They were to finally meet the mystery boy who fought tooth and nail to adopt his little sister. A plan hurtled into fruition by her unexpected birth 4 years earlier when the boy was fourteen. The plan soaked in pain, loyalty, and sacrifice. The plan the boy feared he wouldn't live to see carried out.

"I promise to always keep you safe from...them."

The sadistic torture he waded through to see this day was worth it. Seeing the way she ran to him and clung on for dear life, fearing they would be separated again, physically needing to be forced apart for the second and last time. Not this time, baby. Never again.

She grasped the vague idea of what was happening. She at least knew others were deciding for her, who would be fit to raise her. She already knew, of course. She wanted the one who cradled her and sang softly while their parents were screaming and throwing objects at each other. The sound of glass breaking and fists flying making her jump while, her big brother, held on tighter and began inching towards the makeshift safe room he had built in his closet. The same closet he bore a hole through to reach her room in a hurry. He taught her how to escape and who to run to if he was unconscious or...worse. She would find out later that he stayed for her. She would find out later that he had a stunning array of scars to prove his devotion. It was the only way. His mother would never leave his father. If child services got involved before he was 18, they would be separated and he couldn't protect her. He couldn't start a fight with her predator if she broke something, wet herself, or cried too much. This maternal behavior was sewn into his nature at her birth. The price for keeping her safe? His lengthy school record. A factor that almost cost him Lillian. He was the bad boy. The damaged boy. The one who made life complete hell for authority figures at the school. If they only knew he did it all on purpose, simply to be the focal point of the abuse at home. If they only knew he orchestrated racking up those Saturday detentions, simply because his father was off weekends and she would be safe at their grandmother's. He needed a break from the beatings and the burnings and the cuttings.

"Lily, he'll never lay a hand on you. Lily, she'll never blame you. Lily, I love you."

The damaged boy, now a man in the eyes of the law, made his way to the Guidance Office to collect her with tears welling in his eyes, hair recently cut short, sans piercings, and in a rather uncomfortable suit. He felt lighter, suddenly realizing he no longer cared about the image he maintained. He was returned to the school after family court let out. He waited an excruciating two hours to hear he was awarded full custody. To his shock, his father was later thrown in prison, which was a possibility he hadn't dared entertain given his father's history of expert manipulation. A bonus. He was unable to breath evenly still, knowing he had finally won. She was safe.

The ordeal was almost impossible to keep under wraps. His name was kept out of the papers by some miracle, but the graphic details of the case were public knowledge. Everyone wanted a peak at the boy who had confessed his tactics and maneuvers for keeping his baby sister safe for four long years. The boy who suffered unimaginable horror in silence, all for her. They wanted to see the pictures presented to the judge. They wanted to feel the knot twist in their guts as they tried to imagine the feeling of being burned, cut, and beaten by someone who was supposed to protect you. People crave darkness.

Lily was brought into the school quietly. She was softly sobbing into her well loved stuffed puppy, a present from her brother. Those working in the office tried to quell her sadness and fear but, to no end. She didn't understand anymore. No one was telling her why she was there. Why she was still surrounded by strangers. She was continuing her descent into despair until she heard people gasping. There was a boy out of breath, holding himself up on the door frame. He was looking around frantically with pain and longing in his eyes. She jumped up to see...

"JOHNNNNNY!" She cried out with a mixture of leftover sorrow and pure joy, registering as a heartbreaking whine.

"Lily...Lily." He reached his arms out, with tears streaming down his face.

No eyes were dry. Not even Principal Vernon's as they all bore witness to little Lily flying into the infamous John Bender's arms. He collapsed to the floor and wrapped his arms around her until she disappeared briefly. They began to cry into each other desperately, muffling unidentifiable words to each other.

Still on the office floor, he now had a soft hold of her face, brushing away the strands of hair sticking to her tear soaked cheeks gently and managed to say: "It's over, baby. We get to stay together now. They can't take you away from me."

She stared back, smiled, and cried harder into his shoulder. He scooped her up like a baby, cradling her while planting loud, dramatic kisses all over her face. She began to cease the sobbing and broke out into giggles when he blew a giant raspberry into her neck that made her squeak. She squirmed and smiled wildly. He lifted her up so she was hanging in the air in front of him. He looked as if he was making sure no pieces were missing, assuming somehow, her physical appearance could tell him what she went through during the weeks they were separated. He seemed satisfied with what he found and brought her back to his chest, nuzzling her face like a mother cat until he landed on her small shoulder. He let her down so she could have her chance to take inventory.

She stared up at him when she reached the ground, tilting her head to one side. "You...you look funny, Johnny! I can't learn braids now!"

He stuck his tongue out at her and laughed as he roughed up his formal hairstyle, pulling up the longest strands, trying to make them stand up straight. "Don't worry Lily Bug, I'm growing it back. You can torture me all you want in a few months. "

Their hands reached out in unison and joined as they exited. He never even glanced at the crowd in the office. Tunnel vision. Lily vision.

The ecstatic chatter of the little girl echoed through the hall and into the ears of all in the office as they stood in absolute disbelief. John Bender fooled them all.