where truth and fiction meet // buckin

twenty-eight

September 2005.

Jonny's POV

Today was the day.

Everything we'd prepared for is for this very moment, to be the correct parents we've been dreaming of being to his daughter. She'll be ours.

I opened the door to the court room, Chris and Gabriel following me from behind. I took a seat a row behind him, for I couldn't sit with him. He and his lawyer had taken a seat in the plaintiff's usual area, and then in walked Danielle. She had these designer shades on, blocking her eyes. A trench coat was worn on her body; her hair was all straightened. The long black boots was the finishing touch. With this kind of style of clothing making her perceive to be a badass of some sort, I almost laughed out loud at her lack of formal wear. She looked like she was going to rob a bank or something. Chris was wearing a professional suit, and he had even fixed his hair to look upscale as well. He needed to fit his own picture-perfect cognitive of a caring guardian that would be ideal for Hannah. He looked so much more fit than her. He was really handsome, and actually wore clothing that fit with the reason we're here. Actually—who am I kidding? He was fucking hot as hell.

Her attorney looked like a Mexican who works fixing rooftops on houses. I'm not saying there was anything wrong with that, but I mean does she really think coming in like that will get her to win custody? This was beginning to get humorous for me and some other people who attended this I'm guessing on defense for her. But honestly, I don't know why they've come on behalf for her because there is no sort of way she'll win this case. It shouldn't even be questioned.

Will and Guy were coming to watch this last court date, but they would come in about five minutes late. The reason of this is that they're in an interview together and wouldn't get out until this case is just starting. But then, here came the real fun. They had to stand and take the usual old oath, and then us attendees had to sit down at the will of the judge.

"I'm aware that Chris Martin and Danielle Coleman are both present, is this correct?"

"Yes, your honor." said Gabriel.

"So, it's come to my defense that Danielle Coleman and Chris Martin are entering a custody battle. Martin says you've never told him about the pregnancy, or didn't even bother to say that she was born. Is this correct?"

"Yes, but it wasn't my fault that he'd been avoiding my calls on every level," she tried to say, "if anything it's all his fault."

"If you wanted him to know about the pregnancy of his child," his tone had arisen, "I'm sure you could've found another way to reach him other than a phone call." finished the judge.

"Yes, that's correct, but—"

"There will be no buts about it. First things first. Bring the drug tests here, the both of you," he ordered at once. He seemed a little harsh—but that's good. The officer came by and scooped them from each individual. Chris' was positive; there was no questions about whether or not it wasn't. I didn't even have to see it.

The judge fumbled to open up Chris' drug test, about to reveal his results, "Martin's tests have all came back completely negative."

As he places the orange envelope aside, he grasps a hold of Danielle's. Opening it with ease this time, he opens his mouth.

"Danielle Coleman was tested for her drug screening as well," he reads on, "and these results vary for each specific medicine. And three different medications were detected in the sample out of seven."

This was concerning me to an extent, and it had to have been a concern to Chris even more. The mother of his baby is using drugs while caring for her.

"Your honor—the test was rigged."

"Surely not. Mrs. Coleman, we have no time for these shenanigans. Now, what is a rough estimate of your yearly income?"

"Around $15,000, your honor."

"Okay, and Mr. Martin, what is yours?"

"It varies widely from each album and tour we do," he started, "but since I can't publicly announce it I'll just go ahead and give you this paper with the information." he added, handing it to the officer to pass to the judge.

The judge reads it on his own.

"Oh—well I would say we're pretty much finalized," he said, "should you have any words opposing the probable point, defendant?"

In the background of sound that overthrew the conversation, Guy and Will walk in the brown double doors. They try and get in seats hurriedly, trying to make the attention span off of them as soon as possible.

Instead of Danielle's voice, her attorney spoke up. "Your honor, the plaintiff is clearly an unfit father figure. There would be two fathers in the family, and it is clearly not something Danielle is willing for Hannah to be surrounded by." I scoffed in immediate disgust, prone to get some attention.

"From what I'm preceding, I'm noticing Danielle is the ill-equipped parent involved in the case. Her tests came back positive for illegal substances. Danielle barely makes enough every year. Her living conditions cause for someone else to give her their home, and I can clearly tell that Chris Martin is the fit adult here, regardless of who he's married to. Danielle Coleman hereby has almost no say-so in this matter of facts," he said, and the room was cold and bitter. "Mr. Martin, we're able to give you full term custody of Hannah Marie Martin. At the moment of time, I wish that she does not have any sort of communication with the child. If she bothers to come and visit this child, I'd wish that you'd call the police."

"Your honor—I'm trying to better myself," she defended her side, "please. Let me try to fix it."

"When you are ready to try again, get yourself together and come back. The case can be appealed but until then, you are certainly not as fit as he. Case dismissed." he then hit the gable and stood up to dismiss. He then disappeared into his office in the back, leaving everyone in. Her lawyer, clearly pissed off, left immediately. Chris turned around and gave me a reassuring look, making everything seem okay. Which it is. But what if she tries to appeal this hearing?

And also, I do agree that Chris should have full custody of her, but

The officer grabbed the paternity papers to take to Danielle to sign. She was crying, but everything she was getting she so dearly deserved. After she was done signing her line, the officer brought the same form over to Chris so he could give his signature to this cause. I'm not an expert to this kind of obligation, but I knew it was Danielle signing what consent over Hannah she had to Chris. If she refused to sign it, she would be put in jail and Hannah would be put in foster care. She might be inapplicable, but she knew right from wrong.

Once the two signed their part of the papers, the same officer transported over a large quantity of forms for Chris to sign on his own. "You have to bring this back on the day you pick up the child. They need to be completed in full."

Chris nodded, taking them in hand.

We're now even closer to being there for her.