A/N: I tired the fighting scene, I did, but I was just not happy with it. So I took it all out. I am sorry. Maybe one day I will try again. . . but don't expect it to be anytime soon.

Posted: June 19, 2009

Chapter Thirty-two: On Trial

“Stay in the car for a minute,” Gregory told Jerry and Frankie as he saw Jerry trying to get out of his seatbelt when they pulled into the driveway of their home.

“Dad, what's going on?” Jerry finally asked. He had been quiet for the entire car trip, afraid to speak, as his father drove like a mad man as they raced towards their destination. “Who was that man?”

Gregory turned around. “He is someone from me and your mom's past,” he told him the truth. “Someone we don't want in our lives anymore.”

“Why?” Frankie asked. “Was he bad?”

Gregory hesitated. “It's complicated, sweetie,” he told her. “Jerry,” he looked to the boy he long considered his own. “If you see him again-” he didn't know what to say. “Run.” He decided was the best word. “Just take your sister to the neighbor's and contact Grandma Kathy or cousin Haley, okay?”

“But he changes form, how will I know it's him?” he asked.

Gregory slowly turned to his young child. “Frankie, do you remember his smell?” he wondered if she was old enough to sense another dragon and felt a great deal of pride when she nodded indicating she knew Jake's scent. “Rely on each other.” Were his words.

“I don't like this,” Jerry spoke. He knew he wasn't getting the whole story.

“Neither do I,” Gregory responded as he got out the car and headed towards the front door. With his key in his hand, he went to unlock the door and was surprised to find that it was not only unlocked, but slightly opened as well. It wasn't like Trixie to leave the doors open. She grew up in Brooklyn. “Trixie,” he called out as he opened the door.

And that's where he paused as he noticed the broken glass on the floor. He sniffed the air, Jake had been here and at that realization, panic kicked in. “Trixie!” he yelled out, running towards the kitchen, where their family normally gravitated to instead of the living room. He found what looked to be her starting dinner, but the task seemed abandoned. “Trixie!” he yelled out again. “I swear to God if he has touched you,” he said to himself.

“Gregory?” Trixie appeared at the end of the staircase in a house robe, her hair up. Then, in the time in took to blink, Gregory had her in his arms. “Why didn't you answer me?” he asked.

“I didn't hear you,” she told him. “I just stepped out the shower.” She then looked around. “Where are the kids?” she asked.

“In the car,” he answered. He then pulled away and looked down at her. “Jake was here,” he stated.

“Yes,” she answered simply though she knew it wasn't a question. “Go get the kids. I'm going to finish getting dress and then clean up this mess when I come back down.” Gregory nodded before heading back out the house.

OoOoO

It was near nine o'clock and Frankie and Jerry were already tucked in for the night as Trixie and Gregory got ready for bed themselves. “We should talk,” Trixie spoke gently. After Gregory had gotten the kids out the car, he spent a lot of time trying to convince them that everything was okay, but like Gregory, Frankie had sense Jake in the house and was frighten. And finally, he was able to calm her down enough to get her asleep.

Gregory sat down on the bed with his back to her. “I'm not stupid,” he finally said.

“I know that,” she told him, climbing into the other side of the bed.

“Really? Because you had me fooled,” his voice was even as he spoken, eerily calm. “I didn't notice it before, because I was glad you were okay, but Jake was in our house today and you didn't seem to upset about it. Not only that, but when you came downstairs, you said you didn't hear me because you were taking a shower - in the middle of the day – a shower,” he paused. “You usually wait on a shower till before bed.” He then turned and looked directly at her. “Or after we've made love.”

Trixie shallowed hard and licked her lips, which suddenly felt dry at the harsh look she was receiving from Gregory. “It's not what you think,” she wanted him to know.

“And what am I thinking?” he asked.

“You think that I had sex with Jake and that I was washing off his scent,” she answered. “I didn't have sex with him,” she told him. “But I was washing off his scent.”

Gregory's face soften as she spoke. “If you didn't have sex then why would-” he began, but stopped, remembering the broken vase. “Did he try to hurt you? Is that what you are hiding from me?”

“No,” she replied, but it went unheard.

“Because if he's touched you in any way, I promise, I will kill him,” he said it so matter-of-factly that Trixie couldn't help, but think his words true, for he had never broken a promise. But then again, lying would do no good in the long run.

“I had to take a shower because he kissed me,” she let be known. “It was only a kiss.”

“Did you kiss him back?” he asked.

Trixie looked distraught. “He forced himself into the house, breaking my favorite vase. He pushed me on the table and practically pinned me against the wall.” She closed her eyes. “I wasn't thinking straight,” she said slowly. “So I may of. . . yes, I kissed him back,” she told him. Gregory looked away, nodding his head slowly as he absorbed the information. “But I pushed him away. I swear I did!” She wanted- No, needed, him to know that. “After that, he mostly just wanted to talk.”

“What could he possibly want to talk about?” Gregory asked.

“He um, wanted me to forgive him,” she began, finding she could no longer look at the man in front of her. “He told me- he told me he loved me. I think he wanted me back.”

“I hope you told him where he can shove it.”

Trixie looked back at him. “I tried, but it didn't really turn out that way.”

“What do you mean?” He wanted her to explain.

“I didn't realize, until I saw him today, how much I had missed him,” she told him truthfully.

Gregory stared at her for a moment. “What are you trying to say?” He didn't understand.

“I'm just trying to be honest,” she replied.

“Are- are you trying to tell me,” he didn't want to say the words, “that you're still in love with him or something?” There was silence. Gregory gave an empty laugh as he stood up. “Wow,” he said in disbelief.

“That's not a fair question, Gregory,” she finally spoke. “You know I love you.”

“But?” He wanted her to continue.

“He's my husband,” she finally said the words.

“Your-” he stopped and began to pace. “Your husband? I can't believe you just- after everything- you just-” He rambled to himself. He then stopped and turned back to her. “I'm the father of your daughter,” he began. “The man who has been by your side for the last six years. The man who has shown you more love in those six years, then that boy,” he stressed, “who has known you his entire life ever has.” He was upset. “I don't understand, you say you love me, and then you throw Jake in my face?”

“Me and Jake-”

“No,” he interrupted her. He had had enough. “I don't want to hear about you and Jake. There is no longer suppose to be a you and Jake. It's suppose to be you and me!” He yelled, pointing to himself rapidly. “I am so tired of living and fighting with your constant memory of him,” he told her. “There are days when you look at me and I swear you wish I was him.” His face read of pain. “Do you know how that makes me feel? Knowing you love someone else? Do you?”

At his question, Trixie thought back to when she and Jake lived together and how she knew that Jake wished she was Rose. The feeling was heartbreaking. And to think, she had been doing the same thing to Gregory without even realizing. “I mean,” he continued. “Are you just biding your time, until you and Jake are together again? Am I anything to you?”

“Gregory-” she was interrupted.

“Be careful how you answer this question,” he warned her and she knew that their future rested on what she said next.

Trixie stood up and walked around to the other side of the room where she stood before Gregory. “You know Jake is my past,” she began softly. “I can't erase that.”

Gregory slowly blinked taking a long breath. “You don't even have to finish,” he told her. “I know the end when I hear it.” He went to turn around.

“No,” she reached out and grabbed him. “You need to let me finish,” she demanded. He didn't move and she gently released him. “Jake is my past,” she began again. “And I won't lie, I do love him,” she admitted. “But you, you are not only my now, but my future.” She reached up with both hands and took his face in her touch. “And you're right, you have loved me more than anyone ever has. More than Jake, more than my parents, even more than-” she paused, “more than Jerry's biological father. For unlike either of them, when I wake up in the morning, I don't ever have to worry about you not being there.” Gregory looked at her oddly with that statement, but let her continue. “And for that, I can honestly say, you are the love of my life. And I'm not going to give you up for anyone. So I'm sorry, but you're stuck with me.”

The man before her didn't know how to response. He seemed generally surprised.

“Please,” Trixie spoke again. “Let's just put this behind us,” she asked of him. She then backed up taking one of his hands with both of hers. “And let's just go bed,” she suggested. She gently pulled, but Gregory stood his ground.

“I don't want him near you,” he finally voiced his thoughts. “I don't want him in our home, near our kids, or in our lives,” he clarified. “And I plan on making that happen.” His blank expression reappeared. He was serious.

“How?” she was almost afraid to ask, concern written all over her face.

“By bringing him down and taking him before the World Dragon Council,” he revealed.

“What will happen to him, if you do that?” she asked, trying not to sound too worried about Jake's safety.

“Not if,” Gregory corrected. “When,” was his only answered before he slipped his hand out of Trixie's and laid down for the night.

OoOoO

How did she allow things to get this far? Trixie couldn't help but wonder as she secretly met with Jake. He had called her up on her way home from work at the hospital asking her to meet him at a hotel that was on route. Not liking that idea, Trixie suggested a park that was actually on the other side of town. Jake didn't seem too pleased with the idea, but he held his tongue and did what would make her comfortable.

They sat beside each other on the park bench. Trixie keeping what she considered a safe distanced from him. She wasn't sure if she trusted getting too close to him. “I want you to leave Gregory,” he got straight to the point. “I want us to move back to Brooklyn. You, me, and both the kids.”

Trixie looked at him like he was out of his mind. “You're kidding me, right? You can't honestly think that one little kiss was going to change my mind about anything.”

“It was more than a kiss.” He sat just a little closer to her. “I felt something and I know you did too.”

“Yes, I did,” she didn't lie. “But I love Gregory. He's my life now.” She shook her head. “And I'm not leaving him.” They were not the words that Jake wanted to hear. “And I think it would be best if you didn't come around anymore.” She lowered her head. “Or called or made any kind of contract with me or Jerry.”

“No,” was Jake's answered. “I've been without you too long to just walk away after I've found you.”

Trixie then looked at him once again. Why was he so determined? “What about Rose?” she questioned. “The very reason you walked out on us in the first place. Why would I take another chance on you, knowing you could do it again?”

“Because I wouldn't. Rose is dead,” Jake replied sadly. “She was killed in an accident several years ago. After her death, I was devastated. Haley wanted me to come back with her, but I couldn't. I didn't have anything to return to.”

“That's a lie!” Trixie was outraged. “You had me! You had Jerry!”

“No, I didn't. Gregory had you!” he yelled back. “And I was left with nothing!”

“And that was your own damn fault!” she replied. “Everything you got or didn't get it, was of your own doing.” She stood up, glancing at the sky. Rain clouds were starting to fill the the darkening horizon. “This was a mistake,” she said to herself. “I shouldn't have come here.” She then looked to Jake. “I'm done with you,” she said simply.

“Fine,” Jake rose, his voice cold as he spoke. “You want this over? Then it's over. I'll even give you your precious divorce.”

Trixie seemed surprised. Jake was actually giving up on their marriage, but this was what she wanted, right? So if it was, why did she feel like crying. “Jake, I-”

“But I'm filing for full custody of Jerry,” he announced.

“What?!” Trixie screeched out. “Hell no! I am not giving up my son. Besides, he doesn't even know you. Gregory is the only father he has ever known.”

“And whose fault is that?” Jake asked.

“Yours!” she replied.

“No, that would be my cousin,” Jake corrected. “I called, I sent gifts and birthday cards, I even wrote letters, until you guys moved. I then sent them to Haley to give to you, but of course, they never got passed Gregory. I tried to stay in touch, but I wasn't allowed to. Gregory is the reason, Jerry never got to know me,” he explained.

“No, you are the reason Jerry never got to know you.” It was Trixie's turn to do the correcting. “You are the one that left Jake. You!” She poked him hard in the chest. “And I don't blame Gregory for what he did, because if he had given them to me, I would have thrown them out myself.” She could see the hurt on Jake's face. “And if you want a custody battle over Jerry, bring it, because no judge in their right mind, is going to take a child out of a loving, stable environment, and hand him over to a man who hasn't had a proper home in over six years.” She then side stepped him about to walk away.

“This isn't over,” he whispered harshly as he grabbed her arm.

“Please,” she whispered, her tone completely different then before. It was almost as if she were afraid, but it wasn't for herself. “Just walk away. Let go and walk away,” she begged of him.

Jake's expression read of confusion, but before he could voice it, “Jacob Luke Long!” As his name was yelled, lightening streaked across the still darkening skies. “You are wanted for questioning by order of the WDC.”

Jake turned to see three DOS Agents behind him, all in dragon form. One of them just happened to be his cousin, Gregory Huang. Jake looked to Trixie. “You've betrayed me,” he accused, his anger clear.

“Maybe, but at least my betrayal didn't end in bloodshed,” she replied as she yanked her arm out of Jake's tight grip. She then walked away leaving his sight all together.

“Come along peacefully, Jake,” Gregory spoke. Rain gently began to fall upon the four remaining in the park. “Let's not make this any more difficult than it has to be.”

“Difficult?” Jake laughed. “Yeah right, I'm sure you're loving every minute of this. I even bet you think you've won. You got my wife, my kid, you're damn near living my life, but you know what you've forgotten?” he asked before morphing into his alternate form. “I'm still the better dragon!”

At that moment, Jake rammed head first into Gregory sending the two rolling across the wet grass. “Huang!” one of the other agents cried out ready to assist.

“No!” Gregory called back when he and Jake came to a stop. “This is my fight!” he answered, picking himself off the ground as Jake did the same. They then faced each other and merely stared the other down for a moment as the rain began to pour. “So it's come to this, has it?”

“There was never anywhere else for it to go,” Jake replied. Gregory only nodded. Then as the thunder roared, each took it like a bell for a boxer, and charged each other with full force.

OoOoO

Jake stood before the seven members that made up the World Dragon Council bloodied and bruised. He was still in disbelief that Gregory had won their fight, but that was okay because Jake still had one more surprise up his sleeve. Jake inwardly smirked as Gregory stood opposite of him on the other side of the room.

“I present to you, Jacob Luke Long, of the Luong bloodline,” Gregory's voice was clear as he spoke.

One of the Councilmen cleared his throat. “Do you know why you are here, Mr. Long?” he asked, his Scottish accent thick.

“Because you believe I abandon my post. You think I went AWOL -Absence without leave,” he answered.

“Oh no, I don't think, I know you abandon your post,” the Scottish Councilmen seemed annoyed at the young dragon's arrogance. “You have not appeared before this Council in nearly seven years. How do you explain yourself?” he questioned.

Jake said nothing at first. He then eyed each one of the Council members, his gaze resting on the one at the end. She nodded slightly and Jake sighed in relief almost as if a burden was lifted off his shoulders.

“I was not allowed to say anything before today, but I was under strict instruction. I was put on a highly classified mission. And while on this mission I reported to one person and one person alone,” he explained.

“We are the highest court in the Magical World. Nothing is above us, so who gave you such a mission, what was it, and why were we left in the dark?” demanded one of the Councilwomen, with an Arabic accent.

“I gave him such a mission,” spoke the Councilwoman on the end.

“Councilwoman Park?” the Scottish Councilmen questioned.

Sun Park, had been a Council member for nearly ten years. When she took the position, she told them she would not give up her duties as a Dragon Master to the young Haley Long. The terms were accepted.

After Daisy had approached Jake about helping her find her sister Rose, Sun Park was the person Jake had gone to for advice. He would have gone to his grandfather, Lao Shi, but things between them had gotten tense.

Jake had been torn, he wanted to go after Rose, but he didn't want to abandon Trixie or the baby he had promised to help raise. Sun Park told him she couldn't make the decision for him, which isn't what Jake wanted to here. But finally he made a decision, which wasn't a decision at all as concluded that he could do both.

With wind that members of the once thought gone Huntsclan could still be out there, Sun Park asked Jake, to record everything that he did when it came to them. Jake agreed, but she also wanted to keep everything quiet in case nothing big came out of it. She asked for his silence when it came to the matter and he agreed to it as well, just as long as she helped him out in anything that befall him. She agreed and so a deal was made.

“Long was under my instruction. It was a small mission that may have led to knowledge of surviving Huntsclan members, but as you see things got more complicated as he got deeper into it,” she explained.

The Scottish Councilmen looked skeptical. “Do you have anything but your word to back up this claim?” he wanted to know.

Sun Park smiled. “Of course.” She reached for the bag that laid beside her chair and pulled out a thick binder filled with many papers. “These are reports Jake has written since he started this mission.” She stood and slid the heavy book down the table. “Look for yourself. They are all dated and in proper order. Each one of his days are accounted. He was never AWOL.”

“This is ridiculous,” Gregory spoke out. “We had half the Magical World looking for him, thinking he was a threat. The next Dark Dragon even. Are you telling me it was all a waste of time?” He couldn't believe what was happening.

“DOS Huang does have a point,” said a Councilmen with a slight French accent. “If Long was no threat, then we have wasted countless resources on his behalf, which would have never happened if we were in the know, Councilwoman Park.”

Sun Park dipped her head. “Maybe it was foolish of me to not include the rest of the Council, but his mission was vital, and I did not want it compromised if we could not all agree on the next course of action. I gave American Dragon Jake Long-”

“No!” Gregory suddenly yelled out causing all eyes to turn towards him. “That title is no longer his,” he reminded them.

The Scottish Councilmen flipped through the reports casually. “Actually, everything seems to be on the up and up here and Council members are entitled to their own projects.” He then looked to Sun Park. “I assume you filled out the proper paper work for that?” She nodded in reply. “And I have a feeling that the youngest Long will not contest to giving her title back to her brother.” She shook her head.

The only other woman on the Council spoke. “Pending the verification of these reports, Long will assume his duties as the American Dragon.”

“You have got to be kidding me,” Gregory spoke to himself. He couldn't believe Jake was going to escape punishment.

“Now if there is no other business to discuss,” her accent was becoming thick, showing her tiredness as she picked up her gravel.

“Actually, Councilwoman.” Jake stopped her before she could slam down the gravel. “There is one more matter I would like to discuss before ending the day if you don't mind.” Gregory shook his head. He was ready for all this to be over. “I would like to make a claim.”

Gregory laughed. “I hope you don't plan on claiming my wife,” he told him.

Jake took a deep breath and exhaled. He then turned and looked at his cousin. “Just let me do this,” he said softly, “and everything will be okay.”

“You trying to claim a woman who has already been claimed before the Council is not okay,” Gregory told him.

“I have her by human law and you by dragon,” Jake reminded him. “Forfeit your claim and I will forgive you.”

Gregory cocked an eye in confusion, but he soon recovered. “You forget, Francis is my child and I have a legitimate claim. Jeremiah isn't even yours, so without securing your bloodline you have nothing!” Gregory spat.

“What is going on here?” asked one of the Council members.

“I wish to make a claim,” Jake repeated.

“No, he doesn't,” Gregory countered. “He is trying to claim my wife,” he explained.

“Jake,” Sun Park looked to him. “You know that isn't possible. I know your Dragon Master well and I am positive he made sure you were well verse with our laws.”

“Yes, he did.” Jake took another look at his cousin and whispered, “You made me do this.” He then turned back to the Council. “Which is is why I am claiming Trishale Carter, of human decent, because my cousin, is in violation of Article a hundred and twenty dash two.”

There were several gasps heard from the direction the Council. “That is a very serious charge Mr. Long,” the Scottish Councilman informed him.

“I know.”

The Councilman then turned to Gregory. “What do you have to say about this DOS Huang?”

Gregory stood there in shock. “I uh-” he shallowed. “It's a lie!” he finally got out.

“No, it's not,” Jake begin. “My wife, under human law, became pregnant by DOS Huang, while he was on duty disguised as me,” Jake revealed. “She thought you were me and you took advantage of her and after she gave birth, you claimed her!” Jake was clearly upset.

The Councilwoman with the Arabic accent looked at Gregory with disgust. “You do know a child who is a product of that article can not be claimed by the father and to do so is a punishable offense, don't you DOS Huang?”

“That's not how it happened,” he needed to explain. “Trixie and I-”

Sun Park held up her hand and Gregory fell silent. “Just answer three simply questions,” she ordered him. “The day your daughter was conceived were you on duty?”

“Yes, but-” he tried to explain again, but again, he was instructed to remain silent.

“These are yes or no questions,” she told him. “Did you or did you not stand before us and claim Trishale Carter of human decent?”

“Yes,” he replied.

“Last question. The day your daughter was conceived was the human aware you were Gregory Huang?” Gregory pursed his lips together before lowering his head.

“You must answer the question,” said another Council member. “Did she know you were Gregory Huang?”

Gregory looked to Jake and slowly back to the World Dragon Council. He then lowered his head in shame. “No,” he finally answered softly.

“I don't think they heard you,” Jake said to him. “And I really think they need to hear your answer.”

“No,” Gregory said loud enough for all to hear. “She didn't know it was me at the time.” He then turned desperately back to the Council. “But later on, she did and we have been together ever since. We're raising this family together and she's happy-”

“Stop right there, Huang,” Gregory did not miss the absence of his title as the Councilwoman spoke. “By your own admission you have broken a great law. And so by them, Long has every right to claim his human wife.”

“Wait,” interrupted the French Councilman, who was the youngest of them. “Did I not hear someone say that even the other child is not Long's as well?” he questioned.

“True,” Sun Park answered him. “But since Francis can not be claimed by her biological father, Jake can under Article one twenty dash two dash one since he and Gregory are blood related themselves, therefore securing the Luong bloodline even if it falls on another branch,” she explained.

“Ah, yes, I remember now,” the Frenchman replied.

“Council,” Jake drew their attention back to him. “If I could?”

The World Dragon Council looked amongst themselves. “I see no reason why not.”

“I, American Dragon,” he stressed the two words as he looked over at Gregory, “Jacob Luke Long, of the Luong bloodline, claim Trishale Carter. . .”

Jake went on, but Gregory was no longer paying attention as he fumed in anger. How did this happen? He couldn't help but wonder. No less than a week ago, everything in Greogory's life was near perfect and then somehow Jake had managed to walk back in and ruin everything!

And Gregory knew this was far from over, he had quite the road ahead, because there was no way he could have known that bringing in Jake before the World Dragon Council that he himself would be the one. . . on trial.

To Be Continued. . .

A/N: Wow, with this chapter out the way, I feel so relieved. I think I can still do this in 40 chapters. I'm excited. =D

Oh, I did base Article 120 off of Military Law, so if you didn't get it, you can look it up. But the 120-2-1, was made up. The Magical World does have their own set of laws, of course.