Hey guys! Thank you so much, again. You guys are amazing to say the least.

Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill.

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Lilly sat down next to Peyton on the couch in Clothes Over Bro's, as Brooke brought out more clothes for her to try on. Lilly was tired, having tried on clothes all morning. Brooke was going nuts, picking out the outfit Lilly would wear to Carter's arraignment the next day. Lilly had been putting on a brave face for the court date but the truth was, Lilly was scared shitless. She didn't know how tomorrow was going to go, what Carter would do when he saw her, she knew nothing.

"So," Peyton turned to Lilly as Brooke walked to the back of the store for more clothes. "How are you holding up?"

Lilly nodded. "I'm okay. Better, now."

Peyton gave her a pointed look. "You don't always have to be so strong, you know, Lil. I've been there. Sometimes it's okay to be scared."

Lilly opened her mouth to say something but Brooke walked back in and dragged Lilly back to the fitting rooms.

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This last week had been the longest, hardest week of Lilly Scott's life. She had barely slept, having a fear that if she closed her eyes she would wake up from the dream she was in and Carter would still be beating her. So, she stayed up, taking photographs of random things around her house. The old her would've snuck out of the house, but the new her, the Lilly that was still haunted by that creepy criminal's face wasn't so brave. Ever since she had gotten out of the hospital, she had been pushing back the issues she should have dealt with, and it was easy since she was never alone. However, today was Carter's arraignment. And so, started the process of his trial, and sentencing and so forth. The prosecutor told Karen it wouldn't take very long. Carter would most likely plea guilty, and if he didn't then Lilly was there to testify against him. Only thing was, Lilly wasn't so sure she was strong enough to step on the stand, and send somebody to jail. She hadn't told anyone this, not sure what to tell them.

Actually, the truth was that Lilly was waiting. She was waiting for her best friend to talk to her. Jamie had yet to come see her or contact her in any way. Lilly desperately wanted to just go over and yell at him, but something stopped her. She knew he would come to her when he was ready. She knew he was mad but she also knew he still considered her his best friend.

Brooke had picked out an outfit for Lilly to wear today, saying she had to look better than ever before. Lilly just smiled and nodded and let Brooke do her thing, knowing Brooke would feel helpful. Brooke, Karen, Lucas and Peyton would all be at the trial with her today. She was so grateful for all of them. Never did she expect to actually be grateful for Lucas, but here she was. Things had turned around, and Lilly found herself glad. Through all of this, she learned that life was too short to be enemies with your family.

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He just looked at her. Carter looked at her, blinked, and turned around. That was it. Lilly guessed she shouldn't have been surprised, but, as she sat down next to Lucas and Peyton, Karen and Booke sitting on the other side of her, that's exactly what Lilly was-surprised. She didn't really know what she had expected, but she had hoped that he would have felt the least bit remorse.

Lucas leaned over to her, whispering, "Don't worry about him. He's going to get what he deserves."

Lilly nodded and looked back over to where he was sitting next to his lawyer. He was dressed in a suit and Lilly couldn't help but notice the bruises all over his face. Lilly also couldn't help but smile. Lucas was right; Carter was going to get what was coming to him.

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Luckily, Lilly wouldn't have to stand in front of the jury and Carter and testify against him; he had plead guilty. Lilly was relieved. Well, she thought she was relieved. As she sat down on her bed, she wasn't so sure. At first, she was afraid of what Carter would do had she actually testified against him. She was afraid he would find a way to hurt her. Nevertheless, after being in the court room and seeing how calm he was, she wanted to. She wanted to stand in front of the jury and send him to hell.

Lilly sighed. Everyone was coming to dinner. But right now, everyone was at their house getting their families ready. Karen was in the kitchen cooking, and for the first time since she got out of the hospital, Lilly was alone. She wasn't sure why this was weird for her. She was Lilly Scott. She was strong.

Actually, scratch that. She wasn't strong, and as she pulled her knees to her chest and leaned her head down as she sobbed, she felt weaker than ever.

"Lilly?" Brooke whispered as she walked into the teenagers' room. After Seeing Lilly curled up on the bed crying, Brooke rushed over and gathered the young girl in her arms. "Oh, Lilly. It's okay."

Lilly didn't say anything just lay there in her Aunt's arms. She let herself be comforted, leaning into her embrace. She wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, but when Brooke pulled back all of Lilly's make-up had been smudged off.

"The second year that my store was open, I was attacked. I was closing the store when somebody jumped out of nowhere and attacked me." Brooke said as she pulled back, looking Lilly in the eye. "I had bruises all over my face, black eyes, the whole deal. I told everyone I fell down the stairs. Lilly, you don't always have to be so strong. We are all here for you. When I was attacked, I didn't tell anyone for a long time, so I didn't have anyone to talk to. You do. You have us. Just, remember that, okay?"

Lilly nodded, sniffling. "When the attorney told me I might have to testify against him, I didn't want to. I was afraid of what he would do. But, after seeing him today," Lilly scoffed, shaking her head. "I want to send him to jail. I want to stand in front of the jury and send him to jail."

"He's going to jail, sweetie. I promise. We won't let him get away with this." Brooke pushed Lillys hair out of her face.

There was a knock at the door, and Lilly and Brooke turned to see Jamie leaning against the doorway. Brooke stood up, squeezing Lillys shoulder as she did so. "I'll give you two a minute." She smiled at Jamie as she walked out of the room.

Jamie straightened, putting his hands in his pockets and looking down. "so…"

Lilly snorted, wiping the tears out of her eyes. "So? That's all you have to say?"

"What do you want me to say, Lil?"

Lilly stood up and turned around, glaring at him. "I want you to say you're sorry for not coming to see me. I was so scared; I needed my best friend! Everyone else came to see me when I was in the hospital. Everyone except my best friend. I needed you!"

"I know," Jamie said. "I'm sorry, I just…" He sat down on her bed, running his hands through his hair. "When Brooke and I figured it out, Dad, her and I all raced down to the beach after we called Uncle Luke, and there he was, just sitting there. You were unconscious, and there was so much blood. I was scared, Lil, I was so scared. And then they took you to the hospital, and I was there, for awhile. You were still asleep, and the more I thought of it, the more angry I got. I was so mad at you for not telling me, for doing this to yourself, that I just, I couldn't be there. I was so mad. I was mad at Carter, at you, and then I was mad at myself for not being there when you needed me. I felt so stupid for not noticing it before. I knew something was wrong, I knew something just wasn't right, but I ignored it. For some odd reason, I thought you were happy with him so I ignored it. And then Brooke was talking to me, and I felt so guilty, Lil. It was just easier to blame you and be mad at you rather than admitting that it was my fault."

Lilly sat down next to him, and lay her head down on his shoulder. "It wasn't your fault. I was mine, you were right. I just, I was so far in, that I didn't know how to get out. When he called me to go to the beach, I knew something was wrong. I knew something bad was going to happen, and I then I got there and I saw him and I knew it had to stop. But, I also knew I couldn't stop him myself. I was hoping you would figure it out when I texted you." Lilly stopped, chuckling, "So, Luke and Your dad beat the shit out of him, huh?"

Jamie grinned up at her. "I got a video of it on my phone. Want to see?"

Lilly grinned back, reaching for his phone. "Hell yes!"

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:] The next chapter is going to be the last. It will probably be short, but for this story, it will be the last. I'm going to make this into a series, though. My next story will be a look at Lucas and Peyton's life. I don't know where I'll take it yet, so ideas would be very much appreciated. After that, I'll do Haley and Nathan, and then Brooke and Julian.

As always, tell me what you think!