I panted, scared internally, as the cuff slid and locked around Will's wrist, the gun right next to my ear, facing the street. The shot was loud and my ears rang. It fucking hurt, don't get me wrong, but the satisfaction of Will missing his target was too good.

"What's wrong, Will? Upset you missed?" I questioned, a smirk on my face. I twisted his wrist and he dropped to gun, fighting me the entire time. I popped his arm back and cuffed the other wrist as well. I balled the back of his shirt into my fist. "Let's go, Will. It's over,"

"Fuck you! There's no way this is over, Max!" He planted his feet and looked over his shoulder at me. "No matter what, this will never be over,"

I nodded. "You keep telling yourself that." I shoved him face first toward the brick wall and his head collided with the hard surface, blood spurting from the broken skin. "That's payback for earlier,"

William laughed. "That's not the worst of it,"

I sighed and shook my head, leading him out of the alley. "Don't I know it?"

We walked back to the courthouse and, as we got closer, I could feel William stiffen and lean away as if he knew that he would never leave that building. "Max," he addressed softly. "Um... Are you sure you want to do this?" He looked at me. "I could do so much worse from the inside,"

"William," I tried to keep the smile off my face. "Your threat is worthless. I can see it in your eyes: you're too scared to actually have a plan." I shoved him forward. "Besides," I smiled. "You'll probably be dead before you can do anything."

I opened the door to the courthouse and waltzed in, William's feet sliding. The security guard from before scratched his head at the scene: a runaway bringing in a man in handcuffs. I smirked and walked around the scurity checkpoint. The security guard followed and keep a hand on William's other shoulder since he was struggling against my hold. I smiled my thanks at him.

The guard opened the door and shoved Will in, letting me walk in after him. Varner was standing up front, at William's table, speaking out to the judge.

"Judge, she's been gone too long. I doubt she's coming back." He said. I stood in the back with my hand over Will's mouth to keep him quiet.

"Varner, it was you who told me to let her go. If she doesn't come back, you're getting stripped of your officer title and sentenced to jail as well." Judge Halpert smirked and looked right at me. "And she's right here. With our runaway too," I removed my hand from Will's mouth, wiping my palm on my pantleg. "Come on in, Miss Ride."

I shoved William farther into the courtroom ahead of me. He was slouching, defeated. "I told you I'd be back," I smiled. "Your honor." I added.

She nodded. "Baliff, take the cuffed man into custody. It appears that he does not need any trial nor does Miss Ride. Varner, too. I hereby state Varner Goldman and William Pratt under arrest. Miss Ride, you are free to go. This will not go on record," With that, she banged the gavel and Baliff took a writhing William and a sulking Varner through the side door, both in cuffs.

I turned to Dylan with a smile on my face. He stood next to me and I engulfed him in a hug. "We did it!"

Dylan's arms wrapped around me and he kissed the top of my head. "No: you did it," He let me go. "Now go on. Go to Fang," He bumped my shoulder.

I turned and ran to Fang's arms, him lifting me up in the air, our lips connected. He pulled away earlier that I would have liked. "You taste like blood," he noted, putting my feet back on the ground.

I nodded. "Yeah, it's not like William would have come willingly." I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. "I'm just glad I cuffed him before he shot me,"

Fang's eyes widened. "Shot?"

"Yep. He missed but my ear is still ringing from the noise."

Fang kissed my ears and my lips before pulling me to his chest. "Tonight, I'm going to get rid of all the sin that William did or ever planned to do. And you're going to make up the time in jail to me,"

I laughed. "I wouldn't ask for anything more," I let him go and hugged Ella who ran up to me. "I'm so glad you're alright, Ella,"

"Me?" She all but yelled, crying. "You were worried about me? You were the one in jail!"

"Yes, but I knew I could handle it- kind of. I was worried that you wouldn't have anyone at school to help you."

She held me tigher. "I love you, Max."

I kissed her temple. "Love you too,"

"Max!" Nudge, Iggy, and Richard yelled, running up.

"Iggy!" I screamed, letting Ella go and jumping into my big brother's arms. "I missed your humor, big bro!" I laughed, tears falling down my face.

Iggy spun me around and pulld Nudge into the hug on my other side so she could get her fill too. "We both missed your spark," He chuckled. "Glad you're back,"

"I have so much to tell you, Max!" Nudge cried into my back. "I'm so happy you're free,"

I nodded. "I'm happy too. And we'll catch up later tonight." I pulled away from them and looked at Richard, a sad smile on my face. "Richard,"

I opened my arms to him and he stepped forward, hugging me to his chest. "This has truly been an honor; to meet you, Max. I'm glad I could help you. Shannon is happy too,"

I laughed, a watery, broken sound coming out with it. "Isn't she always?" I sniffed. "I'm going to miss you guys. And I'm sorry I can't get Shannon out,"

"She didn't tell you?" Richard pulled back, his blue eyes quizzical. I titled my head, confused. "She's getting out in three weeks,"

My jaw dropped and I stepped back. "Why wouldn't she tell me that?"

He shrugged. "Who knows? Be happy, though, Max. You're with your family again,"

I nodded, wiping my eyes carefully so my make-up wouldn't smear. "Yeah. I am happy. And I expect to see you, Shannon, and the kids soon."

He laughed. "I promise, we'll come visit,"

Fang stepped over to me, his arm automatically going around my waist. "You better. I want to get to know Marian's family."

I held Fang to my side tightly, smiling at how accepting he was of his past now.

Ella ran to Richard and hugged him. "Thank you for getting Max back to us!"

Richard patted her back. "No need to thank me. Max is family," He winked at me, his eyes flickering between Fang and I. I blushed. "Or at least, will be. Soon, I hope." he chuckled.

Ella let him go and looked up at him. "So, we'll see you guys at our place for dinner in three weeks, sir?" She smoothed her shirt, trying to be formal. I almost laughed at how young she was acting. I always forgot Ella was seventeen.

Richard smiled. "Please, Ella. I am your uncle. Call me Uncle Rich."

Iggy snorted behind me. "Or Uncle Dick," he murmured. I bumped him in the stomach with my elbow. He grunted. "Or not..."

It was good to be with my family again..

-!-

I groaned in delight, Fang laughing at my joyous expression. I savored the taste as I swallowed.

"Max," He chuckled. "It's just pizza,"

"Cheap pizza, at that," Ella mumbled past her food.

"But it's real food!" I smiled, taking another huge bite.

"So, what? They fed you cardboard in prison?" Iggy asked, smirking at the fact that I grabbed my eleventh slice.

I stuck my tongue out at him. "Oh, hush up. Prison food is disgusting! I'm just glad that one girl was able to sneak in McDonald's. I would have died without it!" I leaned against Fang's side dramatically.

He, Iggy, Ella, and Nudge laughed at my antics. "It seems she's fine. No change since being in the big house," Fang teased. He looked down at me to see that I was biting his slice of pizza. "Hey!" He pulled it away from me.

I sat up and blinked at him innocently. He sighed and handed over the slice. I smiled, biting into it, handing it back after that.

"She's gotten a bigger appetite, that's for sure," Nudge noticed.

"Yeah. Seriously, when was the last time you ate?" Ella questioned. "You look skinnier,"

"I haven't eaten in two days,"

"Max!" Everyone yelled disapprovingly.

"What? It's not like I was starving myself. I was just too nervous about the trial to eat. I felt nauseous looking at the food." I mumbled, blushing behind my slice of pineapple pizza.

Nudge shook her head. "Of all the places in this city with higher quality food, you choose a simple pizza joint," She laughed.

"Hey: it's deliciously simple." I defended.

Fang pulled me to his side. "Can't argue with that," He held up his cup of Coke Zero. "To freedom," He toasted.

I chuckled. As cheesy as it sounded, I agreed to that toast. I was finally free. I held up my glass. "To freedom," I smiled at the man at my side, winking at him.

"To freedom!" Everyone else yelled, tapping their glasses to ours.

Yeah... Life was finally good again.

Like I promised, here's the next chapter! Hope you liked it! I have absolutely no idea what happens in court so I just sort of... decided there would be no trial. I'm sure if there was that much evidence against the man and obvious evidence that said Max was innocent, that the trial wouldn't really happen. Anyway, I think I'm only going to make one more chapter. Sad, I know.

Anyway, I'm definitely going to be better at this whole updating thing in the summer. I'm going to update every week on every Friday. I promise (not only because I'm going to really try but also because... I have nothing going on...). So, anyway, hope you liked this! Please review and share your thoughts! :3

~Amy-Katherine