withoutverona | Judge Castillo's Chambers, Saturday Morning

Romeo's suit had been forcibly straightened before he entered the room, and his hair was combed back. Other than the tender new bruise on his jaw, he looked entirely reputable, if quite obviously nervous about the Capulets on the other side of the table.

"Must they be here?" he asked his lawyer, in a whisper. "I knew that not."

	"They've got a stake in the case," Nathan reminded him, not unkindly.
	"The case," Romeo repeated dully. "My life, my wife, down to figures and letters on paper, down to a 'case.' " He sighed heavily. "It's almost foul business to even make an argument for this money."
	"Unfortunately money's one of the few things law can make an argument about," Nathan replied. He looked at Romeo assessingly. "It could come in handy as you get older, you know."
	"I am already a thousand years old," Romeo said stubbornly. "I am aging a hundred more each minute as we wait for the judge."
	"Don't let it throw you," Nathan said. "It's all part of a game to make you feel desperate and unimportant. You're better than that, right?"
	Romeo wasn't so sure, but it didn't seem the kind of question one could say no to. "I wish to be." He straightened in his chair, though, and set his jaw resolutely. If this was a game, it would not do to appear to have lost before the match was begun.
	"What's the most important thing to you out of all this?" Nathan asked. Not that they hadn't discussed this earlier, but it never hurt to check again.
	"Nothing," Romeo said, then closed his eyes. "No, that's an untruth. If there were some way I could be free of all of this, to have my marriage recognized but to be a free man again, I should take it. The money matters not."
	"Let's keep that in our pocket then," Nathan said, making a note of this for future barganing with the Capulets.
	Gloria looked immaculate as per usual, and appeared to not be reacting in the slightest to Romeo's presence, though there was a hardness in her eyes that spoke to quite the contrary. That hardness was aimed at Romeo -- after all, where else would her focus be?
	Fulgencio reached roughly for his wife's hand, the gesture the only thing soft about him. His eyes were as hard as hers, and also turned on Romeo. "We will prevail," he whispered.
	"We will," she agreed quietly, her eyes softening as she turned her gaze towards her husband. "For our daughter's sake, we must."
	"The Honorable Teresa Castillo," announced her bailiff as she entered her chambers. "Gentlemen. And ladies." Judge Castillo nodded to the Capulets, and to the Montagues, one eyebrow going up at the presence of one with whom she was unfamiliar. "Make known to all of us, please, the new addition to our negotiations before we begin. Our proceedings are of nature too serious for casual acquaintance."
	"Nathan Petrelli, your honor," Nathan said, standing. "Here to advise Romeo Montague."
	"You have experience with the law? Of what state, and what area of expertise?" Judge Castillo questioned. "The points of law before us cover both civil and criminal code; will you require assistance in either arena? This court has little leeway in which to grant any advice."
	"My recent experience is with the New York District Attorney's office, your honor," Nathan said. "Of course that is not Verona, but I feel confident that I can assist Mr. Montague in making sure his case is fairly heard."
	"Because our consultation is not yet a formal case-- and heaven grant that it shall not be so required-- we will allow your position as counsel and amicus for Montague to stand." The judge gave Mr. Petrellli a short nod, hoping at least one cool head in the chambers might keep the situation from descending further. "Welcome to Verona."
	"Thank you, your honor," Nathan said.
	"Fulgencio Capulet, your honor, father to Juliet Capulet," the burly man supplied, purposely not acknowledging his daughter's married name. "We saw no need for a lawyer for such a simple matter. The money was ours before it was Juliet's, and so it shall become ours again."
	"Such matters shall be decided through these proceedings-- and may wait until the more measured discussion of the law of Verona, and its defiance, are set to rest," Judge Castillo said mildly, looking at each person in the room, her eyes resting finally on Romeo. "Welcome back, Romeo Montague. That you are willing to participate in calm discourse speaks well for you. Are they any questions, before I state the issues which we come here to address?"
	The judge's calm, cool eyes seemed to go right through Romeo, and he shook his head.
	"We see no need for much talking, talking, talking before the facts are heard," Fulgencio agreed.
	"Then let us proceed." "These then, are the facts: that Juliet Capulet died by her own hand, and there is proof that Romeo Montague contracted marriage with her, prior to her death; testimony of Friar Lawrence who did marry them, and belief that the marriage was consummated." Judge Castillo paused to look around the assembly, frowning. "Such marriage would result in her dower and properties being distributed to her alleged husband upon her death, by the law of Verona. However, said husband broke this same law in defiance of his banishment, and did attempt violence upon his own person at that same time. We must then have it proved that Romeo Montague's actions do not extinguish his claim to her estate upon her death. Her parents' claims for property and justice must be examined in light of these facts, set against Montague's." She folded her hands, and studied Romeo and the Capulets. "I have Captain Prince's statements and report of his investigation upon the sequence of events that lead to the death of Tybalt, and find that the banishment was just. Romeo did abide by the code duello and the requests of the City, in refusing to do violence to Tybalt when first challenged. His later actions were in the heat of the moment following the killing of his friend Mercutio by Tybalt. But explanation there must be, Romeo, for your return to Verona despite this merciful sentence; and the condition in which you were found on Juliet Capulet's bier, and subsequent flight from our community."
	"Madam," Fulgencio began, waving a hand to get the judge's attention. "My daughter was but a child, and she married the villain Romeo solely to spite her mother and I. Her nurse has admitted as much." Which she had, when faced with the choice of saying so or losing her pension. "Such an ill-willed seduction, with an end so tragic, can hardly be counted as a true marriage under Verona law. Justice herself would blush scarlet at the thought."
	"Though Mrs. Juliet Montague was a child in her father's eyes, she was not in the eyes of the law. She had the legal recourse to consent or deny the marriage. She chose the marriage and chose to have the marriage blessed." Nathan continued. "It is, of course, your honor's prerogative to speak for Justice. However I doubt that the lady, blind though she may be, would find herself in the position of claiming the words of religion to be untrue."
	"Not on the face of it, no," Judge Castillo responded slowly. "Think you, Mr. Capulet, that your daughter was too young to contract a marriage? As Mr. Petrelli has said, by the laws of the city, she was fully adult. And if her reason for the marriage was spite, why then did she not make her union public knowledge while she lived?"
	"It would be far from me, Madam, to try to understand the mind of a young girl," Fulgencio said. "She knew I had chosen a more promising love for her. Perhaps she hoped that in concealing her first match, she could have both husbands, and was lead down this garden path by the good friar. Or perhaps she feared for her own safety should the Montagues learn of the marriage. They are a violent clan."
	"Are you accusing the good friar of supporting bigamy?" Nathan asked, mildly. "I'm sure you don't mean to suggest that you raised your children with the belief that marriage is no more than a game, or that the vows they take are meaningless."
	"If you were arranging a marriage on her behalf, then you believe she was old enough to wed. There can be no slicing of truths, to say she was only fit with your approval." The Judge sat back and folded her arms, giving Fulgencio a hard look. "And Mr. Petrelli's point is well-taken; Friar Lawrence has the confidence of the courts and of his station."
	Fulgencio's countenance took on a look of mingled disdain and fury. "But surely a match chosen by a father's careful eye is far more likely to succeed than one contracted in secret, after a mere evening's acquaintance," he countered rapidly, putting a stress on the word evening that suggested he believed misdeeds had been committed in it. "As for your priest, my daughter placed her life in his hands, and he lost that priceless treasure. He is not a man of God, and may have done anything."
	"It's impossible for any of us to conclude which match would've suited Mrs. Juliet Montague better," Nathan said. "The unfortunate circumstances of her passing mean that all that we can do is attempt to best determine how to best honor her memory. To that end, there may be a compromise which may be amenable to both parties." Nathan glanced at Romeo to make sure he was still open to what they'd talked about earlier.
	"Since within the strictest interpretation of the law, Romeo could be executed for violating his banishment, and his inherited property from Juliet Capulet Montague given to his nearest heir-- his father--" Judge Castillo turned a gimlet eye upon the Capulets, then looked at Nathan, nodding slowly. "I am willing to entertain any compromise which does not exacerbate the tensions within our city."
	Romeo turned to Nathan and gave a firm nod, ignoring the Capulets' glares for the moment. He thought he knew where this was going, and he was more than pleased by this turn.
	"The Capulet family wishes to protect their estate. Mr. Montague wishes to honor his vows," Nathan said. "To that end, if the sanctity of his marriage could be honored and his banishment from Verona be lifted, he would be willing to sacrifice 80% of his claim to his inheritance from his wife." Nathan always liked to leave wiggle room to negotiate with.
	Judge Castillo shot a quick glance at Fulgencio, and before he could interrupt, quickly said, "I think, that for the sake of laying all future claims and criticism to rest, that the entire estate must be sacrificed. With the understanding that no taint whatsoever accrues to Romeo Montague in the matter of his wife's death, and that he is free to return to Verona at will, the widower of Juliet Capulet Montague."
	Romeo yelped in astonishment, but quietly, and managed to keep himself in his seat only by hanging on with his nails. Free to return to Verona... He never dared hope he'd hear those words. He nodded slightly to Nathan. Yes. Whatever the judge had said, yes.
	"He accepts those terms, your honor," Nathan said, hoping to make things official before anyone could change their minds.
	Fulgencio grinned, the grin of a cat who has eaten a particularly wretched mouth. "My family will take what is ours," he declared. "As for the boy, to us he is nothing, though let us hope he doth not cross the path of those who still bear a grudge for the death of Tybalt."
	"And they do so, and cause him any harm, they shall share the same prior fate as Romeo: a sentence of death or banishment. I wish no more to hear of endings engendered by this long hate, and Captain Prince shares my disdain." The Judge sent Fulgencio another hard warning glance, then directed a nod to Nathan. "This solution, then, we shall approve, and this business conclude, if no other objections are brought to light. What say you, Romeo Montague? Canst you be content, and accept the proffered bargain of your good counselor?"
	He ...needed to say something, and for once, he was short on words. It took a moment to find his thick tongue. "Never did I imagine this matter should be resolved so much as I would have it, your honor. I will abide by it, and by all laws in Verona, whenever I may be within its walls."
	"Very well. By my authority and the agreement of all parties, let it be decided that the property of Juliet Capulet Montague reverts to her house, with no call for Swords or sworn vows." She smiled for the first time in the afternoon, and said, "Further. The sentence of exile is lifted upon Romeo Montague, with no let, lien or hindrance. The City thanks Mr. Petrelli for his thoughful assistance, Mr. Montague for his sacrifice, and the Capulets for their forebearance. The case stands resolved."