A/N: I know you are all waiting anxiously for the trial so just a little spoiler...it will start in the next chapter! I was planning on starting it in this one but other events took on a life of their own and took over. Hang in there. I PROMISE to start the trial in chapter 23 and I will have it up either later tonight or tomorrow!

Chapter 22

Lilyana had ended up crying herself to sleep with her headphones still in. Because of that, she didn't hear when John knocked on her door. It was dinner time and he was trying to get her attention. When she didn't answer, he opened the door and let himself in. The sight he saw upon entering her room was priceless. There was his little girl curled up on her bed, hugging her teddy bear, and sound asleep. John walked over and sat on the edge of the bed next to her. He gently shook her in an attempt to wake her up. That startled Lily a little and she sat up, taking out her headphones as she did so.

"Hey Princess, you need to get up so we can get some dinner." John told his sleepy daughter.

"I'm not hungry Dad." Lily replied not looking at her dad.

John took her chin and gently raised it so she was looking at him. He knew she was upset about tomorrow but he had to get her to eat something.

"Look, I know you are worried about tomorrow, but you have to eat something. It isn't good for you to skip dinner. Now, come on and get up so you can make yourself presentable for public, unless you want to go out with your hair sticking up in every direction." John said while tickling her.

Lily laughed as she was being tickled. When her dad finally stopped, she was smiling and ready to get up. Once John left her room, she changed her clothes and did her hair. 5 minutes later, she walked out into living room of the suite. Sam and Randy smiled when they saw her. After that the group headed to the rental car and off to a restaurant. Lily was eating fine until she looked up and saw who had just walked into the restaurant. John saw the look on his daughter's face and looked to see what had caused it. His heart stopped. There, walking right towards them was Marissa's parents. He knew that his daughter's relationship with her maternal grandparents wasn't very good. When they got to where John and his daughter sat, Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell stopped.

Lily stopped eating and just stared down at her lap. Sam, who was sitting next to her, grabbed her hand and held it comfortingly. She didn't know who this couple was but she could tell that their presence was not welcomed by either Lily or John.

"Well, look who we have here darling." Marissa's mother, Joyce said glaring at Lily and then John.

"Hello William, Joyce." John said trying to remain polite but just barely able to.

Lily looked as if she was about to cry as her grandmother stared at her. She knew she should say hello but she couldn't find her voice.

"Randy, Sam, this is William and Joyce Caldwell, Marissa's parents." John said.

Joyce gave Lily a disapproving look when the child failed to greet them. She was appalled by the disrespect that Marissa's daughter was showing them. She never liked the child and was not happy when Marissa had gotten pregnant but that was no reason for the little brat to ignore them. She decided to speak up about it.

"Young lady, where are you manners? You haven't even acknowledged us yet." Joyce said sternly to her.

Lily had to fight back the tears as her grandmother scolded her. Sam squeezed her hand and Randy was about to open his mouth in her defense until John gave him a look. John wasn't happy with the situation but knew that saying anything would make it worse for Lily.

"Sorry grandmother." Lily began. "I didn't want to be disrespectful by interrupting the adults when they were speaking Ma'am."

Lily was still staring down at her lap when she spoke and this made the grandmother even more upset.

"Young lady, when you speak to someone it is proper to look at them. Now look up at us and try again." Joyce scolded.

By this point Randy and John were both getting pissed. Who did this lady think she was talking to Lily like that? They didn't care that she was her grandmother. She had no right to scold the child. Lily sensing the rising tension, looked up and her grandparents and spoke again.

"Yes Ma'am. I'm sorry for being disrespectful. Hello Grandfather. Hello Grandmother. It is nice to see you." Lily said in her best effort to be polite.

"That is much better child. Have a nice evening; we must be going to our table now." Joyce said as she and her husband walked away.

As they walked away, Joyce could be heard telling William what a brat and a disgrace Lily was to their family. She also said that Marissa was better off without that child ruining her life. Lily heard all of these things and could no longer fight back the tears. She excused herself quickly and ran to the bathroom. Sam looked at Randy and then John and they both gave her a nod. That was her sign to follow Lily. Quickly, Sam got up from the table and followed the upset child. When she entered the bathroom, she found Lily sitting on the floor, hugging her knees with tears streaming down her face. She sat down next to her and pulled the child close to her. Lily leaned up against Sam and just cried for a few minutes. After she finally calmed down she explained to Sam what her grandmother always said to her.

"She told me that I was unwanted. Nobody wanted me. I was a mistake. Even my dad realized that and left my mother with the burden of raising me. She said that I was a disgrace to their family name." Lily said.

Sam shook her head and wiped a tear from her own eyes. She couldn't believe that anyone could say such cruel things to a child. She held Lily close and told her that those things were untrue.

"Lilyana Felicity Antoinette Cena, those things are lies. You ARE wanted and loved. Your dad has always wanted you. The Cena family is proud of you and loves you very much. You are NOT a disgrace. That woman is a disgrace to all human beings." Sam told the girl.

Lily giggled at that and a smile began to form on her face. After that the two returned to the table where both Randy and John hugged Lily reassuringly. They paid for their meals and left the restaurant having all lost their appetites.

Back at the hotel, Lily said goodnight to everyone and headed straight to her room. Once inside, she quickly changed into her pj's and climbed into bed. It didn't take her long to curl up with her teddy bear and fall asleep.

Out in the living room area, the adults all sat and talked. Sam told them what Lily had told her in the bathroom and Randy was furious. John shook his head sadly. How could he have left his precious little girl with those monsters? He was going to do everything in his power to make it up to her. He had to show her that he loved her and so did a lot of other people.

Randy took one look at his best friend and knew what he was thinking. He shook his head.

"John don't you dare blame yourself for what those ignoramuses did to Lils. It is in no way your fault. Besides, you tried to get Marissa to let you take Lilyana with you when you left her. She is the one that refused. She did it because she wanted your money not because she cared about Lils." Randy told his friend.

John realized Randy was right and thanked him for pointing out the truth. Then he yawned. It had been a long day and tomorrow would be even worse. He said goodnight and headed to bed. Not long after that, Sam and Randy did the same. Randy was thankful that he had his girlfriend there for support.

"Have I told you how much I love you?" Randy said smirking at Sam.

Sam smiled back at him and kissed his cheek.

"Only all the time but I never tire of hearing it. I love you too babe!" she said quietly.

"Thank you for being here. I really appreciate it. John and I would have been at a loss if you hadn't been there tonight. You have been great with Lils. I have no doubt that you will be an amazing mother someday." He told her.

After that they got ready for bed. Randy kissed her and then lay in the bed holding her close to him. He didn't know what he would do without Sam. They fell asleep in each other's arms and slept that way most of the night.