Done with Trenton 9
Disclaimer: As usual the recognizable character are not mine I am just taking them out to play for a bit.
Prompt: None
An: Sorry guys its time for the court chapter it took forever on this one as I have no idea how the court system works I ended up pulling up a public court transcript to try and keep it at least a bit close to what it should look like lol.
All rise! The Court is now in session, silence is hereby enjoined. Honorable Judge Mary Prescott is presiding.
With a bang of her gavel the judge announced the court in session making Stephanie jump.
The court clerk called out the case information and charges against Helen Plum kidnapping, kidnapping of a minor, intent to harm, and aiding and abetting in assault and rape.
Stephanie shrank further into Steve as the charges were read out. It sounded so much worse when she heard it that way instead of just trying to shrug it off. His arm wrapped tightly around her holding her close Natasha took her had holding it tightly in support. She vaguely heard the pubic prosecutor and defense attorney being announced still in disbelief that Albert of all people stood up there representing her mother. She felt so betrayed not only by her mother but also Valerie as she watched her mother being called to the stand.
"Please raise your right hand. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?" The court clerk asked.
"Of course I do I would never lie!" Helen sniffed haughtily.
"Mrs. Plum do you understand the crimes charged against you?" The judge looked at the huffy woman.
"Let it be on the record that the accused pleads not guilty to all charges. " The judge announced.
"Your honor we would like to ask that no bail be set and that the accused be held pending trial. Mrs. Plum has many friends in the Chambersburg area and we fear that she will be a flight risk." The prosecutor spoke up.
"Your honor I must object my client is an exemplary member of society with no criminal record to speak of." Albert protested.
"You can't keep me in jail what will the neighbors think! Honestly if my stupid good for nothing daughter would just do as she is told this would not be happening!" Helen exploded.
"This is your only warning Mrs. Plum I will not have those outburst in my courtroom I will have you removed and add contempt of court to your charges." The judge said sternly. "It is my decision that Mrs. Plum be held without bail and the trial date set pending a mental health review. It honestly causes me great concern that a mother shows such disregard for her own child."
"No you can't keep me here! Stephanie was supposed to marry Joe she would have seen it after she stayed there a while we did nothing wrong!" Helen screamed struggling against Albert who continually attempted to quiet her.
"Let the records show that Mrs. Plum admitted within the courtroom that she is guilty of the charges against her." The judge called out. "Get her out of my court before I change my mind on the mental inquest and set a trial immediately."
"Well you should be ashamed of yourself young lady sending your own mother and my innocent boy to jail for trying to straighten you out. I always knew you were a rotten seed." Angie Morelli snarled getting up to leave.
"I can't believe your doing this to mom you are not my sister anymore so don't bother calling, and stay away from my daughters I do not want your behavior to rub off on them." Valerie snarled.
"I figured that much when you had Albert represent her. How could you condone kidnapping and rape?" Stephanie asked quietly.
"Stop being a drama queen mother just wanted you to straighten up and do as you are supposed to! You are an embarrassment Stephanie what man wants a woman who can't cook and has no idea how to act like a lady." Valerie spat.
"I do." Steve answered pulling Stephanie back as Natasha put herself between the women. "That's about enough ma'am I wanted to stay out of it since your family but do not talk to her that way."
"You say that you do not want your daughters to turn out like their aunt a beautiful, kind, courageous woman who puts everyone above her own happiness? I think you should pray that they do! That woman has let herself get beaten down for years to keep you people happy, but it ends now she may not stop you but I will and let me tell you that it will be painful. Leave." Natasha whispered in a cold voice terrifying Valerie into practically running for her husband who glared at them.
"Please get me out of here before I lose it completely in front of everyone." Stephanie whispered knowing Steve would hear her.
When they returned to the tower Stephanie didn't say anything to anyone heading straight to her suite and enabling privacy asking that Jarvis allow no one though. She needed time to hide away and think. She sank to the floor wrapping her arms around her knees already deep in her thoughts it was no secret that she been considered a failure being loud, stubborn, unable to cook or act like a lady she had been a constant embarrassment to her mother who never failed to tell her how worthless she was. It was hard being told you were wrong and compared to other people throughout your childhood to teenage years, people were mean, and it most definitely altered the way that she thought about herself.
She was proud of the steps she had taken and the progress she had made she had grown so much from the woman who allowed everyone to say and do as they would because she probably deserved it. Finally stepping away from the people who had emotionally abused her all her life separating herself from that toxic mindset degrading thoughts still popped up occasionally. At this moment she found herself asking what was so wrong with her that she didn't deserve love.
As a teenager after the bakery incident and Morelli, it felt as though no one would ever be attracted to her for who she was they would of course ask her for bed favors bold as brass, and if they did, they would rather be caught dead than admit that they were into worthless Stephanie. She had been asked to be a secret girlfriend on many occasions code word: fwb they were ashamed to be seen with.
Steve was totally different he wasn't afraid to be vocal about his attraction, and how brave and loving she was. He thought her skills as a bounty hunter and information gather amazing instead of being embarrassed by her. He wanted to help improve them to keep her safe instead of telling her she couldn't live the way she wanted. He was very open and physical with his affection always touching her in some way. He held doors open and talked to her instead of at her.
So, when she felt thrown back to that hurt little girl in the court room like she was back there worthless and and embarrassing burden on those around her. She wanted to hide away and not be touched let alone be around Steve or the team. When she felt so low and began to question her self-worth, and whether she even deserved Steve or this new life she was creating with her friends she didn't want to burden them after all she thought she had found her everything only to get it taken away when Carlos shredded her heart. All those comments about line item on the entertainment budget, my love doesn't come with a ring but a condom comes in handy. He gave me just enough to keep me coming back for the scraps he threw to me as if I were a damn dog. Telling me how bad my family and Morelli was then turning around and manipulating me himself.
"Maybe I should move on like I planned this was only supposed to be a visit I am better off on my own so that I don't burden anyone." Stephanie whispered.
"Like hell you will capcicle only just found you. Look I know you thought no one was watching or listening, but I know what it feels like to be a disappointment. My father the great scientist that he was absolutely sucked at showing any kind of love and adored pointing out everything wrong or improvements to be made. At the same damn time he spent every waking moment looking for Steve. Family is not only the people we are born to sometimes they suck and you were dealt a really raw hand but you have a family here we all love you. Your default setting is to run but I have super spies and they will find you sis." Tony
"And when I find you I will kick your ass for being stupid." Natasha growled.
"No fair Jarvis I enabled privacy and asked you to keep them out." Stephanie pouted.
"I programmed Jarvis Steph I overrode it because I knew what you were doing. Not to mention I had a stream of it on my phone and you don't think to yourself when you are upset." Tony snarked.
"Look guys I just need to work through this I won't run I promise." Stephanie tried.
Steven picked her up from the floor carrying her to the couch sitting with her curled tightly to him.
"That's just fine doll we will be right here helping you work through it." Steve murmured not letting her go.
She could feel her walls crumbling down, and began to sob burying her face in his shoulder as she trembled with the emotional fall out of the day."I'm sorry I didn't handle this well I know today brought me back to bad places. When I get like this, I question whether or not I deserve you. I mean you have literally saved the world so many times. I don't know how I can ever bring anything useful to you and the team. I couldn't take being a line item on the entertainment budget again."
"Who the hell told you.. Never mind I think I know." Tank waved at the rest of the former Rangeman employees. "Lets go put that son of a bitch in the ground."
"I have it covered my man I have had mamma Manoso on the line listening" pulling the phone back up to his ear he verified that last statement had come directly from Carlos and that he had a heavy hand in the damage done to Stephanies self worth.
"Stephanie someone wants to speak to you." Lester said putting the phone on speaker.
"Stephanie, mi hija, por favor escucha cuando te digo que eres una mujer maravillosa llena de amor, bondad, coraje y compasión. Mi hijo es un idiota en llamas y muy pronto tendrá noticias mías sobre la forma en que se debe tratar a las mujeres. Quiero agradecerte por tu ayuda con Julie, todavía eres parte de esta familia y espero que vengas a visitarnos pronto."
(Stephanie my daughter please listen when I tell you that you are a wonderful woman full of love, kindness, courage, and compassion. My son is a flaming idiot and will be hearing from me very soon about the way women are to be treated. I want to thank you for your help with Julie you are still part of this family and I hope you will come and visit soon.)
"Lo haré, mamá, pero llamaré antes para asegurarme de que Carlos no está allí. Estoy viendo a alguien si puedo llevarlo a cenar conmigo para conocer el lado de la familia de Julie." Stephanie laughed her voice heavy with tears. (I will mamma but I will call ahead to ensure that Carlos is not there. I am seeing someone if I can bring him to dinner with me to meet Julies side of the family.)
"por supuesto querida, no puedo esperar para conocer a mi nuevo hijo. ¡Será mejor que te trate bien o la fila de personas para enseñarle modales será larga!" (ofcourse darlin i can't wait to meet my new son. He had best treat you right or the line of people to teach him manners will be long!)
"¡Ay no tienes idea mamá Manoso! Stephanie ahora tiene una familia numerosa Tank, Manny, Hector, Manny, Cal y yo la hemos seguido para unirnos a su nueva empresa. ¡Está basada en la torre de los Vengadores y está saliendo con el Capitán América!" (Oh you have no idea mamma Manoso! Stephanie has a large family now Tank, Manny, Hector, Manny, Cal, and I have all followed her to join her new company. She is based in the Avengers tower and dating Captain America!)
"Lester that was supposed to be a surprise!" Stephanie slapped him playfully.
"You really don't think the team is going to let you out of sight anytime soon do you, your still a flight risk so we will be with you anyway." Natasha laughed.
"Of course they all speak Spanish." Stephanie muttered.
"Sé bueno con mi nieta, ella ha sido tratada injustamente en esta vida y no dudaré en visitarla. Soy una anciana y no estaría mucho tiempo en la cárcel si tuviera que venir a manejar negocios." Grandma Rosa chimed in. (You be good to my grandbaby she has been treated unfairly in this life and I will not hesitate to visit. I am an old woman and I would not be long in jail if I had to come handle buisness.)
"Of all the shovel talks I have gotten I think that one might be the scariest." Steve muttered after the call ended.
"Wait who all has given you shovel talks?" Stephanie laughed one by one all over the people present piped up. "My merry men I understand, but you guys were friends first!"
"Thats exactly right Steph friends until you came along and made this crazy bunch a family." Bruce said quietly. "Oh no don't start crying again the big guy doesn't like it!"
*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-
Across town Carlos banged his head on the desk after the very angry phone call he received from his mother and grandmother. Lester was an evil son of a bitch even if her deserved it he had received a recording of Stephs breakdown from an untraceable email account. Tears were running unchecked down his face by the end he had caused so much damage while arrogantly thinking he was helping to build her up. He had built her up alright but he hadn't hesitated to destroy her all over again.
"I don't know how I will fix this mamma but I will."
