Chapter Text
After almost a month of practice and preparation it was time for the trial. Amy helped Gabriella be more comfortable and ready to testify. The trial started and the Judge opened with why they were there and each lawyer stated their cases finally it was time to call their first witness. A few cops were called up to talk about Gabriella and what they knew. A few old neighbors were called up. Some of her mom’s friends were asked to come up. Finally after about an hour they had a recess. Gabriella knew it was only a matter of time before she had to go up. After the break Troy, Lucille, and Jack went up and finally her name was called. She gulped and made her way up. They sworn her in and she took her seat.
“Miss Montez I understand this is hard for you so just take a deep breath and tell us as much as you can,” Amy said. “Now will you please tell me about the relationship you had with your mother.
“Well I was a little girl but at that point she was my best friend…I mean my only friend. Although she never hit me she never stopped my father either. At the time I thought I deserved being hit. I thought all kids got hit. Since she didn’t hit me I thought she loved me,” Gabriella answered.
“Can you tell me what happen the morning your mom left?”
“I woke up one morning when I was four or three and I went into the kitchen for breakfast which my mom normally had ready for me but this time she didn’t. All I found was a note telling me she left. When I asked my dad what happen he told she left because of me. He said I was such a bad girl that she left and then he…he beat me up.”
“I see. You said your mother never stopped your father from hitting you what did she do?”
“Stand there, Gabriella choked out.
“So let me make sure I understand this right. While your father beat you your mother stood there watching like it was some kind of show?”
“Yes,” Gabriella answered softly.
She hated making her mother sound like a monster but she was only telling the truth.
“Would you feel comfortable living with her?”
“No.”
“No further questions.”
Gabriella sighed and looked at Troy. He winked at her which made her smile. Her mother’s lawyer got up and went over to her.
“So Miss Montez you mother left because she was fearful of your father yet you believe she is dangerous even though she never lifted a hand towards you?”
“She didn’t stop my dad she just stood there.”
“Your father hit your mother too correct?”
“Yes.”
“So why would she stop him when she knew there was a change she would get hurt?”
“I-I don’t know. Mothers are supposed to protect their daughter’s aren’t they?”
“Are you saying you would rather your mother get beat instead of you?”
“No, no I just meant….”
“Yes?”
“Well…I-I…um…I didn’t want my mom getting hurt but I wish she would have done something to stop her,” Gabriella stuttered.
“I see so when your mom left you got mad at her for saving herself?”
“No…I mean yes…I mean…Please stop,” Gabriella said looking down at her hands.
“Answer the question Miss Montez.”
“I was mad at her for leaving me behind.”
“You were mad at your mother for saving herself and trying to make a better life for you?”
“If the cops didn’t show up when they did my father would have killed me. She left me with my father even though she knew what kind of man he was.”
“Once again it’s all about you isn’t it. Kind of selfish if you ask me. Why was it up to your mother to save you? Why didn’t you stand up to your dad and defend yourself?”
“I was a baby.”
“What about when you got older?”
“I was never taught how,” Gabriella answered as her voice cracked.
“SO it was all up to your mom huh? To save you from your dad, to cook, clean, to slave away for you while you acted all innocent. You know the real reason why your mother left? She left so she could start a better life for you. She was going to come back.”
“She could have taken me with her.”
“She had to live her life on the run what kind of life is for a baby?”
“It’s better than being abused.”
“Maybe if you were better behaved he wouldn’t have beaten you?”
“Lucille said it wasn’t my fault,” Gabriella whimpered.
“Awww Lucille said. What does Lucille know she is your shrink? She doesn’t know your father. How does she know how or why he does what he does?”
“It wasn’t my fault. I just wanted to be loved,” Gabriella said and started to cry.
“So once again it is all about you. You wanted this; you wanted that, you wanted everything. Selfish is what you are SELFISH! YOUR POOR MOTHER DID EVERYTHING SHE COULD FOR YOU AND WHEN SHE TRIES TO SAVE HERSELF AND MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR YOU, YOU GET MAD BUT IF THAT WASN’T A ENOUGH WHEN SHE COMES BACK ASKING FOR YOU TO LIVE WITH HER AGAIN YOU PUT HER TROUGH ALL THIS. YOU GABRIELLA MONTEZ ARE SELFISH AND DON’T DESERVE ANYTHING! YOU DON’T DESERVE TO BE LOVED BY ANYONE YOU MISS MONTEZ DESERVE TO DIE”
Gabriella broke down crying. She sunk out of the chair and onto her knees crying hysterically. She couldn’t get air to her lungs as she cried.
“We need a doctor she isn’t breathing,” the Judge said.
A doctor rushed over to Gabriella and tried but it made it worse.
“NO! GET AWAY! GET….” Gabriella started choking on her tears.
“STOP GET AWAY FROM HER,” Troy shouted no longer able to watch this.
He rushed over to Gabriella and pulled her into his arms and rubbed her back.
“Shhhhh baby girl shhhhh. Breathe sweetheart. It’s all right now. I’m here shhhhh.”
Gabriella screamed. “I’M SORRY!”
“Baby no. Don’t be sorry. You have nothing to be sorry for. That lawyer is a jerk.”
“Troy she is turning blue,” Lucille said quickly.
She looked at Gabriella and saw it was true. Then he noticed the look in her face. She couldn’t register he was there, there was too much going on. He picked her up and left the court room. He took her outside and went to sit on a nearby bench. He tried again.
“All right baby shhhhh. I’m here it’s ok now. Just breathe.”
“Troy,” she choked out.
“I’ m here baby I’m here.”
“Sing,” she cried.
Troy softly started to sing and rub her back. After the song was done Gabriella started to calm back down.
“I want you,” she whimpered.
“I’m not going anywhere Brie.”
“I don’t want to testify anymore.”
“You don’t have to. We can have my mom tell the judge you mentally aren’t fit to testify anymore.”
Gabriella nodded and cuddled into him.
“Come on let’s go back inside.”
“No,” she whimpered.
“I won’t let you go,” Troy promised.
Troy carried her back inside and Jack informed them they were going to take a break while the jury made up their mind. After the break everyone took their seats and the judge said “Full custody of Gabriella Montez goes to…..
“Full custody of Gabriella Montez goes to…..The Bolton’s. Court dismissed.”
Gabriella squealed and hugged the Bolton’s.
“NO SHE IS MY DAUGHTER MINE,” Maria shouted!
“No you can’t be because a mother would do everything in her power to protect their daughter even if it meant getting beat,” Lucille said hugging Gabriella tighter.“I love you Gabriella.”
“I love you too…mom,” Gabriella answered.
Lucille’s eyes filled with tears. Troy smiled. Gabriella had finally healed.
A few months later Gabriella laid pinned down on Troy’s bed as he tickled for the fifth time that night.
“Ok…ok Tro-Troy I can’t take it,” she laughed.
Troy stopped and helped her sit up.
The shared a deep kiss and pulled away.
“So you ready for our date,” Troy asked?
“Very.”
The two of them walked into the living room.
“Mom, dad we are heading out,” Gabriella said.
She had started calling Lucille and Jack mom and dad about a month again.
“Ok you two have fun. Be home by eleven,” Jack said.
“Bye,” Troy and Gabriella said and left the house.
“We did it,” Lucille smiled.
“Did what,” Jack asked?
“Helped her heal.”