*Authors note everyone. Hello all! We are coming close to the pinnacle of New Moon! The next few chapters will most likely be from Bella's point of view, if only to help give background detail to the story. There will be trigger warnings for this chapter. Lily will be attending the court case for her previous foster parents. It will be brutal and abusive. There will be things that very much earn this story its "M" rating. Please, do not force yourself to read this if it is too much. I will be providing a synopsis of what happened once Lily is back in Forks. Please stay safe out there and enjoy the rest of the Chapter! *
The time that passed between the pigeon incident as Leah liked to refer to it and the following period of depression took a toll on Lily.
Time seemed to slow down. Things stopped feeling the same for a while. Lily went to the hospital, played with Jamie, showed the kids how to take care of the plants, school continued on, and time just kept on ticking.
After the incident, Lily had spent the night with Leah at her house. Lah had called Sarah letting her know Lily had passed out and wouldn't want to be woke up to drive home late at night. Sarah had agreed, and with it being the weekend she wasn't too concerned about Lily spending the night at her best friend's house.
Afterwards, Sarah had started to worry. Lily seemed to implode within herself. She had stopped smiling as opening, stopped laughing as freely, and felt as if she was trying to close in around herself to keep safe.
Sarah wasn't sure what had happened that day, but she knew Lily had been upset and hurt somehow.
It wasn't until the court summons came in the mail that the explosion finally happened.
Lily was inconsolable when she opened the letter with shaking hands. She sat through and ready every single word without saying any in return. After she had finished, she silently and emotionlessly passed the summons to Sarah and John for them to read.
The small makeshift family sat together thinking about what their next move was. The first two weeks of March 2006 were sequestered off for the court case. Rose vs Johnson. Sarah and John had tried everything they could do to help the girl who had become so important in their lives prepare for her case. Her lawyer had done an excellent job getting everything prepared in the months leading up to the case. Lily had unfortunately been lulled into a false sense of security, nearly having forgotten the case completely.
But it was time for this to end. Sarah only hopped that they could get Lily through this ordeal as whole as possible.
Leah had been over nearly every day when the news came in. Sarah and John didn't know what they would have done if not for Leah. She was akin to a stubborn bulldog, forcing Lily to function and move forward each and every day. The house was filled with her scathingly sarcastic remarks, often needling Lily into responding.
Sue wouldn't allow Leah to come with the family to the court hearing. It was, after all, across the country all the way in New York. Leah hadn't been summoned, and her father had been increasingly worried for Seth. Leah needed to be home to help take care of the house and go to school.
The plane ride from Port Angeles to New York was worse than the one to. The rain that provided so much comfort upon her arrival only brought bitter memories and pain upon landing at the airport.
Sarah and John had taken two weeks off of work, each to be there with her. They didn't have to, but it meant the world that they refused to leave her alone to handle this mess. They would support her no matter what.
"Sweetheart, wake up. We just landed. Gather your things so we can follow the flock to the luggage bay. I have never flown into here before so hopefully by following everyone else we will find it. Herd mentality, right?"
Bless Sarah for her infinite amount of optimism, even when Lily felt like all she could do was scream. She managed to round up both Lily and John to the right luggage carousal, into the rental car that they'd be operating for the next two weeks, and eventually to the hotel. Sarah had called Lily's lawyer once they had settled in, though she didn't realize Lily was still awake and listening
This wasn't her home. The people were the same, but everything felt off. She didn't feel safe. She felt scared, alone, and in danger. But those were not safe thoughts. Those thoughts brought out the transformation into whatever the hell she turned into. Leah wasn't here to help keep her sane.
It wasn't even the transformations that were upsetting Lily so much. Sure, they were awful and uncomfortable and she had no idea just how to control them. But they were only a side effect based on Lily's emotions.
The truth was Lily was scared shitless to see her previous foster parents again. She couldn't close her eyes or be in a dark room without their phantom like appearances haunting her, whispering cruel nothings into her ear. Lily felt that she had been getting better, especially considering everything going on. But apparently somethings take longer to heal than planned.
Grief has no timeline. Neither does healing. Nobody can fix what happened, but Lily can only process it and grow stronger because of the life she was given. She refused to give the Johnsons the satisfaction of keeping her broken. That meant needing to put on her big girl pants and face them in court.
She had to make sure they never had another child in their care for as long as they live.
But to ensure that happened, she had to get through the next two weeks. She could do this. She had survived living with them. She could handle seeing them in handcuffs and prison issued clothing.
She hopped they were hurting.
Listening in on Sarah's conversation with the layer made Lily feel dirty. She knew she needed her space and privacy which resulted in hating invading others. But Sarah had been so protective of Lily. She didn't want her to hurt when she didn't need to. They were discussing when to me tomorrow at the attorney's office to finalize everything. The court date was set for the day after tomorrow. Lily wanted to have it over and done as quickly but as thoroughly as the two goals could possibly be accomplished together.
Eventually John interrupted Lily's nighttime worrying with her sleeping medication and a glass of water. He assured her that they loved her and wouldn't let anything else happen to her if they had something to say about it. He gave Lily a brief but welcomed hug before turning the lights out.
The next day Lily was dressed as she normally would, jeans and a sweatshirt, a thicker jacket zipped over her as it was March in New York. Snow happens and the cold can be unforgiving. After spending several hours in the attorney's office going over exactly what should happen tomorrow, Lily felt relief. They had recorded Lily's story shortly after the arrest last year. She shouldn't be forced to go onto the stand because she was both a minor and had already provided both a video testament and written statement.
All she would hopefully need to do was sit there quietly and be present.
Lily was an excellent listener. She could manage that. It seemed much more manageable than she had feared.
If only real life were as simple.
The day of the trial brought along fangs and claws for Lily. She had tried all her breathing exercises that Leah and Emily had come up with. She took as long a shower as she feasibly could. It wasn't until she took her quick acting anxiety medicine that the fangs and claws went away. Her lips still were swollen but at least she seemed human by the time they had to go to the court house.
She had worn a simple skirt, socks, loafers, and a tucked in short sleeved blouse as her attorney had instructed. Lily was already quite short at 5'3, but anything to help her seem as young as possible was a key point in the case.
Lily was only 17, but the abuse that she had received at the hands of the Johnson's had started when she was 14. She had managed to be freed from that hell shortly before her 17th birthday, but that didn't negate the fact that Lily was still a minor.
The court house had been filled with television crews from local stations, viewers who had managed to get admittance tickets to the court case for the day, and everyone else involved. Lily was instructed to sit in the middle chair to the right of the judge.
He looked like a grandfatherly figure, but his eyes were sharp. She hopped he would be able to see through whatever bullshit the Johnson's had come up with as a defense.
Both sides had given their opening statements. Judge Warren had been introduced and given his rules to everyone in the court room. Lily hadn't paid it much attention, as the Johnson's had just been brought in.
The first thing she noticed was that they looked like trapped animals.
Maria's hair had been braided, but it had been a while sense it had been dyed as her roots were showing. Her face was lined with worry, but otherwise she no longer seemed like the woman who would rip Lily's skin from her bare back.
Alexander looked even worse. He seemed to be sporting a black eye, and barely glanced over at Lily when he had entered.
Barely.
Lily caught the look in his eye. The look that said she would get exactly what was coming to her. A look that said retribution.
She almost laughed at the thought, as silly as that may sound. Here they were, shackled at the wrists and ankles surrounded by law enforcement. What could he do to hurt her any more than what had already happened? They both had ensured that words meant nothing. It was only the physical torture that ever made an impact. Sticks and stone and all that jazz.
This man was no more than a pitiful asshole who hurt kids. His wife was no better. They had killed her foster brother in front of her. They had ensured that almost nobody would be able to find him. But Lily knew. Lily had known where they hid his body. Where they had tried to forget that Jason had ever existed. Jason, the sweet older brother that had tried his best to keep Lily safe.
The one who died to keep Lily safe.
Lily had promised Jason after he had been murdered that she would see justice done for what had happened to him. To who knows how many other children. Lily couldn't save the world, but she could make sure this couple never hurt another child again.
For Jason.
The case proceeded as expected. The Prosecutor gave out Lily's statements, the evidence involved with the case, the investigation, and everything else involved. The defense tried to counter.
This continued on for over a week.
It wasn't until close to the end of the trial where a deliberation would need to be made by the jury that something unexpected happened.
"I call to the stand Lilliana Rose."
There was a hushed silence in the court room. Why would they call on the poor girl who had witnessed everything? Her attorney had ready her statement out loud, as well as played for everyone the recording of her statement. The girl still had her foster brother's blood on her shirt while it had been taped. What was the defense thinking?
Lily had slowly risen from her chair to make the unimaginably long walk to the confession stand. She was again sworn in, but could barely speak above a whisper. The face of her foster brother smiled down on her from a picture hanging on the edge of the court room, his brown eyes warm and promising safety. Safety he could no longer give.
"Ms. Rose, do you know why we are here today?" was the start the Johnson's defense attorney decided to go with.
"Yes, I am. It would be unfortunate after this week to be clueless. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson tortured, maimed, and killed my foster brother. They had been abusing us for years. The statements were already given. Why have you called me up to the stand sir?" was the only thing Lily could think of asking in that moment. She refused to be scared by the Johnson's any longer, or at least while she was surrounded by people who would ensure they could never harm her again.
"Yes, as you claim."
"No, as the evidence proves."
"Ms. Rose, are you a perfect child? Have you ever, let's say, found it fun to push the buttons of those who were supposed to care for you. After all, you've never been able to stay in a home for more than a few weeks prior Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. As a matter of fact, you had been returned to the orphanage by several adoptive families after an exceedingly short amount of time. Why is that Ms. Rose?"
"I don't know sir. I only ever tried to be on my best behavior. I can't speak for the families who returned me. You would have to ask them."
"Funny, that your foster brother had a similar issue. He was constantly in and out of homes before being taken in by the welcoming arms of the Johnsons. Couldn't you say that you were two pees in a pod?"
Lily wasn't sure where the defense attorney was going with this. She quickly looked at her own, but he seemed just as confused as her.
"Objection! My client is the only surviving victim in this case. Why is she being put on trial as if she were the accused?" Lily's lawyer protested.
"I am only just trying to paint a full character picture of the children my clients took into their home. The home that your client has made wild allegations against."
"Sustained." Came the tired response from the Judge. He was as tired as everyone involved listening day after day how the abuse caused by the Johnsons could somehow be misconstrued as anything other than abuse.
"Ms. Rose, you could almost say that you and your foster brother were a handful on your own. When put together, you could easily admit you might have overwhelmed poor Mrs. Johnsons. After all, they had only had younger children in their care. You were the first two teenagers they had brought into their household. "
"I cannot speak for what Mr. or Mrs. Johnson may have felt or thought while taking us in. I can only ay for sure what happened to us while we were in their care. My brother is no longer here, so you will have to be content with that his murdered corpse and my testimony has to say regarding your clients, Sir." The Sir had been tacked on to Lily's statement as an afterthought.
"I'm just trying to figure out your head space Ms. Rose. You understand, don't you? You've been in and out of hospitals for most of your life. I need to ensure that you are remembering everything correctly."
"Objection! My client is not on trial your honor! She has provided no less than three different certified statements from doctors saying she was of sound mind and body. There are a further seven statements from healthcare workers, police, and neighbors who can attest to the fact that what Lily says happened is not only true but able to be verified."
Back and forth the defense attorney tried to paint Lily as a psychopathic child who caused mayhem whenever she went. Her foster brother was painted in a similar fashion. Once the court case was finally drawn to a close so that the jury could deliberate, Lily held her arms around herself.
She couldn't wait to be back home in Forks.
It wasn't until the next day that the Jury had finished deliberating. The entire court room was silent as the paperwork was handed to the aid, who passed it to the Judge.
After clearing his throat, the Judge opened the note.
"We the jury have found the defense guilty of the following charges. 1 count of first-degree murder. Two counts of child abuse. Two counts of neglect. One count of body desecration. One count of tampering with evidence…" so on and so forth. The Johnson's had been found guilty of all charges!
"I, Judge Warren sentence Mr. Alexander Johnson guilty of all charges to life in prison without the chance of parole. I sentence Maria Johnsons guilty of all charges to life in prison without the chance of parole. You have taken the most vulnerable of our society and hurt them beyond a fraction of a doubt. You have silenced at least one voice of a young man who should be here. A child who was placed in your care. A child who gave his life to protect the sister he so dearly loved. May you rot in prison without communicating with each other for the rest of your natural lives."
Lily could hardly breath! She could not believe that this was almost over. She hadn't even been allowed to say goodbye to her brother before she was flown across the country. She hopped she could visit where he was buried to finally have that moment. To thank him for everything.
The court had eventually cleared out. Sarah and John had taken Lily to a local florist and comic book store to find the best gifts for Jason.
Eventually they made it to the cemetery. Lily had always imagined cemeteries like how they appear in movies. Cold, dark, and gloomy. A thunderstorm brewing in the distance. But here was simple. Peaceful. The gate didn't look like it was trying to hold anyone in or out, only to simply exist. They eventually found where Jason had been buried.
"Here lies the bravest of brothers, Jason Rose. He gave his life so valiantly in defense of his sister. May he find peace knowing that he succeeded. "
Lily couldn't take it anymore. She collapsed onto the grass in front of his tomb stone, utterly devastated. She didn't know who had chosen what was written, or where he was even buried. To know that someone had cared enough to carve his favorite super heroes onto his tombstone and write just how much a hero he was in life would have meant everything to Jason.
No, knowing that he was her super hero would have meant everything to him.
Lily took her time with Jason, unsure when the next time she would be able to see him would be. Now that she knew where he rested, she could visit in the future. She told him all about what had happened after the night he died. How her life in forks had been, and the friends she had made. She told him how she was so scared whenever she had her transformations, and how wonderful Sarah and John had been. She wished he could have met them. They would have loved him just as much as they loved her.
It felt like hours had passed, but Lily wasn't sure. John and Sarah eventually joined her in talking about life to the boy who had given everything for his sister. They thanked him for being there for her and for doing what he had done. They had placed all the comic books at the front of his tomb stone along with the Lilies she had chosen. They had been his favorite.
John, Sarah, and Lily gathered themselves up, the small makeshift family. They decided to have a simple night at home, eating quietly before resting. They had an early flight back home.
Home.
That's exactly where Lily was going. With a family that loved her, friends who meant the world, and a new life that she had thought impossible.
She couldn't wait to be home again.