Chapter 9

Nathalie pulled down on her jacket as she walked to the witness stand. For all the times she had been in a courtroom this was the first time she had ever sat in that particular seat. Standing up, she raised her right hand and swore to tell the truth. It wasn't until she took her seat that she saw them - four people who had come to mean so much to her. They had all defied her request to stay away and were sitting together. They smiled at her but she looked away. It was going to be a day of humiliation and she hadn't wanted anyone to witness it.

Alexis rose from her seat and walked towards Nathalie. She focused on her lawyer, trying to shut out all the distractions around her. Alexis opened with some softball questions before asking her about her children, her work, the type of life she provided for them. It was an easy exchange of information but then the hard part wasn't going to come from her side. She knew the minute Alexis sat down the assault would begin. Her only comfort was that Alexis would treat her father with as much disdain as his lawyer would treat her. Having declared her love for her children in response to Alexis' final question, Nathalie took a drink of water and steeled herself.

Her father's lawyer, Douglas Young, had a kind face and pale blue eyes but she wasn't fooled. He needed to score a win from her and she offered so many opportunities for that. He too was kind in the beginning but Nathalie knew not to be drawn in. There were three questions, just three, that would fundamentally change her life and the lives of her children. Like a good a storyteller, she could see him weave the tale that he wanted the judge to hear. In many ways her answers were almost irrelevant to the outcome. Looking at him, they both knew what the result was going to be.

"How long have you been dating Nikolas Cassadine?" he asked casually.

"For about five months" She couldn't look at Nikolas. She wanted to, she wanted to crawl inside the safety she knew she would see in his eyes but there was no escape.

"Five months? My goodness. So let me make sure I understand - less than seven months after the death of your husband, you've uprooted your children from the only home they've ever known to take up with a new man?"

"My children weren't uprooted and we didn't move so that I could date."

You like men, don't you?" he asked

"Yes." She resisted the urge to expand on any answer.

"You've dated a lot?"

"Yes" she said, refusing to lower her eyes in shame as her parents expected her to.

"How would you define a lot? More than 10? More than 20?"

"Yes." She wanted to delay the inevitable for as long as she could

"How many sexual partners have you had?" Alexis objected but the judge overruled. "Do you need me to repeat the question?"

"Probably 40" Her voice wavered for the first time.

"Probably? Do you not know?"

"I haven't kept a ledger if that's what you're asking." The flush in her cheeks was the only indication of her discomfort. Brenda noticed Nikolas clenching and unclenching his fists. She put a hand on his arm to comfort him. Nathalie made the mental checkmark beside question one. Only two more to go.

"Tell me Mrs. Walker - how did your husband die?"

Nathalie inhaled quietly. "In a car accident."

"Was it really an accident?"

"That's what the police report says"

"Was it an accident?" he repeated. All signs of his earlier kindness and sympathy were long gone.

For the first time since her testimony began, Nathalie's eyes went in search of support - they landed on Patrick's. He held her gaze and did his best to silently comfort her. She looked back at Mr. Young. "I wasn't there, I wouldn't know."

Exasperated by her stonewalling, he walked back to his table and rifled through his papers. "Mrs. Walker, I have in my possession a letter addressed to a Dr. Patrick Drake in which your husband admits that if this letter was sent it was because he committed suicide. So I ask you, did your husband kill himself?"

Robin's hand went in search of Patrick's. It was cold and clammy and Robin could feel the slight tremble in it. The memory of finding him alone, in the dark, amidst the destruction of his hotel room, was still fresh. He had been desperate and devastated and it had taken hours before she could finally reach him. The knowledge of the circumstances around his best friend's death had weighed on him and though he wouldn't discuss it much any more, she suspected it still did. She squeezed his hand and moved closer to him.

"I don't know if my husband killed himself Mr. Young, you'd have to ask him."

The lawyer smirked. "Fair enough. Based on this letter, would you say it is likely your husband killed himself?"

"Based on that letter I would say it is likely my husband intended to kill himself." Nathalie finished at the top of her class in law school and wasn't about to fall into any trap set by this man.

She blew out her cheeks quietly and ran her hand through her hair, question number two was done. She briefly wondered why she bothered wearing any clothes at all when it was clear that the purpose of the proceeding was to leave her feeling as exposed as possible. The answers to the first two question still left things in the balance but it would be question three that would tip the scales.

"Tell me, Mrs. Walker - where are your children living right now?"

Nathalie closed her eyes. It was over. She knew the minute she opened her mouth to answer the question she would lose her children. "They are living at Wyndermere."

He feigned surprise. "Wyndermere? Do you live at Wyndermere?"

"No" she said hoarsely.

"Who owns Wyndermere?"

"Nikolas Cassadine." Nathalie was unable to meet his eyes.

"Your boyfriend?"

"Yes."

"So your children don't actually even live with you now. You are content to leave them in the custody of your boyfriend's nanny while you are partying it up? Trolling for new men?"

"Objection!!" Alexis said forcefully.

"Your honour" Mr. Young approached the judge. "Given that the defendant does not currently see fit to exercise her parental responsibilities over her children, we petition the court the grant immediate temporary custody to my clients."

"Your honour" Alexis rose to her feet. "The situation is more complex than my colleague would lead you to believe..."

The judge raised his hand. "I will take the matter under advisement. I wish to hear testimony from the plaintiff this afternoon and I will want to meet with the children in chambers. I will render a decision on temporary custody subsequent to that. We are adjourned until this 2 o'clock this afternoon." Everyone stood as the judge left the room. Nathalie sank back down to the chair and watched as her parents refused to make eye contact with her. Fatigue washed over her and she was suddenly too tired to move

Her knees trembled as she stood up. Alexis offered her a steadying arm as she stepped down. "I'm just going to get some air" she said quietly. She brushed past her and headed out the door. Nikolas grabbed her arm as she walked by but she shook him off and kept walking. Running after her he tried but failed to catch up to her as she sought to escape the media horde. He leaned against the pillar and watched her run.

xxxxx

"Did you fall down?" Ethan asked, looking down at Lulu.

Feeling her cheeks flush, Lulu was grateful the cold weather covered her blushing. "I'm making a snow angel" she announced.

"Yeah" Grace echoed "we're making snow angels."

Ethan grinned. "Hi Gracie, how are you?"

"Fine." Rolling over she scampered to her feet. "Lulu, can we get hot chocolate now?"

"Yes munchkin" she said, sitting up. Offering his hand, Ethan pulled her to her feet.

"Another day playing in the snow?" he asked.

"Jealous?" she teased.

"Maybe." He jammed his hands in his pockets to resist pushing her hair from her face. "Would you like some company for hot chocolate?" he asked shyly.

"Sure - does this make it a pre-date date?" Lulu had finally found the courage to call Ethan after a day of dialing his number and hanging up. They had decided on a Almodovar double feature for Friday night, followed by drinks.

"You mean like a warm up date?" he asked.

"Exactly."

"Does this mean if hot chocolate doesn't go well, you'll cancel on me?"

She shook her head. "No - I usually need to try things a few times before I can reject them completely."

"Lucky for me" he grinned.

Grace stood in front of Lulu with her arms up. "Carry me Lu."

Bending down, she picked her up and balanced her on her hip. "Are you getting tired Gracie-lou?"

"No Lulu-lou - I'm not tired." Arriving at the hot choclate stand, Lulu placed their order before turning back to Ethan. "So what are you doing in the park today?"

"I went to see if my dad was free for lunch but he couldn't swing it. He's working on a big case and I guess things started to go his way so he's got to work through lunch."

Lulu wrapped her hands around the hot chocolate as Grace chased the snowflakes trying to catch them on her tongue. "Is your dad a lawyer?" Clearing some snow from the picnic table, Lulu sat down. Ethan did the same thing, sitting close enough for their legs to be touching.

"Yeah - he's working on some big custody case for some Washington socialites."

Lulu's blood ran cold. "Pardon?"

He shrugged. "I don't know - we don't talk about his work too much - but he was hired a couple months ago by some grandparents who think their daughter is unfit. I guess he's going to get quite a bit of publicity about it."

She dropped her hot chocolate. "I have to go" she said standing up suddenly.

"What? Why?" he asked in confusion.

"And I don't think I can make Friday night after all. See you around Ethan" Lulu said, trying to keep the sting of tears from her eyes. "Grace - let's go - it's time to go home."

"Lulu! Wait!" Ethan called after her. Everything had shifted and he had no idea why. Lulu picked up Grace and started to hurry out of the park. With the advantage of his long legs, he was able to catch up to them. "Did I do something wrong?" he asked, searching her green eyes for some indication.

Lulu put Grace on the ground. "I just think it's better if we don't go down this road."

"But - did I do something?" his voice was earnest. "I thought you liked me."

"I do but..."

"But what?"

She looked over at Grace before turning back to him. "That case - that custody case your father has taken - it's about her" she nodded in Grace's direction. "That's my friend your father is trying to rob of her children."

Ethan's mouth dropped open. "I had no idea."

"Yeah well, she's a mess, my friend's a mess and if the worst happens, my brother will be in a mess."

"But what does this have to do with us?" he asked. "Lulu, I don't work for my father - I have nothing to do with his cases."

"I just...I don't know."

"What if I change my last name - if I change my last name will you go out with me?"

Her face softened. "Why are you so insistent on going out with me?"

He looked at her shyly. "Because I like you. You're the first really interesting person I've met in the two years that I've been here."

Lulu snorted. "You need to get out more."

He grinned. "Maybe. Please don't let my father's work get in the way of us getting to know each other better - please Lulu"

The pleading in his eyes was irresistible. "I don't know..."

"Come on - I promise to make you laugh."

She took a deep breath. "Okay"

xxxxxx

Bruce fidgeted in the brocade chair. The room was heavy with tapestry and gold fixtures. It was luxurious, almost over the top. The four men had said nothing on the long ride to wherever they were. Having been blindfolded, he had lost his bearings and had no idea how long they had been in the car. His heart rate had been rapid and he sweated profusely despite the reassurances from the men that he was not in fact being kidnapped. They had removed his gun with the promise of giving it back to him for the return journey. Unable to sit any longer, he walked to the window and stared at the snowy grounds. There was a high stone fence surrounding what looked to be a substantial property. Hearing the door open, he turned around.

"Mr. Harris. How nice of you to come for a visit."

"I don't recall having had much of a choice" he grumbled.

"Yes, well, discretion is very important to me. I've been watching you for quite some time."

"Oh?"

"Yes - I think you and I could be of great service to each other and work towards some common goals."

"I'm not sure what you think you know..."

"I have infinite resources at my disposal Mr. Harris - may I call you Bruce?"

"I'm afraid I don't have the advantage of knowing your name."

"Pardon me" she said. "Where are my manners? I am Helena Cassadine."