Vera POV:

Ms. Platt drove me home after my visit to the hospital, and as I expected, my mommy was on the couch, smoking a cigarette, my daddy was at work, and Riley was at school. I knocked on the door, and Ms. Platt stayed with me. She wanted to talk with Mommy.

Mommy swung open the door and glared at me. "Where the fuck have you been?"

"She was with me. She fainted at school, and I took her to the hospital,"

"I didn't ask you. Get outta here. Come inside, Vera," Mommy pulled me by the arm and I stumbled inside the house, crashing into the wall. She started closing the door, but Ms. Platt opened it again and walked right in.

"You know what, Mrs. Biers? You don't treat your child that way. She's only a little girl! That's it, I'm taking you to court! You and your husband better be there. And your son is a sick pervert!"

"Oh, and how do you have money for court? What kid would want you for a mother? You look like a plain two cent whore,"

"How would you like my high-heeled shoe up your ass? I'll have you know that every kid at my school loves me and I'm about to marry a doctor. He said we're taking you to court tomorrow. Understand?"

"You're not taking my kid!" she shouted, pushing Ms. Platt into the wall.

"Yes, I am. I'm going to love her and care for her if the court decides I can. You don't love Vera. You never did. Did you know that because you're not giving her water, she fainted?"

"Water has nothing to do with it!"

"That statement right there proves you're not fit for a child," Ms. Platt snapped. Then, she turned to me. "See you tomorrow, darling,"

"Bye, Ms. Platt,"

"It's just Esme, sweetheart. Bye," And then she left.

"Don't believe anything that woman says. Go upstairs and play Wii," she muttered while walking away.

I wanted Esme and Carlisle to be my mommy and daddy so badly. I couldn't wait for tomorrow.

"We have Ms. Esme Platt testifying against Mrs. Victoria Biers," the judge announced. Esme and my mommy walked up to the stand with some witnesses. Esme asked her some questions and then gave her statement after placing her right hand on the bible and vowing to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

"Last Friday, my daughters went to this woman's house for her daughter's sleepover. They told my fiancee and I everything that happened at the Biers' household. Victoria and James Biers let their eight year old daughter watch R rated movies, and that night, they picked a horrifying movie which is clearly inappropriate for young children to be watching. They forced Vera to stop watching Cinderella with her friends and instead watch Spartacus: Blood and Sand. The little girls had Burger King takeout for dinner and soda for a drink. Vera told me she has that every night, and she has McDonald's for lunch every single day. She has never had water and she fainted yesterday because of it. She drives in the passenger seat of her parents' car, and Victoria almost got into an accident driving my children home, along with three others squished in the backseat. Vera has also told me that her mother beats her every time she tries to stick up for herself, and her father just ignores her and the beatings taking place. Her brother made passes at both my girls. He even called his own sister sexy when she was in a performance, dancing to Single Ladies last year, which her parents forced her to do, mostly her mother. It appears that Vera is not in a safe home environment. However, my fiancee, Carlisle, and myself, are offering to adopt Vera and love and protect her, which is what she desperately needs,"

"Thank you for your statement, Ms. Platt. Now, it's Mrs. Biers' turn to ask you cross-examination questions,"

Esme sat down in the chair and faced Mommy with a determined look in her eyes.

"First question. Did you allow your children to see my daughter?"

"Yes, but this case isn't about my children. This is about the way you treat Vera,"

"Answer the question,"

"Yes,"

"Okay, and they told you they watched that stuff that I let them watch and they ate my meals I served them, correct?"

"Yes. But you forced them to,"

"Did I force them to eat dinner or lunch? Does Vera have to eat McDonald's or should she starve?"

"No, but-"

"Answer the question!"

"No,"

"Do you agree that children should do what parents tell them?"

"Yes,"

"Do you think if children don't listen to their parents, there should be a punishment?"

"It depends-yes,"

"So do you believe that I really beat Vera, or do you think I just gave her a pat on the behind for disobeying me and fighting me in front of her friends?"

"My kids said you beat her!"

"And do you think pint-sized girls tell the truth all the time?"

"My girls do tell me and Carlisle the truth,"

"How do you know? They could be lying about everything! Vera could be a liar! You could be a liar! God knows how you became a parent! How do I know you didn't abduct your kids?"

"I know they're not liars. I saw the bruises on Vera's body from your cruel hand. Your husband does nothing to stop it. Riley is on his way to juvy. I know you beat her because she cried when I told her to tell you she should be drinking more water. I know she has been sexually assaulted by your husband and your son because Carlisle was examining her yesterday and he found vaginal tearing. And my children came home shaking and throwing up because of McDonalds food and your bad driving skills. Vera threw up because she went without water for eight years straight. The only life she's known is abuse, pain, fear. She's never been loved or protected,"

"Look, she only gets punished when she's screaming and yelling at home! Beating her builds her. It makes her stronger! How would you like it if your kids were always making noise at home?"

"They don't make noise because we don't beat them to death. And you just admitted you do beat her. Where is she when she screams and yells?"

"She screams and yells at her father and her brother,"

"She's being sexually assaulted!"

"How would you know?"

"Why else would she argue with them? She's told me herself that they have sexually harassed her!"

"Is it my fault that she was so weak that first day? Is it my fault that she was given a weed brownie? I was so goddamned stoned and passed out drunk and I was mad at her too!"

Everyone was silent, and I was surprised. I couldn't believe my own mother had done that to me!

"How do you know she was given a weed brownie?" Esme asked.

"Um…"

"Answer the question! How do you know?"

"Fine, I gave it to her! My husband didn't want to fuck me that night so he begged me to give it to her and he fucked her instead!" Mommy shouted.

"Okay, thank you, Ms. Platt," Chief Swan said while handcuffing my mommy and my daddy and sending Riley to juvenile hall. "You're free, and for child abuse, alcohol consumption with a child, and child molestation, James and Victoria Biers are guilty!" The judge banged the gavel. "Court adjourned!"

After the case, everyone cheered, and my friends gave me hugs. All of a sudden, I felt thirsty. I asked Esme for some water.

"My pleasure!" Esme said, smiling warmly. She hugged me tightly, gave me some water, and then later, she and Carlisle signed adoption papers. They tucked me into bed and kissed me goodnight on both cheeks.

"One of the greatest joys in life is having one's hair brushed," Esme said while brushing my hair gently with a comb, getting rid of all the snarls. "And you're our girl just in time for the wedding. You can be a flower girl too,"

"Yay! You're my sissy now!" Alice cheered, snuggling in bed with me. Rosalie joined a few minutes later and jumped on the bed happily.

"I love you, sissy," She hugged me around my waist.

"Love you too," It was a group hug now, all three of us. Esme and Carlisle took pictures of us three sisters and then told us all to go to sleep.

"Good night, Vera. Esme and I love you," Carlisle said, leaving the room with Esme.

"Good night, Carlisle! Good night, Esme!" I called out, waving and blowing them kisses. "I love you too," I laid my head down on the soft pillow and cuddled up in the warm sheets and covers.

And I got the best night of sleep in eight years.

Read and review, please! I miss your reviews, Miss Esme, for the last chapter! These reviews mean so much to me! But thank you to CullenLove678 and CarlisleandEsme8 for reviewing every single chapter! The wedding is in the next chapter! I'll try to get something scary up for Halloween!