ATTENTION: Important note about this chapter. There is a few things in this chapter that are more on the fictional side. Where we try to always have court type situations follow the actual protocol there are some fictional pieces within this chapter about the hearing. Very rarely, if at all, do people receive sentencing anymore directly following a verdict. We have changed this and wrote it this way to keep the flow the story has had all along and to not only move on, but not drag out what needs to be closed so that Bella and Peter can both move on and get better.
Chapter 14
We walk until we get to a nearby city park. I smile when she sits down at the sandbox, and starts playing with the sand. At first, I just sit next to her, but out the corner of my eye, I see she's making a picture with the sand. Once I notice it, I find myself watching intently. I'm amazed to watch a story unfold with her designs. It's a sad, heartbreaking story, but without words it tells it all. I feel my heart breaking yet again. I know for the first time how much she and Peter have gone through. Their scars run deep, and some are so well hidden that one can't see them. She sighs and starts to erase the final picture. I move a little closer to her, placing one of my hands over hers.
"This is only the end of the sad story. A happier one has already begun. Like with the sand and how you can shape and change it; you have to have faith within yourself. Believe that not only can this happen, but that you deserve it, too. You and Peter both do."
I raise her hand to my lips and place a soft kiss on her knuckles, and wink at her.
"I want another sand story, it can be happy or sad, and if you want, I'm sure I can come up with a lullaby for it."
She only nods at me.
"Okay then, come on, I'll buy you something to eat and then we can head back to the courthouse."
We drop into Taco Bell, and then head back to the courthouse. We quietly make our way back into the courtroom, but the judge seems to zero in on us, and he holds up his hand, stopping the processing lawyer asking his next question.
"Miss ... Isabella," he says.
Bella's head snaps up in surprise.
"Mr. and Mrs. Cullen explained to me that you no longer want to be called Swan. I can understand and respect that. However, the attorneys must address you by your given name."
Bella nods and bites her bottom lip.
"I can also understand your outburst earlier in court, and I have had a word with Mr. Martin," he looks at Mr. Martin as he raises his brow, "but there will be no further outbursts from you. Understood?"
Bella nods and softly says, "Yes."
He then dips his chin in acknowledgment, before he addresses the attorney to carry on.
It takes five days for the whole case to be heard. Thankfully, Bella was able to handle the attorney's comments and didn't rise to their bait again.
The Jury was sent to deliberate almost six hours ago, and we're all at home waiting on the call to say they have reached a verdict.
"They have just been sent to a hotel for the night, so I think we should head to bed, too," my dad says softly, and then ushers Bella and Peter up the stairs.
"They have to find them guilty, neither of them did their job. They both put those two through hell, and took away the trust in humanity they are entitled to have."
I turn, looking at Alice and shrug a little. "You're right, they didn't do their job. Sometimes life is filled with unfairness, but we just have to be there for them and help them learn to trust again."
Alice wraps her arms around me. "I'm thinking of moving here."
I look down at her and smile. "Really?"
"Yeah, I'm missing my baby brother."
I chuckle, and bend a little so I can kiss her head. "We'll talk more about it tomorrow."
I walk up to bed, after I've locked up for the night. It's well into the night, when I wake hearing a faint sobbing sound. I get out of bed and realize it's coming from outside. I walk downstairs and out the door. I'm not surprised to find Bella sitting at the tree that's outside of my bedroom window. I shake my head and head back into the kitchen and grab my jacket, before making my way to her.
"Hi," I say softly, as I put the jacket around her and then sit down.
She looks my way, but I don't say a word. I know, she knows, that if she wants to talk, I'm here. Working with animals, I know that sometimes it's more important just to be there, than have the right words to say.
"I feel guilty," she says after we have been here for an hour, "which makes me feel selfish."
I turn my head looking at her and she lets out a huff.
"My outburst in court may have cost us the case. I feel guilty that they may get off. It's as if everything around me causes issues, my hurt, my guilt, my hate, my anger, so then I feel selfish for feeling that way. I just feel like it just goes around and around in a never ending circle of shit and I can't control or stop it."
"You're not selfish, Bella, those are real human emotions. They're hard for most adults to wrap their head around, but you're getting there. You're starting to understand more, and are opening up, even if it's just a little. That's why therapy is good and healthy for you. Trust in your therapist to teach you how to put the negatives into a positive."
She looks back out to the fields. "Do you think I'm able to change, to stop being so hurt and angry?"
"I have faith in you. You can and will overcome your inner demons. You've already come a long way. The road you have to take is long, with many bumps and turns. Keep having faith in yourself, and you'll feel and be the beautiful woman that you are meant to be."
She gives me a soft smile, and looks back out at the field.
"I was thinking of watching the sunrise, want to sit with me?"
I chuckle. "Yes, but we still have a little time. I'll go grab us some hot drinks and blankets." I jump up and head back inside to collect the things we need. I head back out and put the blanket down and pat it. Bella moves onto it beside me, and I put the other around us.
"Hot chocolate?" I ask, holding up the cups and thermos. Bella smiles and nods at me. I pour the hot liquid in her cup and pass it to her. She moves a little closer to me as she drinks it, looking back out to the fields.
I smile as the sun slowly rises.
"Beautiful," Bella whispers out, and I look at her. In this second, she looks so beautiful, it almost catches my breath. For the first time, I know and feel it, Bella will make it through this. She's a survivor.
I jump up and Bella's head slowly turns to me.
"Want to help me make breakfast?"
She looks back out to the field and then at me. "Yes, that sounds good."
She takes hold of my hand and I pull her up. We clear up our things and head into the kitchen.
"Can we make banana and strawberry pancakes?" I look over at Bella, who's biting her lip with her hand on the eggs.
"Sure, I'll make the bacon, coffee, toast and juice."
It only took seconds for me and Bella to get into a rhythm in the kitchen. We seem to almost read each other's movements. I hand her a plate as her banana pancakes are ready, she passes me the sugar and milk, without me asking for them. As her strawberry pancakes finish on the griddle, I have the plate out waiting for her. When she turns to ask for it, I'm already reaching it out to her.
I smile as we set the last of the plates down on the table.
"That went real well." I grin as I look at the table. "We best get them all up now."
I walk out and turn as I hear Bella. "I'll get Peter."
I nod at her and let her pass as she takes the stairs two at a time.
"Oh, wow, this looks lovely, Bella, Edward," my mom says, as she takes her seat.
"Esme," Bella says softly after a few minutes of us just eating.
"Yes, dear?"
"Could we look into some college classes for me, when we get back? I think I know what I want to do now." My mom grins and nods at Bella.
"Of course, dear, do you mind me asking what?"
"I want to work with animals, like working in a zoo, being a ranger or a vet like Edward and Grandpa ... I mean Anthony was."
Bella blushes and looks down to the ground.
"Bella, you do know that it's okay for you to call him that, right? I know he would like that you did. He thought of you as a granddaughter, and Peter was his grandson, too," Alice says.
"You really don't mind?" Bella asks looking at Alice, who smiles back at Bella.
"I think you were more of a granddaughter to him than I was. I hated it here when I was younger. I always found it to be too green and brown. He loved you." Alice leans in to Bella, giving her a gentle hug. I hold back my smile as Bella willingly allows her to do this. Bella wipes her eyes as she pulls back a little and Peter jumps out of his seat and hugs her.
"We all love Grandpa," he says and Bella nods at him.
"Can we visit him and Mom before we go home?" Peter asks, as he sits back in his seat.
"Yes, I think—" My mom gets cut off when her cell rings. She closes her eyes as she answers it. "Hello."
We all sit in silence, waiting for her to talk again.
"Yes, I understand; we are on our way." She hangs up and looks around the table. "The jury's back; we have an hour to get there."
We leave the plates where they are and just head straight to the courthouse. My mom and dad sit at one side with Peter, then Bella next to them. I'm on Bella's other side, and Alice is at the end. The judge enters and the bailiff brings in the jury. There is a lot of quiet talking among people and the judge asks for a decision from the jury.
The bailiff hands him a piece of paper and he reads it over. The judge calls the jury foreman to deliver the verdict. The foreman stands and Bella's hand slides into mine, and our fingers thread together.
"We, the jury, find both the defendants guilty of all charges," he says clearly, with a hint of hate in is voice. A small sob make me glance at Angela for a few seconds.
"Thank you, foreman, you may sit. I would like to thank the jury for your time and you are now excused." They all make their way out, and you can see how much disdain most of them have for Angela and Ben.
"I have read the case notes carefully, and your attorneys' waived the right to separate sentencing at your request. I have to say, I've found myself horrified by this case. You two were in a position to save this young woman, and boy. Yet you did nothing, but add to the abuse they were living with. Even now, faced with everything that man put these two through, you have shown no guilt or shame. I hereby sentence you both to ten years in prison, with no parole or time off for good behavior. At the end of those ten-year sentences, you will both have to register with the Sexual Offender Registry for life. Mr. Chaney, you attempted to sexually abuse the young woman, and Miss Weber did nothing. You're both guilty of attempted rape. You will have to complete five thousand hours of community service, and each pay fines totaling two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Guards, take them into custody." The judge bangs his gavel, and stands up walking out.
"No, there has been a mistake. I didn't know! Tell them that you lied. Tell them you lied, and that I didn't know!" Angela screams as she looks pleadingly at Bella. "Come on, Isabella, I was good to you. I brought you that dress, remember? Please, don't let them take me. I only let him have sex with me to save you."
The guard pulls Angela's arms behind her back, and starts to pull her out of the courtroom. "You fucking bitch; I should've let Ben fuck you when he wanted to. Maybe then you'd be more respectful. His friends are out there, and they will find you and your brother. When they kill him, his blood will be on your hands! You can't do this to me."
Bella turns and I'm surprised when she wraps her arms around me, and sobs silently against my chest. My hands move slowly around her, and I kiss the top of her head, as I hold her to me. My parents and Alice take Peter out to the car, while I stand here holding Bella.
"They can't ... they can't," Bella says over and over again.
"Bella, honey, you're safe. I swear you are safe. She was just trying to scare you." I pull back from her and bend, so I can look into her eyes. "They're not getting you or Peter. I swear to you. You are safe, my girl. I—my family, and I—we will do anything and everything within, and even what is out of our power, to keep both of you safe."
Bella sniffs and closes her eyes, taking deep breaths. When she opens her eyes again, she nods at me and her hand goes back to mine. "Can we leave now?"
I chuckle, nodding. "Yes, we can."
We go to my grandfather's grave and Peter and Bella talk away to him, before they go and sit at their mother's grave.
The next day, they are packed and ready to leave again, only this time, Alice is staying behind.
We wave as they drive off and I smile, even though I know that I was going to miss having them here with me.
A/N: So as we said above, court was a little fictional, but it served its purpose. What are your thoughts? How do you think this will help or hinder Bella and Peter healing? What do you think of Alice staying at the ranch with Edward?