close, and I am thrilled to be married to her, I was not coerced into this marriage by anyone I made the final decision." Frank recited as though reading from a script.
"Try to say it with more feeling during the trial." Russo ordered.
"I'll get right on that." Frank muttered sarcastically.
"See that you do." His Grandfather replied ignoring the obvious sarcasm.
Meanwhile…
"Fenton!" Laura exclaimed rushing over to her husband and embracing him as soon as he walked into the hotel room she had gotten them in Italy. Fenton had just been released on bail, and his lawyer James Cassidy had gone to pick him up at the police station.
"Hello, Mrs. Hardy," Cassidy said walking in behind Mr. Hardy. "We need to go over your testimony for the hearing tomorrow if we want to stand a chance of your winning custody."
"James, be frank with us, what do you think the odds are that we will win this lawsuit?" Laura asked anxiously.
"I'm not going to lie to you, the odds are against us, even though you two are the birth parents the nature of Mr. Hardy's job is against you, and Tony Russo has a lot of power in this area, and if he manages to coerce Frank and Joe into testifying the way he wants to than this battle is lost. However, if Frank and Joe get to talk to the judge in private I'm hoping that they'll be able to be more honest with the judge. It would help if we could prove that your father, Fenton, was the one who kidnapped Frank."
"I've had Sam looking into it, and I've done the best I can but there's no evidence, it seems my dear old dad managed to pin the crime on some common crooks who have signed confessions admitting to their guilt. And, they got a plea bargain for admitting their guilt, and parole for good behavior. Also, since Frank wasn't injured when my father 'found him' they got off with just five years with parole. I bet he paid them a boatload of money for taking the blame." Fenton remarked bitterly.
"Don't give up hope," Cassidy said trying to bolster their confidence. "Certainly this isn't looking great for us, but if we can manage to do this right there's a good chance that you will be able to regain custody, and even if we lose the first case we may be able to appeal."
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that." Laura said grimly. "We need to win this case the first time, I can't bear to think of Frank and Joe trapped with that man any longer."
A/N As today, June 22, is my birthday you should all review...and not kill me.