"I do not have anything against gay people."
Nick tried to defend himself, his words were said fast, coming out of his mouth. He tried to make people believe what he didn't believe on his own.
Justin knew that. Justin also remembered Sonny's bleeding lip and his bruised hand. He remembered Will telling him the true motivation for Nick's scheme.
"So you deny calling Mr Kiriakis a – I quote- 'a faggot' and you also deny punching him?"
Nick was tense. He was caught on his lie and he swore an oath. After a moment of thinking about his options Nick looked cold at Justin.
"No I don't deny that. But I don't have anything against gays."
Justin laughed a little. Just so much that the judge wouldn't catch him on it. He turns to the jury and adresses them some seconds before turning back to Nick.
"Punching someone who is gay and calling him a faggot doesn't really support your claim, does it?"
That was the part where Nick lost it. He jumped up, built himself up in front of Justin and shouted.
"I don't care about gays. As long as they don't rub it in my face and as long as they don't get my girlfriend pregnant!"
The whole court was silent after Nick's outburst. Nobody said anything. Not the judge, nor the prosecution, nor Justin or EJ. Just Will was sitting there, feeling like somebody hit him over the head with a frying pan. He'd never thought that Nick would burst out like this. He'd always been so smart.
Justin regained his composure as one of the firsts in the buildig.
"Could you clarify that for me?"
Nick swallowed hard before answering.
"Before Ariana Grace was born, Will got Gaby pregnant."
Will thought he didn't hear right. Was Will actually lying in court? Under oath? Lying when three people in this room knew the truth about Will and Ariana?
"So what you are saying is that before Ariana Gaby had been pregnant once before?"
Nick nodded. Will, who where to look saw the look Nick threw to Gaby. It was a look who showed the hierarchy their relationship.
Justin nodded, not able to do anything else.
When Nick was asked to sit down, Will knew that it was your turn know. He had to say what he'd known and what he had done.
As he was sitting in the witness stand he saw the whole court from a different perspective. And he felt all the gazes and stares on his skin. They left little marks where they met his skin. He felt Nick staring at him, trying to intimidate him. He felt the careful looks of Gaby, praying for forgiveness. He felt looks full with approval and hope from both, Justin and EJ. And he felt looks so full of love that Will could suffocate in them. He knew who looked at him that way and he thanked him with a thought.
"When did you speak to Ariana Fallon for the first time?"
"To begin of the semester in the economics class 1A."
The prosecutor looked at him like an hunter waiting for the animal to tap into the trap.
"So you were here teacher?"
Will sighed. He knew that was to come.
"Yes. I am."
"Did you also speak outside the classes with her?"
Will nodded, knowing this answer wouldn't help him at all. But he was determined to say the truth even if they were to sent him to prison.
"She came in my office one day and we first talked about her report and then we talked about me being gay. And also homosexuality in general."
"That sounds to be a strange talk between a teacher and a student, Mr Horton."
Will shook the head.
"Aren't teachers supposed to help their students, even with questions not concerning school? Teachers should help students in more than one situation."
"And because that was still to public for you, you invited her home."
Will shook his head forcefully.
"No. I never invited her to my home and I also never told her my address. My relationship to Ariana never went beyond the teacher student relationship."
Will knew that that wasn't exactly true but who would notice. And if they were to find out the whole looked different anyway. She would be his daughter and everything would be changing. At least that is what he hoped.
"But you visited her in hospital."
Will's eyes were looking to Sonny. He hadn't told that to him but Sonny didn't seem to mind. He was just looking back and forming his mouth to a kiss. He sent him that kiss through the room. And that made Will stronger.
"I had the same blood group and the needed a donation. So of course I came when Gaby called me."
The prosecutor who was, when he asked that question sure he would trap Will, now looked rather confused. He couldn't join the dots anymore.
"Why would Gabriella Fallon call you?"
Will looked to Gaby. He tried to get her approval but she didn't say anything, didn't move.
"Because she knew I had the same blood group."
"How did she know that?"
Will knew that this was the moment he had waited for for a long time. This was the moment to tell the truth about him, Nick and Ariana. This was the moment his life could change. Forever.
"Ariana is my daughter. Gaby was just pregnant once and I am the biological father of Ariana Grace Fallon."