Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Glee or any of its characters.

A/N: I want to thank Niekie for helping me proofread all of my stories. She's all kinds of awesome and an amazing writer in her own right. Check out her wonderful stories as well.

Chapter 71

The next few days flew by in a flurry of activity. The day after their dinner with Callie and Carlos, they had arrived at the school just in time for Cheerios practice and followed them home after. They were now settled in and Santana was enjoying getting to know her Tia and Papa again. In the time since Callie and Carlos came to stay at the house, they had all started to really get to know them.

Rachel really liked Carlos. When they were told about the upcoming trial against Azimio he had pulled her aside and told her that no matter what, he'd be there for her. She was now his granddaughter too, one of his ninas and if she needed anything to just ask. He reminded her a lot of her daddy and it was a great comfort.

Callie was hilarious and had a really great singing voice too. They took her down to the studio and had a jam session the previous evening after school. She and Judy also struck up a fast friendship. Shelby and Sue teased them that they should date each other, and Callie could just move to Ohio. They laughed and Judy said she just didn't do it for her. She had all the women she could handle with Sue and Shelby causing them all to fall into hysterics.

Rachel welcomed the distraction of the two newest members of her ever-expanding family. With the upcoming trial looming over her, she was not sure where her head was. No matter how hard she tried she just couldn't come to a good outcome in her mind.

It was now the night before the trial and Rachel sat on the window seat in her room looking out over the neighborhood thinking. She didn't find herself in this position as much as she used to prior to the events of December, especially since she and her girls moved into her fathers' old room. Before, she often took solace in the late night and early morning stillness of her surroundings but right now she couldn't seem to settle her mind or her body.

Everyone was asleep and it was quiet, but she just couldn't turn her brain off. She just kept going over everything in her mind that she would have to relive and talk about in front of a room full of strangers with that monster sitting right there looking at her. She knew not even singing would settle her, so she didn't even try. Which brought her to her window seat, trying not to freak out knowing that in the morning they had to be at the courthouse and either he would go to jail or they would take his word over her own and let him free. She shuddered at the thought. If he were let free, she didn't know what she'd do.

She smiled slightly and turned as the cushion dipped beside her. She scooted forward and let Quinn settle in behind her, wrapping her arms around her waist. "Did I wake you bear?" She sighed as she leaned into her warmth.

"I shifted backward to get more contact and you weren't there." Quinn kissed her head lightly, tightening her arms around her. "I saw you over here and thought you might need a snuggle."

"I always need your snuggles, I'm sorry I woke you baby. I just couldn't settle tonight."

"It's not a problem sweetie. I wish you had woken one of us. Do you want to talk about it?"

Rachel shook her head. "Not really much to talk about. I'm probably not going to settle until this nightmare is over." She scoffed and hugged Quinn's arms tightly around her. "If it's ever over. I just can't get the thought of him getting off free and clear out of my head. What if they don't believe me? I mean I know we have some evidence but… I don't know. I just can't let the idea go."

Quinn shifted, putting a leg on either side of the little diva, resting her chin on Rachel's shoulder. "We'll take it as it comes. That's all we can do baby. I seriously can't see him getting off. Just your bloody clothes should be enough to put him away. Your lawyer said that he thought this trial was just a formality, that it was pretty cut and dry."

"I know, I'm just scared." She turned around in her arms and buried her face in her neck. "I don't think I would be able to take it if he would go free. He's a danger to all of us."

As tears started to roll down her face, she felt another body mold into her back. "No tears hermosa. Even if they let the asshole free, and I don't think they will, we'd just have to move to New York early. We wouldn't stay here and make you live that close to him."

At Santana's words Rachel's head swung around. "I couldn't ask you guys to leave everything to move with me. What about Judy and Sue?"

Santana shook her head and kissed her gently. "You are our everything querida. Besides, the moms have all said that if it became a need that we'd all move. That includes Sue."

Rachel looked between them shocked. "I don't… Really?"

Quinn smiled pulling her back in, "Yes really, so just try not to stress anymore. Whatever happens we'll deal."

Rachel burrowed back in and just held on. She didn't want to move until graduation but if it came down to it, and the others were all willing, she'd leave rather than having to see him every day.

They all sat quietly wrapped around each other for a while longer before Rachel finally sat up and crawled off the window seat pulling the other two with her. "Ok, I think I'm ready to try and sleep again. If I don't shut my brain off, I'm going to drive myself insane and be an exhausted mess all day."

They all crawled back in bed and snuggled in putting Rachel in the middle. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep this time with the other two following right behind her once they knew she was out.

When they woke again, they showered and dressed for the day, then made their way to the kitchen to see about breakfast and found all of the adults in the family already dressed and up for the day as well. Callie was at the stove with Shelby while Sue worked on smoothies, Judy was pulling something out of the oven and Carlos sat at the counter with his coffee talking to the others.

They all looked up as the girls filed in and Shelby came to them pulling Rachel into a hug. "Good morning my babies. Did you sleep ok last night?" She kissed the other two as Rachel moved on to hug Sue.

"Not at first but I was able to get some sleep after I had a mini freak out." Rachel smiled sadly and moved into Judy's arms next.

"You should have come and got one or all of us sweetie." Judy lightly scolded not liking the thought of her being up half the night.

Rachel just shrugged. "I didn't want to wake anyone. I didn't even want the girls to wake up, but they did anyway, which was a good thing because they calmed me, and I was able to sleep after that. I just didn't want to bother anyone. I keep you all up enough as it is with all my drama."

"Rachel Barbra Berry!" Rachel flinched and turned toward her mother's firm voice. "You are never a bother to any of us. You know that we all prefer for any of you to come to us for anything rather than dealing with your fears and concerns alone. It's not drama, it's your life and you never have to feel bad that we want to be there for you. That's our job and our privilege as your mothers. So, I never want to her you talk like that again."

Rachel fell back into Shelby's arms and burrowed in. "I'm sorry, I just hate it when I can't deal with my own issues."

Sue walked up and ran a hand lovingly through her hair. "But Star, you do deal with your own issues. It's just that sometimes it helps to just have those that love you close while you do. It's not a bad thing to lean on your family."

Judy grabbed her hand. "They're right, and you'd want the other girls to do the same if they needed anything. How would you feel if they never let you help them out or they didn't let us help them if they needed?"

Quinn and Santana wrapped around Rachel and Shelby, and each kissed the side of her head. "They have a point baby." Quinn said while moving away to hug Judy.

Rachel chuckled lightly. "Ok, ok, I get the point. Thank you." She kissed them all and moved over to hug Callie and Carlos good morning. "Good morning, welcome to my morning crazies."

Callie just laughed and Carlos shook his head. "I see no crazies, just loving mamas and silly babies. Now, how about someone get this table set so we can eat the wonderful meal your mothers and tia made for us."

They all laughed and moved to do just that. Through breakfast they kept the conversation about school, Cheerios, and glee. There was no need to bring up the upcoming events of the day as everything important had already been discussed. They just enjoyed their ever-growing family and when the time came, they headed out for the courthouse.

When they arrived, they were shocked to see the steps and sidewalk in front of the courthouse full of people. Reporters were waiting as they pulled up and the crowd was just, crazy.

Rachel shrank into her mother's side and hid her face. "What is all this? I thought it was a closed court room because we are minors."

Sue shook her head sneering at the crowd around the car. "It is but that doesn't stop the vultures from circling. Just let us surround you and we'll get inside as quick as we can."

Shelby held on as Sue and Judy moved in front of them, Santana and Quinn on Rachel's other side with Carlos and Callie behind them. They made it inside quickly and into the courtroom and Rachel finally let out a breath, glad to be completely out of the public view.

Once in they saw the DA and their lawyer Leon Henderson talking at the defense's desk. When Leon saw them, he came over leaving the DA to go over his notes. "I see you made it through the chaos outside. I hope they didn't give you any trouble."

They all sat as Sue leaned forward to shake his hand. "No, we just surrounded Rachel and pushed through. No one really tried to do much other than hollering out questions that we ignored."

Rachel sighed leaning into Shelby. "I'm just glad we made it in quickly."

With a nod Leon pulled a file out of his briefcase. "Good, now, this morning is going to be opening statements. You will not be called on until tomorrow. They will let the defense go first and give their statement then it's our turn and the DA will give his statement. I sent a copy of it to you last week. Did you have time to read through it?"

They all nodded but Shelby spoke. "Yes, we all looked it over and think it sounds good."

Rachel sighed, "I don't really want to hear it all over and over again, but I guess it's an inevitability. I just hope this is all done quickly. I don't know how much I can really take before I break."

With a sympathetic hand on her shoulder, he looked into her eyes. "Do you want to wait until tomorrow to come in? I told you that because you are a minor that you only have to actually be here for your own testimony."

She shook her head and straightened up, determined to be strong. "No, I need to be here and hear all of it. I know it's going to be hard, but I just can't be in the dark as to all that is happening. It'll drive me crazier not knowing. I can do this. I have to do this for my own sanity."

Santana pulled her close from right next to her and Quinn leaned over her to grab Rachel's hand. Shelby and Sue both had a hand on one of her shoulders, squeezing reassuringly, with Judy running a hand through her hair sitting behind her. Carlos, Callie, and Leon all just watched them with smile as the family showed her their support.

"Ok then, in a few minutes they will let in the defendant's family and his lawyer in. After that, the Jury will be brought in then they will bring him in. Once everyone is in place and settled the bailiff will announce the judge and we will get started. Just sit tight for a few." With that he stood and headed to the prosecution's desk and set about getting himself prepared.

They all settled close and waited. As Leon had said a few minutes later Azimio's mother and father came in with his lawyer, Simon Erving. He instructed them to sit behind the defendant's desk in the front row and got himself settled at the desk pulling out his own files. The jury was brought in just a moment later settling into the juror's box. Not long after, two officers ushered Azimio in and over to where he was required to sit by his lawyer. They released him from his cuffs and stood off to the side, close by as he settled, and his lawyer started to speak to him quietly.

They all knew to expect him, but Rachel, Santana, and Quinn all tensed up as he was brought in. Judy shifted to lay a calming hand on Quinn as Carlos and Callie did the same for Santana. Rachel was still burrowed into her mother's side with Sue holding them both. They didn't have to wait long for the bailiff to call them to rise and the judge to enter.

Once he settled and reviewed his file he looked up and addressed the room. "Ok, we are hearing the people vs. Azimio Raymond Adams in the alleged rape of Rachel Barbra Berry, and the assault of Santana Marie Lopez, and Lucy Quinn Fabray. Are all parties here and accounted for to start these proceedings?"

Both lawyers answered in the affirmative and he gave a nod and turned to the defense. "Alright, will the defendant Azimio Adams please rise?" He and his lawyer stood, and the judge continued. "In the charge of Rape to Rachel Berry, how do you plead?"

"Not guilty, your honor," his Lawyer answered for him.

The judge gave a curt nod and continued, "In the charges of assault to Santana Lopez and Lucy Fabray, how to you plead?"

Again, his Lawyer answered not guilty, and the family just gave each other confused looks. They had no idea how he planned on spinning the not guilty plea with Santana and Quinn. There were multiple witnesses to both girl's injuries. They turned back to the front as the judge nodded once more and told them to be seated.

"Ok, we will now hear the opening statement, starting with the defense. Mr. Erving if you would." He motioned for him to start and settled back in his chair as Mr. Erving came around his desk.

They all settled in to listen as his lawyer spun a tale of consensual intercourse with Rachel and accidental injury to Santana and Quinn. He stated that Azimio was being set up because of the fact that Rachel was not happy with him not wanting to date her after they were intimate. He also stated that all of the witnesses were friends with Rachel and would say whatever the girl wanted. It was all a lot of horse shit and Rachel and her family were livid but remained as calm as they could and quiet.

Once he finished spouting off his crap, Leon was next to give the statement for their side. He walked the jury through the day of the rape in detail from the slushie to where Santana found her and took her home. He explained why she was unwilling to go to the police or hospital and how Santana, then Puck, did all they could to help her that night. He went over every detail leading up to the incident at school where he assaulted Santana and Quinn and everything that happened during that morning until the police were called and the girls were sent to the hospital.

Rachel and most of her family had tears in their eyes as they listened to it all detailed out once again. It did not go unnoticed by the judge or jury how they all surrounded the three girls to comfort them during it all. Once he was finished laying it all out, the judge called for a recess and requested that they all be back first thing in the morning for the first witnesses to be called.

The Jury was led out first then Azimio was cuffed once more and taken away. His family and his lawyer left right after leaving only Rachel and her family. All in all, they had been there for a few hours and were all more than ready to leave.

Rachel was the first to stand, "I'm ready to go." With that they all followed suit and stood, heading out for the day.

That night the moms and Callie all piled into the bed with the girls, Carlos lay on the couch in their room to be close, and they all slept surrounding the girls. Tomorrow would bring the first of the defense witnesses and they just prayed that it all went quickly.

A/N: I know it's been literally forever since I've posted anything but here's the next chapter in this universe. I hope to have this story complete very soon as there's only a few chapters left to go so please hang with me just a bit longer and thank you all so much for the continued support.