Fan Fiction / Zoids Fan Fiction ❯ Unforgettable ❯ the stressful day ( Chapter 25 )

Van groaned as his eyes opened slightly. It was the day the trial was going to resume. He reached out for Fiona since his arms were empty and found the spot next to him to be empty. “Fiona?” he questioned as he looked around the room but found it empty.

 

A delicious smell assaulted his nose and Van smiled. He stood up and threw on some clothes before walking out of the room and towards the kitchen. It was there that he saw the love of his life standing there making them breakfast, and from what he could tell she was going all out.

 

“This is a pleasant surprise,” Van said as he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the back of her neck. He laughed when she jumped because she obviously hadn't heard him walk into the room.

 

Fiona smiled as she turned around in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I just thought it would be nice to have a normal breakfast since we haven't had much of one for a while,” she said with a smile as she gave him a kiss on the lips.

 

Van smiled and kissed her back. He knew the main reason was because she wanted to get her mind off of the trial for the moment. “Well it smells great and I know we're going to need it for later today,” he said and Fiona nodded her head before turning around to get back to work.

 

Van heard the doorbell ring and he walked to the door and opened it up to find Irvine and Moonbay standing there. “Hey there. Didn't expect to see the two of you this earlier,” he said as the two of them walked into he house.

 

“Yeah. Well we thought we'd spend some time with Fiona since this is going to be a very hard day for her,” Moonbay said with a smile before she sniffed the air. “She's nervous, isn't she?” she questioned with a sympathetic look towards the kitchen. She knew that Fiona liked to do stuff like this for Van but it also smelt like she was doing more than usual today.

 

“Yeah, I guess that she wants to have something to do to keep her mind of the fact that her own mom is testifying against her,” Van said as the three of them took a seat away from Fiona so that she wouldn't have to listen to the conversation.

 

“I guess that's understandable. Too bad murder is illegal or I would've killed her years ago,” Irvine joked which caused the other two of them to join in. “Do either of you know what she has against Fiona to do such a thing? I don't think she ever acted like a mother normally would with Fiona.”

 

“No idea. I've asked my dad about it since he knew her parents the best but he didn't seem to want to answer or it was always a vague answer. I know that my parents are keeping something from Fiona and I have a feeling that the problem between Fiona and her mom has something to do with it,” Van explained thinking back to the argument he remembered his parents having when they first came down.

 

Irvine raised an eyebrow in question. He had to admit that this fact made him very curious as to what it was all about. “That's odd. I never thought that they would try and keep something a secret like that,” he said and Van nodded his head.

 

“Do you think it has something to do with those tapes you mentioned? They might hold the answer you're looking for,” Moonbay suggested but Van shook his head. “How so? Aren't the tapes supposed to be some secret her father was keep from her?” Moonbay asked in confusion.

 

“I've gone over the tapes what has to be a million times but I just can't figure out what it was that he was trying to tell her. All I know is that there was a huge argument between Fiona's father and her mother. My parents aren't telling me anything so I have no clue about what it is about,” Van said growing frustrated at this never-ending mystery that was placed before him and Fiona.

 

The conversation was interrupted when Fiona came walking into the room. “Oh hello there. Do you want to stay for breakfast? I think I made too much,” Fiona said and Irvine and Moonbay just nodded their heads.

 

They just decided to end the conversation there so as to not put anymore stress upon Fiona. It was obvious that there was a lot of it put upon her already. So the three of them just got up and went to get some food.

 

*****

 

Fiona fidgeted in her seat as people started to file into the courtroom. Many were casting her looks and it was really making her feel uneasy. All the peace she found early that day but busying herself was lost as soon as they all got into the car to drive to the courthouse.

 

“I don't know if I can go through with listening to this,” Fiona said as she really started to panic. All the stress she was feeling was really starting to get to her and she didn't know if she could take much more.

 

“It's going to be ok Fiona,” Van said from behind her. He was looking around the courtroom for the woman he wanted to kill more than anything right then. `What a coward. She can't even face the rest of us before the trial starts for today,' Van thought with a scowl before turning back to Fiona.

 

“Don't worry about it so much Fiona,” Karl said from next to her but he was sure that it didn't have quite the effect that he was looking for. He knew there were many things he could use that could negate most of the testimony she gave but he knew that damage would still be made because of it.

 

“That's kind of hard to do,” Fiona mumbled and fell quiet after that. She was so nervous about what she was about to hear that she just wished she could run out of there at that moment. She knew that it wouldn't be possible though.

 

The doors opened and Fiona turned her head and saw Ethan and his lawyer enter the courtroom. They both looked as confident as ever and it made her want to throw up. She shivered in disgust when Ethan looked at her and smirked. She just turned her head so that she wouldn't have to look at either of them.

 

A few minutes later the judge entered the courtroom and felt her nervousness rise. She could barely hear the judge speaking at that moment. She could feel Van's eyes on the back of her head and it helped to calm her down knowing that he was there for her no matter what.

 

“The defense may call it's witness,” Fiona finally managed to hear and it was the worst words that she could possibly hear. She couldn't believe her mother was doing this to her. Fiona couldn't help but wonder what she could've possibly done to make her mother hate her as much as she did.

 

Mr. Anderson stood up with a smile. “The defense would like to call Ms. Claire Lynette to the stand,” he said which earned a murmur to go through the crowd. It was clear that many thought he was crazy for this move. Many must have thought that Claire would be sympathetic to her daughters case.

 

`They've obviously not met my mother,' Fiona thought as she turned her head and saw her mother walking through the back doors. It was obvious that she stayed out of the courtroom just to avoid any confrontations between Van and his family. Fiona knew they wouldn't do anything to make Fiona look bad though.

 

Claire walked to the front of the courtroom and took a seat at the witness stand. “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?” the bailiff asked the woman on the stand. Claire said yes and sat down.

 

Mr. Anderson looked at some papers for a second before he walked towards the witness stand. “For the record, can you please state your relationship with the Plaintiff?” he asked in a sickening voice.

 

“She's my daughter,” Claire said taking a quick look towards Fiona. She gave her a disgusted look and then looked behind her towards Van's parents. Both of them were looking very pissed off about something. Claire just smirked and turned her attention back to Ethan's lawyer.

 

Mr. Anderson smirked and looked her directly in the eyes. This would probably be his biggest testimony so he decided to milk it for all that it's worth. “Is it true that when her father died that you took her in?” he asked with another smirk.

 

“It's true. She had nowhere else to go. So out of the goodness of my heart, I took her in,” she said and couldn't help the smile that crossed her face because of the looks that cross Van's family's faces.

 

Mr. Anderson nodded his head and walked back and forth for a few seconds as if pondering his next question. “Please tell everyone what Miss. Lynette was like in all the time that she was living with you,” he requested and she nodded her head in response.

 

“She was a very disrespectful child. I did everything for her and she never listened to anything I had to say. I fed her and put shelter over her head. I did everything I could to make sure that she lived a comfortable life. In response she ignored my few rules, was constantly arguing with me over petty things, among many other things,” she said leaving out very key points just for the hell of it since it would only help Fiona.

 

Mr. Anderson knew she was withholding but he figured that it was for the best. “I see. According to Mrs. Saix, you were constantly setting your daughter up on dates with men of high standings without giving her much of a choice, is that true?” he questioned with a gleam in his eyes.

 

“I admit that it was true. However, I never forced it upon her. I gave options that could help her make a better life in the future. They were all very nice and well behaved men. I just didn't want to have to see her ruin her life because of the way she was living it at the time,” she said finding it true but only to herself.

 

“So as you said in response to you giving her everything, she disrespected you for all your hard works to help her become a better person?” he asked and she just nodded her head. “Why would you say that she did things like that?” he asked taking a quick look towards Fiona.

 

“I'd say it was because of the friends she hung around with. They seemed to make it their purpose to make me out to be a bad person to her. The fact that she hated me since she first came only increased her stubbornness to accept me,” she said wiping away a fake tear.

 

Anyone could tell that Mr. Anderson was clearly enjoying hurting Karl and Fiona with this testimony. “How was she when she was dating Mr. Flyheight?” he questioned and he saw her eyes harden at the mention of it.

 

“She was awful. I know that she was always going behind his back with other men even if he was never aware of it. I tried to get her to stop it but she never listened and continued to do what she wanted,” she said glaring at Van and Fiona.

 

That statement made both Van and Fiona want to reach out nod just strangle the woman. They knew each other too well to know that either would do such a thing to each other. They knew it wouldn't affect them but they worried what it would do to Fiona in the eyes of the jury.

 

“I see,” Mr. Anderson said figuring he'd done enough damage. “That will be all your honor,” he said turning and walking back to his seat. He got into a short conversation with an amused looking Ethan.

 

Karl was scowling throughout the entire thing. He knew he was going to have to do a lot of questioning to clean up the mess that he put Fiona in. He had plenty of things to use but probably not enough to get Fiona completely out of the mess she'd been put in. He just hoped it would be enough to get the response he needed.

 

Karl stood up and approached Claire. “Please tell the court why it is that you would find the need to testify against your own daughter? Aren't most parents supposed to stand up for their children?” he asked with a cold stare towards the woman. To him, she was the most despicable thing he'd ever seen.

 

“I don't believe in standing up for people just because of relationships. I only want the proper justice to be made. I know that Mr. James isn't guilty like my daughter had made him out to be. Why let an innocent man go to jail because of her lies?” she questioned him instead.

 

“Or could it possibly be because of her father that you're testifying against her?” he questioned which only caused her to give him a questioning look. “It is a well known fact that Mr. Lynette made millions shortly before your divorce to him. In his will he left everything to his daughter yet he didn't leave anything to you. Could it be that you feel hatred towards Fiona because of that fact?” he asked with a look that was daring her to lie about it.

 

Claire didn't even flinch under the intense stares of Karl, Fiona, and the Flyheight family. “Of course not. I admit that I was upset but that didn't make me feel hatred towards my daughter,” she said basically lying through her teeth. She saw that act by George to be the biggest insult to herself.

 

Karl and just about everyone in the courtroom saw the change in posture at that question. They all knew she wasn't being completely truthful. “Your husband also left you little in the divorce as well,” he stated remembering the files that he'd about the case. The thought of it made it rather amusing.

 

“George wasn't exactly the most honest man around. I only wanted little out of the divorce. I only got enough to survive which was enough for me. I accepted what was given to me,” she said with pretty visible annoyance. She was trying to make herself look good and Karl wasn't helping her.

 

Karl just smirked because he'd basically caught her in her own lie. “Might I remind you Ms. Lynette that you are under oath here,” Karl said as he walked back to his desk and picked up a folder that he had ready for just this occasion. He walked back to the witness stand.

 

“`You bastard! You cheap, arrogant, mother fucking bastard. I hope you burn in hell! This is insulting that you could keep doing these things to me! Now you plan to leave me barely enough to survive! You bastard!' Those were your exact words when the divorce was final and you realized just how much you actually got out of it. It was pretty obvious that you wanted more out of this,” he said with an amused look on his face.

 

Mr. Anderson quickly stood up and slammed his hands down on the table. “Objection your honor!” he yelled seeing all his precious evidence just slipping out of his hands. He couldn't let Karl keep ruining one of his best witnesses.

 

“This evidence is proof that there's more behind Ms. Lynette's anger towards my client than what she has actually stated. This anger could make her say things that aren't completely truthful. I am merely trying to get to the truth,” Karl reasoned while looking at the judge.

 

“Overruled!” the judge said much to Karl's relief and Mr. Anderson's anger. “Please continue Mr. Shubaltz. But please keep your statements reasonable,” the judge warned which he just nodded his head to.

 

Mr. Anderson just couldn't see how everything he had going for him in this case was being turned against him now. He took his seat and looked through his stuff for anything that he could use to make a mess of Mr. Shubaltz's questions.

 

“Now Ms. Lynette, why would you say such things if you weren't angry over the choice to leave you with only enough to survive for quite a while?” he questioning seeing most of the mess being cleaned up quite a bit.

 

Claire was just about on wits end with these questions. She thought it wasn't supposed to turn out this way but her past was now ruining everything she said. “It never affected how I tried to raise my daughter these past few years,” she hissed out but she knew it was already ruined.

 

“No more questions your honor,” Karl said as he walked back his seat and arranged a few things for the next witness which would be much better than this one since it was going to be Van.

 

The judge looked towards Mr. Anderson and saw him turn his head away I defeat. “Very well, the court will dismiss for lunch and we'll continue in an hour,” she said slamming the gavel down and took her leave with everyone else following.

 

*****

 

“You should've seen her! I never saw her angrier than that as she left the courthouse,” Van told Fiona since she avoided any sort of contact with her mother after the testimony she gave. Van couldn't blame her.

 

“It's such a petty reason for her to hate you,” Moonbay said and everyone nodded in agreement. “I never knew you were that rich Fiona. How come you never told us about the fortune you inherited?” Moonbay couldn't help but ask with a grin.

 

“It's because she has yet to actually inherit it,” Karl explained and almost everyone gave him a confused look. “It's true that he left her just about everything he owned but only under the stipulation that she gets married. She can't get any of it before then,” Karl explained and Fiona just nodded her head in agreement.

 

“Now it all makes sense,” Van said making everyone look at him. “I always wondered why her mother would continuously set her up on dates with the rich guys. It's because she must've made a deal with them. They marry Fiona and in exchange she gets the money that was given to Fiona. She knew I would never do such a thing. So she tried to keep me as far away from Fiona as possible,” he said and understanding dawned over just about everyone's faces.

 

“I've kind of known that for a while,” Fiona finally spoke up in a quiet voice. It was the first time tha she spoke since they left to get some lunch. “I don't know why I never did much to stop her from doing whatever she wanted,” she continued in a disappointed voice.

 

“You just wanted acceptance. It's kind of sick how she was just using you as a bargaining tool for her own selfish purposes,” Van said as he placed an arm around Fiona's shoulder and held her close to him.

 

“Claire is a rather greedy woman. Overall, your father was actually a very generous man when it came to that divorce,” Karl explained remembering what the settlement was. “He gave her plenty of money to keep her comfortable for a few years. He could've left with nothing because of a prenup being signed but he didn't want to leave her with nothing to live off of. It wasn't enough for her. She wanted just about everything he had,” Karl said just feeding on the anger that everyone was already feeling towards the woman.

 

Van turned his head to face his parents. “If you had such a rich friend, why didn't you ever ask him for help when we were having as much financial troubles as we were?” he couldn't help but ask. He knew that if Fiona's father was anything like Fiona that he would be more than happy to help.

 

Dan just smiled at his son and laughed at the question. “He offered more than a million time but we just couldn't accept it. We preferred hard work over just being given charity. It would've made a better impression upon you and Maria. It would teach you that you shouldn't rely on the guidance of others forever,” Dan reasoned and he saw his son nod his head in understanding.

 

“Oh well, things worked out just fine in the end,” he said clutching onto Fiona a little tighter. “So I'm going up next?” he questioned Karl and just nodded his head. “Fine by me. I have so much dirt to give out about that guy,” he said with an evil looking grin that made everyone chuckle.

 

“You're a key person as well. You probably know the most about Fiona out of everyone. Not to mention that you are her fiancé and the person that she went to after the first attack, and was there the second time as well,” Karl said and Van nodded his head in understanding once again.

 

Karl looked at his watch and finally realized what time it was “We'd all better be heading back. Better prepare yourself for what is to come,” he said and stood up and headed back towards the courtroom with Fiona and the rest of them following right behind him.

 

After a few minutes they were all seated in their original seat and waiting for the judge to arrive as well. It only took another few minutes before the judge arrived and everything started all over again. “You may call your next witness Mr. Shubaltz,” the judge said looking toward Karl.

 

Karl nodded his head and stood up. “We would like to call Van Flyheight to the stand,” Karl said and watched as Van stood up and walked to the stand in front of the entire court, all of whom started to whisper again like they did when Fiona's mother first took the stand.

 

Van took the oath and had a seat as Karl approached him. On the outside he looked perfectly calm about this but he had to admit that he was pretty nervous about what the other guy was going to try. Mr. Anderson already proved he was out to ruin every bit of credibility Fiona had.

 

Karl gave a comforting smile since he knew what it was that Van was feeling at that moment. “Please state for the court what your relationship is to Miss Lynette,” Karl requested deciding to start off easy for Van's sake.

 

“I was her best friend for the first half of high school and her boyfriend for the other half of it. Currently I am her fiancé,” Van stated finding it really easy to talk all of a sudden. He knew he would do anything to prove to people that Fiona wasn't a bad person like her mom made her out to be.

 

“So you would say that you know Miss. Lynette better than most?” he requested and Van just nodded his head. “Please tell us what she was like in all the time that you knew her,” he requested and noticed that Van immediately looked towards Fiona.

 

Van took a deep breath for what was going to be a long explanation. “She was always quiet and didn't like to talk about herself at first but quickly started to open up. She was very kind to many even if they annoyed her. She was easily hurt by the actions of her mother during all the time that she lived with her,” Van said but was interrupted by Karl before he could continue.

 

Karl held up a hand for Van to stop. “So Claire Lynette hurt her?” he asked and Van nodded his head. “How did she hurt her? Physically, emotionally, would you care to explain?” Karl asked knowing this might clear up the rest of the mess that had been made and put things in their favor.

 

“Well she didn't really physically hurt her but I would say it was more along the lines of an emotional level. Fiona was always trying to impress her mother. She just wanted to earn the woman's respect. It was never given to her since Claire Lynette wanted nothing more than control Fiona rather than be a mother to her,” Van said glad to get that off his chest.

 

“So she never once acted like a mother in all the time that my client lived with her?” Karl questioned and Van just shook his head no. “Would you say that Miss. Lynette is an honest woman?” Karl questioned and Van's face brightened.

 

“Even if she wanted to lie, anyone could tell that it was one. She's simply not good at it. She's stubborn too and kept to her vow to wait for marriage during all the time we were together,” Van said deciding to leave out their current relationship. He was telling what it was like before they broke up.

 

Karl nodded before more questions came to his mind based upon that answer. “Are you at all aware of what Mr. James and Miss. Lynette's relationship was like before that first incident?” he questioned and Van nodded his head. “What was it that you heard?”

 

“He was being very demanding of her. He wouldn't stop pestering her about sex and no matter how many times she said no he continued to pressure her. That's at least what I've heard from both Fiona and Moonbay,” Van recalled after a short minute of thought.

 

Karl nodded his head and figured he had enough to just go into the attacks now. “What can you tell us about Miss. Lynette's physical state the night of the first incident?” he questioned since the only one that really knew was Van since Fiona didn't go to the doctors afterwards.

 

Van's hands clenched at his side and his face became distorted with anger but he pushed back the memory and calmed himself down. “She was wet because she ran in the rain all the way to my place. I can still remember how scared she was as well. There was a gash under her eye, as well as a bruise under it, there was also one on her stomach because he apparently kicked her,” Van said finding the image pretty clear in his mind about what she looked like that night. It just made his blood boil and more anger to course through him.

 

Karl nodded his head looked at the jury who were taking it all in. “What about the second incident, what can you tell us about it?” he asked as he turned back and looked Van directly in the eyes.

 

“It was a few days after Fiona and I got back together. We went out that day and went to the mall. She decided to go into this one clothing store and instead of coming I decided to get us some ice cream. On my way back to the store I heard her scream and rushed over there and found that he broke into the dressing rooms. There was a bruise upon her cheek but not much besides that since I got there pretty quickly,” Van said finding his blood boil more and more with these memories.

 

“Thank you, that will be all,” Karl said figuring that he got enough information out of Van. He somehow knew that he didn't have to worry too much about what Tom Anderson was going to try.

 

Mr. Anderson immediately stood up and approached Van with a wicked grin on his face. “If you know Miss. Lynette as much as you say you do, than please tell the court why it is that neither of you reported these supposed attacks?” he asked confidently as he stood in front.

 

“You're going to have to ask Fiona about that. If I was to answer I'd say that it is because she just doesn't have the heart to wish bad things upon people,” Van said calmly as he leaned back in his seat and looked at the man.

 

Mr. Anderson just smirked at the response but he didn't like how Van didn't seem too fazed by it. “Or could it be that maybe she was feeling guilty about framing an innocent man like this?” he questioned with a malicious glare.

 

Van just smirked at the man. “What's the point of hurting yourself in these circumstances if only to get someone else in trouble?” Van questioned him in return and wanted to laugh at the look of fury on the guy's face. He forced his laughter down and kept as straight a face as he could possibly manage.

 

Mr. Anderson glared at Van for his stupid responses. “Mr. Flyheight! Did you and Miss. Lynette have an affair while she was still engaged to my client?!” he asked a little louder than he meant for it to sound. “And might I remind you that you're under oath!” he said with a smirk.

 

Van returned it calmly. “Nope,” he said simply with a grin. “I know he wishes it was that way so he can have his own reason to make her prove herself to still be honest to him through sex,” Van said and he could've sworn he saw steam start to come out of the guy's ears.

 

Mr. Anderson scowled and slammed his hands down upon the witness stand. “Yet according to records, barely a week after she left him she was your girlfriend. You had a wife if I remember right. I somehow doubt that things could've moved like that in only a week,” he accused Van.

 

Van just sighed since the guy was really starting to annoy him. He saw Karl about to object but he held up his hand to stop him. “I was getting a divorce and Fiona had already left him. I don't see any problem in the two of us being together under those conditions. Besides, nothing started until after I left my wife, which was after she left your client,” he explained which only seemed to infuriate him more.

 

Van knew he decided on the divorce right after their first time together but he knew it wouldn't help Fiona that much. `Besides, I did leave Tiffany with the idea of getting a divorce. I just wasn't completely sure until afterwards. Technically we weren't truly back together until after my decision since Fiona thought it was a one night thing at the time,' he thought to make his words more truthful.

 

Mr. Anderson just plain gave up right there. `This guy isn't going to give any of the answers I need! I get the feeling he'll just turn all my questions against me!' he thought as he calmed down and walked to the bench where a pissed off looking Ethan was waiting.

 

The judge looked confused for a second before turning towards Van. “You may step down Mr. Flyheight,” she said kindly and watched as he nodded his head and went back to his seat right behind Fiona. “Is there any more witnesses either of you would like to call to the stand before we convene for the day?” the judge questioned since they would be early to release.

 

Karl leaned over and whispered a few things to Fiona. She looked a bit apprehensive about the idea but she nodded her head anyways and he gave her a sympathetic look. He just wanted this to end as quickly as possible. He knew it wasn't a good idea but it might benefit them in the end.

 

Before Karl could mention his idea, Mr. Anderson stood up with a determined look in his eyes. Things hadn't gone too good the past few witnesses so he figured that he'd better take a chance. “Your honor, I would like to call my client Ethan James to the stand,” he demanded in a booming voice.

 

Karl was kind of shocked that he wanted Ethan to take the stand so soon. `He must be getting desperate and in need of some good evidence upon his side,' Karl thought as he looked towards Fiona. He was planning something different but he figured that it might work out for the best either way.

 

The judge thought it over for a moment before coming to a decision. “Very well,” the judge said and watched as Ethan got out of his seat and confidently walked towards the witness stand. He took his seat and had a look of confidence on his face like everything was going just fine.

 

Karl glared at Mr. Anderson lightly as he passed. “Getting a bit desperate?” he questioned him silently so that no one else could hear. He didn't receive a reply and that just made him rather angry.

 

Looking towards Fiona, he saw her eyes were downcast and doing whatever she could to avoid any sort of contact with her ex-fiancé. “It's going to be ok. It was bound to happen eventually,” he said and Fiona only slightly nodded her head while still not looking at what was going on.

 

“Please state your name for the record and your relationship with the plaintiff,” Mr. Anderson demanded in a way that was much kinder than what he'd done with the other witnesses that he already questioned.

 

Ethan looked towards Fiona and smirked but growled when he saw that she was avoiding any sort of contact with him. “My name is Ethan James and I was her fiancé for a few months before this whole mess started,” he said taking his eyes away from her and towards his lawyer.

 

Mr. Anderson nodded and smiled before he started to pace around a bit like he normally does when he's thinking. “What would you say the relationship between the two of you was like before her accusations?” he questioned with sympathy towards Ethan laced through his last few words.

 

“I always thought we had a really good relationship if you know what I mean,” he said with a smirk as he looked towards Fiona again but took notice of her pissed off fiancé sitting right behind her. He glared at Van before facing forward again.

 

Van knew not to take it seriously. He was well aware that he was Fiona's first time. `This guy will just keep talking shit and lies just to make himself look good,' Van thought trying to calm himself but he found it really hard.

 

“But according to several people, Miss. Lynette claims to have wanted to wait till marriage,” Mr. Anderson said trying to cut off an counterarguments that he was sure that Karl would try to use to once again change the situation in his favor.

 

Ethan smirked as he took another look towards Fiona. “That's the way she supposedly wanted it when we first met but she didn't last very long,” he said feeding his ego a little even if he knew it was a lie. He never could stand how Fiona was so insistent on remaining pure no matter how hard he tried.

 

“Objection your honor!” Karl yelled as he stood up quickly. “This trial isn't about the supposed sex life of my client but the abuse she went through by Mr. James!” Karl yelled finding what Ethan said to be degrading to Fiona.

 

Mr. Anderson just smirked a confident smirk since he'd been expecting such an outburst from his rival. “But according to several people, this supposed abuse started from her supposed lack of unwillingness to have sexual intercourse with my client. So it has everything to do with this case,” he said turning his smirk towards Karl.

 

The judge looked very reluctant to make her answer but she did so anyways. “Overruled. But please keep the comments made to be acceptable,” she said and Mr. Anderson nodded his head with another big smirk towards Karl.

 

Karl growled as he sat down and watched what had to be the worst torment for Fiona. To have her name dragged through the mud with accusations that he knew weren't actually real. `You won't get your victory!' he thought angrily.

 

Mr. Anderson motioned for Ethan to continue. “Even though she said she wanted to wait, she was all too eager to get into bed with me,” he said with a smirk as he watched Fiona's eyes narrow in anger but she still didn't look at him. “She always claimed that she loved me but I knew better than that. She was always cheating on me but I didn't do anything for some reason,” he said this time managing to keep a straight face.

 

Fiona wanted to slap the guy for these accusations. He was making her sound like a whore and she didn't like that. `Just because I refused to sleep with him doesn't mean that he needs to make it out to be like that,' she thought while her hands clutched onto her skirt tightly.

 

Mr. Anderson nodded with another look of sympathy towards Ethan. “Why did you stay with her if you knew that she was constantly being unfaithful to you?” he question taking a look towards Fiona who refused to meet his eyes as well.

 

Ethan sighed and gave a look of deep disappointment for himself. “Because I thought I was in love with her. I didn't want to lose her. Then one night she just came home acting crazy. I admit I got a little rough trying to calm her down but I didn't actually hit her,” he lied but looked like he was being completely honest. “She just ran off afterwards,” he said looking towards his own lap like he was disappointed but he was really laughing on the inside.

 

Mr. Anderson just kept nodding in agreement with what Ethan was saying. He knew perfectly well that Ethan was guilty but he didn't even give a care. All he cared for was victory even at the expense of others. “What can you tell us about the other two supposed attacks? Would you please give us what actually happened?” he asked in what sounded like a worried tone.

 

“There's not really much to say about them. I'd been trying to get her back since she left but couldn't even contact her. The night before the incident at the mall she called and asked me to talk to her when she went to the mall the next day,” he started but suddenly stopped and seemed to hesitate.

 

It was a few more moments before he finally continued to say what he wanted. “I did what she wanted and went there to meet her. She just told me the place and where and I went there. I knew a changing room wasn't that great a place to meet but I did it anyways,” he said before taking a deep breath. “Almost as soon as I met her she started to freak out and hit herself. The next thing I knew I was being thrown out of it by Flyheight. I just ran because I didn't want to get in trouble for something I didn't do. I just know that that was what she was trying to do,” he said looking incredibly sad.

 

“I know this might be hard to talk about but what about the second time. If you knew that she was trying to do such a thing than why did you try again?” he asked looking confused.

 

Ethan shook his head as if he was questioning the idea himself. “I don't know why I tried again. I guess you can just call it hope that she'd change her mind. Love makes you do stupid things. It happened just like the first; she called me up and asked me to meet her again at the hotel she was staying at with her friend. Almost as soon as I met her, she freaked out worse than the last time and really started to hurt herself. I tried to stop her but she wouldn't. I just ran because I knew it would look suspicious towards me. I guess that's why they arrested me though,” he said with a sigh while he continued to shake his head.

 

“Very well, thank you,” Mr. Anderson said with a nod before he turned and walked back to the defendants table. He stopped just before sitting down and looked towards Karl with a glare before smirking.

 

Karl stood up after this and walked up to the witness stand. “Let me see if I can get this straight, you are saying that my client called you before each encounter asking if she could meet with you?' Karl asked figuring it was a pretty lame story considering what both Van and Moonbay said before then. `You've been getting way too cocky and careless Tom,' Karl thought with a straight face.

 

“That is correct. I just wanted to see if I could work things out with her. Wouldn't anyone in love want to see if they can work things out?” Ethan decided to question back and couldn't help but feel confident when he saw Karl nod his head.

 

“It's true that people who are in love do that. However, how was my client supposed to know that you were there? Her fiancé Van Flyheight said that he left of his own will to get some ice cream. My client didn't ask him to get some for her. So how could she have asked you to meet her at that exact time if it was possible that he would be with her?” Karl asked suddenly feeling a bit anxious to see how he could get out of this fact.

 

“Well we were in the dressing room. I don't think I had to fear seeing him in such a private place either way,” Ethan said trying to withhold his laughter at the pathetic attempt to wreck his story.

 

“What about at the hotel? According to a statement made by Mrs. Saix after the attack, it was an idea that was made that very day. When could she have possibly found the time to call you and make this supposed arrangement if, as according to Mrs. Saix, the two of them were never separated the whole day? Mrs. Saix even stated that she requested Miss. Lynette to go to the room,” he said and couldn't help but smile as he saw Ethan pale a little at this fact. It was pretty obvious that he wasn't aware of this fact.

 

Ethan got over his shock and scowled at Karl. “How am I supposed to know? I just got the call and because I was in town at the time I just decided to meet with her,” he said the first thing that he could possibly think of.

 

Karl just knew that everyone saw how he hesitated before answering the question. `Caught in you own lies again,' he thought seeing this case as becoming easier and easier. `I can't get cocky about this,' he thought as he stood straight. He noticed that Fiona was trying to call him over at that moment. He walked over and Fiona whispered a few things in his ear. He nodded in understanding and remembered a report that was made about it.

 

He stood up straight confidently and walked back to the witness stand with a face that was devoid of all emotions. “Mr. James, please tell the court how it was that you got into my client's room,” Karl demanded as he watched Ethan become increasingly nervous.

 

Ethan twitched as his mind sought for an excuse as quickly as possible. “I just met her outside the room. She came and let me in herself,” he said putting on a façade of confidence that hid his fear pretty well.

 

“A witness report of someone that was staying on the floor reported that they saw my client heading towards her room just before the attack. Though they didn't stay long enough to know what happened next, they did know that the halls were empty at the time. So I doubt that there is any way you could've been waiting for her to arrive,” Karl stated and Ethan twitched slightly.

 

“They must've not have seen me at the time. I was standing off to the side so they could've easily have just missed me,” he said although the lack of confidence in himself was almost a giveaway. `Think quick or you'll go to jail!' he mentally yelled wishing for some sort of thing to get him out of this mess.

 

“She didn't let you in, did she Mr. James?” Karl questioned and was surprised when Ethan couldn't find an answer. `No retort? He must be running out of excuses,' he thought knowing he could finish this case quickly with the right prodding. “Care to tell us the truth? That you broke into her room and attacked her when she came in,” Karl stated as his glared at the man.

 

“I did no such thing!” Ethan said in a voice louder than he meant to. “I never attacked her! Just because that bitch has it in for me doesn't mean that I actually attacked her! Man, everyone thinks she's perfect but she's nothing but a bitch! A lying, good for nothing, cheating bitch!” he pretty much yelled out which surprised just about everyone in the courtroom including his own lawyer who knew things were pretty much lost.

 

“I think that will be all,” Karl said before turning and walking back to his table. He didn't need to look to know that Ethan was really regretting his words at that moment because Karl knew they were just going to hurt his opponent's case.

 

`I wonder if this outburst might end the case a little faster,' Van pondered as he watched Ethan get up and head back to the defendant's stand. `I hope so. That way he will never bother Fiona again. I guess it's up to Fiona's testimony that will really decide the case now,' he continued and stood up to walk out when the judge called for an end to the proceedings for the day.

 

Fiona stood up and walked over to Van and embraced him tightly. She didn't say it but everyone knew she must've been really scared about all that had been said. “What does this all mean?” she couldn't help but question when Karl followed shortly after them out of the courtroom.

 

“Tom Anderson really screwed up. I just know that it was his client's wish to take the stand on impulse. He was angry about everything that had gone wrong today and let that anger out during his testimony. I'd probably say that the only thing that could possibly get him out of this mess after today is if you drop the charges,” Karl stated and he saw Fiona shake her head wildly. `I guess that's understandable. After being attacked three times by the same person, she just doesn't want to have to worry every second of the day that he might try again,' he thought giving her a sympathetic look.

 

Van and Fiona eventually fell behind the rest of them. Wrapped in each other's silent embrace, they couldn't be happier that probably the worst of the case was over and that it was to their benefit.

 

Fiona looked towards Van and couldn't help the smile that crossed her face. `I'm pretty lucky to have gotten a guy like him,' she thought tightening her hold upon him. “Hey Van,” she said deciding to speak up about something that had been on her mind for the last few days.

 

Van looked towards her and studied her expression. “Is everything alright Fiona?” he asked but she nodded her head. “Then what's on your mind?” he asked as they took a seat so that everyone could go ahead and they could speak a little more privately. To them, privacy was becoming a luxury.

 

“Van, what do you think about starting the planning for the wedding right now?” she asked even though she knew they planned to wait until the trial was over before they decided to get started. “It's just that this case has just made me think a lot about our past. It just made me realize how much more I want to marry you,” she confessed looking at him waiting for some sort of reaction.

 

Van stared at her for a moment before a grin spread across her face. “I don't see any problem with that. Though things seem to be going pretty well at the moment, we have no idea what is going to happen. I like the idea. It means that we can get married that much sooner,” he said and was flung backwards when she squealed in happiness and jumped into him. He just couldn't help but laughing.

 

It was a few moments before they collected themselves. “Hopefully there won't be many annoying interruptions. Speaking of which, where's Thomas? I haven't seen him at all today,” Van said with a laugh as they stood up and continued on their way.

 

“I wouldn't be surprised if you scared him away already,” Fiona said not even bothering to hold back her laughter as well. “But that is rather mean to say. I'd just say he's dense and persistent,” she reasoned with a bright smile.

 

“Yeah, annoyingly persistent. You'd think he'd have it figured out that you just aren't interested,” he said wrapping his arm around his future wife's waist. “Come on; let's go tell everyone what we decided. I think they'll be more than happy about it,” he said as they started to walk to his car again. `There's no way we are getting married while the case is still going on. But as soon as it is over I'm going to make sure the wedding comes shortly after that.'

 

“I think your mom has been planning that moment in her spare time. I think she'll try to do most of the work,” she said trying to hold back her chuckles. “It will be nice to have everyone help out though. That alone makes us know it will be the best wedding ever,” she said taking his hand in her own and giving it a tight squeeze.

 

“Fiona, when you are a part of my Family, you get only the best. Even if we weren't rich, we would do everything we possibly could to make sure everything was perfect,” he said kissing her cheek while squeezing her hand back.

 

“You're wrong,” Fiona said which shocked Van. “Just being able to be a part of your family is what makes everything perfect, not the glamour that comes with it now. I could go without all the benefits and be just as happy,” she said giving him a smile that she reserved only for the love of her life.

 

Van knew that she meant every word she said. `She truly is a one of a kind woman. I'll never find another person like her ever again,' he thought with a loving smile. “You're so different from your mom. How are you even related to her?” he asked for what had to be the millionth time since he first met her.

 

“Bad luck?” Fiona asked which caused Van to burst out in laughter. “It doesn't matter now. After all she said, I don't think I'll ever want to talk to her again. I have a new family now. She raised me but I'll never consider her my mother ever again,” Fiona said in a bitter voice.

 

Van stared at Fiona in shock. He'd never heard her talk like that but he couldn't help but agree with her. `Claire must've really pushed Fiona too far today,' he thought with a sad sigh. He placed his hand upon her shoulder and she looked up at him with a smile. “Are you sure that you're ok Fiona? That had to be pretty rough to deal with,” he asked looking at her as she walked with her head down.

 

Fiona was silent for a second before nodding her head slowly. Her eyes didn't leave the ground though. “Yeah, I'll just need some time to get over the shock of some of the things I heard today. The idea that we can start planning our wedding is definitely helping me though,” she said as she looked up into his eyes.

 

Van noticed that her eyes were both hurt and happy. He wished he could just take that hurt away from her. `I'm sure she'll forget all about these problems on your wedding night,' his mind teased him which made Van blush a little. He was glad that Fiona didn't notice it though.

 

“Fiona… lets just not think about what happened today. Things worked in our favor and that is all that mattered. That woman doesn't deserve to be thought about so much. She's just a spoiled bitch that needs to keep out of your life,” Van stated honestly. “Just give me the word, and I'll make sure that she can never interfere with our lives again. I just want to see you happy. It hurts to see you as sad as you have been. I want to see that smile of yours everyday. So please just cheer up,” he begged before pulling her deep into his embrace.

 

Fiona looked up with tear filled eyes but she was really happy to hear him say such words to her. She put on a true smile and leaned up to kiss him. It was sweet and everything that she'd come to expect from Van. “Thank you, you don't know how much it meant to me to hear that,” she said wiping away her tears of happiness.

 

Van had to admit that Fiona's smile was contagious as one broke out on his face. “I'm glad,” he said as they took a step back from each other. He kissed her one more time before he stepped back fully but kept her hand within his own. “Come on. They'll be waiting for us. We have a lot to do,” he said giving her hand a light tug in the direction of his car.