She looked at the others in the room and asked, "If I agree, will you guys do it too?" They all said yes just as Lilly, Duncan, Cassidy, Dick, and Meg came in the house, greeting everyone. Right after that, Lianne came through with a box in tote, followed by Keith. She mumbled a sorry, albeit inaudible, and walked out the door.

Keith closed it and turned to the gang, saying, "Sorry about that. You guys do whatever. I'll be in my room if you need me."

Two Hours Later

After finishing a comedy movie and eating popcorn, they were trying to figure out what to do next.

"We could play truth or dare," Casey suggested, leading to a chorus of 'no.'

"What about another movie?" Dick asked. All of the gang agree, except for Meg.

"I'd love to stay and watch another one, but my dad said I have to be home by eight." Everyone turned to her, but before anyone could say anything, Veronica rose.

"Meg, can I talk to you in the kitchen for a minute?" Meg nodded, stood up, and followed Veronica out of the living room. Veronica whispered, "Meg, I've been so wrapped up in my own world that I completely forgot about your situation. What did he say when you got home? He didn't do anything did he?" Meg nodded, turned around, and pulled up her hair to reveal a bruise on her neck.

"He said he would've done something worse, but Duncan was downstairs waiting for me."

Veronica, with tears in her eyes, said, "Meg, you can't go back."

Meg teared up and raised her voice, "I have to, Veronica!" After taking a deep breath, she whispered, "I have to make sure my sisters stay safe."

"We can tell my dad. He will help. We can get your sisters out of there, too."

Meg shook her head. "You don't understand. I've already thought of that. Child protection will just send all of us to foster care, probably separate homes, too. We have no living immediate relatives who we can stay with and I'm not old enough to take legal guardianship of them." Veronica stayed quiet, trying to think of a solution.

"I didn't mean to overhear your conversation, and I only heard the last bit of it, but I have a solution." They both turned around to see Lynn holding two bags in her hands. "I came to drop some food off. I'm sorry I eavesdropped, but Meg, if what I think is going on is, you and your sisters are welcome to stay in our home. We have plenty of room for you guys." Meg started to interrupt her, but Lynn held up her hand. "You will not be intruding, and I assure you it is not a problem. All I ask is that you help me confirm my suspicion. It's your father, correct?" Meg nodded through tears. "Then you and your sisters may stay as long as you wish. We can get Keith to help us with the situation and I can be your legal guardian so that you do not have to worry about foster care."

"Mrs. Echolls, I cannot thank you enough."

"Please, call me Lynn. And you do not need to thank me. I do want to get this started tonight, so that nothing else can happen. I'm guessing no one else knows?" Both girls nodded.

"I don't want to tell the guys because I know they'll get themselves arrested for killing him, and Lilly probably will too. I'd rather tell everyone together." Lynn set the bags on the counter.

"Well, I will tell everyone in the living room to go to our house and that we will join them later. Veronica, you can stay the night if you wish to do so."

Thirty Minutes Later

Duncan, Logan, Lilly, Dick, Cassidy, Mac, and Casey were all piled in Casey's car across from Meg's house. Lilly was sitting in Dick's lap and Mac was sitting in Cassidy's. They had followed the girls after Lynn abruptly told them to leave for Logan's house. Keith, Leo, Lynn, Meg, and Veronica had all rode in Keith's car and got out, heading to the door. They rolled down the windows and listened as Meg's mother answered the door.

"Can I help you or are you just dropping off Meg?"

Keith said in a stern voice, "Can you and your husband please step out of your house for a moment? We have some.. matters to discuss."

"Uhh, okay. One moment please." She yelled for her husband, and he came out of the house, closing the door.

"What's the meaning of this? Don't tell me that little devil child did something?" He asked, pointing at Meg.

Leo shook his head and said, "Both of you turn around." They did so, and Keith cuffed Meg's father as Leo cuffed her mother.

Keith said, "Rose Manning, you are under arrest for three counts of mental and physical child abuse. Stewart Manning, you are under arrest for three counts of mental and physical child abuse, one count of sexual abuse, and one count of rape. You both have the right to remain silent..." As he continued reading off their rights, everyone in the car across the street sat in shock.

Duncan was the first to recover, quickly unbuckling his seatbelt, saying, "I'm going to kill him."

Logan grabbed him and stopped him. "Dude, stop. Meg needs you more. I know how much you want to kill him, trust me. Just remember what happened with my dad on the ship?"

The boys watched wide-eyed as Logan continued to beat his dad after the rest had stopped. Duncan tried to stop him, saying, "If you don't stop, you'll kill him."

Logan stopped and looked at him. "After what he did, I really don't care."

"What about Veronica? If you kill him, you can't be there for her." Logan looked over at Veronica and stood up.

"I want to kill him too, she's my friend, and I'm sure everyone in this car agrees with me. Let's go to my house, mom said they'd come over later, and they'll probably tell us then.