(A/N - it's been a whole week since I updated this story? o: I give you all full permission to hate me, I completely forgot! But, here's the chapter!)

"Ally, don't be nervous," Austin whispered in my ear as we walked into the courtroom. It was the day of my trial against Barbara, and I was spazzing out quite a bit. What if they send me back to the house, and she treats me even worse than before? I don't think I can put up with that for two more years until I turn eighteen. Austin reached down and gave my hand a comforting squeeze. "I'm right here - and as long as I'm here, nothing bad will happen to you."

I smiled up at him, feeling my confidence soar. "Thanks," I said, nodding and giving him a quick kiss. "I honestly couldn't have done any of this without you." He smiled and went to his seat, while I had to go sit at a table near the front of the courthouse, next to the Moon's lawyer.

"You ready for this, kiddo?" he asked, smiling at me. I nodded - his name is Frank, and he reminds me a lot of my father when he was still alive. Over the past week, not only had Austin and his family been super supportive, but so has Frank, talking me through all the details of this trial.

The back door slammed, and Barbara walked in alongside her own lawyer, looking washed-up as usual. She doesn't get out of the house much except to party - at night. She hasn't seen the sunlight in a while, and the look on her face tells me that if I don't get my way in this case, she's going to give me hell to pay.

"Ready as I'll ever be," I said back, laughing lightly. Mrs. Moon has been helping me look at the positives in this situation, and I'm learning to keep an upbeat attitude - something I lost after my father died, but that Austin brought back out of me.

"All rise," the bailiff exclaimed, as the judge walked in. She was a sweet looking, middle-aged woman, wearing a nice smile. Considering the case was private, the only people in the room to rise were Barbara, myself, the two lawyers, Austin, his parents, Dez, Trish, Jessica, and Natalie.

After swearing us all in, we took our seats again. Frank took the stand first, basically presenting our side of the case. I was called up for questioning, and I didn't hold back on anything, going into details about the chores, and poor treatment. I even displayed a few of the lists that Barbara had given me, which were compared to her own handwriting.

Thus far, the case seemed to be in our favor. After that, Austin, Trish, Dez, and Mr. and Mrs. Moon were called up one at a time, being asked basic questions on their relationship with me, and what they know about my situation.

I couldn't help but smile when it was Austin's turn. "Mr. Moon, what is your relation with Ms. Dawson?" Barbara's lawyer asked. "And what do you know about her situation."

"I'm one of Ally's best friends, and her boyfriend," Austin said, smiling over at me. "And her situation? I know that she is treated far more poorly than anyone should ever be treated - especially such a great, wonderful person as her. She should be placed up on a pedestal - like a princess. But instead, her 'family' doesn't seem to care at all, and torments her. She doesn't deserve it. She deserves so much better."

"Thank you, Mr. Moon," the lawyer said, excusing him from the stand. Austin gave my shoulder a comforting squeeze as he passed me on the way back to his seat.

"Well," the judge - who I now know is Judge Dulce - said. "I think we have gathered enough information from Ms. Dawson's point of view. The evidence was strong, but we still have to let Barbara give her side of the story."

Barbara walked up to the stand. "You all seem to be taking this the wrong way," she said, pretending to tear up. It didn't look like anyone was buying her act. "I was just trying to give Ally a good life - I didn't want her to be adopted when her father died, because I knew it would only make her life harder. She needed a family. She needed us. Sure, I give her a lot of chores. But, it's only to teach her lessons that she needs later in life."

Everyone shook their heads as she took her seat again. "Well, I guess some blood relatives can come up and defend Ms. Sommers," the judge said, obviosly tired of this. She sent me a small smile, and I beamed back, knowing that this was looking better for me by the minute.

Jessica and Natalie took the stand together. "Well," Natalie said. "Our mom is a great person, and she loves all of us equally. She gives us everything we want - cars, clothes, shoes-"

"She doesn't give Ally any of that though," Jessica pointed out, making her receive an elbow in the side from Natalie, and a glare from Barbara and her lawyer. "What? She doesn't."

"That's because Ally doesn't deserve it," Natalie shouted. "She is an ugly, talentless loser, that nobody cares about, and that everyone just feels sorry for." I noticed Austin stand up in anger, but his parents quickly put their hands on his shoulder, making him sit, so he wouldn't do something he would later regret.

"Actually," Jessica said. "Ally is really pretty, and super talented. We're just jealous of her, remember? Duh." I smiled. Despite the fact that Natalie just insulted me, it didn't sting at all. plus, Jessica's idiocy actually came in handy for once - she admitted that Barbara treats them better than me, and that she and Natalie are jealous.

They took their seats again, and the judge went to speak, but suddenly, the back door of the courthouse flew open. I gasped when I saw who was running in, a huge smile crossing my face. "Joey?" I asked. The one person that actually keeps me sane in the Sommers house had shown up - how, I'm not sure.

"Hello," he said to the judge. "I'm here to talk about the case. I'm Joseph Sommers."

"That's my son," Barbara shouted. "He'll defend me. He is far more trustworthy than any of these people in here that you could consider witnesses."

After being sworn in, Joey took the stand. "Actually, I'm here against you, Mom," he said, shaking his head. "I'm here for Ally - she doesn't deserve anything you and the twins have put her through in the past few years. I was the only one around for her. I wish I could have been around more often, since I could only come on breaks because of college, but I'm here right now. And I wish I could say that my mother treats Ally well, and like a member of the family, but I was just sworn in, and that would be a lie."

By the end of his mini speech, I was grinning, knowing that this was almost over. "Well, I think we can all see what direction this is pointing in," Judge Dulce said, standing up. "Barbara Sommers is guilty. Ms. Dawson, what exactly are you hoping to get out of this trial?"

"Well, I'm glad you asked that," Frank said, holding up my father's will. "In Lester Dawson's will, it said that once Ally turned sixteen, he trusted her judgement to decide where she was to live. She is now sixteen, and she has chosen to move out of Barbara's house. She would also like a restraining order against Barbara, Natalie, and Jessica Sommers."

"Consider it done," the judge said, using her gavel. "Case dismissed." Barbara, Natalie, Jessica, and their lawyer quickly exited the courtroom, obviously frustrated. I didn't even realize that the tears were pouring down my face until Joey came over and hugged me. "I'm so sorry I haven't been here as much as I wish I could," Joey said, squeezing me tightly. Even if he was a child of the Wicked Witch of the East Coast, he was a great person.

"Thanks, bro," I said, punching his arm lightly when I called him my brother. "And thanks for showing up. How did you know to come?"

"Trish called me," he said, gesturing towards Trish. "She said that you needed a Sommers' point of view against my mother, and trust me, I was more than willing to give it. You don't deserve any of the things that you have been put through."

I quickly introduced him to all my friends, and Austin's parents. "And this," I said, as Austin slung his arm around my shoulders. "Is Austin."

"Ah, the boyfriend," Joey said, shooting Austin a look. "Do I need to pull the whole overprotective brother act on him?"

Austin's eyes widened, and I giggled, rolling my eyes. "No, Joey, I think Austin is plenty protective enough over me," I said, leaning up to kiss Austin's cheek. He grinned back, and then, Judge Dulce and Frank came over.

"Ally, sweetie," the judge said. "Since you are sixteen, you have to pick a place to live. Do you have anywhere in mind?"

Joey started listing off nice family members that I could go to - all out of state. Yeah, not happening. Trish offered up her house, just as her parents had done when my father passed. And the Moons all said that their house would continue to be available, if I choose to live there.

"Well," I said, finally coming to a decision. "The past few days at the Moons have been great - they're close, supportive, and friendly, like a family should be. I've decided to move in with them."

"Then, it's settled," Judge Dulce announced. "You can go pick up your stuff from The Sommers' residence, and we will make sure that none of them are there, in accordance with your restraining order. Congrats, sweet girl, I'm glad this worked out for you."

After that, I hugged Joey, thanking him again for coming, and for being there for me. "Trish, you are so great," I whispered to her, wrapping her in a tight hug. "You're my best friend, and thank you for offering to let me move in."

"Absolutely," Trish said. Then she started laughing. "It was probably a wise choice to not pick my house though - my mother watches Spanish soap operas all day, and both of my parents are always wearing pajamas."

I laughed too, then turned my attention back to Austin, his parents, and Dez. "Thank you guys so much," I said, pulling them into a giant group hug. "You're all amazing, and I really appreciate this."

"Welcome to the family," Mrs. Moon said, giving me a tight squeeze. Mr. Moon agreed.

"Totally," Dez exclaimed. "It's going to be so awesome-sauce having you around."

We all went to exit the courtroom, but Austin pulled me aside. "What do you think about all this?" I asked, biting my lip. What if he didn't want me to move in to his house?

"I think it's perfect," he said, giving me a tight hug. "I think that you're perfect - and I can't believe you're mine. Ally, I meant it when I said I hadn't stopped thinking about you since seventh grade. I really do love you."

I pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss. We stood there that way for a few minutes, before Mrs. Moon said it was time to go gather my things from my old house. "I really do love you, too," I said.

"Awesome-sauce," he whispered against my lips, making me crack up at his use of Dez's odd expression. He laughed too, taking my hand and lacing our fingers together. Everything was finally set right.

(A/N - ta-da! Well, that is pretty much the end, but you guys all know that I LOVE epilogues, so be expecting one of those in the next few days! (: And as usual, REVIEW! because they mean a lot to me!)

Confessions of a FanFiction Addict #10 - When you read/write fanfiction so much, that when you actually watch the show, you think "Man, why isn't this happening? Why aren't they doing this?" For example, I always wonder why Austin & Ally aren't together yet on the show, since I read so much fanfiction.