AN: Thanks for the reviews you guys!

Over half a year later, Mary stood with Elizabeth, about to do walk-up for Jr. High graduation, when Casey quietly walked up beside her.

"Mom! What are you doing back here?"

"I wanted to let you know that your social worker just called me."

"Oh, God! And?"

"And the adoption was finalized!"

Mary forced back her scream.

"I'm not going to cry…I'm not going to cry…okay, apparently I'm going to cry!" Mary said.

"Shhh, c'mon Mare, you'll ruin your eyeliner, and you are the valedictorian of the class. You have to look good!" Elizabeth cut in.

"Blah! God, is it smeared?" She asked.

"No!"

The two girls laughed, then hugged.

"Besides, who could look good in these dumb robes they made us wear?" Mary laughed.

"I have to go get a seat, Mare. I love you! I'll see you after the ceremony!" Casey said, walking out.

"Bye," Mary hissed, falling into step beside Elizabeth, heading for the platform. This was it.

"I'd now like to call on the valedictorian of the class, Mary Novak!"

Mary walked, legs shaking, to the center of the stage, her classmates cheers echoing in the school gymnasium.

"On my first day at this school," She said, smiling, "I had an anxiety attack."

Laughter filled the gym. She loved the sound of laughter.It was beautiful.

"On top of personal issues, I wasn't sure how I was going to get through Junior High. I think we've all felt that way at one point…especially during finals when we want to kill the entire faculty for making our lives so hard."

"Tell 'em, Mary!" Someone shouted.

"But look around. We're all standing here, aren't we? We've done it! We've got through Jr. High, alive, happy and ready to take on whatever life wants to throw at us. As we go on for what are sure to be four great years, let's strive to be people who care, work hard, and have fun! This weekend is for us alone, so let's celebrate, laugh, and not focus on our regrets, but instead on our triumphs. Don't look back. Look forward. Before I conclude, I'd like to say thank you to the faculty of Glen Oaks Junior High, and to our parents for making these years…or for me, year, so great. We couldn't have done it without you guys! Finally, I want to thank everyone on this stage with me, because you guys have made this last year so fun for me, and I know that high schools going to be just as great! Let's keep in touch! Congratulations class of 2005! We did it!"

Mary stepped back and threw her cap into the air with the rest of the group, revealing her arm, which was free of any cuts. She was free, she was happy, and she had fought for every inch of that happiness. She had cried in Dr. Olivet's office multiple times, she had indeed had her share of sleepless nights. She had gone through a whirlwind of emotion, anger, pain, nightmares and tears. But she had come out of it laughing. She had won

She wasn't the only one crying as she caught the cap. Not by a long shot.

Later that night, as Mary and Elizabeth sat in the Stabler's living room, Mary asked the question that had been on her mind.

"Liz, what do you think high school's going to be like?"

"It's hell!" Kathleen shouted from the kitchen.

"Language," Elliot cautioned as he walked through the door with Casey.

"Is the whole world listening in on our conversation?" Elizabeth asked, exasperated, "I think it's gonna be great!"

"Aaand congratulations to the Jr. High graduates of 2005!" Elliot called, in a bang-on imitation of a DJ, tossing Mary, Richand Elizabeth the package.

Mary smiled at the first one, of her,Elizabeth and Rich, smiling and laughing at the camera,all threein the cap and gown.

Mary vaguely remembered a time when she'd dreamed of this exact moment, sitting in a living room, surrounded by family and friends, laughing and tossing around remember-when's. She remembered wishing she could be happy, carefree, and living a normal life stressing over guys and acne instead of the chaos that her life had been in.

Mary tried to remember a time when she hadn't smiled, hadn't laughed. To her surprise, she hardly could.

She looked around the living room, then sat Rebecca down on her lap.

"Hey, Mare," Elizabeth offered, "Remember when we found out that you were valedictorian?"

"And we screamed so loud and long that Ms. Johnson gave us a detention…and we were hoarse for a week?" Mary laughed, "How could I forget?"

"Next year's gonna be so great!" Elizabeth offered.

"Yeah, it is." She said. "Hey, remember when we had those guys over and your dad and my mom stared them down so much they literally ran in the other direction?"

"Well, hello?" Elliot offered, "They looked like they'd just stepped out of juvenile detention."

Mary leaned back, smiling.

Every prayer's been answered; every dream's come true...she realized Don't look back. Look forward.

Well, you guys, this is it! It's hard to believe that this is over, and I'm actually getting emotional as I type this. I'm so grateful for the response I've gotten from all of you. I'm so touched!

So, screaming666, azsurferchickn, StrngMedRosaFan, crazyrabidfangurl, barnbumgal, rainingmist, Bluenose, LawNorderLover01, TrustNo, Amethyst Fluff, Emsta, crypticnotions, Foxy Wombat, Sadie555, shopaholic90, Dreamer7182002, AthleticCharmedOne, Alamo Girl, Oxgreendaybabex0, SB for me, benson-luver, ryanz-raindrop, abbyhayes, Richgurl, SVUChicky, Erik's Angelic Beauty, Charmboy4, GingerJohnson, DetectiveLivvy, littlesweetcupcake, LadyRaider, Jordana Amore, and Shae-Lynn1: thank you guys so much for everything. Muchos love to all of you, this story is what it is because of your amazing reviews and support.

There are now three people who I have to thank personally for all their amazing support since day one. These three people have taken the time to e-mail me, have helped me through writer's block, and have ultimately inspired me to forget what anyone says and just write. Here they are:

Wynter Nytes: Wynter, your amazing support throughout the time I've been writing this story has been amazing. I can't tell you how much I value our online, lol friendship, and I can't tell you howgrateful I am to have such an amazing mentor and friend who's supported me so much since day one of me writing on here! I love ya! Thanks for everything!

garrettelliot: Girl, I can't even begin to say how much I love editing for you, and I'm really grateful for the never ending support I've been getting from you! Thanks so much! I'm looking forward to any of your future chapters!

SVUFanatic: Jessica, you are the woman! Your writing, reviews and e-mail have inspired me so much, and because I am around the same age as you, I'd like to thank you for proving just how much writing talent us teens can have! Thanks again for the support, and I'm looking forward to any future chapters/stories!

Well, guys, until the next chapter of the story Wynter Nytes and I are co-authoring, known as Vengeance is Mine, adios!