It was after court let out and Natalie was sitting in her bedroom at Della's apartment.

It's been one month since the trial started and I know that I'm more than likely am heading off to USC in August, but Miss Street and Mr. Mason have been like parents to me. I never knew my parents and yet it feels like Mr. Mason and Miss Street are my long lost parents and Paul the big brother I never had. Why am I having these thoughts of me wanting them to adopt me and we can be a wonderful, blended family? I've only known them for three months. Damn it, Nat. Don't think that way. You're going to be on your own once all of this is over, no matter how much you want to come back and create that family you talked to Miss Street about. Accept that and move on!

Natalie was shaken out of her thoughts as Della knocked on her door,

"Nat? You alright, honey?"

Della had noticed that Natalie, lately, had become quite distant with them. Natalie looked up and nodded,

"Yeah, Della. I'm fine. Just thinking about how much my life's changed since the New Year."

Della nodded and held Natalie close,

"You want to talk about it?"

Natalie nodded,

"I can't understand, nor do I want to understand why the Waverly's killed my Aunt and Uncle to get me out of the apartment building. I don't understand why they've manipulated my entire school to turn against me when I need some of the people there the most right now. And I 100% don't understand the grieving process. One day, I'm fine and then the next day I'm in denial and anger."

Della nodded and tightened her hold on Natalie as she let the young girl cry.

"What you're going through is completely normal, Nat. Mr. Mason and I see it almost all the time with our clients. Being charged with murder isn't easy. Losing someone you love is never easy. I lost my parents years ago, and it still hurts to this day."

Natalie looked to Della,

"But you knew your parents. I didn't!"

Della sighed and bit her lip. She knowingly walked into that one.

Note to self: don't bring up the topic of parents again.

What the gang didn't know is that Natalie wasn't alienated from everyone at her school. There was one boy, Peter Hawk, who she didn't particularly like as a kid but he was smitten with her to begin with, who was infuriated that all his classmates turned against her. What Natalie didn't know is that Peter's loved her forever.

"Hey, Nat. You alright?"

Peter asked the following Monday as he found Natalie in a corner by herself during lunch as she looked up with a small smile.

"No. But you can sit with me if you want. I could certainly use the company."

Peter nodded and sat down,

"I hope you're doing well with your trial. I know how much you loved your Aunt and Uncle. I just want you to know: I believe you when you say that you didn't kill them. I remember you were with Hannah and Lauren that day during lunch when the murder happened, having a grand old time."

Natalie smiled gently as she kissed Peter's cheek softly, not knowing what spurred her to do that. Maybe it was the fact that someone in her school hadn't fallen for the Waverly's manipulations and was on her side.

"Thank you, Peter."

Peter blushed as he ran his hand where Natalie kissed him after she left to head to her class.

Maybe I should talk to her lawyer to help clear her name and testify for her in court. She's been through enough these past three months. It's the right thing to do.

As Natale walked to her class,

Natalie Henderson, you've known Peter Hawk since you two were knee high and didn't really like him at first. But since he's being a knight in shining armor to you… Wait, how were you able to tell that he was being genuine?

Once Natalie brought Peter to the office and he began talking to Perry and Paul and Natalie talking to Della,

"How long have you know Nat, Peter?"

Della asked the same question to Natalie,

"How long have you know Peter, Nat?"

They both answered,

"Since we were little kids."

Della nodded,

"And when he told you that he was on your side, you kissed his cheek?"

Natalie nodded looking down,

"I've gotten so used to people turning a cold shoulder to me, I don't know what got into me. I'm majorly confused right now about my feelings towards him and that mixing with my grieving over Aunt Joyce and Uncle Gregory."

Peter nodded,

"I want to help Nat, Mr. Mason. I'm so infuriated at my fellow classmates in how they've alienated her. She's an angel, incredibly kind, painstakingly beautiful, and when she smiles… it's like the whole world glows brighter."

Perry smiled, hearing Peter talk about Natalie reminded him of how he felt about Della. Peter happened to catch that smile,

"Mr. Mason? Is there something that you should be telling me?"

He asked with a chuckled as Perry looked down as he tried to hide the blush that fought its way on his cheeks.

"As you described Nat… those are the things I love about Miss Street. We've been working together for almost 30 years and my breath still catches in my throat whenever I see her first thing in the morning."

Peter smiled,

"I don't know if Nat feels the same but since she received the murder charge and I saw almost everyone push her away, my love for her has only grown. The need for me to be her protector, lover, best friend, and confidant for the rest of her life. I love her Mr. Mason."

Della nodded,

"I think your heart is trying to tell you that Peter's here to stay. That Peter doesn't want to hurt you. Remember when I told you about how Mr. Mason's protective over me, because I know that he loves me very much? Well, I think Peter has become that way because, whether you want to believe or not, I think since Peter's known you since you were children and has probably had his eyes on you since the beginning of high school. Along with what you're going through, he's willing to be someone you can grow to love in time."

Natalie nodded as tears were streaming down her face as she didn't know what to feel as she felt her body go numb as she began to cry again. She was doing a lot of that lately, crying which broke everyone's hearts. Especially Peter.

"I… I… I'm all confused. I don't know what to do or how to feel."

Perry happened to walk out with Peter at that moment as Peter excused himself to head back to his apartment as Perry sat with Natalie as she snuggled close to him as she continued to cry – which made her fall asleep as Perry placed the blanket over her and let her sleep.

"What were you talking about that got her all upset?"

Perry asked as Della nodded,

"She's all confused about where her feelings stand with Peter. I can tell that he's like you. Willing to move heaven and earth for her. But with all that Nat's been through recently, the trauma and how badly she's been hurt is clouding her thoughts and I think she'll be ready to make the next move with Peter once everything's over. She loves him and with how Peter was with her before you talked with him, I can tell that he loves her as well."

Perry nodded and kissed Della's forehead,

"And you do know that I love you, right?"

Della laughed softly with a nod,

"Yes, Perry and I hope that you know that I love you as well."

Everyone smiled as things, for the moment, felt alright with the world as Natalie slept away and the trio worked long and hard to help clear her name.