Brendan, Jen and J.J Riley worked tirelessly on Tommy's appeal, the weeks seeming to stretch on for years and years. Tommy knew that something was up and that Jen had a hand with it when paperwork started coming in on a daily basis about the trial and his previous defense. The only thing he could think about was an appeal and was glad that even while he had been prepared to sit down and just serve his sentence, that she wasn't giving up on him or their life together without one hell of a fight…

Staring at the phone, Jen and Brendan sat in the kitchen, the baby in his arms. J.J told them to be available that day- he had gotten in touch with a few judges interested in the case and who were willing to review it, but they needed to have it approved by the military first, something that was next to unheard of with people convicted under the Armed Forces penal code.

"So what if we can't get his case tried," Jen asked quietly, Brendan shaking his head.

"Don't even consider that."

She was quiet for a few moments longer and watched him kiss his nephew's downy head, seeing how taken he was with him. "But Bren…" He looked up at his sister-in-law and shook his head, "No, I won't even entertain the possibility of that. We have not worked so hard for these past four months just to sit here and think about all of our work going to waste. No Jenevieve- he's coming home. Soon…"

The phone rang and she snatched it up, pressing it to her ear and standing.

"Hey J.J. What's the verdict?"

Brendan watched her face and seeing the tears well up there, prepared himself to console her. "Alright, thank you. See you tomorrow for dinner. Don't be late," she sniffled, hanging up before looking at the elder Conlon.

"Its done Brendan. We did it."

Tommy never thought that he would see the inside of a courtroom so soon after his trial, smoothing down his simple shirt and tie nervously. He hadn't seen anyone- they were making sure to keep him isolated- but he could hear muffled testimony from inside the courtroom, knowing that there were still people on his side.

On the stand, Jen smoothed down her dress and prepared to speak as a character witness.

"My name is Jenevieve Nicole Eames Conlon and I am the wife of former Staff Sergeant Thomas Shane Conlon. We met as teenagers, and as most teenagers do, fell in love. Then, I was a championship boxer and he was just another kid from the wrong side of the tracks. Outside of our family, no one knows that he had a tough family life, that he lost his mother at a young age. No one knows because Tommy never wanted their pity over things they couldn't change and for things they could never understand… I don't think anyone understands him as much as I do, and it's the reason I'm here today: to try and make you all understand. Tommy doesn't deserve to be imprisoned for something he couldn't fight against, something he couldn't possibly handle alone. He was one man, one soldier, convicted on the principle that he hadn't done his job and seen it through… when in truth, that the military failed him and his brothers overseas and their families. And my family," Jen said, looking out over the courtroom and the panel of judges reviewing the case. "They failed us all and they'll have failed the memory of those men and what it means to be a soldier unless he is granted release."

Everyone studied her face and there was a murmur of agreement as Jen left the courtroom, Tommy being brought in before the audience of his peers.

He took his seat and saw Ryan in the crowd, unsure of anything that was happening. They had just told him to speak, to explain himself and why he had done what he had. Shit, what could he do that would make it any worse?

"Hi, my name is Thomas Conlon and I'm here to finally speak on my own behalf," he said eloquently, looking out over the courtroom. "I am a soldier, a fighter- I've had to fight my entire life. Whether it was just to keep myself alive or to get what I wanted, I fought. Like an animal… Life has always been a struggle for me and after the events surrounding my self-imposed departure from the Marines, I realized that there's no use to fight. Not against something so much bigger than yourself, because all it'll do is beat you down and tear you apart. And it did."

Tommy licked his bottom lip before continuing, sniffing self-consciously, "I came home angry and pissed off over something I couldn't control, something that wasn't my fault. Its true that I handled the situation poorly, but goddamn, what else was I supposed to do? I'm only one man and I knew that almost everything I thought I stood for- honor, valor, justice- was a lie, or at least that what the Marine Corps became to me. Don't get me wrong, please, for I love the man they made out of me and I am damn thankful that it gave me a purpose. But that chapter of my life is done and I've closed the books on it- I forgave and all I want to do now is forget. Forget seeing my brother Manny dead in my arms. Forget all those months of useless running I did. Forget having the very men I fought for and beside turn on me. And they won't let me…

"My wife, uh, my wife is now a single- but amazing- parent to four children because of this. She's worked hard all our marriage to try and keep me safe and sheltered from the hurts of the world; I just want to do the same for her. I want to provide for her, love her and tell her every day of how incredibly blessed I am with having her. I wasn't told much about the appeal other than the fact that she was pushing, doing everything she could- and its why I'm here today. Jenevieve has given birth to three children alone, because of me, because of this. My son is six months old and I've only seen his picture- once- only knew about his birth because I had to sign the birth certificate. And I'm not trying to use my kids for sympathy, just trying to let you all know who I am. I am Jenevieve. I am Shane and Henry and Thomas Alexander. I am Dakota," Tommy said quietly, swallowing against the knot in his throat. "I am nothing beyond my family, my wife and my children. I am nothing more than that simple truth…"

Everyone was waiting outside the courtroom for news on the appellate panel's decision, Jen wringing her hands as she paced back and forth anxiously, unable to keep herself still. "Babe," Tess called sharply, tucking her hair behind her ears and looking at her sister-in-law. "Please- for the sanity of the entire family- sit down and just wait. They'll be out soon."

Jen did as she said and tried to keep her hands from shaking, clasping them in her lap as she prayed quietly. J.J Riley was talking to Brendan, the two men having become friends, bonded by their journey in rescuing Tommy from his sentence. "This will work Brendan- I feel it," Riley murmured, his eyes on Jen. Brendan looked over his shoulder as well and sighed, nodding. "It has to. For her."

One of Riley's attorneys came out and she looked at the family evenly, "They overturned the conviction and acquitted him of all wrongdoing. Tommy's coming home."

There was a joyous uproar from the family, everyone hugging and crying. Jen cried as she realized that her fight was over, both her father and mother wrapping themselves around her tightly. "You did it sweetheart. He's free," Salvatore said, kissing the top of her head. They were all proud of how hard she had fought for Tommy and in awe of how strong she had proven herself to be. Jen moved to throw an arm around J.J.'s neck, talking softly to him, "I am forever indebted to you. Thank you. Thank you…"

The doors opened and Jen could hear an equally happy roar and thunderous applause, seeing people start to file out of the room.

Tommy was in a state of suspended disbelief as he found his way out of the courtroom, shocked that he was free again. The past months had been a whirlwind and this day was no different- his head was still spinning. The judges had asked him if he wanted to go back to the holding facility to get his belongings, but he had refused adamantly, wanting nothing more than to just go home.

He stepped out into the hallway and heard a loud shout, turning to see Jen running full speed towards him. Tommy grunted as her hardened body crashed into his own, but only held her tighter, hearing her sob into his chest. He couldn't stop saying her name, pressing his face into her hair as he inhaled the scent of her. Once, he was sure he could never forget the way she smelled but it had happened quickly and he had mourned the loss of not remember this strawberry-and-linen fresh scent of her hair and skin every day since he realized that it had left him. Jen stood on the tips of her toes to press her fingers into his face, kissing him hard- she wanted to bruise his lips and mark them as her own, tasting his tongue and feeling the pain from his teeth, but not truly caring. And then she let go, stepping back to look at him, her eyes searching his, "I missed you…"

"And I missed you baby. I missed you so much," Tommy said gruffly, pulling her back against his chest.

As much as she wanted to hold him forever, Jen knew that she couldn't, trying to reason with him. "They've missed you too- all of them. Tommy, they need you too," she said, trying to keep her bottom lip from trembling. "We've got time, baby, all the time in the world."

The next set of arms Tommy found himself in was his brother's, the two men embracing in silence. There was no need for words, Brendan simply holding his younger brother in a way that let him know he had been missed. And then they broke apart, the older brother patting the top of Tommy's head with a smile.

Tommy hugged everybody, even Antoinette and Salvatore and all the rest of Jen's family, having ready put the past where it belonged. Finally, he came upon J.J. Riley and put two and two together, nodding. He extended his hand and Riley grasped it, shaking respectfully, "We should talk Tommy."

"Looking forward to it sir," Tommy replied, belated realizing that four people were missing. "Can we go?"

She held out her hand to her husband and smiled, "Yeah; let's get you home."

Upon walking out of the courthouse, Tommy and party were greeted by screaming fans and supporters, photographers and reporters taking pictures and trying to talk to them. Tommy only smiled and held Jen more closely to his side, walking on through the crowd.

He had someone very important to meet.