"Ooh daddy you look so handsome!" Rebecca cooed, when her parents walked out of the bedroom. "Why thank you, Miss Becca!" Nick picked her up and kissed her cheek. Elisha picked up Brian and snuggled him close. "Okay guys, remember what daddy and I told you? Today is the day I have to go talk to the police." Brian clapped his hands together. "And we get to stay with Nana and Oopa!" "That�s right, little man. Group hug everybody." They all wrapped their arms around each other and yelled out "Big Hug!" "That was a good one!" Elisha smiled. "I�ll feel it all day!" The doorbell sounded. "I bet that is Nana and Oopa!" Rebecca hollered, running to the door. She pulled it open and shouted in surprise. "Auntie Angel and Uncle Aaron!" Brian took off for the door when he heard his sister's yell and jumped into Aaron's arms. Nick smiled at Elisha. "Think they are happy to see them?" Once everyone was ushered inside and greeted properly, Nick and Elisha said their goodbyes. "Thank you so much mom and dad, Angel and Aaron. We appreciate this so much." Elisha hugged them one by one. "We�ll be back later today, okay?" They both kissed the twins and the older children again before making their way out the door. As the van pulled away, they blew kisses to their family as they gathered on the front steps. "Oh this is so difficult!" Elisha shuddered and reached for Nick's arm. "I can�t wait for it to be over!"

When they arrived at the courthouse, the front was a mob of reporters and photographers. Nick pulled around to the back and dialed the police on their cell phone. "We�ll have some security in a minute, okay?" Elisha stared at her hands and slowly nodded. "Elisha, look at me." Nick placed his hand under her chin and lifted her head up to meet his eyes. "You have to look confident in there. If you look like a scared rabbit, no one is going to listen to you. They are going to think you are guilty without giving you a chance. Remember what David told you. It all has to come into play right now." She gazed into his eyes. He was so strong. He believed in her so much. She couldn�t let him down, not now, not after all he had done for her. "Okay." She nodded her head forcefully and shook her arms loosely. She shot Nick a bright smile and held her head high. "That�s my girl!" Nick beamed and hugged her. "That�s the beautiful, spirited woman I married!" A police officer knocked on the window of the van. "Let�s go!" Elisha declared.

They waited in the small annex for Elisha's case to be called. David went over a few things with her. "The main things today will be the opening arguments and possibly some police testimony, depending on the time. You won�t need to say anything today, but some things will be said about you, and your husband, that you will just have to take in stride." Elisha nodded. "Don�t get all defensive if they attack you in the opening argument. Just smile and keep it inside." Nick gripped her hand and she smiled at him. "Okay, I understand." When the officer told them it was time, Nick hugged her and told her that he would be sitting right behind her. "Can�t he sit with me?" Elisha asked. "No. I�m afraid not. But he will literally be right behind you." Her smile sagged and she dropped her head. Nick tapped her on the chin. "Confident!" She grinned and held her head up again. "I am!" They walked into the courtroom and Elisha almost cried when she saw all the familiar faces. Everyone was there. Kevin and Christine, Brian and Linda, Howie, AJ, Kevin's mom, Nick's sisters, BJ and Leslie. They all nodded and smiled as she passed. Just knowing they were all there supporting her gave her the biggest boost of confidence she could have ever asked for.

After the preliminaries, the prosecuting attorney began his opening arguments. He droned on for an hour or so. Elisha paid little attention, but she heard people gasp at various points in his speech. David stood and proceeded to knock down all of the points the prosecutor had made and declared that he would show she was simply a mother defending her children the only way she knew how. A few people lightly applauded when he was finished and Elisha grinned at him as he sat down. "Very impressive." "Thank you." He shuffled some papers. "I think we won that round. The jury kept looking at you when I talked and they looked very sympathetic." "They did?" Elisha was surprised, she hadn�t noticed anyone looking at her. "Yes, I know what to look for and they were. It�s a good sign." Elisha glanced back at Nick and gave him a small wave and a smile. David tapped her on the shoulder as the prosecutor called the first witness to the stand.