by Andromeda
Alphonse holds his breath as the judge, an African-American woman who reminds him honestly of an older version of Rosalinda if she was a couple shades darker, strides in with her black robe.
The judge takes a seat and then nods for them to do the same.
"You may all take your seats." She has a light southern accent and her dark-brown eyes seem almost black as she looks over us. "We are here today because Alphonse François is suing Georgianna Waltz for sole custody of their son?"
"That is right. your honor," Alphonse’s lawyer says, nodding.
"You may make the opening argument," Judge Williams says.
"Thank you." Alphonse’s lawyer rises to his feet and walks to the center of the room. "Your honor, we are here because my client believes that he can give better care to his son, rather than Miss Waltz."
"Do you have any evidence?" Judge Williams asks.
"Yes your honor, we do,” Alphonse’s lawyer says. “I would like to call Mr. François to the stand."
Rosalinda gives his hand a brief squeeze for support before Alphonse gets up and walks to the witness stand. After swearing to tell the truth, he takes his seat.
"Mr. François," the lawyer begins. "How would you describe your...relationship with Miss Wyatt?"
"I had a good relationship with her," Alphonse says truthfully. "We never really were together but we had an on-again-off-again relationship over the years."
"And after she fell pregnant, you were there for her, correct?" the lawyer asks.
"Yes, that is correct,” Alphonse says, nodding. “I gave her $90,000 a month out of my own free will to look after my son. No questions asked."
"So tell me, sir; why do you believe you are the better parent for young Lukas?”
"Because I have found out that I love being a father,” Alphonse explains. “I'm going to be one...again, and I want Lukas to be there for his younger brother or sister. Also, my girlfriend has children and Lukas loves being with them."
"So in other words, it's a happy family, correct?" the lawyer asks.
Alphonse nods. "That is correct."
The lawyer nods to him. "No further questions at this time, your honor."
The lawyer leaves, but then Georgianna's lawyer takes walks over and Alphonse swallows to still his furiously beating heart.
"Mr. François is loved all over the world," Georgianna’s lawyer begins. "But no more so than by his son, and by the woman who raised him. However, Mr. François has most recently been with another woman, a woman who has changed his opinion of his ex most severely. I want to call Miss Domínguez to the stand."
Rosalinda looks at him with a questionable brow, but she has no choice except to do as ordered. They pass each other as they exchange seats, but exchange a soft squeeze of reassurance before she walks to the witness stand, swears to tell the truth, and takes a seat.
"So, Miss Domínguez," the lawyer begins. "You are pregnant, I see."
"It's due to come any day," Rosalinda says, rubbing her stomach affectionately.
"I wish you a well delivery," the man says. "However...not long ago Miss Waltz was in the same position."
"I know about her...past relationship with my boyfriend," she says stiffly. "But that's all it is, in the past."
"Or is it?" the lawyer says. "You do know that Mr. François regularly has meetings with my client."
"I know they talk about their son," she says.
"Or do they?"
"Objection," Alphonse’s lawyer says. "He is implying something."
"Sustained," Judge Williams says. "Sir, please do not let your personal opinion interfere with this hearing."
"I'm sorry, your honor," Georgianna's lawyer says before turning back to Rosalinda. "Please forgive me, but I'm having a hard time understanding something."
"Such as?" Rosalinda asks.
"Such as how a woman...like you, could get with a man like Mr. François," he says slowly.
Alphonse can see Rosalinda's hands curl over the hand rest of the chair; he can sense her temper beginning to flare and silently prays she doesn't let it get out of control.
"Are you saying...there is something wrong with me?" she asks tightly.
"No," the lawyer says, shaking his head. "No, not at all. But I do wonder how Mr. François did. I mean, he’s been with lots of different women, all of whom have never gotten pregnant. Then up you show and you are carrying his child."
"We were together over half a year before I did," she says. "And this child wasn't exactly...planned, but we are making it work."
"Well that's a coincidence, isn't it?" he asks. "You, a woman with a questionable background, becomes the girlfriend of the richest man in the city, and then you become pregnant with his child. Sounds a little bit of a forced thing, doesn't it?"
"What are you implying?" she snaps. "That I'm using Alphonse for money?"
"Well, he did give it to you, did he not? Also gave your family money to be his, what's the title, sugar baby?"
Rosalinda blanches, her eyes locking to Alphonse’s. How could they have known that? No one outside of Alphonse’s family knew yet…he glances to Georgianna and sees a smug smile on her face. Somehow, she found out.
"I was..." Rosalinda says slowly. "But that was a long time ago."
"But you still were his sugar baby," Georgianna’s lawyer presses.
"I said I was," Rosalinda says through clenched teeth. "And that was a long time ago."
"Nonetheless, he paid you to be his girlfriend,” the lawyer presses. “But that wasn't enough. No, you wanted to make sure Mr. François was never going to leave you so you got yourself pregnant."
"That's not true..." Rosalinda says softly.
"Or is it?" he demands. "And even when you had assurance that Mr. François had you financially set, you still didn't have enough. So you decided to tear a child from his mother."
"I would never do that!" she cries out. "I would never take a child from their parent!"
"Or wouldn't you?" the lawyer says with a smirk. "I have some information that says otherwise..."
Rosalinda’s pale, her breathing coming heavy and her hands gripping her stomach. Alphonse stands to his feet.
"Enough of this," he barks. "She's pregnant!"
"How do you even know that child is yours?" Georgianna asks. "For all we know, that could be a bastard of someone else growing inside her."
"You will respect her!" Alphonse growls thunderously at her.
"Order!" Judge Williams says, smacking her gavel down. "I will have order in my courtroom! Defense, you will keep your personal opinion and Ms. Waltz out of my courtroom before I throw this case out and give Mr. François exactly what he came here for."
Rosalinda groans loudly, her hands gripping the armrest of her chair. She looks to him, her eyes wide, her face pale. Oh no...not now... Alphonse looks to the judge.
"Your honor, can we be dismissed please? All this stress has put her into labor!”
The Judge looks to Rosalinda and sees her softly panting, her hand seeming as ready to tear that armrest right off the chair.
"You are all dismissed," Judge Williams says. "We will continue another time. Mr. François, you may get your girlfriend."
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To say this labor was a hard one is an understatement. Alphonse has never been to a birth before, and the way that Rosalinda screamed made him never want to be in another. She screamed as if she was being torn in half, and at a pitch that was ear-shattering.
A couple times, he went in the delivery room to see if he could help but when he saw all the blood and the weird thing being pushed between her legs, he knew that he was of no use. She seemed to scream for hours. He didn’t know what time it was when Lucille came to get the children and take them home, but Alphonse stayed; he refused to leave Rosalinda and their child.
After hours, he finally heard her give one last loud shriek and then the wailing of something—something very, very angry. He’d never heard the sound before
and it was loud, but the moment Alphonse heard it, his heart fluttered in his chest as if a thousand butterflies has been released.
A nurse appears behind him and smiles. "Would you like to meet your baby?"
That was the sound of my baby? Numbly, he nods and she leads him into Rosalinda's delivery room.
The love of his life’s hair is plastered to her head with sweat, her gown rumpled but appears to be a new one. She sits on the bed smiling down at the bundle in her arms. The nurses leave them alone and she finally looks up at him.
"It's a girl," she says, smiling at him now. "Want to see her?"
Slowly, Alphonse walks over and looks at the bundle in her arms. A pinkish face looks back at him with large light-grey eyes. Her pink lips are pressed into that pout that Rosalinda normally has when she's about to yell at him about something. On her head is a mop of light-brown hair; then slowly, those pink lips curl into a smile and Alphonse can't help but smile back.
"I made this..." he whispers in awe.
"Oh yeah, you did all the work," Rosalinda says with a roll of her eyes that earns a laugh from him.
"You know that's not what I meant," he chuckles. "But we made her together."
"She's beautiful," she says.
"Do you have a name?" he asks.
"Actually, yes," she says. "I was thinking...Charisse?"
Alphonse’s heart stops and he looks at her. "What did you say?"
"I want to name her Charisse," she repeats.
"T...that was my mother's name," he whispers. "How did you know that?"
"Lucille," she answers.
"Charisse," Alphonse repeat, looking down at his daughter. "A fitting name."
"I thought you'd like it,” Rosalinda says, smiling.
"I love it," he says. "And I love you. Rose, you are all I want in a woman; all that my mother would want for me. So I need you ask you a question."
She looks at him. "Yes?"
"Will you marry me?"
Chapter Twenty-Two – Rosalinda POV
"Yes Alphonse, I'm fine, just finishing Charisse’s bath," I say on the phone.
A couple of weeks ago, I came home with Charisse, and Alphonse and I officially knew what it was like to be parents; staying up late to feed, rocking until she went to sleep, and so forth. She is so precious, though, and I wouldn't give up for the world.
When it came to Alphonse’s question, I couldn’t say no. I love that man with my whole being; the only thing that could be a close second to how much I love my children. Plans are already underway for the wedding and we also have something else to celebrate. Alphonse was given full custody of Lukas.
When she found out, Georgianna flew into a rage and told me that I’d regret the day I ever took something that was hers and that she would return the favor. I’m not afraid of her, though Alphonse is one to worry.
However, this honeymoon session had to come to an end when he had to leave for a meeting in Florida. I don’t want him to go, but he must as he’s opening a new store chain and Charisse is too young to fly on a plane.
"I'll be back soon," he promises me, pressing a kiss to my lips before getting in his car. "Take care of our baby, ok?"
"Ok," I sigh sadly. "I'll miss you."
For the most part, Aiden, Georgia and Lucille come on over to help with the children. The night before Alphonse is supposed to come back home is a quiet night. I have just put the children to bed, Charisse is asleep in the nursery down the hall, and I lay in my bed slowly drifting off to sleep...only to be awakened by a sound downstairs.
I frown but stay in bed, thinking it's nothing until I hear a creak on the stairs. That definitely isn't nothing and straining my ears, I can hear soft footsteps. This isn't one of the family because they wouldn't be creeping.
Moving quickly and quietly, I roll over onto the floor and crawl under the bed as a pair of feet appear at my doorway. They stop and turn to the bed; there is a soft rustling and then a strange click.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
I cover my mouth as three loud gunshots thunder through the air; the bed jerks and I hold my breath, praying the loud beating of my heart doesn't give me away.
"You tried to take him from me," a familiar voice says. "But he's mine! Once you are dead, he'll come back to me and our son!"
Georgianna? I think to myself in horror.
She fires three more shots and I continue to hold my breath, praying that her anger will be satisfied from these shots...but then Charisse begins to cry. The shots must have awakened her and she begins to scream in fright.
Georgianna stiffens and then I hear her chuckle.
"And then once I kill your bastard...one less child for mine to share the inheritance with."
No! No! No! I scream to myself as her footsteps leave my room. My baby!
Quickly, I crawl from under the bed as she walks away and hurry after her, my socks muffling my footsteps as I move. I reach the room just in time as she cocks the gun, pointing it at the crib.
"NO!" I scream, slamming into her, knocking the gun from her hands and her to the ground.
She looks at me gazed, her eyes wide. "How are you alive?" she asks.
I lunge for her, grabbing her and dragging her from the room and then giving her a hard push. There is a scuffling and she disappears. She is somewhere, but then I remember the other children so I go to their bedroom. They are all hiding in Lukas’ bedroom, who is trying to be brave.
“Go to Charisse’s bedroom,” I tell them. “Lock the door and don’t come out unless you hear me tell you to, ok?”
Lukas nods and takes Isabel and Antonio’s hands, leading them to the nursery while I go back to my task: getting rid of the threat. I need to call the police but I don’t know where she is, so I have to draw her out somehow.
"Georgianna, how the hell did you get in my house?" I call out, needing to pinpoint where she is.
"Wasn't hard," she calls out some place in the darkness. "I just had Alphonse’s key copied.”
BANG! BANG! BANG!
I yelp as shots ring out, hearing them just barely miss me.
"I'm giving you one chance to leave!" I yell, moving my way down the stairs. I need a weapon. I know Aphonse keeps a weapon in his office and I slowly make my way toward it.
"You think I just had one gun?" Georgianna calls out. "Tonight, one of us is going to die; it's going to hurt worse if you try to fight it."
A shadow moves past me and the hairs on the back of my hair stand on end. Instructively I lunge, swinging my fist, smiling to myself when I hear a satisfying grunt as well as the crunch of a nose being broken.
Knowing she's down, I run as fast as I can to the office but then the shots ring out again and a burning pain stabs me in the leg. Hot blood runs down my pants and I know I've been shot, but I can't stop. A loud grunt sounds behind me and suddenly I'm thrown to the ground.
Georgianna pins me down, pointing the gun to my face, her eyes wild.
"You are dead bitch," she says. "Any last words?"
My hands grope for anything and I feel something heavy nearby and grasp it.
"Yeah I got one, suck this!"
Slamming the heavy item into her head, she falls off of me. The gun knocks from her hands and I scramble for it; the pain in my leg hurts like hell but I fight through it. I have to fight through it for my child.
My fingers close around the gun and I turn around, holding it in my hands, but she lunges again. The gun is knocked from my hands and I’m clawing at her, needing to break free of her grasp. Throwing her into the wall, she punches me in the stomach and causes me to double over, but I don’t give up.
We literally fight like cats; screaming and clawing at each other, pulling hair. Our feet tangle and we tumble down the stairs, her landing on me. My head hits the tile but not hard and I fight to keep from going black.
She staggers to her feet, spitting blood from her mouth as she takes out a wicked looking knife and presses it to my throat.
"I'm going to g
ive you a wide, bloody smile," she sneers. "I will peel your flesh from your bones."
The screams of Charisse fill my ears and she looks up, and then back down at me.
"But first...I'm going to let you see me kill that little bastard."
She begins to get off of me and I grab her leg. Twisting it sharply, she screams in pain as the bone snaps and I back away, something long touching my fingers. When I see what it is, my eyes widen. It's the gun.
She looks at me, rage thunderous on her face. "You bitch!" she screams. "I'm going to kill you!" She holds the knife high and lunges for me.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Three shots ring out as I pull the trigger three times. Georgianna staggers, blood bubbling in her throat as she looks down at the holes in her chest.
"Y...you shot me," she gasps.
"One of us is going to die today," I say, repeating her words. "It's going to be worse if you try to fight it."
She drops to her knees, coughing up blood before she falls onto her back. I drop the gun and run to the nearest phone. My hands shake as I dial Alphonse’s number; within moments, he answers.
“Oui?”
“A…Alphonse?” I pant.
“Rose, are you alright?” he asks. “You are panting!”
“Come home as soon as possible,” I pant. “I just killed your ex.”
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Epilogue – Alphonse POV
"Papa! Papa! Tell me the story again!" Charisse chants.
"Oui Papa, please!" her little sister Aurora pleads.
Chuckling, I pull both girls into my lap and rub their heads. "Ok girls, I'll tell you it again."
"I wanna hear too!" their little brother Antwon pipes as Rosalinda brings him in on her hip.
I smile at my wife, the love of my life, who is glowing, her round belly slightly showing under her shirt.
"Is Papa telling a story?" Isabel calls out. "I wanna hear too!"
Within minutes, I am surrounded by our six children, seven if you count the one that Rosalinda is carrying now. I look them over, taking them all in: Isabel, Lukas, Antonio, Charisse, Aurora and Antwon...we appear to like a lot of names with A, I realize.