Remember When ↠ l.p.

Legalities

The first thing that I notice as we walk into the courtroom is the lack of people. It's starkly different then the noisy crowd we've just left out in the halls. I've never been inside a courthouse before, I've only ever seen it on television. The room is always full of people and the jury of course. Yet looking around the room, there's only a few people present. There's the judge and two other people sitting next to him on slightly lower platforms than his. In front of Louis and I stands Liam, looking very cross, with Colin beside him. A nervous looking man in a poorly knotting tie stands a little away from Liam and Colin, he clutches a stack of files in his arms. They all watch us as we walk towards the front of the room, past the rows of seats.

"Mr. Tomlinson." Colin greets Louis with a handshake and one-armed hug. Liam shoots the two of them daggers with his eyes. I stand awkwardly to one side. The room is a nice size, seeming even larger than it is with the lack of people. There's window lining one wall and letting in the afternoon rays of sunlight. The judge is a middle-aged woman and is watching us all from her seat calmly. "We can start now that everyone is here your honor." Colin turns and addresses the judge. She nods and lifts her mallet, slamming it down with a loud crack. The poor man with the files jumps in fright.

"Court is now in session." the judge states. "The plaintive may speak."

Colin steps forward and hands the girl to the right of the Judge several files. "I assume you have read the summary of the case. I'll jump right in in that case. These are written forms from Mr. Payne's parents and doctor. He is seeing a stand-in doctor who has been corresponding with the one in London. We would have brought them as witnesses but they're across the pond." Colin chuckles to add some lightheartedness to the room. "Ms. Sandoval is here as a witness, she's been working as a nanny for Mr. Payne's daughter the past several months. Mr. Tomlinson has known Mr. Payne for several years and can testify to how changed Mr. Payne's personality has become."

"Very well," the judge says as she glances over the papers that Colin has given here. "We'll hear from the witnesses and then from Mr. Payne and his man." she looks down, over he glasses at the man below. "He's shaking so badly that he drops one of his files. I wince on his behalf. Surely Liam could have gotten a better lawyer or attorney to represent him? "Mr. Tomlinson first, please."

"Right then," Louis murmurs to me as he steps forward and straightens his shirt. He steps up to the platform where one of the judge's attendants presents him with a Bible. He swears on it and steps back from the platform, standing between it and the rest of us.

"What can you tell us about Mr. Payne's behavioral change and why you support this case to take away custody over his daughter?" the judge leans back in her chair and waits for Louis to begin to speak.

"I've known Liam nearly ten years. I support this case because I truly think that it's the best option until he's more of himself again. Ms. Sandoval and her daughter have made a deep connection with Mr. Payne's daughter. She feels absolutely safe with them and it's my understanding that both Mr. Payne and Mrs. Payne were close with Ms. Sandoval before the late Mrs. Payne's death." he pauses to take a deep breath before continuing. "That, I believe is the cause of Mr. Payne's rather drastic personality change. He was heartbroken after Mrs. Payne's death and his parents saw no other option than to medicate him when he would do nothing, barely eating or sleeping. They simply wanted what was best for him yet either medicines he's on weren't cohesive or his diet altered their effects because he quickly became someone we weren't familiar with. He's become violent and unpredictable. (I happen to have a fanfic up called this go check it out) I can't see a better option than Ms. Sandoval watching over his daughter while he's getting help and this personality switch is explained and solved." He steps back and the judge nods approvingly.

I take a deep breath as I step forward. Now it's my turn. I can feel Liam's eyes on my back, no doubt glaring me as I walk up to the platform.