It was the night before the dreaded first day in court, and Natalie was not enthused about it.

Then it hit her as she looked at her freshly showered – self in the mirror,

Wow, even when this trial is over… I could come back and work with Mr. Mason as a lawyer in the firm and we could be a family!

Natalie smiled brightly. Even though tomorrow was her first day in court… Natalie wasn't going to let her nerves get to her as she began to think about them becoming a family in four – five year's time.

"Something on your mind, Nat?"

Della asked as she walked up behind her as Natalie handed her the hairbrush as Della brushed through Natalie's hair, something they've done since Natalie first came to the apartment.

"How would you feel if I came back after graduating from USC and joining the firm as a lawyer, and the four of us being a family?"

Della smiled as she began to braid Natalie's hair as she nodded,

"I know that I would love it. So would Paul. He's said to us that you're like the little sister he never had. Mr. Mason would like that too. I think he's taken a fatherly shining to you. I see how you look at him. It reminds me of how I used to look at my own father."

Della finished both braids as Natalie hugged her tightly,

"I'm nervous, Della. But if I keep the concept of us potentially being a family in the back of my head, I'll be fine tomorrow."

Della smiled and kissed Natalie's forehead as Natalie headed off to bed.

Sure, Della was almost 60 but that didn't mean she couldn't be a mother – figure to this almost full grown girl who was dealing with the murders of her Aunt and Uncle… which resulted in her losing the remainder of her family and her friends at school.

What they didn't know is that the prosecution had Hannah and Lauren lined up to testify against Natalie. No wonder, the two girls had begun to alienate their best friend!

Perry knew that he was up for one hell of a fight against District Attorney Christina Matthews, who studied under Hamilton Burger before his passing 16 years prior.

"Remember, Nat. You're innocent – you didn't kill your Aunt and Uncle, someone made it sure that you did to the police and we're going to find out who it was. Just breathe and don't let your emotions get the best of you."

Perry told her as they walked up to the courthouse as Natalie's nervousness was written plainly on her face as she nodded and hugged him tightly, not caring that others were watching.

When they walked in and Natalie saw her "best" friends talking to DA Matthews she gasped as stepped back as Perry looked to her and Hannah and Lauren as he sighed,

"Is that Hannah and Lauren?"

Natalie nodded,

"That's them. I don't understand Mr. Mason, I thought they would be talking with us not her to help clear my name, not to smear it. They, too, were excited when I got my letter for USC."

Perry sighed as they sat down,

"Maybe once the trial's over –"

Natalie shook her head,

"No, Mr. Mason. If they've alienated me at school, there's no way that I'm going to reaccept them into my life."

Della sighed and once the trial started,

"Hannah you were best friends with the defendant until the murder of her Aunt and Uncle, is that right?"

Christina asked as Hannah nodded,

"Yes, ma'am."

Christina nodded,

"Why did you decide to alienate her?"

Perry jumped in,

"Objection! Prosecution is leading the witness."

The judge nodded,

"Overruled."

Perry sighed as Hannah took a deep breath,

"Lauren and I heard rumors around the school and this was from everyone else, and we knew that we couldn't defend her. So, yes. You could chalk it up to underlying peer pressure. We're sorry, Nat."

Natalie looked at Hannah with an angry expression as Hannah sighed.

"Your witness, Mr. Mason."

Perry nodded,

"How close were the three of you before the murder?"

"Oh, joined at the hip Mr. Mason. Lauren and I were exceptionally excited for Nat when she showed us her acceptance letter to USC before Christmas. We've known each other since we were little girls."

"You told the prosecution that your alienating your best friend, was peer pressure. I know that high school can be hard but was there any other pressure from outside of school, your parents perhaps? If from what you've told me, Natalie must know your parents."

Hannah nodded as she looked down,

"Yes, Mr. Mason. When my Dad found out about what happened he forced me to stay away from Nat. He said 'I don't want my baby girl running around with a murder.' I tried to reason with him but I couldn't. Lauren will tell you the same thing, her father didn't want her running around with Nat anymore."

Perry nodded,

"No further questions."

The judge nodded again,

"Witness may step down."

Natalie sighed as Perry sat next to her,

"That went well."

"It's only the first day, Nat. Everything's going to be just fine."

As the day dragged on, Natalie was beginning to feel even more nervous. Christina was doing a good job in making the jury and the judge believe that a kind, gentle girl like herself would murder the only family she had left.

"Mr. Mason, I don't understand why Hannah and Lauren would cave to their fathers' requests. I thought they were stronger than that."

Natalie commented as they sat in his office after court let out for the day as Perry sighed.

"I don't know either, Nat. You obviously know them a lot better than I do."

Natalie nodded,

"I'm going to talk to their fathers. They need to know that I didn't kill Aunt Joyce and Uncle Gregory, that I couldn't have gathered the courage to do so."

Perry nodded,

"But only after I talk with them. I don't want you getting hurt."

Natalie nodded,

"I won't Mr. Mason. Trust me."

Perry nodded as Natalie went back to Della's apartment to get ready for school the next day as Della sighed,

"You know her talking to Hannah and Lauren's fathers is the right thing for her to do. She might get some answers out of them, and I can see that the three of them might forgive and become friends again."

Perry nodded as he hugged Della, hoping that Della was right.